Rector's Address to Students

Dear colleagues and students!

Despite the restrictions in place due to COVID-19, we at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) have still tried to ensure a high-quality study process by making use of modern digital technologies. Unfortunately, the possibility to study on-site has been limited for 14 months now.

RSU is a university of life sciences, where the training for a large part of our students depends on being able to visit health care institutions. We all know that competences and skills can only fully be acquired by doing work in person. There is, however, finally a light at the end of the tunnel! Vaccination against COVID-19 has provided us with the opportunity to protect ourselves, our colleagues, lecturers and patients from the disease and from the complications that can result from illness. When planning the academic work for the 2020/2021 spring semester and the 2021/2022 autumn semester, we have to take health care institutions’ epidemiological safety measures into account, which are binding for students, lecturers and employees.

We know that the period of time needed to reach full immunity is about six weeks, therefore the decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19 should be made in good time! Unfortunately, our opportunities are limited. An alternative is to get tested for COVID-19 regularly. Of course, those of our peers who have recovered from COVID-19, are protected for 180 days, and can feel safe.

Today, there is only one, evidence-based and safe way to return to normal life, including resuming high-quality on-site studies. I therefore welcome students to voluntarily make the decision to get vaccinated for free, considering that effectiveness is very high.

The Ministries of Education and Health are currently working on a regulatory framework that would regulate the study process at institutions of higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore possible that the decree issued by RSU “On further organisation of the study process under conditions of the spread of COVID-19 infection” could come to be supplemented.

By working as a team, we are able to ensure a high-quality and safe study process at our university together!

Let us be responsible, let us protect ourselves and those around us!

Sincerely,

Prof. Aigars Pētersons

Rector, Academic Staff