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History

ISA was founded in 2011 by the board of the RSU Student Union (Studējošo pašpārvalde, SP) board together with a group of international students, which included Massensen Izem Ayati. ISA was originally an extension of the Student Council and RSU SP, and an umbrella organisation for the various international student societies.

ISA was founded by students with a common vision; to improve international students' stay and study experience at RSU. There were initially 6 officers: President, Vice-President, Head of Academic Affairs, Head of Social & Integration, Treasurer and Secretary. During 2012, ISA already organised 24 activities and set up study support seminars, study process seminars, a syllabus, book lists, study materials, complaint forms, and helped resolve conflicts. A Facebook page was created as well as a mailing list through which a regular newsletter was disseminated. Other activities started to be organised, like Movie & Medicine, bar quizzes, paint ball, International Week, dancing lessons, Tamil New Year, and dentistry meetings with Latvian and international students.

In 2013, ISA increased its board members to 12 - 10 roles, and 2 unspecified board members. The new positions included Human Resources, a Medical Science Director, a Liaison Officer and PR. Semester leaders for international students were initiated and ISA was to oversee their activities and help in case of any issues. ISA also helped in the transition from the “red book” to electronic grades and was involved in shaping the university's code of ethics. Since 2019, the ISA Head of Academic Affairs is present during the weekly Dean's Council meetings and at present ISA represents ~2,200 international students and has 12 board members.

Previous ISA Boards

Current ISA Board (2024)

President: Bárbara Silva
Vice President: Yathin Sabu
Treasurer: Muskan E Muhemmed
Head of Academic Affairs: Ricardo Jorge Pires Corela
Assistant to the Head of Academic Affairs: Muskan Khan Shakur Khan Pathan
Public Relations Officer: Ana Rita Neto Policarpo
Medical Science Director: Luxsana Mathiyalagan
Assistant to the Medical Science Director: Welpalle Arachchilage Chaniru Ranneth Ranasinghe
Head of Integration and Sports: Wafaa Farhath Valiyakathu
Assistant to the Head of Integration and Sports: Mazeen Mohamed Ahamed Mazhar
Liaison Officer: Sujeeka Sivapalan
Internal Collaborations and Human Resources Officer: Beatriz Lima Coelho

12th ISA Board (2023)

President: Lucas Risters
Vice President: Hanna Hjelt
Treasurer: Zahraa Merchant
Head of Academic Affairs: Bárbara Silva
Assistant to the Head of Academic Affairs: Byron Granillo
Public Relations Officer: Pavithra Chandrasekara
Medical Science Director: Linda Vuong
Assistant to the Medical Science Director: Luxsana Mathiyalagan
Head of Integration and Sports: Wafaa Farhath Valiyakathu
Assistant to the Head of Integration and Sports: Mazeen Mohamed
Liaison Officer: Sujeeka Sivapalan
Internal Collaborations and Human Resources Officer: Yathin Sabu

11th ISA Board (2022)

President: Mohamed Naleef Ahamed Mazhar
Vice President: Nancy Starkengren
Treasurer: Zahraa Merchant
Head of Academic Affairs: Hanna Hjelt
Assistant to the Head of Academic Affairs: Mihir Jani
Public Relations Officer: Hussaina Musaji

Medical Science Director: Hoshika Sivapalan
Assistant to the Medical Science Director: Maria Gonçalves
Head of Integration and Sports: Adam Bott
Assistant to the Head of Integration and Sports: Lucas Rhodes Risters
Liaison Officer: Dasitha Narangoda
Internal Collaborations and Human Resources Officer: Sadun Ruberu

10th ISA Board (2021)

President: Mohamed Naleef Ahamed Mazhar
Vice President: Anna Leonova
Treasurer: Katharina Waibel
Head of Academic Affairs: Manu Thomas Thoppuram
Assistant to the Head of Academic Affairs: Annemaria Lange
Public Relations Officer: Hussaina Musaji
Medical Science Director: Stina Jantke
Assistant to the Medical Science Director: Jenna Johanna Vähäviita
Head of Integration and Sports: Theresa Margit Gsöllpointner
Assistant to the Head of Integration and Sports: Emma Maja Walfridsson
Liaison Officer: Priyadharshini Ravi
Internal Collaborations and Human Resources Officer: Nancy Louise Starkengren