Academic Centre
2019 – the University of Latvia centenary year – was rich in events and delightful memories. Let’s recall a few of the most remarkable events:
Celebration of UL centenary
From September 27 to 30, the University of Latvia (UL) celebrated its 100th anniversary with an extensive programme of festivities. The celebration started with the release of the UL anniversary volume MĒS. Latvijas Universitāte no vēstures nākotnei (“WE. University of Latvia from History to the Future”) and opening of the exhibition Gadsimta students (“Student of the Century”). The formal Doctoral degree ceremony was held, and the UL centennial stamp was presented to the public at the UL Great Hall. On the evening of September 27, the centenary night “CARPE NOCTEM” at the Arena Riga was celebrated with a grand concert featuring the UL amateur performing arts collectives as well as special guests – Aija Vītoliņa, Ance Krauze, Marija Naumova, Daumants Kalniņš, Zigfrīds Muktupāvels, Jānis Aišpurs, Intars Busulis, “Abonementa orķestris”, and the band “Labvēlīgais tips”.
On September 29, the Riga Dome Cathedral hosted the University of Latvia centenary ecumenical service. On September 30, the ceremonial meeting of the University of Latvia Senate took place, greeting honorary doctors, honorary members and professors emeriti. On the same day, an international symposium “University and Society: Renewed Focus on National Growth and Values” was held at the UL.
The University of Latvia centenary celebration concluded with a concert at the Latvian National Opera, welcoming on its stage Maestro Raimonds Pauls, the State Choir “Latvija”, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Māris Sirmais and other stars. These are just a few of the events marking the university’s centenary, which was celebrated throughout the year.
House of Science Opening Ceremony at the UL Academic Centre
On January 28, 2019, the House of Science opened its doors, thereby expanding the University of Latvia Academic Centre in Tornakalņs, and contributing to the most recent, state-of-the-art study and research centre in Latvia. With its construction, the research and studies of the exact, medical and life sciences at the UL are concentrated in a single campus, promoting synergies between studies and research fields, as well as ensuring efficient use of UL resources.
House of Science construction began in the summer of 2017 and was completed in December of 2018, creating a modern environment with contemporary infrastructure for two UL faculties and six research institutes. The House of Science is the second edifice built after the House of Nature to form a campus in Torņakalns.
Elections of UL rector and Senate
On May 24, 2019, the University of Latvia Constitutional Assembly was held to elect the rector and the Senate of the University of Latvia. Two candidates were nominated for the position of the University of Latvia rector – Professor Indriķis Muižnieks, the former rector of the University of Latvia and Gundars Bērziņš, dean and professor of the UL Faculty of Business, Management and Economics.
89 candidates were approved as members of the UL Senate.
UL New Technology and Innovation Day
On May 17 at the UL Academic Centre, Jelgavas iela, House of Nature and House of Science an extensive programme was launched to mark the UL New Technology and Innovation Day. Throughout the day, everyone was invited to attend events, participate in discussions at the Future Idea Lab and the University of the Future Society. All day long, "I dare, I think, I create!" competition entertained the small intellectuals – the pupils of grades 4 to 5 took part in activities and explored the world of technology in the vast House of Science labs.
The new study premises of the Centre of Social Pediatrics were opened and the ceremony of the new University of Latvia study programmes’ on the day of the event. The New Technology and Innovation Day introduced its participants to the unique research carried out at the UL institutes. In the evening, the UL graduates enjoyed the concert of bands "Menuets" and "Coco Orchestra", as well as the performance of DJ of Radio NABA Roberts Gobziņš.
UL achieved the highest results in student enrollment of summer 2019
Upon completion of the electronic application and approval of candidates by the University of Latvia and other Latvian higher education institutions in joint admission system to basic studies, the UL received 16 150 applications of prospective students, thus taking the first place among all the Latvian higher education institutionsaccording to the number of applications. 4062 students had indicated the UL as their first priority. Compared to 2018, the number of applicants for studies at the University of Latvia at the conclusion of electronic application process had increased by more than 2000 students. The programmes offered by the University of Latvia formed a great part among the 10 most popular study programmes chosen by the students with the first priority in the joint admission: the top 3 consisted of “Law”, “Medicine” and “Computer Science”, while the 4th place was taken by “Psychology”, the 5th place by “Communication Science” and the 9th place – by “Management Science”.
The researchers of the UL Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics complete work on digital zenith camera
Scientists of the UL Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics (IGG) completed the work on a digital zenith camera prototype which enables to determine the plumb line directions of Earth’s gravity field. The instrument can accurately define the geoid surface or continuation of sea level below the continent. The UL IGG digital zenith camera has a very high degree of accuracy, surpassing the capabilities of previous technologies.
Several countries, including the United States, have expressed interest in the digital zenith camera developed by the University of Latvia researchers. IGG researchers Augusts Rubāns and Ansis Zariņš have granted the greatest contribution to creation of the zenith camera.
UL achieves high results in global university rankings
In 2019, the University of Latvia scored high in the world university rankings, outperforming other higher education institutions of Latvia.
In September 2019, the University of Latvia in its 100th anniversary year ranked 801–1000 in one of the world's most prestigious university rankings, “Times Higher Education World University Rankings”, and the UL is the only one among all the higher education institutions of Latvia to be ranked in the TOP 1000. In September, the results of higher educaiton institution graduates' employment rankings showed that the UL rose by 50 places and stood among te universities in 201–250th place.
In October 2019, the University of Latvia received the highest result among the higher education institutions of Latvia in the internationally recognized Emerging Europe and Central Asia University Rankings 2020, with the 39th place.
In November, the University of Latvia for the first time was included in the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings for social sciences, and ranked 601th plus, and the first-time entry in Times Higher Education World University Rankings for life sciences brought the 501–600th place. In the classification of physical sciences, the University of Latvia rose to the 601–800th place, taking the highest score among all the Latvian higher education institutions.
UL offers five new study programmes
Five new study programmes at the University of Latvia were accredited in 2019: “Sports Coach” (college level), “Occupational Health and Safety” (bachelor’s level), “Sports, Technology and Public Health” (bachelor’s level), “Computer Science and Organizational Technology” (bachelor's level), “Sports Science” (master's level), which attracted a lot of interest from the prospective students in summer enrollment.
On May 17, the University of Latvia with its partners celebrated the opening of the new study programmes as a part of the New Technology and Innovation Day.
A scientific expedition of geologists and chemists from the University of Latvia returns from Svalbard
In August 2019, the UL researchers embarked upon an expedition to the Svalbard Archipelago to study glaciers and environmental pollution at a site located mere 1300 km from the North Pole. This was the seventh polar expedition for Latvian scientists. It was implemented in cooperation with Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun (Poland), which owns a polar station in Svalbard, a limited liability company Ceļu būvniecības sabiedrība “Igate”, which has supported scientific expeditions throughout years, and in the framework of Kristaps Lamsters’ postdoctoral research project co-funded by ERDF. The expedition team included the geologists of the University of Latvia Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences Dr. geol. Kristaps Lamsters, Dr. geol. Jānis Karušs, doctoral student Pēteris Džeriņš, and researcher of the Scientific Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and the Environment “BIOR” Ingus Pērkons.
The University of Latvia has become a member of the “European University Alliance”
June of 2019 came with a meaningfil development – the University of Latvia became a member of the European University Alliance. The UL participates in one of 17 European University Alliances to be funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus + programme “Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Experience”. The programme is designed to improve the quality and attractiveness of higher education in the European Union countries and to promote cooperation between universities, their students and their staff.
