CONFERENCE
Inta Brūna: We can achieve a lot if only we want to
Professor Inta Brūna has been the Dean of the UL Faculty of Economics and Management only for a year, but she has already gained students’ recognition. In 2014, she received the Best Dean Award from the UL Student Council. Besides academic life, she enjoys sports: skiing, snowboarding and orienteering. The Dean is happy about students’ determination and team work, and believes that modern technologies will play a crucial role in the future.
Rūta Mājniece, the head student
The Head of the UL Student Council in 2014 will be Rūta Mājeniece. She studies at the UL Faculty of Social Sciences and believes that work in the Student Council gives an invaluable life experience. Rūta has created two academic directions and is not afraid of the Rector. Rūta would like students to know that the Student Council is willing to help each student improve the quality of the studies.
UL student takes part in Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics
The young and promising skeletonist, UL student Lelde Priedulēna is among the 58 athletes representing Latvia in Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Lelde is a 2nd-year student of the Bachelor Programme in Economics at the UL Faculty of Economics and Management. Lelde, a former track and field athlete, turned to skeleton in 2010.
Internship – to experience what you have read about
Usually students choose the field of studies thinking of what they would like to do for the rest of their lives. Internship gives a brief insight into the possible future and is always a real adventure, which can teach you more than many theoretical courses.
Students share their internship experience in medicine, geography and history programmes.
Israel from exchange student’s point of view
Elīna Kaziņa, a student of the International Business programme at the UL Faculty of Economics and Management, spent a semester at the University of Haifa in Israel as an Erasmus (exchange) student. This is a story about her experience studying in Israel, speaking about the most characteristic features and atmosphere of this country. Back in Latvia, Elīna admits that she would like to visit Haifa again. Her most vivid memories are related to arriving in Jerusalem immediately after a snow storm when the whole country, which is always ready for war and earthquakes, was completely paralysed by snow.
UL grants annual awards
On 31 January, the best scientists, teachers, heads of school and UL staff members received the annual UL awards. In 2014, two additional categories were included. Valdis Kaļķis, Professor at the UL Faculty of Chemistry, and Henrijs Kaļķis, Assistant Professor at the UL Faculty of Economics and Management received an award for academic succession, and a study into quantum computers received the scientific communication award Pētījums (Research). More information about the study can be found in the article Research into Future Computers, published on the web-site of the UL in March 2013. In the article, Researchers Andris Ambainis and Vjašeslavs Kaščejevs explain their unique study in depth.
Exciting approach to classroom learning
A universal, well-equipped and mobile classroom was opened on 18 February at the UL Centre for Studies in Natural Sciences and Mathematics (UL Faculty of Physics and Mathematics) to teach school students natural sciences with fun. For prospective and current teachers, the classroom will act as a source of new ideas for effective and creative teaching. The classroom is equipped with state-of-the-art information technologies including an interactive whiteboard, PCs, digital measuring devices, tablets, as well as a voting system, wide range of educational games for students, guidance materials for teachers and various exhibits for practical experiments and research.
New year marking Riga as European Capital of Culture
As the oldest national university, the UL has always been an important centre for science and culture; therefore, its participation in organising events for Riga as the 2014 European Capital of Culture is only logical. Throughout the year, the UL will help you discover Riga as a creative centre for culture and science, revealing both its cultural heritage and scientific innovations. There will be concerts and science cafes, a flower carnival, radio interviews and much more taking place in Riga in 2014.
Most ambitious students receive UL Foundation scholarships
In 2013, Katrīna Mertsa, a student of the UL Faculty of Chemistry, received the Minna Matilde Vilhelmīne Petkevičs’ memorial Scholarship. A diligent student, Katrīna is also active outside the academic environment, taking part in different events not related to her studies. This winter, she was a volunteer at Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Līga Pakalna, a student of the UL Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, and recipient of two UL Foundation scholarships, takes part in activities of the UL Student Council. The UL Foundation reports on two scholarship programmes: Ceļamaize and Minna Matilde Vilhelmīne Petkevičs’ memorial scholarship. The latter is open to applications from prospective students as of 1 March 2014.
Untidiness and precision: two sides of the same coin, me
Grazia Tafuni is an exchange student from a small town in Italy. She studies languages and has also started to acquire Latvian. She chose Riga because it is a capital and situated far in the north, which means that everything is different there. Grazia always sticks to her motto: to experience as many different emotions and gain as many impressions as possible, and Riga is a perfect place for that. This is her story about the life of an exchange student in the series of articles entitled My experience. University of Latvia.
UL workplace romance and love stories
Joint studying, participation in student organisations and academic work brings people together and serves as a reason for getting to know each other for many couples. In February, the month of love, Alma Mater tells the readers about couples who started their family life at the time when they were closely related to the UL.
