CONFERENCE
“The duty of the University of Latvia, as the sole founder of the UL Foundation, is to ensure its good governance, to honour and advance academic and philanthropic values. Therefore, the UL Foundation’s Council and the Financial Advisory Council is comprised of people who effectively represent three important aspects characterising the work of foundation and UL– excellence, legitimacy and financial sustainability. The task of the UL Foundation’s Council and Board is to facilitate the availability of support for students and researchers, thereby strengthening the foundations of our Alma Mater and advancing the development of Latvia,” emphasizes UL Rector Prof. Gundars Bērziņš.
As the term of office of the current board expires, the management structure of the UL Foundation has been transformed with a view to increase the efficiency and relevance of its operation. The UL Foundation’s Council will monitor the financial situation, focus on strategic development issues, including the formation of new partnerships and strengthening competencies, while the Board will ensure operational work. The Council and the Board have been appointed for a three-year term. The chairperson will be elected at the first Council meeting in the near future.
Furthermore, to ensure sustainable, profitable, reasoned and socially responsible investment and management of funds, a Financial Advisory Council of five independent financial experts has been established. It consists of economist, financier and financial risk professional Uldis Cērps, entrepreneur and investor Kristīne Bērziņa, expert in financial management, investment strategy and sustainable value creation Laura Ramanis, Latvian-American entrepreneur, Honorary Consul of Latvia in Philadelphia and philanthropist John J. Medveckis, as well as Roberts Blumbergs, sworn Attorney-at-Law, Honorary Consul of Latvia in the State of Illinois, Board Member of Friends of the University of Latvia. The main tasks of the Advisory Council are to provide the UL Foundation’s Board with independent recommendations concerning financial management, including investment strategy and financial risk management.
“As donations have grown to reach nearly three million a year, their management requires the highest level of competence, responsibility and an effective management system. In close cooperation with the UL Rector, such a system has now been established. I am convinced that my work and that of the council, as well as cooperation with financial experts, will further promote the trust of patrons and their willingness to invest in education and research – in the future of Latvia,” emphasizes Zaiga Pūce, board member of the UL Foundation.
In accordance with its strategic priorities, within the next three years the UL Foundation through fundraising will strengthen support for education, science, culture and sports, as well as promote the global competitiveness of the UL as a research university with the aim of ranking amongst the TOP 500 world universities.
In 2025, the UL Foundation has raised donations, which to date exceed 2.8 million euro. Thanks to patrons, 150 students representing a wide diversity of study fields and programmes of various universities, in the academic year 2025/2026 will receive UL Foundation’s scholarships altogether comprising more than 600 thousand euro. Meanwhile, investments in supporting UL research projects and purchasing research equipment this year have reached nearly 1.2 million euro.
About UL Foundation
UL Foundation was established in 2005 with the aim of promoting cooperation with the current and prospective patrons, as well as cooperation partners of UL. The tasks of UL Foundation encompass fundraising and providing support to the most outstanding UL students, scientists, their projects and research, enabling creation of a modern learning environment, as well as contributing to construction and renovation of the University of Latvia buildings. By investing in the future of Latvia, UL Foundation works to strengthen the University’s ties with society and promote a sustainable, competitive development of the academic environment in Latvia.
 Council approved a new UL Foundation’s Council, composed of UL Professor Mārcis Auziņš, sworn attorney, managing partner of law firm “COBALT” Lauris Liepa, and “Signet Bank” co-owner and council member Irīna Pīgozne. Zaiga Pūce, the executive director of the UL Foundation to date, was appointed as a board member.){kind=link}