International cooperation

The University of Latvia pays great attention to the development of international collaboration in order to promote international identification, exchanges and to strengthen good reputation. 
The University of Latvia has been always active in international collaboration. Nowadays the objective is to focus on the content and quality in order to make internationalization a balanced element of education and research. 
The internationalization processes take place in the following areas:

• bilateral cooperation agreements (with 233 universities in 53 countries and regions);
• membership in the international university organizations and networks;
• participation in international educational and research programmes and projects;
• exchanges of students and teachers (exchange statistics);
• international cooperation on the faculty, institute, department and individual levels.

By participating in international university organizations and active membership in networks such as EUA (The European University Association), UNICA (Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe),  UTRECHT Network, Campus Europea/EUF the University of Latvia strives to intensify different types of exchanges and to widen possibilities for internationalization of studies and research.

Active participation within bilateral partnership agreements and European programmes has promoted wide cooperation activities within ERASMUS+ programme. The number of agreements with European partner universities has grown tremendously within last 5 years anticipating more intensive exchanges of students and teachers. At present the University of Latvia has signed 1020 agreements with 447 institutions in 33 European programme and 38 Inter-institutional agreement with 17 partner countries. 

The University of Latvia is also active in initiating and participating in ERASMUS+ projects (Capacity Building, Strategic Partnership, Knowledge Alliances, Jean Monnet). The University of Latvia strategy is to introduce innovative methods in education, to pay more attention to the development of staff competences. The ERASMUS+ projects help much the UL to achieve these strategic goals. One of the latest examples is the ERASMUS+ KA 203 project "Best+" (www.blendedmobility.eu) with the aim to create a new form of professional development for university staff using blended mobility.
The University of Latvia is the only Latvian institution with active participation in Erasmus Mundus programme. Successful participation in ten Erasmus Mundus Action 2 projects: JoinEU-SEE I, II, III; Triple I I, II; Aurora I, II; Centauri; Lot 3b; Mover; AESOP; LEADER has remarkably increased the number of international exchange and degree students from Western Balkan countries, Russia, Central and Southeast Asia, South Africa. The University of Latvia participated also in MISOCO Joint master’s degree programme International Migration and Social Cohesion.

The University of Latvia has become an attractive place to study both for full time and exchange international students. The number of available programmes and courses on English increase every year. The University of Latvia is glad that the faculties are active in involving visiting professors within the study process. 
Cooperation in research has been also very active and productive. Participation in the 7th RTD Framework Programme Horizon 2020, EU, UNESCO etc. projects has ensured unity of studies and research, has allowed to develop top level research projects and to create Centres of Excellence, e.g.: UNESCO Biomedical Research and Study Centre, EU Solid State Physics Institute, EU Institute of Physics.

Contacts:
e-mail: international@lu.lv