LU konference
This was the first time when a special edition of Riga Summer School focused on communication issues on the Baltic level and involved students from Communication University of China. All sides are pleased with the positive result. Students and faculty from China recognize that, for instance, in the area of social media both countries share many similarities, and Riga and its people, the learning process, food and nature inspire and motivate them to return to Latvia in the future. Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Inta Brikše sums up the visit by saying that „the project is very interesting because it serves as a mirror of the processes in today’s world. China and Latvia are two very different countries, if we look at economies, inhabitants and territory. Also it is important to note the European and Asian dimensions. Communication University of China has more students than all the faculties taken together at the University of Latvia. Universities from all three Baltic States are also involved into this project. I have met the vice-president of Communication University of China, Professor Hu Zhengrong in several international conferences in different locations of the world. Last May he and colleagues visited Riga to agree on the summer school project. The preparations were complicated, as we had to take into account the interests of partners from China and other two Baltic States, and agree on what issues will be covered in each of the three countries. The project was successfully implemented by our foreign relations coordinator Kaspars Rūklis, who worked together with our students and graduates Edgars Noskovs, Dārta Apsīte, Jekaterina Rogovenko, Edgars Bērziņš, Paula Vilsone and Inese Zariņa. Also lecturers Lolita Stašāne, Zane Radzobe and Līva Brice need to be thanked, as well as media and public relations representative, who helped with the program”.
Students from Communication University of China, who were attending the summer school at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Latvia July 6-12 learned about the following topics: reputation and public relations, media and culture, multimedia, social networks and digital storytelling, nation brand and public diplomacy. They also had study visits to media organizations, communication agencies, private companies, culture objects, as well as less usual sites in Riga. At the conclusion of the summer school the students prepared a digital story about the media environment in Latvia and communication in the Baltic States. More about their impressions on Latvian Public media website (text and audio in Latvian): www.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/latvija/zinas/kiinieshu-studenti-gandariiti-par-vasaras-skolu-riiga.a91210/.
The organizers of the summer school would like to thank the following people for their support: Lolita Stašāne (Swedbank), Jānis Palkavnieks (social media portal Draugiem.lv), Signe Valtiņa (National Library of Latvia), Krišjānis Ozols (The Latvian Institute), Anna Muhka (Foundation Rīga 2014), Atis Rozentāls (newspaper Diena), Ilze Dobele (LNT television) and Ieva Stūre (Komunikācijas aģentūra/ Edelman Affiliate).
This summer school is not the only international summer program organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Latvia. From August 3 until 17 students from all over the world will participate in Riga Summer School 2014 on visual identity and communication issues, which will already be held for the fourth year in a row. During Riga Summer School students will produce short documentaries about the neighborhoods of Riga that will later be presented to different audiences. Also, the newly started cooperation with the Communication University of China promises to be continued next summer.
