Education and Science, EU – Baltic States, Forum, Latvia

“Thousands of higher grade students come to the fair each year in order to receive direct information on several study possibilities from representatives of educational establishments and to decide where to continue their studies. It is much more convenient than going to the open days at different schools all over Latvia,” says Valts Jirgensons, Project Manager of the fair “Skola”. “Adults are also able to find different courses, seminars, and other possibilities of improving their education at the fair, whereas for their children – there are several language learning summer camps to choose from,” V. Jirgensons explains.

At the moment more than 140 participants from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, France, the USA and Canada have applied to participate at the fair, and they will provide information on admission rules, study grants, opportunities for exchange studies and internships, as well as various extra activities outside of studies.

Latvian universities are awaiting new students

Most of the Latvian universities will be waiting for their future students at the fair and will be presenting different study programmes and courses. The University of Latvia will be represented by students and staff of all 13 faculties, so come and find out everything about the study programmes, support possibilities, patron scholarships, possibilities of receiving discounts for living in student dormitories, tuition fee remissions etc.

This year Ventspils University College will be offering a new and unique possibility of receiving a double diploma in the study programme “International Business and Export Management”, which is rated as the best and most prestige study programme amongst Austrian employers. The programme will be realised in cooperation with IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems in Austria. Whereas the Red Cross Medical College of Riga Stradiņš University (RSU), which will be located in the RSU stand, will be offering a new first level professional higher education programme “Massage” with the qualification “Masseur”.

During the fair “Turība” University will be offering to go on a virtual excursion and see the daily lives of students. By opening the doors of a respective field, it will be possible to observe the study process in each of the four faculties – business administration, international tourism, law and communication. A business incubator, a TV studio, a Start Up hotel study room, a courtroom – that and much more can be found behind the doors of “Turība”. Open them!

If you want to become a teacher, a speech therapist, a psychologist, or the head of an educational establishment or a company – visit the stand of the Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy and ask its representatives your questions. Whereas the Rezekne Higher Education Institution will inform you about the advantages of a regional institution of higher education and about 430 state-financed study places in any of the 40 full-time study programmes.

Try out programming, “become” a soldier and win tickets to the cinema or aquapark

It will be possible to try out programming, test your knowledge in natural sciences, observe experiments and take part in creative technical workshops at the stand of Riga Technical University! The Children and Youth University and the Engineering High School of Riga Technical University will also be represented there for the first time. The most knowledgeable visitors will be treated with special cocktails and gastronomic goods. Come and participate!

The National Defence Academy of Latvia will provide the opportunity to look at a weapon stand, take part in activities organised by the cadets, receive information about study possibilities, dynamic learning process, and advantages that are not offered by other educational institutions, as well as many other things. However, those who are thinking of linking their future to the field of beauty care or medicine might be interested in the activities organised by the P. Stradiņš Medical College of the University of Latvia – at its stand each day from 11:00 to 16:00, it will be possible to observe the demonstrations of the services provided by future beauty specialists in cosmetology, masseurs, biomedicine technicians and podologists.

The University College of Economics and Culture (UCEC) will offer visitors to find out the value of their knowledge by receiving financial advantages – an individual discount for the first year of studies or a state-financed study place. By taking part in the UCEC survey, it will be possible to win one of 1000 invitations to the cinema. Alberta College will also offer to take part in a survey to win one of 1000 invitations to Līvu Aquapark. College students will be demonstrating their own computer games, and it will be possible for everyone to try them out.

Why choose education linked to finance and business? What are the career possibilities after graduating from BA School of Business? These and many other questions will be answered by students, graduates and staff of the BA School of Business at the fair “Skola 2015”. You will also be able to stamp a special coin and memorialise the process, by receiving the coin and a photo straight away!

Foreign universities for those who want to receive education abroad

"Those who wish to study abroad are invited to meet the representatives of European colleges and universities at the fair and to receive information about admission terms and a study process that often differs quite drastically from the one in Latvia,” underlines the manager of the project “Skola” Valts Jirgensons.

Institutions such as Saxion University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), Gymnasium und Internat im Stift Neuzelle (Germany), Porvoo International College (Finland) will be taking part in the fair, whereas Russia will be represented by the Moscow State Industrial University, Immanuel Kant Baltic federal university and the SWISSAM Hospitality Business & Culinary Arts School.

Everyone will also be able to receive up-to-date information on study possibilities in Canada, France, Germany and other countries. For example, the well-experienced “Baltic Council of International Education” and Estonia’s “Bellnor” will be providing information on study possibilities all over the world.

It is becoming more popular not only for university students to participate in exchange programmes, but also for high school students to study abroad for a while. In order not to make a mistake and to understand which country of the world is most suitable for living and studying in, “AFS Latvia” will offer to “try on” different countries at the fair. “AFS Latvia” Intercultural Programs is an international voluntary organisation that operates in 70 countries all over the world forming a network of 42 000 volunteers. More about the fair: www.bt1.lv/skola

Apply for the conference “Healthy and Safe School Environment”

We haven’t forgotten about the responsible workers of schools who are invited to apply for the conference “Healthy and Safe School Environment” which is organised by the Latvian Medical Association and the Institute for Occupational Safety and Environmental Health of Riga Stradiņš University in cooperation with AS “Inspecta Latvia”. The conference will take place on 27 February at 13:00. For more information about the conference visit: www.arstubiedriba.lv/images/Plakaati_A4_27.02web.pdf

“Skola 2015” occurs simultaneously with the 18th International Book Fair

“Baltic Book Fair 2015” that offers authors’ readings, book opening events, meetings with authors, an exhibition of books, diversity of publishers’ news as well as an opportunity to buy books at special exhibition prices or to exchange books read or not needed with other visitors at the Book Exchange Point.

“Skola 2015” is held by the International Exhibition Company BT 1.

Opening hours of “Skola 2015”:
27-28 February 10:00-18:00
1 March 10:00-17:00

Ticket prices:
For adults – EUR 5.00
For pupils, students, teachers, senior citizens – EUR 4.00
For groups (10+) – EUR 3.00

Holders of “Skola 2015” entrance tickets are entitled to visit the “Latvian Book Fair 2015” free of charge.