History

 RTU Foreign Students Departament. Brief History

 
  • Riga Technical University (former Riga Polytechnic Institute) - RTU - has always been internationally oriented university. Since the foundation in 1862 it was attracting Latvian, German, Russian, Polish, Lithuanian students. Among graduates of Riga Polytechnics there are Ignacy Moscicki, President of Poland (1926 – 1939); Wladyslaw Anders, famous Polish general, Friedrich Zander, pioneer of Russian rocket building et al.
  • During Soviet time in re-established Riga Polytechnic Institute (1958-1990) there were students from neighbouring regions of Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Estonia, many of them were studying on a basis of governmental agreements between Soviet republics. Studies were organized in two languages – Latvian and Russian. Many international students at that time were studying in Riga Civil Aviation Engineering Institute (RCAEI), providing engineering education for citizens of many countries of Europe, Asia and Africa, studying in Latvia on a basis of bilateral agreements signed by Soviet government and their political allies
  • In 1991, after regaining of independence of Latvia, all Soviet time agreements became no longer in use. There was a need to resolve a problem with remaining international students at Riga Aviation University (former RCAEI) which at that time started the process of dissolution.
  • Faculty of Foreign Students of Riga Technical University was founded in July 1991, and first batch of seven students were from Lebanon. Study language was English, and it was very challenging at that time to find Professors and secure the quality of a study process.
 
Professor E.Dzelzitis, the first Dean remembers:
„We started our work as a team of three always keeping in mind that students were far away from home, local conditions could seem strange. It was necessary to talk to our professors as well, suddenly facing very different group of students. We paid serious attention not only to study process, but also to living conditions of students. Lebanese students have shown remarkable ability to adapt to Latvian life.”
 
  • In 1994 Ms. Astra Aivare started to work as the Head of Foreign Students Department („Department” was thought to be better fit than „Faculty”, number of students reached 28, including students from Sweden, Saudi Arabia. Lebanon and Pakistan.
  • In 1995 Department of Foreign Students (with Dr.Ivars Oditis as the Head of Department) had its first graduates – four in Civil Engineering, six in Telecommunication and one in Architecture.
  • In 1997 Department (with Profesor Juris Krizbergs as the Head of Department) had already 55 foreign students, mostly from Lebanon and Pakistan.

In 1998 Dr.Igors Tipans started his work as the Head of Department. He remembers:

„I accepted proposal by Professor Lavendelis who was the Rector at that time, because I had experience to teach course in mechanics to RTU foreign students from the very beginning of the Department. My previous stays in different universities in the USA, France and Italy made me deeply convinced about necessity for internationalization of our university, I truly wanted to see Riga Technical University as international university with large number of international students, visiting professors and strong links within international science and education networks. In practice it was not an easy thing to do. Initially I was alone in the office, dealing with a study process, immigration issues and students everyday life”.

  • Later, after graduation of the Faculty of Engineering Economics, Ms. Ieva Barkane joined the Department.To increase the number of students, Department started to attend education exhibitions and education agents’ seminars in Pakistan, Lebanon, Singapore and China. Critical revision of study programs was made, and those programs with continuously small number of students were closed for next enrolments. To provide better service to international students the team of the Foreign Students Department was joined by Ms. Zane Purlaura and later by Ms. Natalja (Oliņa) Muračova, both RTU MBA programme „Innovation and Entrepreneurship” graduates.
  • In 2003, before joining EU, Latvia significantly tightened its immigration laws, and increase of international students experienced significant slowdown.Due to the small number or even lack of Latvian embassies in Asia, Africa and South America it was very hard to attract students from countries where we were active before, and there was a need to look for new markets. The Department found such in CIS countries, mostly in Central Asia.

  • Even before joining EU, RTU was active in EU financed exchange programs TEMPUS, SOCRATES and ERASMUS.
  • Foreign Students Department did active promotion of programs in English to RTU partner universities in Europe.
  • In 2006 the first ERASMUS student came to the RTU. After that the number of EU students was rapidly increasing. Joining full degree students from Asia and Africa by European exchange students gave positive impact to international study process at the RTU – groups were larger and true international university atmosphere finally was in place.   The number of courses in English increased and first Asian exchange students from Republic of Korea and Singapore came in 2009/2010.
  • Good relations were established between the Department and WKATU (Kazakhstan) with frequent student, professor and administration Exchange.
  • In 2010 RTU Foreign Students Department started to participate in UTSEUS Project, linking European and Chinese universities.

Foreign Students Department of Riga Technical University is an active member of European Association for International Education; it has been participated in Asia-Pacific Association for International Education, and is always open for new partners and new projects devoted to internationalization of universities.