Riga Stradiņš University
Encyclopedia
Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) (Latvian
: Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte, Latin
: Universitas Rigensis Stradina) is a public university
located in the city of Riga
, Latvia
. The Stradiņš name in the university’s title is fitting, since members of the Stradiņš family have had a significant influence on the course of community and academic life in Latvia for over a century. The effective and outstanding professional work of Pauls Stradiņš
, Dean of the University of Latvia
Faculty of Medicine, ensured the passing on of the values, standards, and quality of education in medicine, creating a bridge between pre and post-war Latvian education and science, and placing a firm foundation for the creation and development of Rīga Stradiņš University.
: Universitas Rigensis Stradina is a public university
located in Riga
, Latvia
. In 1950, Riga Medical Institute was established on the basis of the Faculty of Medicine of the State University of Latvia. The initiators were professors Pauls Stradiņš
(1896–1958) and Ernests Burtnieks (1950–1958) - the first Director of Riga Medical Institute, and Healthcare Minister of the Republic of Latvia Ādolfs Krauss. Initially the institute included the faculties of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, as well as 45 departments.
Rīga Stradiņš University is a state founded university, which offers various study programmes and ensures the realisation of scientific projects, providing training of experts in healthcare and social sciences who work in Latvia, and across the world. Rīga Stradiņš University is the only university in Latvia, which has traditionally been integrated in the healthcare system of the country, and therefore ensures a successful run of the university, which is a precondition for an effective existence of the healthcare system in Latvia.
RSU is autonomous and academically free to pursue its goals and tasks, working for the benefit of the state and society, and offering a wide array of academic and professional education and research opportunities in the fields of healthcare, social care, social sciences and natural sciences.
in the Theatrum Anatomicum Rigense (currently Anatomical Theatre
in Riga). This lecture was the forebearer of higher education in medicine in Latvia. Professor Gaston Bakman believed that this was also the beginning of the Institute of Anatomy and Histology, as well as the Museum of Anatomy in Riga.
After World War II
, only two professors of medicine remained in Latvia and one of them was Professor Pauls Stradiņš
, who in a very short time as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine managed to rebuild and renew the education and science of medicine from scratch. In 1950, Riga Medical Institute was established on the basis of the Faculty of Medicine of the State University of Latvia. Initially the institute included the faculties of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, as well as 45 departments.
In 1990, the Institute was renamed Medical Academy of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Medicīnas akadēmija, Latin: Academia Medicinaei Latviensis), but already on 5 April 1998, the Constitutional Assembly made the decision to rename Medical Academy of Latvia, based on its actual activities as Rīga Stradiņš University. Rīga Stradiņš University in time developed into a university type higher education institution, as it trains experts not only in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, but also provides study programmes in social sciences, natural sciences, public health and law. On 13 June 2002, Rīga Stradiņš University Act came into effect and Medical Academy of Latvia was renamed Rīga Stradiņš University.
Today Rīga Stradiņš University offers various options to acquire education. Students can pursue their academic and personal goals in faculties, divisions, academic schools and institutes. RSU ensures that everyone, starting from a school graduate to a doctor, can continue and improve their knowledge.
RSU alumni include many prominent doctors and members in the society, including many former and present politicians, e.g. speaker of Saeima
(Parliament of the Republic of Latvia) Mr Gundars Daudze
, former Minister for Health Mrs Baiba Rozentāle, and current president of the Republic of Latvia Mr Valdis Zatlers
.
Currently there are 10 faculties at RSU:
Medical Sciences:
Social Sciences:
Law:
Post-graduate departments:
There is also a department for international students studying at RSU:
University students can choose full time studies, which require undivided attention as well as part time studies, which can usually be combined with work. Medicine and health care students at various levels of study can access state budget funded study places, whereas the best social science students receive rebates on their tuition fees.
Latvian language
Latvian is the official state language of Latvia. It is also sometimes referred to as Lettish. There are about 1.4 million native Latvian speakers in Latvia and about 150,000 abroad. The Latvian language has a relatively large number of non-native speakers, atypical for a small language...
: Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: Universitas Rigensis Stradina) is a public university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in the city of Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. The Stradiņš name in the university’s title is fitting, since members of the Stradiņš family have had a significant influence on the course of community and academic life in Latvia for over a century. The effective and outstanding professional work of Pauls Stradiņš
Pauls Stradiņš
Pauls Stradiņš was a Latvian professor, physician and surgeon.- References :...
, Dean of the University of Latvia
University of Latvia
University of Latvia is a university located in Riga, Latvia. Being established in 1919, University of Latvia is the biggest university in the Baltic states.-History:...
Faculty of Medicine, ensured the passing on of the values, standards, and quality of education in medicine, creating a bridge between pre and post-war Latvian education and science, and placing a firm foundation for the creation and development of Rīga Stradiņš University.
Rīga Stradiņš University
Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) (Latvian: Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte, LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: Universitas Rigensis Stradina is a public university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. In 1950, Riga Medical Institute was established on the basis of the Faculty of Medicine of the State University of Latvia. The initiators were professors Pauls Stradiņš
Pauls Stradiņš
Pauls Stradiņš was a Latvian professor, physician and surgeon.- References :...
(1896–1958) and Ernests Burtnieks (1950–1958) - the first Director of Riga Medical Institute, and Healthcare Minister of the Republic of Latvia Ādolfs Krauss. Initially the institute included the faculties of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, as well as 45 departments.
Rīga Stradiņš University is a state founded university, which offers various study programmes and ensures the realisation of scientific projects, providing training of experts in healthcare and social sciences who work in Latvia, and across the world. Rīga Stradiņš University is the only university in Latvia, which has traditionally been integrated in the healthcare system of the country, and therefore ensures a successful run of the university, which is a precondition for an effective existence of the healthcare system in Latvia.
RSU is autonomous and academically free to pursue its goals and tasks, working for the benefit of the state and society, and offering a wide array of academic and professional education and research opportunities in the fields of healthcare, social care, social sciences and natural sciences.
History
On 2 February 1920, Swedish professor Gaston Bakman held the first lecture on human anatomyHuman anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
in the Theatrum Anatomicum Rigense (currently Anatomical Theatre
Anatomical theatre
An anatomical theatre was an institution used in teaching anatomy at early modern universities.The theatre was usually a room of roughly amphitheatrical shape, in the centre of which would stand the table on which the dissections of human or animal bodies took place...
in Riga). This lecture was the forebearer of higher education in medicine in Latvia. Professor Gaston Bakman believed that this was also the beginning of the Institute of Anatomy and Histology, as well as the Museum of Anatomy in Riga.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, only two professors of medicine remained in Latvia and one of them was Professor Pauls Stradiņš
Pauls Stradiņš
Pauls Stradiņš was a Latvian professor, physician and surgeon.- References :...
, who in a very short time as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine managed to rebuild and renew the education and science of medicine from scratch. In 1950, Riga Medical Institute was established on the basis of the Faculty of Medicine of the State University of Latvia. Initially the institute included the faculties of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, as well as 45 departments.
In 1990, the Institute was renamed Medical Academy of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Medicīnas akadēmija, Latin: Academia Medicinaei Latviensis), but already on 5 April 1998, the Constitutional Assembly made the decision to rename Medical Academy of Latvia, based on its actual activities as Rīga Stradiņš University. Rīga Stradiņš University in time developed into a university type higher education institution, as it trains experts not only in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, but also provides study programmes in social sciences, natural sciences, public health and law. On 13 June 2002, Rīga Stradiņš University Act came into effect and Medical Academy of Latvia was renamed Rīga Stradiņš University.
Today Rīga Stradiņš University offers various options to acquire education. Students can pursue their academic and personal goals in faculties, divisions, academic schools and institutes. RSU ensures that everyone, starting from a school graduate to a doctor, can continue and improve their knowledge.
RSU alumni include many prominent doctors and members in the society, including many former and present politicians, e.g. speaker of Saeima
Saeima
Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years,...
(Parliament of the Republic of Latvia) Mr Gundars Daudze
Gundars Daudze
Gundars Daudze is a Latvian physician and politician, Speaker of the 9th Saeima of Latvia .-References:...
, former Minister for Health Mrs Baiba Rozentāle, and current president of the Republic of Latvia Mr Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and former physician who served as the seventh president of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. He won the Latvian presidential election of 31 May 2007...
.
Structure
Rīga Stradiņš University's ten faculties provide undergraduate as well as postgraduate level studies in various programmes. High school students as well as doctors of science have the opportunity to study at RSU and enhance their education, and make a contribution to the creation of knowledge and new technologies.Currently there are 10 faculties at RSU:
Medical Sciences:
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Nursing
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Public Health
- Faculty of Rehabilitation
Social Sciences:
- Faculty of Communications (including Department of Communication Studies and Department of Sociology)
- Faculty of European Studies (including Department of Political Science and Department of Economics)
Law:
- Faculty of Law
Post-graduate departments:
- Faculty of Continuing Education
- Doctoral Study Division
There is also a department for international students studying at RSU:
- International Student Department
University students can choose full time studies, which require undivided attention as well as part time studies, which can usually be combined with work. Medicine and health care students at various levels of study can access state budget funded study places, whereas the best social science students receive rebates on their tuition fees.
Students and Teaching
RSU has a student teacher ratio of 1:17. The total number of students is approximately 6,000, while the total number of RSU employees stands at around 1,000, with 370 academic staff members. The language of instruction at RSU is primarily Latvian, however several study programmes, e.g. Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing and Physiotherapy are offered entirely in English. International students constitute approximately 7% of the student body of the university.Rectors
- Ernests Burtnieks (1950–1958)
- Vasilijs Kalbergs (1958–1963)
- Vladislavs Korzāns (1963–1992)
- Jānis Vētra (1992–2007)
- Jānis Gardovskis (since 2008 until present)