To enhance and develop achievements in science and research, several changes have been made at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA). Two existing scientific institutes have been merged to form the Scientific Institute of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViAZI). A new Scientific Council has also been elected. The merger of the two ViA scientific institutes – the Institute of Social, Economic and Humanities Research (HESPI) and the Institute of Sociotechnical Systems Engineering (SSII) – took place in April.

“We have decided to merge the two institutes to more effectively achieve ViA’s scientific goals, utilize scientific potential, foster broader interdisciplinarity, and move towards scientific excellence,” says ViA Rector, Ph.D. Agnese Dāvidsone.

On April 22, The Scientific Council of the ViA Scientific Institute (ViAZI) was elected at the general meeting of scientists of the university including the following researchers: Dr.sc.ing. Arnis Cīrulis, Ph.D. Oskars Java, Dr.hist. Gatis Krūmiņš, Dr.sc.ing. Linda Lancere, Dr.sc.ing. Kaspars Osis, Dr.psych. Vineta Silkāne, Ph. Linda Veliverronena, and Ph.D. Ieva Zaumane. The Council is responsible for ensuring the strategic direction of the institute, determining priority research areas, approving the director, overseeing their work, and more. Dr.psych. Vineta Silkāne has been elected Chair of the ViAZI Scientific Council.

"The Scientific Council acts as the intellectual compass of the institute – it not only defines research priorities but also shapes an environment where every researcher can develop their academic path with respect and a long-term perspective. We believe that scientific excellence arises from taking care of people – supporting their scientific independence, collaboration, and inner drive to explore,” says leading researcher and associate professor Vineta Silkāne.

On June 16, Professor and leading researcher Dr.geogr. Andris Klepers was elected as Director of the newly established Scientific Institute at ViA. He will assume the role at the end of August.

Dr. Klepers earned his Ph.D. at the University of Latvia, researching tourism destination marketing and cluster strategies. He has also acquired additional expertise in tourism and regional development through studies in Germany and several Nordic countries. He enhanced his research skills through postdoctoral research and academic qualification-building in Sweden, Australia, and Iceland. He regularly publishes scientific articles, presents research at international conferences, and participates in organizing them.

Dr. Klepers has worked at HESPI since 2015 – initially as a researcher, and since 2021 as a leading researcher. He is an active member of the HESPI Scientific Council and leads the spatial research laboratory.

“By applying my diverse experience and openness to dialogue, I see an opportunity to more purposefully implement ViA’s development strategy and strengthen the value of our organization’s brand. I fully commit to fostering an international, interdisciplinary, excellence-oriented, sustainable, and collegial research environment grounded in mutual respect,” said A.Klepers after his election.

The purpose of ViAZI’s establishment is to conduct scientific research, ensure the functioning of the Doctoral School, participate in the implementation of study programs, and provide public services in the fields, subfields, and interdisciplinary areas of engineering and technology, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.

Following two successful semesters of language courses, E³UDRES² is expanding its offering with a new round of opportunities to upgrade one's linguistic skills - now also including Albanian and Ukrainian.

Starting in the autumn/winter term of 2025, language and culture courses in Dutch, Latvian, Portuguese, German, Hungarian, English, as well as Albanian and Ukrainian, will be available to students and staff from all E³UDRES² partners and associated universities.

Most of the courses are designed at the CEFR A1 level, focusing on beginner proficiency to ensure accessibility for all participants.

This initiative comes from the E³UDRES² Capacity Building team and aims to strengthen multilingualism and intercultural understanding within the Alliance.  

For questions or requests, please contact Katrīne Kūkoja (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

More information: eudres.eu/news/eudres-online-language-courses-for-students-and-staff

From June 4 to 6, a workshop organized by the E³UDRES² alliance took place at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, titled “Strategies to Improve the E³UDRES² Alliance’s Success Rate in Securing Research Project Funding.” Over several days, researchers, doctoral students, and research administrators had the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in preparing project proposals.

The event brought together participants from Latvia, Albania, Austria, Portugal, Romania, and Ukraine, who visited various laboratories and the Open Innovation Centre at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. They also learned about current research project calls from experts of the Latvian Science Council.

Participants included doctoral students and researchers from Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, as well as academic staff from St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences (Austria) (STPAUS), Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (Portugal) (IPS), Politehnica University of Timișoara (Romania) (UPT), the associated partner university in Shkodër, Albania, and representatives from Latvian scientific institutions – Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VeA) and Riga Technical University (RTU).

"Considering that all participants, except RTU, represent universities of applied sciences, it was only natural that the most relevant discussion topics focused on how to demonstrate the impact of research project results and how to use a 'bottom-up' approach in defining research problems, creating scientific groups, and establishing strategic partnerships with industry partners,” explains workshop organizer and lead researcher Ph.D. Oskars Java.

The result of the three-day workshop will be a handbook developed by the E³UDRES² European University Alliance working group on “Strategies to Improve the E³UDRES² Alliance’s Success Rate in Securing Research Project Funding.” The handbook aims to facilitate the involvement of doctoral students and early-career researchers in research, while also allowing experienced researchers to learn from the insights and experiences of their colleagues.

International expert team, including OECD and European Commission staff  on June 2 visited Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences to progress the activities and outputs of the project “Support for Institutionalising the New Academic Careers Framework in Latvia”.

Within the project funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the OECD, in cooperation with the Reform and Investment Task Force of the European Commission the activities are designed to support the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science and Latvian higher education institutions and research organisations as they navigate the complex process of institutionalising new approaches to academic career development.

The team visiting Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences comprised of Gillian Golden and Kristiana Egle from OECD Higher Education Policy team, Thomas Weko, International Expert on Higher Education and Research Professor at the George Washington Institute of Public Policy, United States, as well as Sébastien Combeaud, Policy Officer, SG REFORM, European Commission. “We are conducting site visits, to collect information on challenges associated with reform implementation and provide opportunities for academic staff to discuss specific issues facing their organisations with international experts. The June 2025 round of visits focus on smaller, specialised and regional higher education institutions, following the Project Team's visits to the four largest Universities in November 2024,” Gillian Golden, the project manager, explains the purpose of the visit.

Kārlis Krēsliņš, vice-rector for academic work, Iveta Putniņa, vice-rector for development, Oskars Java, senior researcher, head of the Senate and director of institute, Vineta Silkāne, senior researcher, associate professor and head of the Science Council, Arnis Cīrulis, senior researcher, associate professor and head of VR/AR laboratory, Linda Veliverronena, senior researcher and assistant professor, Liene Ločmele, research assistant and lecturer, as well as Zane Kudure, lecturer and science secretary  represented Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences during the visit. “With involvement in this project we acknowledge the importance of effective implementation of the new academic careers’ framework in Latvia. We have been participating in the project’s meetings since 2024 and look forward to the results in 2026,” the motivation of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences was summarised by Zane Kudure.

The project “Support for Institutionalising the New Academic Careers Framework in Latvia” will be finalized in February 2026.