EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES

EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Exchange students are welcome to Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA), where we participate in two main student exchange programmes: Erasmus+ and Nordplus, or based on individual cooperation agreements. We stand for international experience as an essential and invaluable part of the study process as well as personal development.

The Erasmus programme and its implementation is a part of the strategy and internationalization aims of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA). The Erasmus projects support a significant part of ViA internationalization and invest in improving and modernizing higher education in the EU and Latvia. Various stakeholders have been involved in the development of the Erasmus Policy Statement 2021-2027 of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. During the process, planning of the next period (2021-2027) was performed.

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) has been awarded the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) 2021 - 2027. The award of an ECHE is a pre-requisite for all higher education institutions located in an Erasmus Programme country and willing to participate and implement Erasmus+ projects by organizing the international exchange of students, teachers, and other staff; implementing intensive courses and workshops; modernization of studies, networking and other international events.

Erasmus+ or other exchange students are admitted on the basis of cooperation agreements with universities and colleges in many different countries. You can view our partner universities here. Nordplus programme facilitates exchange between partners in Nordplus EkoTekNord network.

We offer:

courses in English
friendly and helpful teaching staff
excellent library and computer facilities
studying and living together with local students
supportive International Office
Latvian student mentors
comfortable accommodation
reasonable living expenses and much more.

Important dates:

Note (!): BEFORE STUDENT APPLICATION WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE STUDENT NOMINATION FROM PARTNER UNIVERSITY (by filling out the official nomination form sent directly to ViA partner institutions).

Deadline for exchange student nominations: MAY 1 (autumn semester or academic year) and SEPTEMBER 30 (spring semester)
Deadline for exchange student applications (Erasmus+, Nordplus, other): MAY 15 (autumn semester or academic year) and OCTOBER 15 (spring semester)
Studies begin: September (autumn semester) and February (spring semester).

For information about study and practical issues connected with exchange period at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, check out our Practical Guide or contact our international team at international@va.lv.

HERE I CAN - VIDZEME UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

EPISODE 1: FIND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LIFE IN LATVIA, VALMIERA!

EPISODE 2: FIND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LIFE IN LATVIA, VALMIERA!

INTERNATIONAL STUDY MODULE

Within our International Study Module, we offer a variety of courses in English and you can view and choose those below depending on your study programme or interests. Prior to submitting your online application form, make sure you fill the information about your chosen courses within your Learning Agreement and attach it to your submission.

We have been using the Erasmus+ Dashboard and this means that we are working with Online Learning Agreements (OLA) in order to simplify Learning Agreement procedures. We would like to encourage to use the platform to fill in and submit your Learning Agreement online. The Learning Agreement should be signed by you and your institution. When your Online Learning Agreement is filled and signed, you can download the signed PDF and add it to your application. If for any justified reason it is not possible to submit OLA, it can be completed and submitted using the Learning Agreement form, which was sent to you via e-mail.

The core course curriculum is supplemented by English language classes with specialisation in business studies, communication and media studies, information technologies, tourism and leisure studies. Various general language classes are also offered: English, German, French, Russian and Latvian.

Each subject within the international study module addresses the dynamics of the contemporary world by creating opportunities for students to engage in learning, analysis and discussion. The module focuses on a range of different questions that offer a broad perspective on topical issues impacting our ever changing world.

Latvian Law on Institutions of Higher Education states the following: "For foreign students the acquisition of the official language shall be included in the study course compulsory amount if studies in Latvia are expected to be six months or more or 30 ECTS".

The Director of International Study Module is Ilgvars Ābols - ilgvars.abols@va.lv .

Masters 2024 Autumn semester

Courses can be chosen only from one master's program + compulsory Latvian language and culture (3 ECTS)

Course	Lecturers	ECTS	Program	Notes
Modul VR/AR project planning and implementation		9	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
VR/AR innovations and actuality in various industries		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
VR/AR hardware and physical structure		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Interractivity, scenarios composition and serious games		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Modul VR/AR authoring		12	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Mobile technology solutions (Android)		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Web based VR and AR applications		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
3D modelling approaches and scripting (Blender)		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Development of advanced 3D interractive environments (Unity)		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Modul User experience design and implementation		9	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
UX strategy framework		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Human factors and human-computer interaction		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Motion graphics and environmental effects		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Democracy theories and security	I.Bērziņa	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Culture, society and Digital Media	A.Siibak	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Communication theory	L.Ločmele	6	Strategic Communication and Governance
Smart tehnologies and Data Security	A.Krusts	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Civic Society and Participation	A.Dāvidsone	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Euro-Atlantic values in contemporary world’s geopolitics	A.Palkova	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Organization Strategic Management	I.Vaivare	6	Strategic Communication and Governance
Interest representation (lobbying) and negotiations	I.Liepiņa	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Policy Analysis	A.Broka	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Sustainable Development	E.Felcis	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Corporate and Public Finances	Sarmīte Rozentāle, Sandra Brigsa	6	Business Environment Administration
Organization Strategic Management	Inese Vaivare	3	Business Environment Administration
Entrepreneurship Environment	Maira Leščevica	3	Business Environment Administration
Human Resources Development	Irēna Liepiņa, Inese Ebele, Vanda Brūvele	6	Business Environment Administration
Modelling of Business Processes Simulatio	Aigars Andersons	3	Business Environment Administration
Project Management Strategies and Tools	Maira Leščevica, Aigars Andersons	6	Business Environment Administration
Organisation Psychology	Lāsma Latsone	3	Business Environment Administration
Tourism Competitivness	Andris Klepers	4.5	Tourism Competitiveness Management
Strategic Leadership in Tourism	Ieva Kalve, Agita Līviņa	4,5	Tourism Competitiveness Management
Tourism Marketing Strategies	Aija Van der Steina	4.5	Tourism Competitiveness Management
Business Perspective to Research Methods	Linda Veliverronena	4.5	Tourism Competitiveness Management

Masters 2025 Spring semester

Courses can be chosen only from one master's program + compulsory Latvian language and culture (3ECTS)

Course	Lecturers	ECTS	Program	Notes
Qualitative research methods	L.Ločmele	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Persuasive communication	G.Krūmiņš, M.Priciņš, A.Tetarenko	6	Strategic Communication and Governance
Ethics and Values in Communication	J.Buholcs, L.Veliverronena	3	Strategic Communication and Governance
Strategic communication management	L.Šķestere, I.Blačforda	6	Strategic Communication and Governance
Strategic political communication and diplomacy	J.Trahimoviča	6	Strategic Communication and Governance
Legal and Institutional Framework of International Business	Irēna Liepiņa, Agita Līviņa, Anna Broka	6	Business Environment Administration
Integrated Research Methods	Sarma Cakula	3	Business Environment Administration
Corporative Responsibility and Ethics	Maira Leščevica	3	Business Environment Administration
Optional module Export marketing (Global Marketing and Customer Relationship, Management, Advertising Trends, E-commerce and E-Business (E-Business Technologies)		9	Business Environment Administration	Optional study mudule– depends on group`s choice*
Optional module Business to Business (B2B Modern logistic systems), Sustainable Cooperation Development Planning and Management, Communication in International Business		9	Business Environment Administration	Optional study mudule– depends on group`s choice*
Optional module Business networking (Social Networks in Business Environment, External Communication of the Organization, Smart Technologies and Data Security)		9	Business Environment Administration	Optional study mudule– depends on group`s choice*
Modul Recognition services and intellectual environments		9	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Geometry processing and visualization		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Augmented reality and computer vision algorythms		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Introduction in machine-learning and neural networks		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Modul VR/AR project sustainability and transformation		12		Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Innovations and project management		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Research methodologies and scientific publications		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Hackathon and teamwork		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming
Simulation modelling and data 3D visualization		3	Virtual Reality and Smart Technologies	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies and and programming

* Elective module – the choice will be known by 1.11.2024, one of the three optional course modules in the amount of 9 ECTS will be provided

achelor 2024 Autumn semester

Course	Lecturers	ECTS	Program	Notes
English for Business Purposes I	S.Laurīte	3	BV
German		3	TOV
Russian intermediate	O.Suharževska	3	TOV
French	B.Pāvule	3	TOV
English for Tourism	S.Goldmane	3	TOV
Body intelligence and well-being	I.Ebele	6	TOV+BV
Digital Marketing		3	BV
E-commerce	A.Andersons	6	BV
Business and Ethics	R.Jurkovič	3	BV
Export Marketing principles and tools	M.Lešcevica	3	BV
Mass Communication	L.Ločmele	6	KSA/MSŽ	Courses available if the minimum number (3) of students sign up
Social Psychology	A.Šmitiņa	3	KSA/MSŽ	Courses available if the minimum number (3) of students sign up
Latvian Language and Culture: Beauty from the Words to Identity	B.Pāvule- Malnača	3	International	Compulsory for all incoming exchange students
English for Specialisation	S.Laurīte	3	IT	IT specialization
Data transmission networks I	A.Cīrulis	3	IT
Data transmission networks III	A.Cīrulis	3	IT	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge data transmission
Data base technologies	R.Bāliņš	6	IT
Cultural intelligence	B.Pāvule-Malnača, S.Goldmane	3	IT
Python OOP and modeling	K.Osis	3	IT	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies
Geoinformation Systems	M.Kepka	3	IT	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies
Linux server administration	A.Cīrulis	3	IT	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies
Industrial psychology	D.Eroffev	3	IT

Bachelor 2025 Spring semester

Course	Lecturers	ECTS	Program	Notes
Building Acoustics	M.Fuzellier-Hart	1.5	IEB (Sustainable Building)
Project Management	I.Grīnfelde M.Leščevica	6	BV (business administration)/ TOV (tourism organisation and management)
Dark tourism and Visitor Motivation	I.Grīnfelde	3	TOV (tourism organisation and management)
Experiential Marketing	A.Klepers	3	TOV (tourism organisation and management)
Public Speaking	L.Ločmele	3	KSA (Communication and Public Relations) /MSŽ (Media and Journalism)
Intercultural CommunicationIntercultural Communication	L.Ločmele	3	TOV (tourism organisation and management)
English in Communication Science	Z.Golvere	3	KSA (Communication and Public Relations)
Cinematic Voyage: Approaching Culture, Memory, Characters, Embodiment	S.Goldmane, B.Pāvule-Malnača	3	KSA (Communication and Public Relations) /MSŽ (Media and Journalism)
Political Economy	A.Broka	6	KSA (Communication and Public Relations) /MSŽ (Media and Journalism)
Latvian Language and Culture: Beauty from the Words to Identity	B.Pāvule-Malnača	3	International	Obligatory for all international students
English for Business Purposes II	S.Laurīte	3	BV (Business administration)
German intermediate		3	TOV (tourism organisation and management)
French intermediate	B.Pāvule -Malnača	3	TOV (tourism organisation and management)
Organization of production and services	A.Sokolovs	3	MT (Mechatronics)
Internet of Things(IoT) and sensor networks	R.Bogdan	3	IT (Information Technologies)	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies
Computer architecture	T.Amsons	3	IT (Information Technologies)
Data transmission networks II	A.Cīrulis	3	IT (Information Technologies)	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies
Testing and its automation tools	M.Freimane, O.O.Sīpols	3	IT (Information Technologies)	Courses for students with at least intermediate level of knowledge in technologies
Introduction to Python Programming and Data Exploration	K.Osis	3	IT (Information Technologies)
Web Technologies	M.Meļņikovs	6	IT (Information Technologies)
Basics of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning	K. Osis, I.Zadeja	3	IT (Information Technologies)
Data Security and Protection	K. Felzenbergs	6	IT (Information Technologies)

EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Welcome to our vibrant showcase of success and inspiration—our Erasmus student stories! At Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, we take immense pride in the achievements of our students who embark on the enriching journey of the Erasmus program. This section celebrates the diverse experiences, transformative learning, and cross-cultural connections forged through their adventures abroad.

Transformative Journeys: Celebrating an Erasmus+ Success Story at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) is thrilled to share the inspiring story of Lusine Tovmasyan, an Erasmus+ student from Brusov State University, Armenia, whose journey with us exemplifies ...