"Sustainable economic growth and implementation of the third mission in the HEI" - study visit to Riga

Another meeting of the participants of the EU Erasmus+ KA2 project "Strengthening cooperation between universities and communities (UNICOM)" was held at the University of Latvia, located in Riga, on March 25-28, 2024. Olha Bratkova, as. prof. of the Department of General Hygiene and Ecology, and Nataliia Horbenko, inspector of the International Links Department, were delegated from National Pirogov Memorial Medical University to this meeting.

First of all, we’d like to note Latvia's unconditional support of the Ukrainian people in connection with the aggression of the russian federation, which is manifested almost everywhere! Ukrainian flags are seen on the streets of Riga with almost the same frequency as Latvian flags, if not more often. Slogans in support of Ukraine, refusal to communicate in the russian language and provision of social support to all immigrants from Ukraine who had to leave their homes due to the war - cannot but evoke a response in our hearts, and we are, of course, very grateful!

This meeting, which was devoted to the achievement of the project's goals, took place in the walls of the University of Latvia for the second time. This time, the seminar-training, which was held by the coordinator of the UNIСOM project at the University of Latvia, Professor Baiba Savrina and her colleagues, was dedicated to sustainable economic development and growth, as well as ways of its implementation. During the study visit, the project participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the experience of the University of Latvia in cooperation with local communities, the implementation of continuous education throughout life, the potential for business development in view of the third mission, aspects of the sustainability of cooperation with social partners, the municipality and local communities for the purpose of sustainable development of the community, including in the economic aspect.

I. Bausova, Director of the Educational Center of Management and Entrepreneurship of the University of Latvia, spoke about the University's significant experience in promoting the employment of university graduates and the possibility of sustainable career growth. After that, there was quite an interesting experience - the participation of delegates in the network online game "Bankrupt". Professor H. Kalkis familiarized the participants with the content of STEAM education and new requirements for various vacancies, and also noted that it is higher education that provides an opportunity to acquire the skills of modern and innovative thinking necessary for solving economic problems.

The participants also visited the Business Incubator of the University of Latvia, where the head of the Business Incubator, L. Berdzhina, spoke about her experience in involving young people in the creation and integration of start-ups.

In addition, during the study visit, the 82nd Annual International Scientific and Practical Conference of the University of Latvia "Sustainable Universities - Sustainable Communities" was held, in which representatives of VNMU took part with the report "Public health - the key to interaction in the community", familiarizing the project colleagues with the possibilities of our university to implement interaction with society through the impact on the state of its mental and somatic health, as well as with plans related to associated with the UNICOM project. After all the delegates of the Ukrainian consortium shared their own experience of implementing the third mission, the result was a speech by Alessandro Figus from the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (Italy) on the topic of sustainable development of universities in modern conditions.

Of course, the hospitable Baiba Savrina could not leave the participants of the meeting without interesting excursions and stories. In particular, the delegates visited the Museum of Science of the University of Latvia, the Latvian National Library, and took a walk through the old town.

In order to get acquainted with the development of cooperation between universities and communities in the regions, a trip was made to the community of Kuldiga, where the role of the third mission of higher education institutions and its place in regional development programs were discussed by the Head of the branch R. Karlovitsa and the lecturer of the University of Latvia  K. Berdzhin-Tsunsk in within the walls of the branch of the University of Latvia in Kuldiga. The participants also had the opportunity to talk with the head of the municipality of Kuldiga I. Astashevska, who, in particular, told about the participation of the community of Kuldiga in supporting immigrants from Ukraine, as well as the strategies of cooperation of the local community with institutions of higher education in matters of development and implementation of the third mission.

The experience gained will make it possible to define new mechanisms for the development of the third mission of universities in Ukraine. Work continues!

Project participants
Olga Bratkova and Nataliia Horbenko