RTU received awards

Family-Friendly Enterprise 

Already for the second consecutive year Riga Technical University (RTU) has been recognised as a family-friendly enterprise. On Wednesday, 31 May, at a solemn ceremony RTU Vice-Rector for Development Artūrs Zeps received a special certificate from the Minister of Welfare Jānis Reirs, which allows RTU to position itself in this status for a year. This recognition testifies RTU ability to implement a family-friendly policy while providing services and ensuring family-friendly environment.

RTU Children and Youth University, children activity room Integral Bear (Lācītis Integrālis), RTU Contemporary Dance Studio which provides an opportunity to learn first dance steps not only to the children of RTU staff, but also other children, engineering workshops organised by the university within various events in Latvia are just some examples, which demonstrate university efforts to become a family-friendly educational establishment.  For the second consecutive year, on 1 June, on the International Children’s Day, RTU takes part in the event «Children at Work», by inviting children of employees to visit the workplace of their parents and participate in educational and exploratory activities.

The status of «Family-Friendly Enterprise» allows the enterprise to use the logo of event at the establishment and its website, in media and job advertisements for one year.

The status of «Family-Friendly Enterprise» is granted by the Ministry of Welfare, and this year it has been awarded for the tenth time in order to promote the idea of a family-friendly enterprise and attract more and more new businesses. Being fully aware of the need to appeal to the enterprises and promote implementation of family-friendly policies, the Ministry of Welfare has come to an agreement with the Sustainability Index. Since 2011 companies have been jointly developing and integrating relevant criteria into the sustainability index questionnaire that allows identifying and selecting the enterprises, which meet these criteria and demonstrate good practice. One of the criteria for granting the status is the company policies oriented on ensuring efficient balance between employee work and family life, for example, opportunities for teleworking, flexible working hours or part-time employment.

Other criteria include occupational health and safety, customer-centered services, support provided to events organised for children and families, involvement in charity activities. Suitability of the premises and equipment for the needs of children is also taken into account. No less significant is the customer care as it promotes enterprise loyalty, as well as contributes to its reputation also in international markets.

Sustainability Index

For the second consecutive year, Riga Technical University (RTU) is listed in the gold category of Sustainability Index of Latvian enterprises. In 2016, RTU for the first time received gold.

The enterprises included in the gold category demonstrate openness and transparency. The corporate responsibility strategy of these companies include clear and measurable aims.

In Sustainability Index 2017, 7 Latvian enterprises received certificates attesting their rank in the Platinum Category. In comparison with the previous year, the highest performance was repeatedly demonstrated by Latvenergo, Ventspils nafta termināls, CEMEX and RIMI Latvia, as well as by newcomers, such as Latvijas mobilais telefons, SEB banka and Cēsu alus.

This year 19 companies were also ranked in the gold category: Balta, Baltic International Bank, Coca-Cola HBC Latvia, Daugavpils siltumtīkli, GRIFS AG, Latvian Railways, Latvian Shipping Company, Latvijas Loto, Liepājas enerģija, Maxima Latvia, PF Ķekava, Rīgas siltums, Riga Technical University, Roche Latvia, Sadales tīkls, International Airport Riga, Swedbank, Ventspils reiss and ZAAO.

This year 21 companies were ranked in the silver category, and 6 companies – in the bronze category.

The title of Sustainability Champion or the award for the fastest progress within a year was granted to automation system manufacturer from Liepāja AE Partner.

The event has been organized in Latvia for eight consecutive years, and RTU has participated for five years. The solemn ceremony was attended by the Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia Ināra Mūrniece, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis, Minister of Economics Arvils Ašeradens and Minister of Finance Dana Reizniece-Ozola.

Partners of Sustainability Index initiative are Institute for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility and social partners at the national level – Employers’ Confederation of Latvia and Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia.
Sustainability Index is a strategic management tool based on an internationally recognized methodology. It is used to assess sustainability and corporate responsibility level of company performance. The Index provides objective criteria to the public, state and non-government institutions, which can be used to praise and support the enterprises that promote development of the Latvian national economy in the long term.

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