With the aim of increasing the competitiveness of Riga Technical University on a national and international scale, making further progress towards a top 500 position in key global rankings of universities, and to strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation in studies and science, the RTU council has thus far approved the reorganization of nine faculties.
The newly formed faculties will begin operations on January 1, 2024; with the academic deans of each respective department to be confirmed no later than December 1, 2023.
In implementing strategic reforms, the Council of RTU has approved the merging of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Electronics and Telecommunications, E-study Technology and Humanities and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Environmental Engineering (EVIF) to create one department, the Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology and Energy.
The Faculty of Civil Engineering (BIF) and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Transport and Aeronautics will transform into the Faculty of Civil and Mechanical Engineering. In addition, the Institute of Environmental Protection and Heat Systems of EVIF and the Institute of Water Systems and Biotechnology of BIF will merge with the Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry (MLĶF) to create the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technologies (beginning on January 1, 2024).
To strengthen design education, the Faculty of Architecture and the Institute of Design Technologies of MLC will merge to become the Institute of Architecture and Design.
The Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management will continue to function under its current department name.
The Council of RTU, In its assessment in studies, science, and innovation, has set ambitious goals for the university, including progress to the level of TOP 500 universities and closer cooperation with industry, which is very important for RTU as a science university.
«To accomplish this, the structure of the university must be modernized, the available financial and human resources must be used more effectively. Structural changes will help to find additional funding for the remuneration of academic and scientific staff, will raise the quality of education and the competitiveness of study programs, will ensure a faster development of the directions of science and innovation, which are vital for the growth of the national economy,» emphasized RTU Council Chairman Andris Vanags.
He added, «we expect that the initiated changes will bear fruit - they will help RTU to become more customer-oriented, proactively reacting to the needs of both students and the economy, increase its international recognition and influence, making the university one of the key players in the economic transformation of not only Latvia, but the entire Baltic region.»
The reforms have previously been supported by both the RTU Senate, which is made up of academic staff and students, and the RTU Council of Advisors, comprised of representatives from Latvia’s largest companies and leading business organizations.
It was recently announced that the RTU Deans of Faculties will be selected in an open competition. In accordance with the principles of good management, RTU organizes the dean selection competition in cooperation with the personnel selection and evaluation company - SIA «ASTRAL Executive Search».
RTU is currently undergoing extensive structural reforms, which include both the consolidation of faculties and the integration of other higher education institutions into the RTU science ecosystem.
The Latvian Maritime Academy was integrated into the RTU ecosystem on November 1, 2022, and the Liepāja Maritime College joined the growing RTU family on April 1 of this year.
On March 1, 2024, the University of Liepāja will also join the RTU ecosystem, followed by the Rēzekne Academy of Technology in 2025. Together with the Institute of Architecture and Design and the RTU Riga Business School, they will continue to operate as independent structural units under the supervision of the RTU Vice-Rector of Studies.
