In order to promote RTU and study opportunities, representatives of the International Cooperation Department, Head of the International Partnership Unit Laura Štāle and Deputy Vice-Rector for International Studies, Professor Igors Tipāns, participated in the Asia Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE 2024) conference in Australia, where they met with colleagues from Australian universities and discussed potential cooperation in staff and student mobility, research and EU projects. During the conference, RTU colleagues also met with partners from Korea, Japan, the USA, Germany, France and elsewhere.
In the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), L.Štāle and I.Tipāns were introduced to the Institute's experience in cybersecurity, IT and engineering. They also discussed the possibilities of cooperation between the two universities and the opportunities for mobility of staff and students. An overview of RMIT itself was given by Marc Schonhardt, the cyber security centre was presented by Mr. Matt Warren & Zahir Tari, Prof. Iqbal Gondal gave more information about the IT sector at the university, Prof. Reza Hoseinnezhad provided further information about the engineering sector.
RMIT representatives were also introduced to the study process at RTU, the study environment and the development of internationalisation at the university. Opportunities to collaborate on research projects, providing funding and publishing joint research articles were discussed.
Thanks to the Latvian Embassy in Australia and LIAA Economic Representative in Australia Ms. Sabīne Kazaka, a meeting with the Latvian community was organised at the Latvian House in Melbourne. During the visit, RTU representatives met with Australian Latvians. During the meeting the guests presented Riga and RTU, as well as various opportunities offered to foreign students. Around 20 Latvians from Melbourne and other parts of Australia, including Sydney and Canberra, attended the event both in person and remotely. About half were young people interested in learning about opportunities for international students in Latvia. The greatest interest among young Australian Latvians was shown in the summer schools organised by RTU. For them it would be an opportunity not only to experience the country where their ancestors lived, but also to learn its language and culture.
