From 14 to 18 July Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) will hold Ted4Lat Doctoral School and Workshop “Open Data to tackle intertwined environmental and social challenges”.

The main objective of the doctoral summer school is to bring students and professors working with data together. Students will give their doctoral thesis progress presentations as well as work in teams on new open data solutions, while professors will give valuable feedback and work as mentors.

“The Doctoral Summer School is intended to give doctoral students and degree candidates a boost in developing their dissertation work, as well as to promote skills in defining innovative products, which are essential for modern science that must become increasingly closer to society. To achieve these goals, doctoral students and degree candidates will have the opportunity to present progress reports and participate in a data Hackathon. Additionally, the program includes several invited speaker presentations on working with data in current research projects, as well as on specific data-related topics,” says SSII director, lead researcher, Ph.D. Oskars Java.

Students will participate in lectures, workshops and a Hackathon not only to learn on data usage as a driving force of digital transformation but to innovate themselves.

Main Fields of Education: Information and Communication Technologies; Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction

Partners:

• Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia)
• Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (France)
• Politecnico di Torino (Italy)
• Riga Technical University (Latvia)
• The Baltic Open Solutions Center (Latvia)

Maximum number of participants: 20

Application form HERE

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe under grant agreement. no 101079206

What is Blended Intensive Program – BIP? - These are short, intensive programmes that use innovative ways of learning and teaching, including the use of online cooperation. The programmes may include challenge-based learning where transnational and transdisciplinary teams work together to tackle challenges for example those linked to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals or other societal challenges identified by regions, cities or companies. The intensive programme should have added value compared to existing courses or trainings offered by the participating HEIs and can be multiannual. By enabling new and more flexible mobility formats that combine physical mobility with a virtual part, blended intensive programmes aim at reaching all types of students from all backgrounds, study fields and cycles. Groups of higher education institutions will have the opportunity to organise short blended intensive programmes of learning, teaching and training for students and staff. During these blended intensive programmes, groups of students and/or staff as learners will undertake a short-term physical mobility abroad combined with a compulsory virtual component facilitating collaborative online learning exchange and teamwork. The virtual component must bring the learners together online to work collectively and simultaneously on specific assignments that are integrated in the blended intensive programme and count towards the overall learning outcomes. In addition, blended intensive programmes can be open to student and staff from any HEI, including local students and local staff. Blended intensive programmes build capacity for developing and implementing innovative teaching and learning practices in the participating HEIs (ERASMUS+ programme guide 2024, p.52)

International master's program “Gamified Reality Applications For Real-World Challenges And Experiences (GRACE)” established 30 Mentorship Agreements with companies and another 30 Memoranda of Understanding with HEIs, Organisations, Associations, Research Institutions, and companies expressing the intention of partners to accept a seat on the Advisory Board.

• As partner universities within the European University Alliance E³UDRES², the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences (Austria), Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia) share common expertise in game and XR development as well as in several of the potential fields of application, such as health, manufacturing, smart industries, creative industries, or education. To bundle these competencies, a Joint Master of Science degree programme is conducted, focusing on new XR gamification-based learning applications that prepare graduates to develop innovative products for future markets. Due to its practice-integrated form of study, the E³UDRES² Joint Master’s Programme Gamified Reality Applications for Real-world Challenges and Experiences (hereinafter referred to as “GRACE”) intensively links study and professional practice.

• The collaboration between companies and the Consortium centres on an intricate mentorship programme that significantly benefits all parties involved, particularly students. This program is characterised by its flexibility, allowing stakeholders to determine the form and extent of mentoring that best suits their needs and resources. The range of engagement options is broad, spanning from minimal supervision with just three contacts per semester to more intensive collaborations such as fixed contracts for work or internships.

• A key feature of this program is its collaborative approach to project development. Both companies and students have the opportunity to propose projects, fostering innovation and ensuring that the work remains relevant to both academic and industry interests. To facilitate effective partnerships, a matchmaking process is employed to pair mentors with students, taking into account factors such as skills, expertise, career goals, and project requirements.

• To facilitate the on-boarding process and provide long-term methodological support for mentoring, we are developing a multi-level Mentorship Trainee Program for mentors as a continuing education offering. This program takes the form of micro-credentials, which complement the employee’s competency portfolio.

• This mentorship structure creates value for all participants. Students gain practical experience, industry insights, and potential career opportunities. Companies benefit from access to fresh talent, innovative ideas, and a pool of potential future employees. Mentors benefit from gaining additional competencies. Universities strengthen their industry connections and enhance the practical relevance of their academic programs.

Find full list of companies: Mentorship Partners – Joint Master Grace

Find full list of HEIs, Organisations, Associations, Research Institutions, and companies: Advisory Board – Joint Master Grace

Companies and institutions in Latvia - SIA EXONICUS R&D, SIA "Overly Creator", SIA "BirgerMind", BIMSynch, Studio Perspective, Strenči Psychoneurological Hospital, High Hill (Fungo App), Latvian Construction Companies Association, RIGA STRADIŅA UNIVERSITY, and VREACH. Students will work closely with these partners and, upon successful collaboration, develop real, usable products with high technical readiness levels (TRL6-7).

Until April 21, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences students from all study programs and study fields can apply to represent ViA in the E³UDRES² network.

This is a unique opportunity to represent your own interests and those of other ViA students in Europe, including gaining international experience, establishing new contacts, traveling (short-term trips), networking with like-minded young people and experts in various fields. E³UDRES² is an opportunity to change your everyday life and overcome serious challenges that will contribute to your experience and ability to cooperate in the future.

“The opportunity to represent student voices in the E³UDRES²student council for two years gave me the opportunity to seriously develop project management and problem-solving skills, and of course, the ability to cooperate in an environment of different cultures and mentalities. This is a way to learn more about student opportunities, make my first contacts with other students in Europe and elsewhere in the world, as well as bring my ideas not only to ViA, but also to the entire E3UDRES2 community," says student representative Karīna Anna Lapiņa.

Selection criteria:

• ViA student (preference given to students who are not final year students)
• Preference given to previous experience in working on school and/or student councils, student-organized events

Interested parties who have questions or want to learn more will have the opportunity to meet online with the current ViA student representative in the E³UDRES² network – Karīna Anna Lapiņa. The meeting will take place on April 15 at 3:30 p.m.

Send a short motivation letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 21.

To strengthen collaboration with industry companies and organizations and to discuss how to jointly develop a modern tourism education offering, an interactive seminar titled "Future Paths of Tourism Education" was held at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences on 3 April 2025. The workshop brought together 17 organizations from all regions of Latvia.

The event began with a presentation on tourism study opportunities at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, introducing participants to current projects and research in the tourism sector and their practical application. Attendees learned about projects such as CirToS, Change(K)now!, Life LatViaNature, Interactive Gardens, and SIPAS. The university students also provided insights into how industry collaboration is integrated into their studies, for example, through joint activities such as hackathons.

The second part of the event featured a workshop titled "Towards Tourism Education in Collaboration", organized in the framework of the SIPAS project (Promoting Sustainability and Technology in Tourism, Hospitality, and Service Studies through Strategic Industry Partnerships). Within the SIPAS project, all participating universities - in Latvia, Portugal, and India - are hosting meetings with industry representatives to evaluate existing collaborations and develop new ideas for improving cooperation between universities and the industry. This includes discussions on new tourism courses developed within the SIPAS project. The workshop focused on generating ideas and solutions that benefit all parties, covering aspects such as study content, collaboration, and resource sharing.

As a result of the workshop and discussions, industry stakeholders and collaboration partners shared their perspectives on improving cooperation with the university. Recommendations were provided, and barriers were discussed regarding how to ensure more effective communication of research results, improve the internship process and study content, and provide better feedback to the industry on various university initiatives. A key takeaway from the workshop was that collaboration should bring mutual benefits to both involved parties.