University of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Universitāte, shortened LU) is a public research university located in Riga, Latvia. The university was established in 1919. It is one of the largest and most prestigious higher education institutions in the Baltic States.
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History
The University of Latvia, initially named as the Higher School of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Augstskola) was founded on September 28, 1919, on the basis of the former Riga Polytechnic (founded in 1862). The first rector of the university was chemist Paul Walden. In 1923, the school received its current name with the approval of its constitution, the University of Latvia (Universitas Latviensis).
In the period between 1919 and 1940, the University of Latvia was the main centre of higher education, science and culture in the Republic of Latvia. The former building of the Riga Polytechnic on Raiņa bulvāris 19 serves as the university's main building. In the pre-WWII years, it was possible to gain higher academic education not only at the University of Latvia but also at the Latvian State Conservatory and Academy of Arts.
With the beginning of the Soviet occupation, the university was renamed as the Latvian State University (LVU, Latvian: Latvijas Valsts Universitāte) from 1940 to 1941 and from 1944/1945 to 1958. Under the Nazi occupation, from 1942 to 1944/1945 its name was the University of Riga (Latvian: Rīgas Universitāte). After World War II, over time the Latvian University of Agriculture, Riga Stradiņš University, and Riga Technical University separated from the University of Latvia and became well-known centres of education and research in their own right. In 1958, the university was renamed as the Pēteris Stučka Latvian State University (Latvian: Pētera Stučkas Latvijas Valsts Universitāte), which was its official name until 1990.
With Latvia regaining independence, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia reconfirmed the Constitution of the University of Latvia on September 18, 1991. It stated that the institution is "a state establishment of academic education, science and culture which serves the needs of Latvia and its people". Alongside the Constitution (the Satversme of the UoL), the flag, the anthem, the university's emblem, the rector's chain, and the official garments for the rector, vice-rector and deans were re-adopted as attributes of the University of Latvia.
The EuroFaculty, created by the CBSS to support reforms at the universities in Tartu, Riga, and Vilnius, was organized with its headquarters at the University of Latvia from 1993 to 2005. The Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy was merged into the university in 2017.
In recent years, the university has often faced serious reputational problems. Several professors have been caught plagiarizing. The current rector and his former deputy have been charged with serious crimes. A criminal investigation into the embezzlement of European funds in the project led by the former chairman of the Constituent Assembly of the university is underway.
Enrollment
The University of Latvia offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels of study and in October 2014 more than 14,000 students, including Ph.D. and exchange students, had enrolled in various study programs. Almost one third of them studied in business and economics related programs.
Organisation
The university consists of 6 faculties:
Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences
Department of Plant Physiology
Department of Botany and Ecology
Department of Human and Animal Physiology
Department of Hydrobiology
Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology
Department of Molecular Biology
Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology
Department of Inorganic Chemistry
Department of Analytical Chemistry
Department of Organic Chemistry
Department of Physical Chemistry
Centre of Food Chemistry
Centre of Chemistry Didactics
Centre of Health Management and Informatics
Department of Anatomy and Histology
Centre of Experimental Surgery
Department of Pharmacology
Department of Internal Medicine
Department of Medical Biochemistry
Department of Medical Pedagogy, Ethics and History
Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science
The Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science of the University of Latvia (Latvian: Matemātikas un informātikas institūts, IMCS) was founded in 1959 as a computer research centre, now consisting of about 200 researchers, assistants, engineers, and software developers.
Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics
The Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics (GGI) of the University of Latvia (Latvian: Ģeodēzijas un ģeoinformātikas institūts) is the reestablishment of the Institute of Geodesy since 1994. The researchers of the Institute of Geodesy (1924-1944) worked successfully on the research and education in many advanced topics of that time – development and adjustment of National geodetic networks, photogrammetry, studies of vertical Earth movement and research in gravimetric and magnetic measurements. Currently, the research areas are developed in satellite geodesy and geoinformatics. The main topic is the development of satellite laser ranging systems (SLR), both the hardware and control software. Two SLR prototypes were developed until 2010 by spending low expenditures. The third most improved model is under development now. All the knowledge and experience of the staff gained since 1975 is applied. Younger colleagues are involved in the development process.
The prototype digital zenith camera for studies of vertical deflection has been developed recently. The test results reach a precision of 0.1 arc second which is very promising for the improvement of the quality of the National model of Latvia gravity field modelling. The recent version of the National gravity field developed at the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics has achieved a precision of about 2 cm which is much higher than the previous model (7–8 cm) used in Latvia. The high precision gravity field model is very important for practice. It gives the possibility to achieve correspondingly high precision of normal height determination using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in geodetic measurements.
There has been achieved at the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics the high precision results in studies of vertical and horizontal motion of the Earth in Latvia by carrying out the analysis of the 7 year GNSS observations at the LatPos and EUPOS-RIGA permanent station networks.
There are developed the GIS database for Latvia and cities of Latvia, developed digital terrain models.
Amateur Art Activities
The university has a number of amateur choirs, orchestras and dance groups, as well as a student theatre. Minjona is a women's choir based at the University of Latvia.
People
Notable professors and lecturers
Andris Ambainis, computer scientist
Mārcis Auziņš, physicist
Kārlis Balodis, economist
Konstantīns Čakste, legal theorist and LCP Chairman, son of Latvian president Jānis Čakste
Jānis Endzelīns, linguist
Teodors Grīnbergs, was a professor and Latvian prelate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and its first archbishop from 1932. He was forcibly taken into exile in Germany in 1944. He continued to serve as archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia in exile
Karlis Kaufmanis, astronomer
Augusts Kirhenšteins, microbiologist
Eižens Laube, architect
Jānis Maizītis, lawyer and second prosecutor general of Latvia
Valdis Muktupāvels, ethnomusicologist and doctor of art criticism
Velta Ruke-Dravina linguist, folklorist
Notable alumni
Māris Čaklais, Latvian poet
Valdis Dombrovskis, Latvian politician, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, former prime minister of Latvia
Klāvs Elsbergs, Latvian poet
Ivars Godmanis, Latvian politician, former prime minister of Latvia, MeP
Uldis Ģērmanis, Latvian historian and writer
Rinalds Grants, archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Ivars Kalviņš, Latvian chemist, has worked on the foundation of mildronate
Valdemārs Klētnieks, Latvian writer and national Scout Commissioner
Guntars Krasts, Latvian politician, former prime minister of Latvia, MeP
Hugo Teodors Krūmiņš, Latvian playwright and poet
Kirovs Lipmans, Latvian business person and ice hockey executive
Zenta Mauriņa, Latvian writer
George Nagobads, Latvian-born American physician
Artis Pabriks, Latvian politician, former Latvian minister of foreign affairs
Andris Piebalgs, Latvian politician and diplomat, former European Commissioner for Energy
Ilmārs Poikāns, Latvian AI researcher, hacker