Ventspils Augstskola

Guest lecture “Beyond Borders: Diplomacy, Nordic–Baltic Cooperation and Careers”

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:47:48 GMT

Everyone is kindly invited to a guest lecture “Beyond Borders: Diplomacy, Nordic–Baltic Cooperation and Careers” , which will take place on 24 April, 2026.

During the lecture, representatives from the Embassies of Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, and Sweden will talk about diplomatic work, cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries, foreign affairs, and career opportunities in the field of diplomacy and international relations.

Time: Friday , April 24, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Place: VUAS, D104

Working language: English

Guests:
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Denmark – Alexander Lemche
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Estonia – Siim Krispin
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Lithuania – Vilius Arlauskas
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Norway – Annlaug Rønneberg
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland – Eero Vento
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden – Hugo Qvinth

Talks&Tea – learn about the Baltics

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:07:45 GMT

On Tuesday we invite you to another TALKS & TEA afternoon with activities to learn about Latvian culture and to connect with local students!

This time we will talk about different cities in Latvia and in general the Baltic countries, so you have the opportunity to get inspiration for your next weekend trip! You are welcome to bring snacks and your cup because this time there will be tea!

Everybody is welcome to join!

Where & when?

Date: 24th March 2026

Time: 17:00

Place: D103

We are looking forward to seeing you and your friends!

Rector participated in a roundtable discussion “Best Practice Examples of Latvian European University Alliances in Promoting Innovation and Regional Development”

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:04:00 GMT

At the end of February, the Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Andris Vaivads, participated in a roundtable discussion titled “Best Practice Examples of Latvian European University Alliances in Promoting Innovation and Regional Development.” The discussion brought together representatives of Latvian universities, ministries, and European University alliances to evaluate more than five years of experience and to discuss the potential of European Universities for the development of higher education in Latvia.

During the discussion, participants focused on how European University alliances can be used effectively to strengthen the competitiveness of Latvian higher education, promote innovation, and support regional development. The role of universities in developing human capital and fostering international cooperation was also emphasized. At the same time, participants discussed challenges faced by universities, including resource-intensive coordination, issues related to institutional capacity, and the importance of state support for the successful implementation of these initiatives.

The participants of the discussion also highlighted the need for closer cooperation between universities and policymakers to ensure the sustainable development of the higher education and innovation ecosystem in Latvia.

The roundtable discussion concluded with a shared recognition of the importance of exchanging experience and a common willingness to continue strengthening the role of Latvian higher education at the European level.

International Meeting Strengthens Collaboration in Space Technology and Innovative Materials Research

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:35:44 GMT

Within the framework of the JIVE ERIC Latvia Partnership Plan, a meeting took place on February 24 to enhance cooperation in the research of space technology solutions and innovative materials. The meeting brought together Latvian representatives from the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VIRAC) and the Institute of Solid State Physics of the University of Latvia, as well as international guests from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) and L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Kazakhstan).

During the meeting, participants presented their current research directions and opportunities. Discussions were held on potential joint cooperation and the development of projects within European and international programmes. The participants also identified potential synergies between space research technologies and innovations in new materials. Particular attention was given to shared use of research infrastructure, the involvement of early-career researchers, and the strengthening of long-term partnerships.

This meeting marks an important step in expanding the international cooperation of Latvian scientific institutions, laying the foundation for joint research and innovation projects while promoting knowledge transfer and technological development on both regional and global scales.

The meeting was held within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund project No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012 “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation”.

“Talks and Tea” Explores Festivals and Traditions

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:27:53 GMT

On Monday, March 3rd, the latest Talks and Tea session gathered around 16 participants, including international students, Erasmus+ students, and local students, for a relaxed afternoon focused on the theme “Festivals.” The event aimed to create a welcoming environment where students from different backgrounds could meet, exchange experiences, and build a stronger sense of community.

The session began with a short introduction to several Latvian celebrations connected to the traditional sun year, highlighting a few interesting customs during these festivities.

Following the introduction, participants divided into small discussion groups where they shared festival traditions from their own countries. These conversations created a lively exchange of ideas and experiences, allowing students to discover both differences and similarities between cultures.

Beyond learning about traditions, the event’s main focus was bringing people together. Through informal discussions over snacks, students had the opportunity to connect, practice intercultural communication, and build friendships in a welcoming and inclusive space.

The Talks and Tea series continues to support community building, inclusion, diversity, and cooperation between international and local students. By creating opportunities for dialogue and shared experiences, the events help strengthen connections within the student community and encourage a sense of belonging for everyone involved.

Researchers are participating in the international Economic Forum 2026

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:45:13 GMT

On March 5–7, 2026, the Latvian Academy of Sciences hosted the 8th International Forum of Humanistic Economics “ Innovative Economy in a Time of Geopolitical Change ”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Researchers from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Professor Una Libkovska and doctoral student Monta Anšica, participated in the forum, presenting research findings on the importance and development of management competences as a strategic investment in the development of organizations operating in knowledge-intensive sectors and promoting sustainable development, within the framework of the State Research Programme project “Elaboration of evidence-based solutions for effective professional competence development of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglitiba-2023/4-0001).

The main objective of the forum defined the promotion of dialogue between science, business and policy makers in search of solutions for sustainable economic growth, the development of innovation and the acquisition of new export markets. The forum brought together scientists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors and international experts from European, American and Asian countries to discuss the importance of innovation in economic development in a time of change. During the discussions, special attention was paid to the development of education and human capital, the introduction of science-based innovations, attracting investments and the development of competitive projects in Latvia and Europe.

During the forum, plenary sessions were held in which international experts analysed global economic development trends, the importance of innovation in technological advancement, and the role of human capital in ensuring sustainable growth. The programme also included thematic workshops and discussion sessions addressing current issues related to economic development, including the role of artificial intelligence and high technologies in shaping modern economies. Scientists from different countries, innovation policy experts, entrepreneurs, and representatives of the academic community participated in the discussions, fostering international exchange of experience and strengthening cooperation. The insights gained at the forum promote the use of research results in practice and help to develop knowledge transfer, which is essential for strengthening the competitiveness of the Latvian economy.

Scientific Seminar at VIRAC Brings Together Researchers to Study Solar Activity and Space Weather

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:33:26 GMT

The Sun has recently passed the peak of its activity cycle, and energetic events occur on its surface almost every day, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These phenomena directly affect Earth’s magnetic field and ionosphere, creating space weather conditions that can disrupt satellites, communications, and navigation systems.

These topics were discussed at a seminar held at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) on 26 February 2026, organized within the framework of the LOFAR-ERIC initiative. The seminar brought together scientists from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia), the Institute of Radio Astronomy and the Institute of Geophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University (Ukraine), and the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory of the University of Oulu (Finland).

During the seminar, participants discussed recent results in geomagnetic data analysis and studies of ionospheric processes. One presentation demonstrated an automated approach to processing geomagnetic data from the international INTERMAGNET station network, enabling more efficient analysis of large datasets collected from multiple observation stations.

Researchers also presented the first results from observations of the annular solar eclipse on 17 February 2026, using the “Mayaki” geomagnetic station in Ukraine and the URAN-4 decameter radio telescope. These observations help investigate the influence of solar activity on Earth’s magnetic field and the dynamics of the ionosphere.

Another presentation introduced preliminary results from observations of a strong geomagnetic storm near the meridian of the Struve Geodetic Arc. Researchers compiled digital data from 16 geomagnetic stations and analysed variations in the geomagnetic field during intense magnetic storms in January and November 2025. These data will form the basis for the geomagnetic component of a space weather monitoring system and will contribute to a better understanding of changes in Earth’s magnetic field.

The seminar emphasized the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in space weather research. Increasingly, studies rely on integrated observation methodologies that combine radio astronomy observations, geomagnetic field measurements, and cosmic ray data. This approach enables more accurate analysis of ionospheric processes and the effects of solar activity on the near-Earth space environment.

International research infrastructure plays a significant role in these studies. Observations are conducted using the LOFAR LV614 station in Irbene (Latvia), the KAIRA antenna array (Finland), and the URAN-4 radio telescope (Ukraine). Particular attention is paid to observations of ionospheric scintillations from strong cosmic radio sources during periods of intense solar activity, as well as to the influence of geomagnetic anomalies on these processes.

The research also covers space weather effects in the region of the Struve Geodetic Arc, which connects Latvia, Finland, and Ukraine. Of particular importance in this region is the Odesa regional magnetic anomaly, where unique geomagnetic conditions may amplify the effects of solar activity on the ionosphere.

The seminar was organised within the framework of the project “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation” (No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

PRESENTATIONS

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences at Vidzeme Innovation Days: "Start-up management" as a pillar of the regional ecosystem

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:49:58 GMT

On February 26, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the Vidzeme Innovation Days event in Valmiera, "START-UPS – THE NEXT LEVEL IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN VIDZEME REGION", where VUAS was represented by Elvis Brauns, a mentor of start-up management and head of the Student Entrepreneurship Centre.

As part of the event, Elvis Brauns participated in a panel discussion on the development of start-ups in the regions, emphasizing that a competitive business environment outside the capital requires purposeful cooperation between educational institutions, entrepreneurs and support organizations. At the same time, the issue of how to create the conditions in the regions for ideas to become pilot projects, products and sustainable companies more quickly was raised.

In addition to the panel discussion, participants in the event were presented with the approach and practical methods of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences study programme "Start-up Management," based on the principles of Learn by Doing. The presentation explained how, through teamwork, real challenges and mentoring, students develop entrepreneurial skills and create projects that can make a significant contribution to regional development.

"The ecosystem of regional start-ups is not just about ideas – it needs the environment, people, collaboration and practice. That is why at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, we learn by doing and create a platform where students can work with real business needs," emphasizes Elvis Brauns.

Participation in the event strengthened the presence of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in the regional business support network and promoted the identification of new contacts and cooperation directions with entrepreneurs, education representatives and ecosystem organizations of the Vidzeme region.

About the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences programme "Start-up Management"

"Start-up Management" is a professionally oriented study program with an emphasis on developing practical business skills, teamwork and mentoring, helping students create projects and develop ideas to real solutions for the market.

Sanita Lasmane defends doctoral thesis and obtains a Doctor of Science degree

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:27:24 GMT

A student of the joint doctoral study programme “Economics and Entrepreneurship” implemented by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, and RTU Rēzekne Academy – Sanita Lasmane – has successfully defended her doctoral thesis titled “ Analysis and Improvement of Labour Market Assessment Approaches: A Case Study of Latvia ” and has been awarded the Doctor of Science (Ph.D.) degree in Social Sciences.

The aim of the dissertation is to adapt labour market assessment methods to the specific conditions of Latvia, based on scientific literature and statistical analysis.

Innovative solutions in economic modelling

Within the research, the author conducted an extensive analysis of labour market theories and schools of economic thought. One of the most significant contributions of the thesis is related to the improvement of the Cobb–Douglas production function.

Sanita Lasmane proposes two new estimation approaches adapted to Latvian conditions:

analysis based on traditional resources (capital and labour),
an experimental approach in which traditional resources are replaced by potential “invisible” agents in the economy — banks and companies .

Such an approach allows for a more detailed assessment of the actual impact of resources on gross domestic product (GDP).

Quantitative Assessment of Human Capital

Special attention in the dissertation is devoted to human capital in Latvia. The author has developed a new approach for the quantitative assessment of human capital at both national and regional levels. This method is unique in that it is tailored to the Latvian context and relies on regularly available data, enabling timely monitoring of changes in the labour market.

Practical Significance of the Research

The research by S. Lasmane provides concrete recommendations for policymakers and industry experts. The proposed recommendations focus on:

promoting productivity growth ,
fostering the development of human capital in Latvia’s regions ,
improving the identification of labour market issues through an in-depth analysis of policy planning documents and statistical data.

Congratulations and we are proud of this achievement!

The TALKS & TEA afternoons are starting again

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:24:21 GMT

The TALKS & TEA afternoons are starting again! Next week on Tuesday we invite YOU to a cozy tea afternoon with activities to learn new Latvian words and to connect with local students! This time we will talk about festivals and celebrations we have in Latvia but, of course, we are also excited to hear about the festivals that you celebrate!

Everybody is welcome to join!

Where & when?

Date: 3rd March 2026

Time: 17:00

Place: D103

We are looking forward to seeing you and your friends!

First Year of Postdoctoral Project Successfully Completed

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:28:28 GMT

The first year of the project "Investigation of physical mechanisms of mass ejection from young massive stars using CH3OH masers" has concluded with promising results. During this period, 22 star-forming regions were analyzed, with methanol maser emission detected in 13 of them; notably, 5 of these sources are newly discovered.

At the beginning of this year, postdoctoral researcher Artis Aberfelds commenced a 6-month mobility period with the project partner, the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory (OAC). The primary objectives of this residency include: Scientific Publication: Preparing a paper based on the aforementioned research findings. VLA Observations: Planning and processing data from the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope network.

Additionally, the researcher has joined the MAGMA (“the role of MAGnetic fields in MAssive star formation”) research project. This collaboration will provide crucial insights into the role of magnetic fields across scales ranging from parsecs to astronomical units

Cartoon of the formation of a young star and distortion of the magnetic field lines (in purple) at different spatial scales, according to a magnetically regulated collapse model.

Monograph on Translation Studies by Professor Emeritus Jānis Sīlis and Lecturer Aiga Bādere Published

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:00:29 GMT

The Latvian Language Institute of the University of Latvia has published the monograph “Translation Studies. Past and Present, in the World and in Latvia” by Professor Emeritus Jānis Sīlis and Lecturer Aiga Bādere of the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The monograph is a significant resource for researchers in translation studies, university students, translation professionals, and other interested readers.

For many years, Jānis Sīlis served not only as an associate professor, leading researcher, and professor at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, but also as the Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies. In the first three chapters of the monograph, he outlines the evolution of theoretical perspectives among translation scholars, discusses the understanding of translation theory and practice in the history of global translation studies, and examines both traditional and innovative research directions in Latvian translation studies over the past decade.

In the fourth chapter, Aiga Bādere reviews publications on translation technology within Latvian translation studies and highlights the interdisciplinary nature of machine translation. In the fifth chapter, Jānis Sīlis expands the bibliographic corpus of publications by Latvian translation scholars initiated in his previous monograph.

The monograph was prepared with the support of the National Research Programme “Latvian Studies for the Development of a Latvian and European Society”, project “Diversity of the Latvian Language in Time and Space” (VPP-LETONIKA-2021/4-0003). It is available in electronic format free of charge on the website of the Latvian Language Institute: https://lavi.lu.lv/2025-2/ .

Students participate in TechChill Student Challenge 2026

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:26:14 GMT

Last weekend, the TechChill Student Challenge 2026 took place in Riga, bringing together motivated students to experience the fast-paced world of startups. We are proud that 16 students from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the 24-hour hackathon, while three students from the Start-up Management programme were part of the organizing team, contributing to the successful delivery of the event.

During the challenge, participants formed teams, developed business ideas, validated their concepts, and presented their solutions to a professional jury, all within just 24 hours. Hackathons provide a valuable opportunity for students to apply their knowledge in practice, strengthen teamwork and problem-solving skills, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

The jury consisted of industry representatives: Luīze Dārta Sietiņa (TechChill), Āris Brenčis (NGL Ventures), Velma Linko (Junction), Lev Bass (Hukt AI), and Sigvards Krongorns (Verge HealthTech Fund). Their expertise provided valuable feedback and real-world insight into the startup ecosystem.
Among the participants, 4th year Start-up Management student Kate Liepa and her team achieved 2nd place, receiving tickets to Latitude59.

You can read her reflections on the experience here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kate-liepa-77168b24b_techchill-student-challenge-has-come-to-ugcPost-7431977095171371009-OA0U

We are proud of our students for their initiative, engagement, and strong representation of the university.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences starts project “Multi-material Dust Astrochemistry (DACE)”

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:46:34 GMT

As of January 2026, the Fundamental and Applied Research Programme of the Latvian Council of Science project No. lzp-2025/1-0065 “Multi-material Dust Astrochemistry (DACE)” has commenced. The research is being carried out by staff of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department at the Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

The scientific significance of DACE lies in its novelty. It has long been known that within the Solar System and in the wider cosmic space of our Galaxy and beyond there exist tiny solid grains – interstellar dust. They have a varied chemical composition, albeit two classes of materials dominate: silicate minerals (rock) and carbon (soot). This diversity of dust is taken into account in several subfields of astrophysics, such as physics of the interstellar medium physics and cosmochemistry (the science of the origin of the compounds and elements that formed the Solar System). However, in astrochemistry – which studies molecular transformations in the interstellar medium – the varied composition of dust has so far been largely ignored. Nevertheless, it may be significant, as many important chemical transformations in space occur on dust grain surfaces. Within DACE, we will investigate how differences in interstellar dust materials – including temperature, surface adsorption (molecular sticking) properties, and other parameters – affect the chemical composition of interstellar nebulae.

Starting in January, leading researchers J. Kalvāns and J. Freimanis began work on the DACE project, conducting preliminary studies as well as initial scientific and administrative planning and preparation. Full, coordinated, and active research began in February with the formal involvement of students. On February 18, the project’s opening seminar was held, during which two key research directions were defined: calculating temperatures for dust grains in interstellar clouds embedded in cosmic radiation fields, and adapting a new reaction database for astrochemical calculations. After the seminar, project participants visited VIRAC radio telescope complex in Irbene (see photo).

Project DACE participants: Kristaps Veitners, Nikita Muhaņko, Deivis Brakšs, Juris Kalvāns, and Juris Freimanis.

Meet, Share and Connect at the Doctoral Breakfast

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:05:12 GMT

What is the PhD experience like elsewhere in Europe?

The Doctoral Breakfast offers all PhD candidates from the universities of the COLOURS European Alliance a dedicated space to meet, share experiences, and broaden their perspectives on doctoral studies.

This monthly online event provides a welcoming environment for informal discussions, the exchange of good practices, and the emergence of new ideas.

The objective is promote and prepare international mobility experiences for teaching or training, to build connections, encourage dialogue, and foster peer-to-peer exchanges at the European level. It is also an opportunity to explore different approaches to doctoral studies, enrich one’s scientific reflection, and begin building a European research network from the start of an academic career.

Upcoming sessions:

Monday, 27 April – 9 to 10 :30 AM, CIeL meeting room and online

https://short.univ-lemans.fr/DoctoralBreakfast-27april

Friday, 29 May – 9 to 10 :30 AM, CIeL meeting room and online

https://short.univ-lemans.fr/DoctoralBreakfast-29may

Researchers Demonstrate at MarTe Technical Workshop How Simulation Tools Drive Maritime Innovations

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:34:48 GMT

Offshore wind energy, green hydrogen production, sustainable maritime transport, smart port infrastructure, and marine biotechnology are increasingly recognised as key pillars of the sustainable blue economy in the Baltic Sea region, shaping its long-term environmental resilience, energy independence, and economic transformation. At the first technical workshop of the project Marine Technology Excellence Hub for Sustainable Blue Economy in the Baltics (MarTe) , held at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), researchers demonstrated how such ambitions depend on advanced physical modelling and simulation tools that bridge research and industrial implementation.

The workshop, titled “ Physical Modelling for Blue and Green Transitions: Deep-Tech Tools from Lab to Market ”, brought together experts from VUAS, Riga Technical University, the University of Latvia, the UL Institute of Solid State Physics, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Tallinn University, and the University of Tartu.

Physical Modelling as a Development Engine

A central theme of the event was the role of numerical simulation in accelerating technological development. Using tools such as SOLIDWORKS, COMSOL Multiphysics, OpenFOAM, and other advanced platforms, engineers can analyse structural behaviour, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, electromagnetics, and multiphysics interactions before building physical prototypes.

“MarTe connects academic staff in Latvia and Estonia with industry, public administration and funding organisations to jointly develop innovation related to the Baltic Sea, coastal regions and ports,” explained VUAS researcher Vladislavs Bezrukovs. “We focus on science-intensive deep-tech solutions that support the green transition and digitalisation, including offshore renewable energy systems, green hydrogen technologies, maritime decarbonisation, smart port infrastructure, environmental monitoring, and bio- and hydro-technologies tailored for the Baltic Sea region.”

Open-Source and Commercial Tools in Practice

Sabīne Upnere (Riga Technical University) demonstrated applications of the open-source computational fluid dynamics toolkit OpenFOAM, highlighting its importance for small and medium enterprises due to the absence of costly licences. She showed how complex wind and water flow phenomena can be modelled in maritime contexts, including structural interaction and thermal processes.

Normunds Jēkabsons (University of Latvia) shared long-term experience in modelling wind turbines, vibration, heat transfer, and industrial flow systems, emphasising the strategic value of open-source tools for research flexibility and innovation capacity building.

From the commercial software perspective, Martin Johansson and Alex K. Aaskilde (PLM Group Sverige AB) introduced the newest features in SOLIDWORKS, including AI-assisted design functionalities that automate optimisation and reduce development time. They also presented support programmes offering free licences for early-stage start-ups, lowering barriers to innovation.

Modris Dobelis (Riga Technical University) demonstrated how SOLIDWORKS is integrated into engineering education and certification pathways, giving participants hands-on modelling opportunities and illustrating the direct link between academic training and industrial competence.

Marina Konuhova (Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia) demonstrated how multiphysics simulation in COMSOL enables the modelling of strongly coupled physical processes in liquid–hydrogen systems, including thermodynamic, fluid dynamic, and mechanical interactions relevant to renewable energy and industrial hydrogen applications. Her presentation illustrated how advanced numerical modelling supports optimisation of compression processes, improves system safety and efficiency, and reduces development risks at early design stages.

Vladislavs Bezrukovs (VUAS) showcased the application of electromagnetic (EM) simulations in EMWorks for analysing field distribution, induced currents, and performance constraints in linear generator systems. The presentation emphasised how accurate modelling of complex geometries and realistic boundary conditions is essential for predicting electromagnetic behaviour, optimising generator efficiency, and ensuring reliable operation in demanding engineering environments.

Modelling for Safety, Environment and Green Transition

Kristjan Tabri (Tallinn University of Technology) presented a comprehensive numerical reconstruction of the MS Estonia ferry disaster. His work illustrated how structural modelling and load simulations can deepen understanding of ship failures and contribute to maritime safety standards.

Environmental forecasting was addressed by Uldis Bethers and Tija Sīle (University of Latvia). They presented modelling systems that predict wind, wave, and hydrodynamic conditions without direct measurement, supporting port operations and coastal risk management.

From the industry perspective, Laura Apoga (LVR Flote Ltd) delivered an overview of maritime innovation within Latvia’s fleet modernisation efforts. She presented examples of hybrid vessel implementation, operational optimisation, and collaborative models between public institutions and industry partners. The talk highlighted practical pathways for introducing greener propulsion systems and improving coastal support services.

Andrejs Zvaigzne (Riga Technical University) showcased the development of zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell fishing vessels, discussing technical integration and regulatory challenges for decarbonising Baltic maritime transport.

Andrejs Krauklis (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies) discussed modelling of hydrothermal ageing and polymer degradation, critical for assessing long-term material reliability and environmental pollution risks.

Aleksejs Zolotarjovs (Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia) presented the Spectromarine case study – a successful example of bringing laboratory-developed water monitoring technologies to market through strategic niche positioning.

From Digital Design to Sustainable Blue Economy

Across all presentations, one message was clear: physical modelling is not an auxiliary tool but a core driver of innovation. By combining structural simulations, hydrodynamics, energy systems modelling, and environmental forecasting, researchers can move efficiently from theoretical concepts to industrial prototypes.

The workshop, which was attended by more than 50 participants both in person and remotely, demonstrated how simulation technologies underpin the transition to a sustainable blue economy in the Baltic region – enabling safer ships, greener propulsion systems, optimised port operations, and advanced marine materials.

Recorded presentations from the MarTe technical workshop are available on YouTube allowing a broader audience to access the knowledge shared during the event.

MarTe continues to strengthen collaboration between Latvia and Estonia, aligning academic expertise with industry needs and supporting the development of deep-tech solutions for the Baltic Sea region.

MarTe project: Marine technology excellence hub for sustainable blue economy in Baltics (European Commission – Horizon Europe, HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07-01. Nr. 101186498.

Researchers of the State Research Programme participated in a discussion on the opportunities and challenges of adult education

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:02:47 GMT

On January 16 within the framework of the State Research Programme of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Professor Una Libkovska, within the framework of the State Research Programme project "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia" (VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001), participated in a meeting with entrepreneurs organized by the State Education Development Agency and the Ventspils State City Education Board on opportunities and challenges for adult learning.

During the meeting, the opportunities offered by the skills management platform STARS for adult continuing education and professional upskilling were discussed, with a particular focus on the European Union projects "Training for Workers" and "Digital Skills for Experts". The discussions emphasize the importance of employers in providing support to employees in the process of starting training, as well as the need to establish purposeful cooperation between entrepreneurs, local government and educational institutions. VIAA's Department of Adult Education presented the learning opportunities offered by the STARS platform, as well as the necessary support for employed adults to start their studies and the role of the municipality in providing this support. In the second part of the event, meetings were held with municipal specialists and adult education organizers, representatives of youth and cultural work and other interested parties. The discussion discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in adult education, as well as identifying the necessary support from VIAA in reaching out to adults and motivating them to engage in learning.

The event brought together more than 20 representatives of business and institutions of Ventspils municipality, who actively participated in discussions, shared their experience and expressed proposals for improving the adult education offer. The meeting reaffirmed that coordinated and targeted cooperation between state institutions, local governments, educational institutions and employers is an essential prerequisite for the effective development of adult skills, strengthening competitiveness and sustainable employment.

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre researcher learns world-class ALMA observation data processing

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:48:41 GMT

Researcher Karina Šķirmante from the Engineering Institute Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the European ALMA School 2026 during the last week of January 2026. The goal was to learn how the world-class AMA interferometer works, including data retrieval and processing.

ALMA interferometrs. Foto: Alex Pérez ( https://www.almaobservatory.org/ ).

The training was organized by the European ALMA Regional Centre and took place at Leiden University in the Netherlands. The programme included both theoretical lectures and practical exercises using real observation data.

During the training, the main advantages of ALMA were highlighted, including high angular and spectral resolution, high sensitivity, full polarization mode, and the possibility of carrying out joint projects with other observatories.

In the practical sessions, participants learned to evaluate data quality and coverage and to create radio astronomy images. This included determining noise levels, creating masks, and performing other radio-astronomy data-processing tasks. CASA software was used for data processing.

Karina Šķimante plans to use the knowledge and practical skills gained in comet research, including preparing scientific publications, performing simulations, and analysing ALMA observation data.

The studies for Karina Skirmante were held within the framework of the project “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation” (No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012 ), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Defense of Sanita Lasmane’s Doctoral Thesis: “Analysis and Improvement of Labor Market Assessment Approaches: A Case Study of Latvia”

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:18:13 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences invites you to the public defense of Sanita Lasmane’s doctoral thesis, “Analysis and Improvement of Labor Market Assessment Approaches: A Case Study of Latvia,” for the acquisition of a Doctor of Science degree (Ph.D.) in Social Sciences.

Scientific Supervisor: Professor Sergejs Hiļķevičs, Dr. phys.

The author, S. Lasmane, will present innovative research aimed at adapting labor market assessment approaches specifically to the socio-economic situation in Latvia. The thesis was developed within the joint doctoral study program “Economics and Business” offered by three higher education institutions: Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, and the RTU Rēzekne Academy.

Research Relevance:

S. Lasmane’s research offers solutions in two directions of national importance:

- A New Human Capital Assessment Approach: A new approach has been developed for the quantitative assessment of human capital at national and regional levels using regularly available data.

- Estimation of Cobb-Douglas Production Function Parameters for Latvia: The Cobb-Douglas production function has been adapted to Latvian parameters, assuming that the sum of the coefficients α and β is not equal to 1. This was achieved by using traditional resources—capital and labor—as well as replacing them with potential "invisible agents" in the economy: banks and enterprises.

Scientific Reviewers Associate

1.Professor Aija van der Steina, Dr. oec., Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia;

2.Professor Sandra Jēkabsone, Dr. oec., University of Latvia, Latvia;

3.Associate Professor Ramutė Narkūnienė, Ph.D., Utena University of Applied Sciences, Lithuania.

Time and Venue of the Defense

Date: February 25, 2026, at 12:00 PM

Location: Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Inženieru Street 101, Ventspils, LV-3601, Auditorium B4.

The doctoral thesis is available for review at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Library (Inženieru Street 101, Ventspils) and online at www.venta.lv .

The doctoral dissertation was developed within the framework of the State Research Programme “Education” project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for Effective Enhancement of Adult Professional Competence and Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Outcomes into Practice in Latvia”, implemented by the University of Latvia, Liepāja Academy of Riga Technical University, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Project No. VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001).

The doctoral dissertation was developed with financial support from the Ventspils City Municipality (targeted scholarship for doctoral studies and the preparation of a doctoral dissertation in accordance with the regulations “Support for Doctoral Degree Candidates at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences”, approved by Senate Decision No. 11-92 of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in 2011).

Secretary of the Promotion Council: Rēzija Rebeka Firgute

Email: rezija.firgute@venta.lv

MarTe 1st Technical Workshop – Physical Modelling for Blue & Green Transitions: Deep-Tech Tools from Lab to Market

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:20:02 GMT

MarTe 1st Technical Workshop “Physical Modelling for Blue & Green Transitions: Deep-Tech Tools from Lab to Market”

Date: 4–5 February 2026

Venue & Format: Hybrid

On-site: Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Ventspils Augstskola)
101A Inženieru Street, Ventspils, LV-3601, Latvia
Online: Zoom (with live YouTube translation)

Language: English

Registration: HERE

About the Workshop

The MarTe 1st Technical Workshop brings together researchers, industry representatives, startups, and students to explore how modern physical modelling and simulation tools can accelerate innovation in the blue and green economy .

Aligned with Marine Technology Excellence Hub for Sustainable Blue Economy in the Baltics ( https://www.marinetechub.eu/ -MarTe) mission, the workshop demonstrates how deep-tech tools such as SolidWorks and COMSOL help transform early-stage ideas into real-world solutions. Through lectures, live demonstrations, and hands-on activities, participants will learn how modelling and simulation reduce development risks, shorten design cycles, and support the transition from laboratory concepts to market-ready technologies.

The workshop will highlight practical applications in marine and maritime technologies, renewable energy, hydrogen (H₂-to-X) solutions, and sustainable blue economy value chains , with examples relevant to the Baltic Sea region and beyond.

Programme Highlights:

Introduction to physical process modelling, CAD-based modelling with SolidWorks and Multiphysics simulations with COMSOL
Live demonstrations and hands-on exercises
Designed for participants with little or no prior experience in 3D physical modelling.
Success stories in deep-tech development from Research to Market
Pathways from low TRL to market (TRL 6–7+)

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is open to:

Industry representatives in marine, maritime, and green technologies
Researchers and engineers working on applied R&I
Startups and entrepreneurs in deep-tech and blue economy sectors
Students and early-career innovators interested in simulation tools and applied modelling

Participants will gain practical skills , insights into real success stories, and opportunities to connect with the MarTe innovation ecosystem.

Why Participate?

Learn modern simulation and modelling approaches
Discover how to move ideas from lab to market
Exchange knowledge with experts from academia and industry
Build collaborations in the Baltic Sea blue economy

Full agenda will be announced soon. For more information, please follow the MarTe project channels or contact the organizers.

Contacts:

Vladislavs Bezrukovs

Vladislavsb@venta.lv

Phone: +37127134283

Baiba Reimane

baiba.reimane@venta.lv

Funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement ID 101186498 . Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Advanced Diagnostics of Solar and Stellar Flares: STEF Project Successfully Concludes with Lasting Scientific Impact

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:59:42 GMT

Advanced Diagnostics of Solar and Stellar Flares: STEF Project Successfully Concludes with Lasting Scientific Impact

An international research team based at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) , Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, has successfully completed the Latvian Science Council–funded project “Multi-wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares (STEF)” (No. lzp-2022/1-0017) . The project has delivered major advances in solar and stellar physics, radio astronomy methodology, and time-domain astrophysics, while establishing a strong foundation for continued international research.

Key scientific and technical achievements

Over its three-year duration, STEF produced a coherent, high-impact body of results , including 17 peer-reviewed publications in Q1–Q2 international journals , addressing one of the central challenges of modern solar physics: understanding how magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves and oscillations modulate energy release in solar and stellar flares.

The project significantly advanced:

Theoretical modelling of MHD waves , including the effects of thermal misbalance, non-local thermal transport, and boundary conditions on wave damping, persistence, and amplification.
Observational diagnostics of quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) in solar and stellar flares, strengthening their interpretation as wave-driven phenomena.
Helio and asteroseismology , extending oscillation-based magnetic diagnostics from the Sun to solar-like stars.
Time-domain radio astronomy , through validated single-dish and interferometric methodologies developed at the Irbene observatory.

Observational infrastructure, datasets, and software

A major strength of STEF was the integration of theory with instrumentation and data analysis. The project established routine microwave solar observations with the RT-32 radio telescope , producing a curated solar radio observation dataset that includes full-disk mapping and long-term monitoring of individual active regions in multiple frequency bands and circular polarisations. This dataset provides a valuable observational basis for future studies of solar activity, flare precursors, and oscillatory phenomena.

In parallel, the project advanced single-baseline interferometric techniques (RT-32–RT-16) for detecting faint, short-lived radio variability associated with stellar flares. To support these studies, the team developed and released an open-source interferometric/VLBI visualisation and inspection tool , enabling interactive time–frequency exploration, rapid identification of radio-frequency interference, and validation of transient candidates in long, high-cadence datasets.

In addition, the Warwick project team released the SCOPE software package for statistically robust detection of oscillatory signals using empirical mode decomposition, applicable across astrophysics and other data-intensive disciplines.

International collaboration and continuity

STEF was embedded in a broad international network, with active collaboration involving observatories and universities across Europe. A strategic partnership with the University of Warwick (United Kingdom) played a central role, including invited lectures, joint workshops, and close interaction between theory, observations, and advanced signal analysis.

Although the STEF project has formally concluded, its scientific programme continues and expands . Several new funded projects launched in 2025–2026 directly build on STEF results, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the developed methodologies, software, and international collaborations.

References list:

Arregui I., Kolotkov D.Y., Nakariakov V. M., "Bayesian evidence for two slow-wave damping models in hot coronal loops", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 677, art. no. A23., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202346834
Belov S. A., Goffrey T., Arber T. D., Kolotkov D. Y., “ Non-Local Thermal Transport Impact on Compressive Waves in Two-Temperature Coronal Loops”, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 693, art. no. A186, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202452938
Belov S. A., Kolotkov D. Y., Nakariakov V. M., Broomhall A. M., “Detecting Quasiperiodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares with a Neural Network”, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, ApJS 274 31, 2024, https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/ad6f98
Belov S.A., Riashchikov D.I., Kolotkov D.Y., Farahani S.V., Molevich N.E., Bezrukovs V., ”On collective nature of non-linear torsional Alfvén waves”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 523 (1), pp. 1464 - 1473, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad1480
Berloff N. G., Broomhall A. M., Hookway G. T. , Lund M. N., Millson L. J., Kolotkov D., “Investigating magnetic activity cycles in solar-like oscillators using asteroseismic data from the K2 mission”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 546 (3), 2026, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stag092
Bezrukovs D., "Microwave observations of the Sun in Virac: An experience of implementation", Sun and Geosphere, vol.15, issue 2, pp.55-58, ISSN 1819-0839, 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.31401/sungeo.2022.02.02
Bezrukovs V., et. al., “Effects of the Intraday Variability of the Radio Galaxy Perseus A (3C 84) at a Frequency of 6.5 GHz and Evidence for a Possible FRB Event”, Galaxies, 14(1), 1, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3390/galaxies14010001
Cho K.-S., Kolotkov D. Y., Cho I.-H., Nakariakov V. M., “Frequency-dependent Evolution of Propagating Intensity Disturbances in Polar Plumes”, The Astrophysical Journal, ApJ 992 33, 2025, https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adfde0
Hejazi S. M., Van Doorsselaere T., Sadeghi M., Kolotkov D.Y., Hermans J., “The effect of thermal misbalance on magnetohydrodynamic modes in coronal magnetic cylinders”, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 694, art. no. A278, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450731
Kolotkov D. Y., Broomhall A. M., Hasanzadeh A., “Effects of the photospheric cut-off on the p-mode frequency stability”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 533 (3), pp. 3387–3394, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae2015
Kolotkov D.Y., Nakariakov V.M., Cloesen M., “The centroid speed as a characteristic of the group speed of solar coronal fast magnetoacoustic wave trains”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 527 (3), pp. 6807 – 6813, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad3681
Lim D.,Van Doorsselaere T., Nakariakov V. M., Kolotkov D.Y., Gao Y., Berghmans D., “Undersampling effects on observed periods of coronal oscillations”, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 690, art. no. L8, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202451684
Meadowcroft R.L., Zhong S., Kolotkov D.Y., Nakariakov V. M., “Observation of a propagating slow magnetoacoustic wave in a coronal plasma fan with SDO/AIA and SolO/EUI”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 527 (3), pp. 5302 – 5310., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad3506
Nakariakov V. M., Zhong S., Kolotkov D.Y., Meadowcroft R.L., Zhong Y., Yuan D., “Diagnostics of the solar coronal plasmas by magnetohydrodynamic waves: magnetohydrodynamic seismology”, Reviews of Modern Plasma Physics, 8 (1), art. no. 19., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41614-024-00160-9
Nakariakov V. M., Zhong Y., Kolotkov D.Y., “Transition from decaying to decayless kink oscillations of solar coronal loops”, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 531 (4), pp. 4611 – 4618., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae1483
Zhong Y., Kolotkov D.Y., Zhong S., Nakariakov V. M., "Comparison of damping models for kink oscillations of coronal loops", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 525 (4), pp. 5033 - 5040, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad2598
Zhong S., Nakariakov V. M., Kolotkov D. Y., “A 50-Minute Coronal Kink Oscillation and Its Photospheric Counterpart”,The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 993 (L35), 2025, https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ae122e
Zhong S., Nakariakov V.M., Kolotkov D.Y., Chitta L.P., Antolin P., Verbeeck C., Berghmans D., “Polarisation of decayless kink oscillations of solar coronal loops”, Nature Communications, 14 (1), art. no. 5298., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41029-8

Software list:

Šteinbergs J., Visualization tool for interferometric data do standard calibration and data visualization of interfereometric data. https://github.com/VIRAC-SPACE/Visualization-tool-for-interferometric-data
Kolotkov D., Python tool: scope - Statistical Confidence of Oscillatory Processes with EMD (Empirical Mode Decomposition). https://github.com/Warwick-Solar/scope

This project was funded by the Latvian Science Council project “ Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares (STEF)” , lzp-2022/1-0017

New Window into the birth of massive stars: The IVARS Project Demonstrates High-Cadence Radio Monitoring of Massive Protostars

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:52:07 GMT

An international team of astronomers has successfully completed the IVARS (Interferometer for Variable Astrophysical Radio Sources) project, delivering a new observational capability for studying the formation of massive stars through time-variable radio emission. By combining two radio telescopes at the Irbene Radio Observatory in Latvia into a dedicated single-baseline interferometer, the project has enabled the first sustained, high-cadence monitoring of radio continuum variability in high-mass protostars, carried out simultaneously with maser monitoring.

Irbene RT-32 antenna (Photo by Roberts Rasmanis)

High-mass stars shape the evolution of galaxies through their radiation, winds, and eventual supernovae, yet their formation remains poorly understood. Growing evidence suggests that these stars do not grow steadily, but instead undergo episodic accretion bursts. Such events leave signatures in both molecular maser emission and weak radio continuum emission, evolving on timescales from days to years. Capturing these changes requires frequent, sensitive observations over long periods which is a mode of observing that is difficult to achieve with large, oversubscribed radio telescope arrays. The IVARS project was designed to address this gap.

A dedicated interferometer for time-domain astrophysics

IVARS transformed the 32-m and 16-m Irbene radio telescopes, operated by the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC), into an 800-m single-baseline interferometer optimized for time-domain radio astronomy. Unlike large interferometric arrays that prioritize snapshot imaging, this configuration allows repeated observations of the same sources at fixed geometries, delivering stable and repeatable measurements of weak, extended emission.

A key technical achievement of the project was the restoration and stabilization of interferometric operations through the deployment of a hydrogen maser clock and a White Rabbit time-transfer system, enabling nanosecond-level synchronization between the two antennas. This was paired with a fully automated observing, correlation, and calibration workflow, allowing the system to operate reliably over long monitoring campaigns.

Scientific highlights

Over the course of the project, IVARS monitored a sample of 30 high-mass protostars known to host 6.7 GHz methanol masers. Of the 30 targets, continuum emission was detected in 16 sources, with 14 non-detections. Maser emission was detected in 26 targets. Maser and continuum emission were also detected in two high-mass protostars which were used as brightness calibrators.

Overall the campaign achieved several notable results:

Detection of radio continuum variability in multiple high-mass protostars, demonstrating that weak continuum emission (10s of millijansky) from forming massive stars can be monitored reliably at high cadence using a single-baseline interferometer.
Simultaneous maser and continuum monitoring , providing a unique dataset that links maser flares and continuum variability within the same sources.
Identification of maser flaring events , including rapid changes seen over several spectral line components consistent with episodic accretion phenomena.
High-resolution follow-up observations with the European VLBI Network (EVN) for selected targets, revealing disk- and outflow-related maser morphologies at milliarcsecond scales.
High-cadence monitoring of BL-Lac , revealing a large radio flare in the well known prototypical blazar source at very high time resolution.

Validation of automation-driven interferometry , showing that complex interferometric observing and processing can be executed with minimal manual intervention.

At present, the single-baseline radio interferometer developed by the IVARS project, represents the only infrastructure worldwide that enables high-cadence radio continuum monitoring of high-mass protostellar objects together with simultaneous maser observations.

Software and infrastructure with lasting impact

Beyond its scientific output, IVARS delivered a suite of openly available software tools. Central among these is the Automatic Correlation (ACor) system, a web-based platform that automates observation scheduling, data transfer, correlation, calibration, and quality assessment. Designed to be observatory-agnostic, ACor and the associated data-processing pipelines can be adapted by other facilities operating small interferometers.

These tools have already been adopted within VIRAC for additional science programs, including stellar flare and active galactic nucleus monitoring, and are being shared with international collaborators.

Empowering the next generation

IVARS also played a significant role in education and capacity building. Project members supervised bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral theses, contributed to the enhancement of radio astronomy related academic and research activity at the University of Latvia, and trained students in interferometric data processing through hands-on work and international research visits. Several early-career researchers involved in the project have since progressed to doctoral or postdoctoral positions, carrying forward the expertise developed within IVARS.

Public engagement formed another pillar of the project, with team members delivering lectures, media interviews, and outreach activities aimed at secondary-school students and the general public, helping to raise awareness of radio astronomy and time-domain astrophysics.

Looking ahead

While the IVARS project has formally concluded, the pursuit of its scientific program continues. An international working group focused on single-baseline radio interferometric projects, based on IVARS, is being planned. The team is exploring how the single-baseline interferometer approach pioneered by IVARS can be replicated at other observatories worldwide, forming the basis for a broader international community focused on time-domain radio interferometry.

By demonstrating that modest-sized radio telescopes, when carefully configured and automated, can deliver unique scientific insights, IVARS has opened a new observational window on the dynamic processes governing the birth of the most massive stars in our Galaxy.

The scientific results are presented in the following publications:

An Interferometer for Variable Astrophysical Radio Sources , Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems (JATIS);
Applications of the Irbene Single-Baseline Radio Interferometer , Galaxies 2025;
A millimeter methanol maser ring tracing the deceleration of the heat wave powered by the massive protostellar accretion outburst in G358.93-0.03 MM1 , Astrophysical Journal Letters;
Search for the optimal smoothing method to improve S/N in cosmic maser spectra , Open Astronomy 2025;
6.7 GHz methanol masers in three HMYSOs: G37.43+01.51, G37.479$-$0.105 and G37.55$+$0.20, A&A (accepted for publishing)
IVARS Project source monitoring summary manuscript (in preparation)

All developed software is open-source and available for use:

1) Automatic Correlation (ACor) information system ( GitHub repository and ASCL.net );

2) Data Processing Pipeline ;

3) Monitoring Software.

This project received funding from the Latvian Council of Science project “A single-baseline radio interferometer in a new age of transient astrophysics (IVARS)”, No. lzp-2022/1-0083.

Research presentations of the VeA and ViA doctoral grant recipients will take place on 29 January

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:32:09 GMT

On 29 January, research presentations by recipients of the doctoral grants of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VeA) and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) will take place online. The presentations will address topics important for society and regional development – ranging from the emigration of highly skilled labour to virtual reality solutions and the effectiveness of health policy.

The programme includes four presentations:

Kristiāna Balode will present research on the impact of intellectual labour migration on regional development.
Laura Ozoliņa will introduce research on realistic vegetation visualization in virtual reality scenarios.
Līga Pūce will present research on the use of nudging to increase participation in cancer screening in Latvia, focusing on effectiveness and economic impact assessment.
Māra Grīnberga-Šilaua will discuss active mobility in tourism destinations.

The presentations are dedicated to evaluating the first six months of progress of the first round of grant recipients within the project “VeA and ViA Doctoral Grants” (No. 1.1.1.8/1/24/I/001). The project aims to strengthen research capacity at the universities and promote knowledge transfer to the Latvian economy.

Master’s programme Translation and Terminology begins collaboration with Austria’s Kaleidoscope

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 07:51:11 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Translation Studies master's study programme Translation and Terminology keeps expanding its range of international partners by initiating a strategic collaboration with the Austrian company Kaleidoscope . This collaboration will provide university lecturers and students access to modern and AI-based language and terminology management tools, which are essential in today’s digital translation and terminology environment. The collaboration plans to integrate the company’s developed solutions into the study process, providing future specialists with practical skills in working with AI solutions.

The Austrian company Kaleidoscope is internationally acknowledged in the field of content management. The company specializes in developing innovative software solutions that help businesses worldwide optimize the translation process and ensure terminology consistency. One of their best-known products is the AI-based platform Quickterm , which is considered as the market leader in terminology management. Kaleidoscope combines decades of experience with modern automation and quality control methods. The company’s goal is to help organizations and educational establishments communicate effectively in a multilingual environment, while reducing costs and improving content accuracy.

This collaboration proves the master's study programme’s desire and ability to keep up with the latest trends in the translation and terminology industry. Students and lecturers, working with Kaleidoscope tools, will gain advantages in both the Latvian and international labor market. The first practical lessons are expected to begin in the spring semester.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Christmas Conference Brought Together Academic Staff and Researchers

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:27:33 GMT

On 17 December, the annual Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Christmas Conference was held at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, during which the university’s academic staff and researchers presented research findings and results.

Within the framework of the National Research Programme project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001), researchers of the National Research Programme from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Una Libkovska, Liene Resele-Dūšele and Zane Zonberga had the opportunity to participate in a scientific discussion and share their research experience.

Meeting of Government and Space Sector Representatives at the Saeima: A Discussion on the Future of Latvia’s Space Industry

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 08:36:53 GMT

On 9 December, a meeting with representatives of Latvia’s space sector was held at the Saeima, focusing on the establishment of a unified approach to the governance and development of the space sector in Latvia. The event was attended by Mārcis Donerblics, Head of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre; Andris Vaivads, Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences; and Jānis Šate, Head of the “Electrical Engineering” study programme.

The meeting was initiated by Saeima Speaker Daiga Mieriņa, bringing together representatives of industry organisations, entrepreneurs, education and research institutions, along with officials from public administration bodies.

The purpose of the discussion was to highlight the need for a clear and coordinated governance model that would advance the sustainable development of Latvia’s space sector, strengthen inter-institutional cooperation, and assure unified representation of national interests at the international level. The meeting highlighted the role of the space sector in driving innovation, strengthening the high-tech ecosystem, and enhancing Latvia’s competitiveness.

Representatives of the Latvian Space Industry Association, space sector entrepreneurs, experts from academic institutions, as well as officials from various ministries and state institutions. Participants highlighted that a unified governance approach is an essential requirement for Latvian organisations to actively participate in European Union space programmes and international cooperation projects, including collaboration with the European Space Agency.

The meeting also addressed topics related to enhancing public-private sector cooperation, opportunities for attracting funding, and the importance of maintaining dialogue on the long-term development of space policy in Latvia. Participants recognised the significance of ongoing collaboration and emphasised the necessity of regular communication between policymakers and industry representatives.

The meeting at the Saeima marks an important milestone toward a better-coordinated and goal-oriented Latvia’s space sector, promoting a unified vision and strengthening Latvia’s position within the European and international space community.

Students Participated in a Creative Workshop on German Language and Culture

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 13:25:31 GMT

On December 10, at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Library, students and other participants with a German language knowledge had the opportunity to be a part of a German language workshop on Christmas-themed topics titled “Modernes Deutschlandbild mit Fokus – Weihnachten” and conducted by Goethe-Institut volunteer Jūlija Novodvorska ( Julia Nowodworska ).

During the workshop, participants were able to introduce themselves and engage in a range of activities, including creative tasks such as making origami candle holders, singing Christmas songs in German, and enjoying traditional Christmas treats and tea. As a gift from Ventspils German Culture Society, workshop participants received the new bilingual calendar for 2026, “L ebendige Gutshöfe – gestern und heute | Manor Houses – Yesterday and Today,” which has been prepared by the Ventspils German Cultural Society for the fifth year in a row. Students from Ventspils Technical School also participated in the workshop together with their German language teacher, Žanna Blaževica. The event was an excellent opportunity to put the German language knowledge acquired during the lessons into practice. Sincere thanks to Julia for leading the workshop!

The workshop was organised in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut in Riga, the Chair of the Ventspils German Cultural Society, Māra Kraule, and VUAS FoTS lecturer Silga Sviķe.

Una Libkovska participates in the 3rd International Scientific Conference "International Conference on Advancing Sustainable Futures. "

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:06:19 GMT

Professor at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, researcher of the State Research Programme Una Libkovska participates in the 3rd International Scientific Conference International Conference on Advancing Sustainable Futures. Shaping the Future: Synergies Between Nature, Technology and Society

On 10–11 December 2025, Professor Una Libkovska, researcher within the National Research Programme project “Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and the assessment of the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001), participated in the 3rd International Scientific Conference “Advancing Sustainable Futures: Shaping the Future: Synergies Between Nature, Technology, and Society (ICASF 2025)”, organised by Abu Dhabi University and held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. During the conference, the project’s key insights and research outcomes were presented and discussed within the scientific programme, including a paper entitled “Contribution of Sustainable Human Resource Management to Organizational Sustainability and Labour Market Transformation”.

The ICASF 2025 conference brought together more than 200 participants from over 30 countries, who took part in the thematic scientific sections and presented research spanning the natural sciences, engineering and technology, social sciences, economics, and interdisciplinary studies, addressing global challenges and solutions related to sustainable development. Participants represented Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa, including Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Lithuania, the United States, Canada, India, Japan, and other countries.

Participation in the conference provided valuable opportunities to expand international research cooperation, strengthen institutional partnerships, and engage in global dialogue on shaping a sustainable future. It also enabled the validation of research results within a broad international academic audience and supported knowledge transfer related to sustainable development policy, professional competence development, and the challenges of lifelong learning.

Doctoral Students Receive a Certificate of Appreciation for Their Active Participation in the Latvian Association of Young Researchers

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:49:53 GMT

On 5 December, the Latvian Association of Young Researchers (LJZA) marked its 20th anniversary with a celebration event at the Riga Latvian Society House. The anniversary event, held in the Golden Hall of Riga Latvian Society House, gathered together representatives from different generations of the LJZA, as well as the association’s supporters and partners. During the anniversary celebrations, young scientists were honoured for their active involvement in the LJZA Policy Working Group. Thus, VUAS doctoral student Džeina Kleina-Šnipke from the study programme “Economics and Business” received recognition for her contributions to the policy working group and doctoral student Aiga Bādere from the study programme “Languages and Literature Studies” received recognition for translating and editing LJZA texts.

Throughout the ceremonial event, the association’s origins, development and achievements were reviewed, and active members and cooperation partners were honoured for their support, which has allowed the LJZA to strengthen its involvement in academic activities, public policy-making and science communication processes.

The anniversary event in the Golden Hall of the Riga Latvian Society was attended by representatives of different generations of the LJZA, described in a congratulatory speech by one of the association’s founders, Jānis Jaško, as both “older” and “younger” young scientists, along with the association’s supporters and cooperation partners. Over the years, the association has been supported both intellectually and financially by the Minister of Education and Science, the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, the Latvian Council of Science, the Latvian Academy of Sciences, the National Electronic Mass Media Council, and other institutions.

Photo by: Dāvis Dambenieks

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Will Host the Annual Christmas Conference 2025

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:45:29 GMT

On 17 December at 13.00, a Scientific Christmas Conference will take place at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Library, gathering together lecturers and researchers of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to reflect on the work accomplished during the year and to present it to colleagues, students, and other participants. The conference will bring together researchers from different fields, including information technology, engineering, economics, astronomy, and others.

This year, 12 topics have been submitted for the scientific conference:

Operating Principles of Artificial Intelligence Systems , S. Hiļķevičs
Modelling Comet Activity in 3D Environment , G. Jasmonts, K. Šķirmante, A. Slavinskis, K. Blumbergs
Work Efficiency and the Productivity Paradox in Latvia’s ICT Sector , K. Balode
Current Work at the Irbene Antenna Complex , A. Orbidāns, M. Bleiders, A. Bērziņš, R. Laurinovičs, J. Trokšs, R. Rasmanis
Development, Insights, and Application of Behaviour Economics: Can We Live Better? , L. Pūce
Satellite Communications with a Moving Object , M. Šneps-Šneppe
Talent Ecosystem: The “Next Tech Talents” , L. Sproģe, L. Pūce, K. Krēsliņš, L.Rudzroga, N. Malašonoka, I. Kozlova
Overview of the Results of the Project “Single-Baseline Radio Interferometer in Modern Transient Astrophysics” , R. A. Burns, J. Šteinbergs, K. Šķirmante, A. Aberfelds, V. Bezrukovs, I. Šmelds, M. Bleiders, A. Orbidāns, R. Rasmanis, I. Kozlova
Analyses of the Interaction between the Natural Resources Market and Macroeconomic Indicators , S. Hiļķevičs, V. Semakina
Overview of the Project: “Study of Multiwavelength Quasiperiodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares’ Results” , V. Bezrukovs, D. Y. Kolotkov, V. M. Nakariakov, J. Šteinbergs, K. Šķirmante, A. Aberfelds, D. Bezrukovs, S. A. Belov, A. Kalniņa
Standard Model, Quantum Gravity, Dark Matter and Energy , S. Hiļķevičs
Marketing of VUAS Engineering Students: “Kambuča” , R. Laurinovičs

The conference focuses on VUAS research, aiming to reach a wider audience and strengthen the scientific community.

We invite everyone interested to participate in the conference and explore the scientific activities at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences!

Meet the Grant Recipient of the “VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants”: Kristiāna Balode

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:54:46 GMT

In 2025, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences launched the project “VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants”, under which grant funding was awarded to two doctoral students through a competitive selection process to support the successful completion of their doctoral dissertations. Meet the Grant Recipient – Kristiāna Balode!

Doctoral Study Programme: Economics and Business (Joint Doctoral study programme of VUAS, ViA, and RTU Rezekne Academy)

Doctoral Dissertation Topic: The Impact of Brain Drain on Regional Development

Doctoral Dissertation Supervisor: Associate Professor Liene Resele–Dūšele.

Smart Specialisation: The research focuses on Latvia’s smart specialisation priority area, “Information and Communication Technologies” (ICT), examining critical development factors – labour productivity and the availability of a highly skilled intellectual workforce. The doctoral dissertation examines labour productivity dynamics in Latvia’s ICT sector, an essential factor for realising the smart specialisation goal – the transformation of the economy to generate higher added value. By analysing the impact of skilled workforce mobility (brain drain/gain, brain circulation) and the role of the innovation system, the research can support the implementation of smart specialisation tasks linked to human capital development, strengthening innovation capacity, and enhancing competitiveness in the ICT sector. Given that ICT is a horizontal, cross-cutting technology, the research results are expected to have an indirect impact on the digitalisation and productivity of other smart specialisation fields.

Why the VUAS and ViA doctoral programme “Economics and Business”?

So far, my professional career has been closely connected with Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and with the development of higher education. My work in the Study Department, along with a range of professional development courses, has provided valuable experience in the fields of educational technologies, teaching methods, and the organisation of the study process. During my work at the Science and Development Department, I have participated in the substantive management of projects, which has enhanced my understanding of the importance of research and development. At the same time, for the past three years, I have been working as a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Management of VUAS.

Doctoral studies are the next logical step in my professional and personal development. For me, doctoral studies are not only an academic qualification, but also an opportunity to pursue in-depth and meaningful research, along with building new forms of cooperation that would enable active participation in both the development of science and the strengthening of Latvia’s competitiveness on a broader scale.

Why “VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants”?

The doctoral grant is essential to allow full dedication of time and energy to research activities, free from regular employment obligations, thereby ensuring high-quality scientific work.

Project No. 1.1.1.8/1/24/I/001 “VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants” is a project under Measure 1.1.1.8. “Doctoral Grants” of Specific Objective 1.1.1. “Strengthening research and innovation capacity and introducing advanced technologies into the common R&D system” of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, to be implemented at VUAS and ViA.

A Meeting with Translator Dace Meiere at the Library of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 19:35:19 GMT

On 3 December 2025, the Library of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted a meeting with the distinguished translator Dace Meiere. The meeting and discussion were led by Astra Skrābane. Students and teaching staff of the Faculty of Translation Studies, along with other interested participants, had the opportunity to learn more about Dace Meiere’s translation of Irene Vallejo’s book Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World and about translation in general. During the discussion, Astra Skrābane used special memory nodes representing different topics and connecting ancient history with the present.

Irene Vallejo’s Papyrus reflects on the link between world history and the present, highlighting how the ideas and beliefs of our ancestors remain present in the 21st century. While it changes and develops, the past still influences us more than we might think. “The book is an extension of memory and imagination,” Astra Skrābane quotes Borges.

During the discussion, Dace Meiere shared important reflections and advice, for example, that each language shapes our view of the world differently and that every translated book has a second author, the translator, besides the original author. Dace Meiere also encouraged learning more languages, even just a little, as this knowledge will always come in handy.

The translator praised both the book’s author, Irene Vallejo, for her unique sense of wonder about the world, and the outstanding editor, Arturs Hansons, who ensured the quotations from other languages in the book were accurately translated. “The Latvian language is our main tool, and it needs to be nurtured and developed,” emphasised the translator, encouraging students not only to translate but also to read books in proper and rich Latvian. Dace Meiere mentioned that Ventspils is an ideal place for translators and that whenever challenging moments occur during translation (as they often do), it is beneficial to go for a walk.

Photo: Ventspils Library

The information was prepared by students of the study programme “Translation and Language Technology”, Sanija Zundovska and Sindija Plotniece.

Electronics engineering students participate in hackathon in Croatia

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:18:23 GMT

From November 11 to November 15, 2025, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Electronics Engineering 3rd year students Rūdolfs Pakalns, Marta Dzelme and 1st year student Kristofers Jēkabs Rozevskis participated in the university alliance "COLOURS" hackathon "Reinforcement Farming", which took place at the University of Osijek in Croatia, at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology (FERIT). The main task of the hackathon was to train artificial intelligence agents as game characters using "stimulated learning" methods. On the last day, the AI characters developed by the teams competed against agents from other teams.

Since the Electronics Engineering study program does not include courses that provide in-depth knowledge of artificial intelligence training, this hackathon was a great opportunity to gain additional knowledge that is useful in the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence and helps to understand how AI, which is often used to facilitate everyday work, works.

Rudolf admits that before participating in the project, he didn’t have a clear idea of how artificial intelligence training works; he had only heard about it. But during the hackathon, by actively working in a team and trying to solve real-life tasks, he gained experience in how AI is trained, how it reacts to data, and how to work with it in practical situations. This experience has given him a much more valuable understanding of AI and, in his opinion, is a very useful skill in today's and tomorrow's technology industry.

As part of the project, students also attended the event "CoLab – Advanced Technologies for Smart Farming” and Field Study, which included a tour of a livestock farm equipped with several modern robotic devices. The farm is equipped with a robot manufactured by LELY, which prepares and delivers feed to the cows. The cows are monitored by smart collars that identify the cow's ID number, provide early warning of health problems, and collect milking statistics. Milking is also fully automated with a structure that performs milking and care. In addition, this event provided educational lectures on existing robotics and artificial intelligence systems used to improve agriculture, as well as solutions that are currently being developed.

“In addition to the hackathon itself, it was very interesting to talk to local students and learn about their study programs and how they acquire STEM knowledge and skills. The local students were very welcoming and enthusiastically introduced us to Croatian traditions and history, adding cultural value to this project," says Marta.

Kristofers Jēkabs Rozevskis emphasizes that participating in the hackathon has significantly contributed to his understanding of the principles and practical applications of artificial intelligence. "Knowledge in this field is very important for understanding how, at least in part, the artificial intelligence we work with on a daily basis is created. Although I had previously encountered AI development and theoretical principles, this project gave me a much clearer understanding of the steps and principles of AI training, how AI is taught to perform specific tasks, and which details can lead to incorrect or undesirable results," says Kristofers.

As part of the project, students used stimulated learning methods to train agents to operate in a gaming environment, and during practical work, the sensitivity of AI training to the chosen "reward" structure became particularly apparent. "When setting an excessively large 'reward' for an action, the agent tended to 'get stuck' on it. This helped to better understand why some AI tends to make mistakes – perhaps it is more trained on the syntax of a text than on its truthfulness, or vice versa," explains Kristofers. He adds that he is particularly pleased to have the opportunity to share his knowledge and experience on a topic that interests him with both his classmates and students from other countries, strengthening mutual professional and academic cooperation.

"This experience has been very valuable and educational, broadening our view of the possibilities of applying smart systems in various industries, so we would definitely take the opportunity to participate in COLOURS or another project again," the students admit.

Faculty of Translation Studies Researcher Participates in the European Association for Terminology Summit

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 08:59:36 GMT

A researcher from the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Associate Professor Silga Sviķe, participated in the European Association for Terminology (EAFT) summit “Terminology Planning in Europe” from 27 to 29 November. The summit was organised for the twelfth time this year and took place at the University of Innsbruck in Austria.

The summit featured several panel discussions on terminology at different levels of education, the implementation of multilingualism, and its impact on terminology. The programme also included other important topics, such as ensuring high-quality terminology in artificial intelligence tools and how to retrieve information from tools that contain correct terminology. During the panel discussions, terminologists debated the formation of neologisms and the role of terminology in a multilingual society.

The main conclusion drawn from participation in the summit was that terminology planning is not only a linguistic issue — it also concerns politics, education, information and communication technologies, and culture. Therefore, terminology is important and relevant to society as a whole. Particular importance was placed on the teaching and learning of terminology in the context of the growing popularity of artificial intelligence. During the summit, the fourth volume of the Handbook of Terminology, titled Terminology Planning in Europe , was presented. This publication is a relevant and significant resource for those interested in terminology.

Prepared by: FoTS Associate Professor, researcher Silga Sviķe

A Translation Programme Student Attends the DeepL Conference in Berlin

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 13:00:53 GMT

In early November, Roberta Šarlote Andersone, a fourth-year student of the study programme “Translation and Language Technologies”, had a great opportunity to join her internship localisation team at the DeepL Dialogues conference in Berlin.

The conference focused on the idea of how to be “future fluent” and how artificial intelligence (AI) can help reveal and maximise human potential.

Both DeepL’s founder and CEO, Jarek Kutylowski, as well as other DeepL developers and clients delivered presentations by sharing the company’s AI-related future goals, new ideas, and their own experience. The demonstration also featured the latest tools, such as an AI agent, a real-time speech translation system, and a tool designed to maintain consistent style and quality.

Šarlote said: “The DeepL conference was an engaging and inspiring experience. I learned a lot about upcoming features that will soon be introduced, as well as ongoing projects that are still in development. I was especially impressed by DeepL’s progress, as I only knew its machine translation tool and was unaware of its other features and business-oriented tools. It was very inspiring to hear how DeepL plans to develop alongside artificial intelligence, and the experience not only expanded my knowledge of translation technologies but also made me think about how AI is transforming the way we work.”

The main lesson I learned is that AI is here to stay, and it is important to learn how to collaborate with it so that it supports us rather than replaces us and enhances our strongest skills. I am genuinely happy that I had the opportunity to attend such an event,” notes Šarlote.

"Talks and Tea" Wraps Up the Year with a Warm and Festive Christmas Edition

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:40:00 GMT

This Wednesday 3rd of December, the final Talks and Tea (former Language Cafe) of the semester brought together around 25 students, both National and International, for a Christmas-themed gathering that blended creativity, cultural exchange, and a relaxed/welcoming atmosphere.

The afternoon began with an introduction from our moderator, Liva Slesare, who guided participants through the activities planned. Students then moved through several festive stations designed to encourage conversation, Christmas spirit, and a sense of belonging.

The programme included:

Christmas Bingo with common words of things that evoke Christmas in Latvian and English, where local students provided clues and internationals had to find them.
Paper craft stations, where students made snowflakes and other decorations
A gingerbread decorating table, with cookies turning into everything from smiling faces to colourful Christmas trees
A tree-decorating corner, where participants added ornaments to create a shared Christmas display
A multilingual board where students wrote “Merry Christmas” in their own languages, often accompanied by drawings and personal touches

Alongside the structured activities, several moments stood out and added a memorable, lighthearted spirit to the event, for example, when a popular Indian version of a Christmas song began playing unexpectedly during Liva’s moderation, setting off warm laughter across the room. Dylan, being wrapped quite literally like a Christmas present under the Christmas tree, sparked laughter, while young Jēkabs turned the simple act of introducing himself into an ongoing joke by spelling out his name for every curious participant.

Board games and informal conversations continued throughout the session, creating a friendly environment where students could relax, connect, and share Christmas traditions from their home countries.

This Christmas edition of Talks and Tea reflected what the series has aimed to build all semester: a space that is welcoming, inclusive, and comfortable for everyone who joins. As we close the year, the event served as a gentle reminder of how meaningful small moments of community can be.

The event was made possible thanks to the dedicated support of our COLOURS’ EDI Officer Lāsma Ašme, whose ongoing work has helped create a space where international students feel at home and included throughout the semester. Her commitment set the tone for a meaningful and cheerful final session of the year.

WP5 wishes all students a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next semester with the same spirit of openness, inclusion, and togetherness.

Foto: Endijs Eihlers

A Lecturer at the Faculty of Translation Studies Conducts a Seminar in Brussels

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:21:49 GMT

On November 20, Aiga Bādere, a lecturer at the Faculty of Translation Studies, visited Brussels to conduct a seminar on post-editese for the Latvian translators of the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions. As part of her doctoral research, the lecturer has previously conducted similar training seminars, addressing the post-editing of machine-translated texts for Latvian translators, including members of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation, the Latvian Association of Interpreters and Translators, and other participants.

According to Aiga Bādere, it is rewarding when a seminar inspires a discussion about the current and future state of the translator’s profession; however, what she enjoys even more is meeting Ventspils University of Applied Sciences graduates in Brussels. The lecturer notes that she managed to see only a small part of the city, yet she was impressed by the glass buildings accommodating numerous EU institutions and by the wealth of multilingualism. Notably, linguistic richness is frequently the factor that creates problems for machine translation, which was covered during the seminar. At the same time, the seminar focused on how machine translation affects the Latvian language.

"Living and Studying in Ventspils: An Informative Seminar" dedicated to international students at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:11:10 GMT

On November 27, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted its first seminar "Living and Studying in Ventspils: An Informative Seminar" for international students. The aim of the seminar was to introduce students to general legal provisions, life in the university's dormitory, academic integrity, opportunities at the Ventspils Youth House, and public transport options in Ventspils.

The informative afternoon was opened by lecturer and director of the study programs "Intercultural Communication" and "Strategic Intercultural Communication" Rūta Maltisova, and an introductory speech was given by Andris Vaivads, Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, who inspired students to complete their studies with a diploma in their hands and a smile on their faces.

The first speaker at the seminar was Arvīds Šenbergs, a representative of the State Border Guard, who reminded the audience about work permits, general legal regulations, and public order requirements.

Elizabete Apiņa-Fleisa, a first-year student of the study program "Intercultural Communication," spoke about the Ventspils University's dormitory. Elizabete refreshed the students' knowledge of the main general rules of conduct not only in their rooms, but also in the common areas. The information was given in Latvian and was translated into English for the foreign students. Also, they had the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the administration of the VUAS dormitory.

The students were also surprised by representatives from the Ventspils Youth House, Elīna Ērkšķe and Bulut Ergun. The representatives talked about volunteer work at the Youth House and its many opportunities, such as team-building activities and workshops, and encouraged students to get involved in projects and monthly events.

Rūta Maltisova reminded foreign students about academic integrity, mentioning how important it is to be honest, fair, and respectful towards one's own and others' work and people.

As the afternoon drew to a close, Bogdans Pantejevs, a 4th-year student of the Intercultural Communication study program, gave a presentation on Latvian culture and public transport options in Ventspils. Bogdans encouraged foreign students to try the diverse Latvian cuisine and kindly recommended various public transport apps to make their life in Latvia more convenient.

At the end of the event, students had the opportunity to test their knowledge in a Quizzit test created by Līva Slesare, a second-year student of the Intercultural Communication Program, in which the three most knowledgeable foreign students could win Ventspils non-monetary means of payment “Venti”, which offers discounts at various active recreation, entertainment, and tourist sites in Ventspils.

Information provided by:

Elizabete Apiņa-Fleisa (“Intercultural Communication, 1 ^st year student)

Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies Conducts Classes for Latvian Language Teachers

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:03:42 GMT

The Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Jānis Veckrācis, conducted professional development classes for Latvian language teachers from the city and municipality of Ventspils on 20 November at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

During the classes, discussion was encouraged on current developments and changes in the teaching of the Latvian language in the contexts of school and higher education, on the characteristics of young people’s use of the Latvian language, and on possible future trends. The specifics of academic writing in the preparation of secondary school students’ research papers were also briefly discussed. However, the most important topic of the classes was observations and recommendations related to typical grammatical problems and debatable choices of vocabulary and expression in young people’s written work.

In the Light of Science – Professor Juris Baldunčiks

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:34:41 GMT

29 November is a special day for the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS FoTS), as it marks the birthday of long-standing Ventspils University of Applied Sciences professor Juris Baldunčiks. This year, the commemorative event dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Professor Juris Baldunčiks (1950–2022) took place on 26 November at the library of VUAS. At the beginning of the event, students of translation study programmes visited the professor’s memorial office. This was followed by a student conference, during which students presented Professor Baldunčiks’s scientific research and popular scientific publications.

Second-year students of the “Translation and Language Technologies” programme selected both the professor’s earlier popular scientific articles, such as “ Borrowings with the Final -menis in the Latvian Language ” (1987), and his later scholarly studies, including “ False Friends of the Latvian Translator: Theory and Practice ” (2006). The event was attended by the professor’s widow, Ingrīda Irbe, who shared interesting episodes from the professor’s life.

In 2025—the year marking Professor Baldunčiks’s 75th anniversary—several initiatives were undertaken to commemorate his legacy. These include the establishment of a scholarship named after Professor Juris Baldunčiks for graduates of translation programmes (patrons: the Baldunčiks family and VUAS graduate Silga Sviķe); the publication of the entry “ Juris Baldunčiks ” in the “National Encyclopaedia of Latvia”; the preparation and publication of the scientific article “ Historical Development of Concepts and Their Designations: The Latvian Terms grāmatvedība (‘accounting’) and grāmatvedis (‘accountant’) ” (Scopus), based on Professor Baldunčiks’s card index; the selection and cultivation of a lilac variety at the Institute of Horticulture, which will be named “Professor Juris Baldunčiks” in recognition of the professor’s research into the history of the Latvian word ceriņi (‘lilacs’); and the naming of a terminology section after the professor at the international conference “Beyond Words” (9–10 October 2025).

Prepared by: FoTS Associate Professor, researcher Silga Sviķe

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the University of Latvia Sign a Cooperation Agreement

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:05:58 GMT

On December 1, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and the University of Latvia (UL) signed a cooperation agreement, aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two higher education institutions in the development of the study process, scientific research, innovation, and knowledge transfer. The agreement provides for long-term joint initiatives that will promote the competitiveness of higher education and science in Latvia, both at national and international levels.

The agreement was signed by the rectors of both universities — Andris Vaivads (VUAS) and Gundars Bērziņš (UL) — confirming their shared commitment to deepening cooperation in several areas, including staff and student mobility, the development of joint education and research projects, the advancement of study programmes, and the creation of modern learning materials. The cooperation agreement has been concluded for a period of five years.

The Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Andris Vaivads, noted: “This agreement is an important step that will enable our students and researchers to expand their opportunities and achieve closer integration within Latvia’s higher education landscape. Cooperation with the University of Latvia will provide access to broader resources, laboratories, and joint projects, thereby fostering the development of both academic and research excellence.”

In turn, the Rector of the University of Latvia, Gundars Bērziņš, stated: “It is important that we cooperate and that each of us develops and strengthens our respective strengths. What I saw here today is that your niche is being developed very strongly! I am pleased with the opportunity to combine the scientific and academic potential of both universities. By working together on new study solutions, international research projects, and innovations, we are strengthening the higher education system of Latvia as a whole. This cooperation is focused on long-term results and offers new opportunities for both students and academic staff.”

The cooperation agreement also provides for the development of lifelong learning initiatives, the creation of new continuing education and professional development programmes, as well as the joint organisation of cultural, sports, and academic events. Representatives of both parties note that the agreement will serve as a platform for more flexible use of available resources and for developing solutions of significance to the higher education system.

Following the signing of the agreement, attendees had the opportunity to listen to lectures by the Chair of the VUAS Council, Kristaps Klauss, and the Rector of the UL, Gundars Bērziņš, on the topic “Strategies That Work and Strategies That Do Not”, and to take part in a discussion.

Researchers of the National Research Programme from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Participated in the Kurzeme Business Forum

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:38:32 GMT

On 28 November 2025, researchers of the National Research Programme from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Professor Una Libkovska and doctoral student Monta Anšica participated in the Kurzeme Business Forum “BALTIC DEFENCE INVESTMENT PITCH 2025” within the framework of the National Research Programme project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001).

The forum brought together entrepreneurs, startup representatives, policymakers and investors to foster a shared understanding of the development of modern and sustainable industries and to jointly shape a next-generation business environment. The main theme of the event was the development of the defence and security industry in the Baltic region, with a particular focus on high-tech solutions, innovation, and investment attraction opportunities. The forum also hosted “Baltic Defence Investment Pitch 2025”, the first Baltic-wide investment pitch event in the field of defence technologies, where companies presented their solutions to potential investors. This initiative encouraged dialogue between innovators and capital providers, creating real opportunities for transforming ideas into competitive products and services.

By attending the forum, the researchers gained valuable insights into the Latvian startup ecosystem, its operational specifics and development challenges, as well as the perspectives of local and international investors on companies’ growth potential. The knowledge acquired contributed to a broader understanding of current trends in modern industry development, the role of innovation in the national economy, and contemporary trends in workforce development. The forum’s thematic focus and the insights gained through discussions are closely related to the objectives of the National Research Programme project and the doctoral research, particularly in the context of adult professional competence development, knowledge transfer into practice, and the advancement of labour market relevant skills.

Conference “Baltic Applied Astroinformatics and Space Data Processing”

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:08:33 GMT

Over two days, 12–13 November, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted the 9th International Scientific Conference Baltic Applied Astroinformatics and Space Data Processing (BAASP), organized by the Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre”. The conference brought together scientists from the Baltic States, Europe, and other parts of the world to share research on astrophysics and radio astronomy, near-Earth space studies, and space technologies.

The BAASP conference is held in Ventspils every two years. This conference series serves as a platform for fostering and strengthening international cooperation and knowledge exchange in the Baltic region and worldwide. It brings together astronomers, space scientists and engineers, as well as experts from related fields such as computer science, electronics, satellite technologies, geodesy, remote sensing, and environmental sciences. This year’s conference gathered participants from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, and representatives from Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland, as well as from Ukraine, Spain, Nigeria, Algeria, and China. Thus, the geographical reach of this year’s participants extended well beyond the Baltic region. The keynote speakers were Professor Andris Slavinskis from the University of Tartu (Estonia), Dr. Oleg Ulyanov from the Radio Astronomy Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and Professor Ilya Usoskin from the University of Oulu (Finland). In total, the conference participants delivered 29 presentations.

BAASP 2025 continued the discussion on how emerging technologies are shaping astronomy, space science, geosciences, and remote sensing. As emphasized in the conference topics, so-called “big data” plays an increasingly important role in space science, requiring powerful capabilities for data acquisition, management, processing, and interpretation. Astroinformatics, as an interdisciplinary field, combines space science with high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, enabling major advancements in observational astronomy, satellite technologies, and Earth–space interaction studies. In recent years, Europe has continued to play a significant role in the development of next-generation astronomy. The expansion of the LOFAR low-frequency antenna network across the continent, including the Baltic region, enables high-resolution studies of cosmic magnetism, solar activity, and transient radio phenomena. The European VLBI Network (EVN) has significantly enhanced its real-time e-VLBI capabilities and sensitivity across a wide frequency range, supported by UK-based stations such as Jodrell Bank and e-MERLIN. These improvements have contributed to precise localization of fast radio bursts and compact extragalactic sources. Technological progress also enables automated, rapid-response observation modes. This emerging field integrates radio, optical, gravitational-wave, and neutrino data to study high-energy cosmic events such as neutron-star mergers and magnetar flares. At the same time, AI-driven data acquisition, on-board satellite computing, and quantum-technology-based algorithms open new possibilities for real-time analysis and autonomous decision-making in both Earth-observation and deep-space missions. CubeSats and modular satellite platforms continue to transform the landscape of low-cost, high-impact space research, creating new demands for data-integration and security models, as well as cross-domain interoperability.

“During the conference we focus on space science both from the scientific and technological perspectives—data processing, algorithms, electronics, receivers, and astrophysics and astronomy as such,” explained Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre researcher Vladislavs Bezrukovs. The presentations largely reflected ongoing projects. “One of the conference topics is space weather. The Sun is currently at the peak of its activity cycle; a magnetic storm is approaching, and there have just been three large solar flares. Several talks at the conference were related to solar studies and extreme solar and space conditions,” Bezrukovs noted. “There were also presentations on instruments that allow us to observe the cosmos—telescopes and transmitters. We position ourselves as a deep-space communication center, and these presentations show how this technology is progressing. The conference also covered galactic and extragalactic studies, fundamental science, and fundamental astrophysics.”

Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Andris Vaivads, highlighted one of the conference topics especially relevant to the university—the presentation by Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre research assistant Gints Jasmonts on Modeling Comet Activity for the European Space Agency’s Comet Interceptor Mission. “Doctoral student Gints Jasmonts presented research on comet modeling—how comet tails form and how comae (envelopes of gas and dust) develop around comets. Several of our scientists work in this field, and Ventspils University is involved in ESA’s upcoming Comet Interceptor mission. This mission will travel to a fixed point in space and wait for an unknown object entering the Solar System from interstellar space, which will then be studied. Our researchers are modeling how the environment around such an object might look and how different instruments on the spacecraft could observe it. The Ventspils-based company Bitlake Technologies is also involved in system development for this mission,” Vaivads said. Expanding on this, Bezrukovs added: “This is especially relevant now because an interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, is currently traveling through the Solar System, raising many questions—and the Comet Interceptor mission will study such possible future visitors.”

Speakers delivered their presentations over two days, and on the second day participants also visited the International Radio Astronomy Centre in Irbene. “I hope this may become an annual event. The number of speakers is growing, so there is interest in making the conference broader and more frequent,” Bezrukovs added.

A Doctoral Student and National Research Programme Researcher from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Participated in a Conference Organised by the Bank of Latvia

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:44:05 GMT

On 21 November 2025, Monta Anšica, a doctoral student and researcher of the National Research Programme at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated as a listener in the conference “National Economy Conference 2025” organised by the Latvijas Banka. Her participation took place within the framework of the National Research Programme project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001).

The annual national economy conference organised by the Bank of Latvia sought to address the key question of what is required to ensure that lending activity in Latvia remains sustainable in the future and continues to support economic growth. During the discussion panel “How to Increase Competition in Corporate Lending?”, the doctoral student gained valuable insights into the effectiveness of various support instruments and different aspects of access to financing. The discussions also presented new proposals on how to promote sustainable lending and attract investment to Latvian businesses.

The conference was attended by Latvian policymakers, entrepreneurs, banking sector representatives, as well as local and foreign investors. The conference topics are closely related to the doctoral student’s dissertation research and its overall thematic focus.

Researchers of the State Research Programme present research at the international scientific conference in Poland

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:57:06 GMT

On 19 November 2025, Una Libkovska, professor at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and Monta Anšica, doctoral student, participated in the 4th International Scientific Conference “Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Development (CORD 2025)”, organised by the Institute of Economics and Finance of Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW). Their participation took place within the framework of the State Research Programme project “Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and the assessment of the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001). At the conference, researchers presented a poster paper entitled “Building Investor Confidence Based on Management and Corporate Reputation in Rural Businesses in Latvia”.

The conference was attended by researchers and industry experts from the European Union and other countries of the world, representing more than 15 countries in total, including Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Greece, Albania, India, Turkey, etc. Participants presented scientific reports covering a wide range of regional and rural development issues in the EU and beyond, including the development of the rural economy, the availability and development of human resources, the transformation of the labour market, the sustainable use of resources, the transformation of agricultural and food systems, social inclusion, innovation and digitalisation, as well as environmental and climate challenges. The conference program included a session of stand papers, during which participants analyzed existing theoretical approaches and empirical research methods, compared the experiences of different countries and regions and identified new areas of research. The discussions offered a multidimensional view of social, economic and environmental changes in rural and urban areas and their impact on regional development in the long term.

Faculty of Translation Studies Dean Participates in the “Translating Europe” Seminar

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:23:14 GMT

On 13 November, the Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Jānis Veckrācis, participated in the seminar “Translating Europe: The Changing Profile of the Translator in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, held at the Europe House in Riga. The seminar brings together industry professionals and university lecturers on an annual basis and forms part of a series of events organised by the Representative Office of the European Commission in Riga.

Jānis Veckrācis delivered a presentation entitled “On Certain Old and New Editorial Features of Latvian Language Texts in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

In addition, the seminar addressed topics such as the use of AI translation tools in translation and interpreting and in working with terminology, issues related to the quality of machine-translated texts, the work of translators in the European Commission’s translation service, and current developments in the context of academic studies.

VIRAC Director Participates in Latvian Delegation’s Visit to the United States

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:09:21 GMT

At the beginning of November, Mārcis Donerblics, Director of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC), together with a Latvian delegation, participated in the Open World leadership exchange programme mission “Commercial Utilisation of Space Technologies”, administered by the Congressional Office for International Leadership. The programme aims to strengthen cooperation between science and business and to promote the development of a modern innovation ecosystem.

During the ten-day visit, the Latvian delegation visited Washington, D.C., and Huntsville, Alabama. The delegation was led by Aļina Jefremova, Economic Specialist at the Embassy of the United States of America in Latvia, and included Kaspars Karolis, Space Sector Expert at the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia and Head of the Latvian Delegation to the European Space Agency, Mārcis Donerblics, Director of VIRAC, Ļevs Lapkis, Head of ESA BIC Latvia and the Latvian Space Industry Association, Ingus Mitrofanovs, Director of the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics at the University of Latvia, and Viktors Gutakovskis, Lecturer and Researcher at Riga Technical University.

The programme began in Washington, D.C., where the Latvian representatives joined participants from four other countries. The agenda included sessions on American federalism, leadership, and innovation policy, led by representatives from both academia and industry.

After Washington, the delegation travelled to one of the leading space research centres in the United States — Huntsville, also known as “Rocket City”. It was here that the first American rockets were developed, as well as NASA’s Saturn V rocket, which carried humans to the Moon. In Huntsville, the Latvian delegation was hosted by the Huntsville Area Friendship Force. During the visit, participants became acquainted with the local space and innovation ecosystem and discussed opportunities for cooperation between Latvia and the United States. One of the most significant events was a meeting with Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville, who emphasised that Cummings Research Park is the second-largest research park in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. The park is home to a dynamic high-technology and space community, including companies such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Blue Origin, among others. During the meeting, opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Huntsville and Latvia’s growing space sector were discussed.

Meetings with engineers and experts from United States companies provided Latvian representatives with the opportunity to learn about ways to accelerate technology transfer, manage innovation programmes, and build strategic partnerships. The Latvian delegation also gained valuable insights into how the United States successfully integrates research and industry, thereby fostering the development of high-technology and space innovations. By visiting companies and research institutes, representatives of the Latvian delegation established new contacts, deepened their understanding of the latest space technologies, and shared experiences regarding Latvia’s achievements and challenges in the space sector.

As a young space ecosystem, Latvia aims to implement larger projects in the space sector, commercialise space products, and generate tangible benefits for society and the economy. The experience of the United States in this field provided valuable insights and a new perspective, while the visit marked an important step in strengthening transatlantic cooperation through the development of new partnerships in research, entrepreneurship, and technological development.

Welcome to the Language Café: Science in Plain Language

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:22:48 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences warmly invites doctoral students to take part in our upcoming Language Café – "Science in Plain Language", an event designed to help researchers express complex ideas in clear, accessible, and engaging ways.

The event will take place online on Zoom platform, on November 28, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM CET (11:00 AM-1:00 PM Riga time).

Work language: English

Communicating science effectively is an essential skill in today’s diverse academic and professional environment. During this interactive session, linguist and plain-language expert, VUAS lecturer and guest researcher Aiga Veckalne will introduce the principles of plain language and share practical techniques for presenting research so that it can be understood by wider audiences.

After the introduction, participants will be divided into mixed-cultural discussion groups to explore their own research topics and practice communicating them in clear, concise language. The session will conclude with short group presentations summarising the key insights.

Doctoral students are encouraged to bring along their morning coffee, relax, and enjoy a welcoming and supportive atmosphere where learning is shared and curiosity is celebrated.

We look forward to seeing you at the Language Café and to engaging in meaningful, inspiring conversations about science, clarity, and communication.

To register, please fill out the survey here: https://forms.gle/XM9XVLjscCfKBfyD7

Zoom link will be sent to your email after registration.

Master’s Student in Translation Elīna Dergača Participates in the “Translating Europe 2025” Forum

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:37:26 GMT

On 5 November 2025, Elīna Dergača, a student of the Master’s programme “Translation and Terminology” at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, travelled to Brussels to participate in the “Translating Europe 2025” Forum, organised by the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) of the European Commission. The forum lasted three days and brought together 24 students from the European Master’s in Translation (EMT) network of master’s programmes in translation. This year, the forum was held for the twelfth time, bringing together representatives of the translation sector from across Europe. The event’s motto was “Quality Matters”.

Together with other EMT network students, Elīna had the opportunity to meet industry specialists in person, learn about current developments in the translation sector, become acquainted with the language and translation tools offered by DGT, and engage with translation and language professionals.

At the forum, all in-person attendees were formally presented with certificates of participation by Christos Ellinides, Director-General of DGT. In spring 2026, Elīna and the other forum participants from EMT programmes will take part in a special project of the Juvenes Translatores competition, in which master’s students will act as mentors to young translators during an online event. During these sessions, master’s students will share their translation experience and provide guidance to school students interested in translation and career opportunities in languages.

Early-Career Researchers Invited to Participate in Survey on Career Development Opportunities and Challenges

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:08:22 GMT

To gain insight into the experiences, needs, and challenges faced by early-career researchers in their career development, a survey of doctoral students and early-stage researchers is being conducted within the framework of the NextTechTalents project. The main objective of the Europe-wide NextTechTalents project is to support the development of early-career researchers’ competencies, including technology-related skills, to improve training systems, and to promote the development of research careers.

The project implementers invite doctoral students and early-career researchers whose research is directly or indirectly related to technology to dedicate approximately 15 minutes to completing the survey, sharing their experiences and perspectives on career development. By doing so, participants will contribute to the implementation of evidence-based solutions and to strengthening the European research environment.

During the research phase of the project, in-depth interviews with early-career researchers and relevant stakeholders are also being conducted, alongside an analysis of national regulatory frameworks and the collection of good practice examples. The data obtained will be used during the project’s implementation to improve career support systems in research institutions and to facilitate researchers’ more successful integration into the labour market.

The survey results will help identify which new training models, mentoring programmes, and other support mechanisms are needed to enhance researchers’ skills and improve their employability. The anonymised data will also be used in future research to promote the development of evidence-based policies and practices in the field of research career support.

The survey can be completed here:
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/NextTechTalents_ECR_Survey

The project is being implemented under the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme for the period from 1 June 2025 to 30 September 2027. Its total budget amounts to EUR 1,286,375.00, of which EUR 168,750.00 is allocated to the fulfilment of the project tasks assigned to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The project is coordinated by the non-profit research organisation MINDS & SPARKS GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria. Project partners include Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (Romania); Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia); Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana (Slovenia); Munster Technological University in Cork (Ireland); Impact Hub Liepāja in Liepāja (Latvia); Cluj IT Cluster in Cluj-Napoca (Romania); and Digital Innovation Hub Slovenia in Ljubljana (Slovenia).

A seminar on extreme solar activity and space weather events was held at Ventspils University

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:30:18 GMT

An international event — the VIRAC Seminar on Extreme Solar Activity and Space Weather Events — took place in 11 November, 2025, at Ventspils University (VUAS). It was organised by the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) as part of the project “International cooperation and innovation of Ventspils University for the development of Latvia’s smart specialisation” (No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012), with co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

The seminar was attended by scientists and researchers from Latvia and abroad. Its aim was to strengthen the exchange of experience and scientific results concerning extreme manifestations of solar activity and their impact on the ionosphere, Earth’s magnetic field, and the security of modern technological systems.

The programme included presentations of research carried out by VIRAC and round-table discussions on current and planned projects in the field of space weather. Special attention was given to studies of solar flares, ionospheric disturbances, and geomagnetic storms, as well as to strengthening international cooperation.

Several internationally recognised experts took part in the seminar, including:

Dr. Ilya Usoskin, Head of the Oulu Cosmic Ray Station (Finland),
Dr. Mykhailo Orlyuk, Lead Researcher at the Institute of Geophysics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
Mikhailo Ryabov, Lead Researcher at the URAN-4 Observatory and Radio Astronomy Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
Endika Aguirre, Researcher at Public University of Navarre (Spain),
and VIRAC researchers Vladislavs Bezrukovs and Jānis Šteinbergs.

The seminar served as an important platform for the exchange of knowledge, identifying new research directions, and strengthening international cooperation. VSRC has been involved in space weather research for several years, focusing on its practical application to the safety of communications, navigation, and other critical infrastructures. Currently, VSRC researchers are implementing three scientific projects funded by the Latvian Council of Science, using VSRC radio telescopes and the LOFAR and JIVE-ERIC infrastructures.

The seminar was held within the framework of the project “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation” (No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Probe Developed by Electronics Engineering Students Carries a Kombucha Can to an Altitude of 30 km

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 14:04:34 GMT

Electronics engineering students from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) developed a probe that carried a can of “Rudy’s Kombucha” into near space, reaching an impressive altitude of 28,690 meters – nearly 30 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. While trying to locate the probe afterward, the students encountered major GPS signal disturbances across the Kurzeme region, so they called on radio amateurs for assistance. Working together, they successfully located the probe near Dobele.

The space mission probe was equipped with a GoPro camera that captured both the launch and the breathtaking flight. After the controlled explosion of the probe’s balloon at nearly 30 kilometers altitude, a parachute opened, ensuring the can’s safe return to Earth. The probe was launched from Ventspils airfield and, after flying approximately 140 kilometers, landed near Dobele.

Jānis Šate, Director of the Electronics Engineering study program at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, explained:

“The company knew that our students develop probes, and they had the idea to attach a beverage can and launch it into space. Technically, it’s more accurate to say it was launched into the stratosphere. We discussed it in August, and within a few months, the electronics engineering students built the probe. It’s a group project in the third year of studies, and this collaboration added extra value.

The most challenging part of launching the probe is creating the electronic system attached to the parachute and helium balloon. The balloon rises to about 30 kilometers, where air pressure drops, the balloon bursts, and the probe descends to Earth. Launching it is easy – the hard part is tracking and recovering it afterward. A GPS navigation system is required to continuously transmit the probe’s location. The students’ task was to design an electronic system that can operate in the stratosphere, where temperatures drop to –40°C.”

“We coordinated the launch with the Civil Aviation Agency since air traffic is affected, and we also arranged it with Ventspils Airport. Eventually, the probe was found near Dobele, though there were unexpected complications – due to the global situation, GPS communications are regularly disrupted from Königsberg (Kaliningrad, Russia). Unfortunately, we launched on one of those days when signal interference over Kurzeme and the Baltic Sea was particularly strong. That meant that when the probe ascended above ten kilometers, our system showed it was no longer over Kuldīga, but over Kaliningrad. From there, spoofed GPS signals were being transmitted to mislead moving objects.

Map showing GPS signal interference on the day of the launch
Source: flightradar24.com – “GPS jamming map”

Since GPS tracking was difficult, university students shared the information with radio amateurs, who actively joined in and helped search for the probe. It was eventually found at the “Medņi” homestead in Dobele municipality. The owner, Juris, was initially surprised by the arrival of strangers, but after the radio amateurs explained the situation, he gladly helped, and together they located the probe.

Once recovered, radio amateurs Andrejs Puķītis (callsign YL3LP) and Kārlis Goba (callsign YL3JG) returned the probe to the Ventspils University students. This was an excellent learning experience, which the students thoroughly enjoyed.

Special thanks go to the Latvian natural beverage brand “Rudy’s Kombucha” for their collaboration, as well as to the Civil Aviation Agency, Ventspils Airport staff, and SIA “Linde Gas.”

COLOURS Partners Explore Mental Health and Inclusion at Paderborn, Germany

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:29:27 GMT

In October, VUAS COLOURS WP5, headed by Lasma Asme, joined other representatives from COLOURS partner universities gathered at Garage33, Paderborn University, Germany, for a dynamic CoLab dedicated to Mental Health, Body Image, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

The three-day event, which is part of the COLOURS CoSpace initiative, brought together students, researchers, and staff from across Europe to exchange perspectives and co-create innovative approaches under the smart specialisation area of Health and Well-being.

Participants from a very diverse background, under the moderation of Dr Christine Hante-Koch and Dr Alena Diedrich, discussed how issues like body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression are closely connected and how promoting a positive body image can make a real difference for people’s health.

Using design thinking processes, the group also worked on the importance of creating fair and inclusive support systems that meet the needs of different communities, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people facing disabilities, financial struggles, or migration challenges.

The participants were divided into 4 groups and had cases ranging from how to deal with women who survived breast cancer, to isolated international students living in other countries, and how to make gamers more active while utilizing their special skills and enlarging their comfort zone. At the end of the event, each group pitched their ideas, solutions, and next steps. These solutions were evaluated and challenged by a panel of experts from multiple disciplines, with the example of Martin Persson, Professor of Health Sciences at Kristianstad University.

The CoLab encouraged teamwork, creativity, and cultural exchange. The ideas developed in Paderborn will help shape future COLOURS activities and strengthen collaboration between partner universities committed to building healthier and more inclusive learning environments and society at large.

Doctoral students and researchers gain experience and expand their knowledge at the CFLA Informative Seminar “Good Practice in the Implementation of EU-Funded Projects”

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:49:29 GMT

On 29 October 2025, Monta Anšica, a doctoral student of the National Research Programme at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in the informative seminar “Good Practice in the Implementation of EU-Funded Projects” organised by the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFLA). The participation took place within the framework of the National Research Programme project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001).

The seminar provided information on current developments in the field of European Union (EU) funds, including improvements in the project selection process, upcoming changes in the EU funds architecture for the 2028–2034 programming period, the organisation of procurement in EU-funded projects (including below-threshold procurement), as well as experience in applying the New European Bauhaus principles. In addition, the seminar addressed state aid programmes for entrepreneurs offered by ALTUM and shared municipalities’ experience in implementing EU-funded projects.

During the seminar, the doctoral student had the opportunity to ask questions live and receive answers to topics of particular interest that are closely related to the subject of her doctoral research.

Doctoral Student Presents Research at the International Scientific Conference at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:00:07 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Doctoral Student Presents Research at the International Scientific Conference at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland.

On 24 October 2025, Monta Anšica, a doctoral student at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in the 11th International Scientific Conference "Trends in Regional Development in the EU Countries 2025" organised by the Warsaw University of Natural Sciences within the framework of the State Research Programme project "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and assessment of the transfer of their results to practice in Latvia" (VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001) and presented the report "Managerial Competencies and Corporate Reputation from the Perspective of Investors".

The conference was attended by researchers and industry experts from the European Union and other countries of the world, in total more than 15 countries, including Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Hungary, Albania, China, India, etc., who presented scientific reports on regional development in the European Union, with an emphasis on sustainable development, demography, implementation of smart solutions, digital transformation, trends in the development of human resources in sectors, etc. The research presented by the doctoral student contributes to the understanding of the role of adult education in the development of professional competences. Participation in the conference strengthens the experience of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Latvian researchers by promoting international scientific cooperation.

VUAS receives the “Best Practice University” certificate for high standards in the quality of international studies

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:13:57 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) has been recognized as one of 16 higher education institutions in Latvia to receive the “Best Practice University” award from the Study in Latvia initiative. This certificate confirms that the university meets the criteria set by the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of the Interior, ensuring responsible admission of international students and a high-quality study process.

With this Agreement, the VUAS have undertaken to comply with the criteria and principles of the Agreement fostering good practice in attracting international students and ensuring the delivery of a high-quality study process. VUAS promises to observe good faith and ethical principles, providing only true information in marketing activities and advertising campaigns for international students.

Erasmus Days at VUAS: A Celebration of International Collaboration

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:13:56 GMT

On October 22, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) joined the international celebration of “Erasmus Days”, bringing students and staff together for an afternoon filled with creativity, teamwork, and cultural exchange.

The event was organized by two students of VUAS with the help of international office and “COLOURS”, featuring engaging activities and friendly competition across a series of interactive stations. Each station offered a unique challenge inspired by the theme of cultural diversity, encouraging participants to test their knowledge, communication skills, and creativity while earning points for their teams.

Guided by enthusiastic station leaders and coordinated by the two main event organizers, the atmosphere was both energetic and welcoming. Students from different study programs and cultural backgrounds had the opportunity to connect, work together, and learn from one another in a relaxed and engaging environment.

Throughout the event, participants enjoyed refreshments and snacks, as well as a live performance from the band “Sweet Sixteen.” The music, laughter, and friendly competition made for a memorable afternoon celebrating the spirit of “Erasmus +” openness, inclusion, and intercultural understanding.

At the end of the activities, all teams received prizes in recognition of their efforts, with the winning team taking home exclusive VUAS merchandise.

“Erasmus Days” once again highlighted the value of collaboration and student mobility, reminding everyone that learning extends far beyond the classroom, it thrives through shared experiences and cultural exchange and making new connections.

Photos: Endijs Eihlers

Language Café Returns for Round Two

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:25:11 GMT

After a fantastic first edition, our Language Café is back and better than ever! If you missed it the first time, this is your chance to join the friendliest crew of language lovers on the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences campus.

Expect good vibes, new words, and plenty of laughter as we meet again at D0 (Lounge Room) on 29th October 2025 at 16:30. Whether you’re a returning participant or a first-timer, everyone is welcome!

So dust off your sense of humour, clear your schedule, and widen your comfort zone. Bring a friend, roommate, coursemate, and of course, your favourite snack – and let’s make language learning fun again!

Students from the Faculty of Translation Studies participate in the European Language Festival

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:42:35 GMT

To mark the European Day of Languages, the European Language Festival, organized by the European Commission Representation in Latvia, took place for the second time at the National Library of Latvia on September 19. This year, the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University College participated in this ambitious event alongside other participants. The faculty was represented by students from the bachelor's program in Translation and Language Technology, Sindija Plotniece, Paula Keiša, Alise Neilande, Sanija Zundovska, and Ilze Jaunzeme, as well as the program director Aiga Bādere, and Sabīna Brauna, a student of the master's program "Translation and Terminology."

Throughout the day, visitors from all over Latvia were able to view more than 30 stands set up by language learning centres, embassies, higher education institutions, and other institutions and organizations. Visitors could complete educational tasks, participate in various language-related quizzes, while the stage program allowed them to listen to presentations on language issues and learn about different cultures through colourful performances. Visitors could also go on a language date to test or refresh their language skills.

The students greatly appreciated their participation in the festival, as they spent the day in a wonderful and relaxed atmosphere, chatting with visitors, playing games, learning more about languages and multilingualism, and introducing visitors to translation studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

VUAS representative strengthens cooperation with Le Mans University in France

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:58:23 GMT

In September, Lilita Sproģe, Head of the Doctoral School at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, went on a business trip to Le Mans University in France to discuss opportunities for creating a joint internship project for doctoral students and developing cooperation in providing doctoral study courses, research, and student mobility. The meeting was organized by COLOURS project partners at the Le Mans University.

The day's program included several meetings with representatives of Le Mans University, including Christine Gonzalez, Deputy Director of the EDGE Doctoral School and Lecturer and Researcher at the Faculty of Management and Economics, Geoffroy Martin, Administrative Director of the Doctoral School, Selin Duhan, Head of the International Relations Office, Xavier Lachazette, Vice President of International Relations, and Miloš Borozan, former COLOURS WP3 Manager.

During her visit, L. Sproģe familiarized herself with the language faculty and doctoral student workspaces, as well as the research infrastructure on the university campus. Le Mans University is closely integrated into the city structure and easily accessible by public transport from Paris and Le Mans itself.

The talks covered key differences between Latvian and French doctoral school models and regulatory frameworks, credit point accounting principles, promotion procedures, and deadlines for completing doctoral theses. The meeting resulted in a strengthened mutual interest in further cooperation in the development of joint doctoral activities and research in the fields of linguistics and economics.

VUAS researchers representing the State Research Programme project at International Academic Conference

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:47:27 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences researchers Una Libkovska and Zane Zonberga, representing the State Research Programme project VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001, took part in the 20th International Academic Conference at Daugavpils University “Social Sciences for Regional Development 2025.”

On October 17-18, 2025, the researchers of the National Research Programme project "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia", professor Una Libkovska and doctoral student Zane Zonberga participated in the international scientific conference "Social sciences for regional development 2025", which took place at the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of Daugavpils University. The conference presented the research implemented within the framework of the project, looking at the effectiveness of adult professional competence development, human capital development, skills transfer tools in practice, as well as the importance of regional cooperation for the sustainable development of education and employment.

The conference, organized by Daugavpils University, brought together participants from 24 universities and research institutes, representing 17 countries, including Latvia, Germany, Norway, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Portugal, USA, Croatia, Georgia, Ukraine and other countries. The programme covered a wide range of social sciences, from sustainable regional policy and economic transformation to social cohesion and regulatory challenges. Participation in the conference created opportunities to expand international cooperation networks and build dialogue with academic and industry partners, while also enabling the approbation of research results in a broad expert audience and fostering interdisciplinary discussion on advancing adult education policy and professional skills development in Latvia’s regions.

Researchers from the Faculty of Translation Studies Participate in a Conference in Riga

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:44:20 GMT

On October 16, researchers from the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the conference “ The Journey of Latvian Books: Terminology and Language in the Light of Five Centuries, ” which took place at the National Library of Latvia in Riga.

Assoc. prof. Dr. Philol. Jānis Veckrācis delivered a plenary lecture entitled “Geographical Terminology Discourse and the History of Certain Basic Terms in the Latvian Language.”

Assoc. prof. Dr. Philol. Silga Sviķe presented a paper entitled “An Insight into the History and Contemporary Use of Certain Botanical Taxonomy Terms” to conference participants.

FTS lecturer Mg. translat. Aiga Bādere gave a presentation on her doctoral thesis entitled “Post-editing Machine Translation in the Context of Latvian Scientific Language.”

FTS doctoral student Anna Rudzīte presented a paper entitled “The History of the Word ‘Choir’ and Differences in Its Comprehension Today,” while doctoral student Anna Šēfere presented a paper entitled “The Diachronic Development of the Definition of the Term ‘Tourism’.”

The conference also featured many other valuable presentations, as well as engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and the exchange of ideas.

The Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted an international scientific conference

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:23:35 GMT

On October 9 and 10, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted an international scientific conference entitled “More than Words: (Inter)linguistic Aspects in a Practical Context,” organized by the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Institute of Linguistics and the Faculty of Humanities at Jan Długosz University ( Uniwersytet Jana Długosza , Poland).

Plenary presentations were given by Ramunė Kasperė from Lithuania, Andrejs Veisbergs from the University of Latvia, and Olga Słabońska from Poland.

FTS researchers and lecturers gave presentations at the conference: Associate Professor Dr. philol. Egita Proveja, Assoc. Prof. Dr. philol. Jānis Veckrācis, lecturer Mg. paed. Diāna Neimane, research assistant MBA Aiga Veckalne, guest lecturer Mg. translat. & term. Ailenda Bulindža-Leitiete, guest lecturer Mg. translat. Linda Gaile guest lecturer Mg. ed. mgmt. Zane Veidenberga, as well as doctoral students Jūlija Rastorgujeva, Diāna Bērziņa, Anna Rudzīte, Anna Šēfere and bachelor's program students Lorete Medne, Roberta Šarlote Andersone, Natālija Dolgova and Ilze Jaunzeme. The opening speeches of the conference were interpreted by Elēna Šatrovska, a 4th-year student of the bachelor's program.

The conference's terminology session was specially dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences professor, renowned Latvian linguist and terminologist Juris Baldunčiks (1950–2022).

During the forum, COLOURS alliance workshops were also held for students, where young people performed practical tasks related to digital translation tools, intercultural communication, and foreign language learning. The workshops were led by European Commission representatives Jānis Līmežs and Anna Liniņa, as well as colleagues from the Polish partner university. The forum concluded with a panel discussion entitled “Humanities: New Trends, Changes, Future,” which was moderated by Faculty Dean Jānis Veckrācis.

In conjunction with the COLOURS forum, the conference is a significant contribution to the development of the international dimension of the Faculty of Translation Studies' scientific activities, the development of cooperation between scientists, the exchange of experience, and the involvement of students at all levels of study. The discussions highlighted several directions of further cooperation, both in science and in the education of students.

It is planned to prepare and publish in Lithuania a collection of conference papers indexed in the Scopus scientific database in English and German. This will ensure that the conference's high-value research results are available to a wide range of the international academic community in the field of Humanities.

The next conference will take place in two years at Jan Dlugosz University.

Language Cafe Brings Together International and Local Students

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:58:42 GMT

On September 30, 2025, the first Language Café organized by the COLOURS Project was held at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

The event gathered international and local students in a relaxed and informal environment to practice languages (Mainly Latvian Language for now), exchange cultures, and foster connections across study programs. The event took place at student lounge, bringing together students from more than 6 different nationalities and speakers of a wide variety of languages, including English, Latvian, French, German, and Russian.

The Language Cafe was designed to support student integration and intercultural communication, two key focus areas of COLOURS. During the event, participants engaged in small-group conversations guided by Lasma Asme, the EDI coordinator. The atmosphere was lively and inclusive, with background music by Liva Slesare, allowing students to gain confidence in speaking while enjoying snacks and refreshments prepared by the EDI coordinator.

“The participation from both Latvian and international students exceeded our expectations,” commented Janvier Dylan, COLOURS representative and International student “It was inspiring to see how open and engaged everyone was, especially how many Latvian students were eager to communicate and connect across cultures. The energy and motivation to continue this kind of event were remarkable.”

The event concluded with students dividing into small groups, where Latvian participants taught international students common words and phrases useful for everyday communication. This interactive exchange created a lively and friendly atmosphere that encouraged mutual learning. The session ended with an open discussion about future activities, during which students shared creative ideas for how upcoming café

meetings could look. Many also expressed interest in volunteering and helping to organise the next events, highlighting their motivation to make the Language Cafe a regular and sustainable part of campus life the organisers noted that the success of the first Language Café demonstrates the importance of creating spaces that encourage communication, collaboration, and cultural exchange beyond the classroom.

The next Language Café is planned for 29th October 2025, and all VeA students, international and local, are welcome to join.

Erasmus Days 2025 – Let’s Celebrate Together!

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:21:20 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences invites students, staff, and the community to join Erasmus Days 2025 on October 22nd at 5:00 PM in the Lounge Room (D0) for an unforgettable evening of fun, culture, and connection.

The event will feature a variety of interactive stations and activities, offering everyone a chance to test their knowledge, explore new cultures, and win exciting prizes. Whether you’re an Erasmus+ participant, an international student, or simply curious about global exchange, this celebration is the perfect opportunity to learn, engage, and connect.

To keep the energy high, the evening will include snacks, live music, and plenty of good vibes – all in the spirit of bringing people together from across the world.

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate Erasmus Days 2025 with us! Come share the Erasmus spirit, make new friends, and experience the joy of international exchange.

"Beyond Words" CoLab and Conference Highlights the Evolving Role of Language and Communication in Modern Society

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:37:04 GMT

On October 9 and 10, at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with Jan Dlugosz University in Poland, CoLab “More Than Words: (Inter)Linguistic Aspects in a Practical Context” took place.

During the forum, participants discussed topics such as the interaction between language and technology, the impact of artificial intelligence on translation, cultural and identity aspects, current issues in language policy, and the challenges of communication in a multilingual society.

Keynote lectures were delivered by speakers from several countries - Ramunė Kasperė from Lithuania, who outlined the future prospects of the translator’s profession in the age of artificial intelligence; Andrejs Veisbergs from the University of Latvia, who addressed issues of censorship in Latvian literary translations; and Olga Słabońska from Poland, who analyzed the grammatical structures of Polish and English from a cognitive perspective.

Forum participants were eager to explore current topics from the perspectives of different lecturers and to gain valuable insights, which encouraged a broader understanding of the role of language, culture, and communication in contemporary society.

At the end of the first day, all interested participants had the opportunity to visit the Ventspils Open-Air Museum to explore Latvia’s national cultural heritage – the Livonian language – together with Dženeta Marinska, a speaker of Livonian. The lecture concluded with a crossword activity, where participants searched for Livonian names of everyday objects around the museum grounds, followed by a tasting of traditional sklandrauši and smoked flounder from Kolka.

“The Livonian language lecture was truly inspiring – Dženeta spoke about both the history of the Livonian language and her personal journey of learning it. During the lecture, we also listened to Livonian folk songs and experienced the unique sound of the language. This experience made me reflect on the value and fragility of our own language – how easily it could disappear if we do not protect and use it in our daily lives,” shared participant Lelde Bērziņa.

As part of the forum, COLOURS Alliance student workshops were also held, where students worked on practical tasks related to digital translation tools, intercultural communication, and foreign language learning. The forum concluded with a panel discussion titled “The Humanities: New Trends, Changes, and the Future.”

More photos are available here:

https://zviedrans.lv/klientiem/
Beyond Words: (Inter)Lingual Reflections in Practice October 9-10 | Ventspils, Latvia
Password: beyondwordsventspils

Astronomers ‘image’ a mysterious dark object in the distant Universe

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 06:27:46 GMT

A wide US – Europe network of radio telescopes including observing a faraway radio galaxy discovers a small dark object. It is just a pinch in their data but it signifies that low-mass dark matter clumps are widespread, verifying theories of the Universe’s structure and evolution. The telescopes used include those of VUAS institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VIRAC).

An international team of astronomers has found a low mass dark object in the distant Universe, not by directly observing any emitted light, but by detecting its tiny gravitational distortion of the light from another distant galaxy. This mysterious object has a mass of about one million times that of our Sun, and its discovery seems consistent with the current best theory about how galaxies like our own Milky Way formed.

“Since we can’t see dark matter objects directly, we instead use very distant galaxies as a backlight to look for the gravitational imprints of such objects.”

“Hunting for dark objects that don't seem to emit any light is clearly challenging,” said Dr. Devon Powell at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA) and lead author of the study published in Nature Astronomy. “Since we can’t see them directly, we instead use very distant galaxies as a backlight to look for their gravitational imprints.”

Dark matter is an enigmatic form of matter not expected to emit light, yet it is essential to understanding how the rich tapestry of stars and galaxies we see in the night sky evolved. As a fundamental building block of the universe, a key question for astronomers is whether dark matter is smooth or clumpy, as this could reveal what it is made of. As dark matter cannot be seen, its properties can only be determined by observing the gravitational lensing effect, whereby the light from a more distant object is distorted and deflected by the gravity of the dark object, creating a characteristic arc in the processed image.

The team used a network of telescopes from around the world, including the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) and the European Very Long Baseline Interferometric Network (EVN). The latter includes the VIRAC radio astronomical observatory in Irbene. The data from this international network were correlated at the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) in the Netherlands, forming an Earth-sized super-telescope that could capture the subtle signals of gravitational lensing by the dark object. They discovered that the object has a mass a million times greater than that of our Sun and is located in a distant region of space, approximately 10 billion light years from Earth, when the universe was only 6.5 billion years old.

“From the first high-resolution image, we immediately saw a pinch in the gravitational arc, which is the tell-tale sign that we were onto something.”

This is the lowest mass object to be found using this technique, by a factor of about 100. To achieve this level of sensitivity, the team had to create a high-fidelity image of the sky using radio telescopes located around the world. Professor John McKean from the University of Groningen (RuG), the University of Pretoria (UP) and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), who led the data collection and is the lead author of a companion paper, said: “ From the first high-resolution image, we immediately saw a pinch in the gravitational arc, which is the tell-tale sign that we were onto something. Only another small clump of mass between us and the distant radio galaxy could cause this.”

To analyse the massive dataset, the team had to develop new modelling algorithms that could only be run on supercomputers. “The data are so large and complex that we had to develop new numerical approaches to model them. This was not straightforward as it had never been done before,” said Dr Simona Vegetti at MPA. “We expect every galaxy, including our own Milky Way, to be filled with dark matter clumps, but finding them and convincing the community that they exist requires a great deal of number crunching,” she continued. The team applied a special technique called gravitational imaging, which allowed them to ‘see’ the invisible dark matter clump by mapping its gravitational lensing effect against the radio-luminous arc.

“We expect every galaxy, including our own Milky Way, to be filled with dark matter clumps”

“Given the sensitivity of our data, we were expecting to find at least one dark object, so our discovery is consistent with the so-called ‘cold dark matter theory’ on which much of our understanding of how galaxies form is based,” said Powell. “Having found one, the question now is whether we can find more and whether the numbers will still agree with the models.”

The team are now analysing the data further to better understand what the mysterious dark object could be, but they are also looking into other parts of the sky to see if they can find more examples of such low-mass dark objects using the same technique. If they continue to find such mysterious objects in other parts of the universe, and if they really turn out to be completely devoid of stars, then some theories of dark matter may be ruled out.

Figure. Overlay of the infrared emission (black and white) with the radio emission (colour). The dark, low-mass object is located at the gap in the bright part of the arc on the right-hand side, but is not luminous at infrared or radio wavelengths. The zoom in shows the pinch in the luminous radio arc, where the extra mass from the dark object is gravitationally ‘imaged’ using the sophisticated modelling algorithms of the team. The dark object is indicated by the white blob at the pinch point of the arc, but no light from it has so far been detected at optical, infrared or radio wavelengths. Image credit: Keck/EVN/GBT/VLBA

Additional Information:

Gravitational lensing: This is an astrophysical tool used by astronomers to measure the mass properties of structure in the Universe. It is a consequence of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, where mass in the Universe curves space. If the mass of the foreground lensing object (typically a galaxy or cluster of galaxies) is sufficiently dense, then the light from distant objects is distorted and multiple images are even seen. In the case of this system, called B1938+666, the foreground infrared luminous galaxy (seen at the centre of the ring), results in a beautiful Einstein ring of the distant galaxy. However, the distant galaxy is also bright at radio wavelengths, showing the beautiful multiple images and gravitational arcs (seen in red).

Very Long Baseline Interferometry: The radio observations were taken using a combination of radio telescopes that are combined to form a so-called Very Long Baseline Interferometer. This observational method allows astronomers to improve the imaging sharpness of the data and reveal very small fluctuations in the brightness that otherwise could not be seen. For example, the resolving power of the VLBI data is a factor 13 better than the infrared imaging from the W. M. Keck Telescope adaptive optics system (also shown in the figures in black and white). The telescopes used in the observations were the Green Bank Telescope and the Very Long Baseline Array of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the United States, and the telescopes of the European Very Long Baseline Interferometric Network, including those located in Irbene, Latvia.

Gravitational imaging: This is a novel method astronomers use to ‘see’ mass in the Universe even though it does not emit any light. This method uses the extended gravitational arcs to look for small aberrations that can only be caused by an additional, invisible component of mass. By combining this method and the exquisite high angular resolution imaging from the VLBI data, the team were able to detect the presence of the lowest mass dark object currently measured.

Paper links:

Powell et al. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-025-02651-2

McKean et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slaf039

Astronomers’ View of Autumn in the Sky

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:14:25 GMT

As autumn arrives, days grow shorter and colors deepen, while the fading light urges both body and mind to adjust. Astronomers explain how this season affects the sky — from the paths of stars to the cycles of the Sun.

Nature shifts its rhythm, the sky lowers, and people become more reflective. This season both unites and challenges us — some see in it color and beauty, others see melancholy and weariness. Yet we all agree on one thing: in autumn, the days grow shorter.

The American philosopher Carlos Castaneda (1925–1998), echoing ancient wisdom, once wrote: “We do not see things as they are; we see them as we are.”

Astronomers’ View of Autumn in the Sky

IVARS ŠMELDS, PhD (Physics), Senior Researcher at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

When we look up at the sky, we see only a small section of the celestial sphere — as though we were standing inside a globe of stars. From the outside, it would appear as a sphere with Earth at the center and the sky stretching above and below. Because we’re so small, we can’t immediately sense that Earth is round — its surface appears flat to us. The same effect can be seen inside a planetarium. The sky is there, but it doesn’t seem infinite: we see only the visible upper part, and our sense of distance is relative — a plane may seem high in the sky, but in reality, it’s far closer than the stars.

We don’t feel Earth turning on its axis each day or orbiting the Sun throughout the year — just as we don’t sense motion while riding a train, even though the landscape rushes past the window. Because of this movement around the Sun, the stars seem to circle the Earth during a single day, though in reality it’s Earth that’s rotating. Over the course of a year, the Sun appears to travel across the entire celestial sphere, crossing the celestial equator twice and tracing a path known as the ecliptic. Seen from the pole, the Sun forms a circle parallel to Earth’s surface, explaining the polar day and night. From the equator, the Sun rises and sets at right angles to the horizon, and twilight descends swiftly.

In astronomical terms, autumn begins with the equinox — the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and rises due east, setting due west. From then on, nights grow darker and more favorable for observation, especially in optical astronomy. In radio astronomy, the Sun causes no interference, so studies continue regardless of day or night.

At the end of December, more intense meteor showers are expected — most notably the Geminids. The northern lights are linked to solar activity and appear most vividly in darkness. Solar flares that trigger them can disrupt radio communication, satellites, and even power grids, and may briefly influence the human nervous system and mental state.

The greatest threat to humanity lies in processes of our own making — pollution and overpopulation. No danger from large meteorites is expected in the coming century. Astronomers can track the trajectories of such objects and, if necessary, adjust their course. We study radio emissions to understand how stars are born. There may never be final answers in this field, yet every observation adds to our understanding.

VLADISLAVS BEZRUKOVS, Mg. sc. ing., Researcher at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Earth’s axis is tilted by about 23.5 degrees, so our hemisphere receives varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.

The autumn sky is alive with change. As night falls, the winter constellations begin to appear — Orion with its bright belt, the Pleiades sparkling like a handful of diamonds, and Sirius, the brightest star of the night. In October, the Orionids streak across the sky, born of Halley’s Comet, and in November, the Leonids take their turn.

This autumn brings a special visitor — the comet 3I/ATLAS, arriving from beyond our Solar System. Only the third interstellar comet ever observed, it was discovered this summer and already shows signs of activity, with a visible tail in which NASA telescopes have detected carbon dioxide and water ice. Although it will pass safely by, its visit gives us a rare glimpse of matter from another star system.

The 25th solar cycle has brought some surprises. When it began in 2019, scientists predicted it would be weak, but the number of sunspots and the frequency of solar flares have been far higher than expected.

This results in powerful geomagnetic storms that can interfere with radio communication, satellites, and power networks. Yet even with the most advanced telescopes and supercomputers, the Sun continues to guard its mysteries.

Text by Rebeka Busule

Ventas Balss newspaper

LIVE – CoLab "Beyond Words"

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 07:30:07 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, in cooperation with Jan Dlugosz University (Poland), will host the international forum “Beyond Words: (Inter)lingual Aspects in Practical Contexts” on October 9 and 10. The forum will bring together representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, Ventspils City Council, Jan Dlugosz University, the European Commission, and other stakeholders. The event will explore the challenges of translation, multilingualism, and intercultural communication.

More information: https://en.venta.lv/colab-beyond-words

DAY 1

DAY 2

Artificial intelligence and its challenges – lectures by Juris Dzelme in Ventspils

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:17:09 GMT

This academic year, the VUAS Lifelong Learning Centre is offering a new lecture cycle, "Science and Culture - for Society", featuring lectures by renowned scientists and distinguished personalities in Latvia, held once a month on Saturdays. On October 11, lectures by Juris Dzelmes, a leading researcher at the Institute of Chemical Physics of the University of Latvia, are scheduled to discuss the challenges of artificial intelligence.

In parallel with research in the field of chemical physics, J. Dzelme's interests encompass problems in educational management, philosophy, psychology, and art, and he will discuss the possibilities, development, and threats of artificial intelligence.

October 11 at 7 p.m. 11.30–14.30, at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, J. Dzelme will give an insight into the following topics:

Digitalisation, robotisation, artificial intelligence (AI) and superintelligence;
Emotions, free will and creativity in artificial and natural neural networks (AI and psyche);
AI ethics, value and goal modelling;
Supporting communities in an AI-driven world through art and philosophy, through physics and psychology.

Application: https://www.venta.lv/muzizglitiba/pieteiksanas

Price: 35 EUR

More information: mic@venta.lv, tel. 63629650

Translation Students Visit the European Parliament in Brussels

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 07:18:54 GMT

At 7 AM on the 24th September an airplane took off to fly to Brussels. It was a quiet morning, the air was charged with excitement and sleep deprivation, when seven 4TLT students, along with lecturer Zane France arrived at their destination, where they were welcomed by European Parliament’s vice-presidents’ assistant Guna Zaķe-Baltā.

VUAS students had the opportunity to get lost in the ‘labyrinth’ of the European Parliament, attend a lecture about the work of both the European Parliament and its members, as well as get a glimpse into the history of the establishment. The students could learn about how actively (or not) Latvia participates in voting, how much ‘pocket money’ do members get, what is the monthly schedule and how often do the meetings happen in Brussels and Strasbourg. After the lecture the excursion continued, and the students saw a part of the enormous building of the Parliament (one can wonder, do the new hires get a compass and a map?), the famous conference room, gifts of the countries of the European Union (including artworks gifted by Latvia), and even the cabinet of Roberts Zīle (where the guests were greeted by sandwiches, apples, and chocolate :) ).

The cherry on top was the opportunity to meet with the European Parliament’s interpreters Dace Rubene and Ilze Lauva, and the Head of the Latvian unit of Directorate-General of the European Commission Uldis Sproģis and talk about how many languages interpreters usually know, how does interpreting differ in the European Commission and European Parliament, what is retour, and what should one do if the speaker’s tempo is too fast, as well as if voice matters in interpreting.

At the end, the students had the opportunity to try interpreting in the Conference Interpretation Booths (with the microphone, hopefully, turned off!) and interpret the conference about the safety of minors on the internet. It was a wonderful experience that allowed the students to learn about the professionalism of the interpreters and working in the Parliament, as well as internship opportunities and how difficult it is to become an interpreter in the European Parliament. In the evening and on the next day, the students were given free rein to taste Belgian chocolate, see the Peeing boy statue and ponder on whether to come back and work in the Parliament.

Impressions of the participants:

“Although I have never thought that conference interpreting is easy, this tour highlighted how difficult and challenging it actually is and what enormous wealth of background knowledge interpreters need to have.”

“I really enjoyed the trip! At first, I wasn't too sure whether to participate, but I’m happy that I mustered up my courage and decided to go. I can definitely say that visiting the European Parliament is a wonderful opportunity, and that it was very interesting to learn about the work and experiences of the interpreters.”

“I will definitely remember the visit to the European Parliament for an eternity, but the meeting with the interpreters that work there is what left the most significant impression. For a while I thought that they’re some kind of superheroes – which they definitely are – but after the meeting I realised that they are people just like us. Thanks to them, work in the European Parliament has turned from something intangible into a real possibility you can achieve by investing a lot of hard work.”

Researchers’ Night 2025: Star Formation, Small Bodies of the Solar System, and Language Games

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 07:21:42 GMT

On September 26, the European Researchers’ Night events took place throughout Latvia, where colleges, universities, and scientific institutes opened their doors to visitors, offering a variety of free activities.

At the VIZIUM Science Center, activities organized by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) introduced visitors to the processes of star formation, comets, and other small bodies of the Solar System. Throughout the evening, visitors played language games, observed stars and planets through a telescope, and tried their hand at solving a mathematical puzzle – the Tower of Hanoi. Guests also had the opportunity to test their knowledge in various quizzes related to space and languages, gaining new insights along the way.

Language Cafe – exchange of cultures and languages

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:02:40 GMT

If you want to feel at home faster in our city of Ventspils and like to build your confidence in everyday conversations, and looking to make friends and integrate into the Latvian community, then join the first Language Café meeting – organized by COLOURS WP5 (EDI)!

It’s a relaxed and welcoming meet-up where international and local students come together to:

Practice different languages
Make new friends
Enjoy light snacks and friendly conversations

No grammar tests, no pressure – just real conversations in small, friendly groups.

Come as you are and enjoy the exchange of cultures and languages!

Tuesday, 30th September at D0, 16.30!

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Researcher Participates in International Radio Astronomy Workshops in the Netherlands

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:41:30 GMT

In September, Matīss Purviņš, a programmer at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in two high-level international workshops – the CASPER Workshop 2025 and the SFXC Workshop 2025 – held in Dwingeloo, the Netherlands.

These workshops brought together radio astronomy experts from around the world to exchange knowledge and experience on cutting-edge technologies, ranging from high-performance computing with GPUs to correlation algorithms and data processing tools.

The CASPER Workshop focused on modern hardware technologies and software tools used in radio astronomy. Participants explored the applications of FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) and RFSoC (Radio Frequency System-on-Chip) systems, data transport architectures, and the latest developments within the CASPER tool community. The program also included a guided tour of the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) and LOFAR core stations, offering insights into the technologies in use and their historical evolution.

The SFXC Workshop offered in-depth theoretical lectures and hands-on sessions on correlation processes in radio astronomy. Participants learned about pulsar signal processing, the search for FRBs (Fast Radio Bursts), and geodetic correlation techniques using the SFXC correlator – a specialized software tool for combining data from multiple telescopes.

A highlight of the workshop was the presentation of a GPU-based correlation solution currently under development for future VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) projects, including the global Square Kilometer Array (SKA) initiative.

Participation in these workshops not only enhanced the professional qualifications of VIRAC staff but also strengthened international collaboration with leading researchers and institutions in the field of radio astronomy.

This experience was made possible through the activities of the JIV-ERIC and LOFAR ERIC consortia and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under project No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012 “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation”.

Radio astronomy technologies continue to evolve rapidly – and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is proud to be part of this exciting journey.

COLOURS alliance’s greeting on the European Day of Languages

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 10:45:39 GMT

Approximately 700 million Europeans are constantly encouraged throughout their lives to learn as many languages as possible – whether in educational institutions, through self-study, for professional purposes, or out of personal interest. The Council of Europe states that multilingualism is a means to foster better intercultural understanding and is a key component of our continent’s cultural heritage.

Representatives from the language centres of the COLOURS European Universities Alliance* joined forces in a collaborative project, creating a video greeting in honour of the European Day of Languages, celebrated annually on September 26. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is represented in this team by Rūta Maltisova, lecturer at the Faculty of Translation Studies, who also took part in the creation of the video greeting.

Rūta is currently working together with colleagues from all COLOURS partner universities on a virtual language and culture guide – a glossary and language learning materials – which are planned to be developed and made available to all partner universities by the European Day of Languages in 2026. This initiative aims to support students and lecturers in learning and teaching nine European languages and cultures: Swedish, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Latvian, Polish, Croatian, and Macedonian.

At the end of the video, greetings can be heard in each of the COLOURS alliance member languages, all translating into English as “Happy European Day of Languages!” or in Latvian, “Priecīgu Eiropas valodu dienu!”

On the European Day of Languages, Rūta Maltisova encourages everyone to remember that languages are like bridges connecting different cultures. Without them, we would only be able to observe each other from a safe distance, separated by a potential barrier of prejudice that prevents us from understanding the essence and values of another culture. By learning a language, we also learn about the culture – and, in doing so, we learn about one another. Thanks to the COLOURS Universities Alliance, we learn something new every day about each other’s cultures, values, and, undoubtedly, languages.

*Le Mans University (France), University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), University of Ferrara (Italy), Paderborn University (Germany), Jan Dlugosz University (Poland), Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (Croatia), University St Kliment Ohridski Bitola (North Macedonia), Kristianstad University (Sweden), and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia).

Visit of the University of Latvia Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:18:00 GMT

On 24 September 2025, a delegation from the University of Latvia Faculty of Science and Technology (UL FST) visited Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS).

The UL delegation included FST Dean Aigars Ekers, Acting Vice-Dean for Science Sandris Lācis, Vice-Dean for Studies Aiga Švede, Vice-Dean for Development Diāna Šmite, and Head of the Department of Physics Tija Sīle. VUAS and the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) were represented by Rector Andris Vaivads, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology Vairis Caune, Head of the Doctoral School Lilita Sproģe, Chairman of the VUAS Senate and, at the same time, Chairman of the VIRAC Scientific Council Juris Freimanis, along with other researchers and teaching staff.

The visit began with a trip to the VIRAC radio telescope complex in Irbene, where senior researcher Artis Aberfelds introduced the guests to the telescopes, associated equipment, and laboratories, and their use in astronomical observations. After a joint lunch at VUAS café Panorāma, Jānis Šate showed the guests the university's electronics teaching laboratories and their equipment. The event reached a productive apogee in a joint discussion lasting around two hours in the VUAS Rectorate conference hall. At its opening, Rector Andris Vaivads gave a presentation about VUAS, followed by a presentation by, Juris Kalvāns, Head of the VIRAC Astronomy and Astrophysics Department, about the main research directions in VIRAC astronomy, while researcher Vladislavs Bezrukovs outlined VIRAC's extensive international cooperation, particularly its participation in European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERIC).

“The event reached a productive apogee in a joint discussion lasting around two hours in the VUAS Rectorate conference hall, where Rector Andris Vaivads gave a presentation about VUAS.”

The discussion covered a range of topics related to science and studies. Both sides expressed interest in officially involving VUAS in the UL Master’s programme in Physics, alongside Daugavpils University. VIRAC researchers already teach several astronomy courses within this programme. The potential involvement of the VIRAC high-performance computing cluster in a new computing consortium, where UL is expected to take the leading role, was also discussed. Looking further ahead, UL is also interested in gaining access to VIRAC satellite communication abilities. Finally, the UL–VUAS cooperation agreement is to be renewed, including matters of collaboration in doctoral studies and research, as well as Latvia’s participation in the International Astronomical Union. The meeting took place in a frendly atmosphere, giving confidence in the successful continuation of cooperation between UL and VUAS.

Researchers’ Night 2025

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:37:23 GMT

On September 26th, European Researchers’ Night events will take place all across Latvia, with higher education institutions and research centres hosting open-house events offering a wide range of free public activities and events. From 6 PM to 10 PM, join researchers from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and VIRAC at VIZIUM Science Centre to explore star formation processes, comets, and other small Solar System bodies. Guests will get to participate in trivia quizzes, play different language games, as well as observe stars and planets through telescopes.

Presentations and trivia quizzes

Karina Šķirmante

Topic: "Exploring the Solar System’s Most Fascinating Small Bodies"

Guests will be introduced to Small Solar System Bodies, including comets, asteroids, dwarf planets, and natural satellites. The presentation will integrate 3D visualisations showing how comet tails form from gas and dust in different space conditions.

Artis Aberfelds

Topic: "How Stars Are Born"

Explore star forming processes, as well as test your knowledge in our trivia quiz to win prizes. Telescopic observation of stars and planetary bodies will be available throughout the event.

All evening long:

Virtual-reality exploration of Irbene Radio Telescope grounds, including video footage.

Note: Personal mobile devices can be connected to the VR experience. Content from VR headsets will be showed to large displays.

Play Languages Detectives: Spot impostor words in foreign languages, identify false friends, and discover translation fails from machine translation tools.

Industrial robot demonstration.

Unleash your inner researcher – join us at Researcher’s Night!

Students from the Faculty of Translation Studies participated in the European Language Festival

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:20:14 GMT

On September 19th, the National Library of Latvia hosted the second European Language Festival, organised by the Representative Office of the European Commission in Riga, to celebrate the European Day of Languages. This year, the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the major event alongside other institutions, represented by bachelor's study programme students in Translation and Language Technologies, Sindija Plotniece, Paula Keiša, Alise Neilande, Sanija Zundovska, and Ilze Jaunzeme, together with the programme’s director, Aiga Bādere, as well as master's study programme’s Translation and Terminology student, Sabīna Brauna.

Throughout the day, festival participants from across Latvia could explore over 30 exhibition stands presented by language education centres, embassies, higher education institution, and various organisations. Participants were able to engage in educational activities and a variety of language-themed quizzes, while stage events featured linguistic talks and vibrant cultural performances. Participants could also join speed-language sessions to challenge or refresh their linguistic skills.

Students cherished the festival experience, as the day was spent in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, taking participants through conversations, educational games, multilingual activities, and promoting the translation studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

VIRAC Summer School on Pulsar Observations at Centimetre and Metre Wavelengths Held at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:14:06 GMT

From 8 to 19 September, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted the scientific workshop “VIRAC Summer School on Pulsar Observations at Centimetre and Metre Wavelengths”, organized by the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC). The event brought together researchers and students from Latvia and abroad.

The summer school aimed to develop knowledge and practical skills in pulsar observations, radio astronomical data processing, and international scientific collaboration. Over two weeks, participants attended lectures and hands-on sessions on the fundamentals of pulsar astronomy, observation planning, and data analysis, with a special focus on observations with the LOFAR low-frequency antenna array.

The summer school was led by VIRAC researchers Jānis Šteinbergs and Vladislavs Bezrukovs. Special guest lecturers Dr. Alisa Shevtsova and Dr. Ihor Kravtsov from the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine shared their expertise on the physical properties of pulsar emission and low-frequency research methods.

What are pulsars? - Pulsars are extremely dense, rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit powerful radio pulses at regular intervals. These signals are so precise that they are often compared to cosmic clocks. Observations of pulsars with modern radio telescopes help scientists study extreme physical conditions, the properties of the interstellar medium, and the large-scale structure of the Universe.

VIRAC conducts research in radio astronomy, space technologies, and data processing, and operates the Irbene Radio Telescope Complex - one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Northern Europe.

One of the key instruments is LOFAR (Low Frequency Array), a Europe-wide network of low-frequency radio telescopes that connects hundreds of antenna stations across multiple countries, including Latvia. Ventspils University’s participation in the JIV-ERIC and LOFAR-ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) strengthens Latvia’s integration into the international radio astronomy community. It provides opportunities to conduct observations across the radio spectrum of the Universe.

The summer school fostered collaboration between Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, the University of Latvia, and Riga Technical University, while also facilitating the exchange of experience with research institutions from Europe and Ukraine.

The event was implemented within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund project No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012 “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation”

The Class "Following the Dictionary" is Attended by Students from the Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:37:58 GMT

On September 18, students from Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School visited the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences with their teacher Zanda Šlegelmilha to participate in the class "Fallowing the Dictionary" and learn about study opportunities at FTS.

This academic year, FTS associate professor Silga Sviķe is once again offering students this creative workshop, which is included in the ''Latvian School Bag'' activities catalogue. The class provides an exciting opportunity to learn about how dictionaries are created, take a look at Professor Juris Baldunčiks' memorial cabinet, which contains interesting materials on the history of lexicography, and, at the end of the class, take a closer look at one of the dictionaries on offer. During the class, you can look at a dictionary written in Braille, a dictionary that does not contain any words, download university-created term dictionaries as mobile apps, and see the world's smallest dictionary.

More information about registering for classes and their content can be found in the ''Latvian School Bag'' program catalogue.

Information prepared by:

FTS Assoc. Prof. Dr. philol. Silga Sviķe,

Director of the professional master's program "Translation and Terminology"

Extended Application Deadline for the Bucher Municipal Scholarship

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 08:56:19 GMT

We invite 2nd and 3rd-year students of the Faculty of Economics and Management to apply for the Bucher Municipal Scholarship!

To apply for the scholarship, students must submit the required documents to the Chairman of the VUAS Scholarship and Loan Allocation Committee either in person at the Study Department (Room C302) or via email to studijas@venta.lv:

Either a letter of application describing your vision for your place in the labour market and the actions you plan to take to achieve it, or a video application;
Your CV;
An official transcript of your academic record from VUAS;
A summary of your community or organisation activities, with supporting documents (if there are any).

The purpose of the scholarship provided by Bucher Municipal SIA is to encourage students of the professional bachelor's study programs “Business Administration,” “Startup Management,” and “Management Science” at the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) to be active in their academic, research, and community work. The scholarship also aims to help the FEM prepare students for the labour market by offering a monthly experience-sharing opportunity during the scholarship period.

The meeting will take place at the Bucher Municipal SIA offices. Based on the student’s career interests, goals, and desired knowledge, a meeting with the relevant Bucher Municipal employees (including department heads, specialists, etc.) will be held. A contact person from Bucher Municipal SIA will be assigned to the student to provide them with all necessary information about the company’s departments and operations.

A monthly scholarship of €150.00 (one hundred and fifty euros) will be transferred to the recipient’s designated bank account for the period from October 1st to June 30th. The first scholarship payment, covering October and November, will be paid in November.

Erasmus+ Experience – Undīne Bētere

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 08:52:50 GMT

Undīne Bētere is a fourth-year student of the bachelor’s programme “Translation and Language Technologies”. When she was on her third year of studies, she decided to go on an Erasmus+ exchange to the University of South Bohemia in the Czech Republic. During her time abroad, Undīne didn’t just improve her language skills and learn new phrases in foreign languages, but also gained confidence to overcome language barriers in her daily life. The programme provided her with access to courses that were not available at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, while also confirming that her home university provides an excellent education.

"I decided to go on an Erasmus+ exchange because it’s the way to travel safely, experience studying at a different university, and greatly boost your language skills. This internship not only allowed me to actively use the languages I was studying at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, but also let me put them into practice. I also picked up a few new phrases in languages that were new to me. After five months of pure panic, feeling that I understood nothing in Czech, I can now actually start a conversation without being afraid of mistakes, because I’ve learned the phrases that will save me from getting confused.

My home university was always supportive, and I knew that I could reach out at any time to ask for help or for advice if anything was unclear. Communicating with the host university was a bit of a struggle sometimes, but in the end, everything worked out. The key thing is to understand which documents you need and to have backup course options, since your first choices might be cancelled or unavailable.

The exchange allowed me to study subjects that are not available at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. I was reminded once again of how good my home university is. There were even moments when I actually missed our workload. I’m no longer afraid of new opportunities, and I know that if I feel out of place, I’ll be able to find a way to adapt and find my place, even in an unfamiliar environment.

What amazed me the most was seeing how many international students were genuinely interested in learning more about Latvian culture, trying our potato dishes, and even getting on the dance floor for “Cūkas driķos”. I also learned how simple it can be to overcome language barriers and find ways to communicate with foreigners when words fail you. This will definitely be useful, both for my work as a translator and for future trips.

Practical Tips

“I recommend checking out the school’s storage room as soon as possible, because you can find useful items there (pans, pots, hangers, etc.).

I would also suggest getting a few portrait photos taken, as you’ll probably need them for your student ID or an access card. Plus, if you have any photos left, you can give them to your new friends as a keepsake.

The last thing I would recommend is to do research on how you’ll get around on public transport. Download the local transit apps in advance so you can set up a student profile, get discounts, and travel without being worried that you might get caught by ticket inspectors. IDOS (general route information), Muj Vlak (trains), DPMCD (create a student transport pass for easy travel in ČB).

Places to Eat in ČB: Bageterie Boulevard (delicious grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches), Bouda Burger (the best burgers in Europe), Indicka Restaurace (lovely Indian restaurant with great prices), Mr Thai and other Vietnamese restaurants (great value — big, tasty, and healthy portions).

Think ahead about what you will present at the cultural nights. The international students really loved the food we made, and they also had a great time learning our traditional dances.

I recommend learning some Czech, because the older generation understands neither English nor Russian. Knowing just a few basic Czech phrases can change their attitude towards you, so make sure that you are heard.

If you plan on going to student parties, getting an ESN card is a must. It will give you access to discounts and often get you in for free.

To save money on food in České Budějovice, head to the Kaufland hypermarket. You can walk there in 10 minutes by taking a shortcut through Stromovka Park. It’s worth getting a loyalty card. Not only will it get you discounts, but you’ll also be able to scan your items without a cashier. Cashiers can sometimes randomly check your items in order to make sure that you’ve scanned everything, but still this shopping system is very easy and convenient.

I suggest applying for the dorms early and aim for the K1 buildings as they are the best. It’s also convenient, easy, and cheap to do your laundry there. You can wash your clothes and either leave them to dry in the drying room or hang them on the balcony.

Sign up for the Buddy Programme. You’ll get paired with a local student who can help you settle in and show you the city when you first arrive (speaking from personal experience).”

Latvian Partners of the Project “MarTe: Marine technology excellence hub for sustainable blue economy in Baltics” Meet in Ventspils

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:25:25 GMT

On Friday, September 12, the Latvian partners of the project “MarTe: Marine technology excellence hub for sustainable blue economy in Baltics” gathered in Ventspils. Representatives from the Ventspils Freeport Authority, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Latvia, the Kurzeme Planning Region, the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, the association “Baltic Coasts”, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences met to learn more about the local business environment and discuss opportunities for cooperation in promoting the blue economy.

As part of the visit, the partners toured the Ventspils Freeport Authority to learn about the port’s operational areas and future development directions. They also visited the Freeport’s industrial clients, including SIA “Bio-Venta”, the largest biodiesel production and transshipment complex in the Baltic States, where partners were introduced to the company’s production processes and end products — biodiesel, rapeseed oil, rapeseed meal for animal feed, and glycerine.

In addition, the partners visited the manufacturing company SIA “Aspired”, a CNC service provider, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to explore production capabilities and potential cooperation in human resource development.

The MarTe project is focused on addressing environmental changes and fostering regional economic development. Within the project, a cross-border Centre of Excellence will be established to promote innovation, strengthen the marine value chain, and encourage the adoption of new technologies. The project’s objectives include joint research and development (R&D) activities to support the sustainable use of marine resources, strengthen ecosystems, and drive policy impact.

Through quadruple-helix collaboration (linking academia, business, government, and civil society), MarTe aims to advance marine and maritime technologies, enhance stakeholder cooperation, build ecosystem capacity, bridge knowledge gaps, support SMEs and startups, and increase the visibility of blue economy innovation ecosystems in Estonia and Latvia. The project’s strategic framework focuses on coastal energy, smart ports, and marine ecosystem protection, in line with the EU Green Deal and regional Smart Specialisation Strategies.

The goal of the project “MarTe: Marine technology excellence hub for sustainable blue economy in Baltics” is to develop practical solutions and policy recommendations to advance the blue economy — the sustainable use of marine and ocean resources — in Estonia and Latvia. A total of 13 organisations are involved in the project, with an emphasis on innovation in marine technologies, particularly in renewable energy, smart port development, and marine environmental protection, thereby strengthening cooperation between science, industry, public administration, and non-governmental organisations.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, under the “Excellence Hubs” subprogramme (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07-01).

The project’s lead partner is the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre (Sihtasutus Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus).

The total project budget is €4,999,822.50, of which €367 850,00 is budget of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The project will run until 31 December 2028.

New Series of Lectures “Science and Culture – for Society”

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:59:54 GMT

This academic year, the VUAS Lifelong Learning Center is offering a new series of lectures, “Science and Culture – for Society,” featuring monthly Saturday lectures delivered by prominent Latvian researchers and outstanding public figures.

The series will begin with a lecture by Ojārs Spārītis, an art historian, academician, and expert in cultural heritage preservation and restoration.

The first lecture is scheduled for 20 September at 11.30–14.30. Ojārs Spārītis will speak on the following topics:

The manor as an economic and cultural phenomenon;
The life of manor residences in the 20th and 21st centuries;
Latvia’s sacred heritage and its renewal;
The role of the Courland nobility in the restoration of the sarcophagus of the Duke of Courland and church buildings.

Registration is available at: https://www.venta.lv/muzizglitiba/pieteiksanas

For additional information, contact: mic@venta.lv or call 29102007

A lecture by Juris Dzelme, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Chemical Physics of the University of Latvia, is scheduled for 11th October. In addition to his research in chemical physics, his academic interests extend to educational management, philosophy, psychology, and the arts. His lecture will therefore focus on the opportunities, development, and challenges of artificial intelligence.

The lecture will cover:

Digitalization, robotization, artificial intelligence (AI) and superintelligence;
Emotions, free will and creativity in artificial and natural neural networks (AI and the psyche);
Ethics, values and goal modelling in AI;
Supporting communities in an AI-regulated environment through art and philosophy, with the help of physics and psychology.

On 1st November, Jānis Dripe, Adviser on Architecture and Cultural Policy at the National Library of Latvia, will deliver a lecture covering the following topics:

World-renowned modernist architect Gunārs Birkerts (1925–2025);
The National Library of Latvia and library architecture in Latvia;
Contemporary architectural processes in Lithuania;
Contemporary architectural processes in Estonia.

A lecture by Inese Čakstiņa-Dzērve, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Riga Stradiņš University, is scheduled for 13th December. Having completed multiple research fellowships in the United States, she has become a leading expert in genetics and cell transplantation within Latvia’s reproductive medicine community. Her lecture will address precision medicine, which focuses on personalised approaches to the study and treatment of diseases, taking into account patients’ genetic profile, lifestyle, and other factors. Additionally, she will discuss topics including artificial insemination and related studies.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is strengthening the development of young researchers’ competences and their integration into the labour market

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:27:57 GMT

On September 3rd and 4th, representatives of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, together with partners from five countries, continued their work on the NextTechTalent project in Vienna. The main goal of the project is to support the development of early stage researchers’ skills and to create an international cooperation network.

Work has started on a detailed assessment of the current situation — this includes development of an interview framework for young researchers and other parties involved in research career development, national regulations and obstacles to career growth are being analyzed, as well as gathering examples of best practices. This preliminary study will lay the groundwork for the next stages of the project, aiming to develop solutions to help researchers improve their skills and enter the labour market more easily, particularly in fields like digital transformation, the green transition, and deep tech.

The project also includes the creation of training and mentoring programmes, along with the introduction and testing of career development systems. Attention is focused on promoting diversity and inclusion in both academic and business environment, ensuring that researchers from all backgrounds have equal opportunities. Sustainability is also a key focus of the project, with outcomes designed to remain relevant even after the project’s completion.

The project was represented on-site by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences project manager — senior researcher Lilita Sproģe, administrative project manager Ieva Kozlova, senior researcher Kārlis Krēsliņš, scientific visiting assistant and PhD student Līga Pūce, and visiting researcher Linda Rudzroga. During the workshop, Līga Pūce presented the developed interview template for early stage researchers, senior researcher Kārlis Krēsliņš introduced partners on the planned directions of the training programme, intended to better prepare young scientists for the changing requirements of the European Research Area. Meanwhile, Linda Rudzroga, responsible for the project’s communications, reported on completed publicity activities and upcoming initiatives, emphasising the value of partner collaboration in creating and spreading purposeful and meaningful content.

As part of effort to extend scientific collaboration beyond the project, Lilita Sproģe, senior researcher at Ventspils University of Applied Science and head of the Doctoral school, also visited the University of Applied Science St. Pölten on September 3rd to explore the university’s academic and research infrastructure and to discuss future research opportunities for early stage research. Lilita Sproģe met with four representatives of the St. Pölten university of Applied Sciences to discuss international cooperation and research.

The project is being implemented as a part of the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme from June 1st 2025 to September 30th, 2027. The overall funding of the project amounts to €1,286,375, of which €168,750 is allocated specifically for Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to carry out its assigned project tasks. The project is coordinated by the non-profit organization MINDS & SPARKS GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria. Project partners include Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (Romania); Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia); Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana (Slovenia); Munster Technological University in Cork (Ireland); Impact Hub in Liepaja (Latvia); Cluj IT Cluster in Cluj-Napoca (Romania); and Digital Innovation Hub Slovenia in Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Prepared by:

Linda Rudzroga

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Email: linda.rudzroga@venta.lv

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences launches project to modernize study environment

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:10:49 GMT

On September 1 of this year, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences launched a new European Union (EU) co-funded project “Modernization of the Study Environment of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences”, No. 4.2.1.8/2/25/I/007. The project implementation period is 24 months, until August 31, 2027.

The project aims to ensure the modernization of the study environment of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, which includes the improvement and development of the infrastructure of the bachelor's study program "Computer Science" and the professional bachelor's study program "Electronics Engineering". To ensure high-quality and competitive education, targeted measures will be implemented within the project framework, focusing on the technological modernization of study spaces, enhancing the material and technical base, and introducing information and communication technologies (ICT). These engineering and IT programs are strategically important for the sustainable economic growth of the Ventspils region and the entire country of Latvia, preparing highly qualified specialists to promote digital transformation and technological development.

During the project, the infrastructure of laboratories and classrooms will be enhanced to ensure that study rooms are equipped with the latest technologies and meet the standards of modern higher education. The latest technologies and equipment will be purchased and introduced, significantly expanding students' opportunities to work with current industry tools and software, thereby preparing them to work with technologies widely used in the industry. In addition, it is planned to continue adapting the digital infrastructure to modern requirements, allowing for the implementation of the hybrid and distance learning process in accordance with current educational trends.

The modernization carried out will significantly improve the quality of studies and compliance with labour market requirements, providing students with the opportunity to acquire practical skills and adapt to the growing requirements of the industry. This project will not only improve the study environment and promote the integration of innovations into the learning process, but will also contribute to the development of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences as a higher education and research center in Latvia and beyond, attracting students from the region and the country, as well as from abroad.

The total cost of the project “Modernization of the study environment of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences”, No. 4.2.1.8/2/25/I/007, is 215,083.00 EUR, of which the planned amount of the European Regional Development Fund is 85% of the eligible expenses – 182,820.55 EUR, and the amount of state funding is 15% of the eligible costs – 32,262.45 EUR.

VIRAC Summer School on Pulsar Observations at Centimetre and Metre Wavelengths

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:51:49 GMT

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the VIRAC Summer School on Pulsar Observations at Centimetre and Metre Wavelengths:

Ventspils, Latvia |September 8–19, 2025

This intensive and inspiring summer school is designed for Master’s students, PhD candidates, and early-career researchers in astronomy and astrophysics. The event is hosted by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Key Topics:

Pulsar observations with the LOFAR telescope
Pulsar astronomy fundamentals
Observation planning
Pulsar data processing and analysis

Venue:
Engineering Research Institute – Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre,
Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Room 407

An online seminar Effective monitoring of environmental and animal welfare farms will take place

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:22:26 GMT

The Latvian Rural Advisory and Education Centre, in cooperation with project partners, one of which is Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, invites you to an online opening seminar on August 27 at 10:00 AM on the new My Farm livestock section, which helps to: accumulate and analyze farm data, monitor animal welfare, plan work and make data-driven decisions, save time in preparing reports.

At the seminar:

You will learn how this idea originated and why it remains relevant today.
You will hear about the experiences and benefits of experts for Latvian livestock farmers.
You will see a practical demonstration of how to use the tool on your farm.
You will receive answers to your important questions.

Questions can be asked in the comments during the live broadcast.

Live on Facebook profiles @LLKCOzolnieki and @Manslauks, as well as www.llkc.lv

Link to the event: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1290216356070792

The event is a part of the project No.: 21-00-A01611-000017 "Efficient Environmental and Animal Welfare Farm Monitoring".

Project Objective:

The long-term goal is to promote sustainability and competitiveness in the Latvian livestock sector, in line with the guidelines of the European Green Deal. In recent years, global environmental and climate issues have become increasingly relevant, and it can be assumed that in the future, consumers will demand products produced in an environmentally friendly manner. These future challenges compel farmers to reassess their current management practices and explore environmental and sustainability issues. To achieve this goal, an innovative farm monitoring system will be developed for the livestock sector, ensuring comprehensive data collection and analysis in one place. This system will promote compliance with animal welfare requirements, facilitate sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices, and enable the monitoring of daily activities, ultimately reducing the time spent on preparing various reports.

“A Whistle-Stop Tour: ESO – ALMA – AtLAST – Quasar” – invited talk by Dr. Evanthia Hatziminaoglou

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:48:15 GMT

On August 18, 2025, Dr. Evanthia Hatziminaoglou from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) delivered an insightful invited talk at the University of Latvia. The presentation provided a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge astronomical research and advancements, focusing on ESO's contributions, the ALMA telescope, the Atacama Large Aperture Submillimetre Telescope (AtLAST), and the study of quasars.

Dr. Hatziminaoglou highlighted ESO's role as the leading intergovernmental astronomy organization, encompassing 16 member states and strategic partnerships with Chile and Australia. The talk showcased ESO's groundbreaking facilities, including the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at Paranal and the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), set to be the largest optical/infrared telescope in the world.

The presentation also delved into ALMA's capabilities, emphasizing its precision in resolving small details and its ongoing upgrades to enhance sensitivity. Dr. Hatziminaoglou discussed the AtLAST concept, a next-generation 50-meter single-dish observatory powered by renewable energy, designed to bridge gaps in angular scales, sensitivity, and mapping speed in submillimeter astronomy.

A significant portion of the talk focused on the study of quasars, exploring their environments, star formation rates, and the triggers of extreme star formation in quasar hosts. Dr. Hatziminaoglou shared findings on multiplicities around SDSS quasars, revealing how submillimeter counterparts and redshift influence star formation rates and environments.

In addition to the scientific presentation, there was a lively discussion on potential collaboration between the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The discussion emphasized creating pathways for Latvian researchers and students to engage with ESO and ALMA facilities, opening new opportunities for joint projects, training, and integration into international astronomy networks.

This engaging presentation underscored the synergy between ESO's facilities, ALMA, and AtLAST, paving the way for future discoveries in astronomy. Dr. Hatziminaoglou's talk was an inspiring showcase of the collaborative efforts driving innovation in the field and inspiring the next generation of astronomers.

Dr. Hatziminaoglou's talk was an inspiring showcase of the collaborative efforts driving innovation in the field and inspiring the next generation of astronomers.

The seminar was organized within the framework of the project “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences` International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation” (No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Latvia will Become a Central Meeting Hub for Space Data Experts: Registration for the Conference "Big Data from Space 2025" is Open

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 08:24:40 GMT

The European Space Agency (ESA) has opened online registration for the international conference on big data from space, Big Data from Space 2025 (BiDS 2025). This large-scale event will take place for the first time in the Baltic Sea region, in Riga, from 29 September to 3 October. The conference will offer a broad and diverse programme, bringing together leading experts, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the use of satellite data in science, innovation, and the development of solutions that matter to society.

Jānis Paiders , Acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia and Deputy State Secretary for Human Capital, Science, and Innovation Policy, highlights:

“The fact that the international BiDS 2025 conference is taking place in Latvia marks a significant milestone – this prestigious event is being held in the Baltic Sea region for the first time. It is a testament to Latvia’s vital role in the development of the space sector, as well as the potential of our researchers and companies to apply satellite data for economic growth, societal needs, and the creation of innovative technologies. ”

BiDS 2025 programme will include:

Workshops at the University of Latvia Academic Centre (29 - 30 September);
Panel discussions, presentations, and an exhibition at the National Library of Latvia (1 - 3 October);
B2B events, demonstrations, and broad networking opportunities.

Registration is open on the official conference website: https://bigdatafromspace2025.org

The BiDS conference is held every two years and jointly organised by the ESA, the European Union Satellite Centre (EU SatCen), and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. In Latvia, the event is organised by the Ministry of Education and Science and the science communication platform researchLatvia, in cooperation with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and the Latvian Space Industry Association.

Riga, as the conference venue, will become a hub for knowledge exchange, showcasing the latest solutions, discussing access to big data, and fostering new partnerships between science, industry, and policymakers.

The conference in Latvia is supported by the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001 “More Efficient and Smarter Implementation and Governance of Science Policy in Latvia”.

Student participation in COLOURS summer school in Germany

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 08:00:04 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Translation Studies Bachelor’s degree student of “Translation and Language Technology” Matīss Jansons and Bachelor’s degree student of “Intercultural Communication” Līva Slesare participated in an exciting summer school “Responsible Digitalization: AI, Social Media and their Contribution to a Sustainable Society”, which took place from 21st to 25th of July in Paderborn, Germany.

The aim of the summer school was to provide a learning experience about sustainable use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies for the benefit of society, while promoting collaboration, practical innovation and cultural exchange.

The summer school program was intense and dynamic – lectures, workshops and discussions led by lecturers and guest lecturers took place throughout the day, covering the practical application of artificial intelligence, its ethical and social aspects, issues of power, prejudice and everyday life. Each day provided new insights and encouraged students to think about the role of technology in the future society.

Outside of lectures, students from Latvia, as well as from various other countries, had the opportunity to go on guided tours and get to know the city of Paderborn in Germany and its ancient history, see the world's largest computer museum "Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum", as well as have informal conversations and make new contacts.

Students admit that the opportunity to work in international teams with participants from several COLOURS alliance universities was very valuable. This diversity promoted the exchange of experience and allowed for different approaches to solving problems related to artificial intelligence. Dr. François Vignale's (Le Mans University) lecture on the identification of AI-generated and biased content also aroused special interest, providing practical knowledge and sparking a discussion about these problems in society.

This experience gives students the opportunity to gain new knowledge, opening a broader view of the everyday life of students at other European universities, exchanging opinions and creating contacts and future friendships.

Latvian scientists develop unique instrument for studies of variable astrophysical radio sources

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:21:01 GMT

Today, the field of radio astronomy has experienced a resurgence in ‘transient’ science, with more and more astronomical phenomena found to be active on timescales of months, weeks, and even within a single day. For example, high-mass stars form in short, intense bursts of mass accretion that display active variations on day-long timescales.

The use of single-baseline interferometers (two telescopes connected together) has been known in astronomy since the 1940s. However, demand for this observing technique was soon overtaken by the development of interferometers comprising large numbers of radio telescope dishes. As demand for aperture synthesis arrays increased, the time available for each observing programme became more limited. The recent emphasis on transient science has renewed the demand for facilities capable of high-cadence monitoring of brightness variations in radio emission—an area in which the now uncommon single-baseline radio interferometer is particularly well suited.

The aim of this project is the development of the Irbene Single-Baseline Interferometer (ISBI), designed to detect variations in the radio emission associated with high-mass star-forming regions. The ISBI will be used to monitor both radio continuum and maser emission from high-mass protostars. This will enable clearer distinctions to be drawn between currently untested and competing theoretical models proposed to explain the enigmatic variability recently linked to the formation of high-mass stars.

With recent discoveries confirming rapid accretion bursts in high-mass protostars, time-domain radio astronomy has become a key frontier in understanding the formation of massive stars. These short-lived accretion episodes give rise to measurable variations in both radio continuum and maser emission. However, existing large-scale arrays are often oversubscribed and are not optimised for long-term, targeted monitoring of such sources.

“The method will enable clearer distinctions to be drawn between currently untested and competing theoretical models proposed to explain the enigmatic variability recently linked to the formation of high-mass stars.”

High-cadence, long-term monitoring, such as that possible by ISBI, greatly benefits from automation, which makes it much easier to carry out long-term, frequent monitoring of space signals, from planning observations to processing the data. Latvian scientists have created a unique set of tools and automated systems for the ISBI, turning it into a one-of-a-kind instrument with capabilities not found anywhere else.

ISBI stands out because, unlike single-dish telescopes or large VLBI arrays, it can both detect weak signals and track them regularly over time. This makes it ideal for studying the changing radio emissions of massive star-forming regions, helping researchers understand processes like matter falling onto stars and the jets they eject. Thanks to automation, almost the whole workflow runs smoothly, allowing continuous and efficient monitoring of these fascinating cosmic events.

The massive star-forming region Sharpless 2-106.

NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).

MORE INFORMATION

This research was presented in a paper entitled “Interferometer for variable astrophysical radio sources"( https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.11.1.018001 ). Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, Volume 11, id. 018001 (2025)

The work was carried out in the Fundamental and Applied Research Program of the Latvian Science Council project no. lzp-2022/1-0083" A single-baseline radio interferometer in a new age of transient astrophysics".

Link to the project: https://en.venta.lv/zinatne/projekti/a-single-baseline-radio-interferometer-in-a-new-age-of-transient-astrophysics

Scientific manager PhD Ross Alexander Burns, rossburns88@googlemail.com

Administrative manager I. Kozlova, ievako@venta.lv

Business Management students attend summer school at Le Mans University, France

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:30:29 GMT

From June 26 to July 5, 2025, third-year Business Management students Mārtiņš Didzis Gailis and Daniels Balcers from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the COLOURS project summer school "Scientific Project Management: From Idea to Funded EU Project", which took place at the University of Le Mans, France.

The aim of the programme was to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge in scientific project management, with a particular focus on attracting European Union funding. The program was organized in a combined format – with online classes on June 26 and 27 and in-person activities at the University of Le Mans from July 1 to 5.

During the online sessions, students learned about the project life cycle, European Union project evaluation criteria, the use of Gantt and PERT charts, risk analysis, and budgeting. The in-person sessions included practical workshops on stakeholder mapping and Horizon Europe funding opportunities, as well as the development and presentation of students' final projects in the form of a simulated competition. The program also included a visit to the Le Mans 24 Hours Museum and participation in the international event "Le Mans Classic," where students gained insight into the organization and management of high-level events.

Daniels says that he is very interested in everything related to cars and motorsports, so he was particularly excited to attend the Le Mans Classic race – it was a great opportunity to get to know one of the world's most legendary racing events, see classic racing cars in action, and experience the authentic atmosphere that reigns in this historic place.

Mārtiņš admitted that he had visited France before, but Le Mans left an even deeper impression on him – quieter, more authentic and with a strong historical presence. He particularly liked the historic atmosphere of the city, the enthusiasm for motorsport and how open and friendly the local people were.

"To be honest, we regret a little that we didn't take advantage of such opportunities earlier during our studies – they provide not only knowledge, but also a broader view of the world, people and ourselves. That's why we especially encourage other students and young people to be active, take advantage of the international programs on offer, and not be afraid of challenges – these are experiences that create unforgettable memories," the guys admit.

Participation in this program provided students with valuable experience in project planning, risk assessment, budgeting, and international communication. The knowledge and skills they gained will be useful both in their future studies and professional activities.

When knowledge becomes outdated: research seeks solutions for effective lifelong learning

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 06:59:29 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, together with partner universities, has joined a national research program project called " Elaboration of evidence-based solutions for effective professional competence development of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia ."

Project participants Zane Zonberga and Sanita Lasmane, guest lecturers at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, spoke about their work on the project, outlining the nature of the problem and possible solutions.

Rapid changes require new skills

The importance of this project will be appreciated by anyone who has ever thought about how much their profession has changed in recent years – whether the knowledge and skills acquired at school twenty, ten or five years ago still meet the requirements of today's job market? Rapid changes in society, automation of production, and the development of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, require workers in many fields to constantly learn new skills to remain competitive in a changing job market. In this context, high-quality professional development for adults is of great importance, which is also clearly defined in Latvia's National Development Plan 2021-2027 as part of Latvia's sustainable development strategy to strengthen the country's ability to adapt to the changing labor market. In reality, adult education often lags behind the declared goals. To reduce this gap, a national research program project is currently being developed. Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of adult professional competence and evaluation of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia (No. VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001). The lead partner is the University of Latvia, but partner universities – Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and RTU Liepāja Academy – also play an essential role in the project.

Zane Zonberga is a second-year doctoral student in the joint doctoral program in Economics and Entrepreneurship at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, and RTU Rezekne Academy of Technologies. At the same time, Sanita Lasmane has already completed her theoretical studies in this program and is preparing to obtain her doctoral degree at the end of this year. The title of Sanita Lasmane's doctoral thesis is Analysis and Modelling of Factors Affecting the Latvian Labour Market, while Zane Zonberga is working on a doctoral thesis on The Impact of Human Capital Development on Organisational Performance in Latvia, which is related to the theme of this project. In addition to the two young researchers, the project team at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences also includes the project's scientific director, Professor Una Libkovska, Associate Professor Liene Resele-Dūšele, and coordinator Linda Ūdre.

"I can try to explain the project's goal in the simplest way possible with an example: a person acquired a certain level of education, technical knowledge, and digital skills five or ten years ago, but now this knowledge has very little value in the labor market due to rapid digitization, technological development, and automation," says Zane Zonberga. "Many jobs are at risk because employees are simply unable to keep up with these trends. In our project, we aim to demonstrate that adult education is not only essential for the population but also crucial for companies to thrive and compete globally. We strive to offer companies and government institutions the opportunity to evaluate the practical application of knowledge, assessing whether the learning process meets their quality standards and whether it will benefit their employees. The project also emphasizes the role of professional development for teachers so that they can provide students and adults with modern, practical knowledge and skills that are relevant to the labour market.

Professional development is relevant in almost all professions, but it is particularly appropriate for those working in fields where digitization, automation, artificial intelligence technologies, etc., are rapidly advancing. For example, customer support specialists whose work is being replaced by artificial intelligence chatbots, or warehouse workers whose tasks are being taken over by automated lines. More generally, this also applies to employees in any industry who acquired technical or digital skills five or ten years ago.

From interviews to cooperation solutions

The project is divided into five task packages, which involve both data collection and analysis. One of the tasks of the researchers at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, together with their project partners, was to analyze 14 focus group interviews conducted with industry representatives, expert councils, government and educational institutions, and other target groups. The interviews are transcribed, coded and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. In addition, researchers at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences have assessed the contribution to human capital development, including adult vocational education and professional development, and its impact on the Latvian economy and economic development. Theoretical reviews of the effects of human capital development on the development of the national economy and the characteristics of instruments for measuring the effectiveness of the transfer of professional development into practice have also been carried out.

Researcher Sanita Lasmane reveals that, before her involvement in this project, she had worked mainly with quantitative research methods, which focus on the collection and analysis of numerical data. "This project focuses more on qualitative research methods, which are used to study something difficult to measure in numbers, such as people's attitudes and opinions on a particular issue. Qualitative research methods require a greater ability to delve into context and interpret nuances, which has personally allowed me to broaden my research horizons and become more versatile," Sanita Lasmane shared her experience.

One of the main objectives of the project is to develop a practical tool that would help assess the effectiveness of transferring knowledge gained through adult professional development into practice. This tool would enable companies and government institutions to determine whether the training provided equips employees with the necessary skills and is applicable in the job market. In the long term, the project's desired outcome would be closer and better cooperation between educational institutions, entrepreneurs, and government agencies, with company representatives actively involved as guest lecturers, telling students about real problems and needs in the job market.

The offer is there, but information is lacking

Zane Zonberga shared one of her observations from the research process, acknowledging that "There is fragmentation in communication between the institutions involved – employees, employers, local governments, the state, and, accordingly, educational institutions and state-level institutions. Fragmented communication between these parties has created obstacles to better cooperation." She emphasizes the importance of employers identifying their employees' needs, but notes that some companies struggle to do so effectively without consuming excessive human resources time. It is in the interest of local governments to ensure that companies in their municipalities have the opportunity to develop and provide support as needed. The industry expert council is responsible for obtaining information about the needs of all industries – the knowledge, skills and competencies that need to be developed. The state is responsible for providing not only projects, but also further professional development courses, training, etc., which would be offered to both industries and residents. Zane Zonberga cites the example of the courses provided by the State Employment Agency, emphasizing: "After communicating with entrepreneurs and industry representatives, it was concluded that this offer, which usually comes from the state, does not always match the knowledge, skills or competencies they need. Similarly, various projects are currently challenging for a specific company to implement, as they often do not meet one or two criteria and are therefore not eligible for funding. These communication issues need to be resolved so that all parties understand what is needed and how to implement it."

Zane Zonberga acknowledges that the current range of professional development opportunities is sufficient. Still, some shortcomings need to be addressed: "I would say that the range of professional development opportunities as such is sufficient, but at the moment the public is not sufficiently informed about the possibilities." For example, at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, anyone who is interested can take courses and earn credits for a fee, receiving a certificate upon completion. This can be done over several years, combining work with study and gradually acquiring knowledge. Similar offers are also available at other educational institutions and lifelong learning centres, including free courses, but their availability often depends on the initiative of the teachers themselves.

Sanita Lasmane highlights the inequality between regions: "Opportunities exist, but they are mainly concentrated in the more economically developed areas. The biggest structural gaps in the labor market are precisely in the regions where professional development opportunities are much more limited." Zane Zonberga agrees: "There are many more opportunities for professional development in Riga, and they are more diverse. For example, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is unable to provide professional development in medicine, but such opportunities are available in Riga."

Cooperation with entrepreneurs must be expanded.

The researchers particularly emphasize the importance of cooperation with businesses. Ventspils University currently cooperates with Bucher Municipal, where, in addition to the scholarship, students are also provided with the opportunity to gain experience at the company by familiarizing themselves with all work processes: "I think it is necessary to establish broader cooperation so that it is not just two or three companies and so that entrepreneurs themselves want to give guest lectures to students on current labor market issues. Ventspils University is already succeeding in this because some of the representatives of Ventspils companies are graduates of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and better communication has been established with them, so their desire to get involved in the process is noticeable," says Zane Zonberga. " Ventspils University of Applied Sciences already attracts various industry experts and company representatives for guest lectures and practical classes, but I believe that cooperation should be even broader."

The project Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for Effective Professional Competence Improvement for Adults and Assessment of the Transfer of Results into Practice in Latvia was launched in December 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in December 2026. The results of the project will be used in dialogue with the Ministry of Education and Science, which is the primary end user and client of the project.

Source: https://www.ventasbalss.lv/zinas/izglitiba/52693-kad-zinasanas-noveco-petijuma-mekle-risinajumus-efektivai-muzizglitibai

Photo: Krists Kūla

FoEM professor and VPP leading researcher participate in an international multidisciplinary scientific conference

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:02:33 GMT

Una Libkovska, professor at the Faculty of Economics and Management at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and lead researcher for the national research program project "Elaboration of evidence-based solutions for effective professional competence development of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia " (VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-001), participated in the international multidisciplinary scientific conference "XXVth International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Surveying, Geology and Mining, Ecology and Management - SGEM2025", which took place from June 28 to July 7 in Albena Varna, Bulgaria.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences professor Una Libkovska participated in the international multidisciplinary scientific conference SGEM2025, where she presented data obtained in the project's research on the importance of human capital development in the sustainable growth of an organization. In her presentation, the professor paid special attention to the role of professional development in a dynamic labor market and emphasized that investment in human capital is an essential factor in promoting innovation and strengthening competitiveness at both the local and international levels. The presentation sparked interest and scientific discussion about future directions for sustainable organizational development.

This year marked the 25th edition of the conference, with a special focus on international cooperation and the presentation of scientific achievements. SGEM2025 brought together more than 450 participants from 26 countries around the world, covering a wide range of research areas. Participants had the opportunity to take part in 78 thematic sections, workshops and scientific discussions, discussing the most pressing challenges in promoting sustainability in national economic growth. Participation in the conference confirms the quality of research at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. It encourages its recognition in the international scientific community, contributing to the strengthening of academic excellence and global competitiveness in science.

Faculty of Translation Studies Represented at the EU Multilingualism Summer School in Luxembourg

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 12:22:31 GMT

From July 7 to 12, the Multilingualism EU Summer School 2025 took place in Luxembourg for the second time. The participation of master's students in this summer school is ensured by the European Master's in Translation (EMT) network, which also includes the master's program Translation and Terminology of VUAS. Thirty-three students from master's programs in translation or law participated in the summer school. The school aimed to introduce participants to the importance of multilingualism and its practical implementation in EU institutions. This year, our program was represented at the school by Ailenda Bulindža-Leitiete.

Ailenda shares: "Participation in the summer school was an excellent opportunity to visit the European Parliament and meet translator Alīna Grīnberga, get acquainted with the European Union (EU) Court's work and meet legal linguists Kristīne Bārdiņa and Kristaps Bērziņš. We also visited the European Court of Auditors, where we had the opportunity to speak with translator Inga Stodere. Additionally, during our visit to the European Commission, we met translator Mairita Drauga. At the Publications Office, I met translator Ieva Rozenberga, who told me about the daily work and the specifics of a translator. We also went to the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met with Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, who guided us on a tour. We also visited the European Investment Bank. At each of the visited institutions, we met professionals who shared their experiences, told us about behind-the-scenes work, and encouraged us to engage in practical tasks.

The summer school program was intense and packed with activities. There were presentations, thematic workshops, and discussions about language specialists' daily lives, as well as about the role of languages in a broader political and social context. I particularly remember the Luxembourg Foreign Minister's words that diversity is our strength. Of course, one of the summer school themes was also artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in the translation sector. However, this did not raise concerns about the future of the translator profession, but instead inspired us. It was emphasised that the future belongs to those who freely manage AI, and the discussion is about AI managed by translators, not about replacing translators with AI.

No less significant was the experience in the informal part – getting to know each other, exchanging thoughts with participants and EU institution representatives, and the spirit of cooperation. This week provided an opportunity not only to gain professional knowledge but also to develop a firm conviction and motivation for translator work.

I am especially grateful to the Latvian language section representatives of all the visited institutions. Thank you for the warm welcome and for sharing knowledge! The experience gained at the summer school will serve as a guide for my professional growth. I still think with a smile about every person I met during the summer school week. Luxembourg will now always be a place to return to – in thoughts, languages, or perhaps even as a professional."

TSF researchers' participation in an international conference in Geneva

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:26:30 GMT

A researcher and associate professor from the Faculty of Translation Studies of VUAS, Silga Sviķe, participated in the "Transius Conference 2025" at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, with a research poster presentation titled "Translation of legal documents, drawing up and certification of translation: Latvian practice" from July 7 to 9.

The conference was organised by the University of Geneva's Translation Studies Faculty together with the legal and institutional translation studies centre "TRANSIUS". The centre's main objective is to promote research and education in translation studies. The centre achieves this goal by collaborating with translation professionals, particularly from international organisations and Swiss institutions, as well as researchers from other universities.

This year marks ten years since the first "Transius" conference, and this is one of the largest conferences on legal text and institutional document translation. The conference brought together and featured research presentations from 250 participants from various countries worldwide. Current research in legal text translation focuses on the use of artificial intelligence tools and large language models in translation, the specifics of document translation and translation certification, translation editing and post-editing, as well as adapting translation study programs to new opportunities.

More information about the conference can be found on the conference website: https://transius.unige.ch/en/conferences-and-seminars/international-conferences/tc25/cfp

Information prepared by: FTS researcher and associate professor S. Sviķe

Group photo author is Transius Centre.

Researcher from VUAS reveals conditions that influenced the beginning of planet formation

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 10:36:36 GMT

The planets of the Solar System formed from fine interstellar dust particles. As the interstellar cloud (which would later become the Solar System) condensed, the dust particles gradually sticked together. As this process continued in the disk around the proto-Sun, they grew to the size of sand grains, peas, beans, pebbles, etc., until the “dust” the size of flying mountains continued growing by attracting material with their own gravity.

Dust in the planet-forming disk of the protostar HL Tauri. ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO).

Frosting – the freezing of volatile substances into an icy layer on the surface of the dust grains – played a major role in dust clumping. The substances that form frost are well known to us here on Earth: water, methane (natural gas), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methanol (wood spirit), and ammonia. Frosted dust grains were stickier and clumped together more easily in collisions. Dust aggregation was the first step in planet formation that occurred in the disk around the proto-Sun. Even though each dust particle is minuscule – less than a thousandth of a millimeter – their number in the proto-Solar nebula was at least several quattuordecillion (10⁴⁵), and the total mass was about 10 Jupiters. Therefore, anything that happened to the dust had significance for the planet formation process.

“Even though each dust particle is minuscule – less than a thousandth of a millimeter – their number in the proto-Solar nebula was at least several quattuordecillion (10⁴⁵), and the total mass was about 10 Jupiters.”

In a recent theoretical study, leading researcher Juris Kalvāns from the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center discovered that not all dust grains were frosted. More precisely, the frost that they received equally in the interstellar medium was redistributed near the proto-Sun only onto the coldest dust grains. This relocation of ice molecules was driven by differences in the size and chemical composition of dust, causing radiation from the proto-Sun to heat them to different temperatures. Frost evaporated from some particles only to quickly refreeze onto those that remained cold enough. During intense radiation bursts from the proto-Sun, frost evaporated from all particles. These periods lasted from a few years to several centuries. As soon as such a period ended, the dust cooled again, and again frost reformed only on the coldest dust grains, leaving the rest bare.

This is the essence of the discovery. Ice in the disk concentrated only on 10%, or perhaps just 1% of the coldest dust grains. These grew excessively large and, as micrometer-sized “giants”, floated among the tiny, warmer dust grains. The latter could easily stick to the thick frost of the larger icy grains. In this way, dust growth occurs faster than by the sticking of similarly sized particles. Thus, the “settling of accounts” between tiny molecules and dust particles in the proto-Solar nebula and disk could have had large-scale effects – a rapid beginning to planet formation. Determining whether and how this occurred is now the task of future theoretical simulations and experiments.

Link to the study published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics :

https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2025/02/aa52526-24/aa52526-24.html

The study was conducted under the project “Desorption of Ice Molecules in the Interstellar Medium (DIMD),” No. lzp-2021/1-0076, funded by the Latvian Science Council.

Link to the project: https://en.venta.lv/zinatne/projekti/desorption-of-ice-molecules-in-the-interstellar-medium

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Represented at International Conferences in the Field of Behavioural Economics

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:07:03 GMT

In June of this year, Līga Pūce, a doctoral student in the "Economics and Business" doctoral program at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), participated in two high-level scientific conferences in the field of behavioral economics:

At the Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE) conference in Trento, Italy, June 4–7, presenting a paper on the effectiveness of nudging methods in behavioral economics ("Exploring Nudging: Effectiveness and Beyond");
At the International Association for Research in Economic Psychology (IAREP) conference "Behavioural Insights in Research and Policymaking" in Tartu, Estonia, June 17–20, I will be presenting a paper on the use of nudging methods in behavioural economics to improve public health ("Nudging Public Health: An Overview of Reviews").

The organizers of these conferences – SABE and IAREP – are internationally respected academic organizations bringing together leading researchers in behavioural economics and economic psychology. They aim to promote understanding of human economic behaviour through evidence-based research approaches, including experimental design studies.

The doctoral student emphasized her appreciation for the high level of scientific discussion at these conferences and the opportunity to exchange ideas with top researchers from around the world – both academics and practitioners from behavioral research teams advising policymakers.

Participation in the conferences was supported by project No. 1.1.1.8/1/24/I/001 "VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants."

The first quarter of the postdoctoral project has been completed

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:04:43 GMT

March 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025

The first operational quarter and the month of June, in accordance with the project "Revealing the physical mechanism of mass ejection around young massive stars via CH3OH masers" plan, were marked by the first mobility period, in which postdoc researcher Artis Aberfelds visited the project partner – the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory ( OAC), which is part of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).

During this period, I acquired the necessary knowledge to process data obtained using the Very Large Array (VLA) network of radio telescopes (see Figure 1). A standardized approach was developed to be applied to all 40 sources included in the survey of early evolutionary stage massive stars.

One of the most significant early results was the detection of 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission in the G240.32+0.07 star-forming region (Figure 2). The brightness of this source is four times lower than the theoretical sensitivity limit of the Irbene RT-32 radio telescope.

Figure 1. The VLA is a Y-shaped radio telescope array located in the United States, consisting of 28 antennas, each with a diameter of 25 meters. (Image from Wikipedia)

Figure 2. Map of the newly detected 6.7 GHz methanol masers (blue dots) toward the G240.32+0.07 source. The contours show the intensity of thermal emission. The brightest source in the center has already begun ionizing atoms. In contrast, the source to the right is more than ten times fainter and is at an earlier evolutionary stage. The observed methanol masers are associated with this source.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – a Place Where Science Reaches to Space

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:08:12 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is a regional university of applied sciences where scientific activities are carried out in three strategic specialization areas:

In natural sciences – implementing research in the fields of mathematical modelling, optical signal technology, astronomy and astrophysics, space technology and engineering electronics, ICT and electronics
In social sciences – conducting research in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional economics
In the humanities – conducting research in applied linguistics, comparative linguistics, and translation studies

In June 2025, the science communication brand researchLatvia paid special attention to the contribution of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to research activities, emphasising the contribution of Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante, researcher and lecturer at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, to science, technology and astronomy.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – a university with the largest radio telescope antenna in Northern Europe Although Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will only be 28 years old this year, for most of its existence, it has been home to a world-class research centre – the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VSRC). Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has been home to the largest radio telescope antenna in Northern Europe for 21 years.

" If the world stands on three pillars, then VeA has four – three faculties and the VSRC. Science is inseparable from education, and higher education must be grounded in scientific principles. It is this close connection between education and science that has ensured the rapid development of VSRC and the Irbene radio telescope complex over the past 20 years. More than 150 students have developed their bachelor's or master's theses at VSRC - either in science or technology development. The majority of VSRC employees are graduates of our university. VSRC has grown into one of the leading scientific institutions in Northern Europe, specialising in astrophysics and space technologies. VSRC conducts international-level scientific research and contributes to technological innovations, bringing Latvia's name to the world. Shortly, radio telescopes will also be used in a completely new direction - in satellite communications, communicating with space satellites near the Moon," says Andris Vaivads , rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

International partners highly value VeA's infrastructure – the radio telescope complex in Irbene is part of the European radio telescope networks (JIVE, ILT) with significant importance in scientific observations.

VeA's scientific activities are focused on internationally significant research in collaboration with international partners, including the Swedish Space Corporation and the European Space Agency. In 2024, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences produced 41 publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, of which 17 were published in the highest-ranked journals in Q1, and four in Q2. This is an excellent indicator indicating competitive and high-quality research.

New researchers are being trained

Many employees of the VSRC and the Faculty of Information Technologies work in both structural units, ensuring effective knowledge transfer between researchers and students. Representatives of this field are actively involved in public education throughout Latvia, conducting practical classes in schools and VeA laboratories, as well as giving lectures at the School of Astronomy. The development of a stratospheric probe by third-year students has also become a tradition, attracting public attention and inspiring future researchers.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences students – the most capable young specialists

This July, Mārtiņš Leimants , a student in the "Electronics Engineering" study program, will travel to the Dutch city of Noordwijk to start working at the European Space Research and Technology Centre. Mārtiņš is the second Ventspils University of Applied Sciences student to intern at the European Space Agency (ESA) – a place where only the most capable young specialists from around the world have the opportunity to gain experience. In 2022, Rodrigo Laurinovičs went to ESA and spent two years there. If one student at ESA is a significant achievement and recognition, then two already mark a notable trend, confirming the excellence of our study program.

Doctoral studies

There are currently 22 doctoral students studying and conducting research at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – 14 students are obtaining a doctorate in social sciences, and eight students in humanities and arts. The Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre is a significant research centre that attracts doctoral students and candidates from other universities conducting research in the field of natural sciences.

In the 2023/2024 academic year, the first three graduates of the study program "Economics and Entrepreneurship" received their Doctor of Science degrees at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Research funding doubled in 2024

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the VSRC are actively involved in various international programs and projects. Since 2024, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has been part of the European university alliance COLOURS, which unites European regional universities from nine countries: France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Poland, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Sweden.

In 2024, the total funding received for research projects reached just under € 2.7 million. This is a significant increase of just under 1.5 million euros compared to 2023. The most significant increase in funding in 2024 is observed in the areas of contract work and intellectual property transfer, demonstrating the university's ability to create practically applicable solutions for industry needs.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences focuses on the creation and transfer of high-value-added knowledge, creating a platform where education, science, and innovation meet. With a clear strategic direction, international vision and modern infrastructure, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre are an essential part not only in the region and Latvia, but also on a global scale!

Video with this month's researchLatvia calendar scientist Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante

Professor Valery Nakariakov open lecture and scientific seminar: "A Plasma Orchestra, or Magnetohydrodynamic Waves in the Solar Corona"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:03:13 GMT

You are kindly invited to attend a scientific seminar that will take place on June 27, 2025 , at Room D407, VeA IZI VSRC .

Seminar Programme

10:00 – 11:00
Prof. Valery M. Nakariakov , University of Warwick, UK
"A Plasma Orchestra, or Magnetohydrodynamic Waves in the Solar Corona"

11:00 – 12:00 Lunch break

12:00 – 15:00

Scientific seminar
“Magnetohydrodynamic Waves in the Solar Corona”
as part of the JIV-ERIC National Node Scientific Seminar Series

Please confirm your participation by marking your name in the Excel sheet:
Participation Sheet

You can join in person or online via Google Meet .
Google Meet link

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A Plasma Orchestra, or Magnetohydrodynamic Waves in the Solar Corona

Valery M Nakariakov (University of Warwick, United Kingdom)

The corona of the Sun is the outermost part of the solar atmosphere. The corona is a very hot, fully ionised plasma dominated by the magnetic field. The corona is the birthplace of extreme events of space weather, and a natural laboratory for plasma physics. One of the most fascinated discoveries made with recent high-precision spaceborne imaging telescopes operating in the extreme UV band is the ubiquitous dynamics of the corona in a form of various large-scale wave motions. An example of such an instrument is the Extreme UV imager on the recently launched Solar Orbiter spacecraft. Typical oscillation periods are several minutes, typical wavelengths are tens to hundred thousand kilometres, and typical speeds are from several tens to several thousand kilometres per second, which make the solar coronal waves the largest electromagnetic wave motions resolved simultaneously in time and space, detected in the Universe. The observed waves are confidently interpreted in terms of the magnetohydrodynamic theory. Various plasma structures of the corona support different types of wave modes, allowing for the use of the waves for the plasma diagnostics via the method of magnetohydrodynamic seismology.

Graduation Ceremony Held and Prof. Juris Baldunčiks Scholarships Awarded for the First Time

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:12:11 GMT

The beginning of summer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) was particularly busy, as bachelor's and master's thesis defences took place. A total of 129 graduates successfully defended their final theses and received their diplomas at a graduation ceremony held in the VUAS garden on June 20. The event was hosted by Juris Jope, while musician, songwriter, and lead singer of the band The Sound Poets, Jānis Aišpurs, provided the musical accompaniment.

This year, 129 students graduated from VUAS, 51 of them from the Faculty of Economics and Management, 37 from the Faculty of Translation Studies, and 47 from the Faculty of Information Technology. The largest number of graduates were in the bachelor's programs in Business Management, Translation and Language Technology, and Computer Science. The largest number of graduates this year were in the master's program in Business Management – 29.

During the ceremony, Vice Chancellor Liene Resele-Dūšele congratulated students who had achieved excellent results in their studies. Nine students received recognition:

Mikus Petruss – Bachelor's program in "Business Management"
Rota Rulle – Professional Master's program in "Business Management"
Rimants Jeļinskis – Professional Master's program in "Business Management"
Deniss Solovjovs – Bachelor's program in "Computer Science"
Lara Cecilia Bernandes de Souza – Bachelor's program in "Computer Science"
Anastasija Gremčuka – Professional Bachelor's program in "Translation and Language Technology"
Irina Berestova – Professional Master's program in "Translation and Terminology"
Ailenda Bulindža-Leitiete – Professional Master's Program "Translation and Terminology"
Helēna Vilcāne-Ezera – Professional Master's Program "Strategic Intercultural Communication"

Joint JIV ERIC and LOFAR ERIC National partnership Board Meeting and Scientific Seminar in Ventspils

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:12:46 GMT

On June 18 and 19, 2025, at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Institute of Engineering Sciences "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre" (VeA IZI VSRC), within the project "Ventspils University International Cooperation and Innovations for the Development of Latvia's Smart Specialization" (No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012), which is being implemented with the co-financing of the European Regional Development Fund, the JIV ERIC and LOFAR ERIC Latvian national partnership joint board meeting and scientific seminar took place.

June 18 - Board Meeting and Seminar Opening in Irbene

The first day took place in Ance parish, Irbene, at the historic Irbene Radio Telescope Complex. The event was opened by VIRAC Director Mārcis Donerblics, who provided an introduction to the seminar's proceedings and significance.

VIRAC researcher Vladislavs Bezrukovs introduced the project's activities, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences' international cooperation, and its importance in innovation and the development of Latvia's smart specialisation.

Furthermore, Professor Jānis Kaminskis provided insights into current international activities in the fields of Geodesy and Geophysics, representing IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics) and EGU (European Geosciences Union).

After the informational reports, seminar participants, led by Andrejs Dzelme, went on an excursion around the Irbene Observatory territory and visited the local museum. The evening concluded with discussions on collaboration opportunities between JIV ERIC and LOFAR ERIC national partnership consortiums, as well as the development of astronomy in Latvia.

June 19 – Scientific seminar at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

On the second day, the event continued at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences with a joint board meeting within the JIV ERIC and LOFAR ERIC Latvian national partnership. Following the meeting, a scientific seminar was held, where researchers presented their current work and insights.

Seminar programme:

V. Bezrukovs: Overview of VSRC radio astronomy projects and observations;
B. Rjabovs, A. Vrubļevskis: On the deviation of coronal mass ejections from the radial direction;
A. Sukharev, M. Ryabov, D. Zabora, M. Orlyuk, A. Romenets: Ionospheric wave activity in the Odessa Magnetic Anomaly according to URAN-4 antenna array data;
D. Bezrukovs: Solar radio emission observations during the solar eclipse on March 29, 2025;
K. Salmiņš, J. del Pino†, J. Kauliņš, S. Melkovs: Activities of the Riga satellite laser ranging station in 2024;
I. Vilks: Historical overview of VIRAC development.

The seminar was organised within the framework of the project "Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation and Innovation for the Development of Latvia's Smart Specialisation" (No. 1.1.1.5/3/25/I/012), with co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund.

Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) held for the first time at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:12:32 GMT

The Erasmus+ program offers the opportunity to participate in an innovative and dynamic learning format – the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). This format allows both students and staff to explore a specific topic in depth within an international setting, combining virtual learning with a short but intensive five-day on-site component.

Students of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences actively take part in these programs – over the past two academic years, 18 students have participated in BIP courses held in Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and France.

From 26 to 30 May, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted its first Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme titled “Technology Startup Course”. The course was implemented as part of the “Developing by Experimenting II” module within the “Start-up Management” study program, in cooperation with two COLOURS partner universities – Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa (Poland) and University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola (North Macedonia).

During the program, students from Ventspils University collaborated in international teams with peers from Poland, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria to develop innovative, technology-based business ideas. In total, 38 students participated, including 18 international students (six of whom represented COLOURS partner universities), forming 13 project teams.

The primary goal of the program was to enhance students' skills in creating innovative, tech-driven business ventures capable of competing in the real-world market. On 30 May, five of the top teams were selected to present their ideas to investors at the TestDevLab headquarters in Riga.

The winning team, “SOUNDPACK”, was represented by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences student Ronalds Palacis. The team’s idea focused on using AI to generate fully cohesive, royalty-free sample packs based on natural language prompts, simplifying the workflow for music producers.

The Erasmus+ BIP program provided a valuable experience for both students and staff and helped strengthen cooperation with international partner universities. In the next academic year, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences aims to implement two more BIP programs – one for students and one for staff. We encourage all faculties to submit their BIP program ideas by emailing: erasmus@venta.lv

Researchers from the National Research Programme Participated in a Discussion with OECD and European Commission Experts

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:13:59 GMT

On June 5, 2025, representatives from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission visited Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) to discuss issues related to the development of academic careers in higher education in Latvia.

Project researchers Zane Zonberga and Liene Resele-Dūšele took part in the discussion with members of the international expert group, including Gillian Golden, Project Manager in the OECD Higher Education Policy Team; Thomas Weko, a global higher education expert and researcher at the George Washington Institute of Public Policy (USA); and Christiane Egli, Policy Analyst in the OECD Higher Education Policy Team.

During the visit, the role, challenges, and opportunities of regional universities, including Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, in implementing the new academic career model were discussed. The meeting covered topics such as attracting and retaining academic staff, career development opportunities, support for professional development, and potential for cooperation with other institutions in Latvia.

Second Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Student to Begin Internship at the European Space Agency

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:11:20 GMT

In July, Mārtiņš Leimants, a student of the "Electronics Engineering" study program at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, will travel to Noordwijk, the Netherlands, to start work at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC). Mārtiņš is the second VUAS student to intern at the European Space Agency (ESA). In this place, only the most capable young specialists from around the world are allowed to gain experience.

Mārtiņš Leimants will begin his internship on July 1, and it will last for one year, until June 30, 2026. If he proves his skills, the internship may be extended for another year. He will work in the Optoelectronics Section (TEC-MME) as a Laboratory Support Engineer. His responsibilities will include integration of image sensor testing systems, development of testing methods, automation, and data processing.

A graduate of Liepāja State Gymnasium No. 1, Mārtiņš gained the knowledge and skills for this unique opportunity through the "Electronics Engineering" program at VUAS. "This is a unique opportunity to learn from world-class professionals and to gain not only knowledge but also practical skills in the research of electro-optical systems. I want to bring this experience back to Latvia," says Mārtiņš. After the internship, he plans to return to Latvia to continue working at SIA Bitlake Technologies, contributing to the development of Latvia's space technology sector.

"Our goal is not only to prepare industry professionals but also to enable them to integrate into an international environment of excellence and later transfer this experience to Latvia," says the program director, Jānis Šate.

The opportunity to intern at ESA is the result of cooperation between the space agency and Latvia. VUAS is grateful to the Ministry of Education and Science for ensuring the opportunities available to Latvia as an associate member state.

"This is already the second VUAS student to pass ESA's rigorous selection process successfully. In 2022, Rodrigo Laurinovičs went to the European Space Agency and spent two years there. If having one student at ESA is a great achievement and recognition, then having two marks a quality trend, confirming the excellence of our study program," notes Jānis Šate.

OECD and European Commission Experts Visited VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:48:41 GMT

On June 5, representatives from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission visited Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) to discuss issues related to the development of academic careers in higher education in Latvia.

The purpose of the visit was to gain an understanding of the role, challenges, and opportunities of regional universities, including VUAS, in the implementation of new academic career models. During the meeting, experts met with the university’s management and academic staff to discuss topics such as attracting and retaining academic personnel, career development opportunities, support for professional advancement, and potential collaboration with other institutions in Latvia.

The international expert group included Gillian Golden, Project Leader in the OECD Higher Education Policy Team; Thomas Weko, an international higher education expert and researcher at the George Washington Institute of Public Policy (USA); and Kristiāna Egle, a policy analyst in the OECD Higher Education Policy Team.

The experts greatly appreciated the opportunity to hear a report from the Executive Director of the Ventspils City Council on the university's role within the city’s ecosystem, the university’s experience and staff perspectives, as well as the opportunity to learn about the university’s development strategies in a regional context. The discussions covered both the challenges and potential solutions that could help improve the development of academic careers in Latvia.

June Research Spotlight Karina Šķirmante: When Information Technology Meets the Universe

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:27:06 GMT

When Information Technology Meets the Universe Space exploration is becoming increasingly important, expanding humanity’s knowledge of the universe, promoting innovation and technological development, and attracting new talent to science. Her work highlights the importance of combining expertise from various fields to address complex scientific questions. At such a point of cooperation between technology and astronomy is the doctoral candidate Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante, a leading researcher and lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VeA).

Karina’s research activities cover high-performance computing and data processing, focusing on space technology projects. She is actively involved in the European Space Agency’s Comet Interceptor project, which aims to launch a probe in 2029 to study a comet that has never come close to the Sun directly in space for the first time. In preparation for this mission, Karina, together with colleagues from the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VSRC) of the Institute of Engineering Sciences of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, is modelling comet activity in the radio frequency band, in collaboration with researchers from the Tartu Observatory (Estonia) and Aalto University (Finland). This international collaboration is helping to develop and calibrate the instruments that will be used during the mission.

Photo: Mārtiņš Goldbergs

"This probe will be located at the so-called "Lagrangian 2" point and will wait for a suitable comet. When it gets close, the probe with subproblems will head towards it to obtain as many images and data as possible," explains VeA's lead researcher K. Šķirmante .

In parallel, she develops student involvement in radio astronomy, providing an opportunity to apply information technology knowledge in real research projects – from data processing to machine learning solutions: "When a student sees that his IT knowledge is practically applicable in science, there is also a desire to work further in this direction," emphasizes the VeA leading researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Information Technology.

The future doctor's creative contribution is also manifested in other areas. Karina is one of the developers of the modern, mental health-adapted app EMORI. It has won the internationally recognised "Red Dot" award for excellent design and a carefully thought-out approach to promoting emotional self-regulation.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre

Leading Researcher

Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante.

Photo: Mārtiņš Goldbergs.

"The greatest satisfaction in research comes to me when I see that my persistent daily work culminates in the publication of an article, the creation of a new project idea, the implementation of successful cooperation and the successful transfer of knowledge to students," says Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante .

Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante is an inspiring example of how high-level research with international significance is developing in Latvia, based on technology management, international cooperation, and the education of future scientists. Her work demonstrates that Latvian researchers are essential partners in global science projects and future missions into the universe.

About the “Science Calendar 2025”

This activity is implemented within the framework of the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001 “More Effective and Smarter Implementation and Management of Latvia’s Science Policy”, carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science.

The project developers include the creative team of SIA "Entuziasti Digital", featuring Mārtiņš Pavasaris, video director Kristaps Mozgirs, and photographer Mārtiņš Goldbergs, as well as the researchLatvia team.

Since 2018, the Science Calendar "Research Latvia" and traveling exhibition have been created to promote awareness of Latvian scientists' achievements, enhance public understanding of the importance of science, and inspire young people to engage in scientific fields .

Translation students awarded prizes in the literary competition “Aicinājums” (“The Call”)

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 12:18:58 GMT

At the end of May, the results of this year's literary competition "Aicinājums" were announced at the Jānis Akuraters Museum, revealing new features of Latvia's future literary scene. The competition, which has been held for 49 years, helps promote the growth of young writers and supports them through various events. This year, participants submitted 87 poetry and prose works for evaluation. The jury, consisting of Džena Andersone, Krista Anna Belševica, Guntis Berelis, Dainis Deigelis, Kristīne Ilziņa, Kristaps Vecgrāvis, and Kaspars Zalāns, selected the best works in each category and age group.

In the prose category for the third age group (19–21), prize-winning places, diplomas, and gifts were also awarded to Ilze Jaunzeme (2nd place) and Roberta Šarlote Andersone (3rd place), students of the Bachelor's program "Translation and Language Technology" at the Faculty of Translation Studies, thus earning free tickets to participate in the summer seminar, which will take place from August 11 to 15 at the Jānis Akuraters Museum.

Ilze admits that she managed to jump on the "last train," as 21 seemed like the last moment to do so, but the attempt was not in vain and even resulted in a place, participating for the first time: "It is a sign that I need to continue, and it encourages me to be more active in the literary field. I saw so many children who received awards in other age categories. It is heartening to see that so many people love books and writing. This love will pay off."

Šarlote comments on the event as follows: "Our debut in 'Aicinājums' was a burst – participating once and for all, we received prize-winning places." She also notes that she was pleased by the comment of writer Kristīne Ilziņa, that each participant present has the opportunity to find their voice, as long as they continue on the path they started and do not give up writing.

The laureates of the last age group are offered several opportunities to continue developing their literary careers, such as publication opportunities in literary magazines, participation in creative workshops led by renowned Latvian and foreign authors, and participation in international literature festivals and reading sessions. The next step for young authors could be masterclasses and events organised by the Literary Academy.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is proud of Ilze's and Šarlote's achievements and wishes them to continue finding their voice in the world of words!

Meeting of the “European Master’s in Translation” (EMT) Network Held at the University of Warsaw

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:32:06 GMT

At the beginning of June, Associate Professor Silga Sviķe, Director of the Master’s Programme “Translation and Terminology” at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in a meeting of the “European Master’s in Translation” (EMT) network in Warsaw, Poland. The event was organized by the Institute of Applied Linguistics at the University of Warsaw and brought together academic representatives, translation industry experts, and representatives of the European Commission to discuss the latest developments in translation education and practice.

The meeting took place over two days. On June 2, a colloquium titled “Translating Poland” was held, followed by the main EMT network meeting on June 3 under the theme “Translation Empowered by Technology and Training”.

The colloquium addressed topics such as audiovisual translation and artificial intelligence (AI). Special attention was given to the role of subtitles in language learning and the use of AI in dubbing and audio description. The discussion also focused on terminology, plain and easy-to-read language, as well as literary translation. Participants were provided with insights into current research and professional practice. Leading Polish literary translators also took part in the discussion.

On the second day of the EMT network event, several key topics were addressed:

AI tools and the European Language Data Space: presentation of AI tools developed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation and their application in higher education institutions.
Exchange of experiences in working groups: EMT participants discussed competencies gained in translation studies, cooperation with industry professionals, audiovisual translation, terminology, and data usage.
Public image of translators and interpreters: a discussion on the societal perception of the translation profession.
Critical evaluation of AI implementation: a panel discussion among technology manufacturers, tech companies, and education sector representatives.

The meeting concluded with presentations of joint projects by EMT and LIND (“Language Industry Platform”)—covering internship opportunities, continuing education for lecturers, and promotion of the translation profession.

Photo: EMT event publicity photos

Ventspils Hosts COLOURS Partners and Explores AI Innovations

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:40:04 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences recently hosted the forum “Artificial Intelligence – The Fourth Industrial Revolution”, which took place at the concert hall “Latvija”. The forum brought together industry experts, policymakers, university representatives, and others, gathering around 250 participants in total. The next day, a workshop titled “How to Collaborate Across Generations in the Era of AI” was held at the “Saieta nams” in the Pasiekste Windmill, open to all interested participants.

During the same week, Ventspils welcomed partners from all COLOURS project countries. Over the course of several days, they worked together to advance the goals of Work Package 3 (WP3). The partners were also introduced to Ventspils University, Latvian culture and traditions, visited the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre in Irbene, and participated in the CoLab.

Kristiāna Balode, WP3 coordinator from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, shared: “It was a true pleasure to welcome the COLOURS partners to Ventspils and to share both our professional experience and Latvia’s rich culture and hospitality. I am especially proud that we had the opportunity to present our university and highlight Ventspils’ potential in the field of innovation. This meeting not only strengthened collaboration within WP3, but also sparked new ideas for the future development of science and higher education.”

Master's Theses Defended at the Faculty of Translation Studies

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 14:17:59 GMT

On June 7, the defence of master's theses for the professional master's program "Translation and Terminology" took place. The State Examination Commission (SEC), chaired by Andrejs Veisbergs, Professor at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia, listened to presentations prepared by nine 1st and 2nd year students of the master's program on their master's theses.

Three authors of master's theses received excellent reviews: Sanita Bernšteine for her thesis "Specialized Lexicon of the Beekeeping Industry: Names of Beekeeping Tools in a Diachronic Aspect," Irina Berestova for her master's thesis "Difficulties and solutions in Finding Equivalents in Sports Terminology: Powerlifting (EN-LV - DE-RU)," and Paula Denisa Treublute, who in her master's thesis "English as the Lingua Franca of Social Media in the Context of Interference: Analysis of Language Use by Authors of Latvian Digital Content" studied the influence of English on the Latvian language.

The SEC also gave a positive review to all the other master's theses that were defended. Ailenda Bulindža-Leitiete wrote her master's thesis on "Intralingual Translation of Foreign News in Latvian Radio News in Easy Language: Theory and Practice," in which she analysed how the principles of easy language are implemented in foreign news in the process of intralingual translation. In her master's thesis "Translation and Certification of Documents Certifying Civil Status Registration: A Comparison of German and Latvian Practices (DE-LV-DE)," recommends introducing German best practices in document certification in Latvia – in Germany, document certification is performed by sworn translators. Linda Auziņa's research paper "Analysis of Specialized Educational Lexicon in the Law on Higher Education Institutions of the Republic of Latvia, the Law on Education and Their Translations into English" focused on the analysis of specialized educational lexicon in Latvian and English.

Rebeka Megija Tujeva's master's thesis "Borrowings in Medication Instructions (EN-LV-DE)" focused on the specifics of translating medical texts, while Beate Katrīna Blanka conducted an interesting and necessary study entitled "Contrastive Analysis of the Names of Christian organizations and Clergy Positions in Latvian, English, and Lithuanian." Ramona Ģīle addressed the issue of audiovisual translation in her study "Specifics and Solutions to Problems in the Translation of Subtitles for Television Broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest (EN-LV)".

Congratulations to the graduates of the master's program on obtaining their master's degrees!

Prepared by:

Silga Sviķe, Associate Professor at Ventspils University College, Director of the professional master's study program "Translation and Terminology"

Summer School in Italy

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:55:30 GMT

From May 25 to 30, an international summer school took place in Ferrara, Italy, with the aim to identify and understand the principles of ecological, social, and economic transitions. The Summer school analysed human activity and the impact of climate change on the environment, and developed innovative solutions for sustainable regional development and effective communication. During the summer school, we got to know the city of Ferrara, participated in workshops and discussions, visited the Po Delta region and worked with experts to generate new ideas and solutions for a sustainable future.

The Po Delta region, shaped by river sedimentation processes and human intervention, has proven to be not only an ecologically and economically important place but also a deeply symbolic space, a living landscape of memory, adaptation, and survival, where the past flows seamlessly into the present. From the first settlement of Spina in the 6th century BC to the environmental and social transitions of today, the region tells a story of constant change and the human capacity to adapt. Every bend in the canal, fisherman's hut or line of salt-stained trees speaks of resilience, creativity and the ability of the local people to live with their changing environment.

We took part in a fascinating series of lectures on the history, environmental and social transitions of the Po region. We heard different perspectives on how the region's unique landscape and historical processes have shaped community identity and everyday life. In addition to the lectures, we actively engaged in discussions, shared our impressions and developed our presentations, reflecting on what we had observed and offering our visions for future possibilities in such transition areas.

Our experience in Italy, especially in the Po Delta region, made us realise that this area is not just in transition - it is in transition itself. It is a threshold between past and future, a space continuously shaped by water, politics, climate and human activity. We learned that such landscapes need to be taken holistically, with respect for their environmental, cultural and emotional dimensions. And we also learned something very important: vulnerability is not weakness. On the contrary, the environmental, demographic and climatic vulnerabilities of a region highlight its complexity, value and potential. Tackling these challenges is not enough technological innovation, it also requires trust, historical understanding and political courage.

During the week, we not only learnt and went on educational excursions but also made many new friends and valuable contacts from different European countries. The lively work and conversations outside formal activities created a bond that will be hard to forget. This experience demonstrated the importance of transnational and interdisciplinary cooperation. We learned to listen, to collaborate and to translate different knowledge into a common vision while pursuing one of the strongest values of the European Union: unity in diversity.

To sum up the week in one message, it would be this: caring for such places is not just a technical task or a moral obligation, it is a form of belonging. We belong to the stories we inherit, the futures we help shape and the places we choose to care for. When we return to our universities, cities and languages, we bring with us both the memory of the region and a commitment to think and act differently - with respect, responsibility and commitment.

Press release about the Summer School on the University of Ferrara website: https://www.unife.it/en/unife-world/colours/news-colours/colours-international-summer-school-wrap-up

Prepared by: 2nd-year student of FoTS Master's study programme "Translation and Terminology" Ailenda Bulindža-Leitiete; 2nd-year student of FoTS Bachelor's study programme "Intercultural Communication" Karīna Ganiņa; 2nd-year student of FoTS Bachelor's study programme "Translation and Language Technology" Solveiga Lavrane

International Summer School was organised within the European Commision project “COLlaborative innOvative sUstainable Regional univerSities” (project No.101124491).

Translation Students have Defended Their Bachelor's Theses

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:51:50 GMT

On June 6th, students of the “Translation and Language Technology” program defended their bachelor's theses. The State Examination Commission, led by LU habilitated professor Andrejs Veisbergs, listened to students' reports on various research topics related to translation, translation studies, and linguistics.

Several theses explored literary translation and audiovisual translation from different perspectives, as well as machine translation and translations generated by AI tools. One thesis examined easy-to-read language in intralingual translation, while another focused on transediting methods. Several studies were dedicated to special lexis and terminology, covering fields such as sound engineering, cynology, and opera art.

The State Examination Commission recognized Darina Kokļina's research on idioms with the lexeme “white” in Russian literature and their equivalents in Latvian and English as excellent. The Commission also highly recognized the papers by Samanta Stumbre for her research on the difficulties and solutions in finding equivalents for sound engineering terms and Anastasija Gremčuka for her work on audiovisual translation methods for beauty product advertising.

Fifteen students earned professional bachelor's degrees, and the most daring graduates, following the tradition of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, jumped into the fountain after their defenses.

Annual intercultural event “Cultural Days” celebrated at the VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:28:24 GMT

On May 21, students and staff members gathered at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) to celebrate the culture day with the topic “Cultural Iceberg”". The event offered an exciting opportunity to engage with representatives from different countries on campus, allowing participants to glimpse different facets of culture, both the visible surface and the deeper layers.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences lecturer Rūta Maltisova opened the event with an introductory speech in which she invited all students present to enjoy this event and get acquainted with the culture. International students and lecturers from 7 different countries presented their cultural backgrounds on the specificities of Latvian, French, Chinese, Turkish, Indian, Spanish and Italian cultures. During the event, students and lecturers presented their country's culture, traditions and stereotypes, entertained the audience and gave the opportunity to taste traditional food and drinks.

At the end of the Cultural Day, the participants gathered in an informal atmosphere to share their impressions and enjoy a meal together. The organizers of the event, 1st and 2nd year students of the study program “Intercultural Communication”, Līva and Karīna admit that the event was a great success, as it was widely attended. Both participants and visitors provided good feedback, insights and emphasized that the event allowed them to better discover the hidden layers of each culture that they often do not even think about. The event once again confirmed the active role of Ventspils University College in the cultural life of the city and the creative potential of students.

The involvement of students and teaching staff in the annually organized event encourages and develops the multicultural environment at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, allowing everyone to express themselves and be included.

More pictures from the event are available here: https://failiem.lv/u/ts2jrykn7t

(In the situation of publishing these photos, please give credit to the author of photos – Endijs Eihlers.)

Photos: Endijs Eihlers

Author:

2nd year student of the bachelor's study program "Intercultural Communication" Karīna Ganiņa

In June, Ventspils Welcomes the Traveling Exhibition "Research Latvia 2025"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 06:59:47 GMT

The traveling exhibition “Research Latvia 2025”, created by the Ministry of Education and Science, offers a unique opportunity to explore 12 outstanding Latvia’s scientists and their contributions to the development of society and research. Until June 25, this diverse exhibition will be available for viewing at the Concert Hall "Latvia", Lielais laukums 1, Ventspils.

Twelve distinguished scientists representing 12 leading Latvian research institutions highlight the strength and diversity of Latvian science within the European Research Area. In collaboration with the science communication platform researchLatvia , the “Research Latvia 2025” exhibition and calendar showcase research topics that impact our society, environment, and culture. In June, special attention is given to the research contributions of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and its role in advancing science.

"The greatest satisfaction in research comes when I see my consistent daily efforts result in the publication of an article, the development of a new project idea, successful collaboration, and the effective transfer of knowledge to my students," notes Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante , VUAS Leading Researcher at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, Doctoral Student.

Each researcher represents a unique field of research, including choreomusicology, national defence and security, pharmacogenetics, the protection of rare and endangered species, mitigating waterbody overgrowth, comet activity studies, art science, simulation modelling, the inner logic of modern society through philosophy, cultural studies, as well as book history and library science.

Throughout the year, the traveling exhibition will be showcased at various higher education institutions and public cultural venues across Latvia. Visitors can watch all 12 video stories by scanning QR codes. This initiative not only raises awareness of science but also strengthens the public's connection with it.

The 12 scientists, six women and six men, contribute to the development of interdisciplinary national and international-level science centers through their unique research work:

Dr. art.  Diāna Zandberga  (Vice-Rector for Scientific and Creative Work at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Director of the Joint Professional Doctoral Program in Arts of Latvian Art Academies, and Pianist);
Dr. sc. pol. Toms Rostoks (Director of the Center for Security and Strategic Research at the National Defence Academy of Latvia, Associate Professor);
Dr. biol. Renāte Ranka (Tenured Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Rīga Stradiņš University, Lead Researcher at the Institute of Public Health);
Dr. biol. Artūrs Škute (Professor at the Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, DU);
Ph. D. Rūta Ozola-Davidāne  (Tenured Associate Professor at the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies);
Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante   (Leading Researcher at Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Doctoral Student);
Art. D. Ansis Rozentāls  (Lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia, IT Specialist, Painter);
Ph. D. Oskars Java  (Director of the Institute of Sociotechnical System Engineering, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences);
Dr. phil. Raivis Bičevskis (Tenured Professor of Philosophy at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia);
Dr. sc. ing. Sergejs Gaidukovs (Tenured Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Riga Technical University);
Ph. D. Baiba Tjarve  (Deputy Head and Leading Researcher at the Institute of Culture and Arts, Latvian Academy of Culture);
Mg. art., Mg. soc. Dagnija Baltiņa  (Director of the National Library of Latvia, Doctoral Student).

The science calendar has been developed within the ministry implemented ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001, “More Effective and Smarter Implementation and Management of Latvia's Science Policy.” Contributors include “Entuziasti Digital” Ltd., Mārtiņš Pavasaris, video director Kristaps Mozgirs, and photographer Mārtiņš Goldbergs, in collaboration with the researchLatvia creative team.

VIRAC Programmer Participates in the Annual RADIOBLOCKS Project Meeting in the Netherlands

Tue, 27 May 2025 07:14:04 GMT

From May 18 to 20, 2025, Matīss Purviņš, a programmer at the Engineering Institute Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), participated in the WP4 work package meeting of the international research project RADIOBLOCKS ("New science in Radio Astronomy: applying cutting-edge technology to enhance the entire data chain, from receiver to final output"). The meeting took place at ASTRON – the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, in Dwingeloo, the Netherlands.

During the meeting, project partners presented current progress at their respective institutions, sharing summaries of completed tasks and planned future activities. These meetings provide an opportunity to coordinate the implementation of activities and ensure alignment with the project's overall strategy and deliverables.

The agenda continued with presentations on data processing performance analysis methods, led by a representative from JIVE (Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC), and an overview prepared by ASTRON specialists on the latest GPU computing solutions used in radio astronomy and high-performance data processing.

One of the key parts of the meeting was the presentation of the new RADIOBLOCKS HPC system. This high-performance computing unit has been acquired within the scope of WP4 and will be available to project partners starting September 2025, significantly expanding data processing capabilities.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the allocation of the remaining financial resources for the project's duration.

After the official part, participants had the opportunity to take a tour of the ASTRON institute, where they explored its technological capabilities – including the DAS-6 HPC system, the COBALT correlation platform, and the JIVE correlator. At the end of the tour, visitors also had the chance to see the historic Dwingeloo radio telescope, located near the institute.

These activities took place within the framework of the project "New science in Radio Astronomy: applying cutting-edge technology to enhance the entire data chain, from receiver to final output" (RADIOBLOCKS), project No. 101093934, and were funded by the project's resources.

Initiative for Space Weather Investigations 2025

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 22 May 2025 13:08:43 GMT

BLU 2025 - workshop of the Bulgaria – Latvia – Ukraine

Initiative for Space Weather Investigations

June 2-6, 2025

Primorsko, Bulgaria

Main topics:

Key areas of space weather research at participating organizations
Solar flare studies and related phenomena
Discussion of ongoing and prospective joint projects
Regional, European, and international programs on solar and space weather research and applications
Support for Ukraine in restoring its scientific and technical research capacity
Organizational and coordination matters

Organisations:

Space Research and Technology Institute (SRTI), Sofia, Bulgaria
Engineering Research Institute of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (ERI VIRAC), Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), Ventspils, Latvia
Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IRA NASU), Kharkiv, Ukraine
Odesa Radio Astronomy Observatory "URAN-4", Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IRA NASU), Odesa, Ukraine
S.I. Subbotin Institute of Geophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IG NASU), Kyiv, Ukraine
Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Information Technologies, Odesa, Ukraine

For more information:

Vladislavs Bezrukovs (VIRAC, Latvia) vladislavsb@venta.lv

Artem Sukharev (VIRAC, Latvia) artem.sukharev@venta.lv

Mikhail Rybov (IRA NASU, Ukraine) ryabov-uran@ukr.net

Volodimir Komendant (SRTI, Bulgaria)

Project No. lzp-2022/1-0017. Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares (STEF).

Project No. 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/048. “Research on Space Weather During Solar Cycle 25 Observed Along the Struve Geodetic Arc”.

Download Abstracts of BLU 2025 HERE:

Abstracts of BLU 2025 - workshop of the Bulgaria – Latvia – Ukraine Initiative for Space Weather Investigations June 2-6, 2025 Primorsko, Bulgaria

https://zenodo.org/records/16361844
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16361844

Programme

A delegation from the Norwegian space industry visited VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 22 May 2025 11:29:38 GMT

Last week, a delegation from the Norwegian space industry visited Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (and the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre. The delegation included representatives from nine Norwegian companies and organizations.

The visit was organized by Austris Keišs, Director of Export Promotion in Norway at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). Among the visitors was Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Norway’s largest defense manufacturing company, which produces advanced defense, aviation, and space systems, including combat management solutions and remote weapon stations, as well as developing air defense systems and missile technologies for various military applications. The company also offers maritime systems such as autonomous and remote-controlled solutions for naval forces.

Also visiting Ventspils was Space Norway, one of Norway's leading satellite and space infrastructure companies; PaleBlue, a company that offers spaceflight simulations; Spectrum Blue, which uses quantum technologies to develop and produce next-generation materials used in healthcare and sustainability sectors, as well as digital decision-support systems for building management.

Other visitors included Inventas, a leading Norwegian design and innovation company; Rocket Grace Group, which organizes Spaceport Norway, one of the largest space conferences in the Nordic countries; and startup Nava Space, which plans to manufacture next-generation space suits designed for extreme environmental conditions by combining artificial intelligence solutions with smart materials.

The visit also included representatives from the University of Oslo, the engineering research foundation Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, and the Norwegian Industrial Forum for Space Activities (NIFRO).

During the visit, the delegation toured the VIRAC and VUAS electronics laboratories. VUAS Rector Andris Vaivads gave a presentation introducing the activities of both VUAS and VIRAC.

According to Austris Keišs, Head of the LIAA representative office in Norway, the goal of the visit was “to promote cooperation in the space industry between Latvia and Norway and to integrate Latvian companies into international projects and supply chains, positioning Latvia as an attractive investment destination for Norwegian companies.”

VSRC Director Mārcis Donerblics assessed the visit as productive: “We were pleased that the Norwegian Ambassador to Latvia, Ine Måreng, who is a strong supporter of the space sector, also joined the visit. The visit was doubly effective because both the political and industrial sectors were represented,” said Donerblics. “Of course, we took the opportunity to exchange contacts with representatives from various institutions, and with several, we agreed to continue the dialogue in one-on-one meetings. It’s too early to mention specific examples, but we are interested in topics like telecommunications, satellite communication antenna systems, and student exchange opportunities.”

Donerblics also reminded that VIRAC already has a strategic partnership with the Swedish Space Corporation and that there is a solid basis to hope for broader partnerships among the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Guest lecture by the Head of the Culture and Press Section of the German Embassy

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 20 May 2025 10:56:43 GMT

On 15th of May, students of the Faculty of Translation Studies had the opportunity to attend a guest lecture about German-Latvian cooperation, embassy work and diplomatic protocol. The guest lecture was given by Christopher Grounau, Head of the Cultural and Press Section of the German Embassy, and Nataļja Buinicka, graduate of VUAS’ bachelor and master study programme in translation.

At the beginning of the day, the visitors were welcomed by the 3rd year students of the translation bachelor study programme; the students gave them a short tour of the University and told them about the daily life of students and about the VUAS in general.

During the guest lecture, the Embassy representatives told the students of the Faculty of Translation Studies about the work of the Embassy, its structure and responsibilties of specific units, shared some aspects of their daily duties, and answered questions asked by students.

Matīss Jansons and Elēna Šatrovska, 3rd year students of the bachelor study programme Translation, Interpreting and Language Technology shared their impressions of the tour and the guest lecture:

Matīss said: "Until now, I had no idea how close and diverse the cooperation between Latvia and Germany actually is. It was interesting to hear how much attention and support they give to cultural projects that really bring our countries closer together.

I used to think that diplomacy was all about fine suits, empty speeches and champagne at events, but today I realised that there is much more to it. It's a lively, dynamic environment where every day is different, and behind it all, there's people who do exciting and important work.”

Elena also shared: “It was a wonderful opportunity not only to learn how the Embassy works from the point of view of insiders, how diplomatic meetings are organised, where so many details need attention, but also to meet the people who make the Embassy run smoothly. Moreover, meeting them in person allowed me to see the human perspective of their work making it more understandable, not as something idealised, complicated and unachievable.”

Event organized by the lecturer of the VUAS Egita Proveja.

Information prepared by the students of the bachelor study programme Translation, Interpreting and Language Technology.

European Space Agency Mission “Comet Interceptor” Applies Comet Models Developed in Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 20 May 2025 07:52:32 GMT

Through collaboration between Latvian technology company Nanocraft SIA, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and the Tartu Observatory, the photo-realistic modelling project “CI3D” has been successfully delivered to the European Space Agency (ESA). The project activities have produced computer-generated images used for testing the cameras of ESA’s “Comet Interceptor” mission. Since the mission, scheduled for the early 2030s, will approach a still-unknown target comet—its trajectory from the Oort cloud towards the Sun currently too distant to observe with telescopes—photo-realistic images are needed to validate the mission’s cameras.

Synthetic images of a comet nucleus and atmosphere created as part of the “CI3D” project. Source: Ventspils University of Applied Sciences / Gints Jasmonts and Nanocraft SIA / Mario F. Palos.

Just like in the production of the film Straume, the “CI3D” team uses the photorealistic 3D modelling tool Blender . Both internationally recognized projects share a common theme—the teams are capable of producing virtual worlds that expand our imagination. All space missions developed so far have been aimed at specific known targets—objects or phenomena in the Universe. Following the impressive achievements of Rosetta , ESA has taken on an entirely new space technology challenge—developing a mission involving multiple probes that will approach a target comet that may still be unknown even at the time of spacecraft launch. Thus, the “Comet Interceptor” mission demonstrates Europe’s leadership in cometary research.

“Comet Interceptor” mission operations plan. Source: European Space Agency.

New challenges make science and technology projects exciting. The Latvian–Estonian team has carved out a special niche since the late 2010s, when under the leadership of Professor Mihkel Pajusalu at the Tartu Observatory, Dr. Andris Slavinskis and colleagues began mastering the Blender tool . After a decade spent in Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, the USA, and Finland, Slavinskis returned to Latvia with the idea to found a company focused specifically on space scene modelling. To tackle complex problems in comet atmosphere modelling, Slavinskis turned to scientists at his alma mater — Ventspils University of Applied Sciences—Professor Andris Vaivads and researcher Karina Šķirmante.

“Comet Interceptor” mission fly-by plan. Source: Jones et al. 2024 .

Successful space camera development requires comprehensive knowledge of the physical parameters that characterize the mission target. In the “Comet Interceptor” mission, we must model a range of physical parameters to represent various possible comet sizes, shapes, activity levels, as well as fly-by speed and geometry (the probe’s orientation relative to the comet and the direction of incoming sunlight). Additionally, as part of the delivered project, the “CI3D” team worked with three cameras—“OPIC”, “MIRMIS NIR”, and “EnVisS”—which are being developed in Estonia, Finland, and Italy, respectively. The “Comet Interceptor” mission comprises three probes: the main spacecraft “A”, which carries the “MIRMIS NIR” camera; probe “B2”, which carries “OPIC” and “EnVisS”; and probe “B1”. The Blender modelling tool allows virtual programming of physical and fly-by parameters.

With the successful delivery of the project, the “CI3D” team is preparing for future activities. During the project extension, the comet atmosphere model will be enhanced with a tail and jets, and background stars will be added to assist in determining the orientation of probe “B2”. The extension also includes plans to interview the remaining five “Comet Interceptor” camera teams whose instruments are installed on all three probes. Probe “B1” is being developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, offering the Latvian computer science team an opportunity to expand cooperation beyond Europe.

Contact: Andris Slavinskis, andris.slavinskis@nanocraft.space

Literary Translation Workshop at the VUAS Library with Poet Linda Mence

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 20 May 2025 07:40:28 GMT

On May 7, the second- and third-year students of the study program “Translation, Interpreting and Language Technologies” participated in a literary translation workshop at the VUAS Library. The event was led by poet, translator, and editor Linda Mence and attended by students with a particular interest in literature and literary translation.

The main theme of the workshop was the voice embodied in the text. This voice can belong to an author or translator, although the translator’s voice usually plays a symbolic role.

At the beginning, Linda Mence introduced the audience to the questions that should be asked before starting a translation, such as: “Identity – who is the speaker?”, “What are the lexical layers and the emotions conveyed by the words?” Students read several texts – poems and story excerpts – and expressed their opinions during discussions in order to reach a common understanding. They also translated texts from English into Latvian to explore the nuances of literary translation.

The poet and translator also shared her experience of translating various works and spoke about “absolute language pitch”, which is comparable to absolute musical pitch and is just as undeniably a great talent. Moreover, this sensitivity can be developed by reading works of various genres and authors from different time periods. However, translation should begin with shorter forms – essays and short stories.

Two third-year students, Ilze Jaunzeme and Natālija Dolgova, shared their feedback on the event.

Ilze said: “Once again, I was reminded that translating expressive texts is not an easy task. What I really liked was that it felt more like a conversation with a like-minded person – a colleague who is genuinely interested, listens freely and curiously to all ideas, and offers suggestions. This event was incredibly valuable; I hope no one loses interest and that more of these workshops will follow.”

Meanwhile, Natālija commented: “I truly enjoyed how heartfelt this event was. Linda Mence explained very clearly and engagingly the aspects that must be considered when translating literature. She didn’t just lecture – she actively involved the audience, and I believe that the exchange and weighing of different translation options taught us more than if we had simply listened.”

The event was organized by the Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies at VUAS, the Ventspils International Writers’ and Translators’ House, and the VUAS Library.

Choose an International Career and Learn about Language and Translation Studies!

Mon, 19 May 2025 12:30:28 GMT

In today's world, the ability to understand and connect different cultures is becoming increasingly important. If you want to learn not only to translate words, but also to build bridges of understanding that open up diverse career opportunities around the world, then the translation programs at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences are the right place for your bachelor's and master's studies!

The Faculty of Translation Studies is offering an online event, "Modern Language and Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences," on June 16, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. on the Zoom platform.

Choosing a bachelor's degree program at the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences means finding the right path for your development. The bachelor's degree program in Translation and Language Technology offers diverse and modern studies that will open the door to the exciting world of languages, cultures, and texts, provide an opportunity to learn the secrets and tools of translation, and build a career as an independent translation and language specialist or be part of an international team. Every day of your studies will open the door to the world of languages, cultures, and understanding!

Choosing to study for a master's degree at the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University means not stopping, but continuing to grow! A master's degree is a completed higher education: a master's degree program in "Translation and Terminology" means not only in-depth knowledge of translation and specialization in terminology, but also a true higher education, because in an international context, a master's degree is considered the first true level of education.

Master – a long-recognized, prestigious social status; the opinion of a master is taken into account. Let us remember the times of the Hanseatic League, when the status of an interpreter was equivalent to that of an ambassador! Multilingual communication is a bridge to the world! Our graduates pursue diverse careers all over the world.

Come study at the Faculty of Translation Studies at VUAS and earn a bachelor's or master's degree!

Find out more about the VUAS bachelor's degree program in Translation and Language Technology here: www.venta.lv/program/tulkosana-un-valodu-tehnologija

Find out more about the VUAS master's program in Translation and Terminology here: www.venta.lv/program/tulkosana-un-terminologija

The event will take place online on June 16, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. on the Zoom platform.

Program:

Introduction to the bachelor's program "Translation and Language Technology"
Introduction to the new master's program "Translation and Terminology"
Information about diverse career opportunities
Meeting with lecturers
Question and answer session.

Event link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8374264383?omn=84050100718

If you have any questions, please contact Silga Sviķe by email at silga.svike@venta.lv

2nd Place for VUAS Team at International Electronics Competition EIFTronic 2025

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 16 May 2025 10:43:01 GMT

Students from the “Electrical Engineering” study program at VUAS traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania, to participate in the electronics competition EIFTronic. The team earned an honourable 2nd place, outperforming teams from Poland and Lithuania.

The VUAS student team consisted of first-year “Electrical Engineering” students – Tomass Rudītis, Pauls Matīss Rullis, and Tomass Žukovskis. They were accompanied by Faculty of Information Technologies lecturer Matīss Maltisovs. Unlike the teams from Lithuania and Poland, which were composed of second- and third-year students, the VUAS team was represented solely by first-year students. Their achievement in securing 2nd place highlights their high level of preparedness and ability to compete with more experienced students.

The competition began with a theoretical task that included questions on physics, electronics, electrical engineering, analogue and digital devices, and electrical measurements. In this round, VUAS student Tomass Žukovskis took 1st place among all participants.

Each team member then had to complete a practical task. Pauls Matīss Rullis worked on assembling an electrical circuit and measuring its key parameters, winning the 1st place. Tomass Rudītis developed a microcontroller program involving sensors, motors, and displays. Meanwhile, Tomass Žukovskis handled digital device design and a soldering task, also earning the 1st place.

EIFTronic is an annual international competition for electronics students, bringing together participants from various countries.

Ventspils University of Applied Science congratulates and is proud of the students’ achievements!

Aiga Veckalne receives PEN award

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 15 May 2025 06:52:05 GMT

This year, the general meeting of PEN Latvia decided to award the PEN Latvia Award to linguist, guest lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, translation industry expert, interpreter, and translator Aiga Veckalne. She received the award for compiling and publishing the Inclusive Language Guidelines last year, as well as for her long-standing work promoting public understanding of the importance of inclusive language.

The Inclusive Language Guidelines, which last year received unfounded and unprofessional criticism and attacks from the State Language Centre, are a valuable resource that compiles possible terms recommended for use when speaking respectfully about socially vulnerable groups. Until now, such a resource has been largely absent from the Latvian language and cultural space. The PEN Latvia Award recognizes Aiga Veckalne’s contribution to the development of inclusive language and the promotion of a more respectful and accessible linguistic environment. Language is perceived as a living organism that changes, influences, and interacts with people. Language helps us understand and even construct experience. Therefore, efforts to develop a language that is sensitive and aligned with human experience are both welcome and necessary, PEN Latvia comments on their choice.

PEN Latvia also appreciates Aiga Veckalne’s work in explaining the necessity of inclusive language to a wider audience. The linguist regularly conducts seminars and workshops, as well as gives lectures on the Latvian language, speech, electronic correspondence etiquette, simple, easy, and inclusive language. Over the last ten years, she has regularly appeared in various media as an expert, by speaking about the use of the Latvian language. She creates and hosts the podcast Pieturzīmes and promotes a form of language that makes all individuals feel more included, comfortable, and represented.

The PEN Latvia Award every year is created by a well-known Latvian artist. This year, the award was designed by Krista Vindberga (Dzudzilo). Describing her work, the artist stated: “The hand protects a fragile, smooth form where vulnerability and potential merge. It levitates in the palm – as if only the power of warmth and attention holds it. Not too tightly, not too loosely, because one who understands the value of fragility can protect it. The egg invites reflection on a voice that is still forming, on care, courage, and responsibility for what is still developing. It does not demand strength, but understanding and empathy. The hand that holds it is the same hand that allows a word to be born. It is the hand of responsibility that performs the work of empathy.”

The PEN Latvia Award has been presented since 2019 for significant achievements in promoting freedom of speech, countering censorship, and defending the rights of socially marginalized groups. Previous recipients include Lolita Tomsone, director of the Žanis Lipke Memorial and publicist; the Baltic Centre for Investigative Journalism Re:Baltica; writer and ornithologist Viesturs Ķerus; film director Alise Zariņa; Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Sanita Osipova; the association Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem (I Want to Help Refugees); and human rights activist Ieva Raubiško.

PEN is an international organization of writers, publicists, and editors that promotes the spread of literature and advocates for freedom of speech and other expression.

VIDEO – Professor Andris Klaus Scholarship Awards Presented

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 14 May 2025 10:24:39 GMT

On May 9, the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) hosted the awarding ceremony of the Professor Andris Klaus Scholarships, funded by VUAS alumni Mārtiņš Lauva and Kristaps Klauss.

This year marks the 11th consecutive year the scholarship has been awarded. The recipients of the €3000 scholarship fund were Lara Bernardes, Daniels Balika, and Kristiāna Biezuma.

In total, 24 students have received this scholarship over the past eleven years.

Lead Researcher of National Research Program Project Participates in International Program at the University at Buffalo

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 12 May 2025 10:34:05 GMT

Researchers from the national research program project “Developing Evidence-Based Solutions for Effective Adult Professional Competence Improvement and Evaluating the Transfer of Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-000) participated in an international program held at the University at Buffalo, USA.

From April 26 to May 3, Professor Una Libkovska from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and Professor Inese Lūsēna-Ezera, lead researcher of the project from Liepāja Academy of RTU, participated in an international academic staff exchange visit.

During the visit, participants were introduced to collaboration initiatives between Latvian partners and the University at Buffalo, presented under the guidance of Associate Professor Dr. Jessica Svenson. The visit included an introduction to the university’s infrastructure, meetings with faculty members, attendance at study program sessions and teaching seminars, and networking with partners. In line with the goals of the visit, a structured discussion was held on best practices in higher education, along with focus group interviews with faculty and researchers on integrating sustainability principles into university teaching and management processes.

The Latvian partners also visited laboratories and sustainability initiative sites at the University at Buffalo, where they learned about current development strategies and future projects. They had the opportunity to attend master 's-level course sessions and engage in discussions on the implementation and promotion of sustainability principles within study programs.

The international experience program included participation from researchers, early-career scientists, and doctoral students from various Latvian higher education institutions, including Džeina Kleina-Šnipke, a doctoral student from the Faculty of Economics and Management at VUAS.

VUAS Culture Day: Unveiling the Cultural Iceberg

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 12 May 2025 06:25:48 GMT

Join us for an insightful and delicious journey around the world at our upcoming Culture Day event! On May 21st at 4:30 PM in the VUAS student lounge D0, students from Turkey, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, China, and India will take you on a fascinating exploration of their unique cultures, inspired by the concept of the Cultural Iceberg.

Just like an iceberg, there's so much more to a culture than what meets the eye. Our presenters will go beyond the familiar tourist sights and delve into the deeper, often unseen aspects of their heritage.

Prepare to:

Savor authentic flavors: Taste traditional dishes prepared with love by our student representatives. It's a culinary adventure you won't want to miss!
Uncover hidden depths: Through engaging presentations, discover the values, beliefs, and customs that truly shape each culture.
Navigate cultural nuances: Learn about intriguing taboos and gain a better understanding of potential cultural misunderstandings.
Challenge stereotypes: Engage in open discussions and hear firsthand perspectives that break down common misconceptions.

This is a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons, connect with fellow students from diverse backgrounds, and gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and complexity of our global community right here at VUAS.

Don't miss this chance to:

Expand your cultural intelligence.
Make new friends and connections.
Enjoy delicious international food.
Participate in thought-provoking discussions.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 21st at 4:30 PM and head to the VUAS student lounge D0 . Let's explore the fascinating depths of culture together!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Professor Andris Klauss Scholarships Awarded

Sat, 10 May 2025 08:46:57 GMT

On May 9, the Professor Andris Klauss Scholarships were awarded at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), sponsored by VUAS alumni Mārtiņš Lauva and Kristaps Klauss. This year marks the 11th year the scholarship has been awarded, and it was granted to three students – Lara Bernardes, Daniels Balika, and Kristiāna Biezuma – who divided the € 3,000 scholarship fund. In total, 24 students have received the scholarship over the past eleven years.

This time, the main scholarship of €1500 was awarded to Lara Bernardes. Lara came to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences from Brazil and has deeply embraced Latvia and Latvian culture. She has excellent academic results, participated in an exchange program at the University of Tartu, where she worked on satellite development, is passionate about space technologies, and aspires to become a researcher. Lara is very outgoing, participates in various events, and is very grateful to Latvia for everything it has given her – the chance to develop her personality, gain education, and experience so much.

All finalists are outstanding and active VUAS students who have already gained valuable experience in various projects, continuously enhanced their knowledge and skills both in Latvia and abroad, and are highly motivated. The applications were evaluated by a six-member committee, which included both scholarship patrons, Mārtiņš Lauva and Kristaps Klauss. Based on the committee’s decision, the scholarship fund was divided among the three students:

€1500 was awarded to Lara Bernardes
€750 was awarded to Daniels Balika
€750 was awarded to Kristiāna Biezuma.

Mārtiņš Lauva stated : “ Every year, I look forward to this day with great excitement and a bit of nervousness, wondering whether the students will manage to surprise me again, as the previous years’ applications have been awe-inspiring. But once again, I came, and once again I was convinced of how much the youth can accomplish and how great their achievements already are during their studies. The scholarship is a wonderful way for me to thank Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the city of Ventspils for what they have given me, and it’s a great way to support young people .”

The scholarship, established in honour of the distinguished VUAS professor Andris Klauss, has now been awarded for the eleventh consecutive year. Its goal is to support students who excel in academic achievements, research activity, and community involvement. The scholarship's founder and patron is VUAS alumnus and entrepreneur Mārtiņš Lauva, who was later joined by Kristaps Klauss, the son of VUAS Council Chair and Professor Andris Klauss, increasing the total scholarship fund to € 3,000.

Researchers of the National Research Programme Project Actively Engage in Professional Development

Tue, 06 May 2025 07:56:01 GMT

Researchers of the National Research Programme project "Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of Their Transfer into Practice in Latvia" (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-000) are actively participating in professional development activities.

In April 2025, Professor Una Libkovska from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and Professor Inese Lūsēna-Ezera from the RTU Liepāja Academy participated in the international seminar "Applying the Problem-Based Learning Approach in Higher Education," organized by Aalborg University in Denmark.

The seminar focused particularly on the development and enhancement of professional skills in line with the current labor market demands. It highlighted Aalborg University's experience in implementing problem-based learning (PBL) models across engineering, the humanities, and the social sciences to ensure the effective acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.

Special emphasis was placed on the student preparation and assessment process, underlining the importance of structuring the study process in a way that ensures the acquired knowledge and skills align with professional standards and promote students' successful integration into the labor market.

Aalborg University is recognised as a pioneer of the problem-based learning approach. The PBL model is integrated into all levels of study programs, supporting the acquisition of professional competencies. The seminar brought together participants from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, the United States, Lebanon, and other countries, providing a broad perspective on implementing PBL across different national contexts.

Students Get to Know Ventspils Entrepreneurs

Thu, 01 May 2025 08:07:41 GMT

Students from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) visited Prego Family Kitchen, located at Ostas Street 55 in Ventspils, to explore the business environment, learn from an entrepreneur's real-life experience, and participate in masterclasses and discussions aimed at developing business skills and generating sustainable ideas.

A total of 38 students visited the company to broaden their understanding of business operations and entrepreneurial principles. During the event, students engaged in practical workshops and discussions that fostered creative thinking and collaboration. These activities provided valuable insight into the company's daily operations and management approach, as well as inspiration from real-world entrepreneurial stories.

It is worth noting that locals from Ventspils founded Prego Family Kitchen, which is currently run by siblings Lelde and Mārcis Zarāns. The company is well-known among locals for its popular pizzas.

The event was organised by students from the Faculty of Economics and Management at VUAS—Dagnija Gaidlazda, Jekaterina Gromovaja, Gvido Kārlis Beļakovs, and Sandris Krauze—under the guidance of Elīna Feldmane, Director of the Professional Bachelor's Study Program in Business Management. They noted that this initiative supports both students' career planning and their sense of belonging to VUAS and the city of Ventspils, motivating them to contribute to Ventspils' future development.

The event was implemented within the project "From Student to Entrepreneur in Ventspils", supported by the Ventspils State City Municipality's subprogram "Support for Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Students and Student Organisations", which aims to promote youth leisure activities and active recreation.

Additional activities related to Ventspils' business environment are planned within the "From Student to Entrepreneur in Ventspils" project, including masterclasses and co-creation workshops, offering a diverse and practice-based approach to students' professional growth.

Liene Resele-Dūšele Participates in the 49th Scientific Research Conference for Latvian Students and Evaluates the Work of Young Researchers

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:38:30 GMT

Dr. sc. administr. Liene Resele-Dūšele, a researcher for the project under the National Research Program “Education”, participated in the 49th Scientific Research Conference for Latvian Students on April 25, 2025. She evaluated the work of young researchers and provided recommendations for improving their research skills.

At the national level, 466 students from 89 educational institutions across Latvia presented 400 scientific research projects in six fields of science:

Natural sciences
Social sciences
Humanities and arts
Medicine and health sciences
Engineering and technology
Agricultural, forestry, and veterinary sciences

New VIRAC Scientific Council Elected

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 08:11:42 GMT

On April 7, 2025, a general meeting of scientists from the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) Engineering Research Institute – Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) – was held, during which a new VIRAC Scientific Council was elected for the regular three-year term from April 13, 2025, to April 12, 2028.

During the meeting, it was decided that the Scientific Council will consist of seven members. The elected members are Artis Aberfelds, Vairis Caune, Juris Freimanis, Juris Kalvāns, Matīss Maltisovs, Ivars Šmelds, and Juris Žagars.

The first meeting of the newly elected Scientific Council took place on April 23.

At the meeting, Juris Freimanis was elected Chair of the Scientific Council, Ivars Šmelds was elected Deputy Chair, and Juris Kalvāns was appointed as VIRAC's representative to the VUAS Scientific Council.

Career Day 2025

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 06:17:04 GMT

On April 9th, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted Career Day 2025 , uniting high schoolers , university students , educators , and employers for a dynamic day of networking and hands-on experiences .

European Union-funded project “Opticon RadioNet Pilot” concludes at Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC)

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:56:40 GMT

In February of this year, the European Union-funded project “Opticon RadioNet Pilot” No 101004719 (ORP) was successfully concluded at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC), part of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, located in Irbene, Latvia.

VIRAC is known for its two large radio telescopes – including a 32-meter dish, one of the largest in Northern Europe – which are used to study radio signals from cosmic objects. Given the scale and complexity of space, collaboration has always been essential, and VIRAC has long been involved in international and EU-funded projects. Since 2009, VIRAC has participated in a series of projects under the “RadioNet” umbrella, aimed at strengthening radio astronomy research across Europe by increasing access to facilities, advancing technology, encouraging institutional collaboration, and supporting the growth of young scientists.

The ORP project represented the next step, merging the efforts of radio and optical telescope communities into a single coordinated program. By integrating facilities observing across the radio, sub-mm, infrared, and optical wavebands, ORP enabled seamless access for European researchers to an unparalleled array of observatories.

With a total budget of €15 million, of which €60,000 was allocated to VIRAC and Ventspils University, the project supported VIRAC’s active participation in multiple scientific and collaborative activities.

Among these activities, VIRAC regularly participates in EVN (European VLBI Network) observation sessions, held three times a year, as well as in monthly real-time e-VLBI sessions and EVN-lite observations, which serve as supplementary components to the main EVN observation programme. Participation in these activities has been actively supported and facilitated through the ORP (Opticon RadioNet Pilot) project.

Additionally, VIRAC researchers are actively involved in the international scientific community, regularly attending major conferences and participating in training programs and exchange visits at leading European observatories.

Activities such as transnational access to European ESFRI and ERIC research facilities, training programs, and support for the astronomical community will continue through one of the most significant outcomes of the ORP project—ACME (Astrophysics Centre for Multi-Messenger Studies in Europe). This new initiative aims to integrate not only optical and radio astronomy but also other branches of astrophysical observation, including gravitational waves, neutrinos, and cosmic rays, fostering a truly multi-messenger approach to astronomy.

This project has received funding from the European Union's research and innovation programme HORIZON 2020 under grant agreement No 101004719.

Scientific Project Coordinator: Ivars Šmelds ( ivars.smelds@venta.lv )

Administrative Project Manager: Ieva Kozlova ( ieva.kozlova@venta.lv )

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Successfully Concludes International Erasmus+ Project ENDORSE, Receiving Best Practice Evaluation

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 11:53:06 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the international Erasmus+ project "Enhancing development of entrepreneurial strategies at university locations affected by brain drain" (ENDORSE). The project focused on the pressing issue of "brain drain" in university cities by offering innovative solutions to strengthen the entrepreneurial environment and retain young talent in the regions.

The main goal of the ENDORSE project was to develop and implement new strategies and teaching approaches to foster entrepreneurship development in university cities facing the emigration of qualified specialists. Through international cooperation, existing challenges were analysed, and effective ways were sought to enhance students' entrepreneurial skills and motivate them to develop their business ideas within their home region.

One of the most significant and practically applicable outcomes of the project is the development of guidelines for teachers and a comprehensive set of teaching materials for entrepreneurship study courses . These resources are designed for easy integration into existing study program or for use in creating new courses. For example, one of the learning materials includes video interviews with local entrepreneurs from different countries to learn about their experiences. Elviss Brauns and Āris Birze, VUAS colleagues and mentors of the ‘Startup Management’ bachelor study program, also share their start-up experiences.

The materials are freely available to anyone interested, particularly university lecturers seeking to modernise and practically enrich their teaching content in the field of entrepreneurship. All final project results, including these materials and experience stories, are compiled and accessible on the final project website – click the button below.

The high quality, significance, and potential application of the ENDORSE project's results have also gained official recognition – the project has been awarded the Erasmus+ "best practice label" . According to the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, this designation highlights projects identified for their "policy relevance, impact, [and] communication potential". This serves as a testament to the successful implementation of the project and the value of its outcomes at a European level.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is proud of its contribution to the ENDORSE project and its achievements. The developed materials and experience gained provide valuable tools not only for VUAS's academic staff and students but also for other higher education institutions in combating "brain drain" and strengthening the regional entrepreneurial environment.

Project Coordinator Kristiāna Balode

Unlocking the secrets of the public relations specialists’ profession: an inspiring guest lecture to “Intercultural Communication” students

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:00:10 GMT

On Wednesday, 9th of April, as part of the “Career Day” event organised by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, students of the Bachelor's study programme “Intercultural Communication” were invited to a guest lecture delivered by Adrija Enrika Ēdele – a graduate of VUAS Master's study programme “Strategic Intercultural Communication”, and a current student of VUAS Master's study programme “Translation of LSP Texts”, a public relations specialist at the North Kurzeme Regional Hospital (Ventspils Hospital).

The guest lecture was attended by first, second and third year students of the Bachelor's study programme “Intercultural Communication”. The guest lecturer shared the story of her work experience as a public relations specialist at the Ventspils Hospital, as well as her daily duties, challenges and answered the students' questions. In her presentation, the lecturer talked about planning and organising events, stressing that “'the biggest challenge when planning an event is to make sure that everything is thought of and nothing is forgotten”'. In telling her experience, she emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in emergency situations, acting prudently to avoid making the situation worse.

From the guest lecture, students say they have gained an insight into the daily life of the profession by getting to know it better. They were able to see the usefulness of the theories and knowledge taught at the university, get answers to questions about the languages they needed to learn, employer requirements when applying for a job, the differences between the duties of a specialist and a manager as well as the importance of well-written press releases.

These types of lectures give students the opportunity to get to know the professions and their responsibilities in real life, which allows everyone to make sure that the chosen profession is suitable for them, and they are also necessary for everyone who is still studying, which is why the “Career Day” event organised at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is the right event for everyone to visit.

Translation is made by:

“Intercultural Communication” 2nd year student Karīna Ganiņa

Annual Education Awards 2024 Presented

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:14:06 GMT

On Wednesday, April 9, the event “Annual Education Award – 2024” took place, honouring educators from Ventspils educational institutions. Teachers were recognised in eight nomination categories, and acknowledgements were presented for lifetime achievements.

This year, 50 educators were nominated for the “Annual Education Award – 2024” from general and preschool education institutions in Ventspils, as well as the Creative House, Art School, Sports School “Spars,” Ventspils Digital Centre, Ventspils Technical School, Ventspils Music Secondary School, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The nominations were evaluated by a committee formed by the Ventspils State City Municipality.

Awards were presented in the following eight categories:

Teacher of the Year in STEM subjects
Teacher of the Year in Cultural Education and Linguistics
Teacher of the Year as a Promoter of a Healthy Lifestyle and Green Thinking
Teacher of the Year as a Support Provider and Promoter of Civic Engagement
Teacher of the Year in Vocational and Higher Education
Teacher of the Year – Young Educator
Teacher of the Year in Lifelong Learning
Annual Education Award for Modern Educational Leadership
Lifetime Achievement Acknowledgements

The "Teacher of the Year in Vocational and Higher Education" nomination was open to vocational education teachers/masters, or academic staff from higher education institutions who ensured an innovative and developmental education process in vocational and higher education. The leading award was presented to lecturer and director of the study program "Translation and Language Technologies", Aiga Bādere, and the second-tier award was given to lecturer and VIRAC researcher Karina Šķirmante.

“Lifetime Achievement Acknowledgements” were granted to educators who have carried out their professional work with dedication and quality over many years at a single educational institution. The acknowledgement was awarded to Ilze Buņķe, Advisor to the Rector on General and Vocational Education Cooperation Issues.

Congratulations, and we are proud!

Each recipient of the leading award also received a monetary prize of €700, while recipients of the second-tier award received €500 each.

The “Annual Education Award – 2024” event was organized by the Ventspils Education Board in cooperation with Ventspils Technical School, Ventspils Music Secondary School, Ventspils Digital Centre, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

VUAS and VIRAC representatives will participate in the largest physics festival in the Baltics

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 08:52:01 GMT

At the Elektrum Physics Festival, which will take place on April 12 at the ATTA Center in Riga, young people will be invited to engage in exciting physics discovery activities and explore future professions in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The final of the FIZMIX school knowledge and physics competition will be held for the 30th time during the festival.

This will be the fifth edition of the festival, and this year's theme is "Mission: Future." Throughout the day, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, visitors of all ages can participate in creative workshops and experiments that will test both intellectual and physical skills. The event will feature engaging activities presented by science centers from Latvia and Estonia, universities, extracurricular education institutions, companies, and entertainment centers. Each year, the festival is widely attended, with young people and families appreciating the meaningful way to spend their time—last year, it attracted around 4,000 visitors.

Science centers and universities, including Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center, will offer various educational and interactive activities.

Program:

11:00 – 11:25 Opening Ceremony
11:25 – 12:15 Discussion: "STEM Sciences: Future Professions"
12:25 – 14:00 Competitions, experiments on stage, activities, and prizes
14:00 – 14:15 Honoring long-time teachers
14:15 – 14:30 Announcement of FIZMIX competition finalists
14:40 – 15:40 FIZMIX competition final
15:50 – 16:10 FIZMIX competition awards ceremony
16:10 – 16:50 Concert: Fiņķis & Patrisha

Organized by AS "Latvenergo," the FIZMIX knowledge competition and Elektrum Physics Festival aim to spark young people's interest in exact sciences, demonstrate how theoretical knowledge can be applied in practice, and encourage students to consider careers in STEM fields.

Lead Researcher Una Libkovska Shares Experience with Residents of Ventspils Municipality

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 10:18:44 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences professor and lead researcher of the National Research Programme (VPP), Una Libkovska, shared her experience at a meeting with residents of the Ventspils municipality, organised by Latvian Academy of Sciences academician Baiba Rivža, titled "The Modern Student: Lifelong Learning."

On March 18, 2025, Professor Una Libkovska of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, the lead researcher of the National Research Programme project "Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for Effective Adult Professional Competence Improvement and Evaluation of Practical Transfer in Latvia," participated in a discussion organised by Academician Baiba Rivža of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. The meeting with residents of the Ventspils region focused on the significance of education and factors influencing professional development.

The event offered an opportunity to share experiences, including insights and best practice examples from the National Research Programme project in implementing lifelong professional development.

VIDEO –Ventspils International Combat Robotics Hackathon and Ventspils Robotics Championship

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:20:35 GMT

From March 21 to March 23, Ventspils University was the venue for the European University Alliance Colours hackathon "Combat Robotics" and the Ventspils Robotics Championship – one of the stages of the Latvian Championship. The event brought together technology and robotics enthusiasts from Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, Croatia and Egypt.

The Kurzeme Business Forum on the impact of artificial Intelligence on Education and Business will be held in Ventspils

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:05:13 GMT

On Wednesday, May 28, everyone is invited to the Kurzeme Business Forum “Artificial Intelligence – The 4th Industrial Revolution”, which will take place at the Latvija concert hall. The forum will bring together entrepreneurs, municipal representatives, university staff and students, as well as technology experts to discuss the significance of education and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on business.

The first part of the forum will focus on the role of higher education in the AI era. The development of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will be examined in this context, addressing key questions: How will the education system adapt to new requirements? Which professions will remain relevant, and which will change? The discussion will also explore the synergy between AI and cybersecurity in academic studies.

The second part of the forum will address the question—do businesses need AI? The legal framework and state support mechanisms for such innovations will be introduced. Entrepreneurs will share their experiences, and participants will gain insights into common myths and the real situation regarding AI in Latvia’s economy. The discussion will conclude with an exploration of the opportunities for port development in the AI era.

Participants will have the chance to engage in valuable discussions and networking sessions. Although the forum will be held in Latvian, the company SIA Tilde will provide real-time translation into any language using AI technology.

The forum is organized by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences within the European University Alliance COLOURS, in collaboration with the Ventspils State City Municipality, the Freeport of Ventspils Authority, and the Green and Smart Technology Cluster.

VUAS Hosted First COLOURS Hackathon « Combat Robotics »

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 10:24:54 GMT

On Friday, March 21, 13 teams from various regions of Latvia, as well as partner universities in Croatia and Spain, began a three-day hackathon. During the event, teams were tasked with designing and building a combat robot to compete in a specially designed arena. After several intense battles, the grand prize of €1,500 was claimed by a team from Riga, Latvia with their combat robot "The Shredinator." Second place went to VUAS students with their robot "Bob," earning a €600 cash prize. Meanwhile, third place and a €400 prize were awarded to a team from Latgale with their robot "Zeimuļs vs PRK." The Ventspils City Special Award went to the team "Labākais tiiims ever" for their exceptionally creative combat robot design.

Hackathon winner Patriks Ezerins shares: “I think this is a really cool way for people to come together – engineers, future engineers, and robotics enthusiasts – to build something amazing within a set time limit and then battle it out for victory. It’s a unique opportunity! I definitely recommend giving it a try, especially with the kits we provide. Even someone with zero coding knowledge can come, take a basic chassis (which is a pre-assigned part), print it, install the motors and controller, and start driving. That’s it – you’re ready to fight! I encourage everyone to participate, because the more participants we have in the future, the more hackathons like this will continue!”

On Saturday, robotics and technology enthusiasts from Latvia, Lithuania and Croatia gathered at VUAS to participate in the Ventspils Robotics Championship. Throughout the championship, more than 50 robots competed in nine different disciplines, like Folkrace, Antweight, Mini Sumo, Line following and iRobot Sumo, and showcasing the participants' outstanding skills and innovative solutions. Team from Croatia placed 2 ^nd in Mini Sumo PRO category.

The Ventspils City Special Award in the Robotics Championship was not given to an individual but to a team from Sigulda in recognition of their enthusiasm and extensive participation, demonstrating their contribution to the development of robotics.

Photos:

Day 1: https://zviedrans.lv/galleries/ventspils-starptautiskais-cinas-robotu-hakatons-1-diena-21-03-2025/

Day 2: https://zviedrans.lv/galleries/ventspils-starptautiskais-cinas-robotu-hakatons-2-diena-22-03-2025/

Day 3: https://zviedrans.lv/galleries/ventspils-starptautiskais-cinas-robotu-hakatons-3-diena-23-03-2025/

Call for Applications for the First VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:14:19 GMT

To strengthen the research and development human capital performance of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) in areas of smart specialization and university specialization, in 2025, with the financial support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the project "VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants" has been launched, and the call for applications for the first doctoral grant is announced.

Applications must be submitted by April 23, 2025, at 24:00.

Online seminar on the announcement of the Doctoral Grant: March 26 at 16:00.

The project aims to promote the involvement of doctoral grant recipients in the academic and scientific community by employing them in work primarily related to their scientific research and the topic of their doctoral thesis, thus fostering the piloting of innovations in practice.

The project provides ERDF support for the involvement of doctoral students in university work, ensuring remuneration and necessary research funding for a period of 12 months throughout the project implementation. A total of 8 doctoral grant recipients will be supported—four at VUAS and four at ViA. In the first grant application round, support is planned for three doctoral students—two at VUAS and one at ViA.

The doctoral grant is targeted, competitively awarded funding for conducting doctoral research related to the successful development of the doctoral thesis, providing:

Paid workload at the university for the development of the doctoral dissertation, not exceeding 50% of full-time employment;
Remuneration not exceeding EUR 1300 per month, including the employer's mandatory state social insurance contributions, for 50% of full-time employment;
Coverage of research expenses amounting to EUR 500 per month for purchasing necessary research materials, technology rights protection, outsourcing costs, education expenses, and networking event costs, including travel, conference participation fees, and involvement in informational events, by the unit cost methodology.

Project No. 1.1.1.8/1/24/I/001 "VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants" is part of the European Union Cohesion Policy Program 2021–2027 under specific support objective 1.1.1 "Strengthening research and innovation capacity and the introduction of advanced technologies in the overall R&D system," measure 1.1.1.8 "Doctoral Grants."

The project will be implemented at VUAS and ViA until December 31, 2029.

The total project budget is EUR 305,324, including 85% ERDF funding (EUR 259,525.39) and 15% State budget funding (EUR 45,798.60).

On March 29, VIRAC Employee to Lead Popular Science Lecture on Observing the Partial Solar Eclipse

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 08:20:57 GMT

On March 29, visitors are invited to the Planetarium and Observatory of the Creative House to participate in an exciting event dedicated to observing a partial solar eclipse.

Event program:

12:00–12:40 – Lecture "Observing the Partial Solar Eclipse" (Lecturer: Aija Kalniņa)
12:50–14:00 – Solar eclipse observation and live broadcast (maximum phase at 13:33)
14:00 – Free film screening at the Planetarium

PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENT IS FREE OF CHARGE!

Startup Management Representatives Evaluated Student Companies

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:20:23 GMT

At the beginning of March, Startup Management students Alise Plotova, Selīna Glaudāne, and Krišs Ģērmanis, along with program director Āris Birze, participated in the student company fair "Cits Bazārs Pavasarī", organised by Junior Achievement Latvia.

The event gathered 270 student companies (SMU) from all over Latvia, where young entrepreneurs showcased their business ideas and products. Representatives from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences were part of the jury, evaluating the students' offerings and providing valuable advice on business development. Through their questions and insights, they helped the young entrepreneurs gain a deeper understanding of market demands and refine their ideas.

Young entrepreneurs from across Latvia demonstrated their skills, creativity, and ability to create sustainable and innovative products. The jury selected the best in various categories and awarded special prizes in collaboration with event supporters.

COLOURS Student Entrepreneurship Center is Opened

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:35:32 GMT

On March 7th, the COLOURS Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center was opened in the MOOMENTUM coworking space. This center offers students a place to develop their business ideas and create innovations.

To understand how the Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center should operate and what services and opportunities it should provide, it was essential to ask the students themselves – what do YOU need to start your own business?

Based on the collected information, the mission, vision, goals, and desired activities of the Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center were developed.

Strategy of the Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center

Mission
To promote student entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity by providing support for the development of business ideas and the acquisition of practical skills through collaboration with mentors, entrepreneurs, and universities.

Vision

To create a dynamic and creative environment where students acquire the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary to successfully launch and grow their businesses, becoming leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship in Latvia and beyond.

Goals

Provide students with the necessary resources to start a business – accessible workspaces, mentoring, and training.

Encourage student involvement and interest in entrepreneurship and innovation – by organizing lectures, seminars, and experience-sharing events.

Develop practical skills and competencies in entrepreneurship – by offering courses on business basics, accounting, finance, sales, and other topics.

Enable students to build connections with entrepreneurs and investors – by creating a mentor network, organizing excursions, and networking events.

Support business idea validation and prototyping – by providing access to laboratories, prototyping centers, and other resources.

Promote international cooperation and exchange of experiences – by involving ERASMUS students and collaborating with foreign partner universities.

To access the center for the first time and gain the right to operate there, students must first contact the Head of the Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, Gvido Grīnbergs, by writing to gvido.grinbergs@venta.lv to discuss their potential business ideas that they would like to validate while working in the center and to develop a timeline of tasks to be completed.

The center will be open on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM . The head of the center will be available every Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM . For other times, individual arrangements can be made.

VUAS Launches COLOURS Student Entrepreneurship Center

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:22:39 GMT

On March 7 at 16:00, the opening of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Student Entrepreneurship Center will take place at the Moomentum coworking space. The center is being established within the framework of the European university alliance COLOURS and will serve as an innovation and entrepreneurship support hub for students.

The primary goal of the Student Entrepreneurship Center is to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among alliance students, helping them create and develop business ideas. The center provides a supportive environment where students can collaborate with partners to design new products and services that address modern challenges.

On March 8, a practical workshop is planned, during which students themselves will define their needs and the type of support they would like to receive when starting a business, as well as identify what has been lacking so far. The head of the Student Entrepreneurship Center, Gvido Grīnbergs, states: "In my opinion, this center will be an excellent collaboration point between the Ventspils Business Support Center, the LIAA Ventspils branch, the Moomentum coworking space, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences students, and society as a whole."

The COLOURS alliance brings together nine international universities, uniting approximately 126,000 students, 12,300 staff members, and 54 associated partners. COLOURS offers students opportunities to participate in hackathons both in Latvia and abroad, develop mobility networks, take advantage of extensive internship opportunities, acquire micro-qualification courses for personal development, attend summer schools, and represent their university in international student forums. Additionally, the alliance aims to promote joint educational programs in research and innovation by collaborating with local businesses, thereby enhancing student, young researcher, lecturer, and administrative staff mobility among partner universities. At the same time, innovative interdisciplinary projects will strengthen international research collaboration and support both local and international entrepreneurs by sharing knowledge and technologies.

Students are welcomed to participate in International Combat Robotics Hackathon

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:42:37 GMT

As part of the European University Alliance “COLOURS”, the students of the Alliance universities are offered a great opportunity to participate in a rapid and collaborative engineering hackathon – the International Ventspils Combat Robotics Hackathon “Combat Robotics”, March 21- 23, 2025 . If any international hackathon participants wish, there is a unique opportunity to participate in an additional activity – the Latvian Robotics Championship 2025, which will also take place in Ventspils, on March 22. , welcoming robotics enthusiasts and curious spectators. Students can participate in this championship with existing robots that they bring with them.

Dream it! Make it! Test it! Share it!

Problem/ challenge to be solved in the hackathon: Make a robot for the relevant section that proves to be the best combo of performance, innovation, design and technical solutions during the hackathon.

Background to the Hackathon problem/ challenge: The CoLab event “Higher education and workforce in the Region” a very topical trend emerged from the business community and stakeholders who participated in the event – that regions need not just engineers, but engineers with creativity and initiative. Research and Development departments need innovative ideas and technological solutions to make the production process more efficient and innovative through the use of robotic technologies.

Hackathon Objective: to allow students to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired in their studies in practical projects, to promote engineering and robotics technology development, and to encourage student collaboration within the COLOURS Alliance.

Skills which will be improved: design and critical thinking, prototyping, testing, problem-solving, engineering skills, team management and communication skills.

The theme of the hackathon matches the area of regional specialization: Advanced industries, manufacturing and smart technologies, electro-mechanical industry, mechatronics and automotive, and Industry 4.0.

Over three exciting days, teams will:

Develop their combat robots;
Present their robots to a jury;
Compete in a specially designed arena with eligible robots.

Based on the “COLOURS” agreement, the prize fund for the Hackathon is up to 2500 EUR. It’s possible to receive valuable prizes from event sponsors.

Registration for the hackathon: Open until March 18, 2025 , by filling out the application form: https://forms.gle/kDraaQ157YyMdA619

The construction will take place on-site with the given materials. To successfully implement the project, you must definitely have some basic technical skills, i.e., electrical connections will be given, you must know simple soldering, the design and implementation of the case requires the ability to draw 2D or 3D simple objects for printing, laser cutting. We will try to help within our abilities, but that is why there are 3-4 people in the team (preferably with different skills) in order to successfully implement the intended project, design.

Interview with linguist and guest lecturer Aiga Veckalne

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:09:28 GMT

On February 21, UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day was celebrated. Rebeka Miksone, a journalist for the newspaper “Ventas Balss”, invited Aiga Veckalne — a journalist, translator, editor, research assistant and guest lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences who was recently honored as the first recipient of the Language Prize in Latvia — to an interview.

What does the Language Prize mean to you?

It is both a great joy and honor, as well as a significant responsibility. I work consciously and purposefully in the field of language because I believe it is essential for the Latvian language to evolve, ensuring that people can express themselves in their native tongue.

This award serves as recognition for me that my work is, hopefully, truly valuable and beneficial.

Which of these professional roles — editor, translator, or tutor — demands the most in your daily life?

I am very pleased that, through both fortunate coincidences and purposeful effort, my life has unfolded in a way that everything I do is connected to language.

Some weeks, I am more of a translator and editor, working on book projects. At other times, I focus on conducting training sessions for companies, taking on the role of a communication coach and tutor. Fridays are my student days — those are the days when I also lecture.

At Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, I work as a research assistant and guest lecturer while also pursuing my doctorate. I teach master’s students courses on translation and terminology management, as well as social media communication. Additionally, I am a guest lecturer at Rīga Stradiņš University.

Daily, I create a lot of content for my social media project Pieturzīmes , which revolves around communication and language. This allows me to switch between my various professional roles quite seamlessly.

How would you evaluate Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in comparison to other higher education institutions offering language studies?

It would certainly have been easier to comment on this when I was serving as Vice-Rector for Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Now, my opinion is more subjective.

In my view, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences holds a unique position in Latvia, as it is currently the only higher education institution offering such a wide range of programs in the field of translation. Both the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the translation are highly recognised.

The VUAS Master’s program “Translation and Terminology” is a part of the European Master’s in Translation (EMT) network, which is dedicated to excellence in translation studies. Being included in this network is a great honor and a recognition of the high-quality education provided at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, as entering this prestigious network is no easy feat.

One of the university’s key strengths is its practical approach to education. Whether in information technology, economics, translation, or intercultural communication, all programs emphasize hands-on experience. Courses are taught by tutors with extensive professional backgrounds, many of whom are actively working in their respective industries. Additionally, students have excellent internship opportunities, allowing them to immediately apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Many graduates have gone on to establish successful businesses and become well-known professionals in their fields.

Of course, it is also worth mentioning the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, which is unique not only in Latvia but in the entire Baltic region. The research conducted across all university faculties deserves high praise, as projects involving Ventspils University of Applied Sciences researchers are highly applicable and contribute significantly to their respective fields. The university’s active engagement in international cooperation is another commendable aspect.

What are the biggest challenges facing Latvian language today?

Latvian has always been influenced by other languages. In the past, German and Russian were dominant; today, English plays a major role. On the one hand, this allows us to enrich our language with new words. As new realities emerge, we need ways to describe them, and often we look to other languages for terminology.

However, what concerns me is the tendency to automatically adopt English words — sometimes simply adding a Latvian ending — instead of seeking or using existing Latvian equivalents. This can lead to the unnecessary replacement of well-established words in our language. For example, we don’t need to say spektrs, notifikācijas, implementācija , or kredibilitāte when we have perfectly good Latvian alternatives. It’s about being mindful of our language and carefully considering our word choices.

Another concern is the influence of English on sentence structure. While borrowing words is a more visible and external layer of language change, shifts in sentence structure happen gradually and are harder to notice. Once this process begins, it is likely to continue shaping the future of Latvian. For example, in many languages, the expression of necessity differs from Latvian. Under foreign influence, we increasingly write “It is necessary to do...” instead of the more natural Latvian construction “ Tas būtu jādara .”

Artificial intelligence and machine translation also present challenges, as they often produce literal translations that retain English sentence structures. Some linguists reassure me that this has always been the case — both German and Soviet-era Russian influenced Latvian syntax. Language is constantly evolving, regardless of whether we encourage or resist these changes. People sometimes ask me if this is good or bad, but that’s just how it is. Only time will show us the full picture.

As an observer, I enjoy watching how language evolves. However, we must also recognize that Latvian language is our responsibility. If we want it to thrive for another 100 or 200 years, we must actively use it in all areas of life, consciously choosing Latvian words instead of defaulting to anglicisms. Writing clearly and understandably is also crucial — not only for the language’s development but for ensuring it remains vibrant and rich. Latvian is an ancient and unique language, and we have every reason to be proud of it.

You talk a lot about simple language. As we know, expressing complex ideas in simple terms can be challenging. How can one develop this skill?

Yes, we often write in an unnecessarily complicated and verbose manner. This happens for several reasons. One is tradition — complexity was once seen as a sign of sophistication. This mindset still lingers in legal and bureaucratic language.

However, society is changing, and language cannot be viewed in isolation from these changes. A modern democratic state is meant to serve all its citizens, ensuring that everyone has the right to express themselves and access information. Yet, official communication often hinders people from exercising their rights because they simply do not understand what is written. This can lead to frustration and a sense of helplessness.

A striking example was the case of Gabriels Mutors, a young cancer patient whose family received a bureaucratic and impersonal response from the National Health Service. The reply made it feel as though he was nothing more than a statistic in an Excel spreadsheet. If we truly value respect, openness, and a willingness to help, then our written communication must reflect these principles. Otherwise, they remain empty words.

This is where simple language comes in — writing in a way that makes legal, administrative, and public texts clearer and more accessible. Another important concept is easy-to-read language, which is specifically designed for people with cognitive or developmental disabilities, visual impairments, or those who are still learning Latvian. A recent discussion about translating Surveyor’s Times (“ Mērnieku laiki ”) into simplified language sparked a debate about whether such efforts are necessary. In these discussions, we must remember the people who have long been excluded from access to information.

Inclusive language — language that avoids offense, prejudice, and discrimination — is also crucial in building a democratic and inclusive society where people feel respected, safe, and informed.

What are your thoughts on the emergence of new words in Latvian?

New words are constantly being created. In families with young children, it’s common for unique words to emerge, sometimes passed down through generations. This creativity is a natural part of language evolution.

Anyone can invent new words — even humorous ones. If we stop introducing new vocabulary, language growth will stagnate. Of course, only a fraction of new words make it into official databases and dictionaries. Professor Andrejs Veisbergs once noted that only about 10% of new words eventually become widely accepted. Many remain confined to literature, specific social groups, or family settings.

Do you see a problem in young people reading less printed literature and consuming more social media content?

I wouldn’t call it a problem — it’s simply a characteristic of the digital age. Every generation has had its own unique influences. However, what stands out today is the sheer scale of the change. Never before has Latvian been so overwhelmingly influenced by English. Many young people consume most of their content — whether reading, listening, or speaking — in English. Often, they even use English to express emotions they find difficult to articulate in Latvian. The emotional distance provided by English is interesting to observe.

English creates a certain emotional distance. We’ll see how this evolves over time. At the same time, young people are well aware of this distinction and know how to separate everyday slang and jargon from literary language — a point I’ve heard from several teachers. The findings of the new Latvian Language Agency study Youth Language in Latvia: Prestige, Skill, and Use of Latvian and English (2022–2024) further support this observation.

Which languages do you translate from?

I translate from English, Czech, and Slovak. My experience includes both popular science books such as James Nestor’s “Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art ” and Matthew Walker’s “Why We Sleep” (2nd edition) , as well as fiction.

I feel particularly connected to my translations from Slovak, such as Katarína Kucbelová’s “Čepiec” and Monika Kompaníková’s “Piata loď” .

Currently, I’m working on Jonathan Haidt’s book “ The Anxious Generation ”, which explores why Generation Z experiences such high levels of anxiety and depression — largely due to digital technology.

What brings you joy, even on difficult days?

I believe we should find reasons to smile every day. My passion for work is what motivates me — it’s a privilege to do something I truly love.

My family, friends, and meaningful conversations bring me joy. I also love traveling, reading, and constantly learning — curiosity keeps me moving forward.

Source: Newspaper “Ventas Balss”, February 21 edition

New Postdoctoral Project in Astronomy Launched at VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 07:03:54 GMT

On March 3 this year, the Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) launched a research project titled "Revealing the physical mechanism of mass ejection around young massive stars via CH3OH masers" (Project No. 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/044).

The project aims to significantly contribute to the professional development of VSRC postdoctoral researcher Art Aberfeld by enhancing his skills, establishing new academic connections, and conducting world-class fundamental research in astrophysics. The research involves working with big data and applying advanced numerical models.

The project partner is the Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari (OAC) , part of the National Institute for Astrophysics of Italy (INAF) . As part of the initiative, Art Aberfeld will participate in several extended research visits to the partner institution, acquiring new expertise. This will facilitate knowledge transfer from Italy to Latvia, bringing unprecedented competencies to the country, including:

Observing and processing radio signals at high frequencies (20–116 GHz),
Integrating and interpreting multi-frequency observations,
Developing the skills necessary for working with next-generation large-scale radio astronomy instruments.

The project will have a positive impact on the RIS3 (Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization) objectives by strengthening the information technology sector and significantly increasing the scientific capacity of the VIRAC . The scientific goal of the project is to address a fundamental question in massive star formation: how excess angular momentum is transferred from the protostellar disk to outflowing gas and jets, enabling the protostar to grow in mass.

Project Details

Total cost: EUR 192,336.00
ERDF funding: EUR 163,485.6
Planned outputs: Three high-impact scientific publications and presentations at six international scientific conferences.

The research application "Revealing the physical mechanism of mass ejection around young massive stars via CH3OH masers" (No. 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/044) is implemented within the framework of project No. 1.1.1.9/1/24/I/001 and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

This initiative is part of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme for 2021–2027 under the specific aid objective 1.1.1 “Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies”, Activity 1.1.1.9 “Postdoctoral research”.

Link to Project: https://en.venta.lv/science/projects/Revealing-the-Physical-Mechanism-of-Mass-Ejection-Around-Young-Massive-Stars

Video: Young Translators’ School 2025

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:10:25 GMT

On February 13, students and language teachers from all over Latvia gathered at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to participate in the Young Translators’ School.

More than 100 students and 40 teachers took part in the Young Translators’ School, not only from Ventspils secondary schools, but also from many other secondary schools of the Kurzeme region – Liepāja, Tukums, Grobiņa, Vaiņode, Saldus, Kuldīga, and Talsi.

Several participants of the Young Translators’ School travelled from farther Latvian cities – Rīga, Iecava, Jēkabpils, Smiltene, and even Daugavpils.

With the Mission to Preserve the Latvian Language: the Path of VUAS Researcher Aiga Bādere in Science

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:45:35 GMT

Translatology plays an important role not only in the accurate transfer of cross-lingual messages, but also in the preservation of the Latvian language in the digital age. Modern technologies, including machine translation, can affect the quality of the language, so scientists are looking for solutions to ensure the richness and accuracy of the Latvian language. The future PhD Aiga Bādere is a lecturer at the Faculty of Translation Studies of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Head of the Bachelor's Study Program “Translation and Language Technologies” and an experienced translator. ResearchLatvia , a science communication platform created by the Ministry of Education and Science, talks to the researcher whose scientific activity is dedicated to translation studies, namely the post-editing of machine-translated texts, trying to develop a methodological model specifically for the Latvian language.

Currently, A. Bādere's field of activity is quite wide – she combines academic, research work and professional activity. The research interests of the promising PhD of humanities began when she was already studying in high school: "I would say that my life path was quite logical because I was extremely fortunate to study at an outstanding high school – the Ventspils Secondary School of Music. There, I studied music theory in depth, and essentially, we were prepared as future composers or musicologists – who in a way are also scientists. Even then, we had to write extensive course papers and theses that required thorough research and analysis. I believe that it was there that the seed of interest in research was planted – the desire to delve deeper, seek answers, and understand the essence of things. Later, my professional path shifted towards translation, where analytical thinking and understanding of the nuances of language continued to develop.” After obtaining a professional master's degree in the translation of legal and business texts, she turned to doctoral studies to develop a methodological approach to the post-editing of machine-translated texts.

Translation is an extreme immersion, emphasizes A. Bādere. The text can be generated by anyone, and of course it is good if a person does it, but it can also happen without human participation. “The translator will often be the only one who will really understand and analyze the text to the last nuance. In the translation, there is no room for misunderstandings or interpretation according to the feeling –, the translator must always be clear about what is said in the text. He or she is the one who constantly asks questions, looks for precise wording and tries to reflect the author's thought as accurately as possible. Therefore, the translator is not just an intermediary between languages – it is a professional who digs into, analyzes and creates a clear understanding of the text.

Translation is about understanding, accuracy and responsibility,” the humanities researcher admits.

New Opportunities in the Field of Language Technology

Post-editing and turning to translatology closely resonated with what Aiga was already doing as a freelance translator. Today, it is no longer just a translation and editing job, but also a machine translation job, which was a relatively new solution a couple of years ago. “When I was looking for a topic for my second master's thesis, in a conversation with colleagues of the company “Tilde”, we had the idea to focus on the post-editing process –, it was a novelty that developed rapidly. Companies already used it, but each according to their own discretion and regulations. This aroused interest in exploring what is really happening in post-editing and how this process is organized in different environments ,” comments Aiga.

Post-editing is understood to mean the processing of machine translated output. “Today, machine translation tools such as “Google Translate” and “DeepL Translator” can translate texts with high accuracy, however, Latvian is a very complex language, also morphologically rich. Neural machine translation in 2015 marked a turning point by providing a machine translation that could really be used in practical work. Until then, machine translations were often too inaccurate and required substantial manual correction, but with the development of neural machine translation, they became more understandable and of better quality. This opened up new opportunities in the field of language technology and rapidly changed the everyday life of both translators and post-editors, explains A. Bādere, lecturer and researcher at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

The research work of the future PhD is important for both translators and language technology developers: “This is the first fundamental study on the post-editing of the Latvian language – this is my contribution so that not only industry professionals, but also society can better understand the impact of machine translation on the language.

Currently, there is a demand from translation companies, including, for example, the Latvian Association of Interpreters and Translators, has invited me to conduct the seminar. This means that the industry has questions about how to better work with machine translation.”

Machine translation tools currently offer texts that are good enough to be used, but not always of high quality. Therefore, the Latvian language is flooded with texts that retain syntactic structures that are not natural for the Latvian language but are more or less adopted from the source text – mainly from the English language. For this reason, in the context of machine translation and post-editing, there is a great deal of talk about language impoverishment.

TTo make the machine better understand the language, the text can be pre-edited, which means standardizing and simplifying it. As a result, language loses diversity – often abandons synonyms, the richness of language expression decreases, and there is a tendency to use uniform formulations.

“If I manage to adapt this model to the Latvian language in such a way that translators can work according to international standards – clearly knowing what is considered a good translation and what needs to be corrected, – it could help preserve the quality of the Latvian language while taking advantage of technology,” says A. Bādere.

The Mission to Preserve the Latvian Language

Aiga participates in the work of the Information Technology, Telecommunications and Electronics Terminology Subcommittee of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, where Latvian language terms are developed and clarified. She emphasizes that in the age of digitization it is essential not to allow language impoverishment: “Machine translation tools often offer acceptable but language richness-losing solutions. Therefore, it is important not to allow the translated texts to lose their naturalness and accuracy, as this will affect the Latvian language as a whole in the long term. The main purpose of machine translation is to speed up work and make information more accessible. However, if we look more broadly at the future of the Latvian language, then its development and adaptation to new technologies is a benefit not only for the industry, but also for society as a whole. Effective machine translation tools allow the Latvian language to maintain its place in the digital environment, promote its usability and ensure that the language develops along with technologies.”

“This topic appealed to me because I realized that machine translation is a distinctly interdisciplinary field. On the one hand, it is related to linguistics and translation studies, and on the other hand, to computer science. When I started researching what has been studied in the Latvian language in this field, I had to face a sharp realization – practically nothing. There are some doctoral theses on machine translation, but their authors are computer scientists who focus on the development and improvement of systems. However, practical users – linguists and translators, also humanities researchers – have not looked from this point of view so far. There have been a few publications, and the first to start writing on the subject were individual translation companies who shared their experiences on their blogs.

However, at the scientific level, this topic has not actually been studied among Latvian linguists and translation scientists so far. Therefore, this thesis is the first fundamental study that addresses machine translation from a humanities perspective. However, it must be admitted that one of the biggest difficulties is the rapid development of the industry – both machine translation and translation in general are constantly changing.

For example, large language models were not yet talked about as something relevant in 2021. At that time, there were only a few doctoral theses in Europe about post-editing – in Finland, Italy, Spain. “As soon as I handed over my draft thesis, after a week I saw a post that there was another new study – just as one colleague from Greece had defended her doctoral thesis on post-editing. However, the uniqueness of my work is that it focuses on the Latvian language – in this context, so far no one else has studied the processes of machine translation and post-editing,” notes researcher A. Bādere.

The researcher has a strong sense of mission – her work is a solution for the Latvian language, and Aiga will be really happy if it is useful for everyone, because there are not so many Latvian language users. She has two doctoral supervisors – one linguist, the other – computer scientist. It should be noted that the number of Latvian language researchers is limited. Our language resources are not comparable to those available in English or other large languages. Therefore, the Latvian language is classified as a low-resource language. Everything depends on how accessible the Latvian language will be in the digital environment. If with my work I can contribute a little to its development and sustainability, then I believe that this is already an important achievement,” says Aiga.

The Role of Digital Technologies in Strengthening the Latvian Language

As is known, there are also many languages that are not available digitally at all. Speaking of language development, a significant benefit is the local company “Tilde” , one of the leading language technology companies in Europe.

A. Bādere outlines future possibilities: “Everything indicates that the availability of the Latvian language in the digital environment will only continue to strengthen.

If it is possible to develop a large language model for the Latvian language, and, as I understand, active work is currently underway on this, it will be another significant step in the development of our language. However, there are things we cannot influence, such as the demographic situation. If the number of Latvians continues to decline, the future picture of the language becomes considerably more bleak. Therefore, it is especially important to use technology to keep the Latvian language alive and active.”

“We have participated in various conferences, including international ones, where the Latvian language is discussed in a broader context. For example, I participated in training in the Czech Republic, where human-machine interaction in language was examined. It was very interesting to understand that, for example, in Greece and Poland, machine translation tools encounter similar problems as in Latvian. The difficulties we face are not unique – each language has its own peculiarities, but there are also common features,” notes the humanities researcher.

As Aiga recalls, one of the machine translation tool developers once said: "We have never said that machine translation tools will replace translators." This is said by marketing specialists, and it is indeed so. The translator's profession will not disappear – it changes and develops, as it has always been. Those who can adapt and develop their skills will continue to shape the future of the industry and raise the prestige of the translator. Human translation will always be the quality benchmark against which the performance of machine translation is measured. Everyday work shows that the demand for professional translation will not decrease.

“I really hope that my column on how we, together with the students, managed to master language technology will be published in the next “Domuzīme” magazine. This topic is closely related to the level of education and knowledge in society, including among adults. In this context, I want to emphasize the importance of teachers. Recently, the New Translators' School ended at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, which was attended by language teachers from all over Latvia. Such events help to understand what translation means and how language technologies are developing, thus promoting both teachers' and their students' understanding of the industry.

In addition to academic work, Aiga leads lectures and seminars, encouraging students to pursue science and language technologies. She believes that the translator's profession will not disappear, but will develop: “ The translator will always be the one who ensures accuracy and language quality, which is necessary in any era. ”

The Potential of Translation Studies

The Faculty of Translation Studies at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is unique because it is possible to specialize in translation studies there. Looking at the topics of the doctoral theses of experienced colleagues, there is a clear presence of comparative linguistics, or linguistics that compares two languages, which we can also call translation studies. In such a comprehensive way as at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, where it is possible to obtain both translator and interpreter qualifications, this field is not represented elsewhere in Latvia, and this makes the faculty unique. Currently, more than ten researchers work there, creating a strong academic environment and promoting the development of the industry both in Latvia and internationally.

“I am truly grateful to my colleagues who have accepted and supported me as a new team member. I especially appreciate that many of them who have themselves gone through the process of writing a doctoral thesis know what it is like. Therefore, the occasional question from colleagues about my progress is not only pleasant but also encouraging. Of course, balance is important in life, and you need to find time for hobbies. For me, it is choral singing – without it, I couldn't imagine my daily life.”

When asked what set of qualities a future researcher should possess, Aiga says: As I tell my students, doctoral studies are definitely not and should not be a choice based on the principle of 'nothing to do, well, maybe I should continue'.

To become a scientist, it is important to be aware that one must have a clear understanding that one will be able to work, research, examine, and very carefully analyze the information around them.”

In her opinion, these are the most important indicators by which a student can be encouraged to pursue an academic and research career. I would like to say that a researcher is still a way of life. There must be a calling, also a sense of mission, especially regarding the Latvian language, continues the researcher.

A. Bādere emphasizes that translation is not just transferring words from one language to another – it is a complex and multi-layered intellectual activity: “A translator works not only with text, but also with context, meaning, cultural differences, and messages. A machine can facilitate the process, but only a human can ensure true understanding and quality.”

Aiga dedicates a special message to those who have completed doctoral studies but have not yet fully developed or defended their work, urging them to do so: “Even if motivation seems lost, remember that each contribution strengthens Latvian science, and this is especially significant in the context of linguistics and the Latvian language.

It is important for us to be able to speak and write about science in Latvian, because if we – Latvians – do not do it, no one else will. Therefore, I want to encourage researchers from other fields to talk about their research in Latvian. So that society sees and understands that science is not distant and incomprehensible, but significant and usable in our daily lives.”

Speaking of sources of strength, Aiga mentions that she draws inspiration for her scientific work from both her colleagues and the Latvian Association of Young Researchers , where she exchanges experiences with other young researchers: “I participated in the summer school last year, and it was a very pleasant and inspiring experience because I met like-minded people there, even though most of the participants were from the exact sciences. I was particularly touched by a statement from a young Latvian researcher. She works at a scientific institute abroad and acknowledged how pleasant it is to hear science being discussed in Latvian. This deeply moved me, as it confirmed how important it is to preserve and develop our native language .”

As a very good example of science communication in linguistics, Aiga mentions her colleague and doctoral student Aiga Veckalne, who explains various language issues in the podcast “Pieturzīmes” and invites both experienced and young researchers, as well as other professionals in the field, to share their knowledge . “I myself have spoken quite a lot about post-editing and machine translation, addressing a wide target audience – from schoolchildren and students to conference participants and language professionals,” comments A. Bādere.

“My words of advice to completely new students and aspiring researchers who are still considering their academic path – do not be afraid! In Latvia, we might be alone in our chosen research direction, but the rest of Europe and the world are just a few clicks away. It is possible to find supportive like-minded individuals, build collaboration, and strengthen our field on an international scale. ”

Researcher Aiga Bādere's work is a vivid proof that science and technology can collaborate to ensure the sustainability and quality of the Latvian language in the digital environment. Her goal is clear – to strengthen language usage.

About the article series "Experiences of Latvian Scientists"

A perspective created by the Ministry of Education and Science communication platform researchLatvia on the work paths of Latvian researchers, promoting a deeper understanding of science's role in society and creating dialogue between scientists and the broader public.

These stories invite both existing and aspiring researchers, as well as society as a whole, to get to know the achievements of Latvian science and draw inspiration and motivation from the experiences of those who have linked their careers with scientific work.

Interviews are being carried out within the framework of project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001 "More Effective and Smarter Implementation and Management of Latvian Science Policy".

Colours will be introduced in The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Event

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:53:40 GMT

The Kurzeme regional branch of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), in collaboration with the European Business Support Network, the Latvian Digital Accelerator, the Ventspils City Municipality Council, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, the Kurzeme Planning Region, Ventspils High Technology Park, and SIA “EnterDigital,” is organizing a Business Club event titled “Digitalization and Funding Opportunities” on February 26, from 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM in Ventspils.

Kristiāna Balode will present information about Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the COLOURS European University Alliance. She will deliver a presentation titled "Opportunities Provided by European Universities for the Business Environment in Kurzeme."

Nowadays, digitalization is not just a technological trend—it is a necessity for businesses aiming to be competitive, efficient, and innovative. In response to the interest expressed by entrepreneurs, the LCCI Kurzeme regional branch is organizing the Business Club event focusing on the development of digitalization and the available funding opportunities for businesses.

At the LTRK Kurzeme Business Club event, experts will discuss the importance of digital transformation in business, its impact on competitiveness, and the available support mechanisms for companies. There will also be a discussion on the significance of digitalization for business development, highlighting both opportunities and challenges related to digital transformation. Participants will share their experiences, provide practical advice and recommendations on how businesses can successfully leverage available support mechanisms and solutions to overcome digital transformation challenges and enhance their operations.

As part of the Business Club event, participants will also have the opportunity to join a study visit organized by the European Business Support Network to the company SIA “Bio-Venta”. They will learn about the company's operations and experience in international markets, including its export and development strategies. Additionally, participants will explore the digital solutions implemented by the company to improve efficiency and competitiveness. Special attention will be given to innovative solutions and technologies used in daily operations, as well as sustainable development principles and initiatives that help reduce environmental impact and promote efficient resource utilization.

Participation in the Business Club event is free of charge with prior registration by February 24, 2025.

Registration and the event program are available here: https://ej.uz/KurzemesBiznesaKlubs_februaris

This event is co-financed by the European Union project "Latvian Digital Accelerator" DAoL, ID No. 101083718, and the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility ID No. 2.2.1.1.i.0/1/23/I/CFLA/002.

Funded by the European Union and the European Union - NextGenerationEU. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission is responsible for them.

Lara's Erasmus+ internship experience at Tartu Observatory

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

In the summer of 2024, Lara, a student of the bachelor's program in Computer Science, had the opportunity to embark on a life-changing experience – an internship at the Tartu Observatory in Estonia. This was her first professional experience, and although she was nervous at first, she soon discovered how exciting and inspiring working in the field of space technology can be.

During the summer of 2024, I embarked on a life-changing adventure: an internship at the Tartu Observatory in Estonia. Before leaving Latvia, I was filled with anxiety. I had no prior work experience and had never set foot in Estonia. However, as soon as I arrived in Tartu, my fears melted away. The city welcomed me with its charm and lively spirit, and I quickly felt at home, enchanted by every street and corner.

At the Observatory, I joined the KuupKulgur team, a group of dedicated students working on Estonia's first lunar rover. My role was to develop the Mission Control System (MCI) for Kuup, an application designed to remotely control and monitor the rover's sensors, camera, and battery. Through the MCI, users can locomote the rover from anywhere in the world, as long as they're connected to the right network. The Observatory's underground moon analogue environment provided a perfect testing ground, where I could see the rover in action through live camera feeds and data displays.

The internship was challenging, especially as I had to learn new concepts like the Robot Operating System (ROS). But with the support of an incredible team and supervisors, I not only overcame these challenges but grew tremendously as a Software Developer. By the end of the internship, I had successfully deployed the first version of the MCI. Seeing my work come to life and knowing it would be useful to others filled me with a deep sense of accomplishment and gratitude.

By the end of August, I had fallen in love with Space Technology, so much so that I decided to focus my bachelor's thesis on the KuupKulgur MCI project. This experience has not only shaped my career but has also given me a renewed sense of purpose and passion.

I am deeply grateful to Saimoon and Andres, my exceptional supervisors, and to all the KuupKulgur team members who welcomed me with open arms. I also extend my thanks to Ventspils Augstskola for granting me this incredible opportunity. This internship was truly transformative—it gave me direction, inspiration, and happiness I had never known before.

Lara's Erasmus+ Internship Experience at Tartu Observatory

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:22:17 GMT

In the summer of 2024, Lara, a bachelor’s student in the “Computer Science” study programme, had the opportunity to embark on a life-changing journey – an internship at the Tartu Observatory in Estonia. This was her first professional experience. Initially, she felt nervous, but she soon discovered how exciting and inspiring working in the field of space technology could be.

Lara shares:

“In the summer of 2024, I embarked on a life-changing adventure – an internship at the Tartu Observatory in Estonia. Before leaving Latvia, I was filled with anxiety. I had no prior work experience and had never been to Estonia. But as soon as I arrived in Tartu, my fears disappeared. The city welcomed me with its charm and liveliness, and I quickly felt at home, enchanted by every street.

At the observatory, I joined the KuupKulgur team – a group of enthusiastic students working on Estonia’s first Moon rover. My task was to develop the Kuup Mission Control Interface (MCI), an application designed for remotely operating the rover and monitoring its sensors, camera, and battery. With the help of MCI, users can control the rover from anywhere in the world, as long as they are connected to the appropriate network. The observatory's underground lunar analogue environment provided the perfect testing platform, allowing me to observe the rover in action through live camera feeds and data visualisation.

The internship was challenging, as I had to learn new concepts such as the Robot Operating System (ROS). However, thanks to the incredibly supportive team and supervisors, I not only overcame these challenges but also grew significantly as a software developer. By the end of the internship, I successfully deployed the first version of the MCI. Seeing my work in action and knowing it would be helpful to others filled me with a deep sense of accomplishment and gratitude.

By the end of August, I had become so enamoured with space technology that I decided to dedicate my bachelor's thesis to the KuupKulgur MCI project. This experience not only launched my career but also gave me a new purpose and passion in life.

I sincerely thank Saimon and Andres, my outstanding supervisors, as well as every member of the KuupKulgur team for warmly welcoming me. I also express my gratitude to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences for this incredible opportunity. This internship truly changed my life – it gave me direction, inspiration, and a happiness I had never felt before.”

FTS Researchers Participate in International Conference

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 06:57:19 GMT

On February 20–21, 2025, six researchers from the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the international scientific conference From the First Book to Digital Texts: The Development of Language in 500 Years , organized in Riga by the Institute of the Latvian Language and Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia. Over two intensive and content-rich days, the conference addressed a wide range of topics related to both the history of the Latvian language and current linguistic research.

Associate Professor Silga Sviķe , in collaboration with Dr. Arturs Stalažs (University of Latvia) and Lecturer Karina Šķirmante (Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Information Technologies), presented a paper entitled ‘ Biolexipedia’: Smart complex of information systems of specialized biology lexis for the research and preservation of linguistic diversity .

Dr. philol. Rafael Martin Calvo gave a presentation titled An Analysis of the Terms Oriģinālforma and Oriģinālvaloda in Cabinet Regulation No. 114.

Dr. philol. Egita Proveja examined Latvian cookbooks through different historical periods in her paper.

Associate Professor Jānis Veckrācis presented his research. The research examines how legal language — specifically, specialized legal vocabulary — was used in Latvian translations of laws that applied to peasants in Vidzeme (a region in Latvia) between 1850 and 1899.

In connection with her ongoing doctoral research, Aiga Veckalne’s presentation explores the role of plain (easy-to-understand) language in the modern digital era, especially as a strategy to support the long-term vitality and accessibility of the Latvian language.

Aiga Bādere , whose doctoral dissertation is nearing completion, explored the linguistic characteristics of texts produced by machine translation systems and the language resulting from human post-editing of those texts.

Purchase for the radio telescope RT-32 mirror surface adjustment service is planned

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 18:09:29 GMT

To increase the reception efficiency of the VIRAC radio telescope RT-32 and the accuracy of the received information, within the project it is planned to adjust the surface of the mirror, which will include the adjustment of each mirror surface fragment to the total surface. The surface of the mirror of the radio telescope consists of several plates, each of which can be adjusted in relation to the total surface, or simply put, the screws on the plates can be tightened or loosened, thus changing their position.

Within the project, technical specifications are currently prepared and, in early October, it is planned to announce an open tender for the purchase of RT-32 mirror surface adjustment service. The purchase will also include a microwave holography device to measure the accuracy of the mirror surface before adjusting the mirror surface, as well as later to use this device for the analysis of mirror surface deviations.

Following the service, the reception efficiency of the radio telescope and the accuracy of the information received are expected to improve, and such a surface will allow observations over a much wider frequency range, which means more opportunities to participate in radio astronomical observations in both EVN and single antenna modes.

Analysis of electromagnetic interference impact on radio astronomical observations

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:45:29 GMT

Radio astronomy is a fundamental science, which studies the near and far universe. Many cosmic phenomena produce electromagnetic radiation that can only be detected by large radio antennas, even though huge amounts of energy are sometimes emitted, due to strong attenuation of signals caused by immense distances to the astronomical objects. Therefore, the received power of signals emitted by cosmological objects is often many orders of magnitude weaker than that of artificial sources in the environment of a telescope. One illustrative example was the detection of the MASER emission from a cloud of water vapour at 11 109 lyr = 1023 km distance from Earth. To receive the signal with strength of about 2 mJy = -287 dB[Wm-2 Hz-1] it required 14 hours of observation of the source MGJ0414+0543 with a 100-m radio telescope.

Radio astronomical observatories utilize large aperture radio telescopes like RT-16 and RT-32 very often equipped with cryogenically cooled low-noise amplifiers or arrays with sometimes hundreds or thousands of smaller antennas like LOFAR-LATVIA HBA and LBA antenna fields. In combination with ultra-stable electronics, which allows to integrate the incoming signal for several hours in order to decrease the effective noise level, this leads to the enormous sensitivities necessary for detecting weak signals from the universe. Furthermore, a large variety of radio frequency interference (RFI) detection and mitigation techniques have been developed in the past two decades, from hardware-based solutions (e.g. superconducting filters) to real-time digital processing and convolutional neural networks.

Yet, even today the most effective interference mitigation is to ensure that harmful artificial signals are prevented from entering the telescope system in the first place. This is the aim of spectrum management for radio astronomy.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in particular its radio-communication sector (ITU-R), acknowledged the importance of the radio astronomy service (RAS) already many decades ago in 1959 (Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies 2005). Protection criteria has been formulated to ensure that some of the frequency bands that are of highest importance to radio astronomy are kept free from RFI. As an example, one of the most important spectral lines for radio astronomy is the 21-cm transition of neutral atomic hydrogen (Hi) having a rest frequency of 1420.4 MHz. To guarantee interference-free measurements of Hi, no man-made emission is permitted in the frequency range between 1400 and 1427 MHz. This and other rules are part of the radio regulations by the ITU-R. Furthermore, a methodology to calculate limits on received interference is described in the recommendation ITU-R Rec. RA.769, 2003a, which is intended to guarantee a certain minimum quality of the recorded data for astronomers. The governments and administrations of all nations that are represented in the ITU-R have agreed to implement the rules and procedures decided by ITU-R bodies into their national law.

Emissions from Wind Turbines.

Harvesting wind energy is one of the few sustainable ways to generate energy with a low CO2 footprint. Considering the challenges and threats imposed by global climate change, all efforts to utilize renewable energy sources deserve our support.

Wind turbines (WT), as all other industrial devices in the vicinity of a radio telescope, have a potential of interference for astronomical observations. Therefore, coordination is needed to guarantee a beneficial coexistence between radio astronomy and societies interest in wind power utilization.

Figure 2. Radio Interference scenario between antenna and wind turbine.

In terms of electromagnetic interference (EMI) regulations, wind turbines count as industrial devices (Group 1, Class A), which are required to conform to the EN550011 (also known as CISPR-11) standard [4]: the electrical field strength measured at a distance of 30 m with a quasi-peak (QP) detector having a bandwidth of 120 kHz must not exceed 30 dBµV/m below 230 MHz or 37 dBµV/m between 230 MHz and 1 GHz. (Here we are using the CISPR-11 specification for the appropriate bands C and D, 30 MHz−1000 MHz.)

In addition to their main power generators and conversion equipment the wind power generators may also use computerised and networked control and telemetry equipment that may be covered by e.g. the recommendations provided in Recommendation ITU-R SM.329-12.

Theoretically, according to Recommendation ITU-R RA.769-2 the maximum acceptable interference spectrum-power-flux-density (pfd) is -253 dB(W/(Hz.m2)) for the radio-astronomy band near 611 MHz and -255 dB(W/(Hz.m2)) for the radio-astronomy band near 1413 MHz. Since the radio telescope is never pointed directly towards a wind turbine, interferences from all sources on the ground are received through side lobes of the antenna for which a gain of 0 dBi is assumed. The required path loss between wind turbine and radio telescope would be 130 dB for the radio-astronomy band near 611 MHz and 135 dB for the radio-astronomy band near 1413 MHz. Taking into account the terrain and the propagation model of Recommendation ITU-R P.452, the resulting geographical protection distances around the Radio Telescope depending on the terrain properties would be between 7 and 25 km for an assumed hub-height of 140 m .

To estimate WT influence on the radio observations, during the years 2015 and 2016 the radio monitoring services of Munich and Constance of the Federal Network Agency, Germany, performed measurements of electromagnetic radiation at some types of modern three-bladed wind energy plants which are deployed on-shore in Germany. The towers are in pipe construction with hub-heights between 134 and 140 m. The rotor-diameters ranged from 80 to 130 m. The nominal powers were 2.3 MW, 2.4 MW and 3.3 MW.

The physical measurements yielded the following main findings:

▪ The radiation levels of the measured wind turbines would be well below the limits specified in DIN EN 55011 (up to 1 GHz). They were 25 dB to 31 dB below the limits;

▪ The protection areas towards wind turbines necessary to ensure interference-free radio astronomical measurements are much lower than assumed in a worst case scenario based on exploiting the EMC limits in full.

Special attention is drawn to the fact that, especially at 1413 MHz, measurements were only carried out on three wind turbines, although these models are currently the ones most commonly used. The extremely low radiation levels measured at 1413 MHz are not legally binding for manufacturers and operators of wind turbines and should not be assumed to apply to all installed turbines. Yet the measurements do show that interference levels well below the limits in DIN EN 55011 are achievable with state-of-the-art technology and without additional efforts to suppress spurious radiation.

At a distance from WT of 200 m, the received interference power levels of the measured wind turbines were far below the noise levels from other sources (incl. man made noises) that have to be tolerated by telescope operators even today. However, most of the natural and background noise contributions are approximately white and can be effectively reduced by long integration times. As such, the study constitutes a worst-case scenario based on the assumption that, owing to its spectral characteristics, the interference from wind turbines cannot be eliminated during measurements whereas other noise levels can be.

The ASTRON engenders and system astronomers together with the Dutch regulatory agency (AT) made calculations and simulations about the effect of EMI and reflections on the LOFAR core (24 stations) from windfarm at the distance 5 – 10 km consisting from 24 WT. The limit accepted by ASTRON in the covenant is 35 dB below the EN55011 limit of 50 dBuV/m at 10 meters distance, at 100m height, measured in 120kHz BW with RMS detector. The most problematic LOFAR science is Epoch of Reionization with 2000 +hours of observations and slow pulsar research. During the two-week measurement campaign in Sept 2019 researchers found reflection from the blades at DAB frequencies transmitted from Denmark, of course, direct DAB signal from transmitter was stronger. It was very hard to measure levels below 15 dBuV/m and could only be done with LOFAR itself. But Wind Turbine manufacturers succeeded to build this windmill from scratch below the defined EMC limit. When the windmill is idle the level is even 0 dBuV/m.

For remote or ILT stations like Irbene LV614 a 2 km radius should be enough, where people have to inform about the plans to build WT or solar plants. At the distance about 20km from the LOFAR field, the attenuation due to distance and terrain are even with 50dBuV/m more than sufficient to bring it to below the noise in the received signals.

The direct path is always stronger than the reflected path, it means EMI signals are already present in the band. So this gives confidence that standard wind turbines have sufficiently low EMI for a single remote or international LOFAR station.

References:

❏ Winkel, B. and Jessner, A., “Compatibility Between Wind Turbines and the Radio Astronomy Service”, Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation, vol. 8, no. 1, 2019. doi:10.1142/S2251171719400026. https://arxiv.org/abs/1812.04731

❏ S&T Final Report “Measuring the EMI radiation with Lofar at the test turbine at location DEE-2.1 - Windpark De Drentse Monden en Oostermoer”. Reference: ST-WDMO-WTEM-REP-005, Version: 1.2 Date: 19 Nov 2019. https://www.rvo.nl/sites/default/files/2020/01/Bijlage_1_EM_Testing_Eindrapport_deel_1.pdf

❏ ECC Report 321 “Radio frequency test methods, tools and test results for wind turbines in relation to the Radio Astronomy Service”. Approved 2 October 2020 https://docdb.cept.org/download/0ccdddf8-5803/ECC%20Report%20321.pdf

❏ “I-LOFAR, Radio Astronomy and Radio Frequency Interference”. A submission, dated 27th Sept. 2019, made on behalf of the I-LOFAR Consortium to Offaly County Council in relation to the Offaly County Development plan 2021-2027. https://www.offaly.ie/eng/Services/Planning/County-Development-Plan-2021-2027/Stage-1-Pre-Draft/CDP-PD40-ILOFAR-Consortium.pdf

❏ Private discussions with Mr. Menno Norden, systems engineer at the department Astronomy and Operations (A&0) at ASTRON and with Mr. Waleed Madkour, CRAF Frequency Manager at JIVE-ERIC.

Invitation to Participate in the LTRK Event “Digitalisation and Funding Opportunities”

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:53 GMT

The Kurzeme Regional Division of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LTRK), in collaboration with the Enterprise Europe Network, the Latvian Digital Accelerator, the Ventspils State City Municipality Council, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, the Kurzeme Planning Region, the Ventspils High Technology Park, and SIA “EnterDigital,” is organizing a Business Club event titled “Digitalisation and Funding Opportunities.” The event will take place on February 26 from 12:30 to 17:30 in Ventspils.

In today’s world, digitalisation is not just a technological trend—it is a necessity for businesses striving to be competitive, efficient, and innovative. In response to growing interest from entrepreneurs, the LTRK Kurzeme division is hosting this Business Club event to focus on digital transformation and the available financial support mechanisms for entrepreneurship.

At the event, experts will discuss the importance of digital transformation in business, its impact on competitiveness, and the various types of support available to companies. A panel discussion will also explore the role of digitalisation in driving business growth, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation. Participants will share their experiences and offer practical advice on how companies can effectively leverage support mechanisms and solutions to navigate digital transitions and enhance their operations.

As part of the Business Club event, participants will also have the opportunity to join a study visit organized by the Enterprise Europe Network to the company SIA “Bio-Venta”, where they will learn about the company’s operations and its experience in international markets, as well as export and development strategies. Attendees will also learn about the digital solutions implemented by the company to enhance efficiency and competitiveness, with a special focus on innovative technologies and sustainability efforts that reduce environmental impact and promote resource efficiency.

Participation in the Business Club is free of charge, but registration is required by February 24, 2025.Register and view the event programme here: https://ej.uz/KurzemesBiznesaKlubs_februaris

This event is co-funded by the European Union project “Latvian Digital Accelerator” (DAoL, ID No. 101083718) and the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility (ID No. 2.2.1.1.i.0/1/23/I/CFLA/002).

Funded by the European Union and the European Union - NextGenerationEU. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.

Prepared by:
Aija Seržante
Public Relations Specialist
Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Kr. Valdemāra iela 35, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia
M. +371 29385117
aija.serzante@ltrk.lv

Translation Studies Students Receive Recognition for Participation in the Project “Terminology Without Borders”

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:35:18 GMT

Since 2022 students of the bachelor’s and master’s Translation Programs at the Faculty of Translation Studies, under the guidance of Associate Professor Dr. philol. Silga Sviķe have been participating in the international academic cooperation project “Terminology Without Borders”.

At the end of last year, the Terminology Coordination Department of the European Parliament’s Directorate-General for Translation (DG TRAD) received a carefully prepared terminology table from the students – a collection of 224 environmental domain terminology entries in English-Latvian. This practice-based work with terminology allowed students to practically apply the theoretical knowledge and skills acquired in the terminology course by participating in this international project on terminology development. Each student was required to prepare a full entry for 10 English environmental terms, conducting a thorough term analysis, selecting precise Latvian equivalents, definitions, and contextual examples with references. All prepared materials were compiled into a large Excel table, and the developed material will serve as the basis for the development of entries in the European interactive terminology database, IATE (“Interactive Terminology of Europe”).

Regarding the contribution of students and the instructor to this terminology project, the Terminology Coordination Department sent certificates signed by the department head, Hilary Lavelle, praising the achievements of our students and instructor. The Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies, Associate Professor Dr. philol. Jānis Veckrācis, ceremoniously awarded the certificates to all 19 Translation and Language Technology bachelor’s students in their third year and to instructor Silga Sviķe. The recognition received is a significant achievement, confirming the contribution of our students and instructors to the development of Latvian terminology in IATE and the enrichment of the database.

Young Translators’ School Brings Together Students and Teachers from Across Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:09:32 GMT

On February 13, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted the Young Translators’ School (JTS), an event that brought together over 100 students and 40 language teachers from various regions of Latvia for a day dedicated to learning, collaboration, and professional growth.

Participants represented not only high schools in Ventspils but also several from the Kurzeme region, including Liepāja, Tukums, Grobiņa, Vaiņode, Saldus, Kuldīga, and Talsi. In addition, attendees traveled from more distant cities such as Riga, Iecava, Jēkabpils, Smiltene, and Daugavpils.

Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops, learn about the field of translation studies, and gain insights into university life. These sessions, led by current students from the Faculty of Translation Studies, offered a firsthand perspective on academic programs, the learning environment, and campus facilities.

For teachers, the event served as a valuable opportunity for professional development. It featured discussions on current trends in language education and provided a platform to address the challenges educators face in their daily work, encouraging knowledge-sharing and cooperation among colleagues from different parts of the country.

The Young Translators’ School is organized by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the Ventspils Education Board and is supported by the Ventspils Municipality.

Translation Students Receive Recognition for Participation in the Project “Terminology Without Borders”

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 07:07:17 GMT

Students of the Bachelor’s and Master’s Translation Programs at the Faculty of Translation Studies since 2022 under the guidance of Associate Professor Dr. philol. Silga Sviķe have been participating in the international academic cooperation project “Terminology Without Borders”. At the end of last year, the Terminology Coordination Department of the European Parliament’s Directorate-General for Translation (EP TGD) received a carefully prepared terminology table from the students — a collection of 224 environmental domain terminology entries in English-Latvian. This practice-based work with terminology allowed students to practically apply the theoretical knowledge and skills acquired in the terminology course by participating in this international project on terminology development. Each student was required to prepare a full entry for 10 English environmental terms, conducting a thorough term analysis, selecting precise Latvian equivalents, definitions, and contextual examples with references. All prepared materials were compiled into a large Excel table, and the developed material will serve as the basis for the development of entries in the European interactive terminology database, IATE (“Interactive Terminology of Europe”).

Business Management Students Participate in Winter School in Belgium

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:24:29 GMT

From February 3 to 7, a Winter School was held at the Antwerp Winter University in Belgium, bringing together 58 students from over 10 countries. Among them, there were 3 students from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, who immersed themselves in inspiring lectures and gained an introduction to maritime transport and logistics solutions.

Throughout the educational event, students explored topics such as food law and European solidarity by working on practical case studies, engaging in discussions with guest lecturers from around the world, and visiting the Port of Antwerp and policymakers in Brussels. Although the days were packed with activities, students found the energy and enthusiasm to fully participate in all events and connect with their peers, fostering international collaboration.

Amanda Gintere, a student in the professional bachelor’s study programme “Business Management”, shared her experience at the Antwerp Winter University:

“I chose the theme of sustainable transport and logistics. Over the five days, we attended lectures on logistics-related topics, analyzing both failures and success stories. I appreciated the opportunity to gain experience working both independently and in teams. We actively took part in discussions and developed projects, proposing ideas for improving various systems and solving problems. Collaborating with international lecturers and students, as well as learning about innovations, will stay with me for a long time. An interesting fact is that the organizer of this Winter University is a Latvian who used to study at VUAS and has been living in Belgium for 15 years.”

Irina Sačko, also a student in the “Business Management” professional bachelor’s programme, added:

“The trip and studies in Antwerp were very educational. Although the topics were challenging, the professors’ approach—giving us the chance to study independently and share our knowledge in group work—allowed for real growth. The city itself also amazed me with its diversity and numerous historical buildings. If I get the chance to return to Antwerp to study or just relax, I’ll definitely take it!”

Start-up Management Students – Part of the TechChill Team

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:14:58 GMT

TechChill is an annual technology and startup conference that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and tech enthusiasts to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities in the tech industry. Students and graduates of the “Start-up Management” study program actively participate in this conference—some as part of the event planning team, team leaders, and volunteers.

From February 5 to 7, students had the opportunity to attend the conference, meet other startup representatives, discuss their ideas with industry leaders and investors, and hear presentations from various speakers. A total of 25 students, alumni, and mentors from the study program took part in the event. Two current students and two alumnae were part of the TechChill organizing team, while two other students led volunteer teams of 25 people each.

The director of the “Start-up Management” program, Āris Birze, participated in TechChill as both a moderator and a speaker. He also led a meditation session, emphasizing its importance for both leaders and entrepreneurs.

The Young Translators’ School 2025 attracted teachers and students from all over Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 07:15:07 GMT

On February 13, students and language teachers from all over Latvia gathered at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to participate in the Young Translators’ School.

More than 100 students and 40 teachers participated in the Young Translators School, not only from Ventspils secondary schools, but also from other secondary schools of the Kurzeme region – Liepāja, Tukums, Grobiņa, Vaiņode, Saldus, Kuldīga, and Talsi were represented. Several participants travelled from further Latvian cities – Riga, Iecava, Jēkabpils, Smiltene, and even Daugavpils.

Within the framework of the JTS, students had the opportunity to participate in various classes, learn from students of the Faculty of Translation Studies about the study process and the daily life of a student, as well as get to enjoy a guided tour through the University premises. For the teachers, this was a day of professional development by finding out the tendencies of language teaching by discussing the challenges in their daily work with students.

The Young Translators’ School is an annual tradition implemented by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Ventspils Education Board, thanks to the support of the Ventspils Municipality.

VIRAC Specialists Return from JIVE with New Data and Knowledge

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:39:17 GMT

Specialists from the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) spent two weeks in the Netherlands at the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIV-ERIC), where they processed radio interferometry data recently commissioned by Latvian scientists to uncover the secrets behind the formation of new massive stars. With the help of JIVE support scientists, the team performed data calibration and reduction, created high-resolution images, and measured emission parameters. New VIRAC specialists were trained in calibrating data from the European VLBI Network (EVN) using the AIPS (Astronomical Image Processing System) software.

The following VIRAC staff members visited JIVE:

VIRAC researcher Artis Aberfelds, who processed data from his EVN observation project (EA072), conducted within the framework of the research project “Single Baseline Radio Interferometer in Modern Transient Astrophysics” (IVARS), No. lzp-2022/1-0083.
VIRAC scientific assistant Aija Kalniņa , who learned how to process Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) data for the project “New Indicators and Approaches for Predicting Solar Flares”, No. lzp-2024/1-0023 (FLARE), and consulted with JIVE specialists on preparing and submitting the next EVN observation proposal.
VIRAC astronomy technician Anete Egliene , who travelled to JIVE with ERASMUS+ scholarship support as part of an academic internship from the University of Latvia, conducted at VIRAC under the supervision of researcher Artis Aberfelds. She was trained in the use of AIPS software, calibrated EA072 data, generated moment maps, and measured maser emission parameters.

Anete reflects: “I believe the valuable experience and data processing knowledge I gained during the internship will benefit me in writing my master's thesis and in my future academic career.”

The group was warmly welcomed by Zsolt Paragi, head of the User Support Group, who introduced them to JIVE's history, current research, and provided a tour of the facilities, including the EVN network correlator and a Flexbuff unit labelled "Irbene", where data from Latvia is received.

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) enables radio telescopes to synchronise and produce a joint image of a source, with resolution proportional to the distance between the telescopes. The Irbene radio telescopes are part of the European VLBI Network (EVN), and the participation of more antennas improves image quality. Additional topics discussed included challenges related to the Irbene observatory, such as single-baseline observations and post-processing of SFXC outputs as well as data calibration.

As part of the trip, the team also visited the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT), a radio telescope array consisting of 14 individual 25-meter dishes (see Image No.1). Built in 1970 on the Westerbork Memorial grounds, it is part of the EVN.

During the visit, the team acquired skills in using AIPS software, processed EA072 observation data, prepared and submitted a new EVN observation proposal, and enhanced collaboration between VIRAC and JIV-ERIC. VIRAC specialists gained valuable experience that will benefit scientific work at VUAS IZI VIRAC. The data from the EA072 observation project will be compiled and interpreted, and a scientific publication is expected. The research will contribute to a deeper understanding of three newly forming massive stars and the overall process of massive star formation.

THEO Receives €350,000 to Accelerate Startup Growth

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

TechChill, the annual technology and startup conference, brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and tech enthusiasts to explore the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities in the tech sector. Actively participating in this event are both students and graduates of the Startup Management study programme—many of whom serve as part of the event’s planning team, team leaders, and volunteers.

A significant highlight of this year's TechChill was the outstanding success of the Startup Management programme's first director, Guntis Čoders, and graduate Mārtiņš Ermanis, who secured an impressive €350,000 in funding for their startup THEO.

THEO stood out among 50 competing startups during the Fifty Founders Battle 2025, a key event of TechChill, where participants pitch their ideas on stage in front of top investors for a chance to win up to €710,000 in total funding. THEO earned €250,000 in investments and an additional €100,000 prize, receiving half of the available funding pool.

Congratulations to the THEO team on this outstanding achievement! We are proud and wish you every success on the journey to becoming Latvia’s next unicorn!

About the Startup

THEO is an innovative solution that helps businesses leverage artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively in marketing and strategy.

It tackles a core issue: mainstream AI tools like ChatGPT often lack a deep understanding of a company's unique context, including its business model, positioning, products, market conditions, and customer base.

THEO solves this by creating and maintaining a dynamic knowledge base—acting as a company’s “second brain” or digital twin for marketing. It transforms internal materials into AI-friendly formats that power a smart AI assistant.

This assistant serves as a co-pilot across teams—from marketing to leadership—helping them use AI more efficiently, increase productivity, and eliminate bottlenecks within the organisation.

FTS Lecturer Participates in International Conference in Daugavpils

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 06:45:48 GMT

Assistant professor and leading researcher of the Faculty of Translation Studies, Egita Proveja, participated in the international humanities conference “January Readings” at Daugavpils University on January 30 and 31, which this year celebrated its 35th anniversary. The conference brought together 84 researchers from eight countries, introducing listeners to their research in humanities fields such as comparative literature, contrastive linguistics, translation studies, regional studies, oral history research, cultural studies, etc.

The plenary session of the January Readings was dedicated to DU emeritus professor, philologist, DU rector (2002–2007), Honorary Daugavpils Citizen Dr. habil. philol. Zaiga Ikere, who has dedicated more than 40 years to academic and scientific work at Daugavpils University.

Egita Proveja presented her research “Historical Polemics about Translation: Argumentation in a Contrastive Aspect” in the section “Baltic Languages: Synchrony and Diachrony”. Considering the established cooperation between the two universities in the joint doctoral study program “Language and Literature Studies” implemented at VUAS, DU, and RTU Liepāja Academy, it is commendable that VUAS doctoral students can remotely familiarize themselves with the work results of experienced and emerging researchers. In addition to participating in the conference section work, new cooperation opportunities and forms in the jointly implemented doctoral study program were discussed with DU colleagues.

Aiga Veckalne Receives the First Language Award in Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:20:36 GMT

On February 1st, at the language festival “Avots”, the first Language Award in Latvia was presented. The idea of a special Language Award was realized by the cultural venue “Valodu māja” and the creator of the language festival “Avots”, linguist Snorre Karkkonen Svensson, inspired by Nordic language festivals. The first Language Award in Latvia was received by linguist Aiga Veckalne, as a thank you for her contribution to Latvian society to make it better and more inclusive.

“When we visited language festivals in our northern neighboring countries, we noticed that they award a prize for promoting positive change through language. It is received by people who have done something good in the language field – for example, a journalist who has used a less-used language on national television or radio, a doctor or a teacher who has nurtured language in their work”, says the creator of the language festival “Avots”, Snorre Karkkonen Svensson.

“Aiga Veckalne directly advocates for respectful attitudes towards everyone through and with language, strengthening an inclusive attitude and supporting societal diversity, where each of us can provide our unique contribution. She is a linguist who looks at the Latvian language through the prism of humanity, so that each of us can not only communicate basic needs in Latvian but also more precisely express our identity and get to know others”, continues Karkkonen Svensson.

Aiga Veckalne is a linguist, book translator and editor, and guest lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Science and Riga Stradiņš University, and a practitioner of simple and inclusive communication. She is also the creator of the popular Instagram account @pieturzimes, where she shares useful language tips and encourages discussions about language development. Inclusive Language Guide, developed by Aiga Veckalne helps everyone create communication that promotes diversity and makes information understandable to all.

“Inclusive language is much more than just words – it is an opportunity for everyone to feel understood and accepted. It has always been important to me to take care of clear, comprehensible, and accessible language. This award confirms how important it is to care about the Latvian language and the people who use it. I hope it will inspire others to create a more open and inclusive society”, said Aiga Veckalne, receiving the award.

Video from the Signing of the Cooperation Agreement with Ventspils State City Municipality

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 08:23:09 GMT

On January 24, the Ventspils State City Municipality and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) signed a long-term cooperation agreement aimed at promoting the development of higher education, science, and research in Ventspils and the surrounding region.

Project DIMD has ended

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:11:46 GMT

With the last day of 2024, the scientific research project “Desorption of icy molecules in the interstellar medium (DIMD)” ended. It was implemented at the Ventspils University College of Engineering “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” and was funded by the Latvian Science Council in its Fundamental and Applied Research Projects programme (project No. lzp-2021/1-0076).

In the mid-term project report (2023), we already described the participation of the project participants at several conferences in Latvia and abroad, participation in the international cooperation project LILAC, a popular science article, and, most importantly, the scientific research conducted, which was submitted to the high-level astronomy journal Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A).

“This turn of events left the participants in a poor situation. Before the last year of the project, none of the four planned major studies had been completed or at least submitted to an A&A-level journal.”

Several assumptions had to be used in the submitted study, in particular, about the collision speed at which ice chunks break off in collisions between interstellar dust grains. The results of such collisions had been studied in recent calculations by a group of scientists at the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. From their published works, we concluded that our assumptions were wrong because at the moment of collision the ice mantle behaves like a liquid that deforms, rather than breaking into fragments like a crystal. Consequently, our submitted publication did not contain scientifically valid results and was eventually withdrawn.

This turn of events left the participants in a poor situation. Before the last year of the project, none of the four planned major studies had been completed or at least submitted to an A&A-level journal. On the other hand, the work carried out was not without result – we had a highly developed astrochemical model at our disposal. Practically any investigation (except for those based on incorrect assumptions) could provide new, publishable scientific results with this program. At the end of 2023, the model was further improved and the race against time until the end of the project could begin!

In the first [1] of the four major research studies conduced during 2024, we examined the general results of the model – the calculated amount of various solid (ice) and gas molecules in an interstellar nebula. This included organic matter, which was a special focus in the project. In the second publication [2], we explained the evaporation of organic matter from frosted dust near a newborn star. Perhaps the most interesting was the third paper, which examined the path of dust from a cold stellar envelope to the planet-forming disk around the young star. Research showed that two types of dust end up in the disk – cold and icy, and slightly warmer, but completely bare grains. The coagulation of such dust into sand, grain, pebble, and increasingly larger-sized clumps started of the formation of planets, including those in our own Solar System. The fourth article was completed with the final bell of the project and studied the origins of interstellar cosmic clouds. All articles were submitted to A&A. The first two have already been published, the third is in press, while the fourth still has the long road of scientific review ahead of it.

Other planned works have also been successfully completed. Two smaller articles have been submitted for publication. The first considers the temperature of dust in circumstellar space, while the second addresses the conditions in a cosmic nebula that gravitationally collapses, until forming a newborn star at its centre. The work was explained to Latvian astronomers, interested people, and the public in the scientific conference of the University of Latvia, an article for the popular science magazine Zvaigžņotā debess (Starry Sky), as well as in an interview published in the magazine “Ir” [3]. The work on the project is not over yet – the submitted articles must be brought to publication, and reports are planned for the next (83rd) University of Latvia scientific conference, as well as the Latvian Astronomical Society.

This research has been funded by the Latvian Council of Science, project “Desorption of icy molecules in the interstellar medium (DIMD)" No. lzp-2021/1-0076.

[1] https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2024/07/aa50015-24/aa50015-24.html

[2] https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2024/12/aa51858-24/aa51858-24.html

[3] https://ir.lv/2024/10/16/zvaigznu-putekli/

Photo: Icy interstellar dust with the James Webb Space Telescope Chamaeleon I in the dark cosmic nebula. NASA, ESA, CSA, and M. Zamani (ESA). Science: M. K. McClure (Leiden Observatory), F. Sun (Steward Observatory), Z. Smith (Open University), and the Ice Age ERS Team

The work of Sanita Lasmane, candidate for a scientific degree, is in the final stages

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 11:18:05 GMT

Within the framework of the project "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence among adults and the assessment of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia" (VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001), two doctoral theses are also being developed at Ventspils University of Applied sciences, and it is planned that one of the doctoral theses, "Analysis and modelling of factors influencing the Latvian labour market", written by Sanita Lasmane, guest lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Management at Ventspils University of Applied sciences and doctoral candidate in the joint doctoral program "Economics and Entrepreneurship", will be submitted in the fall to the joint doctoral council of Ventspils University of Applied sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied sciences, and RTU Rēzekne.

A Cooperation Agreement Signed with Ventspils City Council

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:46:03 GMT

On January 24, the Ventspils City Council and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) signed a long-term cooperation agreement aimed at promoting the development of higher education, science, and research in Ventspils and the region.

The purpose of the cooperation agreement is to strengthen VUAS as an internationally recognized center of higher education and research in the Baltic Sea region by enhancing the quality of study programs, fostering innovation, and attracting academic staff. Under the agreement, VUAS will continue developing its research infrastructure and the qualifications of its academic personnel, including closer collaboration with entrepreneurs and international partners. The council also plans to support scholarship programs—particularly in the field of ICT—and to offer internship placements for students in municipal institutions.

The Ventspils City Council actively supports the advancement of education and science. The cooperation agreement will remain in force until 2028 and is expected to contribute to the sustainable growth of the city’s economy and the implementation of innovation across various sectors.

Although VUAS is a state university, it was established and initially fully funded by the municipality. To date, the Ventspils City Council has invested over 19 million euros in the university’s development.

Opening of the exhibition Komplett Kafka and an afternoon of German culture

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 07:24:02 GMT

The exhibition of comic posters by Nicolas Mahler, Komplett Kafka, was opened at the Library of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. This traveling exhibition arrived in Ventspils from the Goethe Institute in Riga. The opening event was attended by the Ventspils German Cultural Society, which enriched it with stories about the society’s organized events and introduced the society’s prepared calendars and other publications in German and Latvian. The ensemble “Windau” of the Ventspils German Cultural Society delighted the event attendees with cheerful German songs. The exhibition especially invites German language teachers from Ventspils and the region with their students to get acquainted with the biography of the outstanding writer Franz Kafka in a non-traditional way – with comic posters. Teachers have access to didactic materials for various levels of German language proficiency on the Goethe Institute’s website.

Materials are available HERE .

The exhibition is available to all interested parties at the library until February 13.

VUAS Continues Work on Digital Tool for Latvian Livestock Sector

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:40:21 GMT

VUAS, in cooperation with the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre, is continuing work on a digital solution to support Latvia’s livestock sector. The project, titled Effective Monitoring of Environment and Animal Welfare Farms (“ Efektīvs vides un dzīvnieku labturības saimniecību monitorings ”), was launched in 2022 and is led by the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre. The goal is to create a digital tool that not only supports efficient data recording and analysis for farms but also promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices in near future.

Looking back at what has been achieved in 2024, it’s clear that significant progress has been made. In close cooperation with consultants, farmer organizations, livestock farms, and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, prototypes for dairy, sheep, and beef monitoring systems have been developed. Work continues on other parts of the system as well to ensure the system’s compliance with farmers’ needs.

Notably, the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre and the Latvian Holstein Association have been working together on the dairy module, which is being tested now. Collaboration with Latvian Sheep Breeders Association, the farm Mežoki, and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies led to a working sheep monitoring prototype. The beef monitoring prototype involved input from the Latvian Beef Cattle Breeders Association and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.

VUAS is responsible for all programming and has also created a manure management planning tool, which will soon be available.

A key improvement is the integration of data from the Agricultural Data Centre, allowing farmers to access important animal and farm information directly in the new system, “Mans Lauks”. The system will also include tools to record events not currently tracked by the Agricultural Data Centre, like grazing, dry-off periods, or pregnancy checks.

Additionally, developers are currently working on a heat index calculation feature, and development has also begun on an animal treatment tracking log.

The project is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025, and is co-funded by the EU and project partners.

Internship Conference Held as Part of the Master’s Program in Translation

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 09:37:27 GMT

On the third Friday of January, a conference was held for students of the master's program in Translation. First- and second-year master's students defended their internship reports on the work they had completed during the fall semester in the so-called short internship (3 CP) and professional internship (30 CP) in translation, editing, post-editing, transcription, terminology, record keeping, and other tasks.

In their internships, 13 students successfully demonstrated their professional translation skills at various translation companies, including SIA Skrivanek Baltic, SIA Digi Media, SIA Linearis, SIA Hieroglifs, SIA Syncmer, SIA Horst Serviss, SIA BALTIC COAL TERMINAL, as well as at the Baltic-German University Office and elsewhere. Master's student Agate Zālīte is currently in Luxembourg, where she is continuing her five-month internship at the European Parliament's Translation Service.

During their internships, students have translated not only from English into Latvian, but also in other language combinations. The working languages of the master's students are German, Danish, Lithuanian, and Russian. Fabians Kapustjonoks said that during his internship he also had to translate into Latgalian, and one of his tasks was to translate a work of fiction.

Several students had the opportunity to try their hand at interpreting during their internship, translating in court, at the police station, in prisons, and elsewhere. One of the tasks of the internship is to attend court hearings and describe the translation or terminology difficulties encountered and their solutions, as well as to develop a glossary of legal terms. Useful glossaries have been compiled in English-Latvian, Lithuanian-English-Latvian, German-Russian-Latvian, and English-German-Latvian.

Students in the one-year study program still have a couple of exams to take this semester, but then they will have to complete the main task of their studies – writing their master's thesis. Meanwhile, students in the two-year program will continue their studies, taking practical and theoretically useful courses such as "Post-editing," "Introduction to Digital Humanities," "Text Adaptation into Easy/Simple Language," and "Text Linguistics."

Unveiling the Ministry of Education and Science's Calendar and Travelling Exhibition "Research Latvia 2025"

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:35:33 GMT

In an inspiring atmosphere, the Ministry of Education and Science launched its calendar and travelling exhibition "Research Latvia 2025". The interactive science calendar, available in both digital and traditional formats, showcases 12 of Latvia's leading scientific institutions and their researchers. Their outstanding achievements underscore Latvia's significant contributions to the European Research Area and on a global scale.

At the opening ceremony of "Research Latvia 2025", for the first time, the 12 featured scientific institutions received the Member of researchLatvia recognition, thus confirming their significant role in the development of Latvia's research.

"The 'Research Latvia' calendar, now in its eighth year, has become a unique guide to Latvia's scientific achievements - inspiring, sparking new ideas, and emphasising the importance of science for the sustainable development of our society. The exhibition, calendar, and video stories about fascinating scientific personalities not only highlight achievements but also serve as an essential strategic communication tool, helping us move toward our ultimate goal—a knowledge-based society. May modern science create, surprise, and drive us forward!" said Anda Čakša, Minister of Education and Science.

The calendar launch event took place at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, K. Barona Street 1, Riga. The travelling exhibition will be open to the public there until January 29, 2025. Throughout the year, the exhibition will be displayed in various higher education institutions, as well as other public and cultural venues across Latvia. By scanning QR codes, visitors can watch all 12 video stories. This initiative not only promotes science but also strengthens the public's connection to the world of research.

Linguist Aiga Veckalne on “Krustpunktā”

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 06:59:20 GMT

Language was today’s topic of the broadcast “Krustpunktā”. The Latvian language is one of our greatest values — something to be nurtured and protected. At the same time, it is crucial that everyone can communicate and understand one another in this language. Communication between public authorities and the public is often complicated to perceive, thus, many people give up hope trying to understand what the civil servant is attempting to say. Aiga Veckalne, a linguist and guest lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Science, discusses language – the simple and the complex, the nurtured and the protected.

Source: Ir1.lsm.lv

Master's Theses Defended at the Faculty of Translation Studies at the End of 2024

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:01:27 GMT

On December 20, the defence of master's theses for the professional master's study program "Translation of Applied Texts" was held.

Master's program students successfully passed the program's course exams, developed and defended their master's theses on topics relevant to the field of translation or terminology. The State Examination Commission (SEC), chaired by Andrejs Veisbergs, Professor at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia, praised the thematic diversity of the theses and the presentations of the research. Kaspars Kļaviņš, a member of the SEC and head of the translation agency SIA "TranslatePRO", praised the focus on solving terminology problems in the master's theses, which is also a topical issue in the context of post-editing machine-translated texts.

In her master's thesis "Punctuation in Translations of International Legal Acts from English into Latvian: Problems and Common Mistakes," Agnese Cīrule compared the use of punctuation marks in English and Latvian grammar systems in order to identify the main differences, as well as to highlight problematic cases and punctuation errors that translators most often make in translations of international legal acts.

Sonora Bogdanova wrote her master's thesis "Terminological Aspects of E-sports: The use of E-sports Terminology in the Communication Between Professional Players and Commentators in the Video Game Counter-Strike 2 (EN-LV)", which examines the specialised vocabulary of e-sports in order to offer Latvian equivalents for specific English terms. The topic of e-sports has become particularly relevant in Latvia, given the International Olympic Committee's decision to organize the first Olympic e-sports games in 2025 and the Latvian e-sports team's entry into the World Cup finals in the Counter-Strike 2 competition.

Liena Kaģe's research paper "Translating Marine Insurance Texts from English into Latvian: Difficulties and Solutions in Finding Equivalent Terms," addressed a topic related to marine insurance terminology that has been little researched to date, in order to address the issue of finding equivalents for English terms in Latvian.

Krista Benhalima's master's thesis "Specialized Vocabulary for Nail Care in English and Latvian: Difficulties and Solutions" addressed the specifics of finding equivalents for specialized vocabulary for nail care in English and Latvian.

Beāte Girdo's research paper "Technical Regulations Governing Construction in German and Latvian: Translation Problems and Solutions" addressed the issue of construction terminology in German-Latvian language comparison.

Sofija Hamurda's master's thesis "Specialized Lexical Correspondence in Descriptions and Instructions for Use in the Cosmetology Industry in Latvian and Russian" examined the linguistic quality of translations of product descriptions in various price categories.

Congratulations to the graduates of the master's program on obtaining their master's degrees!

Information prepared by:

Silga Sviķe

Associate Professor

Director of the FTS Master's Program in Translation and Terminology

Employees of Ventspils University of Applied Science were honoured for their contributions

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 07:07:01 GMT

On December 18, VUAS held its Christmas event, where employees were recognized for their long-standing service. Representatives from the Ventspils City Council also attended the event and presented certificates of appreciation to long-serving faculty members of VUAS and representatives of the founding group who made significant contributions to the university’s operation and development.

The following individuals received certificates of appreciation:

Dr. philol. Jānis Sīlis – He began his work at VUAS since its founding. Notably, he was a member of the founding group of VUAS and has served as the Dean of the FoTS, a professor, and a leading researcher.

Dr. philol. Valda Rudziša – She also started her work at VUAS since its inception. Valda Rudziša was a member of the founding group and played a crucial role in the establishment and development of the university. She has led translation study programs, ensuring their quality and inclusion in international networks. She has been actively involved in administrative and academic work, contributing to the sustainability of the university and excellence in education.

Dr. philol. Astra Skrābane – A long-standing Associate Professor, leading researcher, and Acting Dean at the FoTS, who has made significant contributions to the vitality of VUAS’s linguistics and cultural direction, as well as the development of higher education, science, and culture, with a focus on intercultural integration.

Dr. paed. Vita Balama – Vita Balama, starting her work at VUAS in 2000, has made a significant contribution to the development of intercultural studies by developing and managing bachelor and master programmes that provide students with modern and practical education. Her work in international scientific activities and the university’s decision-making bodies has contributed to the development of the academic environment and the international recognition of the university.

Dr. philol. Guntars Dreijers – An outstanding expert in linguistics and the translation industry, Guntars Dreijers has been part of VUAS since 2002, holding positions as a researcher, lecturer, associate professor, and dean. He has made a significant contribution to course development, scientific work, and student education, promoting the university’s development.

VUAS continues its tradition of honouring and expressing gratitude to colleagues who celebrated significant work anniversaries in 2024.

25-year work anniversary :

Jana Heidemane

20-year work anniversary :

Raita Rollande
Ivars Šmelds

15-year work anniversary :

Agris Bērziņš
Juris Kalvāns
Andris Lesiņš
Jānis Trokšs

10-year work anniversary :

Rafael Martin Calvo
Mārcis Donerblics
Inta Ozola
Jānis Šate

Meeting of the National Encyclopaedia Council and Editorial Boards

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:49:39 GMT

At the end of the year, on December 11, a meeting of the National Encyclopedia Council and Editorial Boards was held at the Latvian National Library of Latvia. On behalf of the rector of VUAS, Andris Vaivads, the university was represented by Associate Professor and researcher Silga Sviķe from the FoTS.

The meeting was opened by speeches from the Minister of Culture of Latvia, Agnese Logina, and the Director of the National Library of Latvia, Dagnija Baltiņa. After the opening remarks, the editor of the National Encyclopedia, Valters Ščerbinskis, provided an update on the work accomplished over the last six months in the process of creating the National Encyclopedia, covering various statistical indicators, issues to be addressed, and future plans. Notably, the number of users of the encyclopedia has increased, with more and more users accessing it directly from educational institutions. Next year, the encyclopedia will see not only various content improvements but also visual changes, as well as modifications to the indexing process to enhance the accessibility of information across different search tools.

So far, several leading researchers from VUAS have contributed to the creation of entries for the National Encyclopedia. For instance, FoTS researchers have written entries on translation studies in Latvia, loanwords, and lexicography. During the meeting, Silga Sviķe had the opportunity to discuss the involvement of the university’s researchers in writing entries with one of the National Encyclopedia’s editors, Santa Briede, who confirmed that such collaboration will continue next year.

Students Develop Solutions for Creating a More Diverse and Inclusive Environment at VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:04:55 GMT

As part of the COLOURS project, an IMAGINE/IDEATE workshop was organized at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, where students applied design thinking principles to address equality, diversity, and inclusion issues within the university environment. This two-day workshop provided an opportunity for participants to analyze existing challenges and develop practical solutions they could implement themselves.

During the workshop, students worked in groups, first identifying the challenges they face in their daily lives. They then focused on creating solutions using creative methods. Importantly, the proposed solutions had to be realistically implementable by the students themselves, fostering their responsibility for shaping the environment and driving positive changes.

At the end of the workshop, students presented their ideas, and the best proposals were recognized. The winning group, composed of first-year students from the professional bachelor’s program in Intercultural Communication, proposed organizing events to help students integrate into their new environment and find like-minded peers. These events aim to provide practical support to young people facing challenges in adapting to a new social and academic setting. The authors emphasized that such events would foster a positive and inclusive experience, promoting mutual support among students.

The workshop’s outcomes demonstrate that by encouraging active student participation and creative approaches, sustainable changes can be achieved in their daily lives. This workshop is part of the COLOURS project, which aims to promote the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion in educational institutions.

Rafael Martin Calvo presented the translation of Latvian literature into Spanish

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 09:25:27 GMT

On 10 December, the VUAS Library invited students to a meeting with Rafael Martín Calvo, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Translation Studies. He talked about how a writer's work is presented to publishers in another country before it is translated, what to do when only a few Latvians know a certain Latvian word, how many hours it takes to translate a novel and when is the best time to learn a foreign language. He also talked about participation in publishers' events, book fairs and book presentations in different countries.

The students also had the opportunity to see translations of Nora Ikstena, Albert Bell, Guntis Berelis and other writers already published and to learn more about each of them. R. Martin Calvo also talked about his dream projects and revealed some of the works he is currently involved in.

Thank you to the VUAS Library for hosting the event!

A Forum on Higher Education and Workforce in the Region was Held

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:27:12 GMT

CoLab ""Higher Education and Workforce in the Region" held at the VIZIUM Science Center brought together academic staff, students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other members of the community. The discussions focused on analyzing current challenges and exploring innovative solutions to ensure that new specialists are well-prepared to meet the demands of today’s labor market.

Opening the event, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) Rector Andris Vaivads highlighted the increasing demand for highly qualified specialists in the coming years, referencing forecasts from the Ministry of Economics. He called for closer collaboration between universities, businesses, municipalities, and society to adapt educational programs to the real needs of the labor market.

Dr. Annette Klinkert, Executive Director of the COLOURS project, and Dace Štefenberga, VeA’s COLOURS Content Manager, shared insights on the European University Alliance and its benefits for the region. Austris Galindoms, Head of the Economics and Procurement Department at Ventspils City Council, emphasized the municipality’s role in fostering cooperation between education and the labor market. Meanwhile, Sandrine Labory from the University of Ferrara presented Italy’s experience in the Emilia-Romagna region.

Other participants included Baiba Kūma, Head of the Kurzeme Planning Region’s Business Center, and Gvido Grinbergs from the Business Support and Digital Innovation Center at Ventspils High Technology Park, who stressed the importance of developing digital skills in the workforce. Raita Rollande, Head of TDL School, a subsidiary of TestDevLab, shared her experience collaborating with higher education institutions to prepare new specialists. Additionally, Maksims Kovalenko, Production Director at Immer Digital, highlighted workforce challenges in the industry.

The forum concluded with a panel discussion on the impact of higher education on local economic development and regional growth. The panel featured business representative Raita Rollande, Ventspils City Council Deputy Executive Director Egons Spalāns, VeA Rector Andris Vaivads, and student Kārlis Andrejs Krūmiņš.

Master's Student in Translation Adrija Enrika Ēdele Participated in Citizen-Friendly Language Days in Luxembourg

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:33:53 GMT

On December 3 and 4, several cities across the European Union (EU) hosted Citizens' Language Days, which brought together representatives of the EU and other institutions in various formats to discuss the importance of clear language in a democratic society. Language Days), which brought together representatives of the EU and other institutions in various formats to discuss the importance of clear language in a democratic society. Students from translation programs at universities included in the EMT (European Master's in Translation) network also participated in the event organized in Luxembourg. Each EU language was represented by one student. Latvia and the Latvian language were represented by Adrija Enrika Ēdele, a student of the master’s program in translation at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

EMT network university students were invited to the European Parliament (EP) in Luxembourg, where most of the EP's Directorate-General for Translation staff work. In addition to workshops and conferences, students had the opportunity to explore the European Parliament district and learn about the work of the Directorate-General for Translation.

"During the event, we were able to listen to conferences, workshops, and speeches in various EU languages. It was particularly significant that we were present when the Citizen-Friendly Language Guidelines were published – guidelines that are an important tool for language specialists, translators and other interested parties in the preparation and adaptation of texts into easy-to-read language," Adrija explains the event program. It should be noted that the guidelines are based on the ISO standard for plain language. The guidelines are available in all 24 EU languages and include not only text, but also video and audio materials.

Citizen-friendly language days not only promote the use of plain language but also raise awareness among the general public. "Simple or plain language is not necessarily simplified or primitive language – it is a necessity to convey a clear, unambiguous message to the public or specific target groups to whom the message is addressed. In a democratic society, we all have the same right to receive information, regardless of our level of education or health. This was particularly emphasized by the participants in the panel discussion," says Adrija.

During the event, Adrija had the opportunity to meet with R. Schuman trainees (a traineeship at the European Parliament named after Robert Schuman) and employees from the Latvian Language Division of the Directorate-General for Translation. "In my opinion, it is great to meet Latvians in the European Union institutions – it proves that everyone has the opportunity to apply for an internship or job and become part of the European Parliament family. It is a pleasure to know that our own people – graduates of the translation studies program at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – are working and training at the European Parliament in Luxembourg," Adrija shares her impressions.

"Thank you to the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences for the opportunity to participate in the competition to receive a pass to the event. I was proud to represent the master’s program in Translation, the faculty, the university, the city, and the country at the European Parliament in Luxembourg. It was a wonderful experience and an opportunity to meet like-minded people from all over Europe!"

Master's student in Translation Adrija Enrika Ēdele participated in Citizens' Language Days in Luxembourg

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:20:06 GMT

On 3 and 4 of December, the European Parliament's service hosted the third edition of the Citizens' Language Days, a two-day event dedicated to exploring the power of clear language in fostering transparency and democratic participation.

The event, organised in Luxembourg, was also attended by students from the translation programmes of the universities included in the EMT (European Master in Translation) network. One student represented each EU language. Latvia and the Latvian language were represented by Adrija Enrika Ēdele, a student of the Master's programme in Translation at VUAS.

The students were invited to the European Parliament (EP) in Luxembourg, where most of the staff of the EP Directorate-General for Translation work. In addition to workshops and conferences, the students had the opportunity to get to know the quarter where the European Parliament is located and the work of DG Translation.

"During the event, we were able to listen to conferences, workshops and speeches in different EU languages. It was particularly important that we were present at the presentation of the Citizens' Language Guidelines, which are an important tool for language professionals, translators and others interested in the production and adaptation of texts into plain language," says Adrija. It should be noted that the guidelines are derived from the ISO standard on plain language. The guidelines are available in all 24 EU languages and include not only text, but also video and audio material.

Participation of representatives of the Faculty of Translation Studies of VUAS in the conference The Word: Aspects of Research

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:06:01 GMT

On November 28–29, in Liepāja, associate professor and researcher Silga Sviķe, associate professor and senior researcher Jānis Veckrācis and lecturer, PhD candidate Aiga Bādere participated in the international conference The Word: Aspects of Research organised by RTU Liepāja.

The event, which brought together researchers and language experts from the Baltic States and was diverse in its presentations, included two days of scientific discussions. The first day's evening dinner has become a tradition of the conference which, alongside the conference sessions, provides an excellent opportunity for professionals in the humanities to socialize and discuss current issues in the field.

During the opening session of the Conference Silga Sviķe presented an emotionally inspiring memorial paper Juris Baldunčiks (1950-2022): Parallel Lines and Crossing Points of His Life, Research and Legacy ; later on Aiga Bādere presented her research paper Searching for Post-Editing Terms in Latvian , and Jānis Veckrācis – his research paper Terminological Discourse of History and the History of Some Basic History Terms in Latvian.

Master's Students in Translation Studies Took Part in a Virtual Visit to the European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:26:49 GMT

On November 22, the European Commission organized a virtual visit to the Directorate-General for Translation, which was also attended by students of the master’s program "Translation of Applied Texts" at the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The event was very well attended (approximately 800 participants), and our translation program students had the opportunity to learn all about the work of interpreters and translators at the Directorate-General for Translation and other EU institutions. The event organizers provided an overview of the volume of documents translated by EU institutions and explained what computer-assisted and machine translation tools, as well as artificial intelligence tools, are used by translators in EU institutions.

Our students had a separate meeting with translators from the Latvian language translation department, where they could get answers to all their questions about eligibility requirements, application requirements, and find out how to apply for an internship or prepare the necessary documents to apply for a job in the EU institutions. Representatives of the Directorate-General for Translation emphasized that interpreters and translators must have a very good knowledge of two working languages – the official languages of the European Union – but that Latvian must be known at the highest level. This is the language into which the translators of the Latvian language department will translate.

Adrija Enrika Ēdele, a first-year student in the master's program, says: "It was a great event! I was very impressed by the fact that all the people currently working in EU institutions are not unknown figures, but real and well-known people who have also studied translation, just as we are doing now. This gives me hope that it is possible to get a well-paid job in the EU institutions after completing my translation studies."

Master's students in Translation Studies take part in a virtual visit to the European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:14:21 GMT

On 22 November, the European Commission organised a virtual visit to the Directorate-General for Translation, which was also attended by MA students of the Faculty of Translation Studies of the VUAS. The event was well attended (around 800 participants) and gave our translation students the opportunity to learn all about the work of translators and interpreters in DG Translation and other EU institutions. The event organisers gave an overview of the volume of documents translated in the EU institutions and explained the computer-aided, machine translation and artificial intelligence tools used by translators in the EU institutions.

Our students had a one-to-one meeting with translators from the Latvian Translation Unit, where they could get answers to all their questions about eligibility requirements, application prerequisites and how to apply for a traineeship or a job in the EU institution.

TSF lecturers participate in an international conference in Kaunas

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:32:05 GMT

On 21 and 22 November, Assistant Professor Rafael Martin Calvo, Associate Professor and Senior Researcher Jānis Veckrācis and Lecturer, PhD candidate Aiga Badere participated in the international conference "Intermediality in Communication" organised by Kaunas University of Technology.

The event attracted a large audience of researchers and practitioners from Italy, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Finland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia and other countries. The conference started with a hackathon on innovative teaching methods, followed by two days of plenary and paper sessions.

Martin Kalvo presented his research "The Orthographic Transcription to Latvian of Foreign Proper Names: a Practice Called into Question", Aiga Badere presented her research "Human Translation and Machine Translation: Where to Draw the Line in Post-Editing", and Jānis Veckrācis presented his research "Features of Specialized Legal Lexis in Latvian Translations of Legal Texts from the Early Nineteenth Century".

VUAS student creates prototype web app "Lamp Fever"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:25:08 GMT

In anticipation of the lighting of the Christmas tree, Ventspils has implemented an idea that combines technology and Christmas traditions. An online project has been created - the website "Lantern Fever", where everyone can take part in decorating the Christmas tree using game elements. The project is a collaboration between the Faculty of Information Technologies of VUAS and the Ventspils Culture Centre.

The game will be available for a week and will end on 30 November, when the lighting of the Main Christmas Tree will take place in Ventspils' Grand Place. The culminating event will light up the game, the city's Christmas decorations and the Christmas tree.

"This game is a prototype and my first full project, which I developed from A to Z," says the game's developer, Aleksis Grečuhins, a student at the Faculty of Information Technologies at VUAS. "It was an intense and challenging work, which helped me to develop my programming skills and to understand how to cooperate with a client and how to adapt to their vision."

The project also serves as a study - an attempt to find out if it is possible to create a Christmas mood through a game. Aleksis is especially grateful to Karina Skirmante, lecturer at the Faculty of Information Technology, for her professional support and the sprint reporting system, which helped to move the work forward efficiently.

Director of VIRAC gives a keynote speech in the Nordic- Baltic Eight (NB8) Cooperation Forum

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:29:14 GMT

The Director of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC), Mārcis Donerblics, gave a keynote speech in the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) cooperation Forum "Europe's Ride to Space - the Role of the Nordic and Baltic States" in Frankfurt.

On the day of the event, VIRAC Director met with the Ambassador of Latvia to Germany, Ms Alda Vanaga, as well as with the Honorary Consuls and esteemed colleagues of Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Denmark and the representatives of German Government. In the evening, Mārcis Donerblics gave a speech on the role and opportunities of Latvia and VIRAC in the development of the European space sector. Donerblics emphasized the achievements of Latvian policy-makers, scientists and engineers in positioning Latvia at the cutting edge of space technology and services, as well as the support of the Nordic countries in this mayor achievement. He stressed the many challenges and opportunities brought about by the emergence of competing programs especially in the Lunar and Deep Space segments as well as those put forth by defense needs in current geopolitical landscape, expressing dedication to strengthening the European Space industry.

The next day, the Director of the VIRAC accompanied the Ambassador on a visit to the European Space Agency's European Space Operations Centre (ESA ESOC) in Darmstadt. During the visit, ESA presented its current and future mission plans and the potential for cooperation with Latvia in the light of these plans. Donerblics and ESA experts discussed VIRAC's capabilities and expertise for contributing to ESA’s roadmap and its implementation needs.

30th anniversary of the VIRAC

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:19:22 GMT

On Friday, 8 November, the 30th anniversary of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre was celebrated! During the first half of the day, the VUAS hosted a scientific seminar, but the celebrations continued in Irbene with greetings, speeches and antenna demonstrations!

Students Successfully Launch IRBE-6 Stratospheric Probe

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 07:24:29 GMT

Students of Electronic Engineering at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) have successfully developed and launched the IRBE-6 stratospheric probe from Ventspils Airport. The probe is capable of reaching an altitude of 30 kilometers. This year, the students' main task was to develop a communication system that would enable the probe to receive and execute commands from a ground-based station, as well as to function as a meteorological probe, collecting atmospheric data at various altitudes.

The probe soars above clouds and commercial flight paths, navigating through wind speeds exceeding 100 km/h and temperatures dropping below -40°C. The development of the probe had two main objectives: technical and scientific . Projects of this nature are an effective way for students to bridge theory with practice, encouraging them to solve real-world engineering challenges. This hands-on approach is widely used at leading technology universities, where traditional lectures are often supplemented with practical, project-based learning.

This year’s primary technical challenge was to design and build a communication system capable of receiving and executing commands from a ground-based station while maintaining a continuous beacon signal. The beacon, which is essential for tracking the probe, broadcasts a signal to radio amateurs every three seconds.

Once the balloon carrying the probe reaches the stratosphere, it bursts, allowing the payload — a project developed entirely by the students — to descend back to Earth. To ensure the payload is not damaged on landing, it is equipped with a special safety parachute. During its flight, the probe collects a variety of measurements and is equipped with pressure, temperature, and inertial measurement sensors , as well as a power supply system and an embedded computing system .

The stratospheric probe was successfully launched on November 15 at 10:00 from Ventspils Airport. Based on their calculations, the students expect the probe to land in the Ezere Municipality near the Lithuanian border.

This year’s IRBE-6 development team consisted of six students: Rodrigo Laurinovičs, Mārtiņš Leimants, Artūrs Marcus Tīģeris, Sandis Kaģis, Marta Anete Vinniņa, Aksels Ķirsons

As part of this project, students not only strengthen their electronic engineering skills , but also learn to work in teams, plan and implement large-scale projects, and address legal and regulatory issues . Given that the balloon rises into controlled airspace, students must coordinate their activities with aviation authorities to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Master's student in Translation Ailenda Bulindža at the Translating Europe Forum 2024 in Brussels

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:09:15 GMT

The European Commission (EC) Directorate-General for Translation made it possible for 20 students from the European Master in Translation (EMT) to participate in the Translating Europe Forum 2024 (TEF), which took place in Brussels on 6 and 7 November. VUAS was represented at the Forum by Ailenda Bulindža, a Master's student in Translation Studies.

The Forum's motto "Words Matter" underlines the importance of language in the political and cultural life of the European Union (EU). The event focused in particular on the EU's goals for innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, as set by EC President Urzula von der Leyen. The Forum presented plans for how AI will be used in the translation industry.

The discussions also highlighted key challenges facing the translation industry, including the need for closer cooperation between freelance translators and the industry.

FoTS Lecturers at the "Translating Europe" Workshop

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:04:52 GMT

On October 31, the annual "Translating Europe" workshop took place in Riga. This year, the workshop focused on the importance and application of clear and plain language in Latvia. The event was attended by Aiga Veckalne, a lecturer at the Faculty of Translation Studies, who presented a paper titled "Principles and Recommendations for Plain Language." Egita Proveja also participated, delivering a presentation titled "Easy-to-Read – Is It Really Easy?"

Workshop Recordings:

Aiga Veckalne, linguist and plain language expert: "Plain Language Principles and Recommendations" ( "Vienkāršās valodas principi un ieteikumi" )
Dr. Philol. Egita Proveja: "Easy-to-Read – Is It Really Easy?" ( "Viegli lasīt – vai tiešām viegli?" )

For more information about the workshop, visit: Clear Language – Necessity or Luxury? (2024-10-31)

Explore Nine Countries from Your Desk – Join the COLOURS Virtual Journey Week!

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 08:57:22 GMT

About the event

From November 18 to 22, students and staff of COLOURS partner universities are invited to embark on an interactive, virtual journey through nine different countries. This exciting Virtual Journey Week will provide participants with unique digital experiences, including language cafés, taster courses, quizzes, and engaging video clips, showcasing the diversity of the Alliance’s universities, cultures, and languages.

In a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, attendees can participate in discussions in various languages, connect with students and colleagues from across Europe, and exchange insights on cultural and academic topics. Student representatives will be available to answer questions, and Erasmus students will share their personal experiences, offering a first-hand glimpse into the world of international study.

Whether you’re looking to expand your cultural knowledge, meet new friends, or simply enjoy a week of digital exploration, Virtual Journey Week is the perfect opportunity to engage with the COLOURS Alliance community—all from the comfort of your own desk! Don’t miss this chance to explore, connect, and be inspired.

Whom?

Everyone is welcome!

Students, staff and teachers of the COLOURS universities are a given. But it doesn’t mean others can’t join, quite the opposite!

Where?

Everything will happen online!

You’ll be able to tour 9 countries from the comfort of your home, by following this link .

On the BloomHub platform, VUAS users can log in with their LAIS username and password.

Please note:

If you have eduGAIN credentials, you’ll be able to access the platform right away.
If you do not, please contact the following email address by Wednesday, November 13th to get some credentials.

Detailed Programme

Monday, November 18th

Tuesday, November 19th

Wednesday, November 20th

Thursday, November 21st

Friday, November 22nd

Students Matched With Colours

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 11:52:45 GMT

On November 5, the European University Alliance COLOURS brought excitement and opportunity to life during the student event “Match With Colours”. Hosted at the Restaurant & Cocktail Bar SILRAK, the event blended an informal, lively atmosphere with inspiring messages and activities, captivating students from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS).

The evening left a lasting impact, with some students felt a "match", eager to contribute to their university’s growth and expand their horizons. The event was expertly guided by comedian Edgars Balins, whose charm and humor kept participants engaged and energized.

The first part of the evening featured remarks by Andris Vaivads , Rector of VUAS, who underscored the transformative potential of the COLOURS alliance. He highlighted its role in fostering international collaboration, saying, “This partnership opens doors to new opportunities for the university and its students, broadening perspectives and accelerating growth.”

Kristiana Balode , the COLOURS WP3 lead at VUAS, outlined the vast opportunities available through the project. Students were inspired by the prospects of joining hackathons in Latvia and abroad, building mobility networks, participating in internships, enrolling in microcredential courses, attending summer schools, and representing the university at international student forums. Kristiana captured the essence of the initiative, saying, “The COLOURS project allows us to see beyond borders, reminding us that we’re not just part of Ventspils or Latvia – we’re part of Europe.”

The second part of the event shifted gears to creativity and collaboration. Students tackled real-life challenges through problem-solving tasks and shared innovative ideas. A spirited Kahoot quiz tested their knowledge about COLOURS partner universities and the diverse countries they represent. The victory was claimed by the international team that included Erasmus students, full-time foreign and local students.

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre Celebrates 30 Years

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 07:26:56 GMT

This year, the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of continuous activity in the fields of radio astronomy, space technology and communication. VIRAC - a research institute at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) stands as one of the leading scientific institutions in Northern Europe, specializing in space technology, radio astronomy and large aperture antenna operations.

Since its establishment in 1994, VIRAC has grown into a prominent research and technology center that not only conducts internationally recognized scientific research but also contributes to technological innovation and raises Latvia's profile on the global stage. Equipped with world-class radio astronomy facilities — including two large aperture antennas (RT-32 and RT-16), a low frequency antenna array – LOFAR and electronics & RF, signal processing, cryogenics as well as mechanical engineering laboratories and workshops — VIRAC enables high-precision observations that are vital to both Latvian and international scientific communities.

VUAS Rector Andris Vaivads reflects on VIRAC’s journey:

" Light from the Moon takes 1 second to reach us, from the Sun 8 minutes, from Jupiter on average 45 minutes (the length of an academic hour). The center of our galaxy is 26,000 light-years away. Space is vast and endlessly fascinating! For example, the brightest star in the constellation of Gemini, Pollux, is 33 light-years away. The light we see from Pollux today left the star in 1991, the same year Latvia regained its independence. At that time, many of today's VIRAC scientists and engineers were still in kindergarten or had not yet been born. VIRAC itself was founded in 1994, inheriting the large 32- and 16-meter diameter antennas from the Soviet Army. VIRAC made a huge leap forward, renovating these antennas until 2015. In 2019, VIRAC took another major step forward, adding a football-field-sized LOFAR antenna array. Today, VIRAC is expanding into the fields of defense and deep space communications. All of this progress has been achieved thanks to the selfless and dedicated work of the VIRAC team, as well as the support of the Ventspils City Municipality and the trust of the Latvian Government in the VIRAC team. So much has happened during the 33-year journey of light from Pollux to Earth. Want to find Pollux... or a black hole? Just ask the VIRAC researchers!"

Today, the Irbene antenna site is connected to international radio telescope networks. Together with their international colleagues, VIRAC scientists are conducting research on a wide range of topics, from the near-Earth ionosphere, the Sun, and Jupiter, to the farthest reaches of space where star formation occurs, as well as active galactic nuclei, pulsar, maser and other cosmic phenomena observations are being carried out. These studies are based on data collected by the Irbene antenna infrastructure, yet some rely on theoretical and numerical calculations or data from other telescopes, sensors and networks.

The Irbene antenna site is truly unique: Extremely low RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) levels , providing cleaner data for scientific research. The largest radio telescope in Northern Europe — the 32-meter RT-32. The presence of multiple radio telescopes at a single location , enabling local interferometric measurements and simultaneous observations in multiple frequency bands and other advantages.

Looking to the future , VIRAC aims to connect the large aperture antennas to an international deep space communications network, marking a significant milestone in creating synergies between radio astronomy and space communication industry. The first communication sessions with Lunar space probes and relays are eagerly anticipated. With its world-class infrastructure and dedicated team, VIRAC holds enormous potential for further development. However, the next generation of scientists and engineers will be crucial to realizing this potential in the coming decades. Training and supporting these future experts is a top priority.

As VUAS Rector Andris Vaivads emphasizes:

"Through Irbene to the stars!"

Mārcis Donerblics, Director of VIRAC , shared his reflections on the center's 30-year journey:

"Looking back at the past 30 years of VIRAC, starting from July 19, 1994, when Latvia took over the Irbene antenna complex and, a few days later, founded the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, I am amazed by the many challenges and milestones that has been faced to transform the antenna site in a globally competitive facility it is today! From taking over, protecting, and maintaining the site, to building utilities, restoring antenna pointing capabilities, renovating, developing, and becoming members of the European VLBI Network (EVN), we have come a long way. We established the LOFAR station, collaborated with the European Space Agency (ESA), and built a partnership with the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC). None of this would have been possible without external support, but, just as importantly, it was the selfless dedication and creativity of our colleagues that allowed us to make the Irbene antenna site based services and science accessible to the Latvian, Baltic, Nordic, European, and global communities. These efforts have also ensured that future generations will have access to these valuable instruments here in Latvia. For all of this, I am immensely grateful and proud."

International workshop of student innovation

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:20:56 GMT

International Workshop of Student Innovation

21 November 2024; 09:00 - 18:00

MASTERCLASS : Aula Magna, Department of Economics (Via Voltapaletto 11)

WORKSHOP : Student Enterpreneurship Centre c/o Laboratorio Aperto (Via Castelnuovo 10)

Are you passionate about creating real-world solutions ?

Do you aim to make a lasting impact on your community while gaining entrepreneurial skills ?

Then, this is your chance to dive in!

Emilia-Romagna’s coastal ecosystem is threatened by the invasive blue crab , a species wreaking havoc on its biodiversity and local fishing and tourism industries. But where there are challenges, there are also opportunities. We’re inviting you to a solution-driven, hands-on workshop that tackles this urgent issue head-on!

The Workshop

In this dynamic, one-day intensive workshop organized by the European University Alliance COLOURS, you’ll collaborate with international peers from different fields to brainstorm, design, and develop innovative entrerpreneurial solutions that can engage with the blue crab emergency, all accompanied by a skilled mediator. Whether it’s new product ideas, market strategies, or sustainable techniques and methodologies, your creativity and insight will help imagine a better future for our region.

Why Join?

Develop entrepreneurial skills : Learn the ins and outs of business problem-solving, from ideation to execution.
Work with a multidisciplinary team : Collaborate with students from various backgrounds and bring diverse perspectives to the table.
Gain real-world experience : Contribute to solving a pressing environmental challenge, with the chance to turn your ideas into actionable projects.
Boost your CV : Get recognized for your innovative thinking and teamwork, gaining valuable skills for your future career.

Bring your ideas, your talent, and your energy.

The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges of our generation, and addressing invasive species like the blue crab is part of this issue. Whether you're passionate about starting entrepreneurial projects, supporting sustainability, or just brainstorming new solutions, your fresh perspective is exactly what we need.

Are you ready to take on the Blue Crab Challenge?

Apply now by filling out this form (deadline 15/11/2024!) and plunge into this opportunity!

At the end of the lab, a certificate of attendance will be issued. For those who cannot join us onsite, there is an opportunity to participate online via a link that will be shared before the event.

Participation of VUAS Representatives in the Youth Conference “Explore. Create. Change the World.”

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 08:55:01 GMT

On October 30, the youth conference “Explore. Create. Change the World.” took place, organized by the city of Ventspils – a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities – in collaboration with Ventspils State Gymnasium No. 1, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Ventspils Education Board, and the association “Development Factory.”

During the conference, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Rector Andris Vaivads shared his knowledge about northern lights hunting and research with the youth. An engaging lecture on the history of the universe was delivered by Riga Technical University Professor and VUAS alumnus Andris Slavinskis. Meanwhile, VUAS Faculty of Translation lecturer Aiga Bādere shared insights on the possibilities of machine translation post-editing. Ventspils State Gymnasium No. 1 alumnus Valters Vieško, who received a first-degree diploma at Latvia’s 48th National Student Research Work Conference, inspired students to develop scientific research projects. In the final part of the conference, participants engaged in a practical task titled “Analyze, Don’t Assume: Critical Thinking in Action.” Both youth attendees and invited municipal specialists and education system partners highly appreciated the conference.

This May, the Ventspils City Municipality’s Education Ecosystem Strategy for 2024–2030 was approved, affirming the municipality's focus on learning communities, collaborative networks, and partnerships in education management. The education ecosystem of Ventspils City Municipality encompasses a wide range of participants, including preschools, general education schools, interest-based and vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and organizations that implement adult and lifelong learning programs.

In recognition of Ventspils City Municipality’s contributions to promoting education, the city of Ventspils was admitted to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022. This international network consists of cities worldwide actively and successfully promoting lifelong learning. Currently, the network includes 356 cities from 79 countries.

Conference "Latvian Language in the European Union - Mutual Learning and Education"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 08:48:04 GMT

On 1 November, Aiga Bādere, Lecturer at the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Director of the Professional Bachelor's Study Programme, participated in the conference "Latvian in the European Union - Mutual Learning and Education".

This conference, devoted to Latvian language within the EU, took place for the 17th time and was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia in cooperation with the Directorate General for Translation of the European Commission, the EC Representation in Latvia and the State Language Centre. Aiga Badere presented a paper in the first session of the conference together with experts from the EC Directorate-General for Translation, the Customs Administration in Latvia, Riga Technical University and the Directorate-General for Multilingualism of the Court of Justice of the EU. The paper "Future-oriented education in a constantly changing environment - the different facets of the translation profession" focused on future-oriented education of translators, with particular reference to the experience of the VUAS Faculty of Translation Studies, professional development of translators, cooperation with industry and public education. The value of cooperation with industry, for example in the provision of student internships, and the importance of public education in raising awareness of the importance of translation and of translation as a multifaceted profession, changing but never losing its relevance, were highlighted.

A recording of the conference is available here: MFA Facebook account .

Photo: Laura Celmiņa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

VIRAC Organises a Workshop for WP5.1 of the RADIOBLOCKS Project Work Package

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:12:10 GMT

On October 28–29, 2024, the VIRAC hosted a workshop as part of the RADIOBLOCS project, titled "New Science in Radio Astronomy: Applying Cutting-Edge Technology to Enhance the Entire Data Chain, from Receiver to Final Output." The workshop brought together participants from the VIRAC, ASTRON (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy), and EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne).

The main objectives of the workshop were:

To establish a detailed plan for the next phases of the project.
To agree on deliverables and deadlines for the work packages, as well as to assign responsibilities to the respective institutions.

During the workshop, the use of potential GPU technologies for the project was discussed. Optimizing the use of computational resources requires selecting technologies that facilitate efficient communication between processes. The discussions explored several tools capable of improving algorithm performance while streamlining the software development process through optimized process management, eliminating the need for manual development of communication algorithms.

A key topic was the evaluation of the DASK framework, an open-source Python library designed for parallel and efficient processing of large datasets. DASK enables computations that surpass the memory or CPU limits of a single machine (see details: https://www.dask.org/ ). Its application is planned for the data processing needs of various interferometric telescope arrays, including the International LOFAR Telescope, the European Extremely Long Baseline Array, the Irbene Single Baseline Interferometer, and the upcoming Square Kilometre Array. The synergy between WP5.1 and other work packages of the RADIOBLOCKS project was also a key point of discussion.

The workshop further explored alternatives to the DASK framework, with a focus on Legate, a technology developed to seamlessly replace the popular Python package Numpy while leveraging GPU integration (see details: https://research.nvidia.com/publication/2019-11_legate-numpy-accelerated-and-distributed-array-computing ). Employing multiple frameworks throughout the project could provide valuable insights and recommendations for developing next-generation multi-core software for radio astronomy. A comparative analysis of the technologies discussed during the workshop could serve as the foundation for a comprehensive publication, highlighting the performance of different technologies under various parameters.

These activities were conducted as part of the project "New Science in Radio Astronomy: Applying Cutting-Edge Technology to Enhance the Entire Data Chain, from Receiver to Final Output" (RADIOBLOCKS), funded under project No. 101093934.

Ventspils Parallel VIII. Photos and video

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:00:31 GMT

On the 23rd and 24th of October, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted the conference ''Ventspils Parallel VIII. The Book - a Testimony of Time and Culture''. On the first day of the conference, experts, researchers and academics spoke on various topics related to books, writing and translation.

On the 24th of October, the conference continued as a literary workshop. The students of the Faculty of Translation Studies started an important project - the creation of a virtual book "Ventspils Parallel V-VIII", which brought together the papers and videos of the previous conferences. Illustrating the path of the book from the author to the reader, the creation of a virtual book of the previous conferences was dedicated.

Students of the Translation and Language Technology programme were involved in a literary workshop led by Astra Skrābane, Jānis Veckrācis, Aiga Badere and Aiga Veckalne. The students' task was to digitise and process articles, papers, video recordings, photographs and newspaper coverage from previous conferences. The task was not easy, as the materials had to be scanned, converted, formatted, transcribed, translated and edited, but it certainly encouraged cooperation and responsibility. The students tried to use different language technologies to process the material, while at the same time seeing the importance of human input. Students listened to instructions, tried to understand the unknown and the incomprehensible, worked in groups and were clearly aware that a book is not created in a day.

Master's Program in Translation Studies Receives Renewed Certification for Participation in the EMT Network

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:25:46 GMT

On October 24 and 25, Brussels hosted a meeting of participants in the European Master's in Translation (EMT) cooperation network, which was established and organized by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation. On the first day, Silga Sviķe, head of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences professional master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" (since September 2024 – "Translation and Terminology") Silga Sviķe, was awarded a certificate confirming that the program is included in the EMT network. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has been part of this network since 2011. The new certificate will be valid until 2029. The certificate confirms that the program meets internationally recognized quality standards, provides high-quality education, and excels in training young translators.

The EMT partner universities' master's program was represented at the meeting in Brussels by program director Silga Sviķe, who says: "It was a great pleasure and honour to represent our university and the Faculty of Translation Studies at this event. I am proud and satisfied with the work of my colleagues, because it is only together that we have achieved this result. In addition, we have been able to maintain the high quality of the program for 13 years. I am also very happy for the students who strengthen and enrich our participation in this program through their research, participation in events organized by EMT, and involvement in internships offered by EU institutions. Thank you all for your work!"

The fourth EMT network has accredited the largest number of translation programs ever for the next five years – a total of 81 master's programs from 78 European universities and one Lebanese university. Twenty-three countries are represented in this EMT convening. Participation in the EMT network is a mark of quality – this quality label is only awarded to educational programs that have been developed and are implemented in accordance with European Commission standards and changing market requirements.

The new EMT network event in Brussels discussed current issues in the education of interpreters and translators, changes in the profession in line with modern market requirements and identified needs and key issues to be addressed in the EMT's future work. Emphasis was placed on the importance of informing the public about the role of interpreters and translators in facilitating excellent communication, communication between industry professionals and the public, and ensuring access to information. We must all be aware of how dangerous the spread of machine-translated and unedited texts by professional translators can be to society. The issue of so-called " slow translation " was raised, which is the opposite of the often-held view that machine translation tools provide fast and accurate translations without additional processing. It is important to note that the role of human professional translators and interpreters will always be relevant, not only in the production of high-quality texts, but also in economic development. Moreover, multilingual communication will only continue to expand.

EMT is a centre of excellence, and the study programs included in the network aim to train outstanding translators in line with the European Union's higher education priorities to promote the involvement of young professionals in the labour market.

Representatives of the EMT network partner programs meet twice a year (in spring and autumn), share examples of good practice, promote cooperation, participate in working groups involving representatives of all partner programs, organize various events for students, and promote the strengthening of research.

Erasmus days 2024

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 11:30:02 GMT

This week, all of Europe is celebrating Erasmus Days! Erasmusdays2024 invites you to enrich your experience and think bigger!

We, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, are also taking part in this initiative and invite every student to the event "Erasmus days 2024", which will take place on Wednesday, 16 October 2024 at 18.00 in D0 – Student lounge room . The event will be held in English!

We will have Latvian representatives of the Erasmus Student Network as guests ;

Stories from Erasmus experiences;

Refreshments and valuable time!

If you have any questions - come to C301, email: erasmus@venta.lv

Conference "Ventspils parallel VIII. The Book - a Testimony of Era and Culture"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 09:50:17 GMT

On 23 and 24 October, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) will host a two-day conference "Ventspils Parallel VIII. The Book - a Testimony of Era and Culture." It will be dedicated to the 500th anniversary of Latvian book publishing.

On the first day of the conference, the 23rd of October, experts, researchers and academics will speak on various topics related to books, writing and translation. Among them will be Viesturs Zanders, senior researcher of the National Library of Latvia, professor of the University of Latvia; Laima Slava, art historian and publisher; Raimonds Ķirķis, the chief editor of "Neputns" publishing house; Laimonis Osis, bibliofil and book collector; Dr.philol. Astra Skrābane, leading researcher of VUAS, literary scholar Andra Konste and the Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies of VUAS, Assoc. prof. Dr.philol., editor of the literature department of the journal "Domuzīme" Jānis Veckrācis.

On the 24th of October, the conference will continue as a literary workshop at VUAS. Lecturers and students of the Faculty of Translation Studies of VUAS will create a virtual book "Ventspils Parallel V-VIII", which will bring together papers and videos from previous conferences. The literary workshop will be led by Astra Skrābane, Jānis Veckrācis, VUAS lecturer, Mgr. translat., PhD student Aiga Bādere and VUAS guest lecturer, MBA, PhD student Aiga Veckalne.

"Ventspils Parallel” started in 2006, when the Ventspils Library, VUAS and the International House of Writers and Translators organised an international conference "Ventspils Parallel. Heritage and the present". It was dedicated to the work of poets Fricis Dziesma (Forstmanis) and Juris Kronbergs.

The conference "Ventspils Parallel" provides a unique opportunity for everyone to hear excellent presentations, see and evaluate the evolution of important political, economic, historical and cultural-historical processes, their role and impact in the development of the city, the region and the country, as well as strengthens the self-confidence of Ventspils residents.

Financial support for the conference has been received from the National Library of Latvia, the Kurzeme Planning Region within the framework of the "Kurzeme Culture Programme 2024" implemented by the State Culture Capital Foundation within the target programme "Development Programme of Historical Latvian Lands" and others.

FTS Researcher Silga Sviķe Participates in an International Conference in Croatia

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 09:39:49 GMT

Silga Sviķe, researcher at the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences presented her research (poster presentation) "Pages of Latvian Historical Slang Dictionary: 'dzeršana' ('drinking')" at the 21st Congress of the European Association for Lexicography (EURALEX) "Lexicography and Semantics", which took place from October 8 to 12 in the Croatian city of Cavtat.

The congress was organized by the Croatian Language Institute. The topic of S. Sviķe's presentation is is both unusual and engaging; it provides an insight into Professor Juris Baldunčiks' compiled and yet unpublished historical slang dictionary material on the thematic field of "drinking."

EURALEX congresses are held every two years in a different location. This year, 270 participants from various countries around the world gathered in Cavtat to present their research. Current research in lexicography focuses on the use of artificial intelligence tools and large language models in practical lexicography, special lexicography, terminology and resource development for the translation of various types of texts, and lexicography solutions for so-called small, lesser-studied, and endangered languages, among other topics.

More about the event here: https://euralex.jezik.hr/

The collection of conference papers from the conference is available here: https://euralex.jezik.hr/proceedings/

Acknowledgements

Sincere gratitude to Professor J. Baldunčiks’ widow, Ingrīda Irbe, for providing access to the professor’s intellectual legacy, which made it possible to study and promote this work. S. Sviķe received Liene Neilande Scholarship, established by Stockholm University to support research in the Latvian language, for her participation in the conference. The development of Professor J. Baldunčiks’ Historical Slang Dictionary on the thematic field of "drinking" is financially supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation (contract No. 2024-1-LIT047).

First COLOURS Annual Conference

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 07:55:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the first annual COLOURS Conference, which will take place in Osijek, Croatia, from October 24-25, 2024, with a pre-conference day on October 23. This event will be organized by Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia in cooperation with Paderborn University, Germany. It represents a significant step in the development of our alliance, bringing together COLOURS partners, stakeholders, and students to discuss key initiatives and foster collaboration across institutions.

The conference will be held in a hybrid format, enabling wider participation from across the COLOURS community. Those who are unable to attend in person will have the opportunity to join online and engage with the sessions remotely.

The conference will provide a structured platform for sharing ideas and strengthening partnerships. The program will include workshops, presentations, and discussions focused on innovation, education, and strategic collaboration within the COLOURS network.

Key Details:

Pre-Conference Day (October 23) : Field study focused on the COLOURS Smart Specialization Strategy IT and Digital Transformation, for internal COLOURS members.

Day 1 (October 24) : COLOURS Innovation & Engagement Day, involving external partners and stakeholders, with workshops highlighting Smart Specialization Strategies and a session dedicated to student talent development.

Day 2 (October 25) : COLOURS Collaborative Progress Day, aimed at reinforcing internal collaborations, featuring the “Creators’ Corner” for showcasing innovative solutions and projects.

We invite all partner universities to contribute ideas, and participate actively in the program. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a pioneering event that celebrates collaboration and the creative spirit of our alliance.

Please register here by October 14, 2024

New Study Course for Master’s Program "Strategic Intercultural Communication" Students with 6 European Universities

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 06:30:41 GMT

From this year, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Master's study program "Strategic Intercultural Communication" includes study course "Digital Corporate Communication Strategies", within which our students together with other Master's students from different universities will participate in the "Global virtual teams" project.

Students will work in multicultural teams, mixed from different universities, to develop a digital communication strategy for the expansion of a company in another country's market. This project is a simulation and the strategies will not reach the selected companies, but it will be good practice for the students to work in international teams and try their hand at developing strategic documents.

The project will run for 10 weeks, from 7 October to 13 December, during which the students will work independently in teams, participate in virtual workshops and consultations, and, at the end, present their work. The project will allow students to put into practice their knowledge of intercultural communication they have acquired in the studies, improve their digital skills, learn about the benefits and challenges of multicultural virtual teams, and exchange knowledge and experience with students and lecturers from other universities who act as team mentors in the project. The mentor and lecturer in the project from VUAS is guest lecturer Elīza Cimdiņa.

This international study project, led by the Paderborn University, has been running for several years. It is intended to be conducted entirely virtually, using the Paderborn University's e-learning platform KOMO. This will also give the VUAS representatives opportunity to adopt good practices in using e-learning platforms for virtual course delivery.

The project will bring together students and lecturers from 6 European universities: Clermont Auvergne University (France), University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (Czech Republic), Paderborn University (Germany), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland), University St Kliment Ohridski Bitola (Northern Macedonia) and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia).

Along with VUAS, the “COLOURS” Alliance university from Northern Macedonia has also joined the project this year. It is this European University Alliance "COLOURS" that is the basis for new faculty friendships and new faculty cooperation. This is a practical example of how the “COLOURS” Alliance colours and enriches our study process.

VIRAC researcher will give a lecture at the Astronomy School

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 15:21:58 GMT

On 11 October, a hybrid lecture "Astronomy School" is planned at Liepāja Rainis Secondary School in room 124 or remotely in MS Teams

Topic: The European Space Agency's JUICE (Jupiter's Icy Moons Exploration Mission): First Year in Space"

Lecturer: Vladislav Bezrukov, Researcher, Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC)"

Lecture information:

*ESA JUICE - PRIDE experiment.

*JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) is ESA's large-class science mission, launched in April 2023 and expected to reach the Jupiter system in 2030. JUICE's main goal is to explore the habitable zone around Jupiter, including its icy moons. Ganymede is a priority object that offers unique opportunities to analyse the nature and evolution of the icy world, including the properties of subglacial oceans. The study of Europa's moon will focus on recently active areas, while Callisto will be studied as a witness to the early solar system. The mission includes scientific studies using 11 instruments on the spacecraft as well as the ground-based radio astronomy experiment PRIDE.

VIRAC participates in the radio astronomy component of the JUICE mission, the Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE). The principle of PRIDE is the observation of spacecraft radio signals using a network of Earth-based radio telescopes with VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) technology. The main PRIDE measurements are the spacecraft coordinates and radial velocity. These data help to improve the ephemeris of the Jupiter system and support the interdisciplinary scientific research of the JUICE Mission.

H.E. Mr. Gyorgy Urkuti, Ambassador of Hungary to Latvia, visits VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 07:37:07 GMT

Last week, students and staff of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences welcomed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Latvia, H.E. Mr. György Urkuti, together with the Embassy's Attaché for Foreign Economic Affairs, Mr Péter Soltész, as part of a regional visit. Mr Soltész welcomed the students with a fascinating lecture on the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is running from 1 July to 31 December 2024.

During his visit, the Ambassador met with undergraduate and postgraduate students and lecturers, discussing not only the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, but also other issues of interest to students related to Europe, politics, diplomacy and the European Union.

During the visit, an exhibition on the inventions and achievements of Hungarian scientists was also presented in the library of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Everyone is welcome to visit the VUAS library to see inventions and discoveries such as transparent beton, tekbol and the Rubik's Cube!

Finally, Mr Ambassador highly appreciated the insightful questions from our students and the fascinating discussions that took place during the lecture.

At the end of the day, H.E. Mr. György Urkuti and his colleague visited our unique science educational centre, the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre in Irbene.

FoTS Student Participates in an International Conference

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 07:18:17 GMT

Ilze Jaunzeme, a 3rd year student of the Bachelor's study programme "Translation and Language Technology" at the Faculty of Translation Studies, participated in the 11th International Baltic Student Conference "Bridges in the Baltics", which took place in Vilnius on 4 and 5 October, with the largest number of participants in the history of the event. Our student presented her research on the cultural and linguistic meanings of the blue colour.

Ilze herself says: "I wanted to participate to help me prepare for my bachelor thesis and to gain valuable experience. I like to test the limits of my abilities. All the participants were students, I was among my peers, and that gave me a feeling of confidence. I am glad to learn about the diversity of student research, it will inspire me to keep up my studies and continue to do more. I should add that the organisers partially refunded travel and accommodation expenses; student involvement is really appreciated and supported. I also received a certificate of participation at the end of the conference. Next year's conference will be held in Riga - I will have to think of a good reason to attend this conference again. I hope that the students of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will also take the opportunity to participate in an international student event here in Latvia. It is really worth participating, and it is free of charge."

FoTS lecturers and students participated in terminology conference at the National Library of Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:11:55 GMT

On 4 October, representatives of the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) participated in the conference on terminology issues "Characteristics of Latvian terminology development in the context of content and technology", which took place in Riga, at the National Library of Latvia (LNL).

The conference was opened by Dagnija Baltiņa, Director of the National Library of Latvia, and the opening speeches were given by prof. Māris Baltiņš, Chairman of the Terminology Commission of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. The Head of the Department of Terminology and Legal Translation of the State Language Centre Arturs Krastiņš informed about the development and publication of terminology at the State Language Centre, followed by a report by Daina Pakalna on the usability, validity and performance of the Latvian National Terminology Portal, as well as a report on the results of a survey of the portal's users, presented by Aija Uzula. Elīna Peina reported on current issues in the development of Latvian terminography.

After the presentations, an interesting discussion on the sustainability and changeability of terminology in the digital age took place, with the participation of both industry and academia, and at the end of the conference there was an opportunity to attend the thematic workshop "Terminological Literacy: Theory and Practice".

The event was attended by a many FTS students, as well as FTS alumni already working in the translation market. Terminology issues are always topical and important for every translator, so conferences like this are essential for every translator's practice. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences was represented by the Dean of FTS Jānis Veckrācis, lecturers Aiga Bādere and Silga Sviķe. During the workshop at the second part of the conference Silga Sviķe talked about the courses and projects in terminology realized at the FTS and led the workshop "New resources for translating biology texts: opportunities and advantages".

Information prepared by Silga Sviķe

FTS Lecturers and Students Participate in a Terminology Conference at the National Library of Latvia

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 09:44:15 GMT

On October 4, representatives of the Faculty of Translation Studies participated in a conference dedicated to terminology issues, "Characteristics of the Development of Latvian Language Terminology in the Context of Content and Technology," which took place at the National Library of Latvia in Riga (LNB).

The conference was opened by LNB Director Dagnija Baltiņa, and introductory remarks were given by Prof. Māris Baltiņš, Chair of the Terminology Commission of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Arturs Krastiņš, Head of the Terminology and Legal Translation Department at the State Language Centre, provided information on the development and publication of terminology at the State Language Centre, followed by a presentation by Daina Pakalna on the usability, validity, and performance of the Latvian National Terminology Portal, as well as a report on the results of a user survey of the portal, presented by Aija Uzula. Elīna Peina gave a presentation on current issues in the development of Latvian terminology. The presentations were followed by an engaging discussion on the stability and variability of terminology in the digital age, with the participation of representatives from both industry and academia. At the end of the conference, participants had the opportunity to attend a thematic workshop entitled "Terminological Literacy: Theory and Practice."

The event was attended by a large group of FTS students, as well as FTS graduates who are already working in the translation industry. Terminology issues are always relevant and important for every translator, which is why such conferences are essential for every translator's practice. Ventspils University was represented at the conference by FTS Dean Jānis Veckrācis and lecturers Aiga Bādere and Silga Sviķe, who, in a workshop organized during the second part of the conference, talked about the courses and projects in terminology implemented at the Faculty of Translation Studies at VUAS and led a workshop entitled "New Resources for Translating Biology Texts: Opportunities and Advantages."

Information prepared by: FTS docent Silga Sviķe

The kick-off of the Astrophysics Centre for Multimessenger studies in Europe ACME, an EU-funded project built by and for the astroparticle and the astronomy communities

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 09:27:31 GMT

On the 16th and 17th of September was held in Paris the kick-off meeting for the Astrophysics Centre for Multimessenger studies in Europe - ACME. This HORIZON-INFRA-2023-SERV-01 EU-funded project coordinated by Centre national de la recherche scientifique CNRS aims to realize an ambitious coordinated European-wide optimization of the accessibility and cohesion between multiple leading astroparticle and astronomy research infrastructures, offering access to instruments, data and expertise, focused on the new science of multi-messenger astrophysics.

With 40 world-class collaborating institutions from 15 countries, ACME brings together the astroparticle and astronomy communities in a joint effort to forge a basis for strengthened long-term collaboration between these research infrastructures irrespective of location and level up access opportunities across Europe and beyond.

ACME objectives are to implement the Astroparticle Physics European Consortium’s (APPEC) and the Planning and Advisory Network for European Astronomy’s (ASTRONET) roadmaps’ recommendations and act as a pathfinder to broaden and improve access to the respective research infrastructures services and data, assess and evaluate new models for better coordination and provision of at-scale services, provide harmonized trans-national and virtual access, develop centres of expertise, improve science data products management, improve interoperable systems for rapid identification of astrophysical candidate events and alert distribution to optimize follow-up observations, provide training for a new and broader generation of scientists and engineers, open the astrophysics and astroparticle physics data sets to other disciplines and increase citizen engagement.

The ACME project coordinator Prof. Antoine Kouchner (CNRS/Université Paris Cité), and co-coordinator Paolo D’Avanzo (INAF), represent each community to ensure balance and drive cross-domain collaboration.

The Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) is dedicated to research in radio astronomy, astrophysics, and space sciences. Its key instruments include the fully steerable parabolic antennas RT-16 and RT-32, and the LOFAR-LATVIA station. A primary scientific goal is conducting VLBI observations in collaboration with global networks like the European VLBI Network (EVN) and LOFAR. VIRAC has rapidly expanded beyond radio astronomy and astrophysics to include robust scientific groups in satellite communication, space technologies, and high-performance computing. As part of the ACME project, VIRAC will provide transnational access to its infrastructure, coordinated by Dr. Ivar Shmeld and Vladislavs Bezrukovs.

Project page: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101131928

Contact:

Antoine KOUCHNER, Scientific Coordinator (CNRS/UPCité): kouchner@apc.in2p3.fr

Paolo D’AVANZO, Scientific Co-coordinator (INAF): paolo.davanzo@inaf.it

Julie EPAS, Project Manager (CNRS): epas@apc.in2p3.fr

Vladislavs Bezrukovs (VIRAC): vladislavsb@venta.lv

More information:

Multi-messenger astronomy is the coordinated observation and interpretation of multiple signals received from the same astronomical event. Many types of cosmological events involve complex interactions between a variety of astrophysical processes, each of which may independently emit signals of a characteristic "messenger" type: electromagnetic radiation (including infrared, visible light and X-rays), gravitational waves, neutrinos, and cosmic rays. When received on Earth, identifying that disparate observations were generated by the same source can allow for improved reconstruction or a better understanding of the event, and reveals more information about the source.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Representatives of the Faculty of Translation Studies participated in the European Language Festival

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 11:36:57 GMT

On September 28, representatives from the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the widely attended European Language Festival, which took place in Riga at the National Library of Latvia. The festival was initiated by the European Commission Representation in Latvia and also marked the 20th anniversary of Latvia's accession to the European Union, as well as the inclusion of the Latvian language as one of the EU's official languages.

Visitors to the event had the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of languages, engage in interactive language tasks, and learn about study opportunities at the Faculty of Translation Studies.

The Bachelor's program “Translation and Language Technology” was represented by second-year student Sofija Žernovoja and third-year students Ilze Jaunzeme, Matīss Jansons, and Natālija Dolgova. Reflecting on the event, Ilze Jaunzeme said: “I enjoyed the diversity of workshops and tasks. I was surprised to learn that such a festival is taking place in Latvia for the first time. It should become an annual tradition, as the event was truly impactful. It was a pleasure to represent our faculty alongside my classmates and lecturers. We also prepared several creative tasks ourselves. I think we managed to be active, distinct, vibrant, and engaging for the visitors.”

The event was also attended by lecturers Silga Sviķe and Aiga Bādere, as well as the dean, Jānis Veckrācis, who participated in the discussion “Translation Studies: Future Perspectives.”

Future Interpreters and Translators Visit the Regional State Archive of Ventspils

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 11:44:18 GMT

On Wednesday, September 25, students from the professional bachelor's and master's programs at the Faculty of Translation Studies, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, visited the Regional State Archive of Ventspils. Archive expert Inga Upaciere conducted an engaging session during the visit. This year, the archive celebrates its 60th anniversary, making the visit particularly exciting with interesting materials on display and various exhibitions set up in the archive’s premises.

Students had the unique opportunity to visit the materials storage room, which is typically inaccessible to visitors. There, Inga Upaciere explained the conditions required for document preservation, and students got to experience the storage environment—darkness and coolness. She also presented best practices for ensuring the proper storage of documents entrusted to the archive, following the legal requirement of a 75-year retention period.

It was fascinating and useful to learn about the languages of the documents stored at the Regional State Archive of Ventspils and how archive inquiries are prepared based on various stored documents. The work of an archivist can be incredibly intriguing and sometimes demands detective-like skills, such as deciphering unknown abbreviations, acronyms, or illegible handwriting. Students learned about the largest ledger book, the thickest inquiry document book, and the challenges faced when preparing an inquiry that requires translating a document's content. Occasionally, documents are incorrectly prepared—for instance, a person's name in a document might have been altered, yet the recipient of the inquiry expects accurate data. In such cases, the archivist must be creative, adding supplementary materials and other supporting documents to correct the error.

Students also learned about the challenges faced by archive workers, as the 21st century demands digital solutions. They asked many questions about the languages in which documents are drafted, document translation, and preservation processes. This excursion provided students with valuable insights into the importance of document preparation, as translators can never predict the types of documents they might encounter in their practice.

At the end of the visit, both students and the archive expert concluded that any entrusted task related to document preparation, translation, or preservation must be carried out with great care and responsibility.

A big thank you to the Regional State Archive of Ventspils for hosting the visit and to archive expert Inga Upaciere for her valuable and engaging presentation!

Prepared by lecturer Silga Sviķe.

European Day of Languages

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 12:57:38 GMT

Enhance your language learning experience by joining us for activities such as language cafés, quizzes, videos, presentations and more in the languages of our nine partner universities :
Croatian , French , German , Italian , Latvian , Macedonian , Polish ,

Spanish and Swedish .

Registration

UCLM, LMU, UNIFE, HKR, UNIOS, UPB:

--> No need to register! To log in you simply:

go to Bloomhub

click on EduGAIN login

choose your institution and log in with your university account

UKLO, JDU, VUAS and external parties:

Send an email to stefanie.muehlbaecher@upb.de asking to register for the European Day of Languages. Please provide your name and email address.
The deadline is the 23 September 2024.

You will receive your login details via email on the 25 September.

On Researchers' Night, there will be an opportunity to meet scientists and visit the Radio Astronomy Center

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:26:29 GMT

On September 27, across Latvia, European Researchers' Night events will take place, where universities and scientific institutes will "open their doors" and offer a wide range of free events and activities.

During the day, the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) will offer tours and meetings with astronomers and engineers. In the evening, researchers from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and VIRAC will present topics such as small bodies of the Solar System, how to "hunt" the Northern Lights, and, weather permitting, provide opportunities to observe planets and the Moon through a telescope at the VIZIUM Science Center.

Tour at Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center

From 10:00 to 15:00, visit the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center in Irbene and meet astronomers and engineers. School groups of up to 25 visitors can register. Advance registration is required by sending an application to virac@venta.lv.

At the VIZIUM Science Center

From 19:00 to 21:00, the following presentations will take place:

Karina Šķirmante: Learn about the most interesting studies of small bodies in the Solar System.

The presentation will include 3D demonstrations showing the modeling of comet gas and dust environments in various scenarios.

Andris Vaivads: How to "hunt" the Northern Lights.

This talk will explain how the Northern Lights form, whether we can predict when they will occur, and what conditions are necessary to observe them in the Ventspils area.

Artūrs Vrubļevskis: Secrets of the origin of the solar wind.

Attendees will learn about studies of the Sun and the solar wind. The solar wind flows continuously and forms an interplanetary environment through which solar eruptions propagate. On Earth, these can cause geomagnetic storms. One goal of solar research is to better predict "space weather," which requires understanding the solar wind.

Sergejs Hiļķevičs: Development trends of the Latvian economy.

Attendees will be introduced to the main trends and challenges in the development of the Latvian economy. Various factors affecting the economy will be analyzed, and there will be opportunities to engage in discussions about future development possibilities.

Artis Aberfelds: Throughout the evening, there will be opportunities to observe planets through a telescope on the VIZIUM terrace, weather permitting.

Visitors to Researchers' Night will have the chance to converse with scientists on various topics of interest.

VIRAC young researchers participate in an international conference

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 07:07:30 GMT

For the period from 1.09.2024 to 06.09.2024 Jānis Šteinbergs, Karina Šķirmante and Artis Aberfelds, scientific staff of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre of Ventspils University of Applied Science, participated in the 16th European VLBI Network Symposium and Users' Meeting, where the results of the project "A single-baseline radio interferometer in a new age of transient astrophysics” (No. lzp-2022/1-0083)"

were presented.

The following papers were presented at the conference:

A. Aberfelds, "6.7 GHz Methanol masers in the IRAS 20126+4104 during minimum and maximum activity".
K. Šķirmante report "ACor: Automated Observation Scheduling and Data Management".
J.Šteinbergs report "VIRAC automated Single baseline interferometer data processing".

The 16th European VLBI Network Symposium and Users' Meeting conference discussed major achievements and challenges in the development of the European VLBI Network (EVN), focusing on the implementation of new technologies and interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, such as:

1. Introduction of new frequency band receivers and development of antennas

The conference focused on the improvement of EVN, in particular using high frequency bands such as K, Q and W-band receivers. Projects focused on developing new antenna arrays inspired by SKA (Square Kilometre Array) and ngVLA (Next Generation Very Large Array) designs to improve the efficiency of radio astronomical observations were presented.

2. Industry impact on frequencies reserved for radio astronomy

Several papers highlighted the increasing competition between radio astronomy and industry needs such as mobile networks and satellite communication services that use radio astronomy frequencies. This trend raises concerns about the future availability of resources for scientific observations.

3. Improvements in data processing and quicker access to the data from scientific observations

JIVE representatives reported on the increasing EVN workload and encouraged the increased use of e-VLBI mode, which allows faster availability of observational data, an essential factor for PhD students to complete their work on time. . Ideas were put forward at the conference to produce and store "science ready" data in the EVN archive to make it more accessible to the wider scientific community.

This conference marks an important step in the development of European radio astronomy, addressing both technological and political challenges.

Conference participant and researcher Artis Aberfelds presenting "6.7 GHz Methanol masers in the IRAS 20126+4104 during minimum and maximum activity"

Group picture of Conference participants

Conference participant and research assistant Janis Steinbergs, presenting the results of the project IVARS. On the left poster "VIRAC automated Single baseline interferometer data processing", on the right- poster "ACor: Automated Observation Scheduling and Data Management".

Conference participant and researcher Karina Skirmante, presenting the results of the project IVARS. On the left – poster "VIRAC automated Single baseline interferometer data processing", on the right – poster "ACor: Automated Observation Scheduling and Data Management".

Jānis Veckrācis on the show "Krustpunktā"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:19:56 GMT

On 16 September, the Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies, associate professor, leading researcher, poet, poetry critic, publicist, editor of the literature department of the magazine "Domuzīme" and linguist Jānis Veckrācis (Jānis Vādons) was interviewed on Latvian Radio 1 programme "Krustpunktā".

Marta Anete Vinniņa's Erasmus Success Story at the Tartu Observatory

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:52:53 GMT

My name is Marta, and I am a 4th-year student who spent last year outside Latvia, completing my studies at the Tartu Observatory in Estonia. I chose to participate in Erasmus mobility because I believe it is a unique opportunity every student should take advantage of. Firstly, it is a chance to broaden your horizons by experiencing the culture of another nation and achieving personal growth. Living outside our beloved Latvia (even if it's just Estonia) brings various challenges and situations, some of which can only be overcome with determination. Secondly, it is an opportunity to represent Latvia and your university internationally while building new networks that will undoubtedly be useful in the future. Thirdly, in my case, it was a chance to gain insight into the real working world and the industry related to my studies.

Regarding my experience with Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the Tartu Observatory, I can only share positive feedback, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences provided guidance on the necessary documents and insights into the experiences of previous interns. My coursemates and I were also encouraged to apply for Erasmus placement mobility by the program director, Jānis Šate, and senior students who had previously interned at Tartu. Additionally, collaboration with the Tartu Observatory was, in my opinion, very successful—my supervisor, Kaspars Laizāns, was highly supportive throughout the placement, helping to resolve various issues of different scales and importance. Weekly meetings with the project team were held to address problems collectively and offer support with internship tasks. However, it is worth noting that my internship work was part of a project that the team had only recently started, so the work organization process was somewhat chaotic.

This placement period was undoubtedly filled with benefits, both academically and personally. One of the key advantages was the opportunity to work on a European-scale project—the lunar rover “Kuupkulgur,” which, in my opinion, has significant potential for the future. It was also valuable to gain experience working in an international team where each team member had a master's or even doctoral-level education in their field. Among the main personal gains were improved financial and time management skills. My coursemates and I lived in Tartu, while the observatory was about a 25-minute drive away by car. Another personal gain was the opportunity to live outside Latvia and, more importantly, outside my family home, as I have lived in Ventspils with my family since childhood.

I must say that Estonian culture is noticeably different from Latvian culture, even though Estonia is our neighboring country. The first surprise was that nearly everyone at the Tartu Observatory wore slippers, with some even going barefoot. Initially, I was hesitant, but as the weather outside got colder, I also started wearing slippers at the observatory. Next highlight was that saunas are very important to Estonians, and, of course, the Tartu Observatory has its own sauna. An unforgettable experience was related to Tartu itself—it truly is a student-friendly, well-organized city with various entertainment options and cafes serving delicious food (especially pancakes) and drinks. Many people in Tartu use rental e-bikes, even during the winter. In terms of food, I felt at home because nearly every store in Tartu offered our own “Kārums” cottage cheese snacks.

For those starting Erasmus study mobility, I would recommend planning your finances carefully. Proper budgeting will help you avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of your Erasmus mobility! Another tip is to thoroughly evaluate and choose your accommodation. While living closer to your Erasmus school or placement site might seem better, in my case, the observatory was located outside Tartu in a small town with limited entertainment and leisure options. I was glad my coursemates and I chose to live in Tartu instead. Lastly, don’t hesitate to ask for help if something goes wrong or is unclear—Erasmus students are warmly welcomed and supported.

Overall, I am very grateful for this opportunity and the experience I gained during my Erasmus placement mobility, and I will certainly recommend this opportunity to other students!

Scholarships Awarded to Outstanding Students in the ICT Field

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 07:24:31 GMT

On Tuesday, September 10, Ventspils State City Municipality awarded scholarships for excellence in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This year, a total of 23 applications were received, and after careful evaluation by the scholarship committee, 10 outstanding students were selected to receive the scholarships. The festive event featured musical performances by Sabīne Mustermane, a student at the Ventspils Music Secondary School.

The ICT Excellence Scholarship is awarded annually to ten students. It provides monthly support of €250 for a period of 10 months.

Students who were awarded a scholarship this year:

Madara Roze Balacka
Daniels Baliks
Vineta Liliana Dudone
Samuels Gintars Dzalbs
Marta Dzelme
Deniss Solovjovs
Daniils Dominiks Štrāls
Roberts Tūbelis
Jeļizaveta Vetaškova
Tomass Žukovskis

Marine Le Cordroch from France. Erasmus+ story

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 10:51:10 GMT

Tell us a little about yourself!

My name is Marine Le Cordroch, I am from France from Brittany, in the west part of it. I am in my third year of Business studies and foreign languages in the university of south britanny in Lorient. I love watching movies and series and listening to music, I love going to festivals and concerts. And overall, I am a traveller who love exploring new countries and cultures. In university, I have done an internship from the 2nd of April to the 24th of May, and I have asssisted Helena Koha, the Erasmus+ coordinator, in the international office.

How did you decide to do your internship in Latvia, at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences ?

A few reasons led to this choice. But I would say that the main one is my experience I had during my Erasmus semester in autumn. I came from the end of august until mid of january and everything happened so good. Erasmus was on my top things to do and that was the best decision I have ever made and I am very happy having chose Latvia as country because I did not want to go to a famous one but really experience something new. I discovered so many things during this semester. I met amazing friends. I lived alone for the first time abroad and I realized that I really liked it and did not really miss my relatives as some can. And just the fact to be away of what we know is a really great experience and I learnt a lot about myself. And my skills in english are better. So for the internship I knew it would not be hard because I knew how it would be being here and I wanted to discover the other part of Erasmus. Then, I saw Ventspils during winter, I had to see it in spring ! And the last thing is I know that having as experience a study period and an internship abroad is an advantage for the job market, espacially with the job I would like to do.

Tell us a little about the internship here, what you liked, what you didn't like, what were the tasks of the internship, any interesting projects you participated in, what skills or knowledge have you gained, etc.

I was in the international office with Helena. My main tasks wer to create visuals for communication, I really liked doing that because I like using design platforms and use my creativity. I also helped in the organization of some events. For me, I really liked to participate in the Culture days in which I represented France. I could share my culture and show it to the students, it was fun and the process to get here was interesting.

What are some similarities or differences between your internship/studies in France and Latvia? Are there any teaching methods or academic practices at VUAS that are different from those in France?

I would say that they are more differences than similarities. For having studied here, I can say that the lecture rhythm is not the same. I would say that it is more difficult in France, we can have a big day like start lecture at 8am and finish it at 6pm several times in a week, the same for the exam period, I was surprised that here there is a whole month to pass the exams, in france, we pass all in a week even if we have to do 2 exams in a day. But one difference is that here everyone speaks english very well and that is not the case in france. Most of people only know the basics and struggle to have a conversation with a non french-speaker.

Did you have any expectations about Latvia before coming here?

I did not really have expectations, I just came here without any cliches in order to be able to make my own thoughts about Latvia. Just maybe about the english thing but as I said, I was surprised to see that most of people I met are almost bilingual and I did not expect that, and that is a good surprise.

After staying here for several months, are there any things you very much liked about Latvia?

I loved a lot of things here in Latvia. Concerning the food, I discovered the “Biezpiena sierini Karums” and that is very good, I also got through the latvian culture with the balsam, the currant one and I have to say that now I love it. I have tasted quite a lot of typical latvian food and I almost liked everything. About songs, I have two that remind me a lot about some great moments I had here and it is “Lidmašīnas” and “Meitene”.

Being here in Latvia, what culture shock moments (cultural differences) did you experience?

I do not really have a big culture shock but indeed some stuff surprised me. The first one I would say that it is the way of greeting people, here you do not really great eachother or something, maybe it is because in France we do the kisses on the cheeks but I found that really weird for me to not do anything to greet. The second one is about alcohol, like you can not pop up in the street with alcoholic drinks or drink in it, it is forbideen so you have to hide yourselves. In France it is not forbidden, you can drink in the street or have alcoholic drinks in the street. And the last thing is th fact of how clean the streets are, there is no rubbish in the street and it is so nice to see people actually respect nature. That is not the case in France, it is common to see waste on the street.

Applications Open for the Bucher Municipal Scholarship

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:59:58 GMT

We invite 2nd and 3rd-year students of the Faculty of Economics and Management to apply for the Bucher Municipal Scholarship!

To apply for the scholarship, the applicant must submit an application form to the Chairperson(s) of the Scholarship and Loan Award Committee of the University of Economics in the Study Department C302 (Monday-Thursday) or by sending an e-mail to studijas@venta.lv (Friday-Sunday):

A letter of application containing a vision of your future place in the labour market and the steps you should take to achieve it, or a video application;
CV;
A transcript of your studies at VeA;
A report on your social or organisational activities and supporting documents, if any.

The goal of the Bucher Municipal Scholarship is to encourage students of the Faculty of Economics and Management at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) to participate in academics, research, and social activities. The scholarship supports students in the professional Bachelor's degree programs Business Management, Startup Management, and Management Science and trains them for the employment market.

In addition to financial support, the scholarship provides monthly experience-sharing sessions during the award period. These sessions will be held at Bucher Municipal premises, where recipients will meet department heads, specialists, and other staff to explore their career interests, goals, and desired knowledge areas. Each student will be assigned a contact person at Bucher Municipal, who will provide insight into the company's operations and departments.

The scholarship awards €150 per month from October 1 to June 30, transferred to the recipient’s designated bank account. The first payment in November will cover both October and November.

Historic Double Flyby of the ESA JUICE Mission Near the Moon

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:17:22 GMT

Last night, the European Space Agency's (ESA) probe Juice performed a flyby of the Moon, and during the night from 20th to 21 ^st August, it will conduct a flyby of Earth. This flyby marks the first-ever Moon-Earth gravity assist maneuver in the history of space exploration and is a significant step in Juice's long journey to the Jupiter system, which it is expected to reach in 2031. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is part of the Juice team to successfully carry out the mission.

The Juice interplanetary probe was launched in April 2023 and will reach its destination in July 2031, where it will study Jupiter and its three large icy moons: Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto, over several years. The mission will explore potential habitable environments around gas giants, as well as the Jupiter system, which serves as a model for many giant planets now known to orbit other stars. Juice will be the first interplanetary probe to orbit a moon—Ganymede—in the outer Solar System.

The Juice mission is an international collaboration involving institutions from around the world, including Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and its Engineering Institute, the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC). VIRAC is a partner in the Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE), a ground-based astronomical experiment. VUAS is also part of the scientific team for the Radio & Plasma Wave Investigation (RPWI), one of the ten scientific instruments on the Juice probe. Participation in Juice significantly strengthens VUAS’ role in international space research.

VIRAC's involvement in the PRIDE instrument began this year and was made possible thanks to the center's high expertise in radio astronomy and deep space communications. PRIDE uses Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) techniques, with the VSRC managing the Irbene radio telescopes, which are part of the international VLBI network. PRIDE provides precise measurements of Juice's spacecraft position and velocity—data essential for understanding the dynamics of Jupiter's icy moons and its complex environment.

During the gravity assist maneuver, Juice utilizes both the Moon's and Earth's gravitational fields to alter the probe's speed. Gravity assists allow for significant fuel savings when reaching distant locations in the solar system. Juice's closest approach to the Moon is at a distance of 700 km on August 20 at 00:16 Latvian time, followed by a flyby of Earth at a distance of 6,807 km on August 21 at 00:57 Latvian time. The next gravity assists are planned for 2025 (Venus), 2026 (Earth), and 2029 (Earth).

More information

Juice mission: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice

PRIDE experiment: https://www.jive.eu/jive-projects/esa-juice-pride

Contact person for Juice and PRIDE instrument at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences: Vladislavs Bezrukovs vladislavs.bezrukovs@venta.lv

A computer model created by Latvian scientists reproduces the creation of matter in deep space

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 06:51:55 GMT

For thousands of years, processes on tiny dust grains in star-forming cosmic nebulae have allowed the formation of substances that, in the case of the Solar System, were important for the origin of life and can be useful as resources for civilization. The formation of such organic and inorganic substances in the darkness of the universe has been influenced by many factors, including the temperature of various dust particles and the ability of molecules to attach, vibrate and detach from the surface of the dust particles. Many of these processes are now combined in one scientific numerical model, allowing astrochemistry simulations to provide unprecedented results.

Thermal radiation from dust in the star-forming Horsehead Nebula Barnard 33 in infrared light with the Hubble Space Telescope.

"The mathematical model studied the ability of molecules to freeze on microscopic mineral dust floating in gas in cosmic nebulae. As the matter freezes, a layer of ice forms on each speck of dust."

The research study, led by Juris Kalvāns, an astronomer from the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, July 2024. The study uses a mathematical model to reproduce matter in cosmic nebulae in the interstellar environment. The mathematical model describes the ability of molecules to freeze onto microscopic mineral dust grains floating in the gas of cosmic nebulae. As the matter freezes, a layer of ice forms on each dust particle. For the first time, the model includes such aspects as the different size and temperature of the dust, the internal structure of the ice sheet (different composition inside and outside), as well as the escape of molecules from the ice surface back into the gas via multiple mechanisms. The model has already made it possible to understand, why the composition of interstellar ices is similar in different cosmic nebulae in all directions. It turns out that the formation of ice is regulated simultaneously by several mechanisms. If one mechanism fails for some reason, another takes its place.

Such "interstellar ice" forming on dust particles is now known to us as comets, which are nothing but a remnants of the Sun's native cosmic nebula, which have survived almost intact the life of the Sun – 4.6 billion years. The main components of interstellar ice are well-known substances – water ice, carbon monoxide and dioxide, nitrogen, ammonia, methane, and methanol. Current knowledge indicates that comets delivered "ready-to-use" essence of organic compounds to the early Earth, possibly contributing to the emergence of life on the new planet, which at that time did not carry much organic substance. Today, comets are seen as a strategic resource in space, containing the most important raw material for interplanetary bases – water. It will be needed both to maintain a human crew and to obtain rocket fuel. Comets are also rich in the hydrogen isotope deuterium, which fuels nuclear fusion reactors.

"Space chemistry research allows us both to understand our origins and create knowledge that will be needed in the future" says Juris Kalvāns. Further applications of the highly developed model by his team will bring new discoveries, including about processes during the birth of stars.

MORE INFORMATION

This research was presented in a paper entitled “A multi-grain multi-layer astrochemical model with variable desorption energy for surface species" published in Astronomy & Astrophysics ( https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450015 ).

Astronomy & Astrophysics is the most important scientific journal of astronomy in Europe. It was founded in 1968 as a result of the merger of the national astronomy journals of Western and Northern European countries to create a journal equal in importance to the then-recognized British and American astronomical journals.

The work was carried out in the Fundamental and Applied Research Program of the Latvian Science Council project no. lzp-2021/1-0076 "Desorption of ice molecules in the interstellar medium (DIMD)".
Link to the project: https://www.venta.lv/zinatne/projekti/ledus-molekulu-desorbcija-starpzvaigznu-vide
Scientific manager J. Kalvāns, juris.kalvans@venta.lv
Administrative manager I. Kozlova, ievako@venta.lv

The VIRAC Scientific Workshop "Bulgaria-Latvia-Ukraine Initiative for Space Weather Research" was held

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:29:23 GMT

For the third year, researchers from the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) together with Bulgarian and Ukrainian colleagues are organising the scientific workshop "Bulgarian-Latvian-Ukrainian Initiative for Space Weather Research" in Primorsko, Bulgaria.

In early June this year, researchers from VIRAC participated in the international scientific conference "Solar Influences on the Magnetosphere, Ionosphere and Atmosphere, 16th Workshop 2024". Within the framework of the conference, VIRAC together with the Institute of Space Research and Technology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences organised a scientific workshop "Bulgaria-Latvia-Ukraine Initiative for Space Weather Investigations (BLU 2024)", which took place from 3 to 7 June. Both events took place in Primorsko, Bulgaria.

The main topics of the conference and workshop were:

Sun and Solar Activity;
Solar wind, magnetospheric and ionospheric interactions;
Solar influence on the lower atmosphere and climate;
Solar influence on the biosphere and lithosphere;
Space weather instruments;
Data processing and modelling.

During the conference, collaboration with colleagues from the Institute of Space Research and Technology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, on space weather and space climate topics was promoted.

Dmitrijs Kolotkovs represented VUAS at the conference, presenting an oral report "Multi-wavelength quasi-periodic pulsations as a new proxy of electric current systems in stellar flares". The abstract is available in the Conference Book of Abstracts, DOI: 10.31401/WSoz.2024.abs.

The BLU 2024 workshop was attended by Vladislavs Bezrukovs from VIRAC with "Advancements and scientific Endeavors at VSRC: latest developments and research activities", Janis Steinberg "Progress of VIRAC team using LOFAR station LV614" and Dmitrijs Bezrukovs "Microwave observations of the Sun in Irbene STEF project". Workshop programme and presentations are available at: Initiative for Space Weather Investigations 2024.

In recent years, the VIRAC team has gained considerable experience in making microwave observations of the Sun and is now able to make regular spectral polarimetric observations of the entire solar disk and selected active regions. Microwave emission is observed with the RT-32 radio telescope equipped with a multi-channel (12 frequency channels) spectral polarimeter in the 2.1-7.4 cm wavelength range and with both circular polarizations. Spectral observations of polarised solar microwave emission allow direct measurements of plasma parameters and magnetic field inductions in the upper chromosphere and lower corona at different altitudes. Current solar microwave observations could thus be used to investigate some of the challenges of space weathering. The conference and the scientific seminar papers are devoted to some technical and methodological issues of solar observations, which are actively pursued by the VIRAC. The presentations also addressed possible solar physics problems that could be investigated on the basis of microwave spectral polarimetry observations. The possibility of studying coronal holes and coronal hole-like regions ("dark coronal corridors", "coronal partings", "s-web") associated with local open magnetic fields that could be considered as sources of slow solar winds is also discussed, as well as the analysis of microwave flux variations in active regions before solar flares.

More information about the conference and the scientific workshop is available on the websites listed below:

https://spaceclimate.bas.bg/ws-sozopol/

https://en.venta.lv/initiative-for-space-weather-investigations-2024

These activities were part of the project "Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares" (STEF), No. lzp-2022/1-0017 and were funded by the project.

Student Liena Kaģe Participates in Multilingualism EU Summer School in Luxembourg

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 19:57:49 GMT

From July 1 to 6, Luxembourg hosted the first Multilingualism EU Summer School, organized by several European Union institutions for master's students from universities participating in the European Master in Translation (EMT) network. The Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Master's program in Translation is also part of the EMT network, and our university was represented at the summer school by Liena Kaģe, a student in this program. Liena shares her impressions of the summer school, which was attended by 32 students from 24 countries.

Luxembourg is a small country in the heart of Europe. It has a population of 672,050, of which just over half are Luxembourgish, with the rest comprising 169 other nationalities. The official languages – Luxembourgish, French, and German – are heard alongside many other languages spoken by the people of multicultural Luxembourg.

The location of the summer school was not chosen at random – it was in Luxembourg that the European Coal and Steel Community was founded in the early 1950s, which later became the European Union as we know it today. Today, Luxembourg is home to several European Union institutions, and we, the summer school participants, visited most of them.

Day 1: Secretariat-General of the European Parliament

The summer school was opened in the Parliament building, where we were introduced to the week's program and got to know each other. I was pleasantly surprised by the students' erudition and language skills – knowledge of four, five or more languages was not the exception, but the norm. I met young people who were fluent in six languages and could switch from one language to another without difficulty during a conversation. Most of the students specialized in written translation, three students specialized in interpreting, and a few others represented the field of law.

After getting acquainted, we were divided into groups: some students attended a master class on subtitling and dubbing, while others worked in the Europarl radio workshop. In the afternoon, each student had the opportunity to meet with a translator from the European Parliament's translation departments who worked in their language to discuss the translation of a previously assigned text and learn about the specifics of the work of Parliament translators. At the end of the busy day, we visited the newly created museum about the European Union.

Day 2: Court of Justice of the European Union

The Court of Justice of the European Union is the largest court in Europe. Its multilingualism makes it unique in the world, as proceedings can be conducted in any of the official languages of the EU. The Court is in several buildings, four of which are towers. All the buildings are interconnected, and it took almost 10 minutes to walk from one end of the Court to the other.

Summer school students had the opportunity to attend a court hearing and listen to the debates. Before the hearing, we were given a short presentation on the case. The court proceedings were interpreted into several languages, including Latvian. I was proud to hear the high-quality performance of the Latvian interpreter and to see Latvian judge Ineta Ziemele at work!

In the afternoon, we were again divided into groups – the future interpreters had the opportunity to meet with the Court interpreters, while we, the translators, had a presentation on how the principle of multilingualism works in practice. After that, we went on a tour of the Court.

The organizers had not only arranged comfortable accommodation in a hotel, but also ensured that we could socialize every evening, enjoying dinner together in one of Luxembourg's restaurants.

Day 3: European Court of Auditors and Translation Centre of the European Union Institutions (CdT)

On the third day, we visited the Court of Auditors. It was interesting to learn that this institution has very small teams of translators – only four translators for each language (except for French, which has eight translators, and English, which has ten). After listening to a valuable presentation by the English language department on plain language and asking questions, we were divided into language groups to do some practical work with one of the Court's translators – translating a press release using the principles of plain language.

Practical work in groups: Latvian students together with translator Inga Stodere, who shared her experience of working at the Court of Auditors.

In the second part of the day, we listened to a presentation by the Translation Centre on the IATE terminology database, saw its " background" and learned about the steps taken with a term before it becomes available in the database.

After an informative day, we went on a guided tour of Luxembourg city, where we saw the ancient old town of Grund and the architecture of the city centre, which blends artistically into the picturesque landscape.

Day 4: European Commission and Publications Office of the European Union

At the European Commission, we were treated to interesting presentations about working at the Commission, the possibilities of artificial intelligence in translation, and working with large language models. Here I gained an important insight into the fact that, as the translation profession changes, it is increasingly necessary to have not only good language skills, but also strong IT skills.

After the question and answer session, we had the opportunity to meet with translators of our own language. Latvian students had the opportunity to talk to translator Jānis Līmežs, who also studied and worked at Ventspils University College. Jānis talked about his work at the Commission and his life in Luxembourg, as well as sharing his experience of various practical aspects of translation work.

We spent the second half of the day in another building – the Publications Office of the European Union. Time flew by here – after presentations on the Office's activities, we went to see the archive, where all printed publications since the beginning of the European Union are stored. Not only the Official Journals are collected here, but also all brochures, posters, and other printed materials published by EU institutions. I found the part of the archive containing the legislation that each country had to translate upon joining the European Union particularly interesting. The legal acts binding on Latvia are arranged on four shelves. Standing there, I had a special feeling, because I could touch documents that have directly influenced my life.

At the end of the day, we met with editors from the Publications Office, discussed the specifics of their work, and carried out a practical task in groups – we edited a text intended for publication. When that was done, we listened to valuable information about job opportunities in EU institutions and the EPSO selection procedure.

Day 5: European Investment Bank

On the last day of the working week, we visited the European Investment Bank. Upon arriving at the meeting room, we felt privileged, as high-ranking officials gather here for meetings. We listened to interesting presentations about the EIB and the work of the translation department, and we also learned about how skilfully multilingualism is integrated into the Luxembourg education system.

Day 6: end of summer school

On Saturday morning, we went on a short excursion to Mullerthal, a place known as Luxembourg's little Switzerland. After an intensive week of studying, this short excursion was just what we needed. As we climbed the steep, rocky trails and enjoyed the beauty of unspoiled nature, we looked back with satisfaction on the week we had experienced. Lots of new information and impressions, new friends, and life in a multicultural environment – it was an invaluable experience that I wish every student could have!

Some recommendations if you want to pursue a career in EU institutions

Learn foreign languages actively! Young Europeans start out in the job market from a strong position, as they not only speak several foreign languages, but often have also mastered another specialty. This makes them much more competitive in the international environment.

Learn French! All the institutions we visited emphasized the importance of French as a working language; this was particularly emphasized at the Court of Justice of the European Union, where knowledge of French is essential.

Get involved in international student life by taking advantage of the study and internship programs offered by the EU! This is a great opportunity not only to travel, broaden your horizons, and learn languages, but also a practical way to get to know the profession of interpreter/translator.

Thank you to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences for the opportunity to participate in the summer school and represent the university!

Thank you to the organizers of the Multilingualism EU Summer School for this wonderful experience!

Applications for the master's program in "Translation and Terminology " are open from July 16 to 22.

Latvian computer scientists conquer the field of space modeling

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 11:07:24 GMT

The Latvian-based technology startup Nanocraft models the target comet of the European Space Agency’s Comet Interceptor spacecraft, its activity, and possible flight scenarios. Such a mission with an unknown target comet is being developed for the first time.

In this project, the startup commits to providing the Comet Interceptor camera teams – OPIC, MIRMIS, and EnVisS – with synthetic photorealistic images depicting various comet flybys and potential comet activity. The Comet Interceptor is planned to be launched into space in 2029. “Since the mission’s target comet is not yet known, as it comes from the Oort Cloud, thousands of times farther from the Sun than the Earth, we help develop and test the camera and onboard algorithms with synthetic images,” explains Andris Slavinskis, co-founder of Nanocraft.

Piemērs fotoreālai modelēšanai – Blender vidē modelēts Saturns
Avots: “Nanocraft”, Mario F. Palos

Nanocraft has also begun work on an N-Space mission design tool that would be able to model space and near-Earth scenes in real-time.

“We’re seeing cameras become the primary navigation solution for both drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, and the same is happening in space technology. With N-Space, we want to develop an easy-to-use professional software tool that supports the new generation of technology. We see that cameras play a big role in decision-making, and their developers actively use synthetic images to teach algorithms,” explains A. Slavinskis.

The founders of the start-up company, Andris Slavinskis, Inese Lībiete, and Uldis Locāns, are young computer scientists with experience in developing technologies for space and Earth applications. They aim to conquer the field of space modeling with modern three-dimensional photorealistic technologies, which have already been evaluated by the European Space Agency and cooperation partners in Finland and Estonia.

The idea of founding Nanocraft came to them at the beginning of 2023, since the team has 10 years of experience in technology development and research, as well as a desire to use their abilities in space solutions. A. Slavinskis has worked on the “Comet Interceptor” mission at Aalto University in Finland and Tartu University in Estonia. Among his friends, he approached co-founders I. Lībiete and U. Locāns, who have extensive experience in science and the private sector.

I. Lībiete worked at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center during her master’s studies and afterward gained extensive experience in management, IT projects, and product development in various private companies. Currently, she works in the Comet Interceptor OPIC team at the University of Tartu. U. Locāns received a doctorate from the University of Latvia for his work at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland and later gained experience at both Intel and Microsoft, where he still works. After obtaining a PhD in physics from the University of Tartu, A. Slavinskis worked at the NASA Ames Research Center in California, where he developed the capabilities needed by Nanocraft in the field of space mission design.

To initiate cooperation with the European Space Agency, Nanocraft participated in the call of Latvia’s 2023 national program, which aimed to develop new sectors of space technology in Latvia.

Ventspils University and the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center are involved in implementing a European Space Agency project focused on modeling cometary activities, including both the comet’s atmosphere and its tail. Karina Šķirmante, a researcher at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center, has previously modeled comet activity in the radio frequency band to assess the feasibility of observing comets with Irbene radio telescopes. The center’s team possesses extensive experience in high-performance computing and data processing, enabling them to optimize the developed model on the high-performance clusters available at the center. Participation in the new project allows the center’s team to expand their expertise and join the Comet Interceptor team of scientists and engineers, creating new avenues for collaboration. The connection with Ventspils University is not coincidental, as it is where A. Slavinskis, I. Lībiete, and U. Locāns obtained their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science.

Čurjumova—Gerasimenko komēta 67P. Kreisais un vidējais attēls ir modelēts Blender vidē. Labais attēls ir iegūts ar EKA kosmosa kuģi Rosetta. Avots: Pajusalu et al. 2022 .

One of Us – Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 09:16:07 GMT

In mid-June, Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa, a graduate of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences professional master's program in "Translation of Applied Texts", received the prestigious 2024 AABS Undergraduate Paper in Baltic Studies award at the 29th conference "The Baltic Way: Unity and Assistance" at Yale University in New Haven, USA, for her research paper "Latvian environmental term 'purvs': Problems and solutions in Latvian-English-Latvian translations of helonyms". We invited Linda for an interview to find out how she achieved this great success!

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Although I excelled at languages, literature, and writing during my school years, I wanted to pursue a career in art rather than languages. At the time, I didn't think about language as a valuable resource that could be used in my career search, nor did I know that translation was a real profession. I used to be interested in painting and decided to study at an art high school to become a clothing designer. If I could go back in time and change that choice, I would choose to study languages instead of art in high school in order to build a stronger foundation in language skills. On the other hand, my translation studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences have led to me no longer being able to write like a normal person — I often catch myself thinking about the most precise choice of words and whether a particular sentence should be split into two shorter sentences to make it easier for my family. When I receive a carefree string of words in response, where I can safely place punctuation marks as I see fit, I realize that I am strange, I calm down and record a voice message. In my free time, I like to go for long walks with my best friend - my dog Renci. If I want peace and need to recharge my batteries, we go to the forest, but if my mind is cluttered with too many thoughts, we choose the sea as our destination. It's best to go there when it's windy, so that my head is cleared and my mind is like a blank sheet of paper, clean and ready for new ideas. One thing I realized quite recently is that nowadays there is no such thing as "free time" because there is always something to do, so you simply must make time for yourself.

In winter, you defended your master's thesis with honours. Can you tell us what your studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences were like?

For a long time, I couldn't bring myself to start my bachelor's studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences because it seemed that four years was too long to study translation. When I started thinking about writing my course paper in my third year of studies, I wanted someone to "add" a fifth year, because, together with lectures and absorbing new information, studies turn out to be a rather intense process, which in my case passed by unnoticed. Since my bachelor's studies were intense and I quickly forgot some of what I had learned due to fatigue, my master's studies were valuable in that I was able to consolidate my existing knowledge and find the missing pieces of the puzzle to create a clearer picture of the translation process. Frankly speaking, translation is a field where it is difficult to see the big picture, because there are many words in language and it is constantly changing. A translator needs not only language skills, but also intuition, which tells them during the translation process that they have not "hit the nail on the head" with a particular word. It is an inner feeling when you know that something in the text is not right, but you don't really understand what and where. Then you must start searching and be able to look at the same text with different eyes. Our painting teacher at art school once told us that painting is a process of searching for mist in mist. The same can be said about translation. In terms of terminology, the greatest difficulty in my master's studies was translating medical texts, because it is a very specific field that requires in-depth knowledge, ideally a medical education, as translating such texts is a responsible process.

You have had several successes and achievements in the academic environment - can you tell us what projects you have participated in and what your role was in them?

I participated in the project "Specialized Biology Lexicon Information System Intelligent Complex for Language Diversity Research and Preservation" as a research assistant. It was an unusual and valuable experience that combined two areas of interest to me – terminology and nature. Working with plant names was particularly close to my heart and reaffirmed how important it is to work with topics that you enjoy, because I translate texts in some fields with gritted teeth. As part of the project, I also had the opportunity to participate in the international interdisciplinary conference "Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics," where we presented our research on "swamps." It was my first time participating in this type of conference, so I was very nervous before the conference, but later that nervousness was replaced by satisfaction with what we had accomplished. It is a pity that the project has come to an end, but I am glad that this work has a lasting and accessible result – the organism’s name database Bioleksipēdija.lv, which can be particularly useful for translators.

Congratulations on receiving the Baltic Association (AABS) award for your research on the environmental term "purvs" (bog). Could you tell us more about the research, the development process, and the results?

Thank you! The research on bog names began as a bachelor's thesis, which later, at the encouragement and with the help of my lecturer Silga Sviķe, became a scientific article. Although the road to a published article is long and consists of various details and corrections, the most difficult part is finding a topic that interests you and has not yet been described from a specific perspective. If you succeed in this, the rest is just a matter of doing the work. Students, myself included, realize too late that they should listen to their teachers' advice and start thinking about course topics in good time. Although nothing encourages you to write your thesis in a last-minute panic, I recommend that other students allow plenty of time to find a topic.

I came across the idea of bog names by chance while writing a course paper on plant names, and I largely consider it a fortunate coincidence. I noticed that translations of the same helonym, or marsh name, from Latvian into English did not match, and I began to investigate why. As a result of my research, I concluded that no comprehensive wetland classification system covering all the world's wetlands has been developed to date, and this uncertainty is also reflected in language. I enjoyed the research process and collecting materials the most, but planning the writing stage, especially dividing it into chapters, seemed the most difficult to me, as it requires a great deal of specificity and organizing my thoughts.

It is very impressive that this award was presented at the prestigious Yale University in the United States. How do you feel about this recognition and what does it mean to you?

This award was a complete surprise in the truest sense of the word, because I didn't know we were participating – Silga submitted the article for the competition, so my joy was twofold. Since I analyse the names of swamps in both Latvia and the US in the article, I really appreciate that a US university has also given this work a positive assessment. To be honest, I am happy about any recognition from anyone, but I am most happy about kind words from the harshest critics – small children. It is more important that the recognition is genuine and, of course, it is important that I am satisfied with what I have achieved.

What are your plans for the next five years? Are you planning to get a PhD?

I no longer try to make plans for several years ahead, because they always turn out differently, but I plan to do more of what brings me joy. I want to continue working with languages, not only in the translation industry, but also to try my hand at something more creative. I'm still thinking about doctoral studies, but I'll probably make that decision at the last minute, when life seems to have become too monotonous.

What advice would you give to prospective students who are just planning to start their bachelor's degree, and to graduates who are planning to study for a master's degree?

For those who are planning to start their studies and can't bring themselves to apply, I recommend just going ahead and doing it. Time will pass anyway, so it's better to spend it wisely. I also recommend starting to think about thesis topics on September 2 of your first year, because later it will be too late. If, however, you find yourself in a situation where May is already knocking on the door, your work has piled up, you are tired and "everything is bad," then you need to do as much as you can. It will still be better than nothing.

Would you like to add anything else?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our university's responsive and patient lecturers, who must correct the work of diligent students late into the evening every spring.

Book Launch for “Juris Baldunčiks. Academic Articles, Opinion Pieces, Interviews”

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 19:43:47 GMT

On Thursday, June 20, the Misiņš Library of the University of Latvia Academic Library hosted the launch of the collected works of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Professor Juris Baldunčiks (1950–2022), titled “Juris Baldunčiks. Academic Articles, Opinion Pieces, Interviews.”

This highly anticipated book, significant for the linguistic community, includes a foreword summarizing the key aspects of Professor Baldunčiks' pedagogical, public, translation, and scientific activities. The collection also features a bibliography of his academic and popular science articles, monographs, and dictionaries, insights into his unpublished research, and a selection of 30 academic articles, opinion pieces, and interviews. Two previously unpublished articles based on his prepared materials and presentations are also included: one on the history of the word "ceriņi" (lilac) and another on the terms used to describe "kūdra" (peat) in Latvian.

The event was attended by Professor Baldunčiks’ family, including his widow Ingrīda Irbe, his son Edgars Baldunčiks with his family, and his brother. The book’s editors—TSF lecturer Silga Sviķe and Associate Professor Jānis Veckrācis—along with TSF Acting Dean Associate Professor Astra Skrābane, TSF colleagues, Executive Director of VUAS Sniedze Šama, the Director of the University of Latvia Academic Library Venta Kocere, and the head of the publisher “Zinātne,” Ingrīda Segliņa, were also present. Other attendees included linguists and guests with an interest in the book’s themes.

Speeches were given by Dr. habil. philol. Ina Druviete, Professor at the University of Latvia, and Dr. habil. med. Māris Baltiņš, Chair of the Terminology Commission of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Following the formal ceremony, the discussions continued informally over glasses of wine.

The book “Juris Baldunčiks. Academic Articles, Opinion Pieces, Interviews” will be available for reading at the VUAS Library and major libraries across Latvia. It is also available for purchase through the publisher “Zinātne.”

Photo: Ingrīda Punka

Library opening hours in summer

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 08:14:37 GMT

From 01.07.24 to 21.07.24, the library will be closed.

During this period, we invite you to visit other Ventspils libraries:

Main Library (Akmeņu iela 2)
Pārventa Library (Tārgales iela 4)
Gāliņciems Library (Kuldīgas iela 138)

Visitors will be welcomed again starting from July 22:

Mon. 10:00-18:00

Tue. 10:00-18:00

Wed. 10:00-18:00

Thu. 10:00-18:00

Fri. 10:00-18:00

Sat., Sun. Closed

Successful Completion of Business Academy Bootcamp 2024

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:08:43 GMT

From June 14 to June 16, the Business Academy Bootcamp 2024 took place at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS)—a three-day camp organized by students of the bachelor’s program "Startup Management." The event welcomed 19 participants—potential "Startup Management" students from across Latvia. Over three days, these young individuals had the opportunity to explore the university, its programs, student life, and the city of Ventspils.

The event was organized by the student agency "BASAFUL" of the "Startup Management" program, with financial support from the Ventspils Cultural Centre. The primary goal was to provide participants with hands-on experience in business, technology, and startup creation, while also strengthening their teamwork and problem-solving skills. During the camp, participants worked in teams to address various problem scenarios, presenting their solutions to a jury at the camp's conclusion. The jury included the program director, mentors, and senior students.

The program featured inspiring lecturers and mentors, including:

Āris Birze, director and mentor of the "Startup Management" program at VUAS who led a masterclass on presentation skills.
Gints Reķēns, co-founder of the startup Wellif.ai, who spoke about burnout and strategies to avoid it.
Ilze Kundziņa, director of the SDSI master’s program and associate professor, who conducted a service design masterclass on solution development and prototyping.

Additionally, "Startup Management" students Ralfs Roga, Alise Plotova, and Anna Fiļipenoka shared their study experiences and led workshops on problem analysis and emotional intelligence.

Participants described the camp as both challenging and valuable, offering a fresh perspective on study opportunities at VUAS. Many noted that the "Startup Management" program has become a top choice for their university applications. They appreciated the personalized approach and the opportunity to build closer connections with students and faculty.

To learn more about the professional bachelor’s program "Startup Management" at VUAS and its benefits, visit https://businessacademy.lv/en/

Master’s Program in Translation Studies Joins the International Network of Simulated Translation Bureaus

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 18:57:32 GMT

The master’s program "Translation of Specialized Texts" at the Faculty of Translation Studies (TSF) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) has been accepted into the International Network of Simulated Translation Bureaus (INSTB), which brings together several European universities.

Universities within this network participate in a partnership program that incorporates simulated translation bureaus into their translation studies. These bureaus allow students to simulate the operations of a real translation agency, providing a practice-based component of their academic program, for which they receive credit points.

The concept of the simulated translation bureau, or "skills lab," was developed by representatives of the Maastricht School of Translation at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. The first simulated bureau was established in 1984. Since then, the Maastricht School of Translation has refined this concept and inspired other universities to join the program. The idea of a network of simulated translation bureaus originated in Maastricht in 2008 during a meeting of interested universities, and INSTB was officially established as an international network in 2015.

Universities are recognized as full INSTB members if they commit to fulfilling the program's objectives and meet the admission criteria.

Benefits for INSTB Members:

Member universities can issue an official INSTB certificate to their students.

Member universities are entitled to use the INSTB logo on their websites and other promotional materials, which serves as a quality mark for the program. The names of the member institutions are published on the INSTB website.

Participants benefit from the INSTB program, which includes a "brainstorming workshop" to develop translation evaluation criteria, internal and external audit systems for studies, criteria for assessing study practices, models for designing study programs, educator and student education programs, translation task exchange models, and a co-creation system for enhancing translator skills.

Members will have access to a useful INSTB online document repository.

Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the VeA TSF Master’s program "Translation and Terminology" will be part of this network, and its activities will be coordinated by the program lecturer, VUAS research assistant MBA Aiga Veckalne, who has extensive experience managing branches of the language services company "Skrivanek" in Eastern Europe. Aiga Veckalne teaches the course "Translation and Terminology Project Management" in the Master's program.

Admission to the Master's program for the 2024/2025 academic year will begin on July 16.

Master's Program in Translation Studies Accepted into the International Network of Simulated Translation Bureaus

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:39:09 GMT

The master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" at the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS FTS) has been accepted into the International Network of Simulated Translation Bureaus (INSTB), which unites several European universities.

The member universities of this network participate in a university partnership program in which universities and colleges use so-called training (simulated) translation bureaus in their translation studies. In these training translation bureaus, students work by simulating the activities of a real translation bureau. Participation in this program is integrated into the study process and is a practice-based part of the study program, for which credit points are awarded.

The idea of a training translation agency or "skills lab" was developed by representatives of the Maastricht School of Translation at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Its first training translation agency was established back in 1984. Since then, the Maastricht School of Translation has refined this idea and inspired other colleges and universities to join the program. The idea for a network of translation training offices was conceived in Maastricht in 2008, when interested colleges and universities gathered at a meeting there, but the INSTB was officially established as an international network in 2015.

Participating universities are recognized as full members of the INSTB if they commit to implementing the program's objectives and meet the admission criteria.

INSTB members enjoy the following benefits:

Participating universities are entitled to issue INSTB certificates to their students.
Participating universities are entitled to use the INSTB logo on their websites and in other presentation materials. This logo is a mark of the program's quality. The names of participating universities are published on the INSTB website.
Participants benefit from participation in the INSTB network program, as it implements a so-called idea generation workshop to develop translation assessment criteria, an internal and external study audit system, study practice assessment criteria, study program development models, student and teacher training programs, a translation task exchange model, and a collaborative system for improving translators' skills.
Participants will have access to a useful INSTB online document repository.

From the 2024/2025 academic year, the VUAS FTS master's program "Translation and Terminology" will operate within this network, and its activities will be coordinated by the master's program lecturer, VUAS research assistant MBA Aiga Veckalne, who has extensive experience in managing the Eastern European branches of the language services company "Skrivanek". Aiga Veckalne teaches the course "Translation and Terminology Work Management" in the master's program.

Admission to the master's program for the 2024/2025 academic year will begin on July 16.

Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa Receives Prestigious AABS Award for Students

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 18:47:45 GMT

Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa, a graduate of the professional master’s study program "Translation of Specialized Texts" at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, has been awarded the prestigious “2024 AABS Undergraduate Paper in Baltic Studies” at the 29th conference of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS). The conference, titled “Baltic Way: Unity and Assistance,” was held at Yale University in New Haven, USA. Her research, titled "Latvian environmental term 'purvs': Problems and solutions in Latvian-English-Latvian translations of helonyms", was recognized as an outstanding student paper.

From June 13 to June 16, the AABS conference at Yale University brought together scholars and awarded students for original and practically applicable academic research in various fields. Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa received the student award for her research exploring challenges and solutions in translating the Latvian environmental term "purvs" (swamp) in Latvian-English-Latvian helonym translations.

Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa is a 2024 graduate of the master’s program “Translation of Specialized Texts” at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. In 2022, she earned her professional bachelor’s degree from the same university with a thesis on helonym translation problems and solutions, which was graded “outstanding” and also earned her an AABS award. Linda’s research interests focus on translation and terminology.

Linda has contributed as a research assistant to the project “Smart Information System for Specialized Biological Lexis to Support Research and Preserve Linguistic Diversity” (2021-2023), implemented by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the Institute of Horticulture. She was involved in the development of a multilingual dictionary of botanical terms and has co-authored and individually published scientific articles, as well as presented her research at conferences.

Linda’s research on helonym translation is available here: https://kalbos.ktu.lt/index.php/KStud/article/view/33113

Congratulations to Linda on this well-deserved recognition!

Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the professional master’s program “Translation of Specialized Texts” will be offered under the new title “Translation and Terminology.” Applications for the program will open on July 16.

The annual meeting of the RADIOBLOCKS project has been held

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:45:21 GMT

From June 3 to June 6, 2024, scientists from the Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – Jānis Šteinbergs, Gints Jasmons, and Vladislavs Bezrukovs – participated in the annual meeting of the RADIOBLOCKS project ("New Science in Radio Astronomy: Applying Cutting-Edge Technology to Enhance the Entire Data Chain, from Receiver to Final Output"). The meeting was organized by JIVE-ERIC in collaboration with the Spanish National Observatory and held in Madrid, at the CEDEX facilities.

CEDEX – Centro de Estudios y Experimentación de Obras Públicas – is an innovative and avant-garde public institution capable of addressing civil engineering and environmental challenges globally and neutrally. It is located in the heart of Madrid, near the Royal Observatory of Madrid (Real Observatorio de Madrid). The Royal Observatory houses the National Astronomical Observatory (Observatorio Astronómico Nacional), which, along with the Yebes Observatory, is dedicated to scientific and technological research in radio astronomy.

The RADIOBLOCKS project aims to give a significant boost to Europe’s leading global research infrastructures in radio astronomy, such as EVN, LOFAR, and SKA. These infrastructures have made considerable investments over the years in both the maintenance of existing facilities and critical modernization programs, addressing shared challenges in their medium- and long-term scientific visions.

In this project, institutions responsible for these infrastructures, including Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, join forces with industry and academia partners to develop "common blocks" for technological solutions that exceed current technology levels. These solutions will enable a broad range of new scientific studies and enhance Europe’s scientific competitiveness. They share a common need to continuously improve their capabilities, creating opportunities for new science: sensitivity, field of view, bandwidth, angular, temporal, and frequency resolution, simultaneous data acquisition and processing, response time, and RFI mitigation.

Collaboration with industry to jointly develop advanced technologies will elevate partners' technological levels and strengthen their market positions, forming a genuine European innovation system. The project focuses on carefully targeted development work and addresses common aspects throughout the data chain, divided into four stages:

New detectors and components,
Digital receivers,
Data transmission and correlators,
Data post-processing.

During the meeting, discussions revolved around the latest computing technologies, such as the NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper superchip, the DASK framework, and other advancements in radio astronomy technology. Importantly, these technologies will also benefit VIRAC’s development.

The overall progress of the project activities was also reviewed. Collaboration between VIRAC and other RADIOBLOCKS project partners in the coming years was discussed. The meeting covered the future project implementation schedule, evaluated the current progress, and addressed the present status and successful execution of planned tasks.

These activities took place within the framework of the project “New Science in Radio Astronomy: Applying Cutting-Edge Technology to Enhance the Entire Data Chain, from Receiver to Final Output” (RADIOBLOCKS), project No. 101093934, and were funded by project resources.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Receives EMT Quality Mark

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 12:57:06 GMT

The professional master's study program "Translation of Applied Texts" at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is accredited for participation in the European Commission's cooperation network "European Master's in Translation" (EMT), which confirms compliance with internationally recognized quality standards in the training of translators.

The Faculty of Translation's study program "Translation of Applied Texts" has been accredited in the EMT network for the next five years – from 2024 to 2029. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has been a member of this network for 13 years, since 2011. This confirms the high quality of studies and the excellent training of young translators.

The EMT network program for the next five years (2024–2029) has accredited master's degree programs in translation studies from 23 countries. Participation in the EMT network is a mark of quality, and this quality label is only awarded to educational programs that have been developed and are implemented in accordance with European Commission standards and market requirements. The aim of the EMT network programs is to meet the European Union's higher education priorities – to improve the quality of translator training to promote the integration of young professionals into the labour market.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, the professional master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" will be implemented under the name "Translation and Terminology." The duration of the program will be one or two years, depending on the applicant's previous education. Applications for the program will be open from July 16.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – part of the CERN network

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 07:14:55 GMT

Latvia has become part of the global high-performance computing infrastructure community by joining the CERN supercomputer network. Henceforth, large-scale scientific data processing will also take place in Latvia, facilitated by researchers from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center. This historic moment is confirmed by a memorandum of understanding signed on June 5th by the Minister of Finance, Arvils Ašeradens, on behalf of the Minister of Education and Science, and CERN's Director of Information Technology and Research, Joachim Mnich.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Riga Technical University (RTU), the University of Latvia (LU), Rezekne Academy of Technologies (RTA), and the National Library of Latvia have pooled their high-performance computing (HPC) resources into the federated computing center "Latvia CERN CMS TIER2," allocating part of these resources to CERN for large-scale scientific data processing needs. The signing of the memorandum was also attended by Karina Šķirmante, a lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and a researcher at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center.

"The Large Hadron Collider remains the world's largest producer o f scientific data," Joachim Mnich said while signing the memorandum. The resources of Latvia's supercomputers will serve the CERN CMS (The Compact Muon Solenoid) experiment, which involves using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to simulate the Big Bang at very high energies and search for answers about the universe through measurements, aiming to uncover new physical phenomena.

Joining the CERN supercomputer network is another step for Latvia towards the goal of obtaining full CERN member state status, which could happen in a few years. At the memorandum signing event, A. Ašeradens confirmed that the government fully supports this goal and is ready to take the next step for Latvia to further integrate into CERN. Currently, since August 2, 2021, Latvia has been an associate member state of CERN.

Bachelor's and Master’s Theses Defended in Translation Study Programs

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 12:33:11 GMT

On Friday, June 7, students of the two-year professional bachelor's program "Translation and Language Technology" and the professional master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" defended their final theses.

The topics of the final theses of the bachelor's program students clearly demonstrate the professional interests of young translators.

These are:

the place of artificial intelligence in translation, where humans still win in competition with translations done by professional translators,
the localization of computer games, where those familiar with multiple cultures can express themselves creatively,
sports games, medical equipment, regulatory acts, and other areas where terminology in the Latvian language is not yet fully developed.

In all these fields, young professionals show a keen interest in the Latvian language.

I would particularly like to highlight Krista Strode's bachelor's thesis, which received a grade of "10", entitled "Analysis of the translation of Latvian ethnographic folk costume elements: difficulties and possible solutions (LV-EN)" and Santa Stumbre's thesis, which received a grade of "9", entitled 'Theatre terminology in Latvian, English, and German: difficulties in finding equivalents and solutions' and Paula Denisa Treublute's bachelor's thesis 'Traces of the influence of English in informal Latvian usage: an empirical analysis of youth colloquial language'.

During four semesters of study, students in the two-year master's program successfully completed the program courses and, in the fourth semester, developed and defended their master's theses on topics relevant to the field of translation or terminology. The research of Kristīna Kovale and Solveiga Hartmane is particularly noteworthy.

In her master's thesis "Analysis of the Text and Terminology of NATO ATP 3.12.1 Military Engineering Tactical Doctrine: Problems and Solutions," Kristīna Kovale studied the terminology of this specific and complex text in an English – Latvian comparison.

Solveiga Hartmane wrote her master's thesis "Types of Contracts and Related Concepts in Lithuanian, Latvian and English: typological and terminological aspects," in which she analysed the difficulties of translating a contract from Lithuanian into Latvian in practice and provided recommendations for solving them. The thesis includes a useful glossary of contract law terms in Lithuanian, Latvian, and English.

Admission to the professional bachelor's program "Translation and Language Technology" and the professional master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" for the new academic year will begin on July 16 this year.

Information prepared by:

FTS Dean deputy Assoc. Prof. Astra Skrābane

FTS Docent, researcher Silga Sviķe

Rodrigo Laurinovičs – Experience from Internship at the European Space Agency

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:33:58 GMT

Rodrigo Laurinovičs, a student of the "Electronics Engineering" program, began his internship at the European Space Agency (ESA) in Germany on March 1, 2022, and it lasted for two years. Now back in Latvia, Rodrigo shared his experiences during an interview.

Tell us a little about yourself!

I’m from Latgale and started my academic journey at Vabole Secondary School. Initially, I wanted to pursue higher education in Denmark, but financial constraints prevented me. Fortunately, I was accepted at both Riga Technical University (RTU) and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS). Following my original plan, I chose to study further from home in Ventspils. In my third year, I was sent on a mission to work on ESA's CubeSat OPS-SAT-1 project.

How did you get into the European Space Agency?

I proved myself to my professors as a reliable and hardworking student. My candidacy was recommended to Mārcis Donerblics, who was looking for candidates to gain experience at ESA. I successfully represented myself in the ESA interview, and among all applicants, I was the one chosen!

Tell us about the project you worked on – what was it?

I worked on the CubeSat OPS-SAT-1 project, aimed at promoting technological advancements in the space industry. Compared to more significant missions like GAIA or EUCLID, this was a relatively low-cost mission—approximately two million euros. As such, the OPS-SAT-1 team was given the green light to test various technologies and solutions that would not be approved for larger-scale missions.

What was your role and responsibilities in the project?

Initially, I was responsible for maintaining FPGA experiments and ensuring a quick and safe switch between hardware configurations to avoid losing satellite operational time. Over time, my responsibilities grew to include providing technical support for experiments, maintaining embedded systems, participating in simulations, and assisting with the ESA Academy Ladybird course alongside its instructor, David Evans.

Were there any unexpected discoveries or insights during the project?

There were many discoveries, primarily about myself. There was a moment when I felt the mission might fail because of me, forcing me to reflect on the problem's origins. Working directly with the satellite was a new experience, requiring a different way of thinking beyond just technical expertise.

What do you consider your greatest achievements in the project?

The most significant challenge and achievement was restoring the satellite's memory. I’m also proud of the broad range of experiments I helped integrate into the OPS-SAT-1 infrastructure and the scientific papers I co-authored with my team. We even won the international SPACEOPS 2023 award for outstanding achievements!

What skills or knowledge did you gain, and how will they help you in the future?

I gained immense technical and implementation knowledge. I learned to think holistically about systems and how to act when lacking sufficient information for precise decisions. Operational solutions are rarely perfect, but they work.

What are your goals for the next five years?

First and foremost, I need to graduate. I also want to give back to those who made my ESA internship possible. I hope to design my own project and contribute to the advancement of space technologies. Who knows, perhaps one day I’ll proudly say, “I built a CubeSat!”

Any interesting incidents or events you'd like to mention?

One vivid memory is the first mistake I made during the project. In my first weeks, I was responsible for the satellite’s positioning system, requiring me to improve existing code and test the star tracker software. Despite my C programming experience, I made a significant logic error that rendered the satellite uncontrollable for a day and a half, during which its rotation speed increased by three degrees per second. Fortunately, I identified the issue and reported it to my colleagues. As it turned out, the satellite had multiple fail-safes against such errors, though I was unaware of them at the time.

What advice would you give to prospective Electronics Engineering students?

RTU isn’t the only place in Latvia to develop engineering skills—Ventspils University of Applied Sciences offers excellent opportunities and exceptional knowledge in this field! Don’t dwell on past experiences or achievements—dare to try, take action, and make the most of available opportunities. You never know how they might lead to an outstanding career start!

Student Experience at the Latitude59 Tech- & Startup Conference in Tallinn

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 29 May 2024 14:48:06 GMT

From May 22 to 24, five startup management students – Alise Plotova, Selīna Glaudāne, Haralds Barkāns, Roberts Vītoliņš, and Kristaps Rozentāls – had the opportunity to attend the Latitude59 Tech- & Startup Conference in Tallinn, Estonia. As one of the most vibrant startup and technology conferences, Latitude59 offered a unique insight into Estonia's dynamic and technologically advanced startup ecosystem, providing a great opportunity to compare it to the Latvian startup environment.

Roles as Volunteers

The students attended the conference not only as participants but also as volunteers, gaining even broader experience. As volunteers, they assisted with various tasks such as participant registration, venue setup, and supervising work and media rooms. This allowed them to gain firsthand experience of how large-scale events are organized.

Working alongside volunteers from different countries, the students practiced their communication skills and collaborated with people from diverse fields and backgrounds. In addition to interacting with event attendees, they had the chance to connect with the organizing team and other volunteers, exchange stories, share contacts, and learn about each other’s experiences in the startup and technology sectors.

Impressions of Estonia's Startup Ecosystem

The students attended presentations and discussions on current topics such as artificial intelligence, DeepTech, and prototyping. Particularly inspiring were the startup presentations showcasing innovative ideas with the potential for future success.

One notable aspect of the conference was the focus on innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and defense technologies. Discussions revealed how quickly trends are evolving, with AI and defense technologies taking center stage. These themes were also prominent at TechChill Riga, underscoring a regional trend in startup development.

Looking Ahead

A highlight of the trip was meeting other Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) alumni, such as Ernests Štāls, who participated as an investor, and student Luīze Dārta Sietiņa, who represented the TechChill startup conference.

The students not only connected with VUAS students and alumni but also received financial support for the trip from VUAS alumnus, patron, and PhD holder Mārtiņš Lauva. Latitude59 demonstrated the importance of building connections with professionals from various fields during studies, as these relationships can turn out invaluable in the future.

During the trip, the students concluded that while Latvia has its strengths and is rapidly developing, there is much to learn from Estonia's startup environment. The experience at Latitude59 was not only educational but also inspired them to take action, drive innovation, and forge connections that could positively impact the Latvian startup ecosystem.

Rafael Martín Calvo Receives a Certificate of Recognition from the Ministry of Culture

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 27 May 2024 18:23:43 GMT

On May 16, Minister of Culture Agnese Logina presented Certificates of Recognition from the Ministry of Culture and the Cabinet of Ministers to notable figures in the cultural sector, honoring their creative contributions and lifetime achievements.

The Certificate of Recognition from the Ministry of Culture was awarded to poet and translator Rafael Martín Calvo for his significant contribution to translating and promoting Latvian literature in Spanish-speaking countries. This includes representing Latvia in the European Union Guest of Honor program at the Guadalajara Book Fair in Mexico.

Congratulations, and we are proud of this achievement!

Rafael Martín Calvo, a Spanish-born poet and translator, holds a master's degree in Translation Studies (English-French) from the University of Granada, Spain, and a doctorate in Linguistics from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. His first poetry collection, "de repente, mineral," was published in 2003. His poetry translations have appeared in the Latvian literary journals “Domuzīme” and “Konteksts”. Since 2010, he has been living in Latvia, working as a Spanish language and culture lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Alongside his academic career, he has dedicated himself to translating Latvian literature into Spanish.

Notable translations by Rafael Martín Calvo includes:

2021: Leche materna (Mother’s Milk) by Nora Ikstena
2023: A por el mar. Relatos letones contemporáneos (Anthology of contemporary Latvian authors: Andra Neiburga, Džena Andersone, Gundega Repše, Inga Gaile, Inga Žolude, Jana Egle, Jānis Joņevs, Nora Ikstena, Regīna Ezera)
2023: La jaula (The Cage) by Alberts Bels
2023: Destellos sobre el agua (Glimmer on the Water) by Nora Ikstena

In November 2023, Rafael Martín Calvo represented Latvia at the European Union Guest of Honor program at the Guadalajara Book Fair alongside writer Nora Ikstena and poet Semjons Haņins. He participated in presentations of Nora Ikstena's books Mother’s Milk and Glimmer on the Water, as well as professional discussions.

Currently, Rafael is working on two new translations: Inga Gaile’s Beautiful Women (Skaistās) and Lote Vilma Vītiņa’s The Poet and the Scent (Dzejnieks un smarža), both set for publication this year. Additionally, Guntis Berelis’ Words Had No Place (Vārdiem nebija vietas) will also be published in Spanish in Rafael’s translation later this year.

Source: Ministry of Culture

Photo: Oskars Artūrs Upenieks / Ministry of Culture

Choose Growth and Learn All About Translation Studies

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:27:45 GMT

If you are considering studying translation at the bachelor's or master's level, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is the right place for you! The Faculty of Translation Studies invites you to join the online event "Modern Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences" on June 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. on the BBB platform.

Choosing a bachelor's degree at the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences means finding the right path to your development! The bachelor's degree program "Translation and Language Technology" offers a diverse and interesting translation studies program that will open the door to the world of translation, allow you to strengthen your knowledge of foreign languages (French, German, Spanish, Russian) and Latvian, and provide you with the opportunity to learn various translation tools and work with texts.

Choosing to study for a master's degree at the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences means not stopping but continuing to grow! A master's degree is a completed higher education - master's studies mean not only in-depth knowledge of translation and research, but also the important fact that you will obtain a completed higher education, because in an international context, a master’s degree is considered the first real level of education. Master's degree – a serious, respected level of professional training; the opinion of a master's degree holder is considered. A master's degree is also a long-recognized, prestigious social status.

Let us remember the days of the Hanseatic League, when the status of an interpreter was equivalent to that of an ambassador!

Come study at the Faculty of Translation Studies and earn a bachelor's or master's degree at VUAS!

Find out more about VUAS bachelor's program in Translation and Language Technology: https://www.venta.lv/program/tulkosana-un-valodu-tehnologija

Find out more about the VUAS master's program in Translation and Terminology: https://www.venta.lv/program/tulkosana-un-terminologija

The event will take place online on June 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. on the BBB platform.

Program:

Introduction to the bachelor's program "Translation and Language Technology"
Introduction to the new master's program "Translation and Terminology"
Meeting with bachelor's and master's program lecturers, question and answer session.

To participate in the event, please register at: https://forms.gle/Z4gLhsTp5RwrxxuC8

Event link: https://bbb.venta.lv/b/sil-xud-v9j-06w

International student application submission is extended

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 23 May 2024 06:03:01 GMT

Wish to study in Latvia? Don't miss your chance to apply!

International student admission at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is in full swing. Use your chance to apply for studies in the fields of intercultural communication , start-up management and computer science !

Good news! Application submission deadline is extended for nationals of countries designated by the Cabinet of Ministers’ Regulations No. 554 as requiring additional assessment*. Nationals of these countries can still apply until June 7, 2024!

*see the list of countries here: https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/212364-regulation-regarding-the-countries-for-the-citizens-of-which-an-additional-assessment-shall-be-performed-when-issuing-a-visa-or-a-residence-permit

The applications are still open also for:

Nationals of the member states of the European Union (EU), member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss Confederation - July 30, 2024
Nationals of countries not requiring visas to enter Latvia - July 30, 2024
Nationals of countries requiring a visa but not designated by the Cabinet of Ministers' Regulations No. 554 as requiring additional assessment - June 30, 2024

Around the world in the comfort of the student lounge – Celebrating diversity in VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 21 May 2024 08:24:45 GMT

To appreciate the cultures that roam the halls of VUAS and make everyday studies even more colourful and diverse, the 2nd year students of “Intercultural Communication” organized “Culture Days” from the 7th till the 9th of May. The three-day event was a huge success, with participants from different faculties getting a chance to experience the food, traditions, and rich history of nine different cultures.

“Culture days” have not only become a tradition in our university, but also a reminder, that “students have a great opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures straight from the source”, said programme director Rūta Maltisova during the opening ceremony. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences can surely take pride in fostering a culturally diverse environment, as there are currently individuals from 15 different cultures studying and working together daily.

During the event, representatives from India, Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, Mexico, Spain, Ukraine, France, and Germany introduced participants to their unique traditions and beliefs, as well as created a truly immersive gastronomic experience.

India and Nigeria wowed everyone's taste buds with spicy, but incredibly delicious food. Brazil and Ghana made the end of the day sweeter with traditional sweets and real chocolate. Mexico made everyone dream of guacamole and tamales. Spain provided an entire feast with acoustic guitar music in Latin rhythms and Ukrainian team celebrated their culture with homemade borsch, while France and Germany presented their signature crêpes, cheese, and pretzels.

After representing France together with Marine Le Corcroch, Intercultural Communications student Amanda Lūse said, “Collaborating and representing the culture in which you are most interested is truly a chance I'm glad I took - the culture of France is so much more colourful and interesting than I ever imagined. It is much more than the cliches we all know.”

With presentations concluded, each intercultural student tasted Latvian culture with spoonful of cold beetroot soup and sweets. The air was buzzing with the great atmosphere and the want to travel and know more. Everyone also took a quiz in the end and voted for the most interesting presentation, which turned out to be Ukrainian, and the country they would like to visit next, which is Brazil.

“ All of us had a lot of fun! From preparing the food, to the presentation, we really enjoyed participating! ” – said Wassim Bouzarhoun, student from UPNA (Public University of Navarre, Spain).

The organizers are very thankful to all participants who shared the joy of being able to learn more about the cultures that roam the halls of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Click here to see the video re-cap of the event!

For more information about upcoming events, follow the VUAS social media accounts and webpage.

The press release was written in cooperation with:

Dana Irbe

Anete Kaprānova

Nellija Anna Kurčanova

Amanda Lūse

And a little bit of Rūta Maltisova

The event was co-funded by Erasmus+

Join an informative seminar on microcredential courses

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 20 May 2024 11:30:18 GMT

We invite you to participate in an informative seminar on microcredit courses within the framework of the COLORS project.

Microcredits (Microcredentials) courses, intended for the professional development of citizens, are one of the activities of the "COLOURS" consortium of European Universities.

The European Commission explains : "A 'microcredit' is a record of the learning results obtained by the learner after a small amount of learning (from 0.5 ECTS and above). The learning experience leading to the award of microcredits is designed to provide the learner with specific knowledge , skills and competences that meet societal, personal, cultural or labor market needs."

During the project, at least 18 microcredit courses will be created, which comply with the principles of open education.

We invite you to an informative seminar where you can learn more about the basic principles of microcredits and learn from the experience of UNA Eiorpa ( https://www.una-europa.eu/ ) and EUTOPIA ( https://eutopia-university.eu/ ) consortia.

Time of the seminar:

May 24, at 11.00

Registration: https://forms.gle/Vd7oafHEqUVF8fgN7

Initiative for Space Weather Investigations 2024

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 20 May 2024 08:18:48 GMT

Workshop of the

Bulgaria- Latvia- Ukraine

Initiative for Space Weather Investigations

June 3-7, 2024

Primorsko, Bulgaria

Main topics:

Key areas of research on space weather in the organizations;
Solar flare investigations;
Discussion of joint projects;
Regional, European and international programs on Sun and space weather research and applications;
About assisting Ukraine in the restoration of the scientific and technical research potential;
Organizational matters.

For more information: Vladislavs Bezrukovs (VIRAC, Latvia) vladislavsb@venta.lv

Project No. lzp-2022/1-0017. Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares.

BLU conference presentations (available for download):

3 JUN

5 JUN

4th Place for the VeA Team in the International Electronics Competition EIFTronic 2024

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 16 May 2024 14:13:37 GMT

On May 9–10, 2024, the international electronics competition EIFTronic 2024 took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, where the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences electronics student team achieved an honorable fourth place.

The Ventspils University team consisted of first-year students from the Professional Bachelor's Program in "Electronics Engineering" – Edgars Rajevskis, Marta Dzelme, and Vineta Liliana Dudone. The students were accompanied by Faculty of Information Technology lecturer Matīss Maltisovs.

The competition required all participants to complete a theoretical test, followed by individual practical tasks for each team member. This year, Marta Dzelme tackled embedded programming tasks using Raspberry Pi, Vineta Liliana Dudone worked on connecting an electrical circuit and measuring/calculating its operational parameters, while Edgars Rajevskis completed the practical task of assembling and soldering a digital clock.

EIFTronic is an annual international competition for electronics students. This year marked the return of Ventspils University students to the competition after a four-year hiatus.

For more information about the competition, click HERE .

Scientific workshop on microwave solar observations at the VSRC STEF project

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 15 May 2024 06:21:03 GMT

On 9 May 2024, the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) hosted a seminar "Microwave Solar Observations within the STEF Project" at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences ( VUAS), where D. Bezrukov and V. Bezrukov gave speech.

Project No. lzp-2022/1-0017 "Study of multi-wavelength quasiperiodic pulsations in solar and stellar flares" (STEF) is supported by the Latvian Council of Science (LSC) and covers various activities in the study of solar and stellar flares and their possible prediction. One of them is the preparation and implementation of microwave observations of the Sun and solar active regions with the RT-32 radio telescope in Irbene. In the ideology of the project, observations of the Sun could be considered as observations of a star ("Sun as a star") and the results could be compared with a whole range of stars.

Solar flares are one of the causes of the known negative effects on Earth and all aspects of human life. In this field, the study and prediction of solar activity, flares and cosmic weather patterns is of great importance, and is growing every year.

The observation and analysis of polarised microwave radiation from the Sun provides unique opportunities to measure and study the induction of magnetic fields and plasma parameters in the solar corona at different altitudes above the photosphere. Solar observations are currently carried out in Irbene with the RT-32 radio telescope equipped with a multichannel spectropolarimeter. The spectropolarimeter is designed to receive and measure microwave fluxes in both circular polarisations in 12 frequency channels simultaneously, covering the 4.1-14.1 GHz (2.3-7.5 cm wavelengths) range. The spectropolarimeter is integrated with a data acquisition system, a time service and an antenna guidance system to perform the observations automatically.

A standard procedure for solar observations and data processing provides information on the intensity and degree of polarisation of microwave radiation over the solar disk, allowing the construction of two-dimensional maps of the Sun.

The report revealed new observations of active regions of polarised microwave radiation associated with detected solar flares.

Presentation available HERE

Two doctoral students successfully defend their theses

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 13 May 2024 07:10:50 GMT

Two PhD candidates successfully defended their theses at the May 9 public meeting of the Promotion Council of the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Rezekne Academy of Technologies, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The joint doctorate study program "Economics and Business" at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences awarded a Doctor of Science (Ph.D.) degree in Social Sciences to DIĀNA LĪDUMA and VALENTĪNA SEMAKINA.

The topic of Diāna Līduma's doctoral thesis is "Teamwork in manufacturing companies in Latvia'' and the topic of Valentīna Semakina's doctoral thesis is "Economic forecasting based on DSGE models". Doctoral theses are available HERE.

Diāna Līduma, PhD candidate, is a lecturer with 27 years of experience. She has worked in higher education since 1996, developing her career in working with adult audiences in several higher education institutions and branches of higher education institutions in the Kurzeme region. Her main place of work is RTU Liepaja, but she also works as a guest lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Initially, at the level of secondary vocational education at RTU Liepaja Educational Scientific and Technical Complex, she acquired a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Management, and continued her studies at RTU at the bachelor and master level, obtaining a bachelor degree in Economics and a master degree in Business Administration. She began her research career at the LiepU Institute of Management Sciences.

Valentīna Semakina, a PhD candidate, is a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Management of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences - she teaches macroeconomics in the study programmes Business Management and Business Administration. The candidate is a graduate of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences - in 2019 she graduated with a Professional Bachelor's degree in Business Management and in 2020 she graduated with a Professional Master's degree in Business Administration. Her academic career began during her undergraduate studies, as evidenced by her involvement in projects, publications, and participation in international scientific conferences.

We wish Diāna and Valentīna the best of luck in their future endeavors and congratulate them on their outstanding achievement!

First conference of the RACOBEU ERASMUS+ project

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 13 May 2024 06:56:51 GMT

From 22 to 26 April this year, Ventspils University University of Applied Sciences together with Ventspils Secondary School No.2 organised a conference for students of the project RACOBEU (Radio Astronomy. Cooperation between European Universities: Developing Scientific and Technological Skills through Astronomy). Partners from Latvia, Spain and Poland participated in the conference in Ventspils. Lectures, seminars, excursions, hands-on activities and creative activities took place throughout the week.

On the first day of the conference, Latvian, Spanish and Polish student teams presented themselves and the educational institutions they represent. Students from Ventspils Secondary School No 2, together with their teachers, had prepared lively activities with Latvian traditions, songs and dances. After visiting Ventspils Secondary School No. 2, the conference participants went to Irbene, where they had the opportunity to see the radio telescope complex, go on a guided tour with Andrejs Dzelme and learn about the ongoing research at the VIRAC of the VUAS, which was presented by Dmitrijs Bezrukovs and Vladislavs Bezrukovs.

The following day, lectures were given by university lecturers and researchers:

Silvia Diaz (UPNA) "Presentation of the UPNA and RACOBEU",
Pawel Bialoblocki (AMU) "Astronomical Observatories of the Adam Mickiewicz University",
Jesus Alberto Cazares Montes (VUAS) "A short journey to the physics",
Jesús Palacián and Patricia Yanguas (UPNA) "The role of mathematics in astronomy".

The conference continued with presentations of students' astronomy projects:

V2V students presented solar observation methods. "Solar Cycles",
Polina Lugantseva. "Geomagnetic Storms",
Sofia Bezrukova. "Solar Radioastronomical Observatories",
Pavel Tokarev. "The Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)",
Max Odintsov. "Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)".
The Irubide team (Maria Molina Hernando, Eva Sanchez Hernandez, Javier Muniain Luque, Xabier Aramendia Unzue, Unai Allue Bere, Adrian Martinez Michel) from Spain presented the project "NIMBUS: "Earth from the skies".
The Spark team from Poland (Monika Urbaniak, Anna Dziadon, Tytus Golec, Antoni Judek, Oleksii Subota) presented their Graphical Astronomical Project.

At the end of the day, we met at the Ventspils Seaside Camping, where a mind games competition and other creative activities took place.

On 24 April, Endika Aguirre and Wassim Bouzarhoun, students at UPNA, gave a hands-on session on solar mapping data processing. The class was followed by a trip to the VIZIUM Science Centre. The next day was spent listening to lectures (Vladislavs Bezrukovs (VUAS) "Space based observatories and instruments", Jesus Alberto Cazares Montes (VUAS) "Lilliput ruling the world of Titans"), visiting the Ventspils Planetarium and Observatory. Milana Odintsova and Sofia Bezrukova organised a tour of Ventspils Old Town. At the end of the conference, certificates were awarded and expressions of gratitude were made.

The RACOBEU project continues to meet next spring for the second Students Conference, where we will be hosted by our Polish colleagues.

The RACOBEU project is implemented under the ERASMUS+ "KA220 Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education" programme. The project partners are Universidad Publica de Navarra (UPNA, Spain), Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS, Latvia), Uniwersytet IM. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu (AMU, Poland), IES Padre Moret-Irubide (Spain), Spark Academy - Liceum Ogólnokształcące (Poland), Ventspils 2. vidusskola (Latvia).

Hackathon was held as part of the ENDORSE project

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 02 May 2024 12:28:15 GMT

On 24 April, the usual study process at the Faculty of Economics and Management was replaced by a joint, creative activity for all 1st to 3rd year students together. The students took part in the business idea hackathon "Start up your business here". Alongside Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, such a hackathon also took place at the Erasmus+ project "ENDORSE" partner universities Austria in Krems, University of Lodz in Poland, Midsweden University in Sweden.

The top 3 teams in each country are selected to compete in an international final a month later and the best team from each country wins the main prize - a trip to the University of Applied Sciences in Krems, Austria.

The jury of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences recognised "InnoStow" from the 1st year of "Business Management", "Cramp In Hands" from the 2nd year of "Startup Management", as well as the team "VenMar" from the 1st year of "Business Management" as the best teams.

Thanks to the team mentors from Business Academy, VATP, GreenTechCluster and VUAS for their valuable advice, inspiration and help in developing student ideas.

Thanks to our amazing students for their passion, knowledge and courage!

The event is organised and funded in the framework of the Erasmus+ project "ENDORSE".

VUAS and Latvian Ministry of Defence sign cooperation agreement

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 07:04:50 GMT

On Friday, 26 April, the Minister for Defence Andris Sprūds met with the Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Andris Vaivads, at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre. During the meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed, renewing the cooperation between the VUAS and the Ministry of Defence, which was established in 2021.

"The experience and knowledge of Latvian scientists, as well as the capacity and capability of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, are a testimony to Latvia's potential in space technology development. The security implications of space technologies are increasingly on the agenda of NATO and the European Union. The agreement we have signed today marks a joint commitment for further cooperation between the defense and science sectors in the field of space technologies," said Minister for Defence Andris Sprūds.

To ensure scientific capacity and the development of space-related projects in Latvia, the meeting discussed the cooperation with Ventspils University of Applied Sciences within the European Union and NATO Science and Technology Organisation (NATO STO) programmes.

The two officials also discussed potential cooperation in the training of National Armed Forces soldiers in the field of communications.

At the same time, Andris Sprūds visited Ventspils and Ventspils region, where he visited the Ventspils City Council and met with representatives of Ventspils city and Ventspils region Civil Protection Commission of cooperation areas.

Photos by Ministry of Defence

Get to know the cultures that roam the halls of VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:35:03 GMT

Did you know there are more than 15 different cultures studying and working together daily in VUAS?

The 2nd-year students of "Intercultural Communication" program are organizing an intercultural event and welcome every VUAS student, lecturer and staff member to join the adventure of intercultural presentations.

During May 7-9 everyone from VUAS can visit the students lounge (D0) to meet international students from 9 countries: France, Ukraine, Germany, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, Spain, and Mexico.

The VUAS international students will present their culture and traditions, entertain the audience with educational ice-breakers, and will bring some food for the taste test.

Event schedule

7th of May

India 15:05 - 15:30
Nigeria 15:40 - 16:10
Brazil 16:15 - 17:00

8th of May

Ghana 15:05 - 15:30
Mexico 15:40 - 16:10
Spain 16:15 - 17:00

9th of May

Ukraine 15:05 - 15:30
Germany 15:40 - 16:10
France 16:15 - 17:00

Looking forward to see you all there!

Video: Career Day 2024

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:10:41 GMT

On April 10, we hosted Career Day 2024. During the first part of the day, 59 “shadows” joined students in attending lectures within study programs of their interest. They had the opportunity to get to know professors, students, university facilities, and the available opportunities.

In the afternoon, both current and prospective students had the chance to learn about companies, explore their areas of operation, interact with representatives, and potentially find internship or job opportunities.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to AE Partner, Acolad, Tilti Multilingual - Translation Agency in Riga, Ventspils City Council, Bucher Municipal Latvia, Digi Media, Accenture, TestDevLab, VK Tranzīts, and HansaMatrix for their contribution to making VeA Career Day a success!

One of us – Ronnie Kofi Nyarko from Ghana

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:30:11 GMT

The environment at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) is quite multicultural and in the hallways you can meet Ronnie from Ghana. He is a second-year student in the bachelor’s study programme “Intercultural Communication” and he is very satisfied with his choice, because of the interesting courses, friendly lecturers and the helpful staff that treats student’s needs with urgency.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Ronnie Kofi Nyarko and I come from Ghana. I got my secondary education in the Accra Academy in the capital city. I used to be an active football player, however after I had to stop playing, I decided to focus on my music career and education. Now I am enrolled in the bachelor’s study programme “Intercultural Communication”.

How did you decide to come to Latvia and to Ventspils? Why did you choose this study programme?

I heard about the university from a friend who completed his masters here. He said a lot of good things about the university in terms of the environment, the affordable fees and that students and lecturer are very friendly to each other. Actually I opted to study here instead of going to the USA. In the future I want to meet people from different cultural backgrounds and that will be possible by studying more about communication and also by studying other languages.

What have been your impressions of Latvia so far?

I am impressed by the peaceful environment in Ventspils and the clean and beautiful surroundings. Also I was surprised about how friendly the staff in VUAS is. I was told that Latvians are not as friendly but I have had a completely opposite experience.

Tell us a little bit about your study process.

I enjoy the courses and the lecturers are very nice. I have some challenges with the new languages that I am studying such as Russian and Latvian languages. Also I am not used to the system here but I think I am definitely adjusting and I will do much better next semester. My favorite courses are Intercultural Communication, Organizational Behavior and Communication Theories.

What do you like the most about Ventspils and VUAS?

Ventspils is a beautiful place and about VUAS, I like how student's needs are treated with urgency and that everyone is always ready to help if needed. We have everything in one building and we don't have to face the weather every day.

What do you wish for anyone who is just thinking about applying to study in VUAS?

I wish they don't have a change of plan to study in VUAS because it's the best place to be and I can't wait to see them experiencing what I have experienced as a student.

Defense of Diāna Līduma and Valentīna Semakina doctoral thesis

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 06:01:56 GMT

On 9 May 2024 at 10.00 at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Ventspils, Inženieru 101, auditorium B4) in the open session of the Promotion Council for joint doctorate study program "Economics and Business" of Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences DIĀNA LĪDUMA will defend her doctoral thesis "Teamwork in manufacturing companies in Latvia" for the degree of Doctor of Science - Ph. D. degree in Social Sciences. Thesis supervisor is Dr. sc. administr., professor Inese Lūsēna-Ezera.

Doctoral thesis reviewers:

- Dr. oec. Dr. Iluta Arbidāne, Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Latvia;

- Dr.hab.oec. Baiba Rivža, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Latvia;

- Ph.D. Ph.D. Jurgita Raudeliūniene, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania.

The thesis can be found in the library of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Inženieru Street 101, Ventspils and at www.venta.lv/zinatne/promocija

On 9 May 2024 at 13.00 at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Ventspils, Inženieru 101, auditorium B4) at the open session of the Promotion Council for joint doctorate study program "Economics and Business" of Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences VALENTĪNA SEMAKINA will defend her doctoral thesis "Economic forecasting based on DSGE models" for the degree of Doctor of Science - Ph. D. degree in Social Sciences. The thesis supervisor is Dr. phys., professor Sergejs Hiļķevičs.

Doctoral thesis reviewers:

- Dr. oec. Dr. Iveta Mietule, Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Latvia;

- Dr.hab.oec. Dr. Baiba Rivža, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Latvia;

- Ph.D. Vaida Bartkutė-Norkūnienė, Utena University of Applied Sciences, Lithuania.

The thesis can be found in the library of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, 101 Inženieru Street, Ventspils and at www.venta.lv/zinatne/promocija

Elaboration of evidence-based solutions for effective professional competence development of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 06:05:22 GMT

The State Research Programs "Education" project No. VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001 "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia" lead researcher Dr. paed. Sanita Baranova (University of Latvia), Dr. sc. administr. Inese Lūsēna-Ezera (RTU Liepāja), Dr. sc. adminr. Una Libkovska (Ventspils University of Applied Sciences), Dr. sc. administr. Liene Resele (Ventspils University of Applied Sciences) on 8 and 9 April 2024 participated in the seminar "Tailored training on Counterfactual Impact Evaluation of education policies" organized by the Ministry of Education and Science in cooperation with the European Commission's Joint Research Centre Learning Lab.

The Learning Lab's work is about encouraging a learning culture in the EU to strengthen Member States' capacity to develop evidence and research-based policies and to evaluate the results of the education policies they put in place.The Learning Lab supports policy makers and evaluators with knowledge, tools, methods and resources for effective evaluation of the impact of education policies, taking into account the needs of national, regional and local communities, and promotes an evidence-based approach to education policy development and implementation.

The event brought together policy planners, enforcers and data analysts from various state institutions, as well as researchers from universities.The aim of the seminar was to enhance participants' understanding of different methods for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of education policies, using research-based evidence to ensure a contribution to quality education.

It was very useful that the research methods were described in the context of case studies, including examples of issues in the Latvian education system. The participants were able to further develop their understanding of research methodologies through discussions and group work on impact evaluation of adult learning in Latvia.

At the end of the seminar, RTU Liepāja professor Inese Lūsēna-Ezera noted that "although the main target audience of the seminar were education policy planners, researchers also gained valuable insights into methodologically different approaches to using counterfactual impact evaluations for more effective education policy planning and evaluation. The seminar highlighted the importance of both data quality and indicators for assessing policy impact, with a particular emphasis on identifying indicators at an early stage in the education reform planning process. The concepts of causality and correlation in the context of evaluating policy effectiveness were also given significant attention".

The lessons learned from the seminar on approaches and methods for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of education policies have been discussed by the project team in the research groups and examples of methodology will be useful for in-depth analysis when planning the empirical research phase of the project.

Business Idea Hackathon "Start Up Your Business Here"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:54:27 GMT

On April 25, students from the Faculty of Economics and Management (EPF) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will experience a unique study day, as first- to third-year students will learn together by participating in the business idea hackathon "Start Up Your Business Here."

The hackathon is organized as part of the Erasmus+ project “Enhancing Development of Entrepreneurial Strategies at University Locations Affected by Brain Drain” (ENDORSE), which focuses on researching university regions and developing solutions to reduce graduate migration. During the hackathon, VeA EPF students will generate business ideas and seek solutions for one of the 10 proposed topics derived from the specialization areas of the Ventspils region.

Similar one-day hackathons will also take place at project partner universities in Sweden, Poland, and Austria. In each country, the top three teams will be selected to participate in an international online presentation session, where the winning team from each country will be determined. The main prize is a trip to the hackathon final in Austria at the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems.

EPF students will need to develop their ideas within a short timeframe. To support them, various mentors from EPF faculty, representatives of Ventspils businesses, and investors will assist in refining their ideas to make them as viable and impactful as possible.

At 5:15 PM, in room D0, the idea presentations will begin for the jury and attendees.

All interested parties are warmly invited to join!

Interview with Elīna Dergača, Graduate of the VUAS Master's Program in ''Applied Text Translation''

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:46:36 GMT

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I have always been interested in languages. In high school, I studied English and history. I studied tourism management at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences but realized that it wasn't my thing. At the age of 21, I went to Ireland. In 2008, I successfully completed a course in interpreting at the Lionbridge translation agency in Dublin, which gave me the opportunity to work as an interpreter in Irish courts. At that time, Lionbridge was the only translation agency that officially provided translation services in Irish courts. At the time, I was still working full-time as an executive secretary in a law firm, but I did translation work in courts as a side job. I spent 11 years in Ireland. That is also where I met my husband. We are the parents of three wonderful children. English is our family's everyday language, and our children are bilingual. When I returned to Latvia, I knew that I wanted to continue my studies. In 2021, I completed a written and oral translation program at the Smiltene branch of the Baltic International Academy and obtained a professional bachelor's degree in translation. My motivation has always been my children. I wanted them to be able to proudly say, "My mom is a translator and interpreter!"

How did you choose to study at VUAS?

It happened by chance, because after completing my bachelor's degree, I said, "That's it, I'm never studying again!" But never say never! I rarely use Facebook, but I happened to see a post in the Interpreters and Translators group about master's degree opportunities at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. I thought about it for two weeks. Was I ready to resume my studies? The possibility of distance learning was the deciding factor in my choice of studies, as I would not have been able to travel to Ventspils. And so, I applied to study in the master's program "Translation of Applied Texts."

How did you decide that this program would be right for you?

The translation programs at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences have always had a very good reputation and given my previous experience in the field of translation, I knew that this program would undoubtedly improve my knowledge and skills, as well as promote my professional growth in the field of translation.

What were the biggest benefits of your studies and what did you like the most?

All the courses were very useful, but I liked the computerized translation course taught by Aiga Veckalne the most. I learned everything about the latest tools. The guest lectures were also very useful. In my opinion, we were and are a very close-knit class, which also made our studies easier.

Were there any difficulties you had to overcome?

The coursework and master's thesis were the main challenges. They require serious self-discipline - you must be very organized, motivated, and, most importantly, able to plan your time.

Would you recommend young people to study at VUAS and why?

I would recommend studying translation at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to anyone who is good at languages, because the studies are very diverse and interesting, and the knowledge gained is practically useful. Most importantly, all of the lecturers are professionals in their field with many years of experience, who are always ready to give advice and help if needed.

Do you think it is possible to combine studies with work?

I combine my studies with both work and family. Anything is possible if you want it enough. My motto is: the more you do, the more you can achieve!

Please tell us about your master's thesis! Why did you choose such an interesting topic for your research on the translation of culinary texts?

My husband and I are foodies. When we were younger, we travelled a lot in Ireland and other countries - we often went to restaurants and tried different foods. I also cook a lot myself, and my passion is everything to do with food. I am an avid viewer of documentaries about famous chefs and the history and methods of preparing various products. My bookshelf is overflowing with cookbooks! Before applying for my studies, I knew that the master's thesis was the most important part of my studies, and even then, I knew that I would write my thesis on specialized culinary vocabulary. During my bachelor's studies, I translated Vija Ancāne's "Maizes grāmata" (The Bread Book) from Latvian into English. The work was time-consuming but very interesting, and as a result, I started baking bread with my own sourdough starter.

The same thing happened with my master's thesis - it certainly wasn't easy, but I was very interested in the topic. In my opinion, translating culinary texts, especially recipes, is quite a complex task due to the lack of Latvian equivalents for foreign culinary terms. Unfortunately, various websites are overflowing with poor-quality translations of culinary texts - recipes, menus, food descriptions, and perhaps my research work highlighted the relevance of this topic.

What advice would you give to your classmates from the two-year program who are still studying, i.e., currently writing their master's thesis?

Perseverance, because you will need it! Be organized, plan your time, set specific deadlines for each part of your work! Work on your thesis systematically, and you will succeed!

Tell us about a translator's daily routine.

A translator must be motivated, organized, and a good time manager. The daily routine of a translator is very interesting because you must translate different types of texts. When translating, you always must study something in depth, look up definitions of terms, find equivalents, and solve translation problems that arise. The work of a translator keeps your mind sharp!

Will you continue working in the field of translation, and what are your wishes for yourself?

Yes, translation is my main occupation, and I will continue translating. I hope that my dream of translating a cookbook will come true someday!

The laureate of the 10th anniversary of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Professor Andris Klauss Memorial Scholarship has been announced

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:49:11 GMT

This year, for the tenth year, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) students had the opportunity to apply for the Professor Andris Klauss Scholarship. The scholarship was established and funded by VUAS alumnus and successful entrepreneur Mārtiņš Lauva. To celebrate the anniversary, Kristaps Klauss, the Chairman of the VUAS Council and son of Professor Andris Klauss, joined Mārtiņš Lauva’s initiative and became the second patron and increased the total scholarship fund to €3,000.

This year, a record-breaking 51 applications were received for the scholarship . Applications were submitted by both bachelor's and master's level students from all three VUAS faculties. After reviewing all applications, eight candidates were selected for in-person interviews: Krista Lange, Alise Plotova, Selīna Glaudāne, Dāvis Cinītis, Ilze Jaunzeme, Anastasija Gremčuka, Anna Ģērmane, and Andrejs Štrāls.

On the morning of April 10, the interviews took place, providing candidates with the opportunity to introduce themselves, elaborate on their applications, explain how the scholarship would support their academic, research, and community activities, and outline how they would use the scholarship if awarded.

All eight finalists are active VeA students with impressive experience in various projects, continuously enhancing their skills and knowledge both in Latvia and abroad. They are all highly motivated. The applications were evaluated by a six-member committee, which included both scholarship patrons, Mārtiņš Lauva and Kristaps Klauss. Based on the committee’s decision, the scholarship fund was divided among four students.

This year’s scholarship recipients are:

€1,500 awarded to Ilze Jaunzeme, a 2nd-year student in the Professional Bachelor’s Program in “Translation and Language Technologies” at the Faculty of Translation Studies;

€500 awarded to Alise Plotova, a 2nd-year student in the Professional Bachelor’s Program in “Startup Management” at the Faculty of Economics and Management;

€500 awarded to Dāvis Cinītis, a 3rd-year student in the Professional Bachelor’s Program in “Startup Management” at the Faculty of Economics and Management;

€500 awarded to Anna Ģērmane, a 4th-year student in the Professional Bachelor’s Program in “Intercultural Communication” at the Faculty of Translation Studies.

The scholarship aims to promote VUAS students’ engagement in various fields, including academic work, research, and community activities. Applications for the scholarship and the awarding process are organized once a year, inviting all VUAS students—across all faculties and study levels—to apply. Starting this year, the scholarship fund amounts to €3,000. In addition to the primary scholarships, the evaluation committee has the authority to award additional scholarships as incentive prizes.

A free event for high school students, “Ventspils Young Entrepreneurs School,” will take place

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:44:48 GMT

Students from the Faculty of Economics and Management at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the Ventspils Education Board, invite active, curious, and enterprising high school students to apply for the two-day event “Ventspils Young Entrepreneurs School.”

The “Ventspils Young Entrepreneurs School” will take place over two days, April 26 and 27. During these two days, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their entrepreneurial skills through engaging activities. Students will work in teams to solve various business challenges, exploring their abilities and creativity from a new perspective.

The event will feature students, experienced guest lecturers, and representatives from various companies who will provide valuable advice and tips to help participants develop their skills, business ideas, and choose the most suitable study direction.

Participation in the event is free of charge.

Registration is open until April 19 and can be completed by filling out the form at the link: ej.uz/VJUS2024

VUAS in the European University Alliance COLOURS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:01:49 GMT

Representatives of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the kick-off event of the European universities Alliance COLOURS in Germany. Participation in such an important alliance opens up a wide range of international opportunities for both university staff and students. The kick-off event brought together the executives, project staff and students from all 9 partner universities and the associate partner from Ukraine. Plenary sessions, group meetings and various activities took place over the two days to work together towards the Alliance's objectives.

Andris Vaivads, Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, says: "COLOURS is a strong alliance of European regional universities, bringing together more than 120,000 students and 12,000 employees. It is a wonderful opportunity for Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to work together with European regional universities that are many times larger than our university, with very different study offers, but united by a common understanding of the importance of regional universities for national development. For Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, these will be new opportunities for the development of studies and science in both existing and new fields. For our students, this will provide additional new opportunities for international collaboration with other universities in Europe. For Ventspils city and the region, these will be new opportunities for the education of its citizens, better prepared students for the modern employment market."

Dace Štefenberga, project manager, notes: "Ventspils University College is one of the smallest universities in the COLOURS Alliance, but it can make a significant contribution to the transfer of good practice between partner countries and institutions to promote economic development in the region. Most of the European regions involved face similar challenges: depopulation, brain drain and the creation and long-term viability of knowledge-intensive enterprises. Cooperation in the exchange of knowledge and experience between the participating European regional universities, institutions and the business environment can have a positive impact on the quality of European higher education in the future. At the project kick-off meeting at the Paderborn University, the future directions and the first steps were outlined and the VUAS team represented the university and the city of Ventspils with honour."

President of the Paderborn University Prof. Dr Birgit Riegraff, in her welcoming speech, emphasised the importance of international cooperation in higher education. "Becoming part of the COLOURS Alliance is an excellent stepping stone towards an even stronger international network of education. This will have many benefits, especially for students, and of course also for research, teaching and knowledge transfer."

COLOURS aims to bring social and technological initiatives to citizens and encourage international cooperation across Europe. This may include, for example, new mobility programmes or joint study courses, the creation of joint study programmes, international research projects. Professor Torsten Meier, Vice-President for International Relations at Paderborn University, stresses that students have a particularly important role to play in achieving these goals and in actively shaping the vision of an inter-university campus’.The European Commission is funding the COLOURS Alliance with around €14 million. The COLOURS Alliance brings together nine international universities, with around 126 000 students and 12 300 staff. The aim is to strengthen long-term collaboration, increase international recognition and promote the mobility of students and researchers across Europe.

‘COLOURS’ stands for ‘ COL laborative inn O vative s U stainable R egional univer S ities’. Through strategic cooperation, the initiative aims to bring social and technological innovation to people across Europe. Alongside Paderborn University as the coordinating institution, the alliance also includes Le Mans University (France), the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), the University of Ferrara (Italy), Kristianstad University (Sweden), Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa (Poland), Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek (Croatia), Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia) and the University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola (Northern Macedonia). Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (Ukraine) is an associate partner of the alliance.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in the European University Alliance COLOURS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 06:07:22 GMT

Interview with French exchange student Maeve Fresneau

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 12:54:27 GMT

Anyone can go on Erasmus+ mobility, because you can study and attend classes as well as go on internships. French student Maeva Fresneau took the chance.

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hey, I am Maeva and I come from France. I study translation and I came to Latvia for my Erasmus+ studies here at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and then later I came here for my internship as well.

How did you decide to come to VUAS?

My initial thought was to go to Ireland, but then a delegation from Latvia came to my university and I realized that I would like to spend my Erasmus+ there. I was a bit nervous because I didn't know anything about Latvia and its culture so I did a lot of research beforehand. I found out that Latvia actually is a really cool place and that I will be able to have an amazing time here.

What were your expectations before coming to Latvia?

I really wanted to meet new people and try the local food, as well as the university provided a lot of practical courses that I actually needed in my study process. And my expectations were met. Professors were very welcoming and my favorite subject was “Social media communication”, it was completely practical. Before coming here I saw that Latvians like a lot of sauces and I was scared that it would be hard for me to adjust to this food but actually I really enjoyed it, especially the bread pudding and “šašliks” (like BBQ) – it's just amazing. I am thankful to my Latvian friends who pushed me to try different dishes.

What would you say were your biggest takeaways from this study experience?

Now I am more able to do things on my own. There are a lot of things to manage, because you are out of your comfort zone, but I actually started to cook a lot more. Also here I really enjoyed going to classes and that is something that I missed doing back home. Can't forget about the Student Council, because we had so many fun activities together – they are amazing. I would say that my favorite event was the “Orientation in the Night” – it was challenging but it was incredibly fun and our team actually won a prize.

How did you decide to come back to Ventspils for the internship at the Study department?

I had friends here and I would say that Ventspils is this one place where I feel super good and at home. I know that the community here is amazing and I will be able to create a lot of cool projects with the Student Council. This was a very valuable experience as I worked on many tasks and had a chance to create events for the international students, where once I baked 200 cupcakes. My colleagues gave me a lot of feedback during the internship, so I could learn a lot.

Where have you been within Latvia during this time?

I really like the countryside and also Riga was very interesting, but for me of course it is Ventspils, because there are so many things to do and there is also the beach. If I had to choose my favorite place in Ventspils, I would say Ramala's coffee. It's the best place to chill and enjoy delicious pastries and teas.

What would you say are the biggest differences between Latvia and France?

The food is a bit weird for me and the most shocking thing I saw was that people put jam inside water. And also pickles on pizza. I disagree with these combination. But I loved seeing so much snow here.

What would you say to people who are just thinking about coming to Ventspils for their mobility?

Don't think about it – just come here! It's a wonderful place, people will always try and help you, the city is incredible and stay close to the Student Council, because then you will have even more fun. They made me feel like a local.

Bringing the Moon closer to Earth

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:57:49 GMT

SSC, VIRATEC and VUAS have signed a strategic long-term agreement for supporting lunar missions provided through SSC Connect Lunar services. The contract is an extension of the partnership announced in 2023 .

By this investment, SSC aims at staying ahead and align to the dynamic needs of the space agencies and commercial lunar exploration market. It also marks a crucial step for VIRATEC in stepping up Latvian space industry.

“This strengthened partnership will leverage the SSC Connect Ka-band capabilities and expansion of apertures up to 32 meters. This is a crucial step in making SSC a stronger mission partner for future lunar voyages, offering capabilities for the next chapters of mankind,” says Petrus Hyvönen, Head of Engineering in SSC Connect, SSC.

"This is a crucial step and a milestone in VIRATEC and SSC partnership for bringing the VUAS 32 and 16 meter antennas in Latvia to the global lunar communications market, strengthening SSC Connect capabilities, creating synergies between radio astronomy and ground segment infrastructure as well as establishing Latvian space industry as a strong grounds segment service provider for EU and global space exploration missions,” says Mārcis Donerblics, Chief Technology Officer at VIRATEC.

Seeking for Erasmus+ stories

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:54:53 GMT

To raise the visibility of Erasmus+ mobility and to inspire the students and staff of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to go on this experience, on the 4th of April, in the premises of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, we would like to create a POP-UP exhibition with stories and photos of the most vivid memories of Erasmus+.

If you have participated in an Eramsus+ mobility in the last five years and would like to share one of your most memorable stories, please fill in the Memory Form, until the 25 ^th of March- https://forms.gle/YQeLtbXQa1LcY8738 !

In the form, please attach one or two photos that describe your most memorable Erasmus+ mobility experience. You can write your own story in both Latvian and English. The stories will accompany the submitted photos, so please keep your story up to 150 words."

A. Aberfelds will defend his doctoral thesis

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 08:20:20 GMT

Friday, 22nd of March, at 15.00 at the room 105 of UL Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry (Jelgavas 3) as well as remotely on the online platform BigBlueButton, is scheduled an open meeting of the Doctoral Council for Physics and Astronomy of the University of Latvia where the doctoral thesis for the degree of Doctor of Science (Ph.D) in Natural Sciences will be defended by Artis Aberfelds.

The topic of the thesis: "Research of 6.7 GHz methanol masers: observation methods, monitoring and source morphology" ( "6.7 GHz metanola māzeru pētījumi: novērojumu metodes, monitorings un avotu morfoloģija" ), scientific supervisor Dr. phys. Ivars Šmelds.

In cooperation with V IRAC engineers, Irbene radio telescopes were adjusted for maser observations as part of the doctoral work. The author monitored 42 massive star formation regions. 3 selected sources were observed at high resolution using the European VLBI network. The results of the study point to chaotic processes during the formation of massive stars.

Specialised Council:

Dr. habil. phys. Ruvins Ferbers – chairman of the Council;
Dr. habil. phys. Mārcis Auziņš – vice-chairman of the Council;
Dr. habil. phys. Andrejs Cēbers;
Dr. phys. Laimons Začs;
Dr. phys. Ivars Šmelds;
Dr. phys. Ilgmārs Eglītis;
Dr. phys. Juris Kalvāns.

Reviewers:

Dr. phys. Ilgmārs Eglītis (University of Latvia)
Dr. Kazi Rygl (INAF – The Institute of Radio Astronomy, Italy)
Dr. Alberto Sanna (INAF – Cagliari Observatory, Italy)

The thesis and abstracts in Latvian and English can be found either in UL Library, Raiņa street 19, or online here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SqZPlDR2lXDyE_jWg76dlXkdXQcGPClZ?usp=sharing

If you are unable to attend in person, you can also access the online meeting here: https://bbb.lu.lv/b/sin-3nq-qo5-xt3

Representatives of VUAS are going to the COLORS kick off event in Paderborn

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:03:59 GMT

University alliance led by Paderborn University plans international campus: sites in nine European countries

Kick-off on 18 March

Register at your local university and then do international courses in various countries: the vision of a European campus is gradually becoming a reality. Since the beginning of the year, the European Commission has provided the COLOURS university alliance with a total of 14 million euros of funding, as one of a total of 50 initiatives. Under Paderborn University’s leadership, this alliance brings together nine international universities with around 126,000 students and 12,300 employees. The aim is to strengthen cooperation for the long term, increase international visibility, and promote student and researcher mobility within Europe. This also includes designing joint courses of study. What makes this special is that students are able to play an active role. Various representatives are coming to Paderborn for the kick-off event on Monday 18 March.

‘COLOURS’ stands for ‘ COL laborative inn O vative s U stainable R egional univer S ities’. The name says it all: the core topics of ‘open innovation’, ‘challenge-based teaching’ and ‘impact-driven research’ are linked with regional ‘smart specialisation objectives’. In other words, the initiative is seeking to get the ball rolling for social and technological initiatives for citizens across Europe and promote strategic cooperation. This may for example include new physical and virtual mobility programmes, or creating joint courses of study. ‘Students must play a particularly major role in developing these services, to actively help shape the concept of an inter-university campus’, explains Professor Torsten Meier, Vice-President for International Relations at Paderborn University. Another aim is to translate the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals into specific measures for research, teaching and technology transfer. To achieve this, the partners are developing practical models that will help their education systems serve as catalysts for environmental, digital and social change in Europe. The universities’ collaboration is being supported by 55 associate partners, who are working as disseminators within regional innovation networks.

Alongside Paderborn University as the coordinating institution, the alliance also includes Le Mans University (France), the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), the University of Ferrara (Italy), Kristianstad University (Sweden), Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa (Poland), Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek (Croatia), Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia) and the University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola (Northern Macedonia). Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (Ukraine) is an associate partner of the alliance.

The opening ceremony is taking place on Monday 18 March from 4 to 6 p.m. in Paderborn University’s lecture hall G. Afterwards, all interested parties are invited to a reception in the ‘Forum’ cafeteria as part of a ‘COLOURS Market Square’, offering an opportunity to find out more about the partner universities and regions and to talk to the partners directly. You must register in advance to attend.

Further information and registration can be found on the event website: go.upb.de/COLOURS_Kick_Off .

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Holds Winter Graduation Ceremony for Master’s Program in ''Translation of Applied Texts''

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:27:41 GMT

On March 11 this year, the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences library celebrated the winter graduation, congratulating three graduates of the master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" – Baiba Grīnvalde-Bricīte, Anna Rudzīte, and Anna Šēfere.

Over the course of three semesters, the students proved themselves to be capable representatives of the field of translation, as evidenced by the relevance of their master's thesis topics and their individual academic achievements.

Baiba Grīnvalde-Bricīte's master's thesis addressed a very topical and yet unexplored topic – the impact of ergonomic factors on the work of Latvian translators. The conscientiousness, precision, and diligence of the new master's graduate are also characterized by the fact that she was always reliable, responsive, and goal oriented.

Anna Rudzīte focused her research work on the translation of music textbooks. On April 22, 2022, she participated in the International Student Conference "Journey Through Cultures and Languages," organized by Novi Sončas State University of Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, demonstrated excellent analytical skills and moderating abilities, leading the section and representing the university.

Anna Šēfere took a research-based look at tourism, a field that is a way of spending free time for a large part of society. Anna excelled at tackling the challenges involved in terminology work, and the results of her work have already been reviewed by the Terminology Commission of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

During the event, Professor Kārlis Krēsliņš, Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, reminded graduates that this program is accredited for participation in the European Commission's EMT cooperation network, which gives the diploma additional value.

Interview: Aiga Bādere's Insights Gained from Participating in the ELIA Conference "Together 2024"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 12:42:05 GMT

Tell us about the conference you attended!

At the end of February, I participated in the European Language Industry Association (ELIA) conference “Together 2024” in Riga. ELIA is a non-profit organization that holds events in various countries each year. The primary target audience included representatives of translation and localization companies, such as translation project managers, freelance translators, developers of translation tools, and representatives of educational institutions. Over two and a half days, a variety of topics were covered, including collaboration between translators and project managers, opportunities provided by artificial intelligence in translation, quality assurance, post-editing, networking among freelance translators, and mental health.

Why do you think attending such a conference is important?

Attending the conference provides a better understanding of how the translation industry is evolving. It’s an opportunity to learn what translation companies expect from translators and translation students, as well as to discover various resources. I also took part in a hands-on workshop where I got to explore a new translation tool.

What are the key impressions and insights from the event?

As a university lecturer, I was once again reassured that our graduates are highly needed and eagerly awaited. As a freelance translator, I was delighted to meet translators from various countries. Freelancing often means working in solitude—translators sit at home in front of a computer, translating continuously, knowing editors and project managers only through email communication. Therefore, the practical advice shared at the conference about networking opportunities and taking care of mental health was particularly valuable.

The most important takeaways were about the prerequisites for successful collaboration: mutual respect, honesty with oneself and others, and the understanding that everything can be resolved if there is open communication. These may seem like obvious points, but they are crucial for working in a way that feels good and psychologically safe.

What are the benefits for the university and its students when university representatives attend such events?

The benefits are numerous and practical. First, there are collaboration offers that have already been forwarded to our master's students. Second, participation in ELIA’s university network allows us to host remote guest lectures by language professionals from the network free of charge. These are top-tier professionals who genuinely shape the language services industry and deliver lectures worldwide. Third, the Faculty of Translation Studies has acquired a new translation tool, “BWX,” which combines project management, computer-assisted translation, machine translation, post-editing, and AI-enhanced features. Fourth, several companies have expressed interest in participating in our Career Day on April 10 and collaborating with the university to provide internship opportunities for translation students.

How important is collaboration between universities, industry representatives, and businesses, and what does it foster?

The mentioned benefits already highlight how vital collaboration is. Only through collaboration can we ensure that the requirements of the translation industry are timely integrated into study courses. The faculty’s collaboration with the industry has always been crucial and mutually beneficial—companies need graduates, and graduates need companies. Such an event allows both sides to understand each other better.

Would you like to add anything else?

The conference provided an unforgettable experience not only because the organizers thought of everything but also because it gave me a clearer understanding of what is currently most important in translation and localization. The key word, of course, is collaboration, and I am deeply grateful to the university graduate Kaspars Kļaviņš and his company TranslatePro for encouraging and supporting my participation in the conference.

Research by scientists is published by one of the most prestigious journals in the field

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:06:03 GMT

Scientists at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences have conducted a very large and important study in astronomy on star formation processes. The study has been published in one of the field's most prestigious journals in the world – “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society”, which has been coming out continuously since 1827, compiling the most notable discoveries and research findings from around the world.

There is still very little information and clarity in the world about how large star arrays form, and researchers at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VSRC) have been working on observations for five years using the unique infrastructure in Irbene, specifically radio telescopes RT-32 and RT-16, to analyze them. After five years and more than 21,000 individual observations, it was concluded how varied the sources observed actually were, indicating the chaos that surrounds the formation of massive stars.

These types of studies are very complex and require specific knowledge, skills, infrastructure, and more importantly – they take place over a very long period of time. The stars under observation were massive stars with masses more than eight solar masses. Optically monitoring star formation is a big challenge because these processes occur deep in the centers of dark nebulae. Since spring 2017, researchers regularly monitored methanol masers in 42 areas of massive star formation.

Researcher Artis Aberfelds says: "It is very gratifying to see that the work we put in is appreciated. The journal is really prestigious and will definitely help the research to reach a wide audience and thus also raise the profile of both Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and VSRC, showing how large, complex and important research we are able to carry out. I am pleased that we have been able to conduct this research regularly and without interruption. This is difficult to do over a five-year period, because the studies have to be aligned with other observations, staff holidays, changeability and other influencing factors. The fact that we have been able to maintain this quality and performance bar shows both our enthusiasm and persistence in carrying out the study. Of course, as a young researcher, managing a publication of this magnitude for one of the world's leading journals is an invaluable experience for me."

The research was carried out by VSRC researcher Artis Aberfelds, lead researcher Ivars Šmelds, lead researcher Ross A. Burn and science assistant Jānis Šteinbergs.

Master's Theses Defended at the Faculty of Translation Studies

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 09:23:06 GMT

At the beginning of February, students of the one-and-a-half-year professional master's program in "Translation of Applied Texts" defended their master's theses.

During three semesters, four students successfully completed the program courses and, in the third semester, developed and defended their master's theses on topics relevant to the field of translation or terminology. All the theses received very good to excellent grades. The state examination commission, chaired by Professor Andrejs Veisbergs, praised the diversity of the theses.

Elīna Dergača's master's thesis "Translations of Publicistic Texts in the Context of Culinary Discourse: Problems and Solutions (English-Latvian)" examined translations of English-language texts about cooking into Latvian and sought the most successful solutions for finding equivalents for specialized culinary vocabulary in English-Latvian language pairs.

Miķelis Mārtiņš Mažis wrote his master's thesis "Improving the Efficiency of Translator Selection: Development of a Translation Skills Assessment Tool for the Latvian Translation Market," in which he developed a translation skills assessment tool using various artificial intelligence-based tools. Such a tool would help Latvian translation companies improve the efficiency of translator selection for the English-Latvian language combination. In his master's thesis, M. M. Mažis compiled and analysed survey data from Latvian translation companies and practicing interpreters and translators, developed a test for assessing translation skills, and prepared criteria for evaluating translations.

Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa's research paper "Searching for Scientific Names of Butterfly Species in Latvian and English: Difficulties and Solutions," addressed a topic related to entomological terminology that has been little researched to date: the scientific names of butterfly species and the search for equivalents for these names in Latvian and English. The study developed useful recommendations for translators when translating biology texts that include butterfly species names. During her studies, L. Ozola-Ozoliņa participated in a joint project between Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the Horticultural Institute entitled "A Complex of Intelligent Lexical Information Systems for Biological Research and Linguistic Diversity Preservation" and gained experience in terminology work. During her studies, she also participated in the conference "Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics" on November 3 - 4, 2022, with a research paper on special lexicon issues.

Malvīne Vernera's master's thesis "Peculiarities of Texts Related to Learning to Play the Drums. An Analysis of Translation-oriented Text Samples," she focused on texts in the field of music and the specifics of their translation, developing a special English-Latvian glossary of drumming-related vocabulary. This work will be useful in the study of music terminology, as there is a lack of music terminology dictionaries among today's translation tools.

The duration of the program is one year and six months for students who have already obtained a professional bachelor's degree. Meanwhile, students in the two-year program who began their studies with a previously obtained academic bachelor's degree are currently writing their master's theses and will defend them in June of this year. The graduation ceremony for all program graduates will take place in June.

Admission to the professional master's program in "Translation of Applied Texts" for the new academic year will begin on July 15 this year.

A PhD candidate successfully presents his theses

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:15:29 GMT

We are pleased to announce that on 29 February, at the public meeting of the Promotion Council of Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, the PhD candidate ARTŪRS KOKARS successfully defended his thesis "State Support for Latvian Aviation" and became the first recipient of the Doctor of Science (Ph.D) degree in Social Sciences at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in the joint PhD study programme "Economics and Business".

Artūrs Kokars is an aviation professional with many years of experience in aviation management, the current Director of the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport and a member of the Supervisory Board of JSC "Pasažieru Vilciens". He started his career at Liepaja and Ventspils regional airports, where he gained significant experience in both strategic planning and airport infrastructure development. He has also gained experience in international aviation business working in the company "Havas Latvia", air navigation company "Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme" and "Riga International Airport". In order to unite the interests of Latvian aviation entrepreneurs, in 2016, with the support of the industry, he founded and for several years managed the "Latvian Aviation Association". For several years he has been a lecturer at the Transport and Telecommunications Institute and Riga Technical University. Artūrs Kokars is also a graduate of the professional master's degree programme "Business Administration" at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

In today's age of data and information, knowledge has become the most valuable resource. Businesses and organizations need people with deep domain knowledge who can analyze data and generate unique insights to make better business decisions. Because of this, PhD graduates in business, economics, and social sciences are becoming more and more valued in the workplace. Congratulations to Artūrs for his dedication and the insightful research. Artūrs' ability to do original research—that is, to recognize, explore, and resolve a relevant issue—and produce findings that are crucial to the relevant scientific subfield is attested to by his PhD.

I hope that Artūrs will pursue new research opportunities and use his accomplishments to advance the country's economy and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences' reputation as a VUAS graduate.

Vice-Rector for Studies, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Director of the joint doctoral study programme "Economics and Business"

Dr. sc. administr. Liene Resele

Registration Open for the Young Translators' School 2024

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 12:33:09 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the Ventspils Education Board, invites all students from grades 8 to 12 who are interested in languages to gain insight into translation and intercultural communication by joining the sessions of the Young Translators' School. The first session will take place on March 9!

The Young Translators' School welcomes young individuals who are curious about translation and intercultural communication and wish to either gain an initial understanding or deepen their knowledge and skills. This is an excellent opportunity to experience a potential future field of study even before graduating from high school.

The sessions will be conducted by experienced lecturers from the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences: Astra Skrābane, Silga Sviķe, Guntars Dreijers, Aiga Bādere, Diāna Neimane, Rūta Maltisova, Ineta Kalniņa, and Ieva Zunde. Participants will meet with these lecturers on four Saturdays: March 9, 16, 23, and April 6.

During the sessions, participants will gain an understanding of the translator and interpreter professions, where theoretical aspects will intertwine with adventure stories and practical advice from industry experts. Communication and intercultural communication fundamentals, which often play a significant role in translation, will also be explored.

To register for the Young Translators' School, please fill out the application form available here .

For more information, please contact the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Erasmus+ online information seminar

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 08:42:51 GMT

All interested are invited to the informative Erasmus+ seminar ONLINE on February 21st at 4:15 PM.

During the seminar you will find out the latest news about Erasmus+ mobility and the Erasmus+ programme, as well as ask questions about the Erasmus+ application process and other issues relevant to you.

Join here - https://bbb.venta.lv/b/hel-z2d-0pg-nft

The event will be in English.

Ph.D. Defense Announcements

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 12:28:37 GMT

On February 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Valmiera, Cēsu Street 4, Room 230), Ieva Zaumane will defend her doctoral dissertation, "Strategic Management of Internal Communication Function in Enterprise", in an open session of the Doctoral Council of Economics and Business Administration, jointly organized by Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. The defense is for the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences (Ph.D.).

Dissertation reviewers:

Dr. sc. admin. Una Libkovska, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Latvia
Dr. oec. Anita Auziņa, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Latvia
Ph.D. Linjuan Rita Men, University of Florida, USA

The dissertation is available for review at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Library (Cēsu Street 4, Valmiera) and on the library's website: https://ej.uz/Zaumane_Ieva_promocijas_darbs

On February 22, 2024, at 1:00 PM, at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Valmiera, Cēsu Street 4, Room 230), Santa Lemša will defend her doctoral dissertation, "Challenges of Advanced Analytics Adoption in the Organizations of Latvia", in an open session of the Doctoral Council of Economics and Business Administration, jointly organized by Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. The defense is for the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences (Ph.D.).

Dissertation reviewers:

Dr. oec. Agita Līviņa, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia
Dr. oec. Inna Stecenko, Transport and Telecommunication Institute, Latvia
Ph.D. Luisa Cagica Carvalho, Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal, Portugal

The dissertation and its summary are available for review at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Library (Cēsu Street 4, Valmiera) and on the library's website: https://ej.uz/promocija_Lemsa_Santa

Latvia's 49th Open Physics Olympiad Announced

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 12:23:16 GMT

Registration is now open for Latvia's 49th Open Physics Olympiad (LAFO), which will take place on February 18 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The Olympiad will be held in three cities across Latvia: Riga, Daugavpils, and Ventspils.

Students from grades 9-12 are eligible to participate and can choose to solve the Olympiad tasks in Latvian, English, or Russian.

In Ventspils, LAFO will take place at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Inženieru Street 101, Room D205, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

To participate in the Olympiad, students must complete the registration form by February 10 at 11:59 PM. The form is available here: https://ej.uz/LAFO2024.

Details about the Olympiad regulations, procedures, and program can be found here: https://ej.uz/49LAFO.

LOFAR ERIC: Distributed Research Infrastructure for European Astronomical Research Launched

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 11:15:06 GMT

LOFAR ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium) has been officially launched at its first Council meeting ON 22 January 2024. The world-leading LOFAR (LOw Frequency ARray) Distributed Research Infrastructure has already revolutionized low-frequency radio astronomy research, resulting in an avalanche of scientific publications in the past decade. LOFAR ERIC is now a single legal entity across the European Union.

LOFAR ERIC will implement a substantial upgrade across the distributed infrastructure, and serve the astronomy community with a cutting-edge suite of observing and data processing capabilities, rooted in its vast field of view on sky, unprecedented sensitivity and image resolution, and novel capabilities to observe in multiple directions all at once. Further development paths for the longer term are under study.

LOFAR ERIC, set up with a long-term perspective, will provide transparent access to a wide range of science research services for the European and global community, fostering collaborations, and empowering researchers to pursue large-scale innovative projects across scientific domains, including the properties of the distant young universe, the formation and evolution of galaxies, the physics of pulsars and transient radio phenomena, the nature of ultra-high energy cosmic particles, the conditions in the interstellar medium, and the structure of cosmic magnetic fields. Furthermore, LOFAR ERIC contributes unique scientific insights into diverse topics with societal relevance, such as lightning, ionospheric disturbances, and Space Weather. LOFAR ERIC will facilitate access through its user-friendly publicly open archive for multiple use of its extensive science data products.

LOFAR ERIC's Founding Members are Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland. Collaborations with institutes in France, Latvia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom secure further participation in the LOFAR distributed infrastructure and research programme. The LOFAR ERIC statutory seat is in Dwingeloo, the Netherlands, hosted by NWO-I/ASTRON (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy; the original designer of LOFAR).

Researcher from VUAS ERI VIRAC Vladislavs Bezrukovs participated in this meeting and was the Council representative of our institute. VIRAC is a science education centre specializing in a large variety of research fields such as astronomy and astrophysics, high performance computing, satellite engineering, and antenna development. The mission of VIRAC is to become a leading scientific research infrastructure and a global provider of research services in astronomy and space technology by building a competitive team of researchers. Researchers from Latvia are frequent users of the full LOFAR infrastructure. VIRAC is the coordinating organization for the Latvian LOFAR Consortium, LOFAR-Latvia, and has been a member of the Stichting ILT since 2019. VIRAC owns and operates the LOFAR station LV614, located in Irbene, with a data connection to the LOFAR central domain.

"The establishment of LOFAR ERIC consolidates world-leading excellence for Europe in an important research field," said Dr. René Vermeulen, founding director of LOFAR ERIC. "With its unrivalled distributed research infrastructure and its robust pan-European partnership, LOFAR ERIC enters the European Research Area as a powerhouse at the cutting edge of astronomy science and technology, with the potential to contribute to broader complex challenges."

For more information about LOFAR ERIC and its initiatives, please visit the LOFAR ERIC website .

About LOFAR ERIC:

LOFAR ERIC (LOw-Frequency ARray European Research Infrastructure Consortium) is securing the future of low-frequency radio astronomy by exploiting the LOFAR Distributed Research Infrastructure as a world-leading observatory for large-scale astronomical research. LOFAR ERIC consolidates Europe's global leadership in the field. It was set up by the European Commission on 20 December 2023. LOFAR ERIC's founding members are Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland. Institutes in France, Latvia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom also collaborate in LOFAR ERIC.

About LOFAR:

LOFAR is the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope operating at low radio frequencies, between 10 and 240 MHz. It is a distributed research infrastructure that consists of multiple antenna stations, geographically distributed across Europe, all driven in software and with powerful computing and massive data storage at several distributed data centres. Jointly operated, this forms a unified, highly agile and capable observing and data processing system. With a sensitivity more than a hundred times better than any previous telescope at these frequencies, unparalleled image resolution across a large field of view, and capabilities to observe simultaneously in multiple directions, LOFAR is by far the most powerful low frequency telescope on the planet, and is revolutionising our view of the low-frequency radio universe. LOFAR was originally developed by NWO-I/ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, which now hosts LOFAR ERIC and furnishes most of the LOFAR ERIC operational services. LOFAR ERIC is jointly funded by its members and partners, that are collectively implementing a major upgrade (LOFAR2.0) for substantially improved and extended scientific research capabilities.

Press Contacts:

René Vermeulen

Founding Director, LOFAR ERIC

director@lofar.eu

rvermeulen@astron.nl

Frank Nuijens

Head of Communications, ASTRON

nuijens@astron.nl

Vladislavs Bezrukovs

LOFAR ERIC Council representative, VIRAC

vladislavsb@venta.lv

Translation Faculty Hosts Internship Conference

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 12:14:48 GMT

On Thursday, January 18, the Faculty of Translation Studies held a day-long conference where undergraduate and master’s program students shared their internship experiences. An internship is a mandatory part of the study process for all students, signaling that only one semester remains before they must write and defend their bachelor’s or master’s thesis to graduate.

The committee heard presentations from 28 students. Five students completed their internships at the translation company Skrivanek Baltic, while four honed their skills translating for the online media group TVNET GRUPA. Three students engaged in audiovisual translation at DIGI MEDIA, working on films, series, and television shows.

Two students successfully strengthened their interpreting skills during internships at the Latvian Parliament (Saeima). Another two chose to intern at the translation company Valodu Vēstniecība and the Baltic-German Higher Education Liaison Office.

In total, the students gained practical experience at five different translation companies, as well as in a news agency, a court, a Latvian cultural center abroad, and other institutions. They worked with a variety of language pairs, including Latvian, English, German, Russian, Spanish, and Lithuanian.

The four-month internship is a crucial part of every future translator’s or interpreter’s training. It provides insights into personal strengths, highlights areas for improvement, and often reinforces confidence in their chosen profession. Many of the internship providers have been longstanding partners of the Faculty of Translation Studies, making invaluable contributions to the professional growth of emerging translators. Additionally, feedback from the internship providers helps refine and improve the study process.

The faculty’s academic staff were pleased with the students’ performance, with the committee awarding six students an "excellent" evaluation for their achievements.

We wish all students resilience in completing their qualification papers and extend our gratitude to every internship provider who tirelessly supports the next generation of translators!

An article on the Irbene radioantenna complex published in the LU journal "Zvaigžņotā Debess" ("Starry Sky")

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:51:35 GMT

The University of Latvia publishes a quarterly popular science journal on astronomy, which provides information on new developments in astronomy and space research. The latest issue of "Zvaigžņotā Debess" - Winter 2023/2024 (262) - also features an article on the Irbene radio antenna complex in the column "Astrovieta", a bit about its history and why astronomy enthusiasts should visit it during the tourist season.

This article also contains a number of facts about the Irbene radio antenna complex that may not have been known before. For example, did you know that it is also included in the "Military Heritage" tourism guide? And can you guess in which year, at the end of the last century, the first observations were made with the large radio telescope RT-32?

Thank you to the Editor in Chief, Dr. paed Ilgonis Vilks, of "Zvaigžņotās Debess" for the opportunity to tell the wider public about the Irbene radio antenna complex and the work of VIRAC scientists and engineers in making various observations of the Solar System and in supporting space missions.

More information about the journal and its content can be found here: https://www.lu.lv/par-mums/lu-mediji/zurnali/zvaigznota-debess/

Discussion on Historical Facts in the Book "Balodiāna" Meet the Author, State Emeritus Scientist Manfreds Šneps-Šneppe

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:05:23 GMT

On January 22 at 4:00 PM, the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Library (Inženieru Street 101) will host a meeting with the author and scientist Manfreds Šneps-Šneppe. The event will bring together historians and other interested parties for a discussion about the historical events described in the book.

The author approaches historical events by trying to understand how the energy generated by people drives the wheels of history’s locomotive, rather than merely blowing the whistle. The book serves as a call to prevent ideological opponents from accusing us of dishonesty or hiding the truth, which, as history has shown, inevitably comes to light over time.

The book can be described as a collection of historical essays, united by the central theme of Latvia as a historical space, the chronological sequence of events, and the main characters—the four generations of the Baloži family, who played a significant role in the formation of the Latvian state.

The author, Dr. Sci. in Medical Engineering and habilitated Dr. Sci. in Telecommunications, is a State Emeritus Scientist and currently a leading researcher at the International Radio Astronomy Center. He has authored several books, including "A Long Life for Latvia" (2022), "Latgale: Reflections in the Mirror of History" (2020), and "Latvian Riflemen" (2017), among others. He continues his research work actively and is currently preparing a new book for publication.

For More Information:

Laura Janvare

Head of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Library

Phone: +371 29447198

Email: laura.janvare@ventspils.lv

VIRAC Scientific Project seminar with visiting researcher Ross Burns

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:10:15 GMT

At the beginning of this year, from January 5th to 8th, a seminar was held at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences as part of the Project lzp-2022/1-0083 "A single-baseline radio interferometer in a new age of transient astrophysics." During the seminar, the what was done during the first year were summarized, future work guidelines were established, and to introduce the broader community to the project's goals and tasks a lecture was given by the project's scientific leader, Dr. Ross Burns.

For a more in-depth understanding of these goals and tasks, information can be found on the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre website here . The main idea is to use an interferometer consisting of two radio telescopes a little more than half a kilometer apart, to bring the sensitivity of a system consisting of these telescopes closer to what is theoretically possible. This is achieved by eliminating random sources of noise, such as atmospheric effects, recorded separately in each telescope. As a result, the sensitivity of the system, comprising antennas with diameters of 32 m and 16 m, approaches that of the world's largest telescopes with diameters of 64 m and 100 m. The project aims to use this capability to observe the formation processes of massive stars (greater than 6 solar masses), involving radio bursts lasting only a few days. Since these objects need to be monitored at the same incidence, the world's largest radio telescopes cannot be used (as they are too busy with other tasks). However, small telescope systems, like the one established within the project, can can do it. The project also involves efforts to automate the observation process of cosmic radio sources and improve data processing. The benefits of the project include not only scientific publications but also an enhanced methodology for observing cosmic radio sources. It is worth noting that the revival of interferometric networks, consisting of several antennas, can make a significant contribution to space research, working with still current researches that are within their capabilities.

The scientific leader of the project is Ross Burns, a globally recognized scientist whose research interests focus on the study in the radio frequency range of regions where new stars are forming. His current main workplace is the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. To facilitate successful collaboration within the project, weekly remote project meetings take place, and regular communication is maintained through social media groups and online planning platforms. On January 5th, a project seminar meeting took place, allowing all participants to meet in person. The first part of the meeting took place at the Irben Radiotelescope complex, where R. Burns had the opportunity to familiarize himself with the Irben radiotelescopes and the technical work done within the project. In the second part of the day, the meeting continued at Ventspils University College, involving all project participants. During this time, the work done was thoroughly evaluated, including significant contributions to the development and improvement of data processing methodology and software. Future observation plans were specified, taking into account the need to consider future improvements to the telescopes and other ongoing radioastronomical research in Irbene. The discussion also covered the upcoming scientific publications within the project. By this summer, the project will reach its midpoint, and preparations for the associated scientific report were discussed. R. Burns and project participant researcher A. Aberfelds also shared their recent participation in the workshop in Yebes observatory (read more about it here ) and its significance in achieving the project's goals.

On January 8th, a seminar meeting dedicated to the wider public was held, where R. Burns introduced the present and remotely connected guests with the research of massive new stars, what was done within the project and what still needs to be done. Special attention was given to the coordination of the so-called maser monitoring organization, which unites several radioastronomical observatories engaged in the study of cosmic masers, with Ross himself in the leadership team. After the lecture, project participants discussed various issues related to the project's progress and clarified future action plans. At the end of the day, R. Burns headed back to Japan.

Activities were implemented within the framework of the Latvian Council of Science Fundamental and Applied Research Projects (FLPP) project "A single-baseline radio interferometer in a new age of transient astrophysics" (IVARS), No. lzp-2022/1-0083.

Doctoral Candidate Santa Lemša from Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences to Defend Dissertation

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 11:58:30 GMT

Since August 2021, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, with the support of the European Social Fund, has been participating in the project “Strengthening the Academic Staff of Higher Education Institutions in Strategic Specialization Areas at RTA, VeA, and ViA” (No. 8.2.2.0/20/I/005). As part of the project, Santa Lemša, a research assistant at the project partner Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, will defend her doctoral dissertation on February 22, 2024. The dissertation, titled “Challenges in Implementing Advanced Analytics in Latvian Organizations,” is aimed at obtaining a Doctoral Degree (PhD). The supervisor of the dissertation is Professor Dr.oec. Sarmīte Rozentāle. Three reviewers have been assigned: Professor Dr.oec. Agita Līviņa (ViA), Professor Dr.oec. Inna Stecenko from the Transport and Telecommunication Institute, and Professor PhD Luisa Cagica Carvalho from the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (Portugal).

Dissertation Objectives and Innovation

The goal of the dissertation is to develop an evaluation and recommendation tool for assessing the maturity level of advanced analytics ecosystems within organizations. This tool will be freely accessible online to all interested parties.

The scientific novelty of the work lies in the creation of the first maturity assessment model for advanced analytics in organizations in Latvia. This model enables any organization in Latvia to evaluate the maturity level of its advanced analytics ecosystem and receive recommendations for improvement. Additionally, a methodology for evaluating advanced analytics maturity has been developed, which can be applied internationally.

The advanced analytics maturity assessment model and recommendation tool provide a systematic approach to identifying the level of maturity in advanced analytics within Latvian organizations. Following the principles of open science, the tool is freely available online, allowing organizations to receive recommendations for implementing, maintaining, or improving advanced analytics solutions.

The dissertation is available for review at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Library, Cēsu Street 4, Valmiera.

Join the Hackathon "AI Business Start"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 11:49:50 GMT

The year kicks off with an exciting and unprecedented opportunity for the knowledgeable and curious

youth of the Kurzeme region! We invite you to participate in the idea development hackathon "AI Business Start"!

Young people aged 15 to 20 are encouraged to register for the hackathon, exploring and developing ideas for starting a business using artificial intelligence. The hackathon promises intense competition for the grand prize of 1,000 EUR, which will be awarded to the team that develops and justifies their idea most convincingly to the jury. Participants can join the hackathon either with an already formed team or individually, forming a team during the event. There will be an opportunity to tackle a challenge of your own design or choose one proposed by experts.

Registration is open until January 12.

For more information and to register, visit: vatp.lv/ai-biznesa-starts.

Each participant must fill out a separate registration form.

Students ask - The VUAS Council answers

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 07:06:45 GMT

❓ How can the VUAS Council contribute to the international competitiveness and development of the university?

❓ What valuable aspects could the university adopt from corporate management?

❓ What have been the biggest challenges for the VUAS Council so far?

❓ How can students get involved in shaping and implementing the VUAS strategy?

The video was produced as part of the European Social Fund project No. 8.2.3.0/22/I/001 "Support for the Establishment of State University Councils" implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science.

Seminar on Best Practices in Governance and Change Management Held at VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 13:45:59 GMT

On November 28 at 10:30 AM , Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) hosted a seminar titled “Best Practices in Governance and Change Management at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.” The event featured representatives from the Ventspils City Council, VUAS, and the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association (LIKTA).

The seminar began with a presentation by Jānis Vītoliņš , Chair of the Ventspils City Council, who discussed the collaborative role of the Ventspils Municipality and VUAS in driving regional development and fostering a supportive business environment.

Participants also heard from:

Kristaps Klauss , Chair of the VUAS Council,
Andris Vaivads , Rector of VUAS,
Una Libkovska , VUAS Vice-Rector for Studies, and
Signe Bāliņa , President of LIKTA.

The seminar was organized as part of the European Social Fund project, “Enhancing the Content Quality of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Study Programs, Improving Resource Efficiency, and Ensuring Better Governance” (ID No. 8.2.3.0/18/A/014).

With this seminar, the university marked the conclusion of the project’s five-year implementation. The project’s main objectives were to enhance the quality of VUAS study program content, improve governance in higher education institutions through effective resource utilization, and strengthen the competencies and skills of management personnel.

Invitation to Speak at the International Cooperation Meeting at Yebes Observatory

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 12:52:52 GMT

At the end of last year, from December 18 to 21, the Yebes Observatory, located in Spain approximately 60 kilometers from Madrid and home to one of Europe’s largest radio telescopes with a 40-meter diameter, hosted an international cooperation workshop. Among the invitees were Ross A. Burns, a leading visiting researcher, and Artis Aberfelds, a researcher from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The meeting, held in person, included representatives from the Yebes Observatory, Santa Maria Observatory in the Azores (Portugal), and our university. Its primary goal was to enhance technical and scientific collaboration among the three countries and observatories, with a particular focus on studying cosmic masers.

The Santa Maria radio telescope is currently used primarily as a geodetic positioning station, leaving ample time for other observation projects. However, the telescope's dish, with a diameter of only 13 meters, is best suited for observing relatively strong natural radio sources, such as cosmic masers. Notably, only a small fraction of such masers are regularly observed, leaving opportunities for other observatories to contribute to these studies. Starting a new research direction is challenging, but the exchange of experience can significantly ease the process. During the workshop, VIRAC researcher Artis Aberfelds presented results from maser studies and observation methodologies implemented in Irbene, sharing expertise in this field. Key challenges in observing cosmic masers were discussed, such as telescope gain stability during observations, the impact of weather conditions, and recognizing the effects of systematic measurement errors.

Potential avenues for scientific collaboration were also identified, with key priorities including the monitoring of 6.7 GHz methanol masers found exclusively in regions of massive star formation and joint efforts in interferometric observations. The Santa Maria telescope’s ability to capture the 12.3 GHz methanol maser line is particularly interesting to VIRAC researchers, as it could provide additional data on sources exhibiting both spectral lines.

Participants had the opportunity to tour the Yebes Observatory complex, located atop a plateau 1 km above sea level. The site houses an optical telescope, a satellite laser ranging station, a gravimetric monitoring station, and two radio telescopes. The smaller radio telescope, with a diameter of 13 meters, is used for geodetic observations, while the larger 40-meter telescope is dedicated to astronomical observations. Both telescopes can be used simultaneously in interferometric mode, similar to the setup at Irbene’s radio telescopes as part of the "Single Baseline Radio Interferometry for Modern Transient Astrophysics" project. The main Yebes radio telescope operates across a wide range of frequencies from 4 to 100 GHz (compared to Irbene's range of 4.5 to 8.8 GHz), enabling higher-frequency observations in the framework of collaboration.

The Yebes Observatory also boasts an impressive electronics workshop, where receivers are designed and built. For example, a new wideband C/X-band receiver operating from 4 to 14 GHz and cooled to 7 K (-266°C) has been developed, with ongoing efforts to reduce the temperature to 4 K, enabling components (including cables) to function in a superconducting state.

At the conclusion of the meeting, potential collaboration areas were discussed, including experience sharing in maser observations, the application of single baseline interferometry, and the exchange of observational data. The participants agreed to jointly develop an observation proposal for utilizing Yebes' 40-meter antenna.

Cristina García Miró, representing the Yebes Observatory, expressed its commitment to developing a joint European Union-level project to ensure intensive and extended collaboration among the three observatories in Spain, Portugal, and Latvia.

Participation in the meeting was funded by the LZP FLPP project “Single Baseline Radio Interferometry for Modern Transient Astrophysics” (IVARS), No. lzp-2022/1-0083.

Extensive digitalization initiatives have been implemented in higher education

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:19:08 GMT

Within the framework of the project lasting more than a year six Latvian higher education institutions have implemented various digitalization initiatives in higher education, which will contribute to a significant increase of the education quality and the competitiveness of graduates in the labour market. In the future students will have access to various digitalized study courses, an assessment tool for digital competences, as well as the opportunity to acquire knowledge in hybrid audiences.

Project “Digitalization Initiatives for Improving the Quality of Studies in the field of Strategic Specialization of Higher Education Institutions” is coming to an end, in which the leading partner of the consortium Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) has united the other higher education institutions: Rezekne Academy of Technologies (RTA), Daugavpils University (DU), University of Latvia (UL), Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and "Turība" University.

As part of the project strengthening of digital capacity has been carried out in 83 new and existing study courses which will be available for LBTU, UL, DU, RTA, VUAS and Turība. These activities were implemented together with SIA "WeAreDots" and SIA "Baltijas Datoru Akademija" (BDA).

Project manager Ilze Beitāne informs that BDA has developed a tool for assessing students’ digital competences, which was integrated in all higher education institutions involved in the project. An assessment of students' digital competences has been carried out, which showed that areas such as communication and collaboration are at a good level while safety is a competence that needs to be improved.

"We are especially pleased that the digitisation solutions have been able to strengthen the study process of the Faculties of Economics and Management and Translation Studies. We have updated the content of several study courses so that they also contribute to the development of digital skills. A language technology terminology platform www.termini.venta.lv has been created, which will collect terms explained by VUAS students and faculty. The purchase of newer simultaneous translation software and technical equipment and the renewal of the VUAS e-learning environment Moodle are also long-awaited results. The project has been very dynamic and fast-paced, working as a team, I think we have been able to explore VUAS strengths and weaknesses in the use of current digital solutions, to look at global best practices to adopt and implement in the methods and objectives used at VUAS, and to learn from each other, making sure that students are not only given knowledge in a specific area, but also the opportunity to grow more digitally competent," says K.Balode, the project coordinator at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Project’s implementation will be finalized on 31 ^st December, within the framework of which all planned results have been achieved. Results achieved will also ensure the further digital transformation for higher education institutions, promoting digital competences of students and teaching staff.

REACT-EU funding for mitigating of the consequences of the pandemic crisis has been attracted to the European Social Fund's project “Digitalization Initiatives for Improving the Quality of Studies in the field of Strategic Specialization of Higher Education Institutions" (No. 8.2.3.0/22/A/005). The total funding of the project is 2,052,269.47 EUR. Its implementation started on November 1, 2022 and will end on December 31, 2023.

The SRP "Education" project on the effectiveness of improving the professional competence of adults and the transfer of its results to practice has been launched

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 20:11:21 GMT

On December 22, 2023, the University of Latvia, in cooperation with the University of Liepāja and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, launched the State Research Program "Education" project No. VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001 "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia".

Project No. VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001 aims to develop an evidence-based framework and practical solutions for effective professional development of adults, including teachers, and its transfer to practice by providing tools to assess the impact of professional development on practice in Latvia.

By implementing a design-based research approach, the project aims to carry out a systematic study of the transfer of professional competence development of adults, including teachers, to practice. By analysing theoretical knowledge and international experience in relation to the Latvian context and needs, the main barriers to effective professional competence development of adults will be identified, instruments used elsewhere in the world to measure the effectiveness of professional competence development will be studied, policy priorities and ongoing reforms will be analysed, and an assessment of the impact of professional competence development outcomes for adults, including teachers, on practice in Latvia will be carried out. The study will conclude with the development of an evidence-based framework for effective professional competence development of adults, including teachers, and the transfer of its results to practice, validated practical solutions for assessing the effectiveness of professional competence development at the organisational and system level in line with the Latvian context and education policy objectives.

The results of the study will be presented at at least five international scientific conferences. To ensure targeted communication of the project achievements, four articles will be submitted or accepted for publication and three articles will be published in Web of Science or Scopus indexed journals. It is planned that by the end of the project, two Master's theses will be defended and one PhD thesis will be submitted for defence. Two conferences will be organised on the results of the project at the middle and at the end of the project. Regular press releases, social media publications and popular science articles will be used to inform the public about the progress and results of the project.

The results of the research will contribute to evidence-based decision-making on promoting the effectiveness of professional development of adults, including teachers, and the achievement of strategic educational development goals, as well as generate new knowledge and workable solutions at the educational institution, local and national levels.

Project's No : VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001

Project's duration : December 22, 2023 – December 21, 2026

Project's total budget : 730 000 EUR

Project's partners : University of Latvia (UL), Liepaja University (LiepU), Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS).

Project's scientific manager : UL FESP SIP leading researcher Svetlana Surikova.

Project's administrative manager : Laureta Buševica.

Scientific group : Dr. paed. Svetlana Surikova (UL), Dr. paed. Sanita Baranova (UL), Dr. paed. Gunta Siliņa-Jasjukeviča (UL), Dr. paed. Dita Nīmante (UL), Dr. psych. Aleksandrs Koļesovs (UL), Dr. paed. Maija Kokare (UL), PhD Dzintra Iliško (UL), MA student Inga Grigaļuna (UL), MA student Maija Vilnīte (ULU), Dr. sc. administr. Inese Lūsēna-Ezera (LiepU), Dr. sc. administr. Una Libkovska (VUAS), Dr. sc. administr. Liene Resele (VUAS), Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante (VUAS), PhD student Kate Zonberga (VUAS), PhD student Zane Zonberga (VUAS).

Launch of the VPP "Education" project on the effectiveness of adult professional competence development and its impact on practice

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 11:15:34 GMT

On 22 December 2023, the University of Latvia, in cooperation with Liepaja University and Ventspils University of apllied sciences, launched the State Research Programme "Education" project No. VPP -IZM-Education-2023/4-0001 "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of adult professional competence and assessment of the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia".

The aim of project No. VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001 is to develop an evidence-based framework and practical solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence among adults, including teachers, and the transfer of its results into practice, by offering tools for assessing the impact of professional development on practice in Latvia.

By implementing a design-based research approach, the project aims to conduct a systematic study of the transfer of professional competence development to practice among adults, including teachers. By analyzing theoretical findings and international experience in relation to the Latvian context and needs, the main obstacles to effective professional competence development for adults will be identified, research tools used elsewhere in the world to measure the effectiveness of professional competence development will be examined, policy priorities and reforms that have been initiated will be analyzed, and the impact of the results of professional competence development for adults, including teachers, on practice in Latvia will be assessed. At the end of the study, an evidence-based framework will be developed for the effective professional competence development of adults, including teachers, and for transferring the results to practice, and validated practical solutions will be prepared for assessing the effectiveness of professional competence development at the organizational and system level in accordance with the Latvian context and education policy objectives.

The results of the study will be reported at least five international scientific conferences. To ensure targeted communication about the project's achievements, four articles will be submitted or accepted for publication and three articles will be published in Web of Science or Scopus indexed publications. By the end of the project, two master's theses are planned to be defended and one doctoral thesis submitted for defense. Two conferences will be organized on the project results at the midpoint and at the end of the project. Regular press releases, social media posts, and popular science articles will be used to inform the public about the progress of the project and the results achieved.

The research results will contribute to evidence-based decision-making on the promotion of adult including teachers, promoting the effectiveness of professional development and achieving strategic educational development goals, as well as generating new knowledge and practical solutions at the level of educational institutions, local governments and the state.

Project number: VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001

Project implementation period: December 22, 2023 – December 21, 2026

Total project funding: EUR 730,000

Project partners: University of Latvia (LU), Liepaja University (LiepU) and Ventspils University of apllied sciences (VUAS).

Project scientific director: Svetlana Surikova, leading researcher at the Institute of Pedagogy, LU IZPF.

Project administrative manager: Laureta Buševica.

Scientific group: Dr. paed. Svetlana Surikova (LU), Dr. paed. Sanita Baranova (LU), Dr. paed. Gunta Siliņa-Jasjukeviča (LU), Dr. paed. Dita Nīmante (LU), Dr. psych. Aleksandrs Koļesovs (LU), Dr. paed. Maija Kokare (LU), PhD Dzintra Iliško (LU), master's student Inga Grigaļuna (LU), master's student Maija Vilnīte (LU), Dr. sc. administr. Inese Lūsēna-Ezera (LiepU), Dr. sc. administr. Una Libkovska (VUAS), Dr. sc. administr. Liene Resele (VUAS), Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante (VUAS), doctoral student Kate Zonberga (VUAS), doctoral student Zane Zonberga (VUAS).

Christmas Scientific Conference 2023

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:25:37 GMT

On 20 December at 11.00 a Christmas Scientific Conference was held at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, where lecturers and researchers of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences looked back on their achievements and presented them to colleagues, students and other interested parties. The conference covered a wide range of fields such as astronomy, economics, engineering, information technology and others.

This year, six themes were presented at the scientific conference:

"Artificial Intelligence and the Oncovirus RIGVIR" , M. Šneps-Šneppe;
"Forecasts of the main macroeconomic indicators of Latvia" , S. . Hiļķevičs, V. Semakina;
"Overview of radio astronomical observations in 2023" , Vl. Bezrukovs;
"Biolexipedia data management system: an interdisciplinary project from idea to result" , A. Stalažs, S. Sviķe, K. Šķirmante, G. Jasmonts, R. E. Ziediņš;
"Trends in the Latvian Economy" , S. Hiļķevičs;
"Radioblocks, IVARS, STEF and ORP activities in 2023" , Vl. Bezrukovs, R. Burns, I. Šmelds, V. Nakariakov, D. Kolotkov, D.Bezrukovs, A. Aberfelds, K.Šķirmante, J.Šteinbergs, G. Jasmonts, M.Bleiders, A. Kalniņa, K. Veitners, I.Kozlova.

Alternative Fuels Hackathon Concludes in Ventspils

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:46:06 GMT

From December 8 to 10, Ventspils hosted the "Alternative Fuel Hackathon," both on-site and digitally, under the slogan “Sail into a Sustainable Future.” The event addressed key challenges in the energy and port industries, focusing on energy efficiency, alternative fuels, and digitalization. More than 30 participants from various fields across the Baltic Sea region, along with mentors and industry experts, came together to tackle these pressing issues.

For instance, the Freeport of Ventspils Authority posed a challenge to develop a tool for engaging and educating the public about green energy and alternative fuel opportunities. Meanwhile, the Freeport of Riga Authority sought innovative solutions for the commercialization of hydrogen within port environments.

“There are two key development directions in Europe that have been intensively pursued for some time—digitalization and sustainability. We are proud that Ventspils High Technology Park, by organizing this event, can contribute to the sustainability narrative. By coming together and combining experience with enthusiasm, we can transform challenges into opportunities,” said Gvido Grīnbergs, Head of the Business Support and Digital Innovation Center at Ventspils High Technology Park, during the hackathon's opening.

Over the course of 48 hours, teams worked tirelessly to create innovative and functional digital prototypes, which were highly praised by the jury at the event's conclusion. Out of 11 teams, three emerged as winners:

1st Place (€750 cash prize)
Team "Zolara" (Krišjānis Odiņš, Kristaps Barons, Edmunds Zālītis) developed an artificial intelligence tool designed to educate Latvian youth about green energy topics.
2nd Place (€500 cash prize)
Team "Tārgale United" (Kaspars Kukainis, Kārlis Kukainis, Roberts Kukainis, Eduards Žiborkins) addressed logistics efficiency in ro-ro terminals by creating an automated port system that reduces time and resource costs while promoting environmental sustainability.
3rd Place (€250 cash prize)
Team "Save Some" (Ronalds Palacis, Haralds Juris Barkāns, Uldis Ramlavs) proposed smart energy management solutions for ports, integrating Nord Pool electricity prices with artificial intelligence to optimize power consumption.

Mentor and jury member Imants Martinsons, an expert in clean technologies and mobility, remarked: “The standout teams were those that combined diverse competencies, such as business, energy, and IT. This multidisciplinary approach allowed challenges and industry problems to be viewed from multiple perspectives, resulting in creative and unconventional solutions.”

The hackathon resulted in the development of more than ten innovative solutions with the potential to influence the future of port development by promoting public education on sustainability, smart resource management, and CO2 emissions reduction.

For more information, visit alternativefuelshackathon.eu .

The hackathon was organized by the Ventspils High Technology Park foundation in collaboration with the cooperative society BASAFUL as part of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region program project "Blue Supply Chains" (Project No. #C019).

FoTS represented at professional association conference at University of Jena

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:22:36 GMT

Associate Professor of the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Dr. philol. Silga Sviķe represented the faculty at the conference "DaF/DaZ-Lehrkräfte mit einer anderen Erstsprache als Deutsch: Herausforderungen und Potenziale" (German teachers whose native language is not German: Challenges and Potential) organised by the professional association "German as a Foreign Language and German as a Second Language" at The Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, on 8 December this year. Programme: https://www.fadaf.de/fadaf-veranstaltungen/fachtag-2023/

The conference focused on the following issues: further training opportunities for non-native German teachers, methodology of teaching German as a second language and German as a foreign language, teaching German phonetics in schools and universities, etc. The topic of "Non-native German teachers" is very relevant and not sufficiently discussed so far, and German is becoming more and more popular and sought after worldwide. However, there is a shortage of both German teachers and German speakers, especially outside of Germany. The demand for German language courses is increasing both inside and outside Germany. This is due to the close economic, political and cultural links that Germany and the countries where German is the official language of communication have with other European countries. German institutions also offer a wide range of study, traineeship and job opportunities where applicants need to have a working knowledge of German.

At the conference, publishers Hueber, Cornelsen, Klett and others presented the latest materials and resources for language teaching, especially for universities. Participation in the event was a great opportunity to meet other German teachers, share experiences and insights into teaching the language at the university they represented.

On 9 December, a special event was organized by the professional association "German as a Foreign Language and German as a Second Language" for ten teachers of German language, literature and German cultural studies working in other countries outside Germany. The workshop was titled "Education for Sustainable Development: Materials and Resources". The workshop presented and analyzed a variety of new materials for teaching German to students with different levels of language proficiency.

S. Sviķe received a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service to participate in both events. The experience gained at the event will be useful for the German language classes at the Faculty of Translation Studies for translation students whose second working language is German.

Presentation of the results of the project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity” at Bulduri Technical School

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 07:39:43 GMT

On December 15th, Silga Sviķe, the project manager of the Latvian Council of Science project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity”, visited Bulduri Technical School at the invitation of director Ieva Vincovska and Anta Sparinska, a lecturer at the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). During her visit, she introduced the school’s teachers, students, and LBTU lecturers to the resources developed within the project, including the multilingual translating botanical terms dictionary (a mobile app) containing 3000 botanical terms in Latvian-Latin-English-German-Russian, as well as the data management system “Bioleksipēdija”.

BT and LBTU students and teachers had the opportunity to learn about the development story of the botanical terms dictionary, download the dictionary app to their smartphones, and test their knowledge of plant names by completing educational game tasks included in the dictionary. Dr. Anta Sparinska, a biologist, commented on the developed dictionary: “This dictionary is a very useful and even necessary tool for various audiences, including high school students, philology students, translators, as well as students of agriculture, biology, landscape architecture, and geography, as well as gardeners, florists — both professionals and amateurs — who work with plants on a daily basis or as a hobby.”

During the event, Silga Sviķe also introduced the new resource, the data management system “Biolexipedia”, explaining its functionality and potential for organism name research. The teachers acknowledged that this comprehensive resource would be significant for the correct and accurate use of terminology in both academic studies and industry practice and research.

This research has been funded by the Latvian Council of Science, project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity“. No. lzp-2020/1-0179.

Implementation of the RADIOBLOCKS Project: 10-Month Update

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:06:01 GMT

For the past ten months, the project “New Science in Radio Astronomy: Applying Cutting-Edge Technology to Enhance the Entire Data Chain, from Receiver to Final Output” (RADIOBLOCKS, Project No. 101093934, part of the HORIZON-INFRA-2022-TECH-01 program) has been underway at the Engineering Research Institute Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

The RADIOBLOCKS project, which began on March 1, 2023 , has a total budget of €10 million and involves over 30 partners from across the globe.

Progress in the RADIOBLOCKS Project

The VIRAC team has significantly contributed to the development of software for data processing across multiple Very Long Baseline

Interferometry (VLBI) networks, including EVN, ILT, ALMA, SKA, and EHT . This software is designed to benefit the global radio astronomy community. Additionally, the team has improved data processing algorithms previously developed by VIRAC. These enhancements, based on Karhunen–Loève Transformation (KLT) and Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) methodologies, will be applicable to observational data from EVN and ILT networks.

The results of the project may also advance single-baseline interferometry using the interferometer complex RT32–RT16 at Irbene and enhance LOFAR VLBI capabilities .

Key Activities Involving VIRAC

VIRAC is engaged in two major project work packages:

WP4: Development of a Next-Generation Correlator
Focus: Correlator design and adaptation for advanced interferometry.
WP5: Creation of Post-Processing Tools
Focus: Adapting KLT and SSA algorithms for the DASK framework .

Detailed Results of Project Activities

WP4 Results

Began adapting the AARTFAAC correlator for single-baseline interferometry by creating a module to read VLBI Data Interchange Format (VDIF) data.
Held discussions on developing a near-field offset module .
Prepared a work integration plan for VIRAC and other project partners.
Developed a detailed roadmap for the coming project years.
Contributed to the creation of HPC (High-Performance Computing) specifications for procuring new infrastructure to support project needs.

WP5 Results

Conducted preliminary research and updated data processing methodologies relevant to RADIOBLOCKS.
Explored the DASK framework and its sub-frameworks, creating test projects to integrate these into project workflows.
Developed an initial version of the KLT algorithm using the DASK framework.
Created a data visualization program for single-baseline interferometry using the DASK framework.

Project Travel and Meetings

Kick-Off Meeting (Leiden, Netherlands):

Discussed collaboration between VIRAC and other RADIOBLOCKS partners, project timelines, decision-making processes, administrative requirements, and reporting deadlines.
Reviewed VIRAC’s tasks in WP4 and WP5 , including plans for cluster acquisition, technical specifications, code storage, documentation, and deliverables for the year.
WP5 discussions focused on sub-activities, computational resource availability, VIRAC's role in RFI studies , and LOFAR tool development.

2. WP4 Planning Meeting (October 11–12, 2023):

Held in hybrid format at ASTRON, Dwingeloo, Netherlands , with VIRAC participants Jānis Šteinbergs (remote) and Vladislavs Bezrukovs (remote on October 11, in-person on October 12).
Discussions included compiling technology requirements from various institutions to inform cluster configuration and contribute to the WP4 deliverable D4.1: "Technology Assessment and Cluster Configuration."
On October 12, discussions focused on interfaces and key connection points for the "radio blocks" developed within RADIOBLOCKS.

A key conclusion from the WP4 meeting was the need for reusability of the developed results. To achieve this, a repository adhering to specific standards will be created, overseen by a DevOps working group led by ASTRON. Discussions also considered whether the final product should be a unified package containing all radio blocks or a set of independent modules. While no single application requires all radio blocks, a unified package remains an option.

Work plans, deadlines, and risks for individual project partners were reviewed. Although no significant risks were identified, clearer definitions of deliverables and interim goals were highlighted as essential.

Funding and Acknowledgments

These activities are part of the project “New Science in Radio Astronomy: Applying Cutting-Edge Technology to Enhance the Entire Data Chain, from Receiver to Final Output” (Project No. 101093934) and are funded by the project.

A Digital Solution Is Being Developed for Latvia's Livestock Sector

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:59:20 GMT

Since autumn 2022, the project “Efficient Environmental and Animal Welfare Farm Monitoring" has been actively developing a digital solution for Latvia's livestock sector. This solution aims to ensure centralized record-keeping and analysis of farm data while promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices.

At the project's inception, a comprehensive assessment of the needs of livestock farms was conducted. The experience of Finland was also evaluated during an exchange visit focused on the application of digital technologies in dairy farming.

Significant progress has been made in collaboration with agricultural organizations, researchers, consultants, and farmers. Modules for dairy monitoring and manure management are well underway, and work has commenced on modules for beef cattle and sheep monitoring. The project is led by the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre (LLKC), with contributions from farmer organizations (GLAB, LAAA, LZF, SCE E-piim, and the Latvian Holstein Cattle Breeders Association), livestock farms (Adams Farm, Lazdu mājas, Nākotne, and Mežoki), and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). These partners provide valuable insights to ensure the monitoring system meets farmers' needs. Programming for the system is being carried out by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Collaboration with the Agricultural Data Centre (LDC) has also begun to facilitate the import of animal and location data from the LDC database. However, to achieve the project's goals more effectively and address current and future farmer needs, broader cooperation with the LDC is essential. At the most recent project partner meeting, participants emphasized that seamless integration with LDC systems is crucial to avoid duplicative data entry across multiple platforms. For maximum efficiency, LDC systems should support both data import and export functionalities.

The project is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2025.

More information about the project can be found here: http://new.llkc.lv/lv/nozares/projekti/Efektivs_vides_un_dzivnieku_labturibas_saimniecibu_monitorings

The system is being developed under Measure 16.1, “Support for European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability.” The total planned cost of the system is €500,000, with 90% funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the remaining 10% covered by project partners.

Note: The Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre represents the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) network in Latvia. One of its key responsibilities is to disseminate information about innovations and related projects in Latvia and Europe.

VIRAC Representatives Visit Zielona Góra, Poland

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 13:43:06 GMT

From November 27 to December 1 , VIRAC scientific assistant Jānis Šteinbergs and leading visiting researcher Jesús Alberto Cázares Montes visited Zielona Góra, Poland, to participate in discussions on pulsar observations conducted with individual LOFAR stations. The visit also aimed to strengthen collaboration between Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre ( VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy on joint projects related to pulsar studies.

The representatives from VIRAC, together with colleagues from the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy, discussed various ongoing topics in pulsar research. These discussions extended to potential collaborations on new projects. Proposed areas of collaboration include:

Studying interstellar scintillation through pulsar observations using both LOFAR and the RT-32 radio telescope located at the Irbene complex.
Multi-spectral AGN monitoring utilizing radio (including RT-32), optical, and X-ray telescopes.

Further discussions focused on joint observations with the radio telescopes in Irbene and Toruń , specifically RT-32 C-band observations and Toruń L-band observations, as well as observations using optical telescopes.

The delegation also initiated discussions about a potential Erasmus collaboration between VIRAC and the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy. This would include both student and scientific staff exchange programs.

With regard to the LOFAR station located at the Irbene complex, the possibilities for advancing pulsar research at VIRAC were explored. Plans for automating pulsar observations using the LOFAR station were outlined, including automating the data processing pipeline.

Jānis and Jesús, along with researchers from the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy— Dr. Levandowski and Prof. Dr. Hab. Giorgi Melikidze —discussed theoretical developments in pulsar studies. These conversations aimed to broaden the understanding of pulsars and improve current research methodologies.

Scientists’ Research Published in One of the Most Prestigious Journals in Astronomy

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 13:10:55 GMT

Scientists from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences have conducted a broud and comprehensive study on the processes of star formation. Their research has been published in one of the world’s most prestigious astronomy journals, the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . This journal, established in 1827, is renowned for presenting remarkable discoveries and research from around the globe.

Overall, the mechanisms behind the formation of massive stars remain poorly understood. Researchers from the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) , part of the VUAS, spent five years studying these processes using the unique infrastructure at Irbene—radio telescopes RT-32 and RT-16 . Over this period, the team conducted more than 21,000 individual observations , uncovering significant variability in observed sources. These findings highlight the chaotic and dynamic nature of massive star formation.

Such research is highly complex, requiring specialized knowledge, skills, infrastructure, and, most importantly, extensive time. The study focused on massive star clusters with masses exceeding eight solar masses. Observing these formations using optical methods is particularly challenging, as they occur deep within dense and opaque nebulae. Since spring 2017, researchers have systematically monitored methanol masers in 42 massive star formation regions .

Researcher Artis Aberfelds commented:

“It is truly gratifying to see our work recognized. The journal is prestigious and will undoubtedly help the study reach a wide professional audience, enhancing the visibility of both Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and VIRAC, and demonstrating the scope, complexity, and importance of the research, what we can accomplish. I am proud that we have been able to conduct this research consistently and without interruption. Maintaining this level of quality and execution over five years, despite the need to coordinate with other observations, employee vocation, staff changes, and other influencing factors, is a testament to our enthusiasm and perseverance. For me, as a young researcher, leading a publication in a journal of this caliber—one of the world’s leading journals—is an invaluable experience.”

The study was conducted by VIRAC researcher Artis Aberfelds , lead researchers Ivars Šmelds and Ross A. Burns , and scientific assistant Jānis Šteinbergs .

Engineering Research Institute Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (ERI VIRAC) has implemented a research project "H2-Compression" funded by the European Regional Development Fund

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 07:24:52 GMT

The Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) concluded a significant applied research project on November 30. The project was implemented over nearly three years, with four organizations – the main partner was Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and as co-partners were "LATVO," the State Scientific Institute - derived public person “Institute of Physical Energetics”, the foundation “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Development Fund”. On the project were fourteen members of the team, consisting of scientific technical workers, researchers, and students.

The Applied Research Project "Development of Hydrogen Hydraulic Compression Technology for Hydrogen Fueling Stations (H2-Compression)" was implemented under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programme "Growth and Employment"

More and more countries and companies are competing intensively for leadership in clean hydrogen technologies. More than 30 countries have now developed or are preparing hydrogen strategies, reflecting the growing interest in developing the hydrogen industry. It is clear that hydrogen has the potential to make a significant contribution to addressing three key challenges for energy use: sustainable economic development of the European Union, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting air pollution.

In recent years, the use of hydrogen energy in transport and the concept of a hydrogen economy has gained new and strong political support. At the same time, rapidly advancing technologies have created the opportunity to use hydrogen as a driving force for a future carbon-neutral energy system. This initiative is driven by the desire for energy security and independence. The European Union has set an ambitious target of becoming the first climate neutral continent by 2050, in line with the European Commission's guidelines.

The aim of the research project was to acquire new knowledge and skills to develop an innovative technological solution to compress hydrogen gas. In this system, low-pressure hydrogen gas is compressed by gradually injecting it into vertically positioned compression cylinders and compressing it with a liquid using a high-pressure hydraulic pump. The proposed hydrogen hydraulic compression technology is intended as a compressor booster at a petrol filling station. This station can either receive the hydrogen delivered by truck tanks or produce a limited amount of hydrogen on site by water electrolysis. The uniqueness of this solution is that it is adaptable to varying hydrogen injection pressure parameters and allows the hydrogen storage process in the high-pressure tank to be stabilized.

The project successfully achieved all its objectives, which included:

Analysis of existing technologies and investigation of hydrogen hydraulic compression problems;
Development of a reliable numerical model of the hydrogen compression process with a liquid piston, analysis of the thermodynamic parameters of the system to be developed and the temperature variation during gas compression in the proposed solution;
Selection of a working fluid compatible with hydrogen gas, suitable for use in compression;
Development of a set of algorithms for the control of compression processes in a hydrogen compression system.
Development of a new compression chamber geometry technology to reduce gas temperature and foaming inside the vessel by filling it with a fluid under high pressure;
The development of numerical models of the working fluid flow in the compression chamber;
Development of numerical models and calibration methodology for the digital flow meter;
Estimation of the energy consumption for compressing a given volume of gas.
Analysis of suitable materials for compressors and high pressure hydrogen storage tanks capable of withstanding pressures up to 100 MPa;
Preparation of documentation for patenting of technical solutions;
Preparation of project results for publication in scientific journals and for presentation at conferences.
Selection of industrial partners and adaptation of the technical parameters of the developed system to the needs of the users.

The project results in two new innovative hydrogen compression technologies for use in fuel filling stations for hydrogen-fuelled urban transport. The technical solutions developed within the project could be of particular interest for further commercialisation with companies involved in hydrogen compression and the development of the hydrogen industry. The proposed concept is particularly appealing when combined with the use of Green hydrogen produced by electrolysis, wind turbines, solar cells or the electrical power network.This project, originally conceived as an industrial research activity, has provided all team members involved with new knowledge and skills to create innovative technological solutions.

The results of the project have significantly broadened the understanding of the hydrogen economy and more clearly identified its future prospects. Thanks to this project, the research team joined the Latvian Hydrogen Association. During the last year and a half, we regularly informed the association about the ongoing research, shared the project results, sought potential partners for further cooperation, and kept up-to-date with the latest information in the field of hydrogen energy.

The project was launched to address industry needs and specific challenges in the field of hydrogen compression. The project started with the development of hydraulic compression technology and the objective of reaching Technology readiness level 5 (TRL). This was fully achieved during the duration of the project. The system and components of the technology (hydraulic compression process, control system, required working fluids, compression chamber geometry) were tested under laboratory conditions and in the appropriate environment (hydrogen atmosphere).

In addition, the research allowed us to develop a new compression chamber geometry and have it validated in the laboratory. The second technological solution has reached TRL 4.

The project took a big step forward in making the technology more practical and useful. It also opened up the possibility to work with industry on many new opportunities. The project focused on solving practical problems and looked at the whole process, thus becoming a key factor in taking hydrogen forward as an environmentally friendly energy source.

The originality and significance of the project results are confirmed by 2 Latvian patents and a European patent Office. The scientific material has been presented in three articles and two conferences.

During the project, we have also submitted a number of project applications for other projects related to renewable energy topics, which will help us to continue our energy related research. In addition, we plan to submit an application for a commercialised project to the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia in the near future. The patents obtained within the project attracted the interest of the international corporation Atawey, one of the leaders in the hydrogen industry. In November 2023, an auction took place in which Atawey agreed to acquire the patents. This action should foster closer cooperation between the project team and industry.

The total approved project costs amounted to EUR 539 577.35 and were financed from the following financial sources: the European Regional Development Fund - EUR 444 018.20, the government budget - EUR 55090.84, the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, "LATVO," the State Scientific Institute - derived public person “Institute of Physical Energetics”, the foundation “Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Development Fund” in the amount of EUR 40 468.31.

The project duration was 31 months (01.05.2021 - 30.11.2023).

Information compiled by:

Scientific Supervisor of the Project: Dr.sc.ing. Valerijs Bezrukovs, Senior Researcher at VIRAC;

Project Administrative Manager Ieva Rozenberga;

Lead participant of the project Vladislavs Bezrukovs.

A diagram for the supply, storage and preparation of high-pressure hydrogen for use in gas stations.

Hydraulic hydrogen compression system for gas filling stations using flow meters and additional pressure boosting tanks.

Compression chambers and fluid flow patterns.

Visualisation of the network structure used in the turbine flow sensor simulation model.

Model of a liquid type compressor.

Control system with power relays

Laboratory prototype of a hydrogen compression chamber with orthogonal working fluid injection, increased heat dissipation and reduced foaming.

Implementation of the ERDF-funded research project "H2-Compression" has been completed at the VIRAC

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 13:39:16 GMT

On 30 November, 2023, the Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre" (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) has completed an important applied research project, which involved four organisations for almost three years: Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), VZI APP Institute of Physical Energy, "Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Development Fund" and JSC "LATVO". The project was carried out by a team of 14 researchers, engineers and students.

Applied Research Project No 1.1.1.1/20/A/185 "Development of Hydrogen Hydraulic Compression Technology for Hydrogen Fueling Stations (H2- Compression)" was implemented under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programme "Growth and Employment" 1. 1.1.1.1. within the framework of the 4th round of the measure "Practical oriented research".

A growing number of countries and companies are engaged in intense competition for leadership in clean hydrogen technologies. Today, more than 30 countries have developed or are preparing hydrogen strategies, indicating growing interest in developing hydrogen value chains. It's apparent that hydrogen has the potential to make a significant contribution to three of the most important tasks concerning energy use: sustainable economic development of the European Union, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and curbing air pollution.

In recent years, the use of hydrogen energy in transport and the concept of a hydrogen economy has benefited from a fresh wave of strong political support. At the same time, rapidly evolving technologies have raised the possibility of using hydrogen as a driver for a future carbon-neutral energy system. At the heart of this initiative is the desire for energy security and independence. The European Union has set an ambitious goal to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050, which is in line with the guidelines of the European Commission.

The research project was aimed at acquiring new knowledge and skills for the development of an innovative technological solution to compress gaseous hydrogen. In this system, low-pressure hydrogen gas is compressed by gradually introducing it into vertically arranged compression cylinders. Compression is achieved by utilizing a liquid piston, which is operated by a high-pressure hydraulic pump. The proposed hydraulic compression technology for hydrogen is designed to serve as a booster compressor in a refueling station. This station can either receive hydrogen brought in by a truck in tubes or produce hydrogen locally through the electrolysis of water in limited quantities. The uniqueness of this solution lies in its adaptability to changing parameters of the inlet pressure of hydrogen, and it allows for the stabilization of the hydrogen accumulation process in the high-pressure buffer reservoir.

During the implementation of the project, all the tasks outlined were successfully completed, including:

Analysis of existing technologies and study of the problems arising from hydraulic compression of hydrogen;
Establishing a credible numerical model of the hydrogen compression process with a liquid piston, an analysis of the thermodynamic parameters in the system under development and temperature variations during gas compression in the proposed solution;
Selection of a working fluid compatible with hydrogen gas, suitable for use in compression;
Development of a set of algorithms for controlling compression processes in the hydrogen compression system.
Technology development of new compression chamber geometry allowing to reduce gas temperature and foaming inside the cylinder when filling it with working fluid under high pressure;
Development of numerical models of working fluid flow in the compression chamber;
Development of numerical models and calibration methodology for the digital flow counter;
Determination of power consumption for compressing a specified volume of gas.
Analysis of appropriate materials for compressors and high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, capable of withstanding pressures up to 100 MPa;
Preparation of documentation for the patenting of technical solutions;
Preparation of project results for publication in scientific journals and for presentation at conferences.
Selection of industrial partners and adaptation of the technical parameters of the developed system to the users' needs.

The outcome of this project is two new innovative technologies of hydrogen compression, designed for use in refuelling stations for urban transport powered by hydrogen. Within the framework of the project the developed technical solutions might be of particular interest for further commercialisation together with companies dealing with hydrogen compression and development of the hydrogen industry. The proposed concept is especially attractive when combined with the use of green hydrogen produced by electrolysis, fed from wind turbines, solar panels or the electricity grid.

Initially conceptualized as an industrial research endeavor, the project has equipped all participating team members with fresh knowledge and skills in the creation of innovative technological solutions.

During the project, obtained results significantly increased the understanding of the field of the hydrogen economy sector and more clearly identified its future prospects. Thanks to this project, the research team joined the Latvijas Hydrogen Alliance. During a year and a half, we regularly informed the association about the ongoing research, shared the project results, searched for potential partners for further co-operation, and always had access to up-to-date information in the field of hydrogen energy.

The novelty and relevance of the project results are confirmed by 2 Latvian patents and a European patent application. Scientific materials have been reported in three articles and two conferences.

During the project implementation period, we have also submitted several proposals for other projects related to renewable energy topics, which will allow us to continue research in the field of energy. In addition, an application for a commercialised project is planned to be submitted to the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) in the near future. The patents obtained in the framework of the project attracted the interest of the international corporation Atawey, one of the leaders of the hydrogen sector. In November 2023, an auction was held in which Atawey agreed to buy these patents. This action should initiate a closer co-operation between the project team and the industry.

The "H2-Compression" project was initiated with a keen eye on industry needs, addressing specific challenges in Hydrogen compression. At the beginning of the project, it was intended to develop the technology of hydraulic compression and bring it to TRL 5 . This was realised in complete scope during the project implementation. The system and components of the declared technology (hydraulic compression process, control system, required working fluids, compression chamber geometry) were tested under laboratory conditions and in the relevant environment (hydrogen atmosphere).

In addition, the research enabled us to develop a new compression chamber geometry and validate it in the laboratory. The development level of the second technological solution has reached TRL 4 .

The results of the current project have solved technological problems that simplify the production of a hydraulic compressor for the compression of hydrogen. The solutions we have proposed are new and innovative, as well as cheaper to produce than other options currently available worldwide. The technical characteristics of the proposed design adjusted with the requirements for hydrogen fuelling stations and international standards in this field.

The project achieved a big step forward by making the technology more practical and useful. It also opened the door for working together with the industry on many new opportunities. The project focused on solving real-world problems and looked at the whole process, making it a key factor in moving Hydrogen forward as a widely used and eco-friendly product.

Project PI - VIRAC Senior Researcher Valerijs Bezrukovs, Project Administrative Manager Ieva Rozenberga, Project Executive Principal Investigator Vladislavs Bezrukovs.

The total approved project cost is EUR 539 577,35 and is financed from the following financial sources:

European Regional Development Fund - EUR 444 018.20;
State budget funding of EUR 55090.84;
Funding from the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Development Fund, the Institute of Physical Energetics and JSC "LATVO" in the amount of EUR 40 468.31.

The duration of the H2-Compression project was 31 months (01.05.2021 - 30.11.2023).

Improved Quality of VUAS Study Program Content, Resource Efficiency, and Governance Upon Project Completion

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:27:56 GMT

The project “Enhancing the Content Quality of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Study Programs, Improving Resource Efficiency, and Ensuring Better Governance” has successfully achieved its goals of modernizing VUAS study program content, improving governance of higher education institutions through effective resource use, and enhancing the competencies and skills of management personnel.

The project's objectives were realized through the following activities and outcomes:

1. Modernization of Study Program Content

The quality of VUAS study programs was significantly enhanced, aligning them with the needs of industry development and ensuring student-centered education through the introduction of outcome-based student evaluation.
As part of the procurement activity “Enhancing the Content of Existing VUAS Study Programs and Aligning Them with Industry Development Needs, and Improving the Organizational and Governance Structure of VUAS,” a VUAS Modernization Plan was developed.
This plan involved reviewing nine study courses (including four STEM courses) from an employer’s perspective.
Industry representatives, including entrepreneurs and employers, were interviewed, and their insights were used to improve study programs.
Systems for evaluating students and lecturers were developed, ensuring a more dynamic and relevant learning environment.

2. Innovative Teaching Tools

A financial literacy board game was acquired for the social sciences programs. This innovative tool, which can also be used in a digital environment, encourages the use of modern teaching methods, including e-learning.
The game fosters synergy with other educational and innovation support programs, promoting innovative approaches in education.

3. Enhanced Governance at VUAS

The project led to significant improvements in the Quality Management System (QMS) , formalized and adapted to the EFQM Excellence Model selected for the project.
Activities included the development and improvement of strategic management, process systems, risk management, and monitoring systems.
Key documents, such as quality policies, manuals, and internal regulatory acts, were created or updated.
Awareness of the improved QMS was raised among students and staff, culminating in a self-assessment report for QMS certification under the EFQM Excellence Model.

4. Digital Transformation

An electronic document and information management system called Namejs was introduced, streamlining document flow, increasing transparency in administrative processes, and reducing paper consumption.

5. Leadership and Competency Development

The project strengthened VUAS leadership competencies in areas such as change management, strategic planning, and addressing global socio-economic challenges.
Practical experience in QMS implementation, study program improvement, and academic content development trends was gained through exchanges with universities in Tartu (Estonia) and Linköping (Sweden) .

6. Focus on Academic Integrity

A dedicated section titled “Academic Integrity” was added to the VUAS website, offering resources and guidance on plagiarism, its types, and how to avoid violations.
An informative brochure and an approved Academic Integrity Regulation were also made available online.
Updates on academic integrity were presented at the VUAS Student Scientific Conference , emphasizing student-centered approaches and plagiarism prevention.

7. Advancing Distance Learning

In response to trends in globalization, mobility, and digitalization, a VUAS Distance Learning Strategy was developed.
A practical course, “Creating a Modern Distance Learning Course,” was introduced to help VUAS academic staff design high-quality distance learning materials based on best practices and a unified approach.

This project represents a significant step forward in modernizing VUAS study programs, improving resource efficiency, and fostering better governance, ultimately ensuring a high standard of education for current and future students.

Aiga Badere participates in the seminar "Translating Europe: What Does a Translator Need to Know in the 21st Century?"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 07:31:28 GMT

On 9 November, the annual seminar on translation, organized by the European Commission Representation in Latvia, took place at the EU House in Riga. This year's seminar, titled "Translating Europe: What Does a Translator Need to Know in the 21st Century?", featured a presentation by Aiga Badere, a representative of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS). She was invited to speak about post-editing machine-translated texts and teaching post-editing skills at the university level.

Other notable speakers at the event included: Prof. Gunta Ločmele and Prof. Andrejs Veisbergs from the University of Latvia, Helēna Gizeleza, Chair of the Board of the Latvian Association of Interpreters and Translators, Dace Šostaka from the Terminology Commission ITTEA, Inta Šmite, a fiction translator, Linda Auzniece, a translator from the Latvian Language Department of the European Commission Directorate-General for Translation, Kaspars Kauliņš, Business Development Manager at Tilde, Artūrs Peha, Development Unit Manager at Skrivanek.

The seminar addressed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the translation industry, highlighting the growing importance of machine translation and post-editing. Discussions also covered freelance translation opportunities and the evolving role of translators within the European Commission. It was emphasized that the translation profession is undergoing significant changes. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the challenges of developing standards for translators and interpreters, as well as the myths and misconceptions faced by translation and language service providers.

Aiga Badere focused on the challenges posed by machine translation, especially in achieving natural fluency and coherence. She highlighted that the logical fluency of machine-translated texts often makes errors difficult to detect. Her presentation included an analysis of machine translation errors and an overview of the study courses offered at the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. These courses aim to equip students with the skills required to work effectively with various language technology tools and solutions.

International Alternative Fuels Hackathon will take place

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:08:42 GMT

The Alternative Fuels Hackathon offers a unique opportunity for students, entrepreneurs, and sustainability enthusiasts to develop innovative ideas within 48 hours aimed at making ports more environmentally friendly through the use of alternative fuels and smarter with intelligent mobility solutions.

From December 8 to 10, Ventspils will host the Alternative Fuels Hackathon, bringing together some of the brightest minds from the Baltic Sea region to make ports greener and more modern. The event will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to join in person at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences or online, providing flexibility for all attendees.

Participation is free, and teams will have the chance to compete for cash prizes totaling €1,500.

During the Alternative Fuels Hackathon, participants will work on their solutions with the support of industry mentors, helping them create practical and creative outcomes. The event is open to anyone ready to take on challenges and drive innovation. Register now to secure your spot!

Individual registration is also available, and team formation will take place on the first day of the event, December 8. The day will kick off with team building, challenge selection, and the first brainstorming session.

On the second and third days, teams will develop and refine their ideas with the guidance and support of experienced mentors. On the afternoon of the final day, participants will present their ideas to a panel of judges, who will evaluate the solutions based on creativity, feasibility, and impact.

Stay updated on hackathon news and announcements by following the event's official pages on Facebook and Instagram, as well as the official event website.

This is a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to the sustainable development of ports while expanding their knowledge, skills, and professional network. Sign up now to make a difference!

The hackathon is organized in collaboration with Ventspils High Technology Park as part of the "Blue Supply Chains" (#C019) initiative under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region program.

More information: https://alternativefuelshackathon.eu/

Second-Year Business Management Students Win 3rd Place in the VIPs Project

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 14:14:48 GMT

Second-year Business Management students — Daniels Balcers, Mārtiņš Didzis Gailis, and Kristaps Feldmanis — successfully participated in the Vidzeme Innovation Project (VIPs), where their dedication and creative approach earned them an honorable 3rd place finish.

As part of the project, the students were tasked by the company "VRV Metāls" to conduct market research for a new product — the introduction of a screening drum to the Baltic market.

Special thanks to the team's supervisor, Dace Štefenberga, for her guidance and support!

We are proud of this achievement and wish the students continued success in their future projects and studies!

Project information: https://en.venta.lv/zinatne/projekti/vidzeme-innovation-program-for-students

We invite you to participate in the seminar "Good pratice management and change management in VUAS"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:00:08 GMT

On 28 November at 10.30, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) will host a seminar "Best Practice Governance and Change Management at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences", featuring speakers from Ventspils City Municipality, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and the Latvian Information and communications technology association.

The seminar will be addressed by Jānis Vītoliņš, Chairman of the Ventspils City Council, who will talk about the role of interaction between the Ventspils City Council and the VUAS in the development of the region and the promotion of the business environment. The seminar will also feature the participation of Kristaps Klaus, Chairman of the Council of VUAS, Andris Vaivads, Rector of VUAS, Una Libkovska, Vice-Rector of VUAS, as well as Signis Bāliņa, President of the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association (LIKTA).

The seminar will focus on the role of interaction of the VUAS in the development of the region, on change management for strategic development including quality management, on good practice management of the VUAS and the added value of study modernisation for the sustainability of society and higher education suitable for future workplaces. The seminar will conclude with a networking event with discussions, where all attendees are invited to engage with experts and share their thoughts on how to improve the management of higher education institutions, the content and quality of study programmes for the future development of the sector.

The seminar is organized within the framework of the European Social Fund project " Improvement of the Quality of the Content of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Study Programme, Improving the Efficiency of the Use of Resources, and Ensuring Better Governance " with the ID No. 8.2.3.0/18/A/014 and this seminar concludes the five-year implementation of the project at the university. The main objective of this project was to improve the quality of the content of the study programmes of the VUAS by efficient use of available resources, to ensure better management of higher education institutions and to improve the competences and skills of the management staff.

All students and employees of the VUAS, as well as employers and industry association representatives from Ventspils City Municipality, Ventspils region and other interested persons are invited to attend the seminar. The seminar will take place in VeA Auditorium D104.

Project Actively Engages PhD Candidates

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:56:43 GMT

Since August 2021, the Rezekne Academy of Technologies (RTA) has been implementing the project “Strengthening Academic Staff in Strategic Specialization Areas at RTA, VeA, and ViA” (Project No. 8.2.2.0/20/I/005). The PhD candidates Aleksejs Hiļķevičs and Artūrs Kokars are engaged as visiting research assistants in this project.

From July 25 to 29, PhD candidates A. Hiļķevičs and A. Kokars participated in the 9th International Scientific Symposium "Economics, Business & Finance", which took place in Jūrmala. A. Hiļķevičs presented his dissertation research on the topic "Macroeconomic and Microeconomic Aspects of Technology Transfer", while A. Kokars presented his research on "State Support Aspects in Latvian Aviation." The symposium was organized by the International Association of Researchers and Scientists in collaboration with the Institute of Research and International Symposiums (IRIS-ALKONA). This event provided both candidates with the opportunity to present and discuss their research findings with an international audience.

From September 14 to 15, the PhD candidates also attended the 15th International Business and Social Science Conference in Bangkok. Notably, the conference proceedings will be indexed in internationally recognized scientific databases, including Scopus and Web of Science (WoS).

On November 2, A. Kokars successfully presented his work to the dissertation committee. He is now focused on finalizing his research and preparing for his dissertation defense, which is scheduled for early 2024. His dissertation examines the public and private benefits of the aviation sector, with a particular emphasis on the economic, legal, and social dimensions of state support. The research aims to contribute to the development of Latvia's aviation industry and proposes recommendations to improve strategic decision-making regarding government support for the sector.

Meanwhile, PhD candidate A. Hiļķevičs is actively improving his dissertation based on feedback from the dissertation committee. He aims to present the final version for review in the near future.

International Peer Review of Activities Carried Out During the Project

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 14:04:40 GMT

As part of the activities implemented under Project No. 8.2.3.0/18/A/014 titled "Improvement of the Quality of the Content of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Study Programme, Improving the Efficiency of the Use of Resources, and Ensuring Better Governance" , significant progress has been made at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) . The project has led to improvements in the organizational and management structure , alignment of study programme content with sectoral needs , and the introduction of e-solutions .

To assess the progress and effectiveness of the implemented activities, an international comparative evaluation will be conducted. This evaluation will focus on:

Assessing the progress of all activities as outlined in the project application.
Evaluating the compliance of planned and implemented solutions with international trends at comparable foreign higher education institutions.
Providing recommendations and proposals for further improvement measures.

To facilitate this task, a price survey was conducted, resulting in the selection of Vilda Grybauskienė , an Associate Professor from Lithuania , as the most suitable expert in terms of her experience and qualifications in the field of education.

As a result of this evaluation, VUAS will receive a comprehensive report containing recommendations to support the effective realization of project outcomes. The report will provide guidance on setting new short-, medium-, and long-term objectives to ensure sound and efficient management . These efforts aim to support the development of a quality, research-based, and competitive higher education system that meets modern educational requirements.

A new publication in the prestigious journal "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:47:04 GMT

Science is currently unable to fully explain the formation of stars with a mass exceeding 8 Suns. Optical observation of the birth of stars is very challenging, as these processes happen deep in the centre of dark nebulae. However, radio waves are able to see into the process of star formation. For observation, it is especially useful to use astrophysical masers (a maser is a laser that emits microwave radiation). 6,7 GHz methanol (methyl alcohol) masers are seen exclusively near massive stars in the process of forming.

Methanol masers situated in 42 star-forming regions of massive stars have been regularly monitored by VIRAC researchers Artis Aberfelds, Jānis Šteinbergs, Ivars Šmelds, Ross A. Burns by using Irbene radio telescopes since spring 2017. These observations are one of the first and largest programmes of scientific observation done using the Irbene radio telescopes. In total, over 21 thousand observations have been collected in the span of 5 years.

Changes in maser luminosity were aggregated into time series, in which powerful and chaotic changes in brightness can be seen. As an example, as is visible in Figure 1, where maser variations from one source are shown, the simultaneous variations in several components, which are opposite to the variations in another component. The brightness of some sources periodically changes, an example being G73, shown in Figure 2. The changes observed in every source are unique, but they can be classified using a whole (superposition) made of simple types of variability.

The results we have acquired strongly support the hypothesis – the main cause of change in maser luminosity is changes in the radiation intensity caused by the formation of a massive new star. A long-term observation programme has shown the radio telescopes in Irbene to be capable tools.

These results have been compiled and published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, a highly prestigious journal. The article is available for free at: https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/526/4/5699/7317700

A student from the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences attends the conference “Translating Europe” in Brussels

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:19:58 GMT

Sonora Bogdanova, a student of the Master’s study programme “Translation of LSP (Language for Special Purposes) Texts” participated in the “Translating Europe” conference, which took place in Brussels from November 9 to 11.

This spring, Sonora participated in the competition for master students, “2022 eMT Challenge”, where she had to analyze a machine-translated text from English into Latvian. Competing against 112 participants, she ranked among the top three finalists. The board of the European Commission's cooperation network “European Master’s in Translation” invited the best participants from each language pair to the conference. The VUAS Master's study programme “Translation of LSP Texts” has been part of the EMT network since 2011, serving as a mark of quality for the programme.

Sonora shares her impressions: “The conference lasted three days and was very valuable – I gained experience and took part in a cultural exchange programme. Of course, I also gained knowledge on translation-related issues, as well as various life lessons. The conference covered topics such as sustainability in the translation industry, translation in crises, and the accessibility of translation services for people with disabilities. There was also a discussion on the challenges and difficulties among young professionals. I was especially pleased that the conference was interactive: during the panel discussion, participants could answer questions using the Slido app. In this app, listeners also had the opportunity to ask questions to the speakers, vote on questions submitted by other attendees, and share insights in the form of keywords. “The conference provided an opportunity to participate in a networking event, where attendees could meet other students who took part in the “2022 eMT Challenge” competition, as well as connect with colleagues from the European Commission.”

Sonora believes that this experience was amazing, as it provided an opportunity to travel abroad and meet both new and experienced translators and interpreters working in Brussels. “I would also like to thank my coursemate, Agnese Lukevica, who is currently doing a translation internship in Brussels and gave me the opportunity to visit the building of the European Council and get a glimpse into other EU institutions,” says Sonora.

“I truly appreciate this experience and am grateful to the board of the EMT network for this opportunity, which was given to me as a student!”

Silga Sviķe participates in an international lexicography conference in Tbilisi

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:22:39 GMT

Dr. philol. Silga Sviķe participated in the international scientific conference “Lexicography in the XXI Century”, organized by Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia, from November 10th to 12th, with her research titled “An Insight into the Entry Word Selection for a Specialized Dictionary: Plant Names”. Researchers from Georgia, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Armenia, the USA, and other countries took part in the conference.

In the conference’s poster presentation section, Silga Sviķe provided insights into the resources used for word selection in the entry of the specialized botanical dictionary, including the database developed in the project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity” (Project No. lzp-2020/1-0179, IMDS), which will be published at the end of 2023 on Bioloeksipēdija.lv. The study developed a model for selecting specialized lexicon for a small-scale industry-specific dictionary, with a particular focus on analyzing the so-called external (entry words) and internal (information) selection.

Lexicography is still an important research topic in the 21st century. After dictionaries were first created using paper cards and then with language corpora, it is now going through a third change – the use of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.

Current research in lexicography focuses on using AI solutions to develop both the macrostructure and microstructure of dictionaries. The experienced Danish lexicographer Lars Trap-Jensen prepared the summary of his plenary talk using “ChatGPT”, and this summary was accepted as good without significant mistakes. Although lexicographers are still needed for serious dictionary work, the plenary talk recognized that AI solutions make it much easier to create dictionary drafts and samples, which take a lot of time and effort. The conference also talked about the drawbacks of AI solutions. It was pointed out that while AI has access to a lot of data, it can’t sort data by quality. Also, it doesn’t guarantee reliable or repeatable results, which are crucial for scientific research. With “ChatGPT”, it is not possible to go back to the result previously offered by the software, as would be possible with serious lexicographic resources. At the end of the discussion, it was concluded that the use of “ChatGPT” does not mark the end of the lexicography field, but rather, all new solutions are tools that can be helpful, as long as the lexicographer knows how to use them skillfully.

Professor Pius ten Hacken from the University of Innsbruck gave a plenary lecture on theories of lexicon development and decision-making, which can be applied in dictionary creation. Meanwhile, Professor Tinatin Margalitadze from Ilia State University—author of several dictionaries and chair of the conference’s organizing committee—presented a comprehensive overview of Georgia’s lexicographic traditions and modern approaches. In Austria, terminology work is largely driven by commercial enterprises, while in Georgia, dealing with terminology issues is primarily the responsibility of the academic community.

The conference also addressed the low level of dictionary usage skills among school students—and sometimes even university students. One of the reasons is that language teachers themselves often don’t feel confident enough to teach students how to use dictionaries effectively. Dictionaries are still a trustworthy and essential resource for learning and study. This lack of confidence among teachers is often due to the fact that they haven’t learned dictionary didactics, as such a course is not currently offered. In Georgia, serious efforts are being made to teach dictionary use already in primary school, aiming to develop a strong lexicographic culture in the country. In Hungary and Slovakia, the situation regarding dictionary didactics is similar. It seems that Latvia should also consider moving in this direction and adopt best practices by offering such lessons for teachers, students, and schoolchildren. The conference discussions concluded that both lexicography resource developers and users need to be educated in order to raise awareness about the risks and opportunities for both groups.

Looking to the future, the conference emphasized that the subject of lexicography research may change, but knowledge in lexicography will always be needed. It will provide advantages in the effective use of existing resources and understanding of resources to be developed in the future. The conference acknowledged that it is easier to introduce a lexicography course as an important and essential part of language learning programs, rather than having lexicographers try to find solutions for users who have never heard of dictionary structure. The conference recognized that the dictionary should be an important object and tool in every culture to preserve the lexical richness of every language.

Research is being conducted on incorporating dictionary models into online language learning resources, where words in written texts are lemmatized and linked to the dictionary section of the resource. These kinds of solutions are very convenient for users. However, polysemy and words with specific meanings still pose a major challenge for such systems, and solutions are still being sought.

Several papers were devoted to the problems of terminology, offering interesting solutions, such as the integration of term databases into machine translation systems, and the use of different term management systems in the translation process. Several researchers focused on the study of blends, barbarisms, and neologisms.

Conference programme: https://lexicography21.iliauni.edu.ge/en/program/

Collection of summaries: https://lexicography21.iliauni.edu.ge/en/book-of-abstracts/

The conference proceedings are expected to be published at the end of 2024.

Participation in the conference was funded by the project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity”, project No. lzp-2020/1-0179.

We invite academic staff to register for the conference on the outflow of educated labor from the region

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 12:09:11 GMT

On November 24 at 11:00 AM, the Erasmus+ project ENDORSE (Enhancing Development of Entrepreneurial Strategies at University Locations Affected by Brain Drain) will host an online conference titled “Stop the Brain Drain!” All academic staff from higher education institutions in Latvia, as well as representatives of businesses and municipalities, are invited to participate.

The conference will present the developed teaching materials and study courses created to encourage students to become entrepreneurs.

All project participants will take part in the international conference — university representatives from Austria, Germany, Poland, Greece, Sweden, and Latvia. Additionally, all lecturers from higher education institutions and entrepreneurs from both Ventspils and other cities in Latvia are invited to join the discussion on how to develop entrepreneurial skills in students.

The conference will consist of three parts:

11:00–11:40 – Presentation on the ENDORSE project’s teaching concept
11:40–12:30 – Discussions and feedback on the applicability of the teaching concept
12:40–13:00 – Closing and summary

You can register for the conference here .

Within the Erasmus+ project ENDORSE, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is collaborating with universities from Austria, Germany, Poland, Greece, and Sweden to seek solutions to prevent the outflow of intellectual labor from the regions.

VIRAC invites to a scientific seminar

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 09:55:22 GMT

On November 7th 2023 Ventspils University of Applied Sciences ERI VIRAC is hosting a scientific seminar on the project “Development of a hydrogen hydraulic compression technology for hydrogen filling stations (H2-Compression)”.

During the scientific seminar, the attendees will be able to view a presentation about the results and future plans of the project “Development of a hydrogen hydraulic compression technology for hydrogen filling stations (H2-Compression)”. The presenters will be project participants from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, VUAS Development Fund, and the Institute of Physical Energetics.

Working language: English

Location : Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Auditorium D407

Time : 14:00–16:00

The programme is available for download here:

Covid-19 safety

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 09:24:57 GMT

Last week, the Latvian public media reported a moderate increase in the prevalence of Covid-19: https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/01.11.2023-pagajusaja-nedela-mereni-pieaugusi-covid-19-izplatiba.a530038/ (only in Latvian)

In order to limit the spread of the disease, we urge students and other staff of the VUAS to follow the safety measures announced by the government, including compulsory self-isolation in case of illness.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT?

Do not leave areas where isolation is being observed.
Do not meet other people, visit or receive guests.
Contact your family doctor regularly (if the situation becomes critical, call 113).
Only carry out work duties remotely. (Staff are requested to inform their supervisors of VUAS if they become ill.)
Participate in the educational process only remotely. (Please inform the Study Department and the Faculty Administrator of the case of illness.)
Do not use public transport.
Stay in a well-ventilated space with a window that opens.
Use a separate towel, eating utensils, drinking vessels, bed linen and other frequently used household items.

HOW LONG TO OBSERVE ISOLATION?

As long as there are acute symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and for an additional 3 days.
If symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infection persist for more than 7 days, the additional 3 days do not apply.
If there are no acute upper respiratory tract symptoms but the Covid-19 test is positive, isolation is 3 days (from the day after the test).

Further information: https://covid19.gov.lv/en/covid-19/safety-measures/isolation

We recommend wearing face masks when going out in common areas.

Let's be understanding and responsible to each other, following the safety precautions and not endangering others.

Good health and success in your work!

Project “Desorption of icy molecules in the interstellar medium (DIMD)” has reached middle point

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:07:36 GMT

DIMD started with filling up project’s vacancies by attracting four students. Two of them are new employees of VUAS, who already have defended their bachelor’s and master’s thesis. As planned in the project application, contacts with foreign scientists were continued and formed anew. The astrochemical international cooperation project LILAC, led by Spain, was most important in this aspect. In July 2022, DIMD’s scientific leader J. Kalvāns participated in LILAC meeting at Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE, Garching, Germany) with a report “Aspects of physical processing of interstellar icy mantles”. VUAS scientists also are part of LILAC’s proposed continuation project SENTINEL.

Visit in the laboratories of MPE in Summer 2022. J. Kalvāns is furthest in the background.

The major scientific topic during the first half of DIMD was the chemical consequences of collisions between icy grains in star-forming nebulas (interstellar gas-dust clouds). A hypothesis that collisions with velocities of tens to hundreds of meters per second produce chunks of ice was justified by computational modelling. The lifetime in the cloud of such ice nanoparticles was calculated, as their destruction by various forms of radiation allows for an unexpected appearance of some organic molecules in the gas phase – where they actually have been observed. The frequency of grain collisions was calculated with the help of a foreign colleague from the University of Texas. The grain collisions are determined by the movement of gas masses in the nebula. In a prestellar phase, the movements mostly lead towards the centre, and are delayed by magnetic fields, turbulence (chaotic gas movement, induced by the explosions of massive stars), and temperature. This work was presented in the international astronomy conference COSPAR’2022. The completed research manuscript was submitted to the high-level European scientific journal Astronomy & Astrophysics in the summer of 2023 with the title “Collisional desorption of organic ices in a prestellar core”.

The microscopic molecular and dust grain processes occur in a nebula, whose size are larger that the Solar System by a factor of hundreds. The gravitational collapse of such clouds was followed with astrophysical modelling. The obtained data are to be used as a standard for further astrochemical models. The data were reported by K. Veitners and J. Kalvāns in the VUAS conference BAASP’2023 in presentation “Dataset for physical conditions in prestellar cores”. Work continues with the preparation of a scientific manuscript. A separate and supplementary DIMD research direction is radiation transfer in a dusty, star-forming cloud. The program for following the collapse of the cloud is being paired with a radiation transfer program. It will allow to obtain, for example, the dust temperature distribution within the cloud in each step of its evolution. J. Freimanis reported the interim results at the International Astronomical Union Symposium 384, Poland, with poster “On the significance of polarization of continuous spectrum in modelling of circumstellar dust shells” in Autumn 2023.

The DIMD project was used to address domestic audiences via a popular scientific article “The puzzles of molecular clouds” in the journal Starry Sky, and a talk “The splitting of icy grains in interstellar clouds” at the 81st Scientific conference of the University of Latvia.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences starts autumn semester with DIG.IT day event and measuring students' digital skills

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:48:41 GMT

In September, the first DIG.IT Day took place at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) for the first time, where several industry professionals spoke about automation of everyday processes, misinformation, internet safety, personal development using various digital tools, as well as showed practical demonstrations of creating various content with artificial intelligence tools.

Kristiāna Balode, Course and Skills Development Manager of the project, explains that the most important difference between this kind of event day and a separate professional development seminar is that at such an event people gain not only knowledge, but also inspiration, enthusiasm and curiosity to continue discussing and inquiring how to make their everyday lives more digitally skilled. Such an event covers a range of topics, so it creates a more colorful understanding and ideas are constantly looking for better solutions.

To address digital literacy, the project has developed a digital literacy measurement tool for the e-learning platform Moodle. The digital literacy levels are based on the European Commission's DigComp framework of 5 competence blocks and 8 levels of learning. The digital skills measurement tool is integrated in all project partner universities, including VUAS. The first students to complete the test at VUC were 66 students who are studying the courses developed in the project this semester. One of the project courses is the study course "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" developed by the University of Latvia. This course of study can be chosen as a free elective course of study by VUAS students and can be studied by self-study. This semester, 36 students from bachelor and master level programmes chose to study it. At the end of the semester, these 66 students will be asked to take the test again to judge whether they have managed to improve not only their knowledge of the course content, but also their digital skills.

At the end of October, a professional development seminar for lecturers was organized with the aim of improving the DigComp competence area "communication and collaboration", highlighting the fragmented communication between face-to-face and online communication nowadays. The seminar was led by Līga Ozoliņa, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Communication at Riga Stradiņš University. 103 lecturers from the VUC and other partner universities participated in the seminar.

In addition to these activities, the VUC and other partner universities continue to work on the development of various study courses and the setting up of hybrid classrooms. Ilmārs Dukulis, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (IITF) of the Latvian University of Biosciences and Technology, says: "We have to realize that education will never be the same again, as it is affected not only by pandemic-related restrictions, but also by geopolitical factors. By implementing a hybrid education approach, LBTU aims to provide learners with more opportunities for flexible and personalized learning, to increase the quality of teaching and to strengthen the link between academia and industry. Using virtual reality solutions, developing modern teaching materials, etc., it is possible to achieve an effect as close as possible to "live" classes, thus creating an opportunity to study also for those who cannot be in the classroom due to health, distance or other reasons,"

The activity is part of the European Social Fund project "Digitalization initiatives for improving the quality of studies in areas of strategic specialization of universities" (No 8.2.3.0/22/A/005), which has received REACT-EU funding to mitigate the effects of the pandemic crisis. The total cost of the project is EUR 2 052 269.47. Implementation started on 1 November 2022 and will end on 31 December 2023.

Jānis Veckrācis participates in the international conference “Language and Power”

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 07:58:53 GMT

On October 20th, Jānis Veckrācis, an Associate Professor and senior researcher at the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, took part in the international scientific conference “Language and Power” organized by the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia in Riga. The event brought together researchers from Latvia, Ukraine, Estonia, and Lithuania.

Jānis Veckrācis was the closing speaker at the conference with the paper “Brezhnev's Time in (Post)Soviet and Western Reflection: the Domestic Context of Language Policy and its Representation in Periodicals”. This time, 13 researchers participated in the international conference – one from Estonia, one from Lithuania, one from Ukraine, and 10 from Latvia. The theme of the conference continues the research, initiated by the project of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia to commemorate Valerija Bērziņa-Baltiņa on the existence of languages
under totalitarianism – this time up to the 1980s.

On November 19 ^th , 2022, the collection of articles “Language and Power” was opened at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. The idea to publish the collection came from the Commemorative Foundation named after Valerija Bērziņa-Baltiņa for a Latvian language research project: starting with international conferences about Latvian language, linguistics, and cultural policy from 1940.

Participation in EMT Network Event in Spain

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 07:10:21 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences’ Master’s program in “Translation of LSP Texts” is part of the prestigious European Commission-run network “European Master’s in Translation” (EMT). Marking the end of EMT’s five-year cycle, a network meeting was held on October 19–20 in Salamanca, Spain. The event took place at the Faculty of Translation and Documentation of the 800-year-old University of Salamanca, gathering representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation and EMT-affiliated universities.

The first day focused on enhancing translators’ skills in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Christos Ellinides, head of the European Commission’s Translation Department, said that translators today need a wide range of skills. Besides language and technical knowledge, they also need good social skills. Society needs trustworthy AI tools that prioritize human values. However, with the rapid development of generative AI, we can’t predict what a translator’s daily work will look like in one, two, or ten years. This makes it crucial for translators to stay open to new technologies while remembering that large language models are fundamentally mathematical, and language data is abstracted and simplified in the process.

Several key insights emerged from the event: students must be educated about AI and have equal access to AI tools; linguistic competence remains critical, especially in post-editing machine-translated texts; AI solutions should be integrated with computer-assisted translation tools; flexibility and a readiness to learn are essential for students; interdisciplinary skills are increasingly important.

Adaptability and openness were mentioned several times. It was also mentioned that AI will force average translators to choose other jobs and that only very good and excellent translators who can outperform machine translators will continue to work in the sector.

The event also presented several projects, such as the development of a competency model for translators that emphasises strategic and methodological skills, including post-editing, alongside communication and language skills and textual literacy. Another project offered a self-assessment tool for beginners and intermediate translators. Attention was also paid to learning how to manage translation projects and how study, research, and work together make a professional.

Colleagues from other universities talked about attracting future students, recognising that translation as a profession is invisible. To change this, there are open events for secondary school students, printed and electronic materials, promotion of the profession and programmes on social media sites, a translation competition for secondary school students, practical workshops, fiction reading sessions, and dedicated sections on the university website for secondary school students and teachers.

On the second day, the European Commission gave the floor to the University of Salamanca, which, by inviting representatives from five other Spanish universities, explored the identity of translators in this global and digital age. It was pointed out that machine translation is not the end of human translation – machine translation is transforming the translation profession – but that the role of the translator has always been very diverse. It was also recommended that technology should be implicit in all courses of study and that we need the help of technology, but we cannot let it lead us.

EMT graduates also shared feedback on how study programs could be improved. For example, students often feel intimidated by automated translation workflows but would be interested in a dedicated course on data handling to boost their confidence. Other practical study issues were also discussed, such as the importance of language technology and post-editing courses, the fact that in a computer-assisted translation course it is enough to fully master one tool, and that the ability to work with translation memory should take precedence over the ability to work with machine translation.

Jesus Montes: fulfilling the dream – participating in Latvian Song and Dance Festival

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:20:07 GMT

In an interview a year ago, Jesus Montes mentioned that his dream is to participate in the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival. This year his dream came true – he took part in the festival both as a dancer and as a member of the choir. We invited Jesus to an interview so he could share his experience.

What did you choose to do folk dance? For how long have you been doing it?

I started to dance while I was in university which is a long time ago. I started with Mexican folk dance, then when I moved to Croatia – I did Croatian folk dance. I came here in October 5 years ago and in November, I was already practicing Latvian folk dance in “Strautuguns”. That means I have already been dancing Latvian Folk dance for almost 5 years.

If you want to get to know the country that you are living in, the best way to do that is to go to the roots. The roots of any nation are folklore and traditions. When you are in a foreign country, you have 2 options on how to live and enjoy the place - the first one is to be a permanent tourist, and the second option is to integrate into the society which is what I chose to do.

How were the rehearsals at the festival?

All the time were rehearsals – in the morning, in the evening, sometimes even at night… all the time were rehearsals. Sometimes we had to get up at 6.30 to have breakfast because around 7.20 we had to leave for the rehearsals which started at 8.00. When you get to the rehearsals, you practice dances several times – one simple dance that you already know, could take up to 30 to 40 minutes just so everyone could get it right.

What is your relationship with the Latvian language? Wasn’t that a barrier in the rehearsals?

It has always been a barrier, because even in “Strautuguns” all instructions are in Latvian, and I don’t understand any of them! I have a lot of experience in dance which helps me to learn new movements more quickly as I see them and just have to try to repeat them. Sometimes I am doing something wrong, but my colleagues just correct me.

At the festival, I just had to go with the flow. You cannot just say: “Hey, give me a translation, please!”

I have also been singing in a choir called “Līvzeme” for 1,5 years. In the last concert in Mežaparks, I started the concert in the choir, sang 5 or 6 songs and then I went down to the stage and joined “Strautuguns”. Participating in the choir, I don’t know what I am singing, but it is really helping me to get the pronunciation right and understand how the Latvian language works. Maybe, in a couple of years, the interview will be in Latvian!

Did you observe any other concert or event?

No, I couldn’t. With “Strautuguns” I had a performance in the Daugava stadium, additionally, we had the privilege to participate in the Mežaparks concert on Sunday. Also, we had 2 concerts called “Balts” in Arena Riga. We left Ventspils on Friday because during the weekend we had rehearsals for the concert “Balts”, then we had to practice for the grand finale concert in Daugava stadium which was on Saturday, between those rehearsals, we had to practice for the Mežaparks concert.

In some moments we had a little window of time, we used that time to go to some museums but nothing else.

What were your expectations before going to the festival?

As I said, I have been practicing dance for several years and I have been to many concerts and festivals. I thought this one was going to be something similar. I had seen several videos before on YouTube and it just looked like there were a lot of people, but one thing is seeing the video and another very different is being there observing the performance. Seeing a video is nothing compared to when you are doing it and living in the event.

What emotions did you feel in the Grand finale concert in Daugava stadium?

There are many emotions. You can have the knee almost broken or the ankle sprained so that you cannot walk, but you still say “I will dance it!”. I saw several dancers who, unfortunately, needed medical attention. One person ended up with crutches. For us dancers, I think the most painful thing is not the physical pain but the pain that you have waited 5 years to dance in this festival, but in one rehearsal the opportunity to dance is taken away.

When you end the performance, you listen to applause – the first applause is from the public when the dance ends and you are leaving the field and the second set of applause is for the thousands of dancers who are waiting to go on the field. That is fantastic! In the end, I felt Latvia in my heart, and still do.

The festival is one of the most impressive experiences that I have had in my entire life!

If you will have a chance – will you do it again in 2028?

Protams (Of course)! That is not even a question. I hope that I can do it because, unfortunately, I have minor problems with my knee. From time to time it can be painful. In the last part of the concert, we had to dance on a slope and the pressure on the legs was different compared to dancing on flat ground. Right before I entered the stadium, I thought to myself “If the knee has to get broken, let’s get it broken if it’s necessary for me to dance”.

What do you wish for Latvians?

You need to experience the festival, but most importantly you need to be proud of that kind of event, culture, and traditions. It is fantastic and absolutely unique.

Updates from Project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity” (09.10.2023.)

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:51:56 GMT

Owing to cooperation between researchers of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and Institute of Horticulture (IoH), the project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity” funded by Latvian Council of Science has been implemented for thirty-three months already. The project comes to an end, and it is time to see what has been done.

The researchers and programmers involved into the IMDS project have been active: they have participated in conferences by presenting the research results and they have written publications. “Studies about Languages” (indexed on Scopus, Erih Plus, EBSCO), Volume 42, issued on 30 ^th June, 2023 ( https://www.kalbos.ktu.lt/index.php/KStud ) includes the following scientific articles by the project’s researchers:

1. Jānis Veckrācis “Linguistic scenery in Latvian botany textbooks (1880s-1940s): Stable and varying features”

2. Arturs Stalažs, Karina Šķirmante, Silga Sviķe, Gints Jasmonts, Roberts Ervīns Ziediņš “Experience of design and development of a new open access interactive multifunctional database management system for special lexis of biology”

3. Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa, Silga Sviķe “Latvian environmental term 'purvs' Problems and solutions in Latvian-English-Latvian translations of helonyms”

This issue also includes research results summarised in scientific articles after the conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics” (03.–04.11.2022) ( https://www.virac.eu/ldts ), organised within the IMDS project. The article devoted to the conference by the keynote speaker Dr. philol. Marie Vachková has been published in “Jazykovědné aktuality” ( https://www.jazykovednesdruzeni.cz/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JA-1_2_23_TISK.pdf ), a journal published in the Czech Republic.

From 27 ^th to 29 ^th September, the scientific manager and project researcher Dr philol. S. Sviķe participated in the 2nd Eurasian Translation Congress “Translation Through Intermediary Language”, which took place t Yerevan State University ( https://old.ysu.am/etc/en/ ). She presented her study “Latvian Plant Names of the Genera Sambucus and Syringa in Historical Dictionaries and Other Lexicographic Sources for Translation”, and the Congress was organised by the Yerevan State University (Armenia) and University of Verona (Italy).

The main project deliverables are being prepared for the publication. They include a database for the storage and research of organism names (Bioleksipēdija.lv) with various types of data extraction, statistical collection and representation functions, as well as multilingual translation dictionary of botany terms.

During the previous three months, the system’s development group worked on the introduction of hierarchy statistics and secure registration functionality, as well as on the translation of system’s microtexts into English. The rest of the months of implementing the project will be spent by programmers and researchers on finishing the administrative panel and publishing the system with bioleksipedija.lv as a domain name.

Data entry is actively continuing. By now, 151,287 different organism taxon names from 8524 bibliography sources have been entered thus linking 558,962 organism names in the module (scientific, local names, and disease names) that makes 93.16 % of the projected number of the linked units.

This project has been funded by the Latvian Council of Science, project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity“. Project No. Izp-2020/1-0179.

Recap from Erasmus+ info days at Ventspils University of applied Sciences

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 08:11:13 GMT

On 26 September, every student of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences had the opportunity to find out practical and useful information about Erasmus+ mobilities.

The Erasmus+ Info Days were organised in cooperation with the VUAS Department of Studies, the VUAS Student Council and the Association "Attīstības fabrika". The Info Days were moderated by representatives of the VUAS Student Council Jēkabs Līdaka and Ivo Stepiņš.

The Info Days introduce d the n ew Erasmus+ mobility application process, featured Q&A sessions, and heard the stories of students' Erasmus+ mobility experiences. Association "Development Factory" project coordinator Unda Egendorfa introduced the participants to the wider Erasmus+ opportunities, such as the European Solidarity Corps, Youth Exchanges and Local Initiative Competitions.

With the initiative of the VUAS Student Council, the International Student Support Programme is being re-launched, and anyone who wants to make new friends and support someone can join. If you would like to join the International Student Support Programme, feel free to contact VUAS Student council by email studentupadomevea@gmail.com .

Information was prepared by:
Helēna Koha,
Coordinator of study mobility projects,
erasmus@venta.lv

European Languages Day - "New Home Latvia"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 10:21:13 GMT

On Monday, 25 September, at 16:00, students from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will gather at the Ventspils Music Library to celebrate the European Day of Languages in the event "New Home - Latvia".

Students from different countries who have come to Ventspils thanks to the ERASMUS+ student exchange programme will get to know Ventspils tourism offer at visitventspils.com, which offers information in eight languages: Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, English, German, French, Russian and Chinese. Other students who have not had a chance to explore the city are also invited. During the event you will have the opportunity to earn your first Ventspils money - vents - and learn how to use them. The students will also play a language game organized by Europe Direct Ventspils.

A special language that everyone in the world understands is the language of music. Young people will have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the building, getting to know both the spaces available to the audience on a daily basis and behind the scenes, and to learn about the history of the concert hall, its secrets, furnishings, unique instruments and extensive possibilities. The tour will end with a demonstration of the organ and the unique vertical piano "470i"

Every year since 2001, European Union (EU) Member States celebrate European Day of Languages at the end of September, with a special focus on European languages, linguistic diversity and language learning. Promoting European languages is a core value of the EU institutions - all EU institutions work with all the languages of the EU Member States on a daily basis. The EU has 24 official languages.

The event is organized by Europe Direct Ventspils and the Ventspils Music Library. ED Ventspils is funded by the European Commission. The event is also supported by the concert hall "Latvija" and the Ventspils Music Secondary School.

Researchers ' Night at VIZIUM Science Centre

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:42:55 GMT

On 29 September, the Ventspils Science Centre VIZIUM invites everyone to take part in the Researchers ' Night activities, where you will have the opportunity to get to know great minds - world-famous inventors, scientists and their achievements in a practical, creative and attractive way!

The event will take place on 29 September from 19.00 to 22.00 on the 2nd floor of the Ventspils Science Centre VIZIUM. Entrance to the Scientists' Night event will be via the Science Centre terrace on the 2nd floor. The event is free and open to everyone without age limit.

Visitors to the VIZIUM Scientists' Night will be offered hands-on activities, a virtual tour of the Irbene radio telescope site, a quiz on astronomy and physics, as well as robot demonstrations. Everyone will have the opportunity to observe the stars with a telescope (weather permitting) and talk to astronomers and astrophysicists from the VIRAC of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

During the event, there will be a themed photo corner where visitors can take fun pictures in a scientific atmosphere, as well as the "West Cafe" where they will be able to buy snacks and drinks.

Erasmus+ Day: all about and around mobility

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:29:19 GMT

What a better way to get to know Erasmus+ mobility opportunities than by participating in an Erasmus+ Day?

Come to the Student Lounge (D0) of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences on 26 September at 18:00 to learn more about Erasmus+ and ask any questions you may have.

During the information event, you will have the opportunity to find out the latest news about Erasmus+ mobility and programmes, listen to different student experience stories, ask questions about the Erasmus+ application process and the Buddy Programme.

Come and find out more!

Event will be held in English.

EMOTION REGULATION APP EMORI WINS PRESTIGIOUS RED DOT DESIGN AWARD

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 06:34:16 GMT

EMORI, an emotion regulation app co-created between three Latvian universities, has won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in the category "Brands and Communication Design" for 2023.

The EMORI emotion regulation app, created in Latvia, is the result of a joint work of three universities – the Art Academy of Latvia, Riga Stradiņš University and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – and brought together both students, bachelor, master and doctoral, and their lecturers. Winning the Red Dot Design Award is a significant achievement of interdisciplinary university cooperation in Latvia, and is the first project of its kind to receive a design award of this calibre.

EMORI is a prototype self-help, mental health app for Android/iOS, designed to develop emotion recognition and regulation skills in its users. It is also a research platform, for the anonymous collection and analysis of emotion regulation data in the Latvian population. The app is illustrated, interactive, intuitive and suitable for a wide audience. Healthcare professionals and designers, along with a large number of users have been involved in content development during each iteration of the app. EMORI content has been clinically validated as theraputic and results are empirically supported.

Staff from universities involved in the development of the app:

- Lecturer and researcher Karina Šķirmante (software development work, technical consulting, system prototyping), student of the first level professional higher education programme "Programming Specialist" Jānis Vīksne (software development and testing).

- Art Academy of Latvia: associate professor Liene Jākobsone, professor Barbara Ābele, assistant professor Matīss Zvaigzne, lecturer Markus Rožkalns, functional design master students Džūlija Ekuse (Trutiak) (process and interactive design) and Sandra Sugako (content structuring and testing), graphics and packaging bachelor students Dārta Galiņa (UX/UI design) and Ričards Znutiņš-Znutāns (illustration and branding).

- Riga Stradiņš University: Professor Kristīne Mārtinsone, lecturer and PhD student Inese Paiča (app concept, content structuring), Master's students Maruta Linuža and Inga Iejava (content development and pilot studies), Bachelor's student Jete Anna Balama (pilot study). The content development of the app is currently being continued by Elīna Ieva Smule, a PhD student in the Psychology PhD programme.

“The Red Dot Design Award” is one of the largest design competitions in the world, with around 20,000 global entries each year. The competition has been running since 1955 and is organised by the Design Centre Rhine-North Westphalia, one of the oldest and most renowned design institutions in Europe. This award has been presented in the categories "Product Design", "Communication Design" and "Design Concept". The jury was made up of an international panel of independent designers and design professors. “Red Dot” is a worldwide recognition of excellence.

Additional Enrollment for the Autumn study semester

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 13:19:15 GMT

Great news for those of you in Latvia! You have the fantastic opportunity to apply for studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and guess what? You can choose between Latvian and English programs - it's your pick!

For our international friends currently living in Latvia, this is your chance to kickstart your educational adventure right here in Ventspils. You'll get to enjoy the beautiful Baltic Sea and a wide range of activities that VUAS and Ventspils have to offer.

Exciting, right? If you're curious and want to learn more, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at international@venta.lv .

Apply for studies in programmes in English (with English proficiency equivalent to at least B2) by September 14 :

Bachelor's programme " Start-Up Management "
Bachelor's programme " Intercultural Communication "
Master's programme " Strategic Intercultural Communication "
Joint Doctoral programme " Languages and Literature Studies "

or by September 25 for:

Bachelor programme " Computer Science "
Bachelor's programme " Business Administration "

We'll make sure you're in the right place for your educational dreams!

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will mark the beginning of the new study year with various events!

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 10:51:13 GMT

On September 3rd at 12.00 Freshman Go will take place in the VUAS garden, in which all students who will start their studies this year are invited to participate. Freshman Go is an orientation game in which new students are randomly divided into teams in order to get to know each other by performing various tasks together.

Join us as we kick off the beginning of the upcoming academic year ! We extend a warm invitation to all students to join us on September 4th at 10:00 EEST , as we gather by the enchanting "Drops" fountain to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in our educational journey.

On September 8th, starting at 11 AM we will welcome every interested individual to Dig.IT Day, where well-known lecturers in Latvia will present engaging and relevant guest lectures, providing knowledge and inspiration to students and university professors.

On September 9th, everyone is invited to Summer Farewell Celebration ( Vasaras noslēguma svētki)!

From 1PM to 5 PM, there will be an “Festival of Opportunities” in the VUAS Garden, where throughout the day, you will have the chance to get to know the work of various companies, institutions and associations and perhaps meet your future employer!

Starting at 7PM the evening event will begin, featuring night concerts and dances . Groups like The Tunes, Bukte, Tumši Sarakana Maģija, I mean Love, Sub Scriptum, Raventa.co will perform. Admission to the event is 5 EUR when purchasing tickets in advance, 7 EUR when purchasing tickets on the day of the event.

Seize the opportunity, gather knowledge, inspiration, and make new friends and acquaintances during the exciting Opening Week of the study year!"

Freshman Go – first event for new students

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 08:49:20 GMT

On September 3 ^rd at 12.00 Freshman Go will take place in the VUAS garden, in which all students who will start their studies this year are invited to participate. Freshman Go is an orientation game in which new students are randomly divided into teams in order to get to know each other by performing various tasks together.

During the Go, students will go for a walk around Ventspils, where at each checkpoint the Student Council has prepared tasks that the team must complete together. Every team that takes a picture at one of the sightseeing points will get extra points. The main rule when participating in the Go – you can’t use any kind of vehicles. If the rule is violated, the team is disqualified.

The purpose of the Freshman Go is to introduce young students to Ventspils, as well as to provide an opportunity to make new friends.

In case of questions: Instagram @vuas_sc

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China visits Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 06:13:25 GMT

On July 25, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Republic of Latvia, Tang Songgen with his accompanying delegation visited Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS). The Ambassador met with representatives of the University and graduates of Chinese language courses, as well as became acquainted with the VUAS premises, study programs, and other relevant information. The discussions also centered around potential future collaborations.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, has been offering Chinese language and culture courses for several years. These courses have garnered significant interest among students and clients of the Lifelong Learning Centre. The university offers two levels of Chinese language courses each year. The first level is designed for beginners with no prior knowledge, while the second level caters to students who have completed the first level.

The Ambassador was deeply impressed by the proficiency of the individuals in their knowledge of Chinese. Particularly noteworthy was a twelve-year-old Ukrainian girl who had been studying Chinese for only a year but already demonstrated a very good knowledge of the language and interest in Chinese culture.

Chinese language courses are implemented as part of a contract with the University of Latvia Confucius Institute and is provided free of charge to both students and anyone who is interested in learning. The university will be forming new groups in the upcoming autumn semester, and all interested individuals will have the opportunity to apply.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is a part of COLOURS alliance

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 06:31:48 GMT

By decision of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in Brussels, the international consortium COLOURS, which Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is part of, received the status of a European University. Obtaining the honourable title is the result of VUAS joining the consortium and participating in the implementation of a powerful, interinstitutional project.

Only 7 consortia out of 65 applications received funding from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

It is a great opportunity for VUAS to develop and build international cooperation with lecturers, scientists and innovators for the exchange of experience.

COLOURS, or COLlaborative innOvative sUstainable Regional univerSities is an alliance of nine universities from EU countries, whose common feature is a strong commitment to the development of regions. Apart from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, it comprises: Paderborn University (Germany) - leader, University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), University of Ferrara (Italy), Le Mans University (France), Kristianstad University (Sweden), Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek (Croatia), University St Kliment Ohridski Bitola (Macedonia), Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa (Poland).

Project funding is approx. EUR 15 million for a joint project for 48 months.

COLOURS will promote joint educational programmes in international and interdisciplinary teams in the field of research and innovation, in cooperation with local external stakeholders. This profile of the proposed joint ventures will also optimise the mobility of students, young researchers, academics and administrative staff of the partner universities. At the same time, innovative interdisciplinary pilot projects will foster the strengthening of research cooperation in the international space and the transfer of knowledge and technologies supporting entrepreneurship in the local, international and general social context.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, VIRATEC and Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) sign a Teaming Agreement

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:30:04 GMT

On July 5, 2023, a Teaming Agreement was signed between Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), VIRATEC ltd, a company owned by VUAS, and Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), to work on jointly providing Ground Segment services, such as Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) to the global space industry, based on Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VIRAC) large aperture antenna infrastructure.

Irbene’s large aperture antenna infrastructure is particularly suited for supporting Lunar, interplanetary, and deep space missions, as well as other complex or technically specific missions where available power for data transmission is limited. Globally, there are not many large aperture antenna sites available for this type of services, making Irbene particularly interesting for the community.

The agreement provides that VUAS undertakes to upkeep and maintain the antennas in accordance with the State of the Art and provide antenna availability for joint operations, promoting further development of VUAS, VIRAC and VIRATEC, as well as implementing international reach by co-operation with SSC, yet maintaining other interests, commitments and strategic directions. The role of VIRATEC is to provide sustainable services in accordance with the industry standards, while SSC commits to work on helping attract the necessary investments, create an opportunity to provide services via its global ground station network, as well as providing marketing and customer acquisition activities, being the direct link with space mission operators, therefore creating a flow of customers using Irbene’s infrastructure.

According to Marcis Donerblics, acting Head of VIRAC Engineering & Technical Operations group and Chief Technology Officer at VIRATEC: “This agreement is an important step towards making the long-discussed opportunities of VIRAC and VIRATEC in the field of satellite communications industry a reality. Essentially, this contract is a concrete road map with specific steps that each party undertakes to contribute to space missions by providing Irbene infrastructure-based services for the global space industry as soon as possible. This teaming with the industry is also vital for ensuring long-term sustainability and development of the Irbene antenna site.”

Patrik Melvås, Head of Business Development for SSC CONNECT services division, said: “We are pleased to announce this new partnership with VIRATEC and VUAS. It’s an important key for the continuous development of the SSC CONNECT global satellite ground station network, already one of the world’s largest commercial networks. The Irbene antennas add required capability for future lunar and deep space missions.”

About SSC : Swedish Space Corporation helps Earth benefit from Space. Since the 70’s, SSC has helped space organizations, companies, other commercial actors and research institutes to get access to Space. Our products and services enable successful space projects within Earth observation, telecommunications, security, meteorology, navigation and positioning, scientific research and other applications. Through our local presence on all continents and 635 committed employees, we offer specialist expertise in satellite communications, spacecraft operations, rocket and balloon systems, launch services, flight test services and data analytics. Among our strongest assets are Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, set to become first to launch satellites from continental Europe in 2023, as well as one of the world's largest commercial ground station networks for satellite communications: SSC CONNECT. Via our subsidiary GlobalTrust, we also leverage satellite data and analytics applications to help companies, organizations and governments to develop and deliver sustainability strategies. https://sscspace.com/

Under the leadership of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC), a significant study has been published in the journal MNRAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 13:50:25 GMT

Under the leadership of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) lead researchers Artis Berfelds, Janis Steinbergs and Ivars Smelds, a significant study titled "Milliarcsecond structure and variability of methanol maser emission in three high-mass protostars" has been published in the prestigious journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS). The research utilized four years of monitoring data from these sources using the Irbenes Radio Telescopes, comprising over 1,500 individual observations totaling approximately 400 hours of data. Additionally, data from the European Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (EVN) were employed, obtained through a competitive allocation of instrument time. The EVN collaboration involved 10 radio telescopes from across Europe, as well as partners from the Republic of South Africa and China.

The key findings include the first-ever high-resolution images of the maser emission from two sources. The evolution of individual maser spots over the past 15 years was assessed, revealing that their variability is driven by changes in infrared radiation from the central star. It was concluded that one of the sources is oriented with its disk edge facing us, while indications of spiral-like structures were observed in another source. The study also uncovered the stability of maser spots, with some exhibiting persistence for decades.

CLICK HERE to the publication in the journal.

VUAS VIRAC Researchers Participated in the Scientific Conference “Solar Influences on the Magnetosphere, Ionosphere and Atmosphere 2023”

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 11:41:38 GMT

From June 5 to June 9, 2023, researchers from the Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center" (VUAS VIRAC) participated in the international scientific conference “Solar Influences on the Magnetosphere, Ionosphere and Atmosphere, 15th Workshop 2023” and the 2nd workshop “Bulgaria - Latvia - Ukraine Initiative for Space Weather Investigations,” organized by VIRAC in collaboration with the Institute of Space Research and Technology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Both events took place in Primorsko, Bulgaria.

The conference and workshop addressed the following topics:

The Sun and solar activity, the interaction of solar wind, magnetosphere, and ionosphere, and the impact of solar activity on the lower atmosphere and climate.
The influence of the Sun on the biosphere and lithosphere.
Instruments for observing space weather.
Data processing and modeling.

The themes of the conference were closely related to the project implemented by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, “Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares” (STEF), No. lzp-2022/1-0017.

During the conference and workshop, researchers from VIRAC presented their papers:

Bezrukovs D. and Bezrukovs V. “Microwave Observations of the Sun in VIRAC,”
D. Kolotkov D. “Non-adiabatic Coronal Seismology,” and
Ryabov M.I., Sukharev A.L., Sobitnyak L.I., Komendant V.G., Bezrukovs V., Šteinbergs J., Skirmante K., Orlyuk M.I., Romenets A.O. “Application of Power Space Radio Sources Observations and Magnetometer Measurements to Study the Global and Regional Response of Extreme States of the Sun-Interplanetary Environment-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere System.”

The summaries of the “Solar Influences on the Magnetosphere, Ionosphere and Atmosphere, 15th Workshop 2023” conference were published in the conference proceedings.

In recent years, VIRAC researchers have gained significant experience in conducting solar microwave observations and are now capable of performing regular spectral polarimetric observations of the entire solar disk and individual active regions. Microwave emissions are observed using the RT-32 radio telescope, equipped with a multichannel (12 frequency channels) spectral polarimeter operating in the 2.1–7.4 cm wavelength range and both circular polarizations. Spectral observations of polarized solar microwave emissions enable direct measurements of plasma parameters and magnetic field induction in the upper chromosphere and lower corona at various heights. Consequently, current solar microwave observations could be utilized for research tasks related to space weather phenomena. The presentation addressed various technical and methodological issues concerning solar observations carried out by VIRAC. Potential solar physics problems that could be investigated based on microwave spectral polarimetry observations were also discussed. Additionally, the possibility of studying coronal holes and coronal hole-like regions (such as “dark coronal corridors,” “coronal partings,” and “s-web”) associated with locally open magnetic fields, which could be considered sources of slow solar wind, was examined, along with the analysis of microwave flux variations in active regions prior to solar flares.

More information about the conference and workshop is available at the following websites:

In addition to the aforementioned information, during the BLU workshop and meeting, participants proposed to formalize international cooperation and establish a memorandum between the four institutions:

Institute of Space Research and Technology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center," Ventspils University of Applied Sciences
Institute of Radio Astronomy, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Institute of Geophysics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

The memorandum is currently in the process of being developed.

These activities were carried out within the framework of the project “Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares” (STEF), No. lzp-2022/1-0017, and were funded from the project resources.

Confucius Institute at University of Latvia visits Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 08:35:19 GMT

On June 1, 2023 Professor Peteris Pildegovics, the director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Latvia, Professor Shang Quanyu, his wife Zhang Guiying, and secretary MS Anastasija Galkina attended Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) to participate in the closing ceremony of the 2022/2023 Chinese course in VUAS. VUAS was represented by the Rector Professor Andris Vaivads, the Dean of the Translation Faculty Sandija Skudra, the Head of the Study Department Liga Koloda and the Head of Lifelong Learning Center Egita Udodova. 41 student got the certificates and attended the ceremony. Chinese language teacher Xu Shen was the host of this event.

At the beginning of the ceremony, a teaching video overviewed the whole academic year, which brought tears to the eyes. The Rector Andris Vaivads shared his travel experience in China in his speech, saying that he attached great importance to the cooperation with the Confucius Institute at LU and hoped to continue to strengthen communication and enhance friendship in the future. The Dean Sandija Skudra emphasized the importance of cultural experience: language is the carrier of culture, and language learning is more about experiencing culture. She hopes that students will get a chance to feel China and the Chinese culture by visiting the country some day. The Director Shang Quanyu highly praised the achievements of Chinese language teaching in VUAS and showed appreciation to VUAS for its continuous support since 2017. Professor Peteris introduced his working career and his indissoluble bond with China, and donated his books “My China Story” and “Selected Translation of Tang Poems” to the university library.

VUAS VIRAC Scientific Assistant J. Šteinbergs Participated in the "PITHIA-NRF" Training School

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:31:27 GMT

From May 29 to June 1, 2023, Jānis Šteinbergs, a scientific assistant at the Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center" (VUAS VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, was in Rome, Italy, to participate in the "PITHIA-NRF" training school ("First Training School of the Plasmasphere Ionosphere Thermosphere Integrated Research Environment and Access services: a Network of Research Facilities PITHIA-NRF").

The "PITHIA-NRF" training school offered:

Lectures on the physical mechanisms operating in the Earth's ionosphere, thermosphere, and plasmasphere, as well as related parts of the Sun-Earth system.
Courses on the main scientific models registered in the PITHIA-NRF e-Science Center.
Practical sessions on using the PITHIA-NRF e-Science Center for data acquisition and employing its tools for integrating datasets and models.

More information about the school is available here: PITHIA-NRF Training School .

During the event, Jānis Šteinbergs participated in training sessions featuring several presentations on ionospheric and thermospheric physics. This topic is closely related to the project "Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares" (STEF), No. lzp-2022/1-0017. Additionally, the training included discussions on collaboration in ionospheric research using VIRAC infrastructure and future development ideas.

Moreover, discussions were held about cooperation in preparing new project proposals and establishing new contacts.

The knowledge gained at the "PITHIA-NRF" training school will be applied in implementing the STEF project.

The 2022/2023 academic year at the centre for young natural science researchers has ended successfully

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 26 May 2023 08:19:29 GMT

On Wednesday 24 May, the Centre for Young Natural Science Researchers concluded the 2022/2023 school year with an exciting and educational excursion to the Irbene Radio Telescope Complex.

Throughout the 2022/2023 school year, the Young Natural Science Researchers' Centre offered a great opportunity for students in grades 8 to 12 to learn for free about various science and technology-related topics and to meet experienced and inspiring experts in their field.

The Young Natural Scientists' Centre's annual programme included a total of thirty sessions on a variety of exciting topics related to science, technology, electronics, mathematics, logical thinking and programming, as well as the opportunity to take part in field trips to the Baldone Observatory, Ventspils House of Creativity, Irbene Radio Telescope Complex and the VIZIUM Science Centre's exhibition hall.

Classes were held every Wednesday at the VIZIUM Science Centre, with the only exceptions being study trips. Each session of the Young Natural Scientists' Centre focused on a specific topic and was led by experienced scientists, leading researchers from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, as well as invited guest speakers and experts. The theoretical and practical sessions provided a valuable knowledge base and were useful for young people interested in science, technology, electronics, mathematics, logical thinking and programming. Interested participants were invited to register and take part in all the sessions, and could register only for the sessions they were interested in. The most interesting was the session on Satellite Technologies, which was led by Jānis Šate, an electronics engineer from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. In this lesson, students learned how many satellites are in Earth's orbit, why satellites are needed at all, how a satellite can be built, and together with the teacher they planned the concept of building a satellite.

At the end of the session, certificates were sent to the participants.

The activity is implemented within the framework of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014 - 2021 Programme "Research and Education" Activity "Innovation Centres" Project "Establishment of Innovation Centre in Ventspils", identification number: NFI/IC/VIAA/2020/1, contract with the State Education Development Agency on project implementation No.: 9.-20.2.2.1/2.

International student event "Ice breaker"

Thu, 25 May 2023 07:26:12 GMT

In the second weekend of May this year, both international and local students of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) gathered to "break the ice" and get to know Ventspils better during a two-day event. The main organiser of the event was Maeva Fresneau, a VUAS Erasmus+ trainee who came to the university from France in 2022. Her Erasmus+ mobility experience in Ventspils inspired her to return to help the study department with various projects. This time, an event for international students to help them better integrate into the university’s environment was created - "Ice breaker".

On Friday afternoon, students gathered in the VUAS lounge to get to know each other and kick off the two-day event, where they competed for various prizes provided by the partners. During the event, the students had the opportunity to explore Ventspils, bake pizzas, try out the break-out room and networking. The event ended on Saturday afternoon with a picnic and various sports games in the VUAS garden.

Event was created thanks to the partners - Salt Cave, Hot Spot, Vizium Science Centre and the International House of Writers and Translators.

Representatives from Krems University of Applied Sciences visit Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Fri, 12 May 2023 11:52:16 GMT

On 11 May this year Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) hosted a delegation from the Krems University of Applied Sciences to discuss the quality management system and the progress of the strategy implementation. Discussions took place with representatives of various departments of the VUAS as well as with students. At the end of the day, the representatives appreciated the growth of the University and its importance in regional development, as well as shared their recommendations and experience stories that would enable VUAS to become an even stronger institution.

Announced creative competition "Summer in Ziedonis"

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 03 May 2023 06:53:56 GMT

Today, on May 3, which is the birthday of Imants Ziedonis, the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences announces the creative works competition "Summer in Ziedonis".

For the contest we invite you to submit:

written works on the literary works of I. Ziedonis;
written works on translations of I. Ziedonis' works into foreign languages;
translations of I. Ziedonis' works that you have created;
epiphanies "à la Ziedonis".

The authors of the best works will be awarded at the Conference "Ventspils Parallel" this autumn, and the works will be published in the student creative journal "Prožektors 3"!

Please send your creative work to astras@venta.lv with the subject "Summer in Ziedonis".

The deadline for submission is 22 June 2023.

Head of the European Space Agency's OPS-SAT laboratory praises the success of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences student Rodrigo Laurinovičs

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 06:06:58 GMT

Following the success of Rodrigo Laurinovičs, a student of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences’s study programme "Electronics Engineering", during his time at the European Space Agency, we wanted to learn more about Rodrigo's daily life and how he is fitting into the team. Last month, Rodrigo Laurinovičs received the International SpaceOps Award for Outstanding Achievement with the European Space Agency's (ESA) OPS-SAT team. In this interview, David Evans, Head of the OPS-SAT laboratory, talks about Rodrigo's daily life and his determination to succeed with ESA.

What is Rodrigo’s position in ESA?

Rodrigo works in our team to acquire knowledge and experience to add value to his company when he returns. He is the first person at ESOC to use such a mechanism, so everything was new to him and to us at the beginning! He will stay with us for at least one year and hopefully two.

What is he like as a part of your team?

He is a very likeable character and works incredibly hard. One of his best qualities (which played a significant role in his recruitment) is his ability to have a go at anything and give it everything. Even if he had little experience of the operational environment to begin with, he quickly became indispensable to the team gaining very deep and specialised knowledge in some difficult areas. At the same time, he is willing to share and spread that knowledge among the other team members and in fact the OPS-SAT experimenters. The team is very close knit and he has integrated without problems.

How do you see his accomplished work?

He has evolved into a very accomplished operations engineer in his time with us. Working on a real spacecraft implementing cutting edge technologies such as in-orbit FPGA reprogramming is risky work. To be successful you need a mixture of bravery and caution in equal measure and Rodrigo certainly has that. I have been able to leave him in charge to perform recovery actions or complicated experiments on the live satellite without reserve, something that not everyone attains. As an example, we recently experienced a major anomaly on the file system of the experimental processor. In a typical style, Rodrigo assumed responsibility for testing and implementing the technically complex solution we needed to workaround the problem. This was not easy and required many hours of testing, many ending with dead-ends, until he finally came up with an operationally practical solution. I will always be grateful for that.

How will he benefit from this type of experience in the future?

His main specialisation is reprogramming the FPGA fabric in orbit. OPS-SAT has proved this to be an extremely powerful tool for spacecraft operators. It is at the core of OPS-SAT innovation as we are the first ESA spacecraft to fly and experiment with such a unit. We have learnt that the technology is potent but needs to be handled carefully as you are actually reconfiguring the hardware of the processor in orbit. I am convinced that once this technology is mastered then it will cause a similar revolution as the rise of on-board software did in my career. The skills that Rodrigo has already obtained on OPS-SAT are going to make him very valuable and sought after in the near future.

Students of VUAS win TechChill Students Challenge hackathon

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:44:05 GMT

At the end of March, three female students of the bachelor's study programme "New Enrolment Management" at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the Techchill Student Challenge hackathon, where they won the first place. The main prize - travel passes to the renowned JUNCTION hackathon in Finland - gives the students the opportunity to learn face-to-face from internationally renowned industry professionals.

"During the three-week Techchill Student Challenge hackathon, students had the opportunity to get to know the startup environment and professionals in the field, as well as to develop an idea. "The most important thing for the start of any idea is to find a problem to solve, and we encountered this during the event itself, when we had to split into teams, which we didn't find very efficient or interesting at all. So we came up with the idea of the Crew Connect platform, which would ensure that the process of splitting teams goes well and that the teams that are created are diverse, making it all more exciting.

The project has benefited from the knowledge acquired during our studies, where we have developed an in-depth study and validation of the same product. The moment we understood WHY this product was needed, we were able to produce a well thought out idea and a clear presentation that convinced not only the other students, but also the jury."

The main prize of the competition, apart from the great experience the students gained during the hackathon, was the opportunity to go to the JUNCTION hackathon in Finland. It is a chance to experience one of the most spectacular start-up events and learn from the best people in the industry.

Thank you TechChill TechHub Riga for a great event! Congratulations to our 1st year students of Startup Management - Alisa Plotova, Selina Glaudane and Kristiana Biezuma.

VIRAC researchers attend conference in Japan and visit Japanese Observatories

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 07:41:17 GMT

From 18 March to 1 April 2023, Ivars Šmelds, Senior Researcher of VIRAC, and Artis Aberfelds, Researcher of VIRAC, were on a mission to Japan to participate in the International Astronomical Union (IAUS) 380. "Cosmic Masers: Proper Motion toward the Next-Generation Large Projects" and to visit several Japanese radio astronomy observatories.

As previously reported, such thematic conferences on cosmic masers, bringing together the world's leading cosmic maser researchers, are held at intervals of about five years, with the previous thematic conference in this field taking place in Sardinia in 2017. These conferences report on current research results, discuss visions for the future of the field, and establish and develop collaborative links between individual researchers and the research institutes that represent them through personal contacts.

This year's conference took place in Kagoshima, southern Japan, from 20 to 24 March, and was organised by Kagoshima University in collaboration with the Astronomical Society of Japan and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. The list of participants includes 178 scientists from all over the world, and around 80 scientific papers were presented, not including poster presentations (a poster on an A0-size sheet) brought to the symposium by almost every participant who did not give an oral presentation. The conference programme was divided into sections, each section devoted to a different topic, some of which concerned the research on space knots themselves, and others on the

research areas to which they make an important contribution. This time, the topics were:

1. Cosmic Distance Scale and the Hubble Constant,

2. Black Hole Masses and the M-sigma Relation,

3. Structure of the Milky Way,

4. Dynamics of Formation of Massive Stars,

5. Pulsation and Outflows in Evolved Stars,

6. Theory of Masers and Maser Sources,

7. New Projects and Future Telescopes.

VIRAC scientists, Artis Aberfeld and Ivars Šmelds, presented two posters at the symposium: "Possibly New OH Excited Rotatonal State Masers" and "New insights of 6.7 GHz methanol maser variability in IRAS 20126+4104".

More information about the conference is available here: https://iaus-maser2023.jp/ .

The mission also included a visit to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan to agree on a collaboration using a single baseline interferometer. This technique is expected to be used for the scientific results of two projects carried out at the VIRAC, and an agreement was reached to use the expertise of Japanese colleagues to verify and improve the results of observations carried out with the radio telescopes of the VIRAC.

In addition to the above, Ivars Šmelds and Artis Aberfelds also visited the Ibaraki University Observatory with two 32 m radio telescopes (one of them see Fig.3). Reports on the methanol observing programmes were exchanged and closer cooperation was agreed between the methanol monitoring organisations of which the scientists of the two observatories are members. Insights were also gained into the challenges of publishing an archive of observations of cosmic knots.

The above mentioned activities took place within the framework of the project " Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE) ", Nr. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009 and will be financed from the project funds.

One of Us - Master's Student Agnese Lukevica

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 13:50:56 GMT

When you learn about the life story of Agnese Lukevica, a student in the master’s program in Applied Text Translation at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, you get the feeling that she has a special talent for seeing countless opportunities in life and seizing them all without fear of taking risks. One such opportunity is studying at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences after a 16-year break. Her studies have fully justified Agnese's courage. Continuing to seize opportunities, Agnese has recently returned from an internship at the EU Council's translation service in Brussels. Read more about her studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, her internship in Brussels, and Agnese's diverse career path in the interview.

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I grew up in a family where the Latvian language has always been very important, but I decided to study in a field unrelated to linguistics. Immediately after high school, I went to the US, finished high school there again, and later studied at the University of Tampere in Finland as part of an exchange program with the Latvian Academy of Culture. Throughout this time, I tried to learn French because I simply loved it. I used to travel a lot and enjoyed planning my own trips. I sang in choirs and played keyboard instruments – music is still the language I feel most comfortable in. Since starting a family and having a daughter, I have partially moved to the countryside, with a second home in the city. I worked in Riga in the field of European and international affairs, but I spent a lot of time behind the wheel of a car, on trains and buses – I was on the road almost all the time. I didn't notice how this lifestyle had become normal. Perhaps it's because this feeling of being on the road is very important to me, it's also connected with broadening my worldview, with fundamental things. Another such feeling is the vivid moments when I experience something special. Usually, only one question separates people from such moments – is it possible? Thanks to this, I have had many wonderful adventures and memories, such as the opportunity to play the organ played by the world's best organists.

How did you choose to study at VUAS?

It was a coincidence, although this time there was also the question – is it possible? I have been interested in translation for a long time; it has always been present in my everyday life. For a while, I had resigned myself to the fact that I would no longer study, but I am very happy that I had the opportunity to gain knowledge in an academic environment at Ventspils University College and to study remotely. The good reviews about Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and its lecturers were another factor in my decision to return to university after a 16-year break. Of course, my family's support was also very important.

How did you end up doing an internship in Brussels, at the EU Council's translation service?

The idea of doing an internship came to me during my first year, when I attended conferences on translation and terminology. I knew that I would have to do an internship in my third semester. I started looking into where I could do it. First, I was included in the reserve list of the European Parliament's Terminology Coordination Unit in Luxembourg, but that did not necessarily mean that an internship would be secured. Then I received a message from the Council of the European Union that I could go to Brussels for an internship in the fall. It wasn't clear until the last minute whether I would actually go, because it was practically impossible to find a place to live for four months. However, the issue of accommodation was eventually resolved.

How did you spend your time there? What was your biggest gain?

My time in Belgium was both very interesting and intense – on weekdays I participated in the internship program and did real translation work, but on weekends I tried to explore the area.

I lived outside Brussels in the countryside, surrounded by forests, horse stables, and events organized by my neighbours. I also visited other cities – lovely Bruges, beautiful Ghent, the diamond city of Antwerp, and the student paradise of Leuven. Sometimes I spent time in Brussels' old town, with its impressive architecture and gourmet delights – French fries, Liège or Brussels waffles, kramik (bread rolls with sugar and raisins), and, of course, chocolate.

I was an unconventional intern with many years of experience, including working with the Council. However, the advantage of my chosen program is that it is a general program that prepares interns for work in various directorates-general – lots of presentations, general training, seminars, but trainees could tailor the program to their professional needs. A positive aspect is that trainees could see things that employees may never visit or see simply because some institutions are not related to their job duties. The Trainees' Office also organizes study trips. In Strasbourg, we visited the European Parliament, where we gained insight into the work of the European Ombudsman Network, as well as the Council of Europe (human rights organization) and the European Court of Human Rights. We also went to Luxembourg and visited the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors, and I had the opportunity to visit the Terminology Coordination Unit of the European Parliament (the same unit with which we implemented the terminology project "Terminology without borders" during our scientific practice in the first year). It was nice to see how the city has changed and developed over the years.

The greatest benefit is personal – a new, refreshing perception of the world, as well as the people I met. The great atmosphere and working environment at the Council must also be mentioned. Another result and continuation of the internship is the work of a terminologist, which I learned about at the Council. This year, while writing my master's thesis, I hope to have a successful collaboration with the European Parliament's Terminology Coordination Unit.

Would you recommend young people to study at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and why?

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is a fantastic place to study, not only for those interested in translation. This is my second master's degree, and I can only say the best about Ventspils University of Applied Sciences - I am delighted that students are prepared professionally and excellently, they just need to be able to absorb the knowledge that our lecturers provide. Proof of this is the evaluation I received at the end of my internship in Brussels - I was assessed as a well-prepared and fully independent translator. This would certainly not have been possible without an excellent academic foundation, because, as I mentioned, I had previously studied and worked in other fields.

The added value of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is my wonderful classmates - mutual support, encouragement, communication - all of which are essential for a high-quality study process.

Among the interns in Brussels, there were very ambitious young people with a good education, excellently prepared for working life, with excellent language skills - I believe that they will work in EU institutions or elsewhere and achieve their goals. That is why I would like to encourage young people to learn languages and seek opportunities for further education.

I would also like to give special encouragement to those who are at a crossroads in their careers - an internship could be a good start for new ideas.

What would you wish for yourself and others?

Always strive for knowledge and continue to broaden your worldview. Be open but preserve your identity. Move slowly but purposefully. Enjoy opportunities and be grateful for the humanity you encounter. Nothing is impossible, you just must do it.

I remember a situation in Brussels when, during lunch with colleagues from the Latvian language department, we talked about the path to translation, education, life, and work in Brussels. It turned out that we had all been and still are connected to Ventspils University at different times. And that's so great!

Last Day for Professor Kārlis Krēsliņš as Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences - Professor Andris Vaivads Takes Over His Responsibilities

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 11:11:23 GMT

30 March marked the end of the professor Kārlis Krēsliņs Rector's term. During these years he has been the Rector, Professor and Senior Researcher of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, making a significant contribution to the implementation of higher education and scientific activities for the development of the university and the promotion of international cooperation.

In May 2013, Kārlis Krēsliņš joined the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences as Vice-Rector of Education and successfully fulfilled these duties for more than three years until he got appointed as Acting Rector of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences on 22 June 2016. On 11 January 2017, the Constitutional Assembly of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences elected Kārlis Krēsliņš as Rector of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and on 8 May 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers' approval was received. For almost seven years, Kārlis Krēsliņš has been leading Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, finding solutions for the university’s growth and development prospects for higher education and scientific activities in a time of change.

On 3 April this year, the new Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences - Professor Andris Vaivads - started his work at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. "I am very pleased to start working at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, to participate in the strengthening and development of the university, and through this to further contribute to the development of Ventspils as a student-friendly city."

The new VUAS Student Council Board - Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Heads of Dimensions

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:09:00 GMT

On 23 and 24 March this year, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) held elections of the Student Council (SC) members. Every student had the opportunity to vote for one of the 16 candidates. However, on 27 March, at a ceremony which both congratulated the 25th anniversary term of the VUAS SC on its success and revealed that this year 15 members have been elected, which is the highest number in recent years.

The positions were divided as follows:

Chair - Krista Lange
Vice-Chair - Amanda Alksne

Head of Social Affairs- Jēkabs Līdaka

Head of Culture Affairs - Līga Emerberga

Head of Academic Affairs- Santa Stumbre

Public Relations Specialist- Undīne Bētere

Sports Events Coordinator - Igors Šaters

Head of External Affairs - Dārija Semjonova

Members - Linda Auziņa, Karīna Līva Martinova, Poļina Elizaveta Ševčenko, Kristiāna Volkova, Līva Teterovska, Ivo Stepiņš, Elīna Kalniņa.

The VUAS team congratulates the new members wishing them strength, success and great achievements throughout the year!

VUAS team "PowerUpway" wins 5th place in the "Business Sketches" competition

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 07:17:11 GMT

The winners of Swedbank's annual business planning competition "Business Sketches" have been announced. The 5th place in the student team competition went to the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences team "PowerUpway" with a public charging station for smart devices.

The 5th place winner of the student group "PowerUpway" - a VUAS team, offered a public charging station for smart devices. These charging stations consist of ten lockable charging lockers, each of which can charge up to three smart devices. The lockers can be unlocked by payment via an app, bank card or cash. They contain charging cables for iPhone, usb standard and usb-c.

"We've been thinking about this idea for a long time, because we often find ourselves in situations where our phones are running low just when we need them most, for example on a long train journey. We think it would solve a problem for a large part of society, because you could charge your smart device anytime, anywhere, without worrying about whether there is an outlet nearby to charge it. The competition was a great motivation to understand what the next steps are and what the direction of the company is. In the near future, we plan to look for and find ways to attract funding and investors to turn the idea into reality," say Kārlis Freimanis and Edvarts Jasinkēvičs, members of the "PowerUpway" team.

In total, the finalists managed to attract 8548 votes in the last round of the competition, proving the topicality and viability of their business ideas.

"As it happens in business, there were teams that entered the competition with great confidence but lost the lead after the public vote, and there were teams that made a major breakthrough right after the voting round. Every business idea needs to be tested, because what seems relevant and exciting to you will not always be so to potential buyers. But the ideas in the competition were really great, and I hope that the experience will inspire those who did not win prizes this time not to give up, to further develop and improve their idea and find their right target audience," says Reinis Jansons, Head of the Swedbank Institute of Finance.

The best teams will receive cash prizes to develop their business: the 1st place winner in each age group will receive €1500, the 2nd place winner €1000 and the 3rd place winner €500, sharing the prize pool of more than €14,000. The teachers who advise the winning primary and secondary school teams will receive a cash prize of €200 to celebrate their students' success.

In the final round of the competition, five teams in each age group competed, and the young people were tasked with attracting the attention of supporters to their business ideas through a vote-raising campaign. The teams from Jelgava Spīdolas State Gymnasium, Lizums Primary School, Madona State Gymnasium, Riga Centre Humanities Secondary School, Riga State Technical College, RTU Engineering Secondary School, Riga State 1st Gymnasium, Banking University, Riga Technical University, Turiba University, University of Latvia and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences competed in the final round.

This year, for the first time, the competition was open to all who wanted to apply - both teams that already have their own student learning enterprise and business idea, and those who do not yet have one. The turnout was very high: 351 youth teams (1172 participants) from 26 regions of Latvia entered the competition. The most competitive group was the secondary school group - 237 teams; the primary school group - 92 teams; the university group - 22 teams. This year, the business plans were judged by a record jury of 90 Swedbank employees.

The Business Planning Competition "Business Sketches" is organised by Swedbank in cooperation with Riga Technical University, Skola 2030 and the Latvian Students' Association. The competition is divided into three age groups - primary school (grades 7-9), secondary school and university.

Secondary school students get a closer look at entrepreneurship

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 07:10:31 GMT

On 16 and 17 March, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Ventspils Education Board hosted the "School of Young Entrepreneurs", which provided students with an excellent opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills through exciting activities, as well as to learn more about the basics of entrepreneurship from both students and representatives of Ventspils companies. Young people worked in teams to solve problems in unusual ways and explore their skills and creativity in a new light. The event was attended by experienced guest speakers and representatives of various companies who gave the young people valuable advice and tips on how to develop themselves, their business idea and how to find the right field of study for them.

The main organisers, students of the bachelor study programme "Start-up Management", revealed that the participants really liked the atmosphere of the event and expressed their interest in the event taking place again in the next academic year, as well as in studying at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. It is also important to note that everything went smoothly.

Ilze Buņķe, a representative of the Ventspils Education Board, says: "Participating in the closing event of the "School of Young Entrepreneurs", I was really pleased with the opportunity given to the students of Ventspils Secondary Schools and Ventspils Technical College to get into the role of a student, to be in the student environment of the university. Students of the study programme "Start-up Management" at the Faculty of Economics and Management of VUAS presented their future profession to the students. By visiting Ventspils companies such as Bucher and Azeron, the students got introduced to the success stories of the companies, their problem situations and together with the students looked for solutions. After consultations with mentors, students demonstrated their presentation skills, teamwork and communication skills among themselves and students. Most importantly, they developed an interest in entrepreneurship”.

Student Rodrigo Laurinovičs and his team receive an international award in Dubai

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 13:38:14 GMT

At the 17th International Conference of Space Opperations, which took place in Dubai on 6-10 March, Rodrigo Laurinovičs, a student of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences bachelor's degree programme "Electronic Engineering", together with the European Space Agency (ESA) OPS-SAT team received the International SpaceOps Award for Outstanding Achievement. This award recognises outstanding contributions to the mission and the ability to cope with difficult conditions during the operation.

OPS-SAT led by David Evans is the world’s first mission dedicated to improving mission operations and testing new satellite control technology. OPS-SAT was also the first ESA-owned and operated nanosatellite. The mission achieved its goal of enabling in-flight experimentation for mission-critical operations in 2019 after a successful satellite launch. Brand new communication prototypes where demonstrated, which were then used on future ESA missions.

Since 1 March 2022 Rodrigo has been a trainee at ESA, whose mission is to build and develop Europe's space capabilities and ensure that investment in space brings benefits to Europe's citizens and industry. He is the first student from Latvia to have the opportunity to do a traineeship at ESA. This was made possible thanks to the contribution of IrbGS Ltd, the spinoff company of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, and Mārcis Donerblics. The traineeship now has been extended by one more year.

Rodrigo's main tasks so far have been to keep the satellite "alive" in a non-standard approach, where experiments have the possibility to modify the physical structure of the system to optimise it for a given experiment. As well as being involved with the team in solving the active problems, which in recent months have been massive file corruption. He admits that there is no shortage of work and the interest in the work does not wane, as there are always a variety of unique tasks to be performed.

The Young Translators' Schools came to an end

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 08:14:55 GMT

18 ^th March marked the conclusion of the Young Translators' School at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) with its final session conducted by Sandija Skudra. At the end of the session, all 30 participants received certificates of completion, prepared by the VUAS Lifelong Learning Center.

The Young Translators' School started on 25 ^th February. Over four weeks, it allowed students to learn more not only about translation but also about various topics related to intercultural communication. Machine translation, interpreting, and aspects of communication are just some of the topics covered by the experienced lecturers of the Faculty of Translation Studies of the VUAS – Astra Skrābane, Silga Sviķe, Guntars Dreijers, Aiga Bādere, Rafael Martin Calvo, Zane France, Sandija Skudra, and Vita Balama. Participants have positively evaluated their experience in the Young Translators' School, as it has helped them to gain a better understanding of whether to pursue a career as a translator or an international communication specialist in the future. It has also been a great opportunity to immerse themselves in their future field of study, such as “Translation and Language Technologies” and “International Communication”, even before graduating from high school.

The Young Translators' School was implemented in cooperation with the Ventspils Education Board.

Invitation to Apply for the Essay Contest “Language – My Opportunity!”

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 07:34:47 GMT

The international language company “Skrivanek Baltic” organizes an essay contest “Language – My Opportunity!”. Students from bachelor's and master's study programs at Latvian universities are invited to participate in the contest. The goal is to stir up students' interest in Latvian and Latgalian languages and increase their prestige. The contest winner and an Audience Award winner will receive valuable prizes.

To raise the prestige of Latvian and Latgalian among young people and encourage students to recognize the importance of their native language in their future lives and careers, the language service provider “Skrivanek Baltic” is organizing the essay contest “Language – My Opportunity!” The contest will be launched on March 16 ^th , and students are invited to submit their essays by uploading them to the website www.skrivanek.lv until April 3 ^rd .

In the first part of the contest, the best 50 essays will be selected and sent to a professional jury for evaluation. These essays will also be published on the website, where, from April 14 ^th to April 26 ^th , participants and others can vote for the most interesting essay. The author of the winning essay will receive the Audience Award.

In the second part of the contest, the jury of Latvian and Latgalian experts from “Skrivanek Baltic” will choose one winner by accurately evaluating the works in three categories: relevance to the theme, language usage, creativity, and originality.

“We've noticed that young people today have more opportunities and a strong desire to speak, express themselves, and even think in English. With this essay contest, we want to remind students of the beauty and richness of Latvian and Latgalian and, by encouraging them to work creatively and academically in their native language and take pride in it! We, “Skrivanek Baltic”, are convinced that the more languages a person knows, the richer their inner world becomes, and the easier it will be for them to find an occupation in life that matches their interests and passions. However, the native language will always be the most important, as it provides the foundation for young people to start their journey toward linguistic excellence”, says Vasilijs Ragačevičs, Head of “Skrivanek Baltic”.

The winners will be announced at the end of the contest on April 27 ^th , 2023, via Zoom platform. The winner of the contest will receive the grand prize – an “Apple iPad 10.9" Wi-Fi 64GB (10th Gen)”, while the winner of the Audience Award will receive a €200 cash prize presented by “Skrivanek Baltic” director Vasilijs Ragačevičs.

Round Tables shed light on local entrepreneurial activities

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 15:14:47 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences invited students, lecturers, policymakers and local entrepreneurs to share their views on current opportunities and challenges in the local business environment and enhance a joint discourse.

As part of the Erasmus+ project ENDORSE policymaker, entrepreneurship promoting agencies and institutions, members of the academia and students joined round tables to discuss students and graduates entrepreneurial intentions at the university locations. The first event took place in Östersund /Sweden in November 2022. Round tables in Krems/Austria, Lodz/Poland and Ventspils/Latvia followed, allowing the project team to gain deep knowledge on the opportunities and challenges that students and graduates face when starting their own business on rather rural and remote areas.

The main objective of the events was to identify the university’s role in promoting local entrepreneurship and increase its participation in local and regional development. In addition to discussions on local infrastructure and incentives necessary to increase the attractiveness of remote areas for entrepreneurs, it has been emphasized that early entrepreneurial education (high school level) is necessary for reducing personal barriers (risk aversion, lack of information) for potential young entrepreneurs. In addition, all participants agreed that hands on teaching concepts that are supporting students with entrepreneurial intentions throughout the entire founding process, from the business idea to the registration of a company, will provide a good incentive for young entrepreneurs. Local and regional entrepreneurship promoting agencies and policymakers see a stronger collaboration with universities as an important opportunity to increase their reach and transparency related to different entrepreneurship programs and funding schemes.

“The round tables as well as the ongoing talks with students, academia, local entrepreneurs and policymaker and funding agencies are crucial for the success of the project. Without their input the outcome of the project won’t be able to go beyond textbook knowledge. To have a measurable impact on local and regional development we need a hands-on approach to promoting entrepreneurship amongst young people: hands-on education and hands-on policies. Universities play a key role in facilitating not only the knowledge transfer but also the cooperation of all involved stakeholders”, says Alina Schoenberg, Professor at IMC Fachhochschule Krems and Project Lead for ENDORSE.

In the next steps the Project partners will evaluate the obtained insights and will design teaching content, as well as policy concepts while strengthening their universities’ role as regional innovation centers.

In the ERASMUS+ project ENDORSE (Enhancing development of entrepreneurial strategies at university locations affected by brain drain), running from 2022 to 2025, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences collaborates with Mid Sweden University in Sweden, Hochschule Niederrhein in Germany, Uniwersytet Lodzki in Poland, Kai Politikon Epistimon in Greece and IMC Krems in Austria as the main lead, to seek solutions for brain drain at university locations.

Please, contact: Kristiāna Balode, ENDORSE project coordinator in Latvia, kristiana.balode@venta.lv

“Me and my witnesses” to honor Associate Professor Astra Skrābane

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:15:56 GMT

On March 10th, a special event titled “Me and my witnesses” took place at the library of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) in honor of the anniversary of Associate Professor Astra Skrābane. The event was attended by colleagues from the VUAS and city council representatives, along with other guests, and featured poetry readings by Mārtiņš Vilsons and Rose-Marie François.

Astra Skrābane has been working at VUAS since its establishment and has made a significant contribution to the development of the Faculty of Translation Studies. Currently, she serves as the director for the bachelor's degree programme “Translation and Language Technologies”. During the event, congratulations and best wishes were shared, and a representative of the Ventspils City Council presented Astra Skrābane with a certificate for her significant contribution to the development of education, science, and cultural values.

VUAS congratulate Astra Skrābane and wish her unwavering energy in the future as well!

Winter graduation of the Master's study programme "Translation of LSP"

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 14:55:11 GMT

On 11 March this year, the winter graduation was celebrated in the library of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in the honor of three graduates of the Master's study programme "Translation of LSP" - Baiba Grīnvaldis-Bricīte, Anna Rudzīte and Anna Šēfere.

During these three semesters, the students proved themselves to be capable representatives of the field of translation, which is also evidenced by the topicality of the Master's thesis topics and the students' individual study achievements.

Baiba Grīnvalde-Bricīte's Master's thesis focused on a very topical and so far unexplored topic - the study of the influence of ergonomic factors on the work of Latvian translators.

Anna Rudzīte's research focused on the translation of music textbooks. On 22 April 2022 she presented a paper at the International Student Conference "Journey through cultures and languages", demonstrating excellent analytical skills and moderating abilities, chairing a section and representing the university.

Anna Šēfere took a research-oriented look at tourism, an area that is a leisure activity for a large part of society. Anna coped well with the challenges of terminology work and the result has already been reviewed by the Terminology Committee of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

At the event, the Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Professor Kārlis Krēsliņš, reminded the graduates that this particular programme is accredited for participation in the EMT network organised by the European Commission, which gives the diploma an added value.

From Japan to Latvia - Momoka’s daily life in Ventspils

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 11:55:27 GMT

This year as a Latvian culture enthusiast Momoka from Japan has had the opportunity to fully emerge in Latvian culture. She dances in a folk dance group and she sings in an ensemble and a choir. It can be challenging to move abroad and start a life in a new country, however Momoka has kept herself busy and also has had time to explore the city while studying in the master's study programme “ Strategic Intercultural Communication ” and today she shares her story with us.

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Momoka Kashida and I come from the west side of Japan. I got my bachelors degree in the Yokohama National University almost 3 years ago already. After graduation I decided to pursue my studies in a university in Germany, but I ended up not graduating, because during that year I decided to go to a university in Latvia and that is when I found VUAS.

How did you decide to come to Ventspils?

I applied a bit late only in August, that was the time when they were accepting additional applications. I had to choose between Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and University of Latvia. Ventspils offered a calm lifestyle and I felt that the capital might be a bit too crowded for me, that is why the choice was VUAS.

Were there any expectations that you had before coming to Latvia?

This is my first time living in Latvia, however I had already known about it since 2017 and also it is my 9th time visiting this country. Interesting fact is that in Japan there are some people that really enjoy Latvian culture. If I compare the weather from my hometown and here it is a bit warmer back home, but there difference is not as noticeable and I also prefer cooler weather that is why I enjoy the snow a lot. It also does not snow that much in my hometown, maybe only once a year.

What have you enjoyed the most here in Ventspils?

At the moment I am very culturally active - I sing in a choir, I dance in a latvian folk dance group and also I participate in an ensemble. Almost every day I have something to do and I really enjoy it. Of course I also enjoy going to the beach. I would say that that is my favorite place here. It is great that there are so many nice places to go for walks. I also enjoy the Ventspils old town, the vintage architecture near the Venta or the “Jūras vārti” is really great. I actually once danced with my folk dance group in a concert at “Jūras vārti”.

How do you feel here at VUAS?

I have studied in two universities already, but here in VUAS I can feel that students, professors and administration all together are a lot closer. It is easier to get to know each other and to make friends with other international students and coursemates. The environment gives me the chance to learn the subjects better and more in depth. It is a lot easier to ask questions and also express opinions during classes.

The size of the university is definitely a huge plus. The professors are friendly and really motivated to give their classes. The administration is also very welcoming and it is always easy to reach out and ask questions. Since I am a foreigner I have a lot of questions regarding, well, everything. That is why the support is really important.

VIRATEC - New life for Ventspils International Radioastronomy Centre

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:53:10 GMT

VIRATEC is the spin-off company of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, the purpose of which is to commercialize and promote VIRAC's scientific developments on the market, including the Irbene infrastructure.

VIRATEC's main ambition is to establish the Ground Segment industry in Latvia and to become a part of the European Space Industry with Ground Segment services based on adaptation and sharing of infrastructure model providing maximum benefit on European and Global scale for both Space Missions and Fundamental Research in Radio Astronomy.

Spiral arm high-mass protostellar accretion disk revealed by radio telescopes

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 13:48:43 GMT

Spiral arm high-mass protostellar accretion disk revealed by radio telescopes

High-mass stars are 8 or more times more massive than the Sun. They act like atomic factories to generate many of the necessary building blocks for life and technology in the universe and they alter the appearance and evolution of galaxies. The massive stars “die” spectacularly as supernova explosions, while their brightness overshine the rest of the galaxy.

Despite their importance in the Universe, the process by which high-mass stars are born has been a mystery for many decades. It has recently become known that they form at the hearts of rotating disks of gas and dust, known as protostellar disks, which are ~1000 AU radius (that is, ~1000 times the distance at which the Earth orbits the Sun).

One theory which is emerging as a front runner in high-mass star formation research is the idea of ‘episodic accretion’ where by clumps of dusty gas occasionally fall from the protostellar disk onto the growing star, or ‘protostar’, at the centre. However, these growth bursts occur on timescales of hundreds of years, and, lasting only a few months, and are very rare events to witness. To date, astronomers have only witnessed a three growth bursts in high-mass protostars. The most recent, and the most intensely investigated was the 2019 growth burst in high-mass protostar G358-MM1 .

The episodic accretion theory proposes that protostellar disks are clumpy and that spiral arms may emerge in the disk due to it experiencing the pull of its own self-gravity. Observing protostellar disks around high-mass protostars, let alone any spiral structure or clumpiness, has been a challenge for astronomers. Such disks, and their high-mass protostars, form inside dense clouds of gas and dust in turbulent stellar nurseries, which are for the most part invisible to conventional optical telescopes.

However, in a new Nature Astronomy publication https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-023-01899-w

A team of astronomers who specialize in ‘maser’ emission - which is a microwave wavelength laser - were able to map a high-mass protostellar disk in higher detail than was achieved before. Using Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) arrays from around the world in an international collaboration, the team were able to discover spiral arms in the rotating disk of high-mass protostar, G358- MM1 . This is the very same protostar which was seen to experience a growth burst in 2019.

The team used a new technique called ‘heat-wave mapping’ which used the growth burst’s own flash of radiation to map the surface of the disk using methanol masers. In total, 25 radio telescopes were used, from Ocean, Asia, Europe and America. All data were combined to produce an image of the G358-MM1 spiral disk with milliarcsecond (1/3600000th of a degree) resolution. In everyday terms it is equal to reading a newspaper 8 km away.

The discovery brings together evidence of several of the aspects of episodic accretion theory: a rotating disk, growth bursts, and spiral structure which helps to feed the growing high-mass protostar.

The team will continue to search for growth bursts in high-mass protostars, using a global cooperative of traditional radio telescopes, called the Maser Monitoring Organisation (M2O). So far, only 3 high-mass protostellar bursts have been seen, the team hopes to find many more to explore more growth bursts in other high-mass protostars.

G358-MM1 has four spiral arms which wrap beautifully around the protostar. The spiral arms help to feed disk material down to the centre of the system where it can reach the protostar and feed it.

In this study Ventspils University of Applied Sciences was represented by Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) Researcher Artis Aberfelds.

We would like to add that principal investigator of this research Ross Alexander Burns joined VIRAC as Lead-guest researcher starting from January 2023.

Our infrastructure joined this research as part of EVN.

Jānis Veckrācis, Associate Professor and senior researcher at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in international conferences

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 08:32:16 GMT

On February 22nd and 23rd, the international scientific conference “Endzelīns. Language. Time”, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Jānis Endzelīns, took place, where Jānis Veckrācis, Associate Professor and senior researcher at the Faculty of Translation Studies at VUAS, presented a paper titled “Linguistic Landscape in Latvian Botany Textbooks (1880–1940): Stable and Changing Features”.

This year, the conference took place in a special atmosphere, as it coincided with the 150th anniversary of the outstanding linguist Jānis Endzelīns (1873–1961), celebrated on February 22. The contribution and significance of Endzelīns at the European level has been confirmed by the fact that his birthday is included in the UNESCO calendar of days to be celebrated.

Read more about the conference here: http://lavi.lu.lv/konferences-2023/ .

This January, the Associate Professor also participated in the international conference of Daugavpils University “XXXIII Scientific Readings” with a paper “Language Facts in the Periodicals “Darbs” and “Baltijas Zemkopis (1875–1876)”.

Both papers were prepared as a part of the Latvian Council of Science project No. lzp-2020/1-0179 “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity”.

Also, at the beginning of February, Jānis Veckrācis participated in the international conference “Language and Literature in the Context of Education”, organized by the Faculty of Education, Psychology, and Art of the University of Latvia, where he presented the paper “Teaching and Studying Translation: A Double-edged Approach”.

Abstract Submission

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 08:32:15 GMT

The Scientific Committee of the Congress has developed a two-day programme that includes thematic discussions, speeches, seminars, demonstrations and other activities of different formats. In addition, scientists, doctoral candidates and students from Latvia and of and Latvian origin all over the world are invited to submit abstracts in an open call for poster presentations.

Applications shall be submitted in Latvian and English or only in English by 31 March 2023 via the Congress website www.sciencecongress.lv .

Abstracts for posters

The Scientific Committee of the Congress is pleased to invite submissions of abstracts for poster presentations. In order to submit a poster to be exhibited at the Congress, an abstract (max. 200 words long) is to be submitted. In the abstract in between other crucial information, authors are encouraged to specify the potential of the research results to boost Latvia’s growth, e.g. technological development, improvement of people's wellbeing (physical and mental well-being), health, economy, and environment. Challenges and solutions to overcome them can be most successfully identified through interdisciplinary cooperation in research, as well as by cooperating with the industry and society (participatory research), therefore poster presentations under any field of science or interdisciplinary posters are welcomed. The Scientific Committee of the Congress invites authors to present their posters to also spark an interest in scientists from other fields.

Useful information

A cross-disciplinary international scientific jury panel will carry out a blind peer review of the poster applications in line with the objectives and topics of Congress. After the review and the initial selection process, applicants will be invited to prepare posters for presentation in digital format to be presented in the congress.

If the subject of the selected poster abstract corresponds to one of the three main topics of the congress – Green Transformation, Digital Transformation, Science Impact – the Scientific Committee of the Congress may invite these applicants to take part in the congress as a speaker (on the subject of the poster) in one of the parallel sessions, by presenting the matters of the study of the submitted poster abstract. In such cases, communication will be conducted separately after the initial selection.

Good luck! We are looking forward to meeting you at the 5th World Congress of Latvian Scientists “Research Latvia”!

We invite to create ideas for solving energy and waste problems in Latvia!

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 09:06:19 GMT

ESI's student innovation program in cooperation with partners - “Rimi Baltic”, “SEB banka” and AS "Eco Baltia" - invites high school and university students to participate in the Sustainability Challenge from March 18 to 26 to create unique ideas for solving various challenges related to energy and waste issues.

The Sustainability Challenge is a hackathon-type competition in which, through various tasks, mentoring classes and other activities, participants will have to develop creative solutions to various issues related to energy production and use, waste reduction and proper management. High school and university students (at any level of higher education, in any specialty) can participate in the competition. Also, other interested parties who are motivated to offer solutions to sustainability issues are also invited to submit their ideas. It is possible to participate in the competition with an existing idea, as well as create it from scratch.

Challenge activities will be implemented in three phases. On March 18 , there will be an opening event with a team and idea generation, so that each participant can get an accurate insight into the challenges, formulate their idea, create a team and present it. In the period from March 20 to 24 , there will be online mentoring sessions, work in teams and face-to-face tours of companies representing the industry, where participants can get ideas for project development. On March 25 and 26 , participants will meet with industry experts and relevant mentors for the development of the project, who will help to develop their idea more successfully, the event will take place on the premises of “Rimi Baltic” in Riga. On the last day of the challenge, the teams will present their solutions, which will be judged by a project jury made up of project partners. All activities will be held in English.

The partners of the challenge - “Rimi Baltic,” “SEB banka” and AS "Eco Baltia" - have prepared several topics for the creation of ideas based on real problem situations observed in the company's operation and society. An insight into the challenges prepared by our partners:

- AS "Eco Baltia" offers challenges in two areas related to circular economy in Latvia - promotion of sorting, recycling and recirculation of textile products, as well as recycling of used electronic devices.

Jānis Aizbalts, head of the environmental management sector of AS "Eco Baltia" and chairman of the board of SIA "Eco Baltia vide" : "The circular economy is not new in Latvia either, but it should be moved faster on a national scale. As our experience in cooperation with young people and their representative organizations and educational institutions shows, pupils and students are the generation whose ideas are invaluable in implementing sustainability projects. We invite you to be active, participate in the challenge and make Latvia even greener, where waste is not a big mountain, but a resource to be used in the circulation of the market."

- The challenge prepared by “SEB banka” is related to the energy efficiency of buildings - the teams will be invited to find solutions that would help to significantly increase the proportion of renovated apartment buildings in Latvia, as well as the number of homes that undergo regular energy audits.

Viktors Toropovs, head of Sustainability Development: "Increasing the energy efficiency of existing housing plays an essential role in achieving the set goals of climate neutrality in Latvia by 2050. In addition to the creation of an appropriate state policy, the availability of funding and the decision-making of citizens, it is also important to find digital solutions and new products to promote the development of the field. The energy efficiency of houses helps not only to reduce the consumption of energy resources and improve the climate in the apartment but also to create an attractive environment in general, so everyone benefits.”

- Rimi Baltic has prepared challenges that invite to find solutions on how to reduce the use of plastic and reduce food waste.

Zanda Šadre, “Rimi Baltic” Corporate Responsibility and Communication Director: "Responsibility towards the environment is one of our top focus areas, therefore we are constantly searching for new solutions. On top of that, reduction of food waste and plastic use not only helps the environment, but it can also lead to cost savings for the customer, which is a great win-win in both aspects. We encourage teams to think from this perspective, and we believe that it will definitely bring results,” says.

Teams of competition participants will compete for valuable prizes. The first place will be awarded 3000 EUR, the second place - 2000 EUR, the third place - 1000 EUR, as well as partner prizes will be raffled off, which will help the participants to continue working on the development of ideas. The winners will be announced on March 26.

Registration and detailed info about challenges and the event itself can be found on the event website: www.challenge.esi-startup.lv/

The ESI Sustainability Challenge is supported by the ESI Student Innovation Program of the Stockholm School School of Economics in Riga, “RIMI Baltic”, “SEB banka”, AS "Eco Baltia" and the European Regional Fund. Project number: 1.1.1. 3./21/A/008.a. The event is supported by ESI program partner organisations: Art Academy of Latvia (LMA), Rezekne Academy of Technologies (RTA), Riga Graduate School of Law (RGSL), Civitta, TechHub, Riga TechGirls, LSUA, LETERA, LU CFI.

Follow ESI on social media for updates:

Facebook : https://fb.me/e/3mIwgHRYV

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/esidrosmigs/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esi_sustainability_challenge/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

VIRAC Director participated in ECS Brokerage Event

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 06:20:53 GMT

Alexey Klokov, Director of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the ECS Brokerage Event held in Brussels, Belgium, on February 7–8 this year. This event brought together representatives from the electronic components, systems, and technology industry associations, along with scientists and experts, to facilitate collaboration and support the research community in accessing and preparing information and project proposals.

This year, a record 440 participants took part in the event, while 1512 partners with 466 research, project and partnership ideas registered on the event's electronic platform and partner list https://ecscollaborationtool.eu/ . Latvia was represented by 22 partners.

As part of the mission, VIRAC Director Alexey Klokov delivered a presentation titled "Overview of VIRAC and Its Potential Project Ideas", and, in line with the objectives of the project “Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)” , No. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009, presented VIRAC’s potential research directions through poster displays and promoted the centre’s activities.

In addition to the aforementioned activities, during the ECS Brokerage Event, Alexey Klokov held individual meetings with potential collaborators. These networking activities with ECS researchers, scientists, and companies were aimed at fostering the development of new research ideas, directions, and innovative technologies, supporting the preparation of project proposals under Horizon Europe, the European Space Agency, and other international frameworks, as well as identifying collaborative solutions to some of the most pressing technological challenges faced by VIRAC.

These activities were carried out within the framework of the project “Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)” , No. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009, and were funded by the project.

RADIOBLOCKS: A New European Consortium to develop Next Generation Technologies for Radio Astronomy Infrastructures

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 13:58:36 GMT

The RADIOBLOCKS project, coordinated by JIVE ERIC and including major European research infrastructures for radio astronomy, together with partners from industry and academia, have been granted 10 M€ by the European Commission to develop “common building blocks” for technological solutions beyond state-of-the-art, that will enable a broad range of new science and enhance European scientific competitiveness. The RADIOBLOCKS project will start on 1 March 2023.

The RADIOBLOCKS project will take a holistic view of how radio telescopes arrays capture, process, synthesise and analyse cosmic signals and will develop components, technologies and software, applicable to a wide range of instruments, to enable the next major discoveries in radio astronomy.

RADIOBLOCKS aims to achieve a maximal boost for the major world-leading research infrastructures in radio astronomy by developing common needed blocks:

● for the development of new correlators, which can efficiently exploit powerful new commercially available accelerator hardware (GPUs). This development will directly benefit the large radio arrays from meter to sub-mm wavelengths;

● in cutting-edge frontend technologies, addressing the generation and real-time handling of wide band and multi-band data, in particular for the creation of novel detectors and components, both RF and IF, as well as the design of backends, with built-in RFI mitigation;

● for multipixel (PAF/FPA) receivers, ranging from cm to submm wavelengths, suitable for large single dish facilities, with special relevance for future collaborations with pan-European and global RIs (e.g., SKA-VLBI).

● for data (post)processing, testing prototype workflows functionality and demonstrating usage of end-to-end simulation tools.

"The project RADIOBLOCKS collects the experience and common interests of the radio astronomy community in Europe at large, including several other global parties and industry. For the first time, all will work together to develop the technologies that are necessary for the future evolution of their facilities. This is a paradigm shift, mostly facilitated by the European Commission's Horizon Europe programme", says Dr. Francisco Colomer, director of JIV-ERIC and coordinator of RADIOBLOCKS.

The 4-year RADIOBLOCKS project - funded by the Horizon Europe Framework Programme -

involves 33 major European research infrastructures for radio astronomy, together with partners from industry and academia from 9 European countries, Japan, Republic of Korea, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The engagement with industry to co-develop advanced technologies will increase the partners’ technological levels and strengthen their market positions.

The European research infrastructures (RI’s) involved in RADIOBLOCKS are the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIV-ERIC) and the European VLBI Network (EVN), the Multi Element Remotely Linked Interferometer Network (eMERLIN), the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR/ILT, in the process to become LOFAR ERIC), the Northern Extended Millimetre Array (NOEMA), the 100-metre Effelsberg Telescope, the Sardinia 64-m radio telescope, the Yebes 40-metre telescope, the IRAM 30-metre Telescope and also global facilities of European interest, such as the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO, an ESFRI landmark), the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA), the Global Millimetre VLBI Array (GMVA), and the Event Horizon Telescope project (EHT).

“The RADIOBLOCKS project brings together world-leading academic research and industry experts from across Europe and beyond to co-develop and then exploit new technologies to maximise the science capabilities of current and future radio facilities,” says Prof. Rob Beswick, Head of Science Operations and User Support for e-MERLIN, the UK’s National Radio Astronomy Facility; Deputy Director of the UK SKA Regional Centre and RADIOBLOCKS lead at The University of Manchester.

The project builds on the highly consolidated RadioNet consortium, which, since the year 2000, have been supported by the European Commission through their different Framework Programmes. RadioNet has successfully integrated a unique array of capabilities and contributed to the continued advances in radio astronomy, which are recognised as essential in answering key questions in astrophysics.

The RADIOBLOCKS project is coordinated by JIV-ERIC, showing its central role as a coordinating research infrastructure bringing together the major research organisation in the radio astronomy field and its expertise coordinating several EC-funded projects in recent years such as the H2020 JUMPING JIVE.

For JIVE ERIC and the EVN , RADIOBLOCKS will have a major impact for the development of a next generation Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Correlator. The EVN technology roadmap for 2020-2030 highlighted the need for broad-band developments, extending the observing bandwidth by at least to 5 GHz, which also requires recording the data at a rate of up to 32 Gbps, an observing mode that will be fully compatible with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-MID). Bringing in the SKA-MID, and several other telescopes is the other way to increase the sensitivity of VLBI observations performed by the EVN. This is particularly important for narrow-band phenomena - like Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) - where the only way of improving the sensitivity and imaging capabilities is increasing the collecting area (i.e., the number of telescopes, distributed evenly on various angular scales). To be able to process these broad-band data for large number of telescopes (>30), a next generation VLBI correlator, including specific modes optimised for processing large fields of view, short transients (microseconds time scale), and high spectral resolution modes, is necessary.

During the RADIOBLOCKS project, the VIRAC team will contribute to the development of a software that will be used for data processing in several VLBI networks (EVN (European VLBI Network), ILT (International LOFAR Telescope), ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array), SKA (Square Kilometre Array), EHT (Event Horizon Telescope)) and will be useful for the whole radio astronomy community. It should be underlined that during the project, the data processing algorithms previously developed by the VIRAC team will be improved and applied to the observational data of the EVN and ILT networks. These algorithms are based on the KLT (Karhunen-Loève transform) and SSA (Singular Spectrum Analysis) methodologies. The results of the project will be used for further development of a single-base interferometer using the RT32 - RT16 interferometer in the Irbene radio telescope complex, and the results will allow the development of LOFAR VLBI capabilities.

“RADIOBLOCKS is an ambitious project that will bring together 33 partners from industry and academia from all over the world.” says Dr. Giuseppe Cimò, head of Space and Innovative Applications at JIVE and Project Manager of the RADIOBLOCKS project. “It will be an exciting challenge to help develop the common blocks that European Research Infrastructures will use to create exciting scientific results to answer key questions in astronomy and astrophysics.”

The RADIOBLOCKS project will receive funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101093934.

Additional information

The RADIOBLOCKS Consortium is comprised by the Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (JIVE-ERIC, NL, Coordinator), Stichting Nederlandse Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Instituten (ASTRON, NL), European Southern Observatory (ESO, DE), Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas M.P. (CSIC, ES), Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. (FRAUNHOFER-IAF, DE), Stichting International LOFAR Telescope (ILT, NL), Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimetrique Societe Civile (IRAM, FR), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. (MPG, DE), Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB (GARD, SE), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG, NL), Technische Universiteit Delft (TUD, NL), Universiteit Leiden (ULEI, NL), Ventspils Augstskola (VIRAC, LV), Centro Nacional de Información Geográfica (CNIG, ES), Universite de Bordeaux (UBX, FR), Universität zu Koln (UCO, DE), Syddansk Universitet (SDU DK), Sioux Technologies BV (SIOUX, NL), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF, IT), Observatoire de Paris (OBSPARIS, FR), Lytid (LYTID, ES), TTI Norte, S.L. (TTI NORTE, ES), Stichting Radboud Universiteit (RADBOUD, NL), School of Management and Engineering Vaud HES-SO / University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO, CH), Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL, CH), Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI, KR), University of Pretoria (UP, SA), Beyond Gravity Schweiz AG (BGC, CH), the University of Manchester (UNIMAN, UK), the Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford (UOXF, UK), United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI, UK) and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAOB, UK).

The EVN and JIV-ERIC have recently compiled a detailed scientific vision for VLBI, based on input from the scientific community (VLBI 2020-2030: a scientific roadmap for the next decade -- The future of the European VLBI Network) in the framework of the H2020 JUMPING JIVE project. The scientific priorities presented in that document drive the EVN technological developments.

The European VLBI Network (EVN) is an interferometric array of radio telescopes spread throughout Europe, Asia, South Africa and the Americas that conducts unique, high-resolution, radio astronomical observations of cosmic radio sources. Established in 1980, the EVN has grown into the most sensitive VLBI array in the world, including over 20 individual telescopes, among them some of the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescopes. The EVN is composed of 13 Full Member Institutes and 5 Associated Member Institutes.

The Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) has as its primary mission to operate and develop the EVN data processor, a powerful supercomputer that combines the signals from radio telescopes located across the planet. Founded in 1993, JIVE is since 2015 a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) with seven member countries: France, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden; additional support is received from partner institutes in China, Germany and South Africa. JIVE is hosted at the offices of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) in the Netherlands.

Contact

Giuseppe Cimò

RadioBlocks Project Manager

JIVE Interim Head Space and Innovative Applications Group

cimo@jive.eu

Jorge Rivero González

JIVE Science Communications Officer

communications@jive.eu

Approved fundamental and applied research project proposals at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 11:22:12 GMT

The project proposals prepared by the Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center" (ERI VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences for the Latvian Science Council (LZP) grant competition, project No. lzp-2022/1-0083 "A single-baseline radio interferometer in a new age of transient astrophysics" and project No. lzp-2022/1-0017 "Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares," were highly evaluated and financially supported by the LZP's decisions on December 20, 2022.

Both projects are being implemented by the Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center" (ERI VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Project No. lzp-2022/1-0083 "A single-baseline radio interferometer in a new age of transient astrophysics" is intended as a fundamental research study aimed at creating the Irbene single-baseline radio interferometer (ISBI), which will be capable of detecting radio emission fluctuations related to high-mass star formation regions. The developed ISBI will be used to observe the continuum emission of high-mass protostars and maser emission lines. The obtained results will help choose between currently untested and competing theoretical scenarios proposed to explain the recently discovered variability of radio radiation observed in high-mass star formation regions.

During the implementation of the project, it is planned to deepen the understanding of the eruption formation process, which is believed to follow flares during which high-mass stars accumulate mass. High-cadence observations using the Irbene interferometric system will be organized to study these processes.

The project includes the following tasks:

Expand the existing capabilities of the Ventspils radio observatory by using two radio telescopes (32m and 16m in diameter) in a unified system as an interferometer.
Improve and automate the planning of astronomical observations and processes related to the acquisition and analysis of astronomical data.
Create a list of approximately 30 high-mass protostars whose radio signal emissions will be simultaneously monitored at 6.7 GHz methanol maser lines and radio C bands.
Interpret astronomical data by studying the processes of high-mass star formation and development, thereby understanding the formation of massive stars.
Organize public lectures and informative events, and publish the achieved results in scientific conferences and leading astronomy journals.

The results obtained during the project implementation will provide answers to unanswered questions about the processes of high-mass star formation. Additionally, the project team aims to deepen the understanding of the eruption formation process, which is believed to follow flares during which high-mass stars accumulate mass. High-cadence observations using the Irbene interferometric system will be organized to study these processes. Such observations require a combination of effective and specific functional technologies, which are not easy to develop nowadays. The unique advantages of the Irbene interferometer provide an opportunity to research short-term variable astrophysical processes.

The project activities are planned to be implemented from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025. The total project funding is 300,000.00 euros, and the scientific leader of the project is Ross Alexander Burns, a leading guest researcher at the Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center" of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Project No. lzp-2022/1-0017 "Multi-Wavelength Study of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares" is intended as a fundamental research study with the main goals of:

Using VSRC instruments to establish a reliable and systematic observation system for solar flares and stellar super-flares;
Discovering similarities and differences between the radio emission mechanisms of solar and stellar flares and their quasi-periodic pulsation characteristics;
Laying the groundwork for future research in collaboration with radio observatories worldwide.

The research program of the project focuses on the extensive study of the quasi-periodic pulsation (QPP) phenomenon (as an indicator of plasma oscillation dynamics) in solar flares and stellar super-flares. Multi-frequency radio astronomical observations are planned in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Warwick (United Kingdom), using the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) complex in Irbene. The research will focus not only on solar flares but also on widely distributed and actively flaring red dwarf stars. QPP detection and analysis in light curves will be performed by combining traditional and innovative data analysis methods, such as wavelet and empirical mode decomposition analysis. Participants from the United Kingdom, with extensive experience in coronal process research, will provide process modeling and lead data analysis.

The project includes the following tasks:

Establish a single-baseline interferometer (using both Irbene radio telescopes RT-16 and RT-32) to conduct a research program on solar and stellar flare observations in the radio frequency band.
Create and optimize a set of data analysis tools to describe flare light curves and spectra, and to detect QPP events.
Discover similarities and differences between solar and stellar flares in their QPP characteristics, and create a comprehensive statistical overview of flares.
Present scientific results by publishing them in prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals, giving presentations at international and local conferences, holding an annual international seminar on the project topic, participating in public lectures, and preparing a popular science article.
Conduct educational work with school students and university students at the VIZIUM Science and Innovation Center (in Ventspils, Latvia).

The expected results during the project implementation will enable VIRAC to establish a unique research cluster capable of conducting world-class solar flare and stellar super-flare observations and data analysis, complementing the capabilities of the world's leading solar research institutes. A particularly interesting and notable phenomenon characteristic of both solar and stellar flares is QPP in the radio frequency bands, which will be used to identify similarities and differences between solar flares and stellar super-flares, as well as their physical mechanisms.

The project activities are planned to be implemented from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025. The total project funding is 300,000.00 euros, and the scientific leader of the project is Valeri Nakariakov, a leading guest researcher at the Engineering Research Institute "Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center" of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

A student from VUAS demonstrates his skills at the European Space Agency

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 07:27:42 GMT

Rodrigo Laurinovičs, a student of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences bachelor's degree programme "Electronics Engineering", has received international recognition and has been awarded an internship at the European Space Agency (ESA), whose mission is to build and develop European space capabilities and ensure that investments in the space sector benefit European citizens and industry. Rodrigo is the first Latvian undergraduate student to have been awarded such an internship.

Rodrigo's work experience at ESA, Germany started on 1 March 2022, which is a relatively long period of time, so we decided to find out how Rodrigo is getting on, what his vision of the experience and his job responsibilities are.

How are you doing at ESA?

I am now well integrated into the team. I am learning a variety of concepts in satellite operations. I am more responsible for the system behaviour of our experiment platform (an FPGA with a built-in microcontroller on top of a Linux operating system, responsible for the performance of the proposed experiments).

What are your job responsibilities?

The main job responsibilities are to keep the satellite alive at a non-standard approach, where experiments have the possibility to modify the physical structure of the system to optimize it for a given experiment. Of course, like the whole team, I am involved in active problem solving. There is no shortage of work, i.e. the interest of the work does not disappear either, because there are always unique tasks that are not interconnected. I've also realised the importance of documentation.

What were the motivating factors that helped you get into ESA?

I certainly didn't expect to be seconded to ESA as a Mission Control Engineer in my 3rd year. I wouldn't really say that I had a motivating factor that pushed me forward, but rather a liking for electronics that got noticed. This opportunity was offered to me, for which I am eternally grateful, as well as to all those who supported me over the years, both in academia and in my personal life.

Students of the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participate in the project "Terminology without Borders"

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:56:46 GMT

In the spring and autumn semesters of 2022, students of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Translation Studies bachelor study programme "Translation and Language Technology" and master study programme "Translation of LSP Texts" in the course "Terminology and Lexicography" participated in the project "Terminology without Borders". This work is a project led by the Terminology Coordination Unit (TermCoord) of the Directorate-General for Translation of the European Parliament, which aims to improve communication in a number of fields by providing terminology in the relevant fields for everyone. The workflow of the project consists of several stages, such as the extraction of terms from corpora, student research - working with terms (selection of equivalents), revision of terms by experts in the field. The main objective of the project was to learn how to work with terminology in the field: searching for and collecting equivalents, definitions, examples, selecting and organizing information in a glossary.

The selected topic for the project was "Nature and biodiversity" in the field of biology and in the first version a glossary was developed, which has already been published on the project website ( https://yourterm.eu/envi-university-projects/ ). Dr. biol. Edgars Vimba and Mg. biol. Dace Sāmīte, Director of the Kurzeme Regional Administration of the Nature Conservation Agency, participated in the project as sector experts and provided advice.

Once the terminologists from the EU institutions will have also checked the students' work and approved the selected equivalents, the information gathered will be used to update the Interactive Terminology of Europe (IATE) database.

It is planned to continue this project this year as well and to select some of the terminologies proposed.

VIRAC leading researcher attends The workshop on the International Space Weather Initiative: The Sun, Space Weather and Geosphere

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:22:13 GMT

On the 1st of November, 2022 Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC) leading researcher PhD Dmitrijs Bezrukovs remotely attended “The workshop on the International Space Weather Initiative: The Sun, Space Weather and Geosphere”. During the workshop he presented a report on the topic of “Microwave observations of the Sun with VIRAC RT-32 Radio Telescope”.

The event, which was jointly organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Baku State University in Baku, Azerbaijan, took place from the 31st of October until the 4th of November. A notable number of researchers from all around the world were invited to introduce the participants with their findings and research regarding the space weather in that way discussing its importance, drawing attention to its influence on Earth and highlighting the latest developments and observations.

VIRAC leading researcher Dmitrijs Bezrukovs informed the participants about the main areas of VIRAC and about spectral polarimetric observations of the Sun by the (VIRAC) radio telescope (RT-32). The main conclusions he drew were that VIRAC has all the possibilities to provide microwave spectral polarimetric observations of the Sun with the multichannel spectral polarimeter at 3.2-4.7 cm and 2.1-7.4 cm wavelength ranges for numerous solar physics problems and that the newly developed spectral polarimeter with expanded wavelength range, enhanced noise parameters and dynamic range is able to clearly and reliably observe areas of reduced brightness temperatures (“Low Temperature Regions” - LTR) and study coronal holes and coronal hole-like structures.

The presentations are available – HERE

Living Abroad, Combining Studies with Family Life, and Returning to University After 20 Years: Kristīne Kovale's Story

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 14:48:33 GMT

"Studying and developing means living!" says Kristīne Kovale, who joined the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences this fall to return to higher education after a twenty-year break. The excellent reputation of the translation study program, as well as a small coincidence, led Kristīne to the master's study program "Translation of Applied Texts." Kristīne tells how she unexpectedly began to study translation.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a mother of two (soon to be three) children with impressive work experience in real estate. Twenty years ago, I obtained a Level 2 higher education degree in law, and since then I have been trying to improve myself every now and then. We have been living in Spain for five years now, and before our regular vacation in Latvia, I saw an advertisement on Facebook about a master's program at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

How did you decide that this program was right for you?

I read the conditions and decided to write to the university immediately. Within a few days, the study agreement was signed. I couldn't believe that I would be studying again! I was thrilled, and when I returned to Spain, I started my studies in the master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences on September 2. I must say that I wasn't consciously looking for any study opportunities, it just happened that way – an advertisement on social media, the university's reputation in the translation industry, and the opportunity to study remotely. I couldn't pass up such an opportunity!

How is it to return to studies? What do you like most?

Since I hadn't studied at university for almost twenty years, I felt very excited and threw myself into everything the university and lecturers had to offer with great enthusiasm. I willingly volunteered to become the course representative, which I think I'm good at. I really like the respectful attitude of the lecturers and their diverse experience in translation. Initially, we received an impressive amount of information, but now we have learned to "sort" it. Modern technologies, available CAT tools, dictionaries, glossaries, and other IT options are amazing, and at the same time, I can no longer imagine translation work without them. Thank you to our wonderful teachers!

We are also lucky to have classmates who support and help each other whenever necessary. It feels like we have known each other for a long time.

Do you think it is possible to combine studies with work?

By spending less time sleeping, it is possible to combine studies with work. :))) Studies are usually associated with young people who have just obtained a bachelor's degree and do not yet have a family, but those who are "experienced in life" like me, who also must take care of their family, have to choose their priorities (at least for the duration of their studies). Although I sometimes face challenges, I do not regret a single moment I spend studying.

The first semester is almost over. What have been your biggest gains so far?

I have gained invaluable information about the IT tools available in the translation industry, and in this short time I have already gained translation experience by translating various texts. Each text to be translated requires in-depth knowledge of the relevant field, so I have learned many interesting facts about various world events.

Is there anything you have decided to achieve in 2023?

I have decided not to give up and to continue my studies.

What would you say to those who are just planning to start studying at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences?

Studying and developing means living. Always move forward! Don't hesitate — take risks, accept every challenge and opportunity that life offers us! When else, if not now?! Never be lazy!

My 2022 - Linda Auziņa's story

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:59:03 GMT

Linda Auziņa is a student at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences who started the year quietly working in the Student Council. But life took a turn when Linda was elected Student Council President in April. Now, every day has been an exciting adventure for her, allowing her to meet a variety of influential and interesting people, gain new experiences, make friends and grow as a person. Linda is happy to share the story of one of the most interesting years of her life.

"When a year is coming to an end, I always like to look back on what I have done and experienced. I think the more you dare to step out of your comfort zone, the more colourful and exciting your year will be. I can definitely say that mine has been very much so. It started with small, easy jobs in the Student Council. At the beginning of the year, I was really fully immersed in my studies. Now I've realised that even though there are a lot more things to do, they are becoming more interesting and a lot cooler. The biggest adventure has definitely been the Student Council itself. I really appreciate this opportunity to work, to be involved and to represent students' interests.

I am happy to have met many interesting people from whom I have been able to draw inspiration. When you step out of your box, you step over your own boundaries and that is when you have the opportunity to have a much broader experience. Every day I have had the chance to grow, to learn something interesting that definitely will be useful in the future. If at the beginning of the year I was a quiet "work mouse", not being seen a lot, now I have realised that life has to be lived to the fullest. You have to enjoy every opportunity, every adventure it gives you. I am glad that it is December. 2022 is coming to an end, but that does not mean that our opportunities to grow are coming to an end. People tend to start each new year with the motto "new year, new me", but I think it is worth not starting again each year, but continuing to grow and working on yourself from where you left off the year before. That way we see and contribute to growth, rather than discarding everything we have learned.

This Christmas we can finally spend with our closest people without the constraints of the pandemic. May 2023 be even more interesting, more filled with adventures and more fun for all of us to look back on."

"Starry Night" Annual Award Ceremony 2022 has taken place

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 10:59:51 GMT

On Saturday, 17th of December at 6 PM, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Annual Award Ceremony 2022 “Starry Night” took place at “Ventspils Jaunrades nams”, where the most outstanding students, staff and memorable events in the life of the University were announced and congratulated.

In this festive event awards were presented in various nominations:

Student of the year - Linda Auziņa and Aksels Ķirsons ;
Freshman of the year - Krista Lange ;
International student of the year - Maeva Fresneau ;
Faculty of Information Technologies professor of the year - Jānis Šate ;
Faculty of Translation Studies professor of the year - Rafael Martin Calvo ;
Faculty of Economy and Management professor of the year - Kārlis Krēsliņš ;
Administration employee of the year - Lāsma Lubāne ;
Event of the year - Freshman initiation 2022 ;
Legend of the year - Anna Ģērmane ;
Mess of the year – Student Council ;
Saying of the year - "Let’s stay just friends!"

At the event the winner of the Professor Andris Klaus Scholarship, whose patron is Ventspils University of Applied Sciences graduate Mārtiņš Lauva, was also announced. For the ninth year, the scholarship is awarded to a university student who has proven to be a successful, socially active and responsible student. This year, in the competition of 27 students, the prize was awarded to Sanita Lasmane , a PhD student and lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

In the award ceremony Ventspils folk dance group “Liedags”, as well as students from Ventspils High School of Music featured various performances.

The award ceremony took place at 6 PM, however at 8 PM the event continued with the Christmas ball, where the band "Loud Silence" played until 2 AM.

The event was supported by the Ventspils Freeport Authority.

Christmas Conference at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 08:39:53 GMT

On December 21, as every year before Christmas, VUAS held its Christmas conference, where lecturers and researchers from reflected on their achievements, presenting them to colleagues, students, and other attendees. Different fields of science were covered, and open discussions took place.

This year, five topics from eight authors were submitted to the scientific conference. The event was opened by VUAS Rector Kārlis Krēsliņš, Vice-Rector for Studies Una Libkovska, and Acting Vice-Rector for Science and Development Inese Lūsēna-Ezera.

The conference covered the following topics:

“One Original, Several Translations: Baudelaire’s “The Enemy”” by A. Skrābane;
S. Hiļķevičs and V. Semakina presented a topic on economic forecasting based on DSGE macroeconomic method;
M. Šneps-Šneppe explained the phenomenon of slow ageing;
K. Krēsliņš, A. Mežciema, and M. Rosario talked about a digital maturity best practice model; and
a speech by I. Lūsēna-Ezera.

After the conference, Acting Vice-Rector for Science and Development Inese Lūsēna-Ezera invited the Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies, Sandija Skudra, Director of the VIRAC Aleksejs Klokovs, Vice-Rector for Studies Una Libkovska, and Rector Kārlis Krēsliņš to present certificates of appreciation to the staff members who form a strong team, are helpful, positive, and have accomplished particularly significant tasks that we all take pride in. Overall, a high number of employees received certificates of appreciation, and it was concluded that everyone in the VUAS team is important and that together we are achieving great goals.

A new rector has been elected in Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – professor Andris Vaivads

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 11:06:50 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Constitutional Assembly has elected professor Andris Vaivads, who has worked at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. After several rounds of selection, Andris Vaivads was nominated for election by the University Council and today the majority of the Constitutional Assembly of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences voted in favour of his election as Rector.

Professor Andris Vaivads presented his vision on the development opportunities of the University, as well as provided comments and answers to the questions.

Kristaps Klauss, Chairman of the Council of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences commented on the election results: I would like to congratulate Mr Vaivads and the entire staff of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. We have high hopes that Mr Vaivads will bring the best experience from Sweden and Germany to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and help it to better integrate into the international academic and scientific community. On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank Mr Krēsliņš for the work he has done at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and I truly believe that we will continue to work together."

The Council of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences nominated Andris Vaivads for the rector's election, believing that his extensive experience in scientific and pedagogical activities, achievements in project development and implementation, international experience, as well as leadership skills will help the university to best implement its development strategy. Andris Vaivads has previously headed the Space and Plasma Division at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and has been a researcher and contributor to various projects internationally.

Erasmus+ Experience in Portugal - Anna's Story

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:06:24 GMT

Every semester several students around Europe leave their comfort zone and apply for ERASMUS+ mobility. This is an opportunity to go study abroad at one of the participating universities at the expense of the European Union. The students of VUAS are no exception and applications for ERASMUS + mobility for the spring semester are currently being actively accepted. This experience helps students to expand their horizons, gain new knowledge and make friends. Anna (who spent her ERASMUS + in Portugal) does not deny that this experience has definitely positively influenced her life.

"My name is Anna, I am a 3rd-year bachelor's student in the programme “Intercultural Communication”. I believe that my semester spent in Portugal at the Polytechnic University of Porto is an added value that could have only been obtained during the ERASMUS+ mobility. I decided to apply for ERASMUS + when I received the first email about this opportunity. I only applied for the 2nd semester of my 2nd year of university, because the situation with COVID-19 disrupted my plans, and also before leaving, I actually wanted to attend my studies in person at VUAS. I chose the university in Porto because I wanted to get to know a culture that is unfamiliar to me, and, of course, I wanted to be at a place that was warmer than in Latvia.

Apart from geographical reasons, on their website Porto also offered more suitable courses that aligned with my interests and curriculum. I remember talking to friends who had already been on ERASMUS +, and a common phrase was: "it's hard to deal with the paperwork, but otherwise - there are no problems." After a bit of stress at the beginning regarding the documentation and after the support from my friends who had already been on ERASMUS+, I submitted the documents to my program director for approval, and later also to the university's ERASMUS+ coordinator. Then tickets, and insurance, and - you can start the ERASMUS+!

In contrast to the joy I just expressed, I can honestly say that for the first few days I did not leave the room at all. The stress level was high. I was afraid to communicate, afraid to show my face or be close to anyone. While the students with whom I lived in the same house were having fun, at that time I was in my room panicking. However, when I finally decided to leave my comfort zone and went to Spain on my first weekend with people I had only spoken to once, my stress was replaced by full commitment and the ability to use all the offered opportunities . After the first week of ERASMUS+ adventures - studies in Portugal began. Studies were in person but it was necessary to use face masks. And, by the way, masks in Portugal were mandatory for a longer time than in Latvia. Even when I left Porto in July, I had to wear a mask on public transport. Anyhow, studies were in person and the examination process differed from the one in Latvia.

There were 2 types of study process you could choose from - the "Continuous assessment", where you accumulate points for the final assessment by actively participating during classes, and by passing several tests during the year. Or the "Final Assessment" which takes into account the final grade of the exam. This applies more to local students since many students also work, and in that way, they can work according to a schedule that is suitable. The studies themselves were very exciting and with a personal approach, and the lecturers were very friendly if you consult with them in time, because I often received email responses within 3-5 work days.

Thanks to my new friends, I did not go crazy, because with their help we also made the perfect travel schedule for ourselves. A group of ERASMUS + students quickly formed also known as my internal support system in all matters, events and travels. It consisted of Poles, Slovaks, Brazilians, Spaniards, and Czechs and it grew bigger as time went by. We traveled to the north of Spain, throughout Portugal, and I managed to fly to Italy and visit my friends there as well. Looking back, it's strange to see how much has happened in just six months. Of course, I also changed as a person and changed my views on life. If a person claims that they have returned from ERASMUS + the same as they were before, then they have not noticed them yet.

ERASMUS + not only expands one's horizons, but also the circle of friends, and the possibilities of studying or working abroad. ERASMUS + is "addictive". There's a reason why there is a whole ERASMUS + community with the slogan: "ERASMUS addicted", because once you try, you will not be able stop taking advantage of these opportunities, and if you have not tried, you will not know how it is.

Of course, not everyone can leave home for six months, however it is definitely worth meeting people who inspire you and who make you understand that you are not weird, you just had not met “your people '' yet. And it's well worth it. I believe you have the strength to study, travel, and just be abroad, while receiving financial support from European funds. It is a 10/10 experience, if I could, I would repeat it every year.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will implement a large-scale project to strengthen student digital competencies

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 16:01:43 GMT

Use of information technology competences is rapidly becoming a necessity in all industries and professions. In order to increase the competitiveness of graduates in the labour market and their contribution in companies where they are employed, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) together with six other partners and Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies - LBTU (formerly Latvia University of Agricultural - LLU) as leading partner by the end of 2023 will jointly implement a large-scale project to strengthen student digital competencies.

The aim of the project “Digitalization Initiatives for Improving the Quality of Studies in the field of Strategic Specialization of Higher Education Institutions” ( No. 8.2.3.0/22/A/005) is to strengthen digital capacity and introduce digital initiatives in Latvian higher education institutions, integrating technological solutions into the content and process of study courses.

Project manager Ilze Beitāne explained that during the new digitalization project the focus and all activities will be aimed to improve students’ digital competences. In addition, a unified digital competence evaluation system will be developed and implemented, as well as a unified digital solution for ensuring the examination process will be created.

Kristiāna Balode, coordinator of the VUAS project, points out that Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in this project has chosen to strengthen the digital skills of students of the Faculty of Translation Studies and the Faculty of Economics and Management. A number of study courses at both faculties will be updated or new course content will be developed, integrating various artificial intelligence solutions, data processing tools and other technologies. Given that the VUAS has already invested significant resources in the past years to upgrade the qualifications of the teaching staff, modernise the infrastructure and improve the content of study programmes in line with the needs of the labour market, the activities carried out in this project are an excellent complement to the already started path towards improving the quality of studies through digitisation initiatives.

In previous years, LBTU and other universities have invested significant resources to raise the qualifications of teaching staff, have improved the content of study programs

The project consortium involves six Latvian higher education institutions, where the aforementioned activities will be implemented, and two merchant organisations. The leading partner of the consortium is LBTU, which has united the other seven partners: Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Daugavpils University, University of Latvia, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, "Turība" University, SIA "WeAreDots" and SIA "Baltijas Datoru Akademija". LBTU agency Malnava College is also involved in several project activities.

REACT-EU funding for mitigating of the consequences of the pandemic crisis has been attracted to the European Social Fund's project “Digitalization Initiatives for Improving the Quality of Studies in the field of Strategic Specialization of Higher Education Institutions" (No. 8.2.3.0/22/A/005).The total cost of the project is 2,052,269.47 EUR. Its implementation started on November 1, 2022 and will end on December 31, 2023.

VUAS researcher publishes three papers in a year

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 15:55:49 GMT

Leading researcher Juris Kalvāns of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre has three published scientific articles in the year of 2022. All are in leading international scientific astrophysics journals.

Generally, three publications per year is not a special achievement in science. In Latvia and abroad, there are many scientists, who regularly publish more papers. However, there is a difference if the scientist is an article’s first author, who has done most of the work or a co-author, who has contributed an essential but often a quite limited part. J. Kalvāns is the main author in all his articles of year 2022.

There are sub-fields in science (for example, in chemistry), where qualified scientists are able to prepare several high-level articles per year – but for the most part, astronomy is not among such science areas. Here, a researcher, who is working, for example, in a strong Western scientific institute on average publishes less than one good study per year as its main author. The average numbers are determined by the time consumed in creating and describing a sufficiently serious, novel, and polished study. The amount of this work depends on the peculiarities of each science field.

In this context, three published papers in astrophysics are a rather good result. Continuation describes a little, what exactly has been researched.

The first article, published in April 2022, is a correction of an error ( Erratum ) for a paper issued initially in 2018 about a theoretical calculation of interaction between interstellar dust grains and cosmic rays – energetic atomic nuclei coming from supernovae. The speed of cosmic rays approaches that of light. The impacts of these particles induce ejection and sublimation of surface molecules (icy mantle) of the grain, making these molecules easily observable with radio telescopes. It can be said that this and similar studies constitute the theoretical aspect of radio astronomy.

Making mistakes and correcting them is an integral and, perhaps, hardest part of scientific research. When working with large columns of numbers and different methods, errors are inevitable; a major part of research time is devoted to finding mistakes and setting them right. Psychologically, it is hardest to recognize another error and to begin a large work again from the start. Erratum papers are separate publications, where major errors in methods or results are rectified in works already published. In this case, J. Kalvāns had to recalculate all the results of the 2018 paper, creating anew 8 figures and 27 tables – a work that was more voluminous than that devoted for some independent article.

The second publication, which was issued in September by the British journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society , describes collisions between dust grains in interstellar clouds. The collisions can eject molecules from the surface to the gas phase, making them easily observable with radio astronomical methods. Finally, the third paper of 2022 continues the topic of interaction between cosmic rays and icy interstellar grains – how often it happens, how much energy the dust grains acquire from impacts of different cosmic ray particles. The novelty of this work was a detailed approach on the properties of interstellar grain constituent materials. Similarly to the above-mentioned Erratum , this study was published in the US journal The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series , which is devoted for voluminous articles with many tables or other data and is in the highest level among specialised journals in the field of astrophysics.

It could seem odd that the interactions of minute particles in the vastness of space is the subject of serious scientific studies. However, it must be considered that in a Solar mass nebula there are several quattuordecillions (1045) of dust grains – the mass of such a quantity amounts to many planets. Thus, the significance of small-scale processes is huge. Moreover, these processes are more than directly tied to Earth and the creation of life – they have formed us. During the formation of the Solar system, the dust grains formed our planet, the small ice layer frozen on their surfaces was the eventual origin of oceans, while organic matter, synthesized in the ices, came to the surface of the newly formed planet in the form of comets. This matter formed of enriched the compounds necessary for the first chemical processes of life.

Previously three high-level publications as the primary author J. Kalvāns managed only in 2015. The papers of 2022 are accompanied by one published conference abstract – a relative rarity because for some reason astronomers are not particularly active in issuing conference proceedings. They are issued only for a few most widely organized conferences.

Illustration – a schematic drawing from publication about the collisions between differently sized icy interstellar grains.

Internet links to the papers:

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4365/ac5830
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-abstract/515/1/785/6620848?redirectedFrom=fulltext
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4365/ac92e6

Winner of the Andris Klauss Scholarship - Kristofers Volkovs

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 15:52:50 GMT

Having just won the Andris Klauss Scholarship, Kristofers has definitely received not only EUR 1500, but also a commendation from the committee and the patron Mārtiņš Lauva as one of the greatest students in the whole university. Working in the IT sector, actively participating in all events, studying - it seems that he has more than 24 hours in one day. Kristofers talks about the opportunities and how he has grown from a confused high school student to a person who knows what he wants to achieve.

Tell us a little about yourself!

Professionally I am a programmer, at heart I am an artist, in life I am a person who loves adventures. I am from Liepāja and I am currently studying in the 2nd year of the Master's degree programme "Computer Science".

How did you decide to come to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences?

It's an interesting story - at the time when I was about to graduate from high school, like many people, I was wondering what to do next. At that time I had no idea what I wanted to do and what I was interested in. Then I came to the conclusion that I liked art, because I was already doing it in my spare time, and I liked to play video games. Comparing the two options, I realised that the IT sector could offer more job opportunities. Then it was just a matter of figuring out where exactly I could acquire this education. I refrained from going to the capital because I realised that it would be too financially challenging, whereas Ventspils University of Applied Sciences offered budget places and inexpensive accommodation, which was very important to me.

How would you describe your studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences?

A tornado. It has definitely been a very cool experience. I have grown, broadened my horizons and perspectives a lot, but most importantly - I have understood what I want to achieve. This has been the place that has allowed me to discover myself, to understand my interests and has shown me the right path. I could write three whole books on all the benefits, but in short, I have realised that university means endless possibilities. University is one big opportunity. Fantastic friends, knowledge and experience!

How would you describe your study process?

The process of studying IT is like a roller coaster - there are easier courses, more challenging courses, different lecturers, more interesting courses, less interesting courses, but it really depends on the individual. At the beginning of my studies there were more theoretical courses and later on there was more programming, those were my favourite ones. University is not the place where you get everything drilled into you. You are given the basics to understand what you like and what you are good at, so that later on, through practice and work, you can also expand your knowledge in the fields you are more interested in. It's very individual for everyone, but it's cool that they give you this opportunity to learn what you like, rather than trying to make you specialise in everything at the same time.

On 1st of September you received the Andris Klauss scholarship, how did you decide to apply and what do you think made you the right person to receive this scholarship?

When I started my studies, I was in a very challenging situation financially. I had to realise that if I didn't want to work, I had to get scholarships, but in order to get them you often needed various proofs that you were an active student. I had to make the most of the opportunities I was given - I worked on different projects, took part in competitions and joined the Student Council. There I gained experience and various certificates that I could submit to scholarship committees to be able to support myself financially.

I applied for this scholarship because the first thing – money, and the second thing is that I kind of wanted to prove to myself that I could get it, because I think this is the most prestigious of them all. This is the third time I applied and the first time I didn't even get to the interviews. This is my last year at university, so I will definitely remember this as a cool achievement in my academic phase, which I will finish this year.

It is very difficult for me to say what exactly made me the most successful candidate, but I can definitely say that I tried to present myself in the best way. I tried to present myself as a person who knows what he wants to do with his life. That is true, because I have thought about it a lot and I have a plan of what I want to achieve and do next.

Do you plan to make your life in the IT industry?

Yes, definitely!! Programming is actually a very creative industry with many sub-branches, so I can prove myself in many different ways. I plan to throw all my "balls" into the IT "basket". The more I do, the more I learn what I still need to know. I am now starting a new job and realising that there is still room for growth.

What would you wish for young people who are just thinking about studying at VUAS?

I would like to wish 2 things:

Firstly, I wish you resilience, because studies can be challenging, you move away from home and you have to be able to push and support yourself. There will be late nights and papers submitted a few minutes before the deadline.

Secondly, be alert, there are lots of opportunities around but the key is to notice them. What I see in VUAS, is that young people don't always make the most out of opportunities, that is why I would like to say that there are a lot of opportunities and I encourage everybody to use them. For future students, know that there are endless opportunities here - come and use them.

The first successful observation of pulsars in the VIRAC history

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:27:01 GMT

On November 22 of this year, the first successful observation of a pulsar was made in VIRAC history. This observation was made using the LOFAR station. The pulsar J0332+5434 (RA - 03:32:59.368, DEC -+54:34:43.57) was observed in the 110 - 190 MHz band. The results of this observation provide new opportunities for research at VIRAC and expand the possibilities of international collaboration.

The pulsar that was observed is about 3,460 light-years away in the constellation Camelopardalis . It makes one revolution every 0.71452 seconds and is about 5 million years old.

The observation was carried out in cooperation with three structural units of the VIRAC - the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department, the High-Performance Computing Department and the Engineering & Technical Operations group; in coordination with researchers from Université d’Orléans (France) and Universität Bielefeld (Germany). In addition, the great support of the ILT society should be noted. The obtained results confirm the high level of competence and experience accumulated over time.

A Student from the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences attends the conference "Translating Europe " in Brussels

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 12:42:57 GMT

Sonora Bogdanova, a student of the master’s program "Translation of Applied Texts" at the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS FTS), participated in the conference "Translating Europe" held in Brussels from November 9 to 11.

This spring, Sonora took part in the "2022 eMT challenge" competition for master's level translation studies programs, where she had to analyse a machine-translated text from English into Latvian, and ranked among the top three participants in this competition, which had 112 participants. The board of the European Commission's "European Master in Translation" cooperation network invited all the best participants in this competition from each language pair to the conference. The VUAS FTS master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" has also been included in the EMT network since 2011, which is a mark of the quality of this program.

Sonora shares her impressions: "The conference lasted three days and was very valuable – I gained experience and participated in a cultural exchange program. Of course, I also gained new knowledge about translation-related issues and various other life skills. The conference covered topics such as sustainability in the translation industry, translation in crisis situations, and the accessibility of translation services for people with disabilities. There was also a discussion about the challenges and difficulties faced by young professionals. It was very pleasing that the conference was interactive: during the panel discussion, participants were asked questions, which they could answer using the Slido app. This app also allowed listeners to ask questions to the speakers and vote on questions asked by other listeners, as well as provide insights in the form of keywords. The conference provided an opportunity to participate in a networking event where participants could meet other students who took part in the 2022 eMT challenge competition, as well as colleagues from the European Commission.

Sonora believes that this experience was great and gave her the opportunity to travel abroad and meet both new and experienced translators and interpreters working in Brussels institutions. "I would also like to thank my classmate Agnese Lukevica, who is currently doing a translation internship in Brussels and gave me the opportunity to visit the Council of Europe building and gain a little insight into other EU institutions, " says Sonora.

"I really appreciated this experience, and I am grateful to the EMT Network Board for this adventure that was given to me as a student! "

Insight in the International Interdisciplinary Conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics”

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 07:28:02 GMT

The end of last week at VUAS was busy, as an international interdisciplinary conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics” took place on 3 and 4 November.

The conference was the 25th anniversary event of VUAS, which was opened by the Rector of VUAS Kārlis Krēsliņš and Inese Lūsēna-Ezera, Acting Vice-Rector for Science.

At the conference, keynote lectures were delivered by Associate Professor Francesca Bianchi from the University of Salerno (Italy), who focused on analyzing and evaluating various online resources designed for translation purposes, and Associate Professor Laimute Balode from the University of Latvia and the University of Helsinki (Finland), whose lecture explored the history of place names in the three Baltic States — Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia — as well as how these names are translated into other languages. Her talk was especially resonant in November, as it coincided with the celebration of Latvia’s Independence Day. Dr. philol. Marie Vachkova, researcher and lecturer at Charles University in Prague (Czech Republic), delivered a keynote address that provided valuable insight into the development of bilingual dictionaries and revealed different aspects of the cooperation model between lexicographers and experts in term processing.

VUAS was represented by several researchers from the Faculty of Translation Studies (FoTS). Guntars Dreijers presented a paper on color names and their connection to the pigments used in creating the specific colors. Meanwhile, Valda Rudziša’s presentation focused on the challenges of achieving terminological equivalence in civil procedure between Latvian and German legal systems. Silga Sviķe provided an overview of the diversity of definition classifications and analyzed plant name definitions. She also presented examples of lexicographic definitions suitable for inclusion in a specialized bilingual dictionary designed as a mobile application. Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa discussed the challenges of translating helonyms (names of wetlands) between Latvian and English. She proposed a solution for the English equivalent of term ‘purvs’ and analyzed other related wetland habitat names in both languages.

Aiga Veckalne and Silga Sviķe talked about the contribution of VUAS Professor Juris Baldunčiks to linguistics, gave an insight into his biography, focused on the topics of his publications and collections of terms, word examples, and unpublished materials. Together with Solvita Štekerhofa and Mārīte George, the authors of the paper have collected more than 150 different materials (e.g. scientific and popular science publications, monographs, dictionaries, interviews) that Professor Baldunčiks has contributed to.

VIRAC researcher Karina Šķirmante, in collaboration with programmers Gints Jasmonts and Roberts Ervīns Ziediņš, FoTS researcher Silga Sviķe, and researcher Arturs Stalažs from the Institute of Horticulture, presented a paper introducing the system developed under the IMDS project (proj. No. lzp-2020/1-0179.) funded by the Latvian Council of Science. This system is designed for collecting and managing organism names, with the goal of supporting research and preserving linguistic diversity.

Senior FoTS students Amanda Alksne, Krista Strujeviča, and Signija Būmeistere led several conference sessions, showcasing their skills in introducing speakers and guiding discussions in English, German, and Latvian, which they had developed during their studies.

The conference also provided an opportunity to learn about a report prepared by representatives of the VUAS Library on the scientific research conducted over 25 years at the VUAS Translation Studies Faculty, as well as the final theses developed in various degree programs. According to the information collected by the VUAS Library, over the 25 years of FoTS, 777 bachelor’s theses, 237 master’s theses, and 12 doctoral dissertations have been defended. Additionally, from the university’s 20th to its 25th anniversary, FoTS faculty members have developed and published 116 scientific publications.

The conference was held online and gathered around half a hundred participants not only from Latvia but also from Italy, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Romania, and other countries.

The cultural programme of the conference included an exhibition of beautiful paintings by artist Ingrīda Irbe, dedicated to the memory of her husband, Professor Baldunčiks. The characters in the paintings by the artist are plants, each with its name and story. These words and stories perfectly fit the theme of the conference and provided a delight for the soul after two intense days of the event. The musical accompaniment was provided by Eduards Sviķis, a young guitarist and a student of Ventspils Music Secondary School.

The scientific and organizing committee of the conference is pleased with how the international conference went and expresses gratitude to the keynote speakers and all participants for their contributions — both in preparing their presentations and engaging in active discussions on terminology, lexicography, translation studies, and related topics.

This conference is funded by the Latvian Council of Science, project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity“. Proj. No. lzp-2020/1-0179.

An International Interdisciplinary Scientific Conference in the field of humanities at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 20:17:09 GMT

On November 3rd and 4th, VUAS will host the international interdisciplinary conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics”. The conference will be held online and bring together around 50 participants from 10 different countries, including Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Romania, and others.

The conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics” is one of the events celebrating the 25th anniversary of VUAS. It will be opened by VUAS Rector Kārlis Krēsliņš and a speech by Acting Vice-Rector for Science and Development Inese Lūsēna-Ezera. The conference will feature plenary speeches by Associate Professor Francesca Bianchi from the University of Salerno (Italy), Associate Professor Laimute Balode from the University of Latvia and the University of Helsinki, and Marie Vachkova, a researcher and lecturer at Charles University in Prague. VUAS will be represented with research contributions by both FTS researchers and VIRAC researchers and programmers, including Guntars Dreijers, Valda Rudziša, Silga Sviķe, Solvita Štekerhofa, Aiga Veckalne, Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa, Karina Šķirmante, Gints Jasmonts, and Roberts Ervīns Ziediņš.

FTS senior students will also chair some of the conference sessions, demonstrating their skills in speech register and moderating discussions in foreign languages, as the working languages of the conference are English, German, and Latvian.

The conference will also provide an opportunity to learn about a report prepared by representatives of the VUAS Library on the scientific research conducted over 25 years at the VUAS Translation Studies Faculty, as well as the final theses developed in various degree programs.

The cultural programme of the second day of the conference will include an exhibition of paintings by artist Ingrīda Irbe, and musical accompaniment by Eduards Sviķis, a student of Ventspils Music Secondary School.

The Organising Committee looks forward to an active conference, interesting collaborations and contributions to terminology, lexicography, translation studies, and related issues.

The conference website ( https://www.virac.eu/ldts ) provides information on the topics of the plenary speeches, the conference programme, and the conference abstract collection, which can be downloaded or read online.

A Spanish lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 08:20:04 GMT

Lecturer from Spain, Rafael Martin Calvo, has successfully defended his doctoral thesis. He has graduated from the joint doctoral program “Linguistics” offered by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and University of Liepaja. He also teaches Spanish language.

Rafael Martin Calvo has successfully defended his research, “An Analytical Framework for the Description of Evaluative Morphology Resources: Contrastive Analysis of Evaluative Forms in Spanish and Latvian.”

Andra Kalnača, a Professor from the University of Latvia and one of the paper’s reviewers, has stated that this research not only incorporates the idea of evaluative morphology and methodology in the field of Latvian linguistics but also the use of the principles of linguistic typology. Literature of a different time and various directions of the theory of evaluative morphology and empirical analysis have been considered, including all possible instances of word formation in the linguistics of Latvian and Spanish, where evaluative semantics is present in both language pairs.

At this moment, Rafael Martin Calvo calls Latvia his home, although he says that upon arrival he was considered a guest, but as time went on, his colleagues and friends understood that Rafael Martin Calvo was here to stay and they started to see him as one of their own. Rafael Martin Calvo himself states that he feels accepted here – he calls the staff of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences his family. His immense scientific interest in Latvian and Spanish proves his place in Latvia and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and also accelerates the inclusion of Spanish in Latvia.

We are proud of Rafael Martin Calvo’s achievements and sincerely congratulate him on his obtained scientific degree in linguistics and literature science.

Student from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participates in an event of a European level translation programs and receives an award

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:24:15 GMT

On October 20–21, Sonora Bogdanova, a second-year master's student in the program “Translation of LSP Texts” at the Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in the European Master's in Translation (EMT) network meeting. This year's meeting took place at the Department of Translation Studies of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague.

The young translator was invited to this event by representatives of the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) of the European Commission (EC) due to her outstanding performance in the “2022 eMT Challenge”, a competition for master's level translation programs held earlier this year. The competition required participants to assess the quality of machine-translated texts, and a total of 112 contestants took part. Sonora won the 1st place in the English-Latvian translation evaluation category and ranked among the top three participants overall. During the EMT network meeting in Prague, the Director-General of the DGT, Christos Ellinides, presented Sonora with a diploma and an award – a tablet – at a formal ceremony. Thanks to her victory in this competition, Sonora has been invited to another prestigious event, the EC conference “Translating Europe”, which will take place in Brussels from November 9 to 11. This event will be an invaluable experience as she nears the completion of her master's studies and is currently working on her thesis. We sincerely congratulate Sonora Bogdanova on her achievements!

The EMT network consists of 64 master's programs in universities within and outside the EU, and the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences program “Translation of LSP Texts” is one of them. It meets the strict quality criteria set by the network and has earned this quality label. Students can obtain a translator's qualification through either a 1.5-year or a 2-year study program depending on their prior education.

The EMT representatives meeting in Prague gathered around 100 participants from EU countries and beyond (for example, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Lebanon). The first day featured the EMT members meeting, while the second day hosted a conference titled “Translation and Multilingualism in a Changing Europe”. The program included presentations on multilingualism, the development of the translation profession, translator education, and the impact of the situation in Ukraine on the translation market and translator training.

Lecturers of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in a discussion with the President of Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 07:28:30 GMT

On 17 October 2022, a discussion “Official Language in Universities and Science of the 21st Century” organized by the President of Latvia took place in the Riga Castle. The event, which was dedicated to the Official Language Day, was also attended by representatives of VUAS: Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies, Sandija Skudra, and Assistant Professor, Egita Proveja.

President of Latvia, Egils Levits, invited participants of the event to discuss the place and role of the Latvian language in the future of higher education and science in Latvia, considering the need to improve the performance of both fields, including opportunities offered by internationalization. Debates took place regarding specific solutions to the challenges caused by internationalization.

The event was ceremonially opened with a speech by the President of the State, followed by discussions on topics such as the internationalization of recruiting academic staff, language, and the evaluation of performance in social sciences and humanities.

The discussions on how to promote the internationalization of academic staff in Latvia and ensure the full development of professional terminology in Latvian in the context of internationalization and other important aspects related to the internationalization of staff were attended by Professors Jānis Ikstens and Mārcis Auziņš from the University of Latvia, Ina Druviete, Vice-Rector for Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Latvia, Agrita Kiopa, Vice-Rector for Science at Riga Stradiņš University, as well as Valters Ščerbinskis, Editor in Chief of the National Encyclopedia.

Discussions on how researchers writing in lesser-spoken languages can maintain a high standard of research quality over time, as well as on the criteria for evaluating the performance of social and humanities sciences, included insights from Dite Liepa, Assistant Professor of Riga Stradiņš University and researcher at the Latvian Language Institute of the University of Latvia; Anda Laķe, Professor at the Latvian Academy of Culture and Head of its Institute of Culture and Arts; Inta Mieriņa, Associate Professor at the University of Latvia; Anita Rodiņa, Constitutional Court judge; and Kārlis Vērdiņš, Head of the Department of Cultural, Social, and Environmental Studies at the Institute of Literature, Folklore, and Art of the University of Latvia, as well as doctoral candidate at Washington University in St. Louis.

Erasmus experience at the Czech Republic

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 08:26:08 GMT

My name is Katrīna, I am currently a fourth year student at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) in the programme "Translation" and I have spent the last two semesters in České Budějovice, in the south of the Czech Republic. After this year abroad, I would say that I have gained so much and really understood what it means to broaden your horizons.

I applied for Erasmus+ mobility back in 2019 and initially chose Porto, Portugal as my destination, but then the pandemic came and unfortunately I had to postpone my mobility twice and in the end I decided to cancel my application. I did not want to give up my opportunity to go on an Erasmus+ mobility during my time at the university, so at the last minute my roommate and I decided to apply for the autumn 2021 semester in the Czech Republic. If we get accepted then good, if not, then not and it was not meant to be.

And we got accepted! I arrived in the Czech Republic with my suitcase and was ready to spend the next five months there. I didn't even know how to say "hello" in Czech, but I wasn't the only one. I quickly met many students from different countries like Spain, Germany, France and even the USA and Nepal. In fact, we were all so different, but we were united by the fact that we had to spend this semester there together, that is why we quickly became friends, met up often and went to several events together.

I am also a part of the VUAS Student Council, so it was very interesting to see how other student organisations work and to get a feel of what it is like to be an international student so far away from home. I was able to get inspired and steal some ideas that I would like to implement back home. Their ESN (or Erasmus Student Network) consisted of some Czech students who organised several trips, hikes, parties and cultural evenings for us. This was one of the main things that helped us fit in and really made us enjoy our Erasmus time.

It is often said that Erasmus is a great time that you will never forget - I totally agree, but the other side of Erasmus is that most of the time you are trying not to get lost in a foreign country, in the amount of necessary documents and in a foreign school system. It may sound very unpleasant, but I think that's where you can grow the most. I was lucky that I went with my roommate and we were able to panic and laugh together at times about our failures. For example, we had both signed up for French because we had figured it would be at a beginner level, we found out pretty quickly that we had come to a masters level class (or C1 level). But instead of leaving straight away, because obviously this wasn't for us, we sat for an hour not understanding what anyone else was saying. When it was our turn to introduce ourselves (we were somehow the last ones left), we tried to explain, with minimal knowledge of French, that we had come to the wrong course, and somehow we explained it and were able to leave. We then quickly realised how to find the right course description, which I highly recommend to read thoroughly beforehand, and it was easy to replace this course with another.

This is just one of the little stories that could be told from our Erasmus experience. I think anyone who has spent a semester abroad could talk for hours about their adventures. When you face these misunderstandings and fears, you learn so much about yourself and about the new environment around you. Erasmus is a great way to learn more about living abroad, because at any point you can contact an Erasmus coordinator who will help you with all sorts of problems (including encouraging you to extend your Erasmus). It's easy to get stuck at the comfort of your home and get used to the routine. Even if it feels scary to go to another country and start sorting things out, once the band-aid is off and maybe even a tear is shed, you realise that you have learnt something, you have become more confident and you know that everything in life can somehow be solved.

Erasmus has been one of the highlights of my life and I don't think that will change because every day was an adventure. There was rarely a weekend I spent just sitting in my room relaxing. I tried to explore not only the Czech Republic, but also the surrounding countries such as Austria, Hungary and Italy. Public transport was relatively cheap, it seemed sinful not to take the opportunity to take the train to a nearby town or the beautiful Prague and just wander around. Sometimes people say that the air feels better abroad, but to be honest, that's definitely true for Erasmus. Although there is a phase when the culture shock hits, mostly you just enjoy every little moment, the sun feels warmer (compared to the cold Latvian winter, the Czech weather was more generous), the bread seems tastier and you want to take all the opportunities because if not now, then when?

If someone is still thinking about whether to go or not, I would say to think about the things you take with you, because your suitcase is quite full on the way home. You have to take this opportunity, you can learn a semester's worth of stuff at any time, but studies go by very quickly and you have to use these years that you have to learn about yourself.

Students of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences attend an entrepreneurship camp in Cambridge

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:58:34 GMT

Anna Fiļipenoka and Dāvids Biķernieks are 3rd year students at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences bachelor study programme "Start-Up Management", who spent 5 days in Cambridge in August this year. There they had the opportunity to gain a lot of new knowledge, see several interesting sites, but most importantly understand how sustainable their business idea is. The camp was organised by "CONNECT Latvija" in collaboration with partners including Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and their aime is to encourage young people to develop their business ideas.

Why did you apply?

We were encouraged to apply for this entrepreneurship camp by our programme mentor Gvido Grīnbergs, who explained that this would be a great opportunity to meet new people and gain knowledge through various lectures. Before applying, we had also just recently started working on our business idea in the incubator, so it seemed particularly appropriate to participate in this kind of event. The application process was very simple - we had to write a motivation letter and then we just had to wait for a reply that we were approved.

The camp took place from 22nd to 27th August, from Monday to Saturday. We also had the opportunity to go on a short trip to London before the event.

What project are you working on at the business incubator?

The idea is mainly about and around corporate sustainability, specifically among employees. We wanted to create an app with a reward system to motivate employees to make sustainable choices. Since we had the idea, we saw this camp as an opportunity to develop it.

What did you like best about this camp?

It should definitely be noted that all costs were covered by the university, which was really amazing!

What we really liked was that it was a great opportunity to network with a variety of great people from very different fields – from web developers to people who talk about copywriting. There were representatives from venture capital, various investors, business people and social entrepreneurs. As an example, the head of ZNotes, who is from Cambridge himself, talked about how his business has grown from an idea and a website where he made notes of school subjects to a huge non profit company with 14 000 monthly users.

The various excursions were also great, for example to the incubator, where it was inspiring to hear how ideas are created there, and Anna's favourite excursion to the electric car charging station Gridserve is definitely worth mentioning. This electric car charging station was special because it was the first of its kind in the world where solar panels are positioned both upwards towards the sun and downwards also picking up the headlights of cars and converting them into energy. If that was not enough, the station also had offices of all kinds, a children's corner and a café, so that people could spend their time productively while waiting for their cars to be recharged. This was a great example of how to create a useful place for different communities in the middle of nowhere. It is a station with added value.

What did you take home from this event?

Anna: I was very inspired by the academic ecosystem in Cambridge. It was very interesting to see how things work there and how studies are run in such a place. It was also a chance to learn that the University of Cambridge is actually made up of several colleges that together make up this ecosystem.

David: The main thing I took away was just realising how important networking is. Although this was not my first event where I needed to network, it was only at this camp that I realised how wide networks can be and how important it can be in life to know more people, because they can help you with different challenges in the future and by working together you can achieve more.

Would you inspire others to apply?

Absolutely, especially those who are interested in the UK and its culture as well as entrepreneurship. You will get to know a lot of people, not only from your camp group but also from outside. And you'll have a great opportunity to test the sustainability of your idea. There is the chance to get feedback from investors, different perspectives and great ideas from different angles. We had this great opportunity to hear one investor's perspective on our business idea, during which she revealed how she, as an investor, chooses where to invest, which is why we realised that our idea is viable and we are now working on the technical side of it.

Scientists of VUAS participate at Researchers` Night 2022

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 06:48:22 GMT

Every September, Scientists' Night is celebrated across Europe to promote science and its achievements. On Friday, 30 September Ventspils hosted a variety of free, creative and attractive activities for the whole family in a number of public places, with the participation of researchers from the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS).

At the Ventspils Science Centre VIZIUM , there was an opportunity to listen to popular science presentations about astronomy by researchers from the VUAS:

Jesus Alberto Cazares Montes' message "Dead stars" (in English).
"The colonisation of the Galaxy in the eyes of modern physicists" by Artis Aberfelds.

In between the messages and until the end, in case of clear skies, visitors will have the opportunity to view the lunar craters and planets with a telescope.

At the Ventspils Digital Centre , in the lecture How technology helps to identify risks in the forest in time?, VUAS lecturer and leading researcher Linda Gulbe spoke about the possibilities of drones for data collection, about phenomena and animals in the forest.

At the Main Library , Linda Gulbe led an interactive lecture “Introduction to computer vision work”.

The journal of translations and creative works, “Prožektors 2”, is available to everyone

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 07:42:03 GMT

The presentation of the student and professor translation and creative writing magazine “Prožektors 2” was held on September 29 at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences student lounge. “Prožektors 1” was published two years ago but was put on hold due to the pandemic. Now it’s back with a fresh new look and renewed energy, officially registered with an ISBN – proof that it’s here to stay.

You can read “Prožektors 2” here!

The event was part of the university’s 25th anniversary celebrations and it also honored Saint Jerome — patron saint of translators and interpreters — in recognition of International Translation Day, which is celebrated on September 30. Saint Jerome, who translated the Bible and is known in German as Kirchenvater (Church Father), is widely seen as a foundational figure in the development of European languages. Linguists know well that the Bible’s translation played a key role in the development of Europe’s national languages. At the Faculty of Translation Studies, this day is celebrated every year as a special occasion for both future professionals (students) and current ones (lecturers).

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosts representatives from the municipality of Vinnytsia, Ukraine

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:12:55 GMT

Today, on 12th of September, two representatives from the municipality of Vinnytsia, Ukraine visited Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. During the visit, they discussed opportunities for cooperation in the field of education.

The Ukrainian representatives were introduced to the infrastructure of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences - laboratories, auditoriums and the video studio. The guests pointed out that both the laboratories and the video studio, and also acknowledged that such modern infrastructure is not available in the educational institutions of Vinnytsia.

At the beginning of the summer, the Ventspils City Council decided to start negotiations with the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia in order to establish friendly relations. Today, Ukrainian representatives arrived in Ventspils, met with the City Council, visited cultural sites, industrial enterprises and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Possible areas of cooperation are: culture, business and education.

Guest Professor from University of Niš will lead a seminar for lecturers and students of VUAS

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 08:25:16 GMT

Within the scope of the project “Strengthen the Academic Staff of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in Areas of Strategic Specialisation” implemented by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), cooperation has been formed with foreign Assistant Professor Violeta Stojićić (Serbia).

Violeta Stojićić, Assistant Professor at the Department of English at the University of Niš, is a Guest Professor at the VUAS from May till December of this year and will give lectures and lead the seminar “Excellence in higher education” during September and October.

During the seminar, we will be able to explore the University of Niš, its internationally recognised lectures and practical courses. In its 50 years of existence, the university has made a research journal, “FACTA UNIVERSITIES SERIES: LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE”, edited by Violeta Stojićić. Her scientific interests are extensive: cognitive linguistics, functional grammar, lexicology of the English language, methodology of distance education, recent trends in English literature research, etc. Here, at VUAS, Violeta Stojićić will conduct a seminar, both in person and online, for everyone.

Programme of the seminar “Excellence in higher education”:

50 years of University of Niš: reflections on the achievements and prospects of the English department;
Profformance – a project aimed at improving the professional competence of university lecturers;
Service-learning or how to maintain sustainability within education in a constantly changing environment.

The total cost of the project “Strengthen the Academic Staff of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in Areas of Strategic Specialisation” (No. 8.2.2.0/18/A/009): 1,198,792.15 EUR and the planned amount of the European Social Fund is 85.00 % of the eligible expenditure – 1,018,973.33 EUR, and the amount of central government funding is 15 % of the eligible expenditure – 179,818.82 EUR.

One of Us: Master's Student Anna Rudzīte

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 13:45:35 GMT

Anna Rudzīte is a student in the master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. She completed her bachelor's degree in 2006, but her daily work in applied translation encouraged Anna to continue enriching her knowledge and developing her skills in the master's program at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The student admits that this decision was the right one, as the approach of the lecturers and the methods used in the study process are adapted to the requirements of the modern labour market and the latest trends. Anna adds: "There is no doubt that Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is the best choice."

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

My name is Anna Rudzīte — I am a translator and musician. I graduated from the Faculty of Translation Studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in 2006. In recent years, I have focused more on music and teaching, as well as raising my two children, but now I want to return to my roots and focus primarily on translation. Music will never disappear. I will continue to sing in the vocal group "Anima Solla" and run a small music school in Lielvārde and Jumprava, which is attended by children aged four months to seven years.

How did you choose to study at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences?

During my bachelor's studies, I realized that Ventspils University of Applied Sciences offers a very high-quality education. Therefore, when I decided to return to translation, there was no doubt that Ventspils University of Applied Sciences was the best choice. And I was not disappointed. I learned a lot – I got to know the latest translation programs and various digital tools that make a translator's daily work easier, I looked at the theoretical aspects of translation from a new perspective, and I learned valuable trade secrets from Latvia's best translators. This time, I also tried my hand at the purely academic field by participating in an international conference with my paper.

How did you choose your study program?

Working as a translator, I have mostly had to work with applied texts, so the master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" is perfect for me.

What stands out most in your memory from your time as a student? What do you like best?

I am lucky to have wonderful classmates and excellent teachers. And it was the teachers who impressed me the most — I did not expect such responsiveness and enthusiasm. No " fake" lectures, an individual approach, genuine interest and a willingness to help even outside working hours!

What are your plans?

Although I have never given up translation, I have decided that it will become my main job in the future, so I will devote all my energy to continuing to develop my skills and offering my clients ever higher quality translations.

Would you like to add anything else, or give any advice to prospective students?

I would advise prospective students to be curious and to fall in love with translation. Take note — all courses are important, even if it doesn't seem that way at first glance.

VUAS Scientist Delivers Solicited Talk in an Astronomy Conference

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 12:45:12 GMT

The 44th Scientific Assembly of Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) took place in Athens, Greece, on July 16-24, 2022. The aims of COSPAR include promoting research by providing platforms for free exchange of scientific thought. The Assembly is a large annual conference that combined 151 sections within 10 scientific commissions in 2022. Thematically, COSPAR encompasses various aspects of astronomical research – from materials in space to astrobiology, supermassive black holes and elementary particles. COSPAR 2022 combined in-person and remote participation.

VUAS ERI VIRAC leading researcher Juris Kalvāns participated in COSPAR 2022 Commission F “Life Sciences as Related to Space” Section F3.5 “Simple and Complex Molecules in Star-forming Regions” with a solicited talk “Collisional desorption of ices in interstellar clouds”. J. Kalvāns is also the head of VIRAC Astronomy and astrophysics department. The talk was done remotely by sending a previously prepared presentation in video format. In the talk, his recent theoretical computer modelling research on the collisions between icy interstellar dust grains in dense clouds, which are also the birth sites of stars. As a result of such collisions, molecules that can be synthesized only on the surface of the grains can appear in the gas phase of the cloud. Thus, grain collisions may help explaining the observations of such molecules in the gas. Such phenomena are especially relevant for organic molecules, similar to those Earth inherited from interstellar dust during the formation of the Solar system.

The participation in COSPAR 2022 was made possible thanks to the Latvian Council of Sciences project “Desorption of icy molecules in the interstellar medium (DIMD)”, No. lzp-2021/1-0076 under the programme of Fundamental and Applied Research Projects.

Online Workshop on "Solar-Stellar Connections, Flares, and Superflares" - August 4th, 2022 July 31, 2022

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 14:35:25 GMT

Online workshop on "Solar-Stellar Connections, Flares, and Superflares" will be held on August 4th, 2022.

Please register your attendance to get link to workshop.

Workshop is free of charge.

One of Us - Arina Tokareva

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 12:35:52 GMT

When one moves 4481 km away from home, life can get pretty challenging, but if you have great coursemates that support you and if you enjoy what you are studying, life becomes an unforgettable adventure. Regardless of the challenges that the pandemic brought, Arina has graduated and now she remembers her three years at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences with a smile.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Arina, I'm from sunny Tashkent, Uzbekistan. I enjoy reading, music and playing video games.

How did you decide to study in the bachelor lever programme "Intercultural communication and languages"?

When I was about to graduate from lyceum in 2019 in Tashkent, where I studied cultures and languages, I wanted to continue studying these subjects in depth and further expand my knowledge. It was always very interesting and fascinating to me to learn something new about cultural perception of other people as well as learn new languages.

What has been your favourite part about your studies?

My favourite part about studies has been the personal approach of professors and the possibility to learn not only by listening to lectures, but also having a chance to actively participate in classes. I was also very lucky to be in a very international environment of wonderful group mates – we are all very good friends.

Do you have a favourite place in Ventspils?

I would say that I fell in love with Ventspils as soon as I arrived here, living so close to the sea was always my dream. I definitely enjoy spending time on the beach, it is one of my favourite places. I also love Piejūras park because of the tranquillity and green sceneries.

How does it feel to be finished with studies?

Time really does fly. I still cannot realise I have graduated already. I still wish I had more opportunities to study face-to-face, but even with the global pandemic going around, I am still very satisfied with the studies.

You moved so far from Uzbekistan to Latvia - where did you get the courage to make such a decision?

It was a very easy decision for me as I always planned to study abroad, and I considered it as a small step to the endless number of opportunities for my future.

What have been three main things that you have learnt during your time here?

Independence
Perseverance
To appreciate precious moments

What could you say to students that are only thinking about making such a decision?

No matter how scary it may be, it is definitely worth it. Don’t let such an opportunity slide through – you will regret it later. Do it for self-development, do it to get to know the coolest people you can ever meet that may become your friends for life, and do it for success!

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Student Wins Award in European Translation Competition

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 12:53:05 GMT

First-year students of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) FTS master's program "Translation of Applied Texts" participated in the master's level translation study program competition "2022 eMT challenge", which brought together 112 students from master's level translation study programs across Europe.

The competition tasks were related to assessing the quality of automated machine translation. Participants had to complete multiple-choice tasks and write a short essay, which they could write in any of the 24 official languages of the EU.

VUAS student Sonora Bogdanova ranked among the top three participants out of 112 competitors! Participants from the University of Turku (Finland) and the University of Bologna (Italy) also shared in the glory of victory.

Sonora writes about the competition and her feelings as follows: "The description of the eMT challenge and the 60-minute time limit made both me and my classmates a little nervous. The challenge seemed impossible, considering that we had to evaluate 15 sentences and write a short essay about them. However, when I opened the assignment, I discovered that I had to evaluate which percentage rating was more consistent with machine translation. In my essay, I tried to group the main errors and describe them, also providing my suggestions and solutions. I had enough time, I created a structured essay with three paragraphs, and when I submitted it, all I could do was hope for the best!

As we can see, Sonora's hopes were justified, and her knowledge and skills placed her among the best participants in the competition! Congratulations, we are proud of you!

Interim Report of the Project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity”

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 10:44:10 GMT

Researchers of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Institute of Horticulture have been actively working on the project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity” for 18 months already. It is time to look at the things accomplished by summarising the achievements and future tasks, preparing this interim report, and providing information to society.

So far, approximately 200 online meetings of project participants have taken place. Work on the improvement of the information system for saving and researching the terms of organisms and biology is continuing, and there is active data input. Since the project topic is specific and can be considered to be a complex issue regarding both terminology and technology solutions, the project researchers must on a regular basis search for different solutions and compromises to achieve the expectations. The students involved in the project and participating in the development of the interactive multifunctional database management system (IMDS) and a mobile application – a translation dictionary of botanical terms – have already gained good experience in the development and testing of a practical information system and in the work with the mobile application programming.

Currently, 81,624 names of organism taxons from 460 bibliography sources have been entered into the database. Also, the names of plant species are being collected to complement the model of the translation dictionary of botanical terms, and solutions to add useful extra information to the dictionary are searched for, e.g., by using pictograms.

Also, students of the Faculty of Translation Studies of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (FTS of VUAS) have been involved in the project during their scientific internship and as a part of a professional translation internship. Within the scientific internship, the students have performed several tasks such as data excerpting, translation of plant descriptions, and preparing interesting educational tasks for the mobile application which is the translation dictionary of botanical terms. It is planned to involve the students in project tasks also in the future.

There have been two bachelor papers written, defended, and positively assessed on the project topic: a paper by Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa “Environmental Term “Swamp”: Problems and Solutions in Latvian and English Translations of Helonyms” (FTS of VUAS) and a paper by Kristers Rutkis “Digitization of Botanical Dictionaries and Data Integration in IMDS System Using Image Processing Algorithms and Machine Learning Algorithms” (Faculty of Information Technologies of VUAS).

The tasks performed and their research results have been presented with posters and oral reports at several scientific conferences. By now, there have been 7 reports at different international scientific conferences by reading a paper on terminology issues, development of the interactive multifunctional database management and information system, various modern solutions for electronic lexicography, a study of habits of dictionary users and dictionary using skills, as well as on opportunities of digitizing literature for specific purposes. Up to the interim stage, 9 scientific articles of the project have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference papers, 7 of them – in collections of scientific papers indexed on Scopus. Three scientific articles have been submitted for publication, while two scientific article have been prepared for submission to journals of scientific publications.

The project participants are preparing for and inviting researchers to apply their papers for the international multi-disciplinary scientific conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics” to be held on 3–4 November 2022 online (link: https://www.virac.eu/ldts ). The deadline for submitting the paper applications – is 31 July.

A student from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences receives an award in a European-level translation contest

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 09:02:31 GMT

In April, a first-year student of the Master’s study programme “Translation of LSP (Language for Special Purposes) Texts” at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) took part in the “2022 eMT Challenge”, a prestigious contest for master’s level translation programmes. The event brought together 112 students from universities across Europe.

The challenge revolved around automated machine translation quality estimation. Participants had to complete a multiple-choice exercise and write a mini-essay. They could choose any of the EU’s 24 official languages.

Competing against 112 participants, VUAS student Sonora Bogdanova ranked among the top three finalists. Participants from the University of Turku (Finland) and the University of Bologna (Italy) were also among the winners.

Sonora shares her thoughts on the competition: “The description of the eMT challenge and the 60-minute time limit made both me and my coursemates a bit nervous. The challenge seemed impossible, especially considering we had to analyze 15 sentences and then write a brief essay about them. However, when we opened the task, it turned out that we needed to evaluate which percentage rating most closely matched the machine translation. In the essay, I tried to group and describe the main mistakes and provide my suggestions and solutions. There was enough time, so I made the essay structured, with three paragraphs, and once submitted, all I could do was hope for the best!”

As seen, Sonora’s hopes were fulfilled, and her knowledge and skills placed her among the top participants in the competition! Congratulations! We are proud of you!

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Begins Accepting Applications from Ukrainian Civilians for the Academic Year 2022/2023

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 12:16:18 GMT

Ukrainian civilians receiving international protection in Latvia are eligible to apply for studies at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences under similar conditions as Latvian and other EU nationals. They may compete for a government funded study place and scholarships. Should government funded study places be unavailable, only EU home students fees will be charged.

Please apply through www.apply.venta.lv .

During your application process you will be required to upload:

Copy of your passport;
Previous education certificates along with the grades' transcript;
Evidence of proficiency in English (not required to graduates of secondary school in Latvia)

Ukrainian nationals residing in Ukraine are welcome to apply to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences under normal terms and conditions offered to international students. However, only EU students' fees will be charged.

Special arrangements have been made to those applicants whose previous education documents are unavailable as the result of the war. Please contact us to international@venta.lv to find out more.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences offer four bachelor level study programmes in English:

Prograamme Government funded places

“ Start-Up management ” 2

“ Computer Sciences ” 75

“ Intercultural communication ” 11

“ Business Administration ” -

And also one masters level study programme “ Strategic intercultural communication ” with 5 government funded places.

One of Us - Andrejs Štrāls

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 06:07:39 GMT

Andrejs has been studying at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences for three years and has managed to win second place in the "Best Young Translator" competition twice and has successfully started working in the translation industry. He has been able to make full use of all the opportunities and knowledge provided by the university to apply them for his own self-development.

Tell us about yourself, how did you choose to study at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS)?

My name is Andrejs Štrāls, I am 22 years old and I am from Kuldīga. I am currently studying at the 3rd year of the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) at VUAS. I am also a practising translator with three years of experience. I chose VUAS quite randomly, because after high school, like many people, I didn't know where I was going and what I wanted in life. I was interested in different fields - I thought of studying medicine, engineering or law - but I ended up studying languages and translation because I had a good foundation and knowledge. I have been fluent in English since high school, and Latvian and Russian have been my mother tongue since childhood, as I come from a bilingual family. Another factor that influenced my choice was, of course, the reputation of VUAS FTS, because this kind of study programme is really unique in Latvia. It includes everything a professional translator and interpreter needs.

2. How would you describe your studies at VUAS? Could you name 5 benefits/lessons learnt!

Dynamic, qualitative and varied. Studying at VUAS made me feel that I am at the #rightplace and that I made the right decision, which I have not regretted for a moment. Of course, I can mention the professional development, valuable contacts, great classmates and friends, knowledge gained and the passion to explore.

3. What can you tell us about your study programme and the study process?

As I already mentioned, VUAS's translation programme is unique, as no other Latvian university has such a comprehensive programme. I am also very happy that the lecturers at the FTS are practising translators and interpreters, because theory and practice go hand in hand.

4. We have heard that you have won second prize in the competition "Best Young Translator" for the second time. How did you decide to take part and how did you manage to win this prize?

I was already active in various competitions and olympiads during my primary and secondary school years, and when I got to university, I figured it out: "Why not?" It's a great opportunity to test your knowledge and feel the competitive spirit. Hard work, perseverance and background knowledge seem to be the main things that have allowed me to win prizes. Of course, luck also plays a role.

5. Do you plan to connect your life with translation in the future as well?

Yes, definitely. At least for the next five years, because there is something very special about translating and working with languages - you get to play the role of a mediator, transferring thoughts from the source language into the target language.

6. What would you say to young people who are just planning to enter VUAS?

Find yourself and understand what your strengths are. VUAS is a great place where to develop yourself. It is like a tool that allows you to gradually build the steps of your life. Everything else is up to you!

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Graduation Ceremony

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 07:12:09 GMT

On 18th of June, a graduation ceremony took place in the garden of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS). 126 graduates of VUAS received their diplomas at the graduation ceremony in the summer of 2022, 6 of whom obtained a first-level professional higher education diploma, 79 – a bachelor's degree, and 41 – a master's degree.

The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Ventspils City Council Jānis Vītoliņš, the Rector of VUAS Kārlis Krēsliņš, as well as other representatives from VUAS staff, graduates and their relatives. The event was hosted by the actor and broadcaster Andris Bulis, with musical accompaniment by musician Goran Gora.

The Rector of VUAS Kārlis Krēsliņš and the Vice-Rector of Studies Una Libkovska also congratulated the most outstanding graduates. This year 16 graduates received this recognition. Two of them were our international students Rohit Gupta from the bachelor's study programme “Computer Science” and Suzan Nompumelelo Zungu from master's study programme "International Business and Export Management".

Graduation Ceremony Held at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, with Awards Presented to the Best Students

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:58:53 GMT

On June 18, a graduation ceremony was held in the garden of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. At the 2022 summer graduation, 126 graduates of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences received their diplomas, of which 6 received a first-level professional higher education diploma, 79 received a bachelor's degree, and 41 received a master's degree.

The ceremony was attended by Jānis Vītoliņš, Chairman of the Ventspils City Council, Kārlis Krēsliņš, Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, as well as other VUAS employees, graduates and their relatives. The event was hosted by actor and TV presenter Andris Bulis, with musical accompaniment provided by musician Goran Gora.

Kārlis Krēsliņš, Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and Una Libkovska, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, also congratulated the most outstanding graduates. This year, 16 graduates received recognition:

Kristers Dēnavs – bachelor's degree program in "Electronics Engineering"
Roksolana Amarova – master's degree program in "Electronics"
Elīna Šime-Pilāne – first-level higher education study program in "Programming Specialist"
Linards Muižnieks – Bachelor's degree program in "Computer Science"
Devids Soročinskis – Bachelor's degree program in "Computer Science"
Rohit Gupta – Bachelor's degree program in "Computer Science" (in English)
Gints Jasmonts – Master's degree program in "Computer Science"
Rihards Ulmanis – Bachelor’s degree program "Business Management"
Suzan Nompumelelo Zungu – Master’s degre program "International Business and Export Management"
Līga Leite – Master’s degree program "Business Management"
Simona Staņislavčika – Master’s degree program "Business Management"
Agate Freiberga – Bachelor’s degree program "Translation" with specialization in German.
Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa – Bachelor’s degree program "Translation" with specialization in English.
Jolanta Žaklīna Dudone – Bachelor’s degree program "Translation" with specialization in English.
Helēna Rožkalne – Bachelor’s degree program "Intercultural Communication"
Sintija Jagmina – Master’s degree program "Translation of Applied Texts"

Among the graduates of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences were 10 employees of VUAS, who received awards of gratitude. Words of praise were given to Dace Štefenberga, Head of the Science and Development Department and Doctoral School at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, who recently obtained a doctorate in economics and shared her excitement. Meanwhile, Jānis Vītoliņš, Chairman of the Ventspils City Council, presented a letter of appreciation for his contribution to the development of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to Andrejs Jaunzems, a long-time professor at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Andrejs Jaunzems has been a lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences for 25 years and, upon receiving the award, said that he feels happy to have spent 50 years of his life at the blackboard as a lecturer and is grateful to fate for having been able to do work that he loves.

The event is supported by the Ventspils Free Port Authority.

Everyday Life of a Student from the Bachelor's Study Programme "Intercultural Communication"

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT

At the beginning of this academic year, Amanda moved from Jelgava to Ventspils to start her studies in the Bachelor's degree programme "Intercultural Communication". Her everyday life is full of studying, active representation of students' interests, but there is also time for some fun.

Amanda says that her day is spent speaking English, as it is the working language of the programme. One exception is in French classes, where she has been learning to read, write and speak French for a year. She says that every day she has the opportunity to improve her English skills so that she could communicate fluently in a working environment in the future. After the lectures, she does her homework so that she would have time for herself in the evening.

As the newly elected Academic Director of the Student Council (SC), there are days when she has to join the SC meetings in the evenings, where plans for various events, news from the university and other current affairs are discussed. She says that the position and its responsibilities are new to her, but she has been able to settle into the role quite quickly and is already making plans for the coming year.

Amanda recently became a student representative in the VUAS Senate, where she has the opportunity to be present during important decisions and represent students' interests.

In the evenings she likes to play volleyball or go for walks by the sea, and she also enjoys evenings in the dormitory playing board games with friends.

Beach Volleyball Competition Organised by the Student Council

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT

On the sunny June 5th this year, the Student Council organised a two-versus-two beach volleyball competition, where in two categories - male and female - students enthusiastically competed for prizes.

For the women, the first place went to the team "Duo", the second place went to "nemo sobrius" and the third place went to the team "Free Ballin'". In the men's category there was a fierce battle for first place. The match went into a third set, but in the end the first place went to the team "Amateurs", the second place went to the team "Strong serves and even stronger balls", but the third place went to the team "Grobiņa". All the participants said that they really enjoyed the competition and that they all managed to get tanned in the sun. The prizes for the first places were provided by the sponsor "Diānas sveces", but the prizes for the other places were provided by the Student Council.

Igors Šaters, the main organiser, referee and sports coordinator of the Student Council, says that what made him the most happy about this event was the people's response and willingness to play, the sponsors' great support for this kind of event, as well as the great weather conditions.

A Day in a Life of a Student from the Bachelor's Level Programme "Business Administration"

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 06:57:35 GMT

Walks by the sea, evenings in the lounge room and studying are important parts of Kristiāna's daily routine. Kristiana is in her first year of the Bachelor's level programme “Business Administration” and her daily life is really full and varied.

On Mondays, Kristiāna can attend the microeconomics lecture remotely from her home in Liepaja. In the evening, the journey to Ventspils begins, so that on Tuesday morning at 9:00 with a cup of coffee in hand, she could go to the English class, where students work in groups, develop various projects and learn the language skills that are so necessary for the business environment. This is followed by management theory, where Kristiāna and her fellow students learn the way how to manage their teams more successfully by applying different methods. And finally, the day ends with two macroeconomics lectures.

After the lectures, many people start with a meal before relaxing. Kristiāna says that in her free time, she and her course mates like to go ice-skating, attend basketball and hockey games, go to movie nights, play pool in the lounge, or just take a walk by the sea.

Student Council’s Spring Ball

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:03:31 GMT

On 27 May this year, the Student Council’s Spring Ball took place, the first one of its kind since the start of the 2020 pandemic. Not only students, but also alumni and VUAS staff gathered to celebrate the end of spring and the beginning of summer at the Ventspils Jaunrades nams.

After a two-year hiatus, the Student Council (SC) representatives realised that they could not wait until Christmas, when the ball is traditionally organised, and had to organise it now. Within a month, the team organised the biggest spring party in the history of VUAS. The party featured artūrs jauntēvs with the band, who ensured that the most popular Latvian outdoor ball songs were played throughout the evening, to the accompaniment of which everyone had the opportunity to dance until the early hours of the morning.

The organisers of the event admit that it was really challenging to organise a ball in such a short time, but thanks to patience and hard work, the event was a success and was appreciated by the guests - students, lecturers, the Rector of the University and also Erasmus+ exchange students.

One of us: Assistant Professor from Mexico Jesus Alberto Cazares Montes

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 07:52:35 GMT

Mexico is a country located almost ten thousand kilometers away from Latvia. It has a completely different culture that might be foreign for many. Jesus Alberto Cazares Montes, or how colleagues and students call him – Jesus Montes, is a citizen of Mexico who has come this long way to not only teach, but also to get to know our country. When you first meet Jesus Montes he seems like a quiet and shy person, but by the time the conversation begins, the room is filled with warmth. Interesting facts about Jesus Montes are that he earned his doctorate in physics from the “Center of Research and Advanced Studies at National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV–IPN)” in Mexico and he has taught various courses at six universities in both Mexico and Croatia. Since 2019, Jesus Montes has joined the academic staff of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and teaches mathematics and physics study courses in the English-language bachelor's study programme “Computer Science”. While reading this interview you will learn more about how Jesus Montes journey to VUAS and how he fell in love with Latvia, its culture and traditions.

Tell us about yourself and about your life in your home country and how it is different/similar to the one here in Latvia, Ventspils?

I was born in a small town not so far from Guadalajara, Mexico called Cajititlan (actually, the hospital was in Guadalajara, which is one of the largest cities in Mexico). Because of my father’s job, we lived in different cities in Mexico.

I would say that I am an open, optimistic person that loves coffee, music and culture in general.

I used to live in Guadalajara and Mexico City and they are very dynamic, crowded and noisy cities, but, on the other hand, they offer a wide range of possibilities and activities. This is something that I miss a little bit: the cultural activities.

Tell us please about your education and work experience before Ventspils.

I got the Bs.Sc. in physics in Zacatecas University, the Ms.Sc. and the Ph.D. in physics in the Center of Research and Advanced Studies which is the 2nd best research center in Latin America and has the 109 position in the world and is located in Mexico City. I have worked in different universities in Mexico including the National Polytechnic Institute. I did a postdoctoral stay at Ruđer Bošković Institute, in Zagreb, Croatia and after that, I worked as a mathematics professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, Croatia.

How did you get to Latvia? To VUAS?

Here I will share the whole story of how I got from Mexico to Croatia and then to Latvia.

Once I got the Ph.D. in Mexico City, first I went to Croatia as a visiting researcher and then I joined as a mathematics professor at Rochester Institute of Technology in Croatia for three years. When I was teaching in Zagreb, my students often said to me “Professor, why are you here with us? I mean, you are very talented, you are very passionate, you know a lot of things, but many of us believe that you are wasting your time in this place with foolish students that are only interested in passing the course, but not to learn?” Honestly, I did not pay much attention to their comments.

However, that place was interested in acquiring university status, but according to Croatian law if a professor has a diploma in a specific science then they are qualified to teach only that science. As I am a physicist, I was able to teach physics, but not mathematics (the subject that I was teaching at that time).

I took into consideration the comments of my students and I decided to challenge myself by looking for a university where I could teach engineering again. I searched for different positions, I applied and I got a positive answer from our university. I came to Ventspils and we signed the contract. After that, in less than 3 days, I got several more positive answers from universities in different countries - including a one in Croatia!

However, VUAS was the first one. Since I did not like hot weather - Latvia could offer me the perfect weather! So, I chose Ventspils.

Now, looking back at this experience - I am really glad that the events happened the way they did. I think that I was really lucky to get the opportunity to join VUAS as a professor and I am very happy to be part of the VUAS community.

How do you see your future here at VUAS? And how do you see VUAS in 3-5 years' future?

I am really lucky to be part of the VUAS community, not only because I am in the faculty of IT, but also because I recently joined VIRAC. This full affiliation will allow me to grow not only as a professor but also as a researcher. Additionally, I am learning the Latvian language, that way I can be of a greater use to the university.

Currently, VUAS is taking part in different projects, both nationally and internationally. This means a bigger projection of our university can also imply growth of the university in a not so far future.

Additionally, I was elected as Assistant Professor two months ago. Do I need more reasons to be proud to belong to the VUAS community?

How would you characterize the student auditorium in VUAS? What techniques work best in the study process? Can you give some advice to students?

Unfortunately, I have not worked exactly with a Latvian auditorium because I am working with international students. This is really an awesome experience because I am learning different approaches and methods from them.

Mathematics is a logical and structured science but it is necessary to work with it, to study a lot to get a full understanding. I have seen that some students can learn things at a first glance and they can remember everything, but I have also seen students that need to work a lot and solve many exercises before they learn the subject. I mean, each one of us needs a different learning process, thus, the first advice that I can give to any student is to know yourself and find what kind of methodology suits you better and work with that.

Something really important is to never limit yourself with the content studied in the classroom. Go to the library and make a review of the materials studied in class and also the materials for the next class - you will understand it better.

There is an interesting quote in the book Xunzi “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn”. The learning process involves two persons - the professor (I see the professor like a guide, nothing more) and the student. If a student is just going to the classroom and not working regularly, it will be hard to get a deeper knowledge of the subject, but when the students read additional materials or discuss the subjects and homework with their colleagues, then success is almost guaranteed.

I can summarize this with a personal quote: Nobody becomes a captain in a swimming pool.

Could you list 3 - 5 beliefs that would make life easier and people happier?

“If your problem has a solution - why worry? On the other hand, if your problem has no solution - then why worry?”

“Good decisions come from experience - experience comes from bad decisions!” (in other words, do not be afraid to be wrong, but learn from the mistakes).

“If lemons fall from the sky, learn how to make lemonade!!” (in other words, transform a problem into an opportunity).

Do you miss Mexico?

What I really miss from Mexico is the food… It is impossible to find such a kind of food here in Europe. Yes, I know, there are many “Mexican” restaurants in Europe (we even have one here in Ventspils). However, they offer the so-called Tex-Mex food. This is the result of the Mexican influence in the south part of the USA (especially Texas, that is the reason for the name). But certainly, no one offers real Mexican food.

Do you consider Latvia your home?

I think that you can call home a place where you feel comfortable, a place where you can identify yourself with the local culture and especially where you can create bonds. After almost three and a half years here, I have started to tie my identity with the Latvian culture and now that I am learning the Latvian language my bond can only get stronger. Additionally, I am in a folkloric dance ensemble and a folkloric choir ensemble. I now have a dream to participate in the Latvian Song and Dance Festival.

Yes, I consider Latvia my home and every day I become prouder of this land since I am creating a stronger bond with Latvia every day.

Everyday Life of a Student in the Bachelor's Degree Programme "Computer Science"

Tue, 31 May 2022 06:26:53 GMT

Students' daily lives consist not only of studying, but also of hobbies, events and often work. Igors is an active freshman from the bachelor's level study programme "Computer Science" . He says that his daily life has settled into a steady rhythm that allows him to get everything done every day.

When Igors wakes up, he does his morning stretch. This is followed by a rather powerful breakfast. It's mostly omelette, bacon and pancakes, but sometimes he substitutes pancakes for cottage cheese. Mondays and Tuesdays are devoted entirely to lectures - mostly math, as it tends to be challenging. On the other days he works, because his studies are organized in such a way that they can be combined with work. In his free time, Igors also manages to do a few homework assignments.

In the evening, Igors rushes to volleyball practice. It should be mentioned that volleyball training is free for all students at VUAS, and Igors, as the sports coordinator of the Student Council, is responsible for creating the sports schedule. After the training there is also time for studying and a few games with classmates and friends. Most of the time they play cards and board games, which allow them to relax and laugh after a busy day.

BASAFUL Student Agency's Annual Turnover Increases by 614.29% - Exceeding Six Figures

Fri, 27 May 2022 06:57:02 GMT

Two years have passed since the launch of BASAFUL, a unique concept, student-run digital services agency. The year 2020 ended with a turnover of EUR 14 000, this year the turnover has increased by 614.29% and exceeds the significant threshold of EUR 100 000.

The digital agency "BASAFUL" was established within the framework of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences bachelor study programme " Start-up Management ". The essence of the study programme is to provide an opportunity to acquire knowledge and develop skills through practical application of theory in a business environment. Therefore, on the initiative of the students, a digital services agency was created, which serves as an 'Ideal Internship', where students can get an internship, get to know the business environment, understand their strengths and weaknesses, build their portfolio, make a profit, thus also providing a greater motivation to learn theory and have a better understanding of the studied topics. Students are accompanied by mentors who are professionals in fields such as start-up management, marketing, sales and customer relations, service design, etc.

The range of services provided by BASAFUL mainly consists of website development, sales activities, process automation, digital marketing and SEO optimisation. More than 40 projects have been completed during the year and the range of clients has been noticeably expanded, providing more and more opportunities for students to acquire future competencies and skills. BASAFUL's competitive advantage in the digital services market is firstly the ability to provide a relatively high quality service at a lower cost, as the primary objective of the organisation will always remain to provide learning opportunities for its members, not profit. Secondly, companies that care about the Agency's noble objective - to provide growth opportunities for young talents and to promote the quality of higher education studies have the opportunity to be part of it by using the agency's services.

“Currently BASAFUL brings together 25 students from the "Start-up Management" programme as well as from other study programmes, including students from the computer science specialization. In the next two to three years, we believe that we can grow our team to at least 150 students and help to introduce this concept to other universities, which will significantly improve the study experience and the quality of the gained knowledge", comments the new elected head of the organisation, Luīze Dārta Sietiņa.

Students have the opportunity to learn skills not only while working with clients, but also while improving the organisation's own processes, communication, culture and business model.

Linda Auziņa has been Elected as the New Chairperson of the Student Council

Mon, 23 May 2022 13:25:56 GMT

The Student Council of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has been working in a new term since April this year. Until next spring, it will be chaired by the active and determined Linda Auziņa, who, as she says herself, thanks to fate and her interest in languages, came to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences to now lead the Student Council towards new achievements.

Tell us about yourself - which side are you from and how did you come to VUAS?

My name is Linda and I am from Ķekava. I came to VUAS quite by accident, but as I like to say - by the finger of fate. I wanted to connect my future with languages, so Ventspils was one of the places I put on my list of potential universities.

Which programme are you studying in and why this programme?

I am a 2nd year “Translation and Language Technology” student, because languages were my calling - not only because I wanted to work with foreign languages, but also because I wanted to improve my native language skills.

What are your hobbies?

To be honest, I don't have one particular hobby, because I spend my free time differently every time. I often find myself listening to loud music and just relaxing, but I am no stranger to reading or painting.

Why did you decide to get involved in the Student Council?

I decided to get involved in the Student Council after I was approached by the previous Chairperson Marta. She very successfully got me on track when I started working in the VUAS Constitutional Assembly, which later moved on to additional work in Student Councils in the external direction, and now I am here. :)

Congratulations on your new position as VUAS SC Chairperson. What are your and your council’s goals for this term?

My goals for this term are to become even more active and to finally bring back the sense of togetherness that everyone has missed so much - when else but now? Let's work so that the students enjoy it and get satisfaction from what we do.

What do you think will be the biggest challenges?

The biggest challenges will definitely be combining my studies with the Student Council and not worrying about small things, but if you really want to do something, then everything will work out, you just have to do it.

Is there anything you would like to wish others?

For others, I wish that the desire to get involved and to act never leaves you, and to definitely enjoy your studies to the fullest, and where better to do that than in the Student Council! :)

The First Volleyball Competition Organised by the Student Council of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Mon, 16 May 2022 13:43:33 GMT

This spring, thanks to the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Student Council, student sports tournaments have resumed at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. At the beginning of the week, the first volleyball competition was successfully held at the Ventspils Olympic Centre.

Both students and graduates took part in the competition, competing for various tasty prizes and also wooden medals, which were prepared by VUAS electronics students using the laser cutter available at the university. The team that scored the fastest 25 points during the games was the team "Špīleri". The second best were students from the team "Match Point" and the third were representatives from the team "High Key Karlis". The fact that the students of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences can attend volleyball training three times a week for free definitely helped the participants to prepare for the competition.

The main organiser of the event and the Sports Coordinator of the Student Council, Igors Šaters, says that he was very pleased with the positive feedback about the event and that his Student Council team was very helpful in organising it.

33 Students from Portugal, Cyprus and Slovakia Visit Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Mon, 02 May 2022 11:59:12 GMT

On 26th of April, in cooperation with Ventspils Secondary School Nr. 6, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted 33 highschool students from Cyprus, Slovakia and Portugal. During the excursion, they had the opportunity to learn more about Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and study opportunities, as well as to work hands-on in the electronics laboratories.

The students arrived at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences on the afternoon of 26th of April, where they were introduced to the university and the available study programmes in English – "Intercultural Communication", "Business Administration", "Computer Science" and "Start-up Management". Later, they toured the premises of the university, exploring the auditoriums, the library and even going to the rooftop radio station, as well as accompanied by students of electronic engineering they had the opportunity to work hands-on in the laboratories of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, where they had the chance to try soldering with a soldering iron and creating a small light object.

These 33 students came to Latvia because of an Erasmus+ project at Ventspils Secondary School Nr. 6. Thanks to this project they spent 5 days getting to know Ventspils, including the university.

Self-development Seminar "Atspēriens" Organised by the Student Council of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Mon, 02 May 2022 10:54:04 GMT

In cooperation with the Ventspils Kultūras Centrs, the Student Council organised a self-development seminar "Atspēriens" on 23rd and 24th of April at the Youth House. During the event, students took part in various activities that allowed them to bond and learn new things.

On the first day of the event, students went to the Youth House early in the morning to discuss ideas on how to improve student life at Ventspils University of Applied sciences. The task was followed by two presentations, one about the opportunities offered by the Student Council and the other about how to make the most of the Erasmus+ opportunities offered at the university and how to apply for mobility. After lunch, Justine Širina, LSA ex-president and main organiser of the Student Leaders Forum 2021, gave a presentation on what it means to be a leader. After the lectures, the students were surprised by the Youth House with a prepared break-out room.

On the second day of the event, the main presentation was given by representatives of Swedbank, during which students learned how to save more successfully and what they need to know about financial literacy.

Aiva Kuršinska, one of the organisers of the event, says that despite a few hitches during the organisation of the event, she is happy that the participants enjoyed the event and that it was finally possible to organise it again after a two-year break.

The event was organised with the aim to allow students to learn more and bond with each other, and Aiva believes that it did just that!

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Student Council elections

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 17:24:20 GMT

Every spring Ventspils University of Applied Sciences holds elections for the members of the Student Council. This year it took place on the 11th and 12th of April, where every student had the opportunity to vote for the 14 candidates.

At the ceremony on 20th of April, it was announced that 14 Student Council members were elected this year, and positions were distributed.

Positions were distributed as follows:

Chairperson - Linda Auziņa

Deputy - Katrīna Ieva Ozola

Head of Social Affairs - Līva Teterovska

Head of Culture Affairs - Krista Strode

Head of Academic Affairs- Amanda Alksne

Public Relations specialist - Karīna Līva Martinova

Sports Coordinator - Igors Šaters

Head of External Affairs - Marta Anete Vinniņa

Student Council members - Anna Ģērmane, Aiva Kuršinska, Paula Mališevska, Patrīcija Marta Bērziņa, Andrejs Štrāls, Kitija Ieva Bērziņa

The VUAS family congratulates the new members and wishes all the best for the following year!

28/04/2022 A JIV-ERIC National Consortium Board meeting and a workshop will take place

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 14:44:34 GMT

Project no. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009 "Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)" this year A meeting of the JIV-ERIC National Consortium Board and a workshop will take place on 28 April.

The project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity” continues

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 08:57:53 GMT

The first quarter of the second year of the project “Smart Complex of Information Systems of Specialized Biology Lexis for the Research and Preservation of Linguistic Diversity” (IMDS) has been an active one for all involved partners.

Collaborative online meetings between the project teams at the Institute of Horticulture and faculties of VUAS have continued regularly, focusing on refining the information system designed for the collection and research of biological and organism-related terminology. Simultaneously, data entry work is ongoing. At this stage of the project, a database term module has been developed; the development of a plant variety name accumulation module is still planned for the future. Currently, 50131 taxon names from 335 bibliography sources have already been entered into the database. The team is also expanding the translating botanical terminology mobile app, including the development of new sections and functionalities.

In early 2022, project members participated in several conferences: On January 26–27, Silga Sviķe, Sintija Ozoliņa, and Linda Ozola-Ozoliņa presented the paper “Naming of Plants: Names of Rhododendron Cultivars Bred in Latvia” at the XXXII Scientific Readings online conference hosted by Daugavpils University. In the paper, the authors analyzed the names of rhododendron varieties bred in Latvia, as well as addressed terminology issues in naming rhododendron varieties. Conference programme available here: https://lasijumi.du.lv/lv/Programma

On 24 and 25 February Gints Jasmonts, Silga Sviķe, and Karina Šķirmante presented their paper “New Information Extracting and Analysis Methodology for the Terminology Research Purposes: The Field of Biology” participated in the “Italian Research Conference on Digital Libraries” (IRCDL 2022), an online conference organized by Italian researchers. Project participants presented the digitization of Pauls Galenieks' Botanical Dictionary in order to add the dictionary’s data to the developed system. Conference programme available here: http://ircdl2022.dei.unipd.it/index.html#schedule

Thanks to the IMDS project, several scientific publications have already been released, including:

Stalažs A. (2022) To be or not to be native: from the discourse on the official status of Salix alba to the recommendation to strengthen the protection of marginal populations in Latvia, with notes to related taxa. Journal for Nature Conservation (Scopus, Q1, IF 2.831)
Stalažs A., Kosinkina A. (2021) Names of Nature Objects in Street Names: An Interdisciplinary View. Linguistica Lettica (Scopus)
Sviķe, S. (2021) Mobile apps as language-learning tools. Challenges, problems and solutions of specialised lexicography (2021) AILA Review, 34 (1), pp. (19-36). (Scopus)

Currently, preparations are underway for the planned international interdisciplinary scientific conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology, and Statistics”, which will be held online on November 3–4, 2022. The second call for papers is being prepared, with an abstract submission deadline of July 31, 2022. More info about the conference: https://www.virac.eu/ldts . Researchers in terminology and cross-linguistic studies are especially encouraged to participate.

New project to seek solutions to brain drain

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:50:23 GMT

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participates in a major European research project that will seek solutions to prevent brain drain from university-related areas. The goal is to develop concepts that increase students’ ability to become entrepreneurs.

In the ERASMUS+-project ENDORSE (Enhancing development of entrepreneurial strategies at university locations affected by brain drain), Ventspils University of Applied Sciences collaborates with universities in Austria, Germany, Poland, Greece and Sweden. The project starts in 2022 and runs until 2025.

− We want to strengthen the link between universities, businesses and municipalities, which is essential for the creation of regional innovation networks. Areas affected by brain drain must ensure that cooperation between universities and local stakeholders works to create an entrepreneurial environment for students, entrepreneurs and academics to work in. Increased knowledge and regionally adapted models for such collaborations will improve the conditions for students to remain, says Alina Schoenberg, Professor at IMC Fachhochschule Krems and Project Manager for ENDORSE.

The project will classify areas affected by brain drain as well as the type of business models that can be successful for each type of area and develop study material and courses to strengthen students’ entrepreneurial potential. In particular, researchers will study the conditions of women and immigrants.

− In order to be able to live where you want to live and work, you need to be able to make a living and there the ability for entrepreneurship can be crucial, both for the individual and for society. We will develop digital and flexible training modules, oriented towards different professional categories that help build the right skills of the individual based on the needs and conditions of the region where the individual operates, says Gvido Grīnbergs Head of Technology transfer and innovation center at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and project coordinator in Latvia for ENDORSE.

Researchers will also develop recommendations for policy makers to address strategies to increase the strategic role of universities in shaping the local business environment.

− Another benefit of the project is, of course, that we are creating a transnational network that strengthens international cooperation. The importance of working together across borders to learn from each other and first similarities and differences between countries’ circumstances cannot be emphasized enough in these times, says Gvido Grīnbergs.

Participating Universities: IMC Fachhochschule in Austria, Mid Sweden University in Sweden, Hochschule Niederrhein in Germany, Uniwersytet Lodzki in Poland, Kai Politikon Epistimon in Greece and Ventpils University of Applied Sciences in Latvia.

Please, contact: Gvido Grīnbergs Head of Technology transfer and innovation center at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and project coordinator in Latvia for ENDORSE, +371 2880 7779, gvido.grinbergs@venta.lv

Latvian delegation and this Committee will boost the joint co-operation in space related areas

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 19:04:35 GMT

From 26 February to 2 March, 14 representatives of Latvian companies and scientific institutions were visiting the UAE to make new connections, attend the Port of Dubai and the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park and the EXPO 2020 fair.

More about EXPO 2020:

1) UAE and Latvia to boost economic ties (thenationalnews.com)

2) Heading towards closer cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (expo2020.lv)

3) Emirates News Agency - UAE, Latvia launch six-track economic cooperation programme (wam.ae)

Letter of support

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 08:41:03 GMT

Dear colleagues and friends,

Last Thursday marked a dark moment in the history of Europe and the world as we became witness of a brutal and unprovoked act of war by Russia against a sovereign nation in the centre of Europe - Ukraine.

We are deeply saddened by this. We at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences stand with the people of Ukraine at this difficult time and join the international community in condemning on the strongest possible terms the act of illegal aggression.

We are prepared to offer every possible support within our means to staff, researchers and students at your institution. We are open look into the possibility to host your staff shorter or longer for periods of time.

Once again - we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our thoughts are with all those directly or indirectly impacted by this invasion.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Karlis Kreslins

Rector of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Foto: Shutterstock

Cosmic flashes pinpointed to a surprising location in space

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 19:11:18 GMT

Astronomers have been surprised by the closest source of mysterious flashes in the sky called fast radio bursts. Precision measurements with radio telescopes reveal that the bursts are made among old stars, and in a way that no one was expecting. The source of the flashes, in nearby spiral galaxy M 81, is the closest of its kind to Earth.

Fast radio bursts are unpredictable, extremely short flashes of light from space. Astronomers have struggled to understand them ever since they were first discovered in 2007. So far, they have only ever been seen by radio telescopes.

Each flash lasts only thousandths of a second. Yet each one sends out as much energy as the Sun gives out in a day. Several hundred flashes go off every day, and they have been seen all over the sky. Most lie at huge distances from Earth, in galaxies billions of light years away.

In two papers published in parallel this week in the journals Nature and Nature Astronomy, an international team of astronomers present observations that take scientists a step closer to solving the mystery – while also raising new puzzles. The team is led jointly by Franz Kirsten (Chalmers, Sweden, and ASTRON, Netherlands) and Kenzie Nimmo (ASTRON and University of Amsterdam).

The scientists set out to make high-precision measurements of a repeating burst source discovered in January 2020 in the constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear.

“We wanted to look for clues to the bursts’ origins. Using many radio telescopes together, we knew we could pinpoint the source’s location on the sky with extreme precision. That gives the opportunity to see what the local neighbourhood of a fast radio burst looks like”, says Franz Kirsten.

To study the source at the highest possible resolution and sensitivity, the scientists combined measurements from telescopes in the European VLBI Network (EVN). By combining data from 12 dish antennas spread across half the globe, Sweden, Latvia, The Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Poland, Italy and China, they were able to find out exactly where on the sky they were coming from.

The EVN measurements were complemented with data from several other telescopes, among them the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, USA.

Close but surprising location

When they analysed their measurements, the astronomers discovered that the repeated radio flashes were coming from somewhere no one had expected.

They traced the bursts to the outskirts of the nearby spiral galaxy Messier 81 (M 81), about 12 million light years away. That makes this the closest ever detection of a source of fast radio bursts.

There was another surprise in store. The location matched exactly with a dense cluster of very old stars, known as a globular cluster.

“It’s amazing to find fast radio bursts from a globular cluster. This is a place in space where you only find old stars. Further out in the universe, fast radio bursts have been found in places where stars are much younger. This had to be something else,” says Kenzie Nimmo.

Many fast radio bursts have been found surrounded by young, massive stars, much bigger than the Sun. In those locations, star explosions are common and leave behind highly magnetised remnants.

Scientists have come to believe that fast radio bursts can be created in objects known as magnetars. Magnetars are the extremely dense remnants of stars that have exploded. And they are the universe’s most powerful known magnets.

“We expect magnetars to be shiny and new, and definitely not surrounded by old stars. So if what we’re looking at here really is a magnetar, then it can’t have been formed from a young star exploding. There has to be another way”, says team member Jason Hessels, University of Amsterdam and ASTRON.

The scientists believe that the source of the radio flashes is something that has been predicted, but never seen before: a magnetar that formed when a white dwarf became massive enough to collapse under its own weight.

“Strange things happen in the multi-billion-year life of a tight cluster of stars. Here we think we’re seeing a star with an unusual story”, explains Franz Kirsten.

Given time, ordinary stars like the Sun grow old and transform into small, dense, bright objects called white dwarfs. Many stars in the cluster live together in binary systems. Of the tens of thousands of stars in the cluster, a few get close enough for one star collects material from the other.

That can lead to a scenario known as “accretion-induced collapse”, Kirsten explains.

“If one of the white dwarfs can catch enough extra mass from its companion, it can turn into an even denser star, known as a neutron star. That’s a rare occurrence, but in a cluster of ancient stars, it’s the simplest way of making fast radio bursts”, says team member Mohit Bhardwaj, McGill University, Canada.

Fastest ever

Looking for further clues by zooming into their data, the astronomers found another surprise. Some of the flashes were even shorter than they had expected.

“The flashes flickered in brightness within as little as a few tens of nanoseconds. That tells us that they must be coming from a tiny volume in space, smaller than a soccer pitch and perhaps only tens of metres across”, says Kenzie Nimmo.

Similarly lightning-fast signals have been seen from one of the sky’s most famous objects, the Crab pulsar. It is a tiny, dense, remnant of a supernova explosion that was seen from Earth in 1054 CE in the constellation of Taurus, the Bull. Both magnetars and pulsars are different kinds of neutron stars: super-dense objects with the mass of the Sun in a volume the size of a city, and with strong magnetic fields.

“Some of the signals we measured are short and extremely powerful, in just the same way as some signals from the Crab pulsar. That suggests that we are indeed seeing a magnetar, but in a place that magnetars haven’t been found before”, says Kenzie Nimmo.

Future observations of this system and others will help to tell whether the source really is an unusual magnetar, or something else, like an unusual pulsar or a black hole and a dense star in a close orbit.

“These fast radio bursts seem to be giving us new and unexpected insight into how stars live and die. If that’s true, they could, like supernovae, have things to tell us about stars and their lives across the whole universe,” says Franz Kirsten.

Contacts

Robert Cumming,

communications officer,

Onsala Space Observatory, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden,

email: robert.cumming@chalmers.se ,

tel: +46 70 49 3 3114 or +46 (0)31 772 5500

Franz Kirsten,

ASTRON, The Netherlands, and Onsala Space Observatory, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden,

email: franz.kirsten@chalmers.se ,

tel: +46 73 394 0845 or +46 31 772 5522

More about the research and about the European VLBI Network and JIVE

The research was based on observations with the European VLBI Network, the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, with additional data from the Hubble, Chandra and Fermi space telescopes, and the Subaru Telescope located in Hawaii.

The research is published in two papers in the journals Nature and Nature Astronomy.

A repeating fast radio burst source in a globular cluster, by Franz Kirsten et al ( www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04354-w )

Burst timescales and luminosities link young pulsars and fast radio bursts, by Kenzie Nimmo et al ( https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.11446 ).

VLBI is an astronomical method by which multiple radio telescopes distributed across great distances observe the same region of sky simultaneously. Data from each telescope is sent to a central "correlator" to produce images with higher resolution than the most powerful optical telescopes.

The European VLBI Network (EVN; www.evlbi.org) is an interferometric array of radio telescopes spread th roughout Europe, Asia, South Africa and the Americas that conducts unique, high-resolution, radio astronomical observations of cosmic radio sources. Established in 1980, the EVN has grown into the most sensitive VLBI array in the world, including over 20 individual telescopes, among them some of the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescopes. The EVN is composed of 13 Full Member Institutes and 5 Associated Member Institutes.

The Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE; www.jive.eu) has as its primary mission to operate and develop the EVN data processor, a powerful supercomputer that combines the signals from radio telescopes located across the planet. Founded in 1993, JIVE is since 2015 a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) with seven member countries: France, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden; additional support is received from partner institutes in China, Germany and South Africa. JIVE is hosted at the offices of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) in the Netherlands.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences invites to the international conference in the field of humanities

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:41:03 GMT

VUAS and the Institute of Horticulture invite researchers and scientists to submit papers for the international interdisciplinary conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics”. The conference is scheduled to take place online this November.

The conference will take place remotely on 3-4 November and bring together scholars and researchers in the following sections: different aspects of linguistics and translation studies, language technology, terminology and lexicography. Researchers on similar topics related to linguistic diversity, terminology, and statistics are also welcome to apply.

The deadline for submission of papers is 31 July. More info about the conference: https://www.virac.eu/ldts .

The conference will be held in English, Russian, Latvian, and German, and simultaneous translation for some presentations will be provided by the FoTS of VUAS.VUAS and the Institute of Horticulture invite researchers and scientists to submit papers for the international interdisciplinary conference “Linguistic Diversity, Terminology and Statistics”. The conference is scheduled to take place online this November.

The deadline for submission of papers is 31 July. More info about the conference: https://www.virac.eu/ldts .

The conference will be held in English, Russian, Latvian, and German, and simultaneous translation for some presentations will be provided by the FoTS of VUAS.

Contribution of VUAS researchers and academic staff to a collection of scientific articles

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 08:43:15 GMT

At the end of last year, Jānis Sīlis, Astra Skrābane, Guntars Dreijers and Jānis Veckrācis from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences published their work in a collection of scientific articles “Latvian as a target language”.

The collection was issued by The University of Latvia Press (UL Press).

The articles have been published as a part of a project “Translation studies and contact linguistics” within the State Research Programme “Latvian language”, carried out by researchers and lecturers at University of Latvia and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Professor Jānis Silis has carried out research on intertextuality in Latvian translations, namely on lexical and phraseological intertextuality in translation of allusions and stylistic and morpho-stylistic intertextuality in translation of parodies, as well as studied the intertextuality of text linguistics and cultures.

Assistant Professor Jānis Veckrācis has analysed the impact of time on target language, diversifying the belief that the main reasons for new translation variants are ageing translations and language change. The reality reveals a far more complex interaction of multiple factors.

Characters and phrases borrowed in the translation “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry have been studied by Associate Professor Astra Skrābane.

Associate Professor Guntars Dreijers has dedicated his research to the lingual culturological aspects of translations. He analysed the parallelism of linguistic culture codes by comparing and differentiating the cultures of the Duchy of Courland, Livonia and the British.

The State Research Programme was concluded on December 31, 2021. Within the programme the studies were presented in multiple international scientific conferences.

One of us: Madina Gulmirzaeva form Uzbekistan

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 09:29:17 GMT

Madina, a 3rd year student of VUAS, is from Uzbekistan, and her journey of studies abroad has been full of surprises. Over the past years at VUAS, Madina has not only moved to Ventspils, fallen in love with the beautiful sea and the city of Ventspils, but also this year, thanks to the Erasmus+ mobility, she will spend Christmas in the sunny city of Porto in Portugal. Continue reading to learn more about her story!

Hello, my name is Madina, I’m from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Currently I’m in my last year of studying Intercultural communication, and right now, through participating in the Erasmus+ programme, I’ve come to Porto, Portugal.

Ventspils has a very special place in my heart. The city is so beautiful and quiet, and I think I have fallen in love with the sea there. For someone who only saw mountains and forests while growing up, it was an unbelievable experience. I’m a person who prefers calming and cozy places, and Ventspils is exactly what is needed.

This year – 2021 – is leaving me with mixed feelings. At the beginning of the year, I was in my hometown because the classes were online, so I missed Ventspils, but in summer and autumn, I had a chance to spend some time there. Afterwards, I came to Porto for the exchange programme, and it is wonderful here.

Porto is a beautiful city, everything here is new for me, so I was very excited about many things. The scenery here is amazing, and the people are very friendly and open. And, personally, I really like the desserts here, there are so many variations – I can't even choose.

Also, the sunsets here are so stunning – we like to go to a bridge and watch them.

I’m going to celebrate the new year in Porto, and I hope to travel more to see even more beautiful places next year.

The Christmas Conference of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has been held

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:09:25 GMT

The annual Christmas Scientific Conference of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) has been held remotely, gathering VUAS researchers and partners from Russia and Ukraine, as well as a foreign guest lecturer who presented their research and findings of 2021.

The conference was opened by the VUAS rector Kārlis Krēsliņš who congratulated the participants on a successful year in research, expressed his delight about VUAS young researchers participating in the conference this year, and congratulated the scientist Manfrēds Leontijs Šneps-Šneppe on receiving the emeritus scientist title this year. At the conference, a total of 11 reports were presented in the fields of astronomy, economics, humanities, and information technology.

This year, at the conference the future vision of Latvia’s economic development, digital opportunities, and innovations in the study process, challenges in technology implementation, as well as research in radio astronomy were discussed. Additionally, a report in humanities “Etruscans: in Search of Baltic Roots” (Etruski: Baltu saknes meklējot) was also presented. Particularly interesting research, whose co-authors are researchers from Ukraine and Russia, was presented by the representative of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre who informed the audience about radio astronomical findings and scientific projects of 2021, and various experimental research and observations in space that were made using the Irbene Radio Telescope Complex.

The aim of the Christmas conference is to introduce colleagues, students, and the public to the achievements and both theoretical and practical research results of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

Year 2021 – Interview with Lāsma Lubāne

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 08:05:09 GMT

The end of the year is often associated with a time of reflection as we look back at what the year was like, what we have experienced, what we would like to take with us into the new year, or on the contrary, – what we would like to leave behind and how we should move forward. Our experienced student Lāsma Lubāne, former chairperson of the Student Council and an Erasmus+ mobility participant, shared with us her thoughts about 2021. Continue reading to learn about how unique and varied it has been!

“As the end of the year approaches, I always like to look back at everything that has been achieved throughout the year, and I can certainly say that this year has been one of the most eventful years of my life.

Back in January, while participating in the Student Council, I would have never thought that the path would lead me to the Czech Republic. Thanks to the Erasmus+ programme, I have already been living here for three months, and I have met students from all around the world. I have celebrated Thanksgiving with Americans, learned Spanish from the Spaniards, and made Nepalese-style dumplings.

This year I will spend Christmas and New Years’ Eve together with my new friends. We are planning to make various dishes to give the celebrations a bit of an international flavour. I will definitely try to make the most delicious bacon buns to introduce others to what we usually eat in Latvia during the holidays.

For me, Erasmus+ is not just about studies abroad – I have also travelled outside of the Czech Republic, tried new sports, even continued participating in the Student Council, which, thanks to the active new members and Marta who has been a great chairperson, is doing amazing work!

2021 taught me to try to do more, not be afraid of new things, and to face challenges, since, I think, we grow the most once we step out of our comfort zone.

This year I have had the time to study, actively participate in the Student Council, work, do an internship and take part in the Erasmus+ mobility. And definitely, there is room for even more activities, and it seems that the last study semester will be even more fun.

I wish everyone to challenge themselves in 2022 and achieve something that so far has been only a dream!”

Language podcast “Pieturzīmes” by Aiga Veckalne gains popularity in Latvia

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 09:07:40 GMT

Aiga Veckalne, a guest lecturer and research assistant at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, has created a language podcast called “Pieturzīmes” and social media posts on language–related topics. These activities have gained significant popularity not only among Latvian language experts but also among students and many Latvian speakers. Nearly five thousand people now follow her posts and updates on social media.

The podcast aims to highlight the richness and beauty of the Latvian language, its usage, and its speakers across various fields, emphasizing that language can be refined in an engaging way and applied in any sector.

At first, the podcast may seem like it is just about grammar rules and punctuation, but in fact it features guests from various professions, such as writers, social media creators, journalists, teachers, translators, musicians, foreigners who have learned Latvian, politicians, and others who use the language in their everyday lives. The most frequently discussed topics include translation, linguistics, inclusive language, spelling, language technologies, fluency, writing, and various languages. As a result, even those who are only slightly familiar with punctuation will find something interesting and engaging.

Aiga has been interested in the Latvian language for a long time. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Baltic philology and a master’s degree in business administration (EMBA). For nearly 15 years, Aiga managed the language services company “Skrivanek” in several countries. The idea for the Latvian podcast came to her while working at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. She is currently studying in the doctoral study programme in linguistics at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and working as a research assistant and guest lecturer at the Faculty of Translation Studies. She also runs the company “Pieturzīmes” and translates and edits texts. In addition, there are social media posts on language topics, articles on news portal “Delfi” and other publications, as well as various seminars and workshops on business correspondence, written communication, marketing copywriting, and more. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, as well as getting lost in TV series and books.

Of course, “Pieturzīmes” wouldn’t be the same without its inspiring and amazing guests. The most popular episodes so far include those with a rap musician ansis (episode No. 25), professor at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Juris Baldunčiks (episode No. 14), linguists Evelīna Zilgalve and Jānis Veckrācis (episode No. 2), comedian Džemma Sudraba (episode No. 18), professor at Liepāja University Linda Lauze (episode No. 23), and others. When asked about the most memorable insights and people she would like to have a conversation with, Aiga mentions Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Jānis Krīvēns (Krivenchy), Sandra Glāzupa, and Jānis Skutelis. One particularly memorable insight comes from Gatis Zamurs, who said: “When you do something publicly, there will always be someone who doesn’t like it, who will criticize, or who will have an opinion about it.” It’s the price that must be paid, and it’s not a high price, because the most important thing is to keep going and not stop.

Aiga encourages everyone who uses the Latvian language daily to practice their language skills just like any other, and to be mindful when speaking – choosing the most accurate and fitting words. She emphasizes avoiding unnecessary influences from other languages and embracing the richness of the Latvian language!

The podcast can be listened to for free on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms.

Students of VUAS visit the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 08:21:36 GMT

Students of the Master’s study program “Translation of Language for Special Purposes Texts” at the Faculty of Translation Studies (FTS) of VUAS participated in a virtual visit to the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) of the European Commission (EC) on October 29 of this year. This was possible because representatives of the DGT organized the visit in person for students and lecturers from the Baltic States, and in the form of a teleconference via the video conferencing tool Cisco Webex for universities in the Nordic countries and Hungary.

The event was well attended – nearly 300 participants had the opportunity to learn about the structure, work, and daily life of a translator at the EC’s Directorate-General for Translation. Participants had the chance to explore presentations on the translation tools used by translators, the workflow of the translation process, the most frequently used working languages, and how translators carried out their work during the coronavirus pandemic. At the event, VUAS students also had the opportunity to ask questions about the work of a terminologist and how to apply for a job in the translation service.

The teleconference participants met with staff from the Latvian Language Department of the DGT in breakout rooms. The meeting was led by the head of the department, Mareks Graudiņš. In response to questions from VUAS students about the amount of translation to be completed within a certain timeframe and their journey to the EC’s DGT, former VUAS FTS graduates Ivita Jakovļeva and Jānis Līmežs, who are currently employed at the DGT, also shared their insights.

The Master’s study programme “Translation of Language for Special Purposes Texts” of the FoTS of VUAS is included in a project implemented by the DGT–the cooperation network “European Master’s in Translation” (EMT). The network promotes the exchange of good practice between participating universities. Participation in this network is considered a mark of quality, as sharing experiences and using various study methods enhances the quality of education and fosters the professionalism and suitability of future translators for the European job market, where highly qualified translators are in demand. This virtual visit was one of the events for the EMT network partner universities, expanding the interests and knowledge of students and lecturers about the specifics of translation within European Commission institutions.

On October 20th and 21st, the EMT partner universities held a conference and colloquium at Leipzig University titled “The Language of Europe”. Among other topics, there was a discussion on the well-being of translators in their work and service-based translator education. The keyword in this process is accessibility in various aspects: accessibility of online content, streaming opportunities, mobile devices as additional tools that ensure content accessibility, etc. Discussions during the EMT conference particularly highlighted so-called specialized translation in special media, where news is disseminated, and content is available to a wide audience. Necessary guidance on how linguistic research and information technology (IT) (e.g. live subtitling) can make World Wide Web content more accessible to different audiences. Translating news content is just one way to make content available on the web. Fake news and media literacy at its various levels were a hot topic of discussion among the conference participants. The range of student research topics was also examined, for example, the inclusion of media accessibility issues in bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral theses,” reports the director of the master’s study program, Silga Sviķe.

Representatives from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences participated in the final conference of the project “Next Generation Micro Cities of Europe”

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:02:42 GMT

The final conference of the project “Next Generation Micro Cities of Europe” has been held, during which project partners, education experts, and other guests shared their experience, the lessons learned, and conclusions on the innovations in urban development.

The conference consisted of panel discussions where the representatives of the project “Next Generation Micro Cities of Europe” from Ventspils and Valmiera talked about the experience they gained during the project and the innovations implemented in their educational institutions. The participants also discussed generational marketing, innovative educational opportunities, modern-day education, attracting young professionals to cities, and other topics related to innovative growth.

During the project, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has developed several innovative products that considerably improve the study process: the interactive digital classroom, the video studio, and the mobile application VeApp. These innovative products are already available to use by both the staff and students of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

The conference was attended by the chairman of Ventspils City Council Jānis Vītoliņš, the chairman of Valmiera City Council Jānis Baiks, the project manager Laura Čodere, representatives from the European Commission, education experts, including experts from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences that are involved in the project, employers, representatives from business development organizations, as well as specialists from ministries and government agencies.

Ten cooperation partners from Ventspils and Valmiera are participating in the project. The project officially ends on October 31, 2021, when all partners will submit final reports on the work performed during the three-year project.

This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. The content of this press release does not reflect the official opinion of the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in the press release lies entirely with the author.

Within the framework of the project “Next Generation Micro Cities of Europe,” VUAS has developed several innovative products to improve the study process.

info@jngms.com (Janis Gulbis) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 11:49:36 GMT

Since November 1, 2018, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has been involved in the project “Next Generation Micro Cities of Europe”. Ten cooperation partners from Ventspils and Valmiera are participating in the project. During the implementation of the project, several innovative products have been developed to introduce and use digital solutions that would considerably improve the workflow at the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. These innovative products are available to use by both the staff and students of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

One of these products is the VeApp information system that has been developed as a unique daily study and activity planning, information sharing and communications tool for the convenience of the students and staff of VUAS. The VeApp is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android smartphone users.

On the app, the users can view their current study or event calendar. Students can now find and contact the lecturers and the VUAS staff, as well as quickly locate rooms at the university. With the check-in function built in the app, the students can easily mark themselves present at lectures and events by using their smartphones to scan the QR codes displayed on special LCD screens near the most frequently used classrooms. These screens will display the list of lectures, any published changes, and the QR codes necessary for the digital check-in using a smartphone.

Additionally, the application serves as an informative platform through which important announcements about news and opportunities at the university can be shared in real-time. Meanwhile, the VeApp content control system enables the VUAS administrative staff to easily and securely control the sections and content of the app in real-time, allowing for a quick and efficient way to adapt to different levels of change.

Other innovative achievements and upgrades include the new video studio which is currently being equipped and will soon be available for use. The video studio will serve as a tool for creating new materials and modernizing the existing ones. The studio provides professional filming, lighting and sound equipment, as well as top-class editing and recording software. The equipment and software can be used for streaming and online classes, recording and editing videos for various purposes.

During the project, room C406 was modernized and improved and is now proudly called the interactive digital classroom. The new interactive digital classroom was set up to assist the daily work of lecturers with various tools. It provides the lecturers a convenient way to present their lectures both in-person and remotely, or in a mixed-mode, even if the students are on-site and the lecturer is working remotely. The classroom is equipped with a microphone and a camera for online transmission of the lecturer, as well as webcams for students, digital tablets for drawing and writing on the computer, and an interactive whiteboard that provides remote access.

In the project, the word "innovative" is not limited to just technology and tools, but it also includes methodology which plays an important role. For example, 36 hours of training were organized on the topics of creating a modern online course, the tools and versatile possibilities on Moodle, including the use of interactive tools, modernized FIT courses, additionally, the faculties of VUAS and the Lifelong Learning Center developed distance learning courses with video-based content. Momentum has increased for effective and meaningful use of various ICT tools in the process of teaching study courses.

The project "Next Generation Micro Cities of Europe" has initiated the development of distance learning and laid the foundation for its development where, through the use of a technological base and appropriate methodologies, we will be able to develop innovative approaches to studying.

The international conference BAASP 2021 has ended

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:21:20 GMT

From September 23 to 24, Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (ERI VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences organized the seventh international conference „Baltic Applied Astroinformatics and Space data Processing” (BAASP 2021).

BAASP 2021 is both a business and scientific conference in the Baltic region, which will be attended by scientists from Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Egypt, India and Greece. The conference will discuss current issues in astrophysics, space research related issues in information and data processing, including those related to the observations of natural and artificial objects in near-Earth space. Part of the presentations will also be devoted to the modernization and improvement of astronomical and radio astronomical instruments.

Due to the existing epidemiological restrictions, BAASP 2021 took place online using the Zoom platform. During the conference, 38 reports were presented, including 32 presentations and 6 online posters. 117 participants have used the opportunity to register for the conference. As the conference was organized over two days, the total number of participants was different for each day, for example, on September 23 it was 63 participants, while on September 24 - 60 participants. Interestingly, thanks to the opportunity to participate in the conference remotely, a significant number of participants from very distant countries, such as Japan and India, and even from relatively close countries, such as Greece and the Netherlands participated.

It should also be noted that BAASP 2021 not only provided an opportunity to get acquainted with the reports (published presentations of participants' reports can also be found on the ERI VIRAC website - here), but also, it provided an opportunity for its participants to establish new cooperation opportunities. For example, Vladislavs Bezrukovs, leading researcher of ERI VIRAC and Vice Chairman of BAASP 2021 Organizing Committee, pointed out that thanks to the conference Ventspils University of Applied Sciences researchers were able to show their new scientific results in radio astronomy and astronomy, show the development of VIRAC infrastructure of the last years. It was interesting to hear what discoveries were made by researchers from other institutes and observatories around the world, with which we have been cooperating for several decades. For example, the conference was attended by representatives of the JIVE Institute (Netherlands), Lund Observatory (Sweden), Odessa Astronomical Observatory and the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Ukraine) and in Nizhny Novgorod based Radiophysical Research Institute (Russia). The presenters were impressed by the adaptation of old Ukrainian and Greek telecommunications antennas to radio astronomical tasks, as well as the involvement of several thousand Indian students in astronomical data processing and asteroid exploration (reporter from the Rajasthan Government’s Department of Science and Technology). During the conference, discussions were held on the possibility of using artificial intelligence to process radio astronomical data. The reports read in the conference in the form of a presentation will be available on the conference website.

The conference participants were offered a unique opportunity to participate in a virtual tour of VIRAC radio telescopes, and within the virtual tour even climb to the highest point of the RT-32 radio telescope – the platform of the primary focus of the antenna – at a height of more than 50 m, as well as visit the underground tunnels abandoned by the Red Army in the area of the surveillance base and, even going back in time, to track how radio telescopes have changed (approximately) over the last 10 years of modernization.

In addition, the conference participants received souvenirs developed within the conference - Report Summary Brochure (the content of the Report Summary Brochure is available on the ERI VIRAC website - here.) And a Photo Frame containing ERI VIRAC RT-32 image (see below), as well as conference participation certificate.

Scientific articles based on the reports of the conference will be published in the “Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences” and “Astronomical and Astrophysical Transactions” (AApTr).

The total cost of the project “Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)” (project No. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009) is 262 751.76 euros and the planned amount of the European Regional Development Fund is 85.00 % of eligible expenses – 223 339.00 euros, and the amount of state funding is 15% of eligible expenses – 39 412.76 euros.

Congratulations to Manfred Schneps-Schneppe with the status of State emeritus scientist!

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:14:29 GMT

This year on October 1st, after evaluating 69 applications submitted to the State emeritus scientist competition, the Board of the state emeritus scientists supported the granting of the status of State emeritus scientist to 32 scientists, including Manfred Schneps-Schneppe, the leading researcher of ERI VIRAC.

Congratulations!

The Faculty of Translation Studies of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences celebrates the European Day of Languages and the International Translation Day

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 12:04:45 GMT

On October 6, the Faculty of Translation Studies (TSF) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences celebrated two late September events – the European Day of Languages (26/09) and the International Translation Day (30/09).

How to become a saint? That was the question Assoc. Prof. Astra Skrābane asked the wide audience of students gathered, after reviewing the remarkable life of Saint Jerome (347-420). Yes, Saint Jerome is the patron not only for translators, but for students, doctors, pilgrims, archaeologists, librarians and booksellers as well. The answer was – to translate a lot and to learn languages.

Guests of this event were translators who live and work at Ventspils International Writers and Translators' House in October: Laura Liubinavičiute and Ieva Venskevičiute from Lithuania, and Agnese Kasparova and Maija Indraša from Latvia.

There was a wide range of languages represented: Latvian, Lithuanian and English, of course, but also Spanish, French, Basque, Turkish, Chinese, Latin, Persian. During the event students were actively engaged in discussions and were glad to share their opinions about what they heard, which encouraged feedback between students and the experienced translators.

The information gained from the students' brief interviews about translation as a process and translation as the result of this process will be useful both in their studies and in life.

Study Process Realization in the 2021/2022 Academic Year and the Categorisation of Students Concerning the Vaccine and Entering Latvia

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 06:14:56 GMT

The new study year has begun, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) is happy to welcome our new students – both local and international. Going into a new academic semester amid the current global health crisis can be complex and challenging for everyone involved. As we try our best to navigate the restrictions and keep us all as safe as possible, we ask you to embrace patience and understanding during this transition period. Please take the time to acquaint yourself with the estimated study process at VUAS and the requirements for students arriving in Latvia from another country.

The Estimated Study Process

According to the VUAS rector orde r , the study process shall be realized in-person in all study programs of VUAS, following the approved study plan and the lecture schedule in the fall semester of the academic year 2021/2022.

Studies for first-year students in the English-taught programs, such as Business Administration and Languages and Intercultural Communication, will start from October, but in the International Business and Export Management – from September 17.

Participation in the in-person education process is allowed only to the personnel and students with an interoperable certificate of complete vaccination or certificate of the recovery from the virus or a valid confirmation (in a paper or digital form) about a negative Covid-19 test result that is valid for a fixed period.

The Rector’s order foresees a transition period until October 10, 2021 (when students with a testing certificate can participate in studies); after October 10, only students with an interoperable certificate of complete vaccination or certificate of recovery from the virus will be allowed to participate in the in-person study process.

During the transition period, the remote learning mode will also be provided (in addition to full-time in-person classes, lecturers provide the student with the opportunity to participate in the class remotely, setting additional requirements).

All incoming full-time international students and Erasmus students are required to be present on the VUAS campus . However, students who do not have the aforementioned supporting documents or need additional time to acquire them (in the case of students arriving from countries other than the EU states) ought to study remotely. During the remote studies, they need to follow established additional requirements of the program director and study course lecturers until they can provide the necessary supporting documentation to join the in-person study process.

All students will need to present a valid interoperable certificate at the VUAS entrance or certificate of a negative COVID-19 test result, which is valid for 48 hours.

Requirements for Students Arriving in Latvia From Another Country

All persons who intend to enter Latvia must fill in an electronic confirmation form on the Covidpass website. They must complete the certificate within 48 hours before crossing the border of the Republic of Latvia! You will need to indicate many things, but first of all, this: the person has a Europe’s Digital COVID-19 Certificate, which confirms the completion of vaccination, the fact of recovery, or a negative COVID-19 test.

Further, we would like to provide insight into the five types of student categories concerning vaccination.

1. The person has been vaccinated in one of the EU countries with a European Medicines Agency (EMA) registered vaccine (AstraZeneca, Moderna, Janssen, Pfizer), or has previously been ill with COVID-19 and has received the digital EU COVID-19 certificate – when arriving in Latvia, self-isolation is not required, nor is a COVID-19 test.

2. The person has not been vaccinated – when arriving in Latvia, the person must have a negative COVID-19 test that is no older than 72 hours; when arriving from some countries, self-isolation is not required; when arriving from most countries the self-isolation is 10 days. The self-isolation can be ended if, on the 7th day, a negative test is confirmed. After that, submit documents for a TRP, and, after its receipt, can vaccinate in Latvia and receive a digital EU COVID-19 certificate.

3. The person has been vaccinated with an EMA registered vaccine , however, is outside of the EU and has not received a digital COVID-19 certificate – when arriving in Latvia, goes into self-isolation (not from all countries), after that submits documentation for a TRP, and after its receipt, turns to the National Health Service, which issues a COVID-19 certificate based on the received vaccination.

4. The person has been vaccinated with a vaccine that has not been registered with the EMA – when arriving in Latvia, goes into self-isolation (not from all countries) after that submits documents for a TRP, and after its receipt, vaccinates again in Latvia after the vaccine receives a COVID-19 certificate.

5. The person has not been vaccinated and does not wish to be vaccinated – when arriving in Latvia, goes into self-isolation and after that submits documents for a TRP. To participate in various events, the person takes COVID-19 tests regularly. The student pays for the test themselves.

You may read more about self-isolation here , and here is the list of countries subject to special safety measures. In addition, all incoming full-time international students and Erasmus students will have an opportunity to self-isolate in the VUAS student dormitories.

For more information on the guidelines for in-person and remote study process implementation for the containment of the spread of COVID-19 infection in the academic year, 2021/2022 in Ventspils University of Applied Sciences see HERE

Take care of yourselves and the people around you – we are all in this together. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or worries!

As one of the results of OMG, the project team releases the developed C++ program code for describing atoms on the surface of interstellar grains.

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 19:28:16 GMT

As one of the results of OMG, the project team releases the developed C++ program code for describing atoms on the surface of interstellar grains. Two documents describing the code are attached, as well as the code itself as zipped text files. The code contains some comments in Russian.

For more information, contact Project researchers ( juris.kalvans@venta.lv ).

If download is not starting, - C++ code and attached documents are available also at our GitHub repository here.

Fractal dimensions of simulated interstellar dust grains

Three-dimensional microscopic numerical model of an icy mantle of an interstellar dust particle

C++ program code for describing atoms on the surface in interstellar grains

"I Encourage International Students Like Myself to Apply VUAS For An Impeccable University Experience" - Benedicta Abotar Sey

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 07:50:11 GMT

Remote studies during Covid-19 – unrealistic or undoubtedly achievable? The international student from Ghana at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) is proof that not only is it possible to study remotely, but it is also possible to finish the academic year with excellent results. You can learn more about her experience by reading the interview.

One of Us: Benedicta Abotar Sey from Ghana

My name is Benedicta Abotar Sey, and I am from Ghana. I am currently a student at VUAS, and I am undertaking a master’s degree in International Business and Export Management. Before my studies in Ventspils, I was a Data Entry officer at my former company, Magnate Technology, in Ghana. I was also a Human Resource Assistant at the Electricity Company of Ghana North District in Tema. Additionally, I have experience in customer service, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

As for my education, I studied at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, where I received my bachelor's degree in English and Sociology, and I attained my high school degree at the Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School. I look forward to gaining the expertise I need in pursuit of my entrepreneurial dreams and becoming a data scientist for a reputable company.

Why VUAS?

VUAS was recommended to me by a recruiter and, after I did further research, I concluded that it appealed to everything I needed. Latvia, a small country with a quiet ambience and serene atmosphere, is just what I needed. In addition, it was doing quite well on the school rankings, and, regarding the tutors, the students' reviews for my programme were also quite good. As a culture enthusiast, I was intrigued by Latvian culture and learning new ways of doing things.

How were your studies, despite the distance and Covid-19?

I have always loved to study in the classroom, however, due to circumstances beyond our control, both the school and its students had to study online and make it work. I must say, some of the tutors at VUAS have been extremely helpful. They have conducted lectures online, just like it is done in class. Even though sometimes it is a bit challenging for some of us, I think the tutors have put in their maximum effort into helping the students understand the courses. One professor that stood out for me was Professor Greg M. I loved his way of teaching and even the fact that he used his free time to help us understand our lessons. Ultimately, even though I was dreading online studies, it has been an interesting experience.

What would you suggest for new students?

No matter the situation you find yourself in, you should adjust, just as we have adapted to studying online to not miss out on our school years. Also, I encourage international students like myself to apply to VUAS for an impeccable university experience.

VUAS Hosts The International Conference BAASP 2021

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 06:26:27 GMT

On 23-24 September, Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (ERI VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) will host the 7th International Scientific Conference “Baltic Applied Astroinformatics and Space data Processing” (BAASP 2021).

It is both a business and scientific conference in the Baltic region, in which scientists from Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Egypt, India and Greece will participate with their presentations. The conference will address current issues in astrophysics, space research related issues in information and data processing, including those related to the observations of natural and artificial objects in near-Earth space. Some of the presentations will focus on the modernisation and improvement of astronomical and radio astronomical instruments.

Due to existing epidemiological restrictions, BAASP 2021 will be held online using the Zoom platform. The conference programme includes 38 reports, 32 of which are presentations and 6 — online posters. As of today (14 September), 85 participants have already registered. Interestingly, thanks to the opportunity to participate remotely, a significant number of participants from countries as far afield as Japan and India, both scientists and students, will participate in this conference.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to participate in a virtual tour of the VIRAC radio telescopes and even climb the highest point of the RT-32 radio telescope — the platform of the prime focus of the antenna — at a height of more than 50 m, as well as see the underground tunnels left by the Red Army on the observatory site and, even going back in time, track how radio telescopes have

changed (approximately) over the last ten years of modernisation.

Scientific papers based on the conference presentations will be published in the scientific journals “Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences” and “Astronomical and Astrophysical Transactions” (AApTr).

More Information about Conference "Baltic Applied Astroinformatics and Space data Processing" is available HERE

The total costs of the project “Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)” (project No. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009) are EUR 266,721.77, planned amount of the European Union Regional Development Fund is 85.00% of the eligible expenses, and the amount of state funding is 15% of the eligible expenses.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosts Erasmus students from Germany, Turkey and Italy

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 12:47:41 GMT

During a time when transnational mobility has been limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is particularly pleasing to welcome new Erasmus students from partner universities abroad. In the autumn semester of the academic year, 2021/2022 seven Erasmus students study at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences – three from Germany, two from Italy and two from Turkey.

There was a virtual meeting “Welcome Day” or an acquaintance event on Friday, September 3 at 15:00, for Erasmus programme students. The new foreign students were solemnly addressed by Rector Kārlis Krēsliņš, wishing the time of their studies in Ventspils to be rich in success and filled with new emotions.

The “Welcome Day” event was not intended only for getting to know one another, but also as an ice breaker activity for young foreign students who have agreed to the challenge of being part of a student community in a distant and most often unknown country, environment and culture. In such cases, engaging games on topics of interest for young people are great. Each student was asked to tell about one item the student had taken with him and why it mattered to him. The answers were as different as their personalities – a sketch pad because they really love to draw, a mug for sipping a drink they brought from their country, a Michael Jordan's autobiography, which describes the student's passion – basketball. By the way, the VUAS basketball court has already been positively approved and the student plans to spend a lot of his free time there. Some other answers – a diary to thoroughly document the Erasmus experience in Latvia, a laptop as a support for everyday studies as well as for communicating with family, and figure skates, because the student is professionally engaged in figure skating and is excited about Ventspils ice hall where she will be able to continue her development during the exchange studies.

Students received practical information about venta email, LAIS, Moodle, BBB and other VUAS resources, as well as were introduced to the great assistant Student Guide . It should be mentioned that this year each Erasmus student also has a friend (buddy).

The Erasmus+ programme for VUAS is co-financed by the European Union. More information on Erasmus+ is available on the website of the State Education Development Agency Republic of Latvia www.viaa.gov.lv under the Erasmus+ section or the program website www.erasmusplus.lv.

Project “Evolution of Organic Matter in the Regions of Star and Planet Formation (OMG)” has successfully ended

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 19:32:26 GMT

At the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” (VIRAC), on August 31, ends a significant 3-year-long Fundamental and applied research project of the Latvian Council of Science No. lzp-2018 / 1-0170 “Evolution of Organic Matter in the Regions of Star and Planet Formation OMG)”

The OMG project launched in 2018 has been successful in several ways. The main result – five scientific publications – was achieved shortly after the midpoint of the project. Two visits of foreign researchers have taken place; two master’s theses have been defended. It has been harder attending scientific conferences, many of which have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four have been attended instead of the planned six conferences, although the total number of reports read is seven.

In terms of content, all five project research tasks are filled with activities and results. In the first task (observations of the structure and kinematics of star-forming areas), observations of space masers were performed in massive star-forming nebulae with the RT-32 radio telescope at the VIRAC observation base in Irbene.

In the second task – to develop a three-dimensional microscopic interstellar dust particle ice casing numerical model – an amorphous carbon dust model was created, through which hydrogen atoms move. Such atomic level model allows calculating the atomic binding energy to the dust surface, which is an important parameter in less detailed astrochemical models, which describe many processes in space.

The third task concerned the chemical modeling of massive protostar gas-dust casings. It is (still) researching the entry of organic compounds in the ice layer onto interstellar dust into the gas phase, which is possible when the dust, when colliding with each other at a speed of a few tens of meters per second, knocks out layers of ice from each other. Such a process may be important to explain the observations of organic matter occurring in ice in the gas in interstellar nebulae. The study manuscript will soon be submitted to one of the international astronomical journals. Figure No. 1. is typical for articles on this type of process comparing the effect of the process on the concentration of organic compounds in simulations without process (1), with medium process expression (2) and with strong expression (3). It can be seen that collisions can increase the concentration of these substances by up to 100 times.

The fourth task of the project was the effect of the initial conditions of interstellar nebulae and the development of their star-forming nuclei on the formation of organic molecules. The first part of the task – the effect of initial conditions of nebulae – was studied by participating in observational and astrochemical modeling research. The second part on the development of star-forming nebulae was started in the spring of 2019 with the researcher of the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences Dr. J. Pavlyuchenkov’s visit to Ventspils. As a result, extensive data on radiation, temperature, density and other physical conditions in star-forming nebulae have been calculated. The data can be used in astrochemical models, but the relevant manuscript will be submitted for publication shortly.

According to the fifth task of the project, the formation of complex organic compounds in the protoplanetary disk was modeled by calculating the distribution of these substances along the disk cross-section, which was modeled in two dimensions at 4400 spatial disk points.

Although the OMG has ended, the direction of astrochemistry at the VIRAC continues with the writing of new project applications and new research. Currently, the focus is on the organic star formation of organic compounds, the interaction of cosmic rays with ice-covered interstellar dust, and the movement and transformation of molecules on ice on the dust surface. These dusts mean more than we think; after all, in the interstellar environment and in the Protosun nebula they were the ones who created the substances needed to create life on Earth.

The research is implemented by the Latvian Council of Science Fundamental and Applied Research Project No. lzp-2018 / 1-0170 “Evolution of Organic Matter in the Regions of Star and Planet Formation (OMG)” and lasts for 36 months. The total project funding is 300,000 EUR.

The New Study Year Will Begin at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 06:02:43 GMT

At Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) on the 1st of September, the new study year will begin with a formal event in the VUAS garden at 13:00. Both first-year students and older course students are welcomed to participate in the event so that together we can mark the start of a new academic year.

During the event student of VUAS will be congratulated by the University rector Ph.D. Kārlis Krēsliņš, Ventspils City Council President Jānis Vītoliņš, deans of VUAS faculties and lecturers. The celebratory matriculation ceremony will be accompanied by live music and a celebration cake.

To get to know their new classmates and Ventspils, first-year students are invited to take part in the Freshmen Go organized by the VUAS Student Council the day before the start of the academic year – on the 31st of August at 14.00. The event will start in the VUAS garden and continue with a tour of the VUAS premises and the city of Ventspils.

Studies During COVID-19: VUAS Translation Student Jolanta Zaklina Experience

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 14:15:54 GMT

Talking to students daily reveals how strong we need to be to accept the new situation and move forward and meet our goals despite everything. We are happy for our students, who do not succumb to difficulties but are looking for practical solutions to rearrange their daily lives so that it is as comfortable as possible.

Today we want to share the study experience of our student Jolanta Zaklina (Žaklīna) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

After the restriction of full-time studies in person because of the Covid-19, I had a lot to do, for example, buy a high-quality microphone and a camera to participate actively in the classes. At first, it was hard to get used to the situation because everything changed. I have noticed that it was harder to motivate myself when studying at home. I have interacted with lecturers and classmates only online, which seemed strange. The classes took place on the BBB platform, not in lecture rooms. I did not have to go to university anymore. However, before each lecture, I had to ensure that the computer, headphones, and microphone worked. Sometimes, I had to solve different technical problems. I have spent a lot more time in front of my computer, so it was essential to find time for walking or riding a bike. The studies during Covid-19 also have challenged me, checked whether I was able to adapt. Nevertheless, I have completed all the challenges and realized that the place you are studying in (room in a house, lecture room) is not that important. The most important thing is for a student to have a desire to gain knowledge and develop skills.

With the Help of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Helēna Rožalne Participates in the Windsurfing World Championship in the Raceboard Class and Receives the 3rd Place

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 13:26:11 GMT

In Spring of 2021 Helēna Rožkalne 3-year student turned to VUAS Student Council with a request for financial support for her at the World Championship. Without any doubt in the member meeting her request was supported, and last week she participated in the Windsurfing World Championship in the Raceboard Class, which took place from the 16th until the 21st of August in Riga, Ķīšezers. In total 64 participants from 13 countries – Germany, France, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Russia, United Kingdom, Croatia, and Lithuania – participated in the championship.

Even though male participants were significantly more than female, Helēna reveals that the competition was fierce and she had to fight for the achieved award. In total men took 14 trips, but women – 12. The weather was very inconsistent – from heavy rain and wind that reached 15m/s, till sunny and almost windless. When looking back on the week full of challenges, Helēna concludes that the changing weather was a perfect way to figure out the fastest and most skilled windsurfers in the world.

About how colorful the competition was, Helēna reveals: "It was not boring even for a second. On the first day, I experienced a painful fall, resulting in very unpleasant bruises and I pulled some muscle in my back. My best trip was canceled due to a storm that started right before the finish. ALL of my muscles were hurting. I constantly felt like I could eat a horse, so eating a chocolate bar every day was the norm. However, there were a lot of positive emotions – the exciting stress before every trip, the joy of every good result, the smiles and nice words from the competitors on and off the water. The best feeling though was the excitement after the last trip when I knew I had kept my position and would finish the championship in 3rd place in the women's category. Oh my God! It was hard to believe that my dream had come true, but I did it and now I can safely say that I'm pretty good at windsurfing. Of course, I couldn't have done it without the support of my close ones, the championships Latvian team, and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Student Council. Now I have to prepare for the Latvian championship and set a new goal for international competitions for the next season."

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences proudly congratulates Helēna on her achievements and wishes her the best of luck in her future championships!

ERASMUS+ K2 Project Conclusion Will Take Place in Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 09:45:50 GMT

From the 16th to the 20th of August the Erasmus + K2 project conclusion event will take place in Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. The intensive program participants from 7 countries: France, Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Latvia; will attend the closing event.

The participants of the project are interpreters, translators and language experts, and it is possible to meet face-to-face again after a long time. Due to the pandemic, the work was done remotely; however, as the situation improves, participants from Latvia, Spain, Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic will be able to meet face-to-face at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, while representatives from Romania, Portugal and France will continue to participate remotely.

The main goal of the final gathering is to discuss the actualities in the translation field during Covid-19, draw conclusions about future development trends during the next years, as well as look through the intellectual results gathered during the project.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is Now Also Accepting LanguageCert International ESOL Results

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 14:55:49 GMT

We are glad to announce that Ventspils University of Applied Sciences will now accept LanguageCert International ESOL B2 (starting from 25 points) Communicator Written and Speaking exam for Undergraduate programs as proof of English Language proficiency for international students.

LanguageCert is an official certificate that proves your language proficiency for English, Spanish, Turkish and classical Greek. Their official website languagecert.org LanguageCert is committed to developing and delivering high-quality, internationally recognised language exams that enhance individuals’ life, education, and career opportunities worldwide for affordable prices.

For more information on LanguageCert, read their website – https://www.languagecert.org/en

For more information on the application process for VUAS and other accepted ways to prove English proficiency, read HERE

BAASP 2021 - Abstract submission deadline has been extended to August 8th, 2021

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 19:40:32 GMT

Registration and abstract submission - here.

You will receive an e-mail after registration within 3 working days!

For more information please visit - here

E-mail: baasp2021@venta.lv

The International Linguistics Olympiad has concluded

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 13:53:26 GMT

The closing ceremony of the International Linguistics Olympiad was live broadcasted on the website of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) on July 24th at 14.00.

The Olympiad gathered students from 32 countries, and the medal winners in the individual and team categories were announced during the closing ceremony.

Due to the travel restrictions, the Olympiad was held remotely this year, that’s why the organisers from VUAS have done everything to ensure that young people from all over the world could experience a full and eventful celebration of the Olympiad.

The closing ceremony was being filmed at the premises of VUAS, and everyone was invited to watch it live. The recording of the live stream is available on the VUAS Youtube page

Scooby-Doo visits Irbene and the Baltic states as an animated film for children in France

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 19:56:29 GMT

With the famous Mystery Machine, Scooby and all his friends went on a tour of Europe. From the flag to the national anthem, the folk costume, used currencies, the history of the country and the economy, the Scooby-Gang discover different peculiarities of the European Union Member States while having fun.

Watch the animated film here. (french).

Very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) application to detect objects in near and far space

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 19:51:58 GMT

From December 2020, Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) is implementing the scientific project “The application of the forward scatter radar method for the detection of space objects”, No. lzp-2020 / 2-0101. The project researches, develops and evolves new radar methods with the aim of accurately determining the location positions of asteroids and comets approaching Earth.

One of the tasks of the project is to explore the application of a new and unique radar method based on radio wave scattering. This method is based on the applied effect that occurs when a bright celestial body illuminates the studied body, thus the energy is scattered along the line of sight forward, thus significantly increasing compared to the reflected energy. The developed method allows to detect space objects, regardless of its shape, material and radiation intensity. The “through-scattering” location method is implemented by combining radar VLBI technology and the scattering effect of electromagnetic radiation, involving bright space objects as transmitters in observations. By applying this method, the probability of detection of bodies that pose a threat to the Earth can be significantly increased, as well as the method allows to increase the observation distance at which the observation body would be identified.

During the last four months, VIRAC researchers have been working on the detection of space objects using the “through-scattering” location method, thus evaluating the effectiveness of the method in an experimental way. By July 2021, more than 15 experimental sessions were performed using the Irbene radio telescope complex in single station mode and interferometer mode. RT-32 and RT-16 VIRAC radio telescopes (using 32-meter and 16-meter parabolic antennas, respectively) and 1.6 GHz frequency band receivers were used in the experiments. In Figure No.1 the scheme of the experiment is displayed. The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) GPS and Galileo satellites were used as radiation sources or transmitters in the experiments. During the experiments, using the “through-scattering” location method, observation lines “transmitter-receiver” (“transmitter” – a specific navigation satellite, “receiver” – Irbene radio telescopes) were created, thus space debris objects of different sizes were identified, as well as an International Space Station with a total geometric area of approximately 400 m2.

Figures No. 2 and No. 3 show one of the results obtained using the interferometer mode and observing a large fragment of space debris while crossing the “transmitter-receiver” location line. Images are shifted sequentially at 30-second intervals. Figure No. 2 shows the result of the observation before the moment when the fragment of the space debris crosses the “transmitter-receiver” location line, but Figure No. 3 shows the signal obtained at the moment when the fragment passes over the “transmitter-receiver” location. The figures show the power spectra of the interferometer signal, on the x-axis – frequency (Hz), on the y-axis – time (s) and on the z-axis – power in relative units. Two signals can be clearly distinguished from the obtained results: a signal with a slowly changing frequency, which represents the radiation of the satellite, and a signal, the frequency of which changes rapidly over time, thus representing a fast-flying space debris object.

During the experiments, a successful treatment result was obtained in more than 50% of the object observations, observing debris with different geometric areas, at different distances from the Earth and at different angular distances from the location line. The analysis of the obtained results will allow to develop recommendations on how to choose the optimal observation mode for various objects, as well as will allow to develop a methodology for detection of space objects with radio location based on the effect of radio wave scattering.

The research is implemented within the Latvian Council of Science Fundamental and Applied Research Project No. lzp-2020 / 2-0101 “The application of the forward scatter radar method for the detection of space objects”.

International Linguistics Olympiad starts at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 08:11:53 GMT

In the morning of July 19th, the International Linguistics Olympiad began at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS). The Olympiad was live-streamed to young people, who will compete in a week of linguistics challenges, both in teams and individually, from all around the world.

The sunrise is the theme of the opening ceremony. The sunrise marks the beginning of a new day and a new challenge - the Olympiad. This year, about 300 students from 32 countries will partake in the challenge, and with participants from as far away as Australia and the USA, some young people will stay up late to watch the sunrise in Ventspils.

The Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, PhD Kārlis Krēsliņš, the Chairman of Ventspils City Council, Jānis Vītoli, and the Advisor to the Minister of Education and Science, Jānis Ozols, addressed the participants at the opening ceremony. The speeches were complemented by the Olympiad jury representatives Stanislav Gurevich and Ivan Derzhanski, introducing the young linguistics experts to the Olympiad's rules and processes. The participants were also able to learn about Latvian culture by watching a clip from the Song Festival concert and listening to the folk music group "Tautumeitas."

Two four-student teams will represent Latvia. Latvia's first team will be made up of Lorenss Martinsons, Džonatans Miks Melgalvis, Nestors Starostins, and Aleksandra Daņilova. Varvara Gromova, Milana Komisarova, Jūlia Vaikute, and Maksims Libensons will make up Latvia's second team. All of the students will represent Riga State Gymnasium No.1 or RTU School of Engineering.

Latvian teams have competed in the Olympiad several times, including in the Republic of Korea in 2019. VUAS translation studies assistant professor Guntars Dreijers was part of the Latvian team at the Olympiad, and Nestors Starostins of Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 won bronze in the individual test. Latvia has earned two gold medals, four silver medals, and ten bronze medals since the first Linguistics Olympiad in 2003.

Young people from 32 countries take part in the International Linguistics Olympiad

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 07:25:11 GMT

On July 19th, the International Linguistics Olympiad will begin at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS). It is one of 17 International Science Olympiads, and this year around 300 students from 32 nations have confirmed their participation.

The travel restrictions prevent the Olympiad from being held in person; participants will complete the tasks remotely. Two Latvian teams and the jury will be present at Ventspils as exceptions. The remote format is challenging for the organisers. Still, VUAS has prepared technical facilities for the young people to complete the tasks and a jam-packed social program that interesting lectures from VUAS faculty members will supplement.

Two teams of four students each will represent Latvia. Latvia's 1st team will consist of Lorenss Martinsons, Džonatans Miks Melngalvis, Nestors Starostins and Aleksandra Daņilova. The Latvian 2nd team will consist of Varvara Gromova, Milana Komisarova, Jūlija Vaikute and Maksims Libensons. All students represent Riga State Gymnasium No.1 or RTU School of Engineering.

Participant Lorenss Martinsons says that all Latvian teams have been preparing intensively for the Olympiad for two weeks, solving all kinds of problems from previous years' Olympiads, practising problem-solving under time limitations and working as a team. The participants recognise that the tasks will be interdisciplinary, and an excellent understanding of both linguistics and logic are necessary to arrive at the right solution. Of course, language skills are also crucial in the Linguistics Olympiad - Lorenss knows five languages, but the record holder is his teammate Nestor, who can communicate in seven languages.

Latvian teams have competed in the Olympics several times, including in 2019 in the Republic of Korea. VUAS Faculty of Translation Studies Asoc. Prof. Guntars Dreijers was with the Latvian team at the Olympiad, and in the individual event, Riga State Gymnasium 1 student Nestors Starostins received a bronze medal. Since 2003, when the Linguistics Olympiad was held for the first time, Latvia has earned two gold, four silver and ten bronze medals.

Everyone is invited to watch the opening of the Olympiad live on the VUAS website VENTA.LV on July 19th at 10.00 EEST (UTC +3).

The Ministry of Defence will finance the maintenance of the radio telescope

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 08:49:30 GMT

The Ministry of Defence and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences signed a cooperation agreement on Monday, July 12th, confirming the financial support for the Ventspils International Radioastronomy Centre (VIRAC). In addition, the agreement states that the Ministry of Defence will cover a part of VIRAC's maintenance costs for the next three years.

According to the agreement, the Ministry of Defence will allocate no more than EUR 1 050 000 (EUR 350 000 per year) to cover VIRAC maintenance costs from 2021 until 2023 partially.

VUAS rector PhD Kārlis Krēsliņš emphasised that this financial support will allow VIRAC to improve satellite communication and progress in this direction practically. “We will gladly research on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. We have the inherited radio telescopes and a LOFAR station, which VIRAC can use for Ministry of Defence needs, such as determining when storms or other cataclysms would occur, etc. Furthermore, this cooperation agreement creates the path for joint training in the Earth Satellite and Cosmos Technology field, which we could provide to the Latvian National Armed Forces or Latvian National Defence Academy through study programs,” noted the VUAS rector.

“We recognise the significance of this heritage. In this way, the defence field has contributed to the development of Latvia's industry and science. The military has always been connected to the advancement of information and technology. We want both our country and our armed forces to be modern. If others do not see a future for it [investments], we do. After VIRAC and the Ministry of Defence signed the agreement, we will allocate funds for this research if others do not go into depth on these issues,” said defence minister Artis Pabriks.

The VIRAC's Director, Aleksejs Klokovs, also attended the signing and stated that VIRAC scientists are ready to work on fundamental science research and satellite technology projects. The financing from the Ministry of Defence will assure that the ongoing work will be able to continue.

On April 30th, Minister of Defence Artis Pabriks paid a visit to the VIRAC radio telescopes in Irbene and signed a letter of intent with the Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences for collaboration in the usage of the radio telescope infrastructure. On June 29th, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the transfer of defence budget funding to pay a portion of the Irbene radio telescope's maintenance costs.

A summary of the implementation of the plan of the project “Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)”

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:13:26 GMT

On 30 June 2021, another six months of the implementation of the project “Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)” (project No. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009) at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences have passed. Several activities have been implemented during the last six months. Due to the Covid19 pandemic, all business trips have been cancelled, so all activities have been carried out

remotely on online platforms.

Activity 1.2. Business trips for the preparation of “Horizon 2020” and European Union’s 9th Framework Programme international cooperation projects

09-10.03.2021 The director of VIRAC participated in the remote conference “Paris Space Week 2021”. This conference is dedicated to business meetings, exhibitions and innovation challenges in the space industry. Paris Space Week is “The Networking Place” where companies, space agencies, start-ups, buyers and investors in the space industry from all over the world, through prescheduled qualified leads, take part in our innovation challenges, listen to our conferences and share their innovative products. At this event, A. Klokovs had organised 12 One2One meetings with the representatives of the space industry to make contacts, promote VIRAC and build international

cooperation in projects, space technology and pooling of resources. With two of them, cooperation in investment in space technology and implementation of joint projects continues. The VIRAC had created a participant profile in the event system with a full description of activities and services offered, which, according to statistics, had around 25 unique visits. In general, the conference was attended by around 40 speakers and 1,000 participants, over 9,000 business meetings were organised.

17-19.03.2021 The director of VIRAC participated in the remote conference “CYSAT’21”. This is the first European conference on cybersecurity in the space industry, particularly in satellite communications. With easier access to space and the boom of new space services collecting valuable data, space assets are becoming an attractive target for hackers. This 3-day event, in partnership with CYSEC, APSwiss and ESA’s ARTES Applications programme, gives the European space community the opportunity to learn, share and connect on the topic of cybersecurity by bringing selected executives, ethical hackers and experts together. At this event, A. Klokovs had organised 4 One2One meetings with the representatives of the space industry to make contacts, promote VIRAC and build international cooperation in projects, space technology and development of VIRAC services. Discussions continue with Leafspace from Italy, one of Europe’s largest satellite communications companies, about the use of the Irbene radio telescope complex in satellite communications services, satellite technologies and new investment projects, including the construction of new antennas. The VIRAC had created a participant profile in the event system with a full description of activities and services offered. In general, around 21 speakers and 206

participants from 26 countries attended this conference.

Activity 3. Ensuring participation in the JIV-ERIC consortium.

During the six months, Engineering Research Institute “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences has implemented several activities.

Activity 3.2. Business trips (in Latvia and abroad) for ensuring participation in the JIVERIC consortium

21.01.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the ILT Board meeting held online in Zoom to discuss progress in the implementation of LOFAR 2.0 and current issues. The meeting was chaired by Director of the ILT Rene Vermeulen, who first presented the reports on the technical issues of the development of LOFAR 2.0 in HBA LOW (110190 MHz) and HBA MID (170230 MHz) modes and then the discussion continued on the possible solutions.

28.01.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the LOFAR-ERIC Working Group meeting held online in Zoom. The meeting was chaired by J. Ridded-Numan, the representative of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, who started by presenting the issues from the previous meeting on 25.10.2020 to review the ongoing activities and tasks. Then, Director of the ILT Rene Vermeulen reported on tax and investment issues, on the new draft of the Technical Annex, on

the current version of the LOFARERIC Statutes V4.0 and the planned financial plan. At the end, there was a discussion on the future steps in implementing the ERIC project. The ILT Board members from France, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands, as well as the representatives of national ministries of education and science, participated in the meeting. In this meeting, Latvia was represented by Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs and Head of the RIS3 Unit from

the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Ministry of Education and Science Uldis Berķis.

19.02.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the LOFARERIC Working Group meeting held online in Zoom. The meeting was opened by Wim van Cappellen, ASTRON engineer and project manager, with a report on the compatibility of LOFAR1.0 and LOFAR2.0 stations. Discussions continued on the LOFAR2.0 upgrade and ERIC prospects. Director of the ILT Rene Vermeulen reported on a summary of current issues and also events, including the priorities in the financial plan, the timetable.

18.03.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the LOFARERIC Working Group meeting held online in Zoom. The meeting was chaired by J. RiddedNuman, the representative of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, who started by presenting the ongoing activities and tasks for the next meeting of the Working Group on 19.04.2021. The ILT Board members from France, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands, as well as the representatives of national ministries of education and science, participated in the meeting.

31.03.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the ILT Board meeting held online in Zoom. It was chaired by the Director of the ILT Rene Vermeulen, who started by presenting reports on ILT activities and then continued with statistics on observation applications. Dr. Carla Baldovin, ASTRON project manager and LOFAR policy coordinator, spoke about the progress in the implementation of LOFARERIC, the statutes, the return on investment, the financial model of the consortium, the transition process from ILT to ERIC and the next steps. The meeting continued with Wim van Cappellen, LOFAR2.0 project manager, who spoke about current events and progress in the implementation process of LOFAR2.0.

19.04.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the LOFARERIC Working Group meeting held online in Zoom. The meeting was chaired by J. Ridded-Numan, the representative of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, who started by presenting the issues from the previous meeting on 18.03.2021 to review the ongoing activities and tasks. Then, Director of the ILT Rene Vermeulen asked all members of the Working Group to answer six strategic questions for the LOFARERIC implementation process in each member country.

12.05.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the EVN Board meeting held online in Zoom. It was chaired by the Chairperson of the EVN Board Tiziana Venturi, who first presented the issues from the previous meeting on 12.11.2020 to review and adopt the protocol of the previous meeting and review ongoing activities. Then the Chairperson of the EVN Programme Committee Kazi Rygl continued with the results of the scientific activities in the network, statistics on observation applications and trends. This was followed by a discussion among the participants on operational and technical issues of the EVN, including future EVN scientific events and seminars. Then Director of JIVE Paco Colomer spoke about JIVE current events, the interaction between EVN and JIVE, the update of the VLBI global alliance, support for new potential stations and EVN’s communication and information network. At the end, reports from the observatories were presented.

19.05.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the JIVERIC Board meeting held online in Zoom. The meeting was chaired by JIVERIC Director Francisco Colomer and Board Member John Conway, who started by presenting the issues from the previous meeting on

13.11.2020 to review and adopt the protocol of the previous meeting and review ongoing activities. Then Director of JIV-ERIC Francisco Colomer continued with updates on the JIVE strategy, financial flows for 2020, financial forecast for 2021-2024, observational statistics and staff changes. At the meeting, participants voted in favor of admitting the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) to JIVERIC as of 2021. Also, a new chairperson of the JIVE Board, Tiziana Venturi from Italy, and a

new vice-chair, Jose Antonio Lopez Fernandez from Spain, were elected. The meeting was attended by members of the JIVERIC Board and invited organisations from France, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Sweden and the Netherlands, as well as representatives of national ministries of education. Latvia was represented only by a representative of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences.

27.05.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the LOFARERIC Working Group meeting held online in Zoom. The meeting was chaired by Director of the ILT Rene Vermeulen, who started by presenting the current issues and announcements from the member countries.

16.06.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the ILT Board meeting held online in Zoom. The meeting was chaired by the Director of the ILT Rene Vermeulen, who started by presenting the ILT reports and urgent issues for discussion in the consortium. This was followed by a discussion among the members on software development issues, LOFARERIC preparations, budget reports of 2018 and 2019, ILT & ERIC financial plans and the annual reports of the observatories.

21.06.2021 Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs participated in the LOFARERIC Working Group meeting held online in Zoom. The meeting was chaired by J. RiddedNuman, the representative of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, who started by presenting the issues from the previous meeting on 19.04.2021 to look through ongoing activities and tasks. This was followed by a discussion among the members on the statutes, the technical and scientific annexes, the user access policy, the transition model, the decommissioning model and the interim Board.

Activity 3.4 Organisation of events for ensuring participation in the JIVERIC consortium

On 28 April 2021, a workshop and JIV-ERIC Consortium Board meeting took place within project No. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009 “Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)”.

The workshop was attended by the representatives of the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), Riga Technical University (RTU) and the University of Latvia (UL).

At the JIVERIC Consortium Board meeting, Director of VIRAC A. Klokovs spoke about the progress on the project “ATVASE”, problems and obstacles due to the coronavirus pandemic. A. Klokovs also talked about news in the consortium and that several new activities are planned with the Space Agency.

The workshop was opened by Vladislavs Bezrukovs, VIRAC researcher, who presented the VIRAC radio astronomical observations of 2021. Boriss Rjabovs, VIRAC leading researcher, presented radio measurements of the magnetic field in open structures of the solar corona. The seminar was also attended by Ilgmārs Eglītis, the representative of the University of Latvia, who gave a presentation on research at the Baldone Astrophysical Observatory 20202025. Jurģis Poriņš, the representative of RTU, in his presentation spoke about current research in the field of optical frequency combs. At the end of the seminar, Jānis Kaminskis, the representative of RTU, gave a presentation on the role of GeoVLBI and the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) from the perspective of the Nordic Geodetic Commission (NGC).

Taking into account the situation in the country due to Covid19, the seminar and the Board meeting were held on an online platform accessible for everyone interested. The total costs of the project “Support for Preparation of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovations (ATVASE)” (project No. 1.1.1.5/18/I/009) are EUR 262,751.76, the planned amount of the European Union Regional Development Fund is 85.00% of the eligible expenses – EUR 223,339.00, and the amount of state funding is 15% of the eligible expenses – EUR 39,412.76.

The first half-year of the project “Smart complex of information systems of specialized biology lexis for the research and preservation of linguistic diversity” implementation has passed

s20rullrota@venta.lv (Rota Žagare) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:10:30 GMT

The project “Smart complex of information systems of specialized biology lexis for the research and preservation of linguistic diversity” is implemented by researchers of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) Faculty of Translation Studies and researchers and programmers of the Faculty of Information Technology in cooperation with researchers of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies derived public person “Institute of Horticulture”. Regular meetings of project partners are still ongoing to discuss current issues and plan future work.

During the first six months of the project, tasks related to the prototyping and development of open-access interactive multi-functional database-management system (hereinafter – IMDS) have been performed. In the first half of the year, a data entry and management module was developed that allows researchers to enter terms, organism names and plant variety names from various publications, including dictionaries, and link them to relevant bibliographic sources. To ensure IMDS speed during execution, the designed system consists of two parts – a back-end system developed using the Spring Framework and a front-end system developed using React technology. The next months of the project will be dedicated to the development of IMDS tests, as well as the analysis of the collected data based on the developed statistical module.

On May 14, project manager Silga Sviķe with the paper “Use of dictionaries in second and third foreign language acquisition – learning strategy” participated in Liepaja University organized XVIII International Scientific Conference “Language acquisition: problems and perspectives”, which this year was online. The conference presented a learning strategy developed and approved in the research – working with dictionaries – which is useful not only for learning foreign languages, but also for studying at university. Work is currently going on to prepare a scientific publication. From May 30 to June 2, S. Sviķe participated in the online “Summer School for Literary Studies & Digital Humanities” organized by Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands. Participation in summer school is a good opportunity to enrich knowledge about the use of various programs, such as visone, Python, in humanities data research. What has been learned in the summer school seminars will be useful in the analysis of the data collected in the project.

The research is implemented by the Latvian Council of Science Fundamental and Applied Research Project No. lzp-2020 / 1-0179 “Smart complex of information systems of specialized biology lexis for the research and preservation of linguistic diversity”.

Proj. No. lzp-2020 / 1-0179