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While sustainability is about building a better future, resilience is about overcoming internal and external challenges. Crucially, both elements are needed for universities to succeed in today’s world.
The 2025 EUA Annual Conference, hosted by the University of Latvia in Riga from 10-11 April, will strive to define what sustainability and resilience, as multi-faceted concepts, mean for universities. By ‘Connecting the dots on sustainability and resilience’, this event will explore how universities can contribute to a more sustainable future, both on and off campus, while strengthening institutional and societal resilience. So, how can university leadership and communities best pursue sustainability and resilience as key objectives of institutional missions, strategies and activities?
To reflect on this, the 2025 Annual Conference will explore what sustainability means from the point of view of funding, digitalisation, academic careers and university leadership. Sessions will also shine a spotlight on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcasing how they can be put into action by universities. At the same time, participants will reflect on how institutions can become resilient without turning inwards on themselves, in sessions dedicated to knowledge security and inclusion.
Distinguished colleagues,
It is a great honour and pleasure to welcome the attendees of the 2025 European University Association Annual Conference and General Assembly to Latvia!
This is a country with one of the highest proportions of students in Europe. It means that Latvia is a clever, youthful and creative place to be. A place to grow, learn and pursue your dreams.
Welcome to Riga – a beautiful, safe and friendly city that ranks among Top 120 student-friendly cities in the world! If you are here, everything is within easy reach – work and study, great architecture and wilderness, a rich cultural scene and active sports life, travel and leisure.
The University of Latvia (UL) is home to over 15,000 students from 81 different countries. UL is a place to gain a unique study experience, enjoy modern study and research infrastructure, and learn from experienced and professional academic staff. I truly believe that this is an excellent place for brilliant minds.
The university’s historic motto ‘ Scientiae et Patriae’ (For Science and Fatherland) alludes to its prominent position in the country’s economic, societal and scientific processes and reminds me of the unique role universities play in shaping not just the future of our students, but the future of our societies. I look forward to the discussions, ideas, valuable insights and collaborations that will emerge from this year’s conference, and I am confident that together, we will continue to shape higher education as a driver of positive change for the years to come.
We look forward to hosting a productive and inspiring conference and seeing you soon in Riga.
Prof. Gundars Bērziņš Rector, University of Latvia
© Toms Grīnbergs, UL Communication department
Thursday 10 April
Plenary Session 1 - Universities’ role in and for sustainability
Breakout session 1A | Inclusion through digitalisation (video addresses, available via the event app for event participants only)
Breakout session 1B | Scholar-led publishing models: a risky business
Breakout session 1C | Leading sustainable transformation
Plenary session 2 - Towards attractive and sustainable academic careers
Friday 11 April
Breakout session 2A | Risk and resilience in knowledge security
Breakout session 2B | Sustainable income diversification strategies
Breakout session 2C | Beyond greening: putting the SDGs into action
Plenary Session 3 - Universities and the future EU programmes for a sustainable and resilient Europe
About Riga, Latvia
Ranking among the most student-friendly cities in the world, Riga – the capital of Latvia – lies by the Baltic Sea, in Northern Europe. Its medieval Old Town is named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city ’s mix of gothic, art nouveau, eclectic and modern architecture is home to a vibrant cultural life that will please even the most demanding cultural gourmands. Riga’s compact size makes it ideal for daily living, but with its closeness to the Baltic Sea and wild forests – a perfect spot for nature fans too. It is also a great starting point for international travel, as it is well connected with the most popular tourism destinations. Riga is also a regional financial and commercial hotspot.
© Latvia Travel
University of Latvia
Founded in 1919, the University of Latvia (UL) is the leading comprehensive university in Latvia with a prominent standing both in the development of the entire education system and in the overall growth of the country’s economy. Today, UL is developing into the most modern study and research centre in Northern Europe, closely collaborating with industries and political decision-makers. Its alumni are sought-after professionals in the labour market, ranking UL among the top 20 European universities for alumni employment.
The University of Latvia is home for more than 15,000 students from 81 different countries. It offers over 100 study programmes in natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, technical sciences and medicine, and research processes are organized in six faculties and 20 scientific institutes. Over 30 study programmes at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level are taught in English. UL also offers international double degree programmes, joint degree programmes and professional study programmes that allow students to acquire specific professional qualifications (as teachers, engineers, IT specialists, nurses, lawyers).
UL continues to invest in the Torņakalns district of Riga by further developing a new campus. The existing facilities are among the most modern facilities of Northern Europe and future campus extensions are planned to increase international competitiveness of the university even more.
The House of Nature opened its doors to students in 2015, followed by the House of Science in 2019. Five more buildings are planned. The campus embodies the vision of a ‘green university’, applying ICT solutions to meet sustainability and accessibility goals. It is located on a strip of land on the left bank of the Daugava River. In the coming years, the territory of the UL Campus will be augmented by the House of Letters, which will be home to the faculties of humanities and social sciences. The subsequent plans involve construction of a Technology Centre, an academic square, as well as state-of-the-art sports and healthcare infrastructure, car and bicycle parking.
Participants and guests of the 2025 EUA Annual Conference will have the possibility to truly explore the new modern campus buildings as the conference’s main talks will take place at the House of Science.
©Toms Grīnbergs, UL Communication department
