Visit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Delegation to the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
On 2 February, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) welcomed a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže. During the visit, the delegation ознакомed itself with the University’s research, innovation, and infrastructure potential and participated in discussions on future cooperation opportunities. A seminar on the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034 was also held as part of the visit. The delegation met with LBTU Rector Irina Arhipova, Vice-Rector for Research Gatis Vītols, Vice-Rector for Finance Linards Sisenis, Vice-Rector for Studies Ilze Beitāne, as well as faculty deans and academic staff. The presentation highlighted LBTU’s role as a driver of innovation in Latvia’s economy and export sectors. The University focuses on life sciences, food technologies, forestry, and veterinary medicine, developing interdisciplinary solutions for sustainable bioeconomy, precision agriculture, and food innovation, as well as dual-use knowledge and technologies for health and defense sectors. During the visit, the delegation toured faculty laboratories, including a demonstration of dry ration meals developed by LBTU and used by the Latvian National Armed Forces. These rations are specially designed, hermetically sealed food products with balanced nutritional value and long shelf life, intended for use in field conditions for both military and civil protection needs in situations where freshly prepared food is not available. The delegation also visited the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, where they familiarized themselves with the renovated and equipped shelters in Jelgava. A discussion addressed bureaucratic challenges related to the establishment of shelters and the adaptation of premises for civil protection purposes, as well as opportunities for cooperation with industry in the areas of education, research, and infrastructure modernization. At the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies, the delegation toured the newly established Drone Laboratory. Discussions focused on the role of higher education institutions in strengthening national security, including the development of competencies in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. State support opportunities for training instructors and pilots, as well as the practical application of unmanned technologies in security and crisis management contexts, were also highlighted. The visit concluded with a meeting with the University’s leadership at Jelgava Palace, where opportunities for further cooperation were discussed. A seminar and discussion on the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034 was also held, with participation from representatives of non-governmental organizations, stakeholders, and other interested parties. The seminar addressed key challenges and opportunities for Latvia to maximize funding in the next EU budget period. Given that Latvia’s share of the budget is relatively small, attention was paid to securing additional funding within the national financing framework, particularly in light of security and defense considerations in border states. The main difficulties relate to convincing net contributor countries to increase their contributions to the EU budget and to allocate additional funding to other Member States. Various budget headings were also discussed, such as competitiveness programmes, under which Latvia may apply for additional EU funding outside the national allocation framework. It was emphasized that success will largely depend on cooperation with other Member States, negotiations, and proactive engagement.
Accreditation Board Held Its Regular Meeting at SEEU
The Higher Education Accreditation Board, operating within the Agency for Quality in Higher Education (AQHE), held its regular meeting today at the premises of South East European University. Hosting this meeting represents an important recognition for our institution and confirms the University’s active role in national quality assurance processes and the development of higher education in the country. South East European University remains committed to the highest academic standards, institutional transparency, and the continuous enhancement of quality in teaching, research, and university governance.
Universidad Europea de Valencia hosts the meeting of the Strategy Board of the European alliance ChallengeEU
On Tuesday, Universidad Europea de Valencia hosted the meeting of the Strategy Board of ChallengeEU, the highest decision-making body of the European alliance of universities of which the Valencian institution is a member. This meeting brought together the rectors of the nine universities that make up the network alongside UEV at the Turia Campus: Offenburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany), University of Life Sciences and Technologies (Latvia), ECAM LaSalle (France), University of Warmia and Mazury (Poland), Mid Sweden University (Sweden), Southeast European University (Republic of North Macedonia), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (Switzerland) and Universidade Europeia de Lisboa (Portugal), in a working session focused on future directions, strategic challenges and the evolution of the project. The day began with a welcome coffee, during which Esther Gómez, Regional Secretary for Universities of the Generalitat Valenciana, gave a few words of institutional greeting to the Rectors of the alliance before starting the programme of activities. During the working session, the Strategy Board was presented with the results of the alliance’s first year of operation and analysed its medium- and long-term strategy, focusing on consolidating its vision and priorities for the coming years. The meeting also allowed progress to be made on the proposal to create double degrees between member universities, as well as exploring the possible incorporation of a Ukrainian polytechnic university as an associate member, in line with ChallengeEU’s commitment to broader and more diverse European cooperation. The meeting was chaired by Tobias Hagen, Director General of ChallengeEU, and Secretary General Sofiia Hecker, both from the University of Offenburg (Germany), the institution responsible for the overall coordination of the alliance. Annette Klinkert, director of city2science, the technical agency that has accompanied ChallengeEU in its application and development process, also participated in the proceedings. It was also agreed at the meeting that the Rector of Universidade Europeia de Lisboa, Helia Gonçalves, would take over the chairmanship of the Strategy Board during the alliance’s second year of operation, replacing Stephan Trahasch, Rector of the Offenburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany). Likewise, the rector of Mid Sweden University (Sweden), Anders Fallström, has been appointed as the new vice-president of the body.
