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.