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 .

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 (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.

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

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.