The UL Doctoral School Officially Opened

On Wednesday, 25 September, during the celebration week of the 105th anniversary of the University of Latvia (UL), the ceremonial opening event of the UL Doctoral School took place. This significant event marks the beginning of a new era in the development of science and research in Latvia, offering doctoral candidates a modern and supportive environment for the highest level of academic studies.

The Director of the UL Doctoral School, Prof. Zanda Rubene, emphasized the School’s role as an important driving force of UL research: “The aim of the Doctoral School is to assume institutional responsibility for doctoral-level studies by fostering scientific excellence and supporting the growth of early-career researchers. We are committed to creating an environment that promotes collaboration between emerging and experienced researchers while also ensuring the well-being of doctoral candidates. Achieving this goal requires broad engagement and support from the academic community.”

The event was opened by a lecture delivered by UL Professor Dace Balode: “The motto Sapere aude — ‘Dare to know!’ — symbolizes both the pursuit of knowledge and the courage to overcome the unknown. This desire for understanding, rooted in the philosophy of both Horace and Kant, calls not only for the acquisition of new knowledge but also for the courage to face challenges and assume responsibility. Today we are not merely at the beginning — we are already on the path toward our goal. The courage to develop a new doctoral model requires perseverance, creativity, and bravery, yet it opens the way to excellence and innovation. I wish everyone involved the strength and confidence to continue along this path, because only the boldest can produce outstanding scientific work. Dare to know!” she said.

The audience was also addressed by the Rector of the University of Latvia, Prof. Gundars Bērziņš: “The opening of the UL Doctoral School within the framework of the UL 105th anniversary is a symbolic step on our path toward excellence and new scientific achievements. Today, doctoral studies at UL are being revitalized with renewed strength, emphasizing collaboration and interdisciplinarity — it is precisely within these synergies that innovations and discoveries are born. I wish our doctoral candidates a successful and exciting journey in the world of science, where Sapere aude will become a daily source of inspiration!”

The attendees were also addressed with inspiring remarks by UL Vice-Rector for Research Guntars Kitenbergs, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science for Human Capital, Science and Innovation Development Jānis Paiders, and UL doctoral candidate Imants Krēziņš. Prof. Zanda Rubene, who provided an overview of the Doctoral School’s future development plans, also shared her vision for its future.

At the culmination of the event, the audience enjoyed a unique interaction between science and music created by two Mārcis Auziņš — Chair of the UL Council and quantum physicist Prof. Mārcis Auziņš, and the guitar virtuoso and musician Mārcis Auziņš, symbolizing the synergy between science and art within the academic environment of the University of Latvia.

The UL Doctoral School has officially commenced its work at 4 Kalpaka Boulevard, Riga, where it will be located on the second floor. During the ceremonial opening event, the School’s hall “Sapere aude” was also inaugurated, which will become a central venue for doctoral candidates’ academic discussions and events.

The establishment of the UL Doctoral School is one of the activities within the Recovery and Resilience Facility project “Internal and External Consolidation of the University of Latvia” (No. 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/007), implemented by the University of Latvia and the BA School of Business and Finance, continuing the development of doctoral studies at the University of Latvia initiated in the European Social Fund project “Strengthening the Doctoral Capacity of the University of Latvia within the Framework of the New Doctoral Model” (No. 8.2.2.0/20/I/006).

This translation was prepared using machine translation tools (DeepL and ChatGPT).