Interview with the director of Liepaja branch of Riga Stradins University Dita Roli.
– How popular are medical studies?
– Many apply, the budget places are filled to the full.
Students are most interested in the physician assistant program. Many students from bilingual schools whose mother tongue is Russian also apply there.
In second place is nursing, where a specific number of budget places is determined. Usually we take a little more, because there is a dropout every year, students tend to change their minds, some don’t like what they see, some start a family.
In recent years, approximately 30 sisters start their studies, and 20 graduate.
Of course, in such cases, we remind you that it is a place of the state budget, there are no fees for studies, and there is no entrance exam either. However, studying is not easy, it is a challenge for many.
– Do you offer studies only in person?
– Yes, but many students work, we count on that. Nowadays, hardly anyone can afford to study full-time in paid studies without working.
Of course, we have study regulations that stipulate how much can be late, what must be attended, etc. It is a big test for everyone, both students and teachers.
A good tradition in medical studies is that people complete one study program and after some time enroll in an additional one,
for example, initially studying to become a nurse, later studying to become a medical assistant.
There are also people who practically already work, but they need an additional qualification document.
– The state allocated additional quotas for nursing education?
– Yes, for the reason that the funding of the nurses’ budget was supplemented, this year was the first year of winter admission.
16 students applied, they will graduate from the university like the others after four years, only half a year later.
I cannot say whether this will be possible next year.
– Reforms in higher education also affected RSU?
– Yes, the Latvian Academy of Sports Pedagogy also comes to us, so fitness and sports programs will overlap.
At the moment, it is just a year of change, during which we will understand what the next system, studies, will be will overlap whether new branches will be created.
In the last two years, RSU has not been able to complete a fitness group, which is a pity, because there are students who are interested, but not in sufficient numbers to be able to open a group.
The biggest problem is related to psychology.
We fought for psychology studies to be offered in Liepāja also in absentia,
it has not been confirmed yet.
I think it would be useful in Liepāja, considering the lack of specialists. In addition, psychology is most often studied at an already conscious age, when this field appeals professionally or is required by work.
– How do you present study opportunities at RSU?
– Today we have an open door day, when you can come and get to know each other in person. We haven’t been going to schools for a long time, because it doesn’t pay off.
We cooperate with secondary school career counselors, and interested parties call us themselves.
This is the moment when the phone is hot.
We also participate in various events organized by the Board of Education, business days, when we can talk about our programs.
We prefer to welcome those who are really interested in the profession to us and set aside time for a conversation and a tour.
We have started the series of lectures “My choice of medicine”, high school students already know that on average 5-6 times a year there is such a thematic lesson. In recent times, it has been connected remotely from various schools in Latvia. We invite professionals and lecturers who talk about current issues: addictions, sex education, nutrition, etc.
In the summer, together with the Environment, Health and Community Participation Department of the Liepāja City Council and the Youth House, we organize the “Young Medical Camp”, where we invite motivated students who want to study medicine.
– Do you manage to appeal not only to local students?
– Students also come to us from Kuldīga and Ventspils. The people of Ventspils are interested in masseur and fitness program.
There is a whole group of Ventspils residents in nursing this year, because there was an agreement with the Ventspils hospital that their nurses also need a bachelor’s degree.
– Despite this, we hear that there is a shortage of medical professionals. Where do RSU graduates go?
– The base place for practice is the Liepāja Regional Hospital, if we talk about nurses, however, we also have many other students.
After practice of course
everything depends on how the cooperation with the practice manager was, how positive and useful the experience was,
different things happen.
Someone steps in masseuses and during his studies he realizes that he is unable to touch a person, not to mention some more serious medical procedures. We cannot keep someone, it is a free choice.
Of course, all this is also determined by the salary, it is clear that it is different in the private sector and in the practices of family doctors.
Contribution of the media support fund from Latvian state budget funds. The portal liepajniekiem.lv is responsible for the prepared content.
