Representatives from Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences – Agita Līviņa, Agita Šmitiņa, Ilgvars Ābols, and Aigars Andersons – are participating in joint workshops and partner meetings of the project “SIPAS – Advancing Sustainability and Technology in Tourism, Hospitality, and Services Studies through Strategic Industry Partnerships” from April 13 to 22 in India, at Pondicherry University and the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM) in Hyderabad.

At Pondicherry University, representatives of India’s tourism sector gathered to discuss current challenges and developments in the industry, as well as future cooperation ideas, including the development of several educational modules and their implementation in higher education tourism programs. Agita Līviņa opened the event with a speech emphasizing the importance of purposeful work to ensure collaboration leads to tangible results, while Agita Šmitiņa highlighted the significance of developing students’ entrepreneurial skills in higher education and shared Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences experience in organizing events that promote entrepreneurship.

The tourism industry meeting brought together around 40 participants representing a wide range of organizations, including hotels, resorts, local government, tourism education and nature conservation NGOs, food service companies, travel agencies, and tourism sites. The stakeholders in Pondicherry’s tourism sector highlighted several pressing issues. One of the main concerns was the low prestige of tourism and hospitality professions, which are often seen as a last-choice study path due to the demanding workload and low wages. There was a strong emphasis on avoiding overtourism and preventing the transformation of cultural heritage sites—stressing instead the importance of preserving and showcasing heritage as a valuable asset through restoration and care. An interesting point raised was the generational shift in behavior. With many families now raising only one child, today’s youth display notably different behavior patterns. Universities must learn how to effectively engage with students who bring these new dynamics into the classroom. Finally, waste management and pollution were also identified as critical issues. However, positive examples from within the industry were shared, demonstrating how these challenges can be addressed effectively. One of the participants, a sustainability manager from a hotel, emphasized the importance of understanding sustainability in a broad sense—economically, socially, and environmentally.

Project partners also made an honorary visit to the Minister of Tourism of Puducherry, Shri. K. Lakshminarayanan, presenting opportunities for developing tourism education within the SIPAS project and reinforcing collaboration between academic professionals and industry experts.

The visit continues at the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (NITHM) in Hyderabad, where discussions on the next stages of the project will take place, along with short lectures and workshops for Indian students and tourism industry representatives.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

The first-year doctoral students of the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences doctoral school and their scientific supervisors met at a workshop, during which the new doctoral model was discussed, as well as in a discussion with the rector of ViA, leading researcher Ph.D. Agnese Dāvidsone, the main aspects of open science were discussed.

According to the new doctoral model, doctoral students in Latvia are no longer students, but the scientific staff. This model was introduced in all Latvian higher education institutions in the fall of 2024. “This means that doctoral students themselves have to think about how to get involved in various scientific activities, and scientific supervisors have the task of involving and creating opportunities where doctoral students can participate in the implementation of real scientific results, including various scientific conferences, new research, writing scientific project applications and other ways. Doctoral students have the opportunity to understand what it means to be a scientist and build a career in science from the first year,” says Ph.D. A. Dāvidsone.

A. Dāvidsone led a discussion on ethical issues related to open science. Open science was affected by changes in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when funders of higher education institutions increasingly began to demand that science be available in various ways and to all groups in society, including open data, open research infrastructure, public science, etc. Other issues included in the broad concept of open science were also discussed.

Open science is one of the main themes of the project "E³UDRES² Ent-r-e-novators" (No. 101071317), which promotes the development and implementation of the open science concept by all participating institutions - universities in Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Romania and Latvia. It also promotes the acquisition of doctoral degrees by students.

At E³UDRES², we believe that innovation, creativity, inclusion, and passion drive the future of education and research. That’s why we’re celebrating the groundbreakers — students, educators, and researchers who think outside the box and inspire change.

The E³UDRES² Awards of Excellence celebrate exceptional researchers, students, and lecturers who have obtained innovative and creative achievements in their field of expertise and study.

These awards recognize individuals who inspire change, engage communities, and push the boundaries of knowledge through creativity and impactful concepts. From pioneering and innovative educational approaches to groundbreaking and engaging research outreach and communication, the E³UDRES² Awards of Excellence celebrate those who make a difference and generate global waves with their local pulses. Explore the categories and discover how the E³UDRES² Excellence shapes the future of education, research, and innovation!

🌍 Innovative Science Outreach - Are you a storyteller in the world of research? This award honors those who take complex scientific ideas and make them exciting, engaging, and understandable for everyone. Science isn’t just for labs—it’s for the world!

🎓 Innovative Teaching Methods - Attention, cool educators! Do you have a fresh teaching approach that sparks curiosity, and keeps students on their toes? We look forward to celebrating your innovative methods, so bring your fresh perspective on making the classroom a fun learning factory!

🚀 Student Innovation: "Local Pulse, Global Waves" - Students, show us what you got! This is your chance to showcase a project that started small but has the potential to change the world! The public gets to vote for their favorite, so bring your A-game!

Find out more: E³UDRES² Science Festival: Awards of Excellence | E³UDRES²

From 14 to 18 July Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) will hold Ted4Lat Doctoral School and Workshop “Open Data to tackle intertwined environmental and social challenges”.

The main objective of the doctoral summer school is to bring students and professors working with data together. Students will give their doctoral thesis progress presentations as well as work in teams on new open data solutions, while professors will give valuable feedback and work as mentors.

“The Doctoral Summer School is intended to give doctoral students and degree candidates a boost in developing their dissertation work, as well as to promote skills in defining innovative products, which are essential for modern science that must become increasingly closer to society. To achieve these goals, doctoral students and degree candidates will have the opportunity to present progress reports and participate in a data Hackathon. Additionally, the program includes several invited speaker presentations on working with data in current research projects, as well as on specific data-related topics,” says SSII director, lead researcher, Ph.D. Oskars Java.

Students will participate in lectures, workshops and a Hackathon not only to learn on data usage as a driving force of digital transformation but to innovate themselves.

Main Fields of Education: Information and Communication Technologies; Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction

Partners:

• Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia)
• Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (France)
• Politecnico di Torino (Italy)
• Riga Technical University (Latvia)
• The Baltic Open Solutions Center (Latvia)

Maximum number of participants: 20

Application form HERE

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe under grant agreement. no 101079206

What is Blended Intensive Program – BIP? - These are short, intensive programmes that use innovative ways of learning and teaching, including the use of online cooperation. The programmes may include challenge-based learning where transnational and transdisciplinary teams work together to tackle challenges for example those linked to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals or other societal challenges identified by regions, cities or companies. The intensive programme should have added value compared to existing courses or trainings offered by the participating HEIs and can be multiannual. By enabling new and more flexible mobility formats that combine physical mobility with a virtual part, blended intensive programmes aim at reaching all types of students from all backgrounds, study fields and cycles. Groups of higher education institutions will have the opportunity to organise short blended intensive programmes of learning, teaching and training for students and staff. During these blended intensive programmes, groups of students and/or staff as learners will undertake a short-term physical mobility abroad combined with a compulsory virtual component facilitating collaborative online learning exchange and teamwork. The virtual component must bring the learners together online to work collectively and simultaneously on specific assignments that are integrated in the blended intensive programme and count towards the overall learning outcomes. In addition, blended intensive programmes can be open to student and staff from any HEI, including local students and local staff. Blended intensive programmes build capacity for developing and implementing innovative teaching and learning practices in the participating HEIs (ERASMUS+ programme guide 2024, p.52)