Year 2024

The year 2024 was very special for the University of Latvia’s Latvian Language and Culture Summer School, as the school was held for the 10th time. Participants gathered from all over the world: Sweden, the United States, Estonia, France, Ukraine, and Nigeria.

During the two-week study program, attendees took part in lectures, seminars, and other practical classes. They went on a tour of Riga Old Town, visited the historic building of the University of Latvia, and explored the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, the Riga History and Navigation Museum, the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, the Latvian National Museum of Art, and the National Library of Latvia. They also visited Kuldīga and Cēsis.

Latvian language classes were taught by Dr. philol. Inga Laizāne (level A0–A1) and Dr. hist. Kristīne Vaceka-Ante (level A2–B1). History and politics were taught by Associate Professor Ivars Ijabs. Art and culture classes were led by museum educator at the National Library of Latvia and coordinator of the project “Latvian Cultural Canon,” Anita Smeltere. Participants were introduced to Latvian folklore and traditions by creative researcher and MA in folklore studies Ilga Vālodze Ābele.

In 2024, the University of Latvia’s Latvian Language and Culture Summer School also included participants who had received scholarships from the cooperation initiative in research among the Baltic Sea region countries, Ukraine, and the United States, supported by the University of Latvia within the project “Tailored Molecular Transport in Low-Dimensional Hybrid Materials from 1D Nanocrystals and 2D Nanosheets.” Within this project, the University of Latvia organizes various networking activities, such as schools and workshops, with the particular aim of supporting early-career researchers.