History
The Baltic International Summer School (BISS) has been a traditional summer programme at Vidzeme University College since 1999. In total it has been attended by almost 300 students from different countries. For many participants the summer school experience has grown into a profound interest in the Baltic States and Latvia.
In the first seven years, BISS focused on general education of foreign students in issues concerning the Baltics - economics, history, culture, politics, languages and other aspects, thus serving as an ambassador for our country and informing the foreigners about the Baltics.
The year 2006 was the first time when the summer school became more specialised in specific themes, and hot business issues were included like "Triple Helix Model in modern business education development", thus acquainting the Latvian students with it as well. In 2007 the theme of the Baltic International Summer School was "The Future of Public Communication in the Age of New Media".
Last year the theme of the Baltic International Summer School was "COMMUNICATION, TECHNOLOGIES, INTEGRATION". BISS 2008 was an anniversary year for the summer school. And the first year it took place not only in Latvia, but also will be an opportunity to visit Estonia and Lithuania.
This year the theme of the summer school is "STORIES FROM A COUNTRY IN BETWEEN: SPOTTING THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES IN EUROPE". The main subject of the BISS 2009 will be intercultural communication with the focus on Europe, with “Europe” understanding geographically defined region, stretching from Cabo da Roca, Portugal to easternmost end of the Komi Republic, Russia.
BISS participants are traditionally offered different entertaining and educational activities like excursions at weekends introducing the participants with the nature and the cultural and historical heritage of Vidzeme Region, the capital city Riga and other attractive places of Latvia. The students are also introduced with some of the main national dances and lyrics of most beloved Latvian folk songs. There is always an International food party where each participant cooks and offers traditional dishes from his/her country.
At the end of the summer, after passing the exams participants receive certificates, and the received credits are valid at their universities back home. Participants are eligible to different grants - Vidzeme University College grants, grants from the Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Latvia, etc.
Read also:
Mr.Richard Baerug is among the founders of Vidzeme University and one of the authors of Baltic International Summer School: On the Idea, History and Purpose of the Baltic International Summer School
