From February 21 to 23, the education fair “Skola 2025” will take place at the “BT 1” exhibition center in Ķīpsala. As part of the event, the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM), the Latvian Council of Science (LZP), and the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) will present study and research opportunities.
On Friday, February 21, from 12:00 to 15:00, the opening event of the Swiss-Latvian cooperation program “Applied Research” will take place under the title “THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE”. Young people, scientists, and innovators will introduce attendees to the opportunities offered by science and its importance in future career choices.
Researchers will discuss careers in science and opportunities for youth involvement. The event will feature various contests with valuable prizes, including fully funded training and consultations with Riga TechGirls, as well as a visit to a science center for an entire class. Among the notable participants will be Parliamentary Secretary Silvija Amatniece, Swiss Confederation Ambassador to Latvia Martin Michelet, and LZP International Cooperation Project Department Director Elita Zondaka.
On the same day, at 14:00, the Open Stage will host a unique opportunity to meet Ph. D. Mārtiņš Zaumanis, an Engineering Scientist representing the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology. Together with researchers from the Riga Technical University, he is working on the Swiss-Latvian Applied Research program to extend the lifespan of asphalt pavement by developing new road surface materials. From 14:00 to 14:30, young people will experience an exciting half-hour with improvisers from Gandrīz draugi and can participate in a quiz about key connections between Switzerland and Latvia to win researchLatvia prizes.
The event’s atmosphere will be enriched by the improvisation group Gandrīz draugi, as well as musical performances by Edavārdi and Kato (host of the knowledge competition “Gudrs, vēl gudrāks”).
More information about the Swiss-Latvian Applied Research program and its opening event can be found at researchLatvia.
Throughout the exhibition, researchLatvia will also invite visitors to explore the annual traveling exhibition “Science for Latvia 2025”, which highlights 12 fascinating scientific personalities. One of researchLatvia’s goals is to promote collaboration between Latvian scientists and those of Latvian origin living abroad.
Meanwhile, VIAA will offer a broad and diverse range of information at its exhibition stand for students, teachers, and parents, along with competitions and interactive activities.
At the VIAA stand, educators can learn about professional support and subject-specific resources, while students and visitors can explore:
- Opportunities within the Erasmus+ program for education, training, youth, and sports in the European Union.
- Tips for successfully completing centralized exams in Latvian and mathematics.
- Various career planning and self-assessment tools.
- Reading literacy and recommendations for its improvement.
- Planned support under the “School in the Community” project.
- Career planning tools.
- Learning opportunities for adults.
- The SkillsLatvia young professionals’ mastery competition.
Throughout the exhibition, VIAA’s Inspiration Stop will host interactive quizzes, allowing visitors to learn about Erasmus+ programs, compete for valuable prizes, and test their skills in SkillsLatvia team challenges. Participants can also take on an exam challenge, trying to complete 9th and 12th-grade exam tasks, or join the reading literacy challenge to understand the importance of reading skills and how to develop them from an early age.
