On 13 May 2025, Modris Greitans, Director of the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science (EDI), welcomed Aigars Ekers, the future Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Latvia, who is currently an Associate Dean at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the visit was to introduce the research areas and recent achievements of the EDI and to discuss the possible expansion of cooperation. One of the future cooperation plans involves the establishment of a new study programme in robotics.
The meeting started with a tour of the EDI laboratories, where a range of EDI technologies were demonstrated, not only in robotics, but also in wearable electronics, time event recording, quantum sensing, hyperspectral image processing, ultrasound applications in diagnostics, etc. During the discussion, the representative of the University of Latvia acknowledged that the capacity and knowledge base of the EDI represent a significant potential for educating students in future technology areas.
“The Faculty is interested in developing a robotics degree programme. The University of Latvia does not have sufficient capacity in this area, but has a strong computer science programme. By combining the competences of the Institute of Electronics and computer science and the University of Latvia, it would be possible to create such a new programme,” said Aigars Ekers, the future Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology stressing that the programme should ideally be in English in order to attract foreign students.
Director Modris Greitāns expressed his full support for such an initiative. “Our goal is to attract talented young people to quality studies, giving them the opportunity to both study and work in Latvia!” He also underlined that EDI staff would be able to offer students both theoretical and practical skills training, one day a week in EDI premises where adequate modern infrastructure is available.
