The 150th anniversary of Riga Technical University

The 150th anniversary of Riga Technical University

On October 14, 2012 Riga Technical University (RTU) celebrates its 150th anniversary. RTU’s history dates back to the 19th century, when, in 1862, Riga Polytechnicum was founded. It was the first university in the present territory of Latvia. Therefore, 2012 is not just RTU’s anniversary year, but it is also the 150th anniversary of tertiary education in Latvia   As the rector of RTU Leonids Ribickis  has said „today , in the second decade of the 21st century, RTU is a widely recognized university, which can-for good reason- be proud of its scientific research and excellence in studies”.

There are about 15000 students in RTU including more than 500 Ph.D. students, more than 3000 M.Sc. students, and more than 11200 B.Sc. students. Academic staff consists of 139 professors, 97 associate profesors, 135 assistant profesors and 160 lecturers.

There are eight faculties and 35 scientific institutes at RTU with the greatest number of state-funded students in Latvia.  The faculties include:

1. Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning;
2. Faculty of Civil Engineering;
3. Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology;
4. Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering;
5. Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications;
6. Faculty of Engineeering Economics and Management;
7. Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry;
8. Faculty of Transport and Mechanical Engineering.

The 150th anniversary activities have started on January, 2012, they proceed over the whole year, and will culminate in the huge sports building of „Arena Riga” on October 14, 2012.

In connection with EOSAM 2012, I would like to draw the attention of participants to the optical research in RTU. It is done in three scientific research laboratories. One ( Fiber Optics Transmission System Laboratory) belongs to the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, but the other two( Scientific Research Laboratory of Semiconductor Physics and Scientific Research Laboratory of Material Optics) belong to the Faculty of Materials Science and applied Chemistry.  In ordere to facilitate scientific contacts, detailed information about these laboratories is given separately.

The buildings of RTU are situated in different parts of Riga. The address of the main building where the RTU adminstration  is located is as follows:

Riga Technical University
Kalķu 1
Riga, LV-1658
Latvia

The information about RTU can be found in the website: www.rtu.lv.

Professor Andris Ozols
Andris.Ozols@rtu.lv