Below you will learn about main events at the BA School of Business and Finance:
- In June, the Bank of Latvia made a decision to liquidate the Riga School of Accountancy and Crediting and found an educational institution of a new type, i.e. the Latvia Banking College. On 15 June, Baiba Brigmane was appointed the Director of the College.
- In August, the Latvia Banking College accepted the first students.
- On 1 September, a solemn LBC opening ceremony took place.
- In February, the first graduation of banking specialists from the full-time department of the Latvia Banking College took place.
- On 26 May, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Republic of Latvia issued a licence granting the right to train students at the Latvia Banking College.
- On 30 September, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Republic of Latvia issued an accreditation certificate granting the Latvia Banking College the right to issue diplomas of higher level specialized secondary education in banking and finance.
On 1 June, the Latvia Banking College was included in the structure of the Bank of Latvia.
On 3 January, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Republic of Latvia issued a licence granting the right to found the Latvia Banking Academy and launch study programmes “Banking” and “Finance”.
On 18 June, study programme “Economics” of the Latvia Banking Academy was accredited.
On 19 June, the Latvia Banking Academy was accredited and gained the right to provide the accredited study programmes and issue state-recognized diplomas of higher education.
On 30 December, the BA School of Business and Finance was established by the Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 675.
On 20 February, the BA School of Business and Finance celebrated its foundation day. Among the guests, there were President of Latvia G.Ulmanis, President of the Bank of Latvia E.Repše, Minister of Economy A.Sausnītis, Minister of Education and Science J.Celmiņš, State Minister of State Revenues A.Poča, Director General of the State Revenue Service A.Sončiks, Director General of non-profit organization state a/s "Latvijas Pasts" A.Droiskis, Chairman of the Council of Higher Education B.Rivža, the presidents of the biggest Latvian banks, President of the Association of Latvian Commercial Banks T.Tverijons, Director General of a/s "Aldaris" V.Gavrilovs. The new name was consecrated by pastor J.Rubenis.
On 18 May, the first Constitution of the BA School of Business and Finance was adopted. M. Dunska was elected the first Chairperson of the Constitutional Meeting, E.Zelgalve was elected the Deputy Chairperson, L. Kalniņa – the Secretary. B.Brigmane was elected the Rector and E.Zelgalve was elected the Vice-Rector.
On 19 June, the BA School of Business and Finance held the first graduation ceremony in the Golden Hall of the Latvian Society House (65 graduates).
On 16 November, the first meeting of Counsellors’ Convention of the BA School of Business and Finance was held. A.Kalniņš became the Chairperson of the BA School of Business and Finance Convention; among other members there were I.Rimšēvičs, V.Kargins, A.Poča and I.Kalvišķis.
In August, Tatjana Volkova was elected the Vice-Rector.
On 8 December, Baiba Brigmane was appointed the Rector of the BA School of Business and Finance by the Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 572.
In December, the first associate professors I.Brīvers, S.Kraže, G.Petere, T.Volkova were elected and their positions were approved.
On 20 December, a decision on launching master programmes (headed by assoc. prof. I.Brīvers) was made.
In February, the first master’s students began their studies.
On 5 June, the BA School of Business and Finance was granted the right to launch accredited professional study programme “Economics” (47311) and confer professional master’s degree in economics.
On 14 June, the first graduation from the master’s programmes of the BA School of Business and Finance took place.
In September, the BA School of Business and Finance celebrated its 10th anniversary. Celebrations included a student erudition contest, a solemn anniversary celebration in Riga Congress Centre, a ball at “Sapņu fabrika”, a street procession through the Old Riga, an anniversary divine service in the Dome Cathedral.
On 12 September, the first students of the BA School of Business and Finance received the honour scholarship established by the Mortgage and Land Bank of Latvia.
On 5 March, the BA School of Business and Finance was granted the right to launch accredited 1st level professional study programme “Economics and Entrepreneurship” (413411) and confer the qualification of an entrepreneurship specialist.
On 30 May, the BA School of Business and Finance was issued a licence granting the right to launch professional study programme “Business Administration” (453412) allowing to get a professional bachelor’s degree in business administration and the qualification of a business manager.
On 21 November, Deputy Rector of the BA School of Business and Finance Uģis Zālītis received the Riga Award – commendation of the Riga City Council, Latvian Academy of Sciences, Council of Higher Education, School of Business Administration “Turība” and “Hansabanka” for the training of financial specialists at the BA School of Business and Finance and promoting the development of the city.
In 2003, on the initiative of the Banking and Finance Academy of the Republic Uzbekistan, there was concluded a cooperation agreement with the BA School of Business and Finance related to the creation of a Summer Programme.
The BA School of Business and Finance took part in the organization of the second conference of the Baltic Management Development Association (on 6-7 May, in Riga).
In the summer, the Summer School accepted its first students including 20 students from the Banking and Finance Academy of the Republic Uzbekistan.
On 14 and 15 October, the 6th Annual International Conference of the BA School of Business and Finance called "Knowledge Society and the Implementation of the Lisbon Strategy in Europe and Latvia" was held.
The Alumni Association of the BA School of Business and Finance was founded in order to promote communication among BA graduates and maintain active relationships with graduates with the aim of promoting businesses, organizing and holding events everybody is interested in.
On 8 June, the BA School of Business and Finance was granted the right to launch accredited professional study programme “Finance” and confer a professional master’s degree in finance and the qualification of a financier.
According to the poll by "Latvijas Avīze" (LA), Dainis Kriķis from the BA School of Business and Finance was recognized the best teacher.
The student of the BA School of Business and Finance Dmitrijs Zverevs gained the best results in SPACE Eurobusiness Exam of the International Association.
On 14 October, the 7th Annual International Conference of the BA School of Business and Finance called “Increasing the Value of Business: New Insights and Approaches” was held.
From 1 September, the BA School of Business and Finance started offering a new international professional master’s programme “International Finance and Banking” provided in cooperation with the Switzerland Business School.
The student of the BA School of Business and Finance VERA SAČAVECA, who was one of the 40 participants of the SPACE Eurobusiness Exam of the International Association from 10 competing higher education institutions, gained the best results.
On 13 October, the 8th Annual International Conference of the BA School of Business and Finance called “Riga as an International Financial Centre: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges” took place.
On 15 December, doctoral study programme "Joint Doctoral Programme in Business Management" was launched.
In January, the Fund of the BA School of Business and Finance was established and its status was approved.
In February, the Student Information Department was created by reorganizing the Curriculum Department and the Student Information Centre.
In March, the BA School of Business and Finance and the Art Academy of Latvia concluded an agreement on partnership in art and business.
From 1 to 4 March, the 13th International Exhibition “School 2007” took place in Ķīpsala Exhibition Hall. The BA School of Business and Finance was among the participants. The opportunities of studying at the BA School of Business and Finance attracted many people, especially senior schoolchildren and those with a Bachelor’s degree.
In May, the student of the BA School of Business and Finance J.Pugo won the 1st place in the international simulation "Investment Game 2007" organized by the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga.
In June, the BA School of Business and Finance organized an expert discussion on the involvement of female scientists in business. The discussion was organized in the framework of the project “Fostering the Public Debate on University Support of Female Scientists to Start a Business” (FemStart) of the European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme priority “Science and Society”.
In June, the Business and Financial Research Centre of the BA School of Business and Finance was founded. Its main research directions are: enterprise competitiveness, development of financial services sector, business management. The school also signed an agreement with the “Aizkraukles banka”. The aim of the cooperation is to combine the intellectual resources, theoretical knowledge and practical experience of the both parties to create new preconditions for the development of academic environment and banking sector.
From 23 to 26 August, the 2nd International IMTA Alumni Association’s Alumni Conference called “Mastering the Skills and Talents of Academic Staff in the Fast Changing Global Environment” was held in the BA School of Business and Finance.
On 26-27 September, the BA School of Business and Finance organized the 9th International Scientific and Research Conference called “Riga Dialogue: Business and Finance. Excellence in Emerging Market Economies” in the Riga Congress Hall.
In September, a marketing department was created.
On 19 December 2007, Rector Tatjana Volkova and President of the Association of Latvian Commercial Banks Teodors Tverijons signed a cooperation agreement between the BA School of Business and Finance and the Association of Latvian Commercial Banks. The agreement aims to motivate young people to get interested in banking, finance and national economy as well as promote students’ interest in the practical work of banks.
Since 2008 the school has been represented in the Network of International Business Schools (NIBS) promoting international cooperation not only in Europe, but also in other parts of the world, for example, in the USA.
On 11 January, Rector of the BA School of Business and Finance Tatjana Volkova was re-elected the Chairperson of the Latvian Council of Rectors.
In January, there was successfully held the International FemStart conference organized by the BA School of Business and Finance which aimed to foster a public discussion on the support to female scientists’ business by higher education institutions.
In April, there was presented a book titled “Legal Regulation of Trust and Its Possible Adoption in Latvia” (‘‘Trasta tiesiskais regulējums un tā iespējamā pārņemšana Latvijā’’) by BA School of Business and Finance lecturer Jānis Grasis. The publisher of the book is the Business and Financial Research Centre of the BA School of Business and Finance and it was the first public edition of the centre.
In May, the Business and Financial Research Centre was entered in the Latvian Register of Scientific Institutions.
In 2008, in addition to the work on study programmes implementation, the BA School of Business and Finance launched an extensive social programme for promoting society’s understanding of the topical issues of national economy. The programme continued the dialogue with secondary schools teachers started two years before. Schoolchildren were involved in the conversation to bring together higher education institutions and secondary schools.
From 2 to 8 March 2008, the 9th European Accountancy Week was held in the BA School of Business and Finance. Among the participants there were students and teaching staff from Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Latvia.
The BA School of Business and Finance is among 1000 best schools in the world! In 2007/2008 academic year, Eduniversal (the organization created by SMBG - the leading French company specializing in the issues of higher education and professional orientation) and its International Scientific Committee placed the BA School of Business and Finance among 1000 best business schools and universities of the world. The selection of business schools was carried out on the basis of certain criteria, mainly the international influence and recognisability as well as the accreditation in international organizations, membership in academic associations, opinion of recognized education experts, cooperation network among higher education institutions and other factors.
The student of the BA School of Business and Finance Ilze Butāne was awarded an “Open Mind” scholarship in the amount of 1000 lats for her work “SIA Rimi Latvia Service Quality Evaluation” (Apkalpošanas kvalitātes novērtējums SIA Rimi Latvia).
¬In 2009/2010 academic year, Eduniversal and its International Scientific Committee has repeatedly recognized the BA School of Business and Finance as one of 1000 best business schools and universities of the world.
In the summer, the BA School of Business and Finance became a member of the prestigious organization EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development).
In March, the International Business Week “Development of a Marketing Strategy for the Introduction of new Products or Services in the Changeable International Marketing Environment” was held in the BA School of Business and Finance.
The students of the BA School of Business and Finance Jūlija Kunga and Madara More won “Open Mind 2009” scholarships in the amount of 1000 Ls in the competition of 15 higher education institutions.
In June, the BA School of Business and Finance was visited by Juan Carlos Izaguirre, the representative of the World Bank.
In August, a Guarantee Fund was established. It means that now the BA School of Business and Finance is able to guarantee students’ credits in cases when students fail to obtain state-guaranteed loan because of the absence of a guarantor or irregular incomes.
In October, the BA School of Business and Finance began offering paid optional business language classes in English and German developed and organized by the Department of Foreign Languages.
In October, the BA School of Business and Finance became the winner of the competition for a course “Become an Entrepreneurs in 5 Days!” organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
In November, business simulation competition “Business 24h” was held in the BA School of Business and Finance.
