Organised by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA), students, staff, professors and guests attended the official opening of this summer’s Baltic International Summer School yesterday evening. Now in its 15th year, 63 international students from throughout Europe were formally welcomed to Valmiera before two exciting weeks commence.
 

This year, BISS consists of two programmes: Erasmus IP “Glocalizing Development: Development Perspectives of Rural Regions and Small Towns in Globalized World” and “International Tourism and Event Management” (ITEM). With students flying into Latvia at different times of day, the official opening ceremony was the first time that all the participants were together from both programmes.
 

It is summer school tradition that the international participants introduce themselves in their country groups, each presenting their name and country of origin. Having already started their BISS experience, most students added a few pleasant words about their first impressions of the summer school, Valmiera and Latvia. For some, it is even their first time in Northern Europe.
 

This BISS project prides itself on being an international platform for participants and staff to network, share different cultures and be open-minded. The BISS experience has inspired many previous participants to learn more about Latvia and the Baltic States and, this year, the summer school hopes to do the same and more.
 

A new feature this year is the programme "International Tourism Events Management" which is a test of the modules for the new joint programme in development within the Lifelong learning project. The participant responses will be an important feedback for further programme development.
 

The Baltic International Summer School programmes will take place from 4 – 18 August 2013.
 

BISS course “International tourism and event management” is funded as a part EU Lifelong learning programme project “Master’s in International Tourism and Event Management/ITEM” with support from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia and Valmiera City Council.