As announced previously, Bottomline Summer Symposium 2010 will take place at Lejastiezumi from the 4th till the 5th of September. http://www.lejastiezumi.lv/?p=8 <http://www.lejastiezumi.lv/?p=8>

This year event will be special, because your fellow Alumni's from the Bottomline team will adding great value to the event, thus we encourage the Alumni community to get back together for some good, old sports day in Latvia, in Lejastiezumi on 4th of September!

This will be a great opportunity to meet your fellow Alumni's, for a team, do some sports, relax and meet some of the students! May be the ones, to who's scholarships you contributed with the donation! By the way, the donations are still very much welcomed and encouraged!

The event will start with the competitions at 10.00 o’clock sharp, which is why you should plan your arrival already by 9.30 the latest. The day will end with a magnificant party which will start approximately at 21:00.

The sports you can compete in are volleyball, basketball, ultimate frisbee, football, and dodge ball for girls. Rules for the competitions can be seen in the attachment to this letter.

Additionally, there's a tennis court where you can play for your own fun if you have a racket and enough balls.

How to apply?
· gather at least 6 boys and 5 girls for your team, although we strongly advise you to make an even bigger team in order to increase the team quality, and have more fun. PS: we recommend each team to wear distinctive clothes to differ from others
· Choose your Team Captain, who has to fill in the application form (attached to this letter), will transfer the participation fees, and who also will become my contact person with the team.
· Last but not least, hold on to the deadlines

The participation fee for students is 3 Ls per person and 5 Ls for graduates, if you send your application letter and pay the fee by Monday, 30th of August 23.59.
After the 30th of August the participation fee for students is 5 Ls per person and 7 Ls per graduate. The final deadline is Thursday, 2nd of September 23.59.
The fee includes participation in sports, accommodation, party, awards, and a lot of fun.

About accommodation. Pillows, blankets and towels will be provided by the place. There will also be a spot where you can buy some food, but it's always cheaper to bring some with you.
What is more, there are two ways how to get there. You can drive there by car or come together with all the other students by bus. 2 buses have been set to drive you there (both 77 seats), but this will mean a payment of 5Ls added to your participation fee. The price includes both the drive to the the event on the 4th and back to Riga on the 5th of September.
That’s it for now.

If you have any question feel free to ask them.
Happy applying,
Summer Symposium application form: http://jump.fm/YKDTK
Summer Symposium rules: http://jump.fm/MERKU

Madis Sulg
msulg@sseriga.edu.lv
Stockholm School of Economics in Riga
Student Association 2010/2011
Sports Committee Chairperson
(371) 2-757-99-19

THANKS TO THE SSE RIGA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DONORS

We are extremely grateful for all the support we have received from alumni this year. Every student at SSE Riga has in one way or another been touched by the generosity of our donors. Whether through the endowing of a scholarship, providing guest lectures, internship placements or supporting the Student Association, you have helped shape the future of SSE Riga students. Your support has enabled your Alma Mater to continue to provide a high quality educational experience for all who chose to study at SSE Riga, and your donations help keep our school strong. 

This year there were 43 applicants, and 25 students were granted scholarship awards that totaled EUR 44.400. The alumni involvement in the scholarship planning and awarding process was felt throughout the year. The scholarships were granted generally based on student applications, however, in a few cases there were special award conditions established by the donor, for example, personal interviews, specific academic achievement, geographical origin or other criteria. 

You are an essential part of this contribution, and we hope that you derive as much pleasure from giving as students from receiving. Working together we are achieving so much.

In 2008 18 students applied and 7 were granted a scholarship. In 2009 43 students applied and 16 full as well as 9 half scholarships were granted.

We proudly recognize and thank all the donors from:SSE Riga Alumni Association as well as the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian chapters.

RGSL has offered SSE Riga graduates favorable terms for continuing studies in the Law and Finance program. See below the letter from the Programme Director Waleed Gumaa:

Dear Stockholm School of Economics Alumnus,

So you finished your degree at the Stockholm School of Economics! What next you may ask yourself? Some of you are well entrenched in your careers while others may be contemplating a lateral or vertical move. For those seeking advancement or a directional shift, I would like to add that your options have just widened!  Now for its fourth intake, the Riga Graduate School of Law will start its programme in Law & Finance (LL.M) in September 2010. Building on its success during the previous editions, the programme is there to embrace all the challenges the current economic environment poses including the tough regulatory choices that are developing.
With Europe and the rest of the world reeling from economic uncertainty, the need for regulatory reform is imminent. The Law & Finance programme has been designed to emulate the conditions and challenges which are reflected in the reality of the current environment. In an integrated and interdependent world, on European or Global level, the number of capital transactions that are intertwined are ever increasing. As that number increases, we see the merging of legal and financial aspects and the need for professionals to undertake the facilitation of these transactions with ever-increasing sophistication. A situation arises where frequently lawyers and financial specialists face a challenge in understanding each other.  
Therefore no area stays concealed in the programme: from banking law, capital markets, international economics and the Basel agreements to investment strategies, restructuring and insolvency law to international finance, valuation and risk management. Our participants’ backgrounds reflect the content of our program and each one is a well-seasoned practitioner in their field who contributes their expertise to the programme. Case studies are at the heart of most courses and heavy interaction during lectures are encouraged, stimulated by the limited number of candidates admitted to the program each year. 
Our faculty sets consist of seasoned academics and practitioners from all over Europe and beyond and are carefully selected based on their contribution to the programme; in addition we endeavour to be close to our industry partners in order to keep “our fingers on the pulse” regarding issues that materialise in practice. It further allows participants to brainstorm with senior executives from various industries about actual situations which they are currently dealing with and often the choice for a master thesis topic directly based on a conversation between a participant and those executives. Needless to say, our graduates have a 100% employment rate, quite often before graduation date.
I would like to extend a special offer to Stockholm School of Economics Graduates and Alumni and invite you to read further regarding the opportunity set out. Feel free to contact me for more information or to discuss your particular case.  
Sincerely Yours, 

Waleed Gumaa (MBA) 
Programme Director 
Riga Graduate School of Law

Studies in the Law & Finance Programme
The Law & Finance Programme is a 2 semester, 48 Credit (72 ECTS Credits) academic Master’s programme open to all those who have a bachelors (or higher) in Law, Economics, Business, Finance or equivalent. For Stockholm School of Economics’ Graduates who have a 3 year degree only, special arrangements can be made to complete the programme within a calendar year or in 2 years. The programme is conducted exclusively in English and is divided into 2 modules. Applicants to the programme are encouraged to apply early as the programme is limited in student size. 
The first module of the programme consists of mandatory courses. These courses aim to provide the basic foundation and concepts in European Law and Finance. Students from a legal background will benefit from the fundamentals of economics and finance while those from a financial or economics background will receive the grounding needed for legal reasoning and comprehension.
The second module of the programme consists of more advanced topics in both areas of law and finance as well as electives where participants can choose from a distinct set of courses based on their interest or specialisation.
Each student must write and defend before a committee, a Master’s thesis. The purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate the student’s ability to undertake scientific study in the mixed disciplines of law and finance based on a clear methodology. Upon successfully completing the programme students will be awarded an LL.M in Law & Finance Degree.

The Academic Environment
The Law & Finance programme faculty consists of a mixture of highly qualified academics and subject experts both local and from other parts of Europe. In addition, the programme has teamed up with practitioners and well known organisations to put in context and bridge the divide between academic theory and real world practice. 

Fees
The programme is run in an executive style with students coming together for lectures for one week per month on average.  This allows those who are employed to combine studies and work at the same time. We are offering special rates for Stockholm School of Economics’ Graduates: applicants who have 4 years or more of undergraduate studies the fee is EUR 6,000 with savings of EUR 1,000, applicants who have 3 years of undergraduate studies the fee is  EUR 9,000 with EUR 1,000 of savings.

For more information and details of the programme please contact:
Waleed Gumaa
Programme Director
Riga Graduate School of Law
Strelnieku iela 4k-2Riga LV-1010
+371 6703 9205
+371 2646 9318
Waleed.Gumaa@rgsl.edu.lv

SSE Riga 23 July 10:00am

“Community Enterprise and Sustainable Regeneration: an Economic Model of Community Investment for a New Era” by Micheal Pyner


“Micheal Pyner - Chief Executive of the Shoreditch Trust (http://www.shoreditchtrust.org.uk/), created, guided and supported a series of new social, creative and community enterprises and initiatives, e.g. London’s first eco restaurant, Acorn House (www.acornhouserestaurant.co.uk) and Water House Restaurant in Shoreditch – both delivering profits back into regenerating Shoreditch; a board member of many organizations in the UK; leads the climate change initiative for the New Deal for Communities programme, a key advisor to the UK Government on social enterprise, chair of the Development Trust Association (http://www.dta.org.uk/), a founder member of ACEVO’s (http://www.acevo.org.uk) European Third Sector Network and a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts in recognition of his innovative approach to culture-led regeneration initiatives.


Shoreditch Trust is an award-winning regeneration charity/limited company operating in inner east London, established in 2000, committed to improving housing, health, education, community safety, employment, the environment and business in the local area - they are community led but at the same time commercially aware, and know the value of people as well as the dynamics of business. The Trust has developed a sustainability theme as an integral part of the regeneration programme, delivering long-term social and environmental benefits through a range of social enterprise projects: Shoreditch Trust has delivered over 400 projects ranging in size from the already mentioned London’s first environmentally friendly restaurant, the Healthy Living Centre and Community Maternity Facility to the refurbishment of Primary School playgrounds and providing Christmas lunches for elders groups.”

The SSE Riga Business Development Lab (BDL) invites you to volunteer in the Business Development Lab Consultancy Board. The aim of the board is to consult the start-up enterprises in various fields of business development including sales, marketing, financial and strategic planning etc.
The board will come together on a regular basis once in two or three month. During the meetings the board members will be able to share their expertise and propose quality solutions to the issues that BDL companies have.Apart from board meetings the members of the Consultancy Board will be asked to devote up to 3 hours per month of their time to meet the requests of BDL companies electronically or arranging a personal meeting.
If you are interested in participating in the Consultancy Board and contribute to the SSE Riga community, please, express your willingness to Diana Pauna via e-mail: dianap@sseriga.edu.lv by the 4th of June, 2010.

Administration would like to invite Alumni to participate in the year 2 interviews to share their experience and to learn about how students are doing these days. See below for Diana's invitation letter:

Dear Alumni, 

Traditionally in spring we run Student Self-evaluation meetings with Year 2 students, and during each individual meeting we review the written reports submitted on the academic performance, personal development elements, social involvement, expectations and outcomes and future plans. This year we would like to invite alumni join the evaluation process and sign up for a few meetings depending on your availability. First, you will get new insights on how students are doing at SSE Riga, and second, your professional insights would enrich the individual meetings with students. The meetings will take place from May 31 till June 11, and the time slots are seen in the schedule at http://shrt.st/hoh. Please, send me an e-mail (preferably by May 31) if you are interested in proving voluntary support by participating in the individual evaluation meetings with Year 2 students. 

Thanks.
Diana

This year SSE Riga is happy to offer a number of partial tuition fee scholarships of 6000 euros for the EMBA programme to SSE Riga B.Sc. alumni who would like to further build on the knowledge gained in the SSE Riga B.Sc. programme. With the scholarship the tuition fee will be 18 000 euros. 
If you would like to know more about how the SSE Riga EMBA programme fits into the professional development of SSE Riga Alumni, please send an e-mail to EMBA Director Karlis Kreslins (KarlisK@sseriga.edu.lv) and he shall put you in touch with alumni who studied in the programme. 
More info about the EMBA program can be found at http://www.sseriga.edu.lv/emba or you can download the brochure at http://www.sseriga.edu.lv/files/Brochure_EMBA_SSERiga.pdf

Scott Donaldson - an EMBA soon to be graduate has raised an initiative to put together Alumni Chess Club. If this sounds interesting, read below the message from and contact Scott:

I am soon to be alumni of SSE Riga (EMBA, graduating June 2010). I am also a keen chess player, competing in tournaments for many years as a junior in the UK.
I would like to suggest forming an "SSE Riga Select" chess team. There must be many good chess players who have graduated from SSE, including students from different countries still living around Riga.
My idea is to find 8 chess players, to allow for a team of 6 + 2 reserve players. SSE Riga could challenge other universities, or the more interesting idea would be to host invitation evenings with local companies for networking and chess (e.g. SSE Riga Select vs Accenture Select, or SSE Riga Select Vs IBM Latvia). There are many models that can be used. I would suggest a commitment from players to meet for a game in SSE Riga once a month. This would mean there would be very little formal demand on each person's time. Of course, players could also agree to meet more frequently, as they wish.
Famous chess players from Riga include Mikhail Tal, Aron Nimzowitsch, and current players Evgeny Sveshnikov and world champion contender and top Grandmaster Alexei Shirov. Riga is a famous chess city: famous for producing top grandmaster chess players. Let's participate in a celebration of chess, and form an SSE Riga Chess team.

If interested contact Scott at scottd ät siamultiserve.com.

On the 29th of May, this Saturday SSE Riga Student Association will hold a Paintball tournament at the Latvian Paintball Club (paintball park Jugland) which is located about a half an hour drive away from Riga. Alumni teams are welcome to participate but sign up quickly.
For more explicit directions check this link: http://paintball.lv/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=6

To participate you should:
·         gather a team of 5 (guys or girls, doesn’t matter)
·         gather 45 Ls (9Ls per person),
·         organize transportation for your team
·          hold on to two deadlines: 
1)  Registration deadline is 23:59 on the 26th of May By that time you must have filled in the Application Form with your team members and confirmed that you have transportation. Link for it is here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGhQU1RURjhtTmZfdDBSZE5Jak1EaXc6MQ
 2)  Payment deadline 23:59 on the 27th of May (the faster, the better)You can transfer the money to Ieva Turlaja’s (Sports Associate) bank account:LV25HABA0551012885241ID code: 230389-12972

There will be approximately 16 teams: 11 of SSE Riga students, 3 alumni teams, and 2 of sponsors.Teams will be chosen on ‘first come, first served’ basis. If a team resigns from its place or doesn’t hold on to the deadlines, the first team behind the line will be chosen.
The idea and the rules for paintball are similar to last year. However, more precise information will be given before the tournament. Each team member will receive all the needed equipment and a limited amount of balls.All 20 teams will be divided into 2 divisions, 8 teams each. Within the division each team will have a game with every other team in the division. 4 best teams out of either division will advance to playoffs, and the first 3 places will be awarded. We will have 3 fields, Kansas city, Front line town, and Omaha beach (Omaha beach might be changed to another field in case it will rain heavily the day before).
The Plan for the Day
9:00                     Arrival at LPK park
9:00 – 10:00        Dressing up and getting your equipment
10:00 – 10:30      Safety instructions and rules
10:30                   Start playing
14:20 – 15:00      Lunch Brake
15:00 – 18:30      Fun continues
18:50                   Announcement of teams that advance to playoffs
19:00 – 19:30      Playoffs and Final
19:45                   Award ceremony
20:00                   The war is over! 
The schedule is approximate and may shift.

For more information or question you can approach Madis Sulg from SA via email or phone.
So, start registering and be prepared for the War.
PS!  Women will be given additional protective gear.

With best wishes,
Madis Sulg
Stockholm School of Economics in Riga
Student Association 2010/2011
Sports Committee Chairperson
(371) 2-757-99-19 

The Staffan Burenstam Linder Memorial Foundation was established in 2001 to commemorate SSE Riga’s founder and benefactor, Professor Staffan Burenstam Linder. For 2010 two scholarships of up to SEK 75,000 (approximately EUR 7,500) are available to SSE Riga graduates for studies at the Masters or Doctoral level in the Nordic countries.
The applicants should at least have a couple of years’ working experience since graduation.   The deadline for application is May 28th, 2010 and applicants should submit the following documents:
(i) CV,
(ii) Statement of purpose,
(iii) Budget for the academic year 2010/2011.  
Applications should be sent electronically to e-mail: scholarship@sseriga.edu.lv.   
If you have further questions please contact SSE Riga Rector Anders Paalzow, andersp@sseriga.edu.lv.  

Since late last year there have been active discussions regarding the future of the school among SSE, Ministry of Science and Education, Latvian University (as future representave of the ministry), and also potential donors. At this point of time we want to share the general view of Alumni Association in these discussions.

We have managed to involve Alumni Association in the active and very fruitful discussion process as well, whereby alumni among others could become one of the key decision makers of SSE Riga and potentially play a more active role in the oversight and strategic direction of the school. So in last months Alumni Association has been actively discussing with SSE, Ministry of Science and Education and Latvian University, the main areas of the discussion being:
1. Future governance model for SSE Riga (including alumni role)
2. Initial discussions on the strategic direction and improvements at SSE Riga to increase the quality of experience even higher (a topic actively raised by AA)
3. Financing (primarily has been a discussion between SSE and ministry) 

The basis for the discussion as from AA point of view has been the following: 

Alumni of SSE Riga considers the main goals of SSE Riga for the transition period to be:
1. Maintain and increase the quality of education and expand academic offering range
2. Achieve financially sustainable operations
3. Ensure access to education for students with financial limitations 

We see that Alumni Association of SSE Riga (AA) can potentially provide significant contribution to SSE Riga, the main areas being:
1. Having genuine, unbiased interest in the wellbeing of SSE Riga reputation as a prestigious business school in Baltics and abroad, Alumni have the interest and should be given the possibility to safeguard sustainable operations, maintained and improved quality of education.
2. Scholarship support to students in need, in order to ensure the education does not become accessible only to the privileged.
3. Representation of Baltic business community (SSE Riga alumni are holding leading positions in the largest Baltic enterprises across sectors in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia). 

Considering the above we believe AA is a crucial stakeholder in the future governance of SSE Riga to ensure the quality and prestige of SSE Riga is maintained and improved. As the discussions are ongoing we do not have at the moment have more details to share. But we hope the discussions will reach the conclusions by the end of June, which is when there could be a more elaborate update on the results.

Representatives from the Alumni have also engaged in discussions with Estonian Ministry of Education and Science as well as organized an introductory study trip to SSE Riga for Estonian higher education officials. 

In the mean time if you consider you can help the Alumni Board some way or would like to comment on the above (which we would gladly hear) then please e-mail us at sseriga.alumni@gmail.com and share your thoughts

The official Mother's Day is coming in a few days, but until then SSE Riga Drama Club invites you to see a humorous and grotesque play devoted to this special day.

Drama Club invites: "Mother's Day" based on a play by John Boynton Priestley
When: May 06 at 18:00
Where: Soros Auditorium

Plot: At the centre of the play is a perfect loving mother Mrs Pearson that never restrains any of her two teenage kids Lizzie and Richard’s caprices. One day Mrs Pearson is confronted by her easy-going neighbour Mrs Fitzgerald and, when both ladies decide to switch their characters, magical things start to happen...

Director: Ilze KlavinaActors: Anna Skaceka, Zane Liepina, Kristilla Skruzkalne, Mara Bukovska, Matthijs van der Ploeg, Liva Gudule

Responding to the multiple requests by sports-loving alumni’s  to renew one of the most Latvian tradition of all, we have decided to respond to the challenge and revive the one and only:
SSE RIGA Alumni Ultimate Ice Hockey tournament!!!
Hurray and applause to us all!

The details of the tournament:
Date: 02.05.2010
Time: from 11:00 to 18:00
Place: RigaVenue: Ozo Ice Hall
Address: Stadiona iela 5b, Ozolnieku novads, Ozolnieku pagasts, Ozolnieki, Jelgavas raj., LV-3018
Teams: Minimum of 5 persons, optimal 8-10 players, all in full hockey gear, no maximum number of players regulated. All members of the team must be SSE Riga Alumni

There will be an opportunity provided by Volvo halle to rent a full hockey gear, if you do not have one for 20 LVL/day. The request must be confirmed at least day before the tournament on 30th of April, visit http://www.volvoledus.lv/ for more info. 
The tournament director will provide two professional (!) goalkeepers, so the ultimate goalkeepers can take the scorers position now. ☺ Each team will play one period with one goalie, the other – with other goalie. There is planned one referee, however, no icings and no offsides are planned. We play the ultimate Latvian pond hockey (diķu hokejs!). Ice renewal is planned every 1 hour.
Playing format: 2 periods of 7, 10 or 15 min respectively. At the middle, players change goalies.
Preliminary round: Two groups of 4 to 6 teams each, playing each other 2x7 minutes. Each team is guaranteed at least 4 games.
First 4 qualify for play-off, play off is played A1-B4 etc, 2X10 min (up to semi-final)Final is played 2x15 minNo time stopping 
Entrance fee per person: 10 LVL

Take your friends and family with you, the open skating is planned, also for children, some communication and drinks afterwards will be organized by AA Party Com. 

There are 4 confirmed teams by now - us know if you would like to join the ASAP! Please send your team name and preliminary members of the team to the e-mail below not later than 23:59 on 30th of April, please!

All additional info:
Martins Mellens
SSE Riga AA Business COM
martins.mellens@gmail.com
+371 26324287

The Péter-Horváth-Foundation awards scholarship for MBA or masters studies in European Business School in Germany.

Requirements for a full scholarship ‘Peter-Horváth- Foundation’ (covering 100 percent of tuition fees) are the following:Hungarian, Polish, Estonian, Latvian, Czech or Lithuanian citizenship and first degreeSuccessful completion of the EBS admission process and admittance to one of our full-time Master programmes or our EBS Full-time MBA programmeOutstanding social commitment and engagement

Deadline to apply for a scholarship to our EBS Full-time MBA programme:  30 April 2010Deadline to apply for a scholarship to one of our full-time Master programmes: 7 May 2010
For more information please contact alicia.fernandes@ebs.edu and check out http://www.ebs.edu/index.php?id=2112&L=1

A. Wilhelmsen Foundation offers approximately 36000 EUR over two years of scholarship for Masters studies in Business at NHH in Norway. Application deadline is 25th of April.
You can find more info from the poster at https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B2OUAPtI8UOnYWM2ZDUyNDgtYTJhMy00YzIwLTljYzEtYzc4N2RlNTRmYzEy&hl=en
or the application form from: https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B2OUAPtI8UOnMzk2MWQwM2YtYzQ4ZS00OTA1LWFmMGEtOWNmOWUwN2UwYmE0&hl=en

Good luck!

The new board of SSE Riga Alumni Association was elected on 3rd of March 2010. Now you have a chance to get to know all of them a little bit better through the short introductions below. If your have any comments or encouraging words or you are willing to participate do not hesitate in adding us in LinkedIn, Facebook, Skype or just e-mailing us. We are at the moment going through the transition period and discussing priorities, getting to know relevant people, laying out plans.
On high level we see three priorities:
1. Future of school: governance, strategy, alumni participation, etc;
2. Fundraising: as the tuition is increasing the need to offer scholarships is increasing also;
3. Alumni networking: how to add value to alumni and how to get the right info to the right people at the right time.
All of the topics are in discussion stage and in upcoming weeks we will be starting some web-based discussions in LinkedIn and Facebook groups (so if you are not a member yet – find the groups and join) and all graduates with opinions are welcome to join in.

But now the answer – who is the new team?

President
Raimonds Kulbergs is graduate of 2005, works at Ernst&Young corporate finance department as Manager, so far has worked with many of the largest companies in Latvia from various sectors. Have been involved in successfully raising funds for scholarships for the school and as of receiving the honor joining the Board is eager to continue contributing to the school in a wider sense.

Vice-President
Yuri Romanenkov is an SSE Riga Graduate of 2007 and a management consultant with The Boston Consulting Group. Prior to joining BCG, he worked with the Strategy Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers (London) and McKinsey & Company (Warsaw). Yuri has worked with clients in a wide range of industries (most notably, retail, financial services, pharmaceuticals and energy) on a variety of strategic issues both in the UK and internationally. Following his graduation, he remained involved with the School as Guest Lecturer in the Strategy course. Yuri feels very privileged to join the Board of the Alumni Association this year. In this capacity, he is looking to help the School in its transition to the new governance model and support the School's Board and Administration in their strategic thinking.

Business
Martins Mellens is a proud graduate of SSE Riga Class '05. Currently Martins is working in investment banking in SEB Enskilda. Prior to that has been financial consultant to different well known representatives of Latvian political & business elite, has been a proud member of the backbone of the economy - individual entrepreneurship- and is about to receive the Legal Law Master degree from the Riga Graduate School of Law. In the process Martins has built an extensive and wide contact network in most of the industries in Latvia, which might help to achieve the goal of reestablishing the SSE Riga brand among the potential employers of the graduates, raise some funding for more scholarships to maintain the competitiveness driven quality, promote Alumni sporting events and may be encourage the "potential future of the Baltics" to come out of shadow and use the potential. Still believes in SSE Riga spirit.

Social
Zane Zvagule, graduate of 2005, has joined Alumni Association board to strengthen social networking among the graduates of SSE Riga. She believes that graduates have lot in common – both professionally and privately, therefore the biggest challenge is to understand what are the main interests and explore them by taking over the best experiences of social events so far and developing new ones to engage more graduates. Zane’s professional background is based on diversified experience in marketing and communication field - starting from client side, continuing with creative advertising agency McCann Erickson Riga, and finally joining Publicis Groupe biggest media agency Starcom, where she is responsible for client service and strategic planning on Baltic level.

Communications
Mikk Tamme is a graduate from 2006/7. Mikk has worked in a managing director position in one of Estonia's leading biotech companies and as delivery manager for software projects to Pakistan, China, Mexico, etc. Mikk has also been involved in executive education and management training. Year 2009 was spent in discovering Asia (mainly Singapore) as an exchange student, traveler, and by organizing study trips and experience exchange in Singapore. Mikk has been keeping track of the activities at the school and been active in Estonian Alumni. The main issues that are necessary to tackle are: 1. Alumni Association/database reach 2. Governance changes in school 3. Fundraising for the school. These all need extensive input from Alumni and Mikk wants to help with these topics. Everyone in the new board looks forward to contributing their best to the changes taking place in SSE Riga. We also look forward to working with as many of the Alumni as possible on going forward.

SSE Alumni Office invites you to an Alumni Reunion in Riga on Friday the 26th of March from 7pm.

Join us for an informal gathering with your fellow alumni from SSE, Stockholm. We invite you for a drink at 7 pm and those of you who want are also welcome to join us for restaurant dinner at self cost at 8 pm.

Location will be confirmed by return email. (Riga city centre)

Please register before the 15th of March by sending an email to alumninet@hhs.se with "Riga Alumni Event" in the subject field.

Peak Time organizers have asked for help from Alumni. Have a look at the below e-mail and reply to Aiste:

You may still remember Peak Time – a business student competition organized by SSE Riga students and hosted in school’s premises. Every year organizers of this event try to find better ways to make it more professional and attractive.

This year we would like to invite you to become jury members in one of Peak Time 2010 rounds – the case study. We would be very happy to work with you in evaluating the solutions of a case study on Green Development topic sent by economics and business students from all around the world. The evaluation period would start on 22nd of March and last approximately for a week.

Please respond to this e-mail if you would be interested (or know people who would) in such possibility. 
We are looking forward to your replies!

Aiste Juknaite
Peak Time 2010
Stockholm School of Economics in Riga
Strēlnieku iela 4a, Riga LV 1010, Latvia
E-mail: ajuknaite@sseriga.edu.lv; juknaite.a@gmail.com
Tel LV: +371 22 178472
Tel LT: +370 67 176793

The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga) offers an excellent opportunity to take part at the Mini MBA: Strategic Management Program (Marketing, Finance, Strategy and Change Management). It is organized in cooperation with the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan (USA).

Taking into account the high interest of managers from different business areas in Latvia and abroad the Strategic Management Program is organized already for the fourth year.

The program will take place from May 17 – 28, 2010.
Early Bird registration for the program is until March 19.
Small companies and NGOs’ have an opportunity to apply for Teeter scholarship which fully covers tuition fee. Registration deadline for the Teeter scholarship is

More information about mini MBA program is available here.

Should you have any questions please contact Executive Education department: +371 67015824, +371 67015805; e-mail: Executive@sseriga.edu.lv

March 12, 16.00 in Soros auditorium – guest lecture by Joscha Brose, Founder of the design studio STUDIOHAUSEN and junior design manager at Tom Dixon www.studiohausen.com

March 18, 16.00 in W32 auditorium – guest lecture by Humberto Schwab, Director of the independent, international, future-oriented think tank Club of Amsterdam.

March 25, 16.00 in W32 auditorium – guest lecture by Marti Guixe, Designlegend from Barcelona dedicated to inventing “brilliantly simple ideas of a curious seriousness” www.guixe.com

April 19, 16.00 in Soros auditorium – guest lecture by Henning Grambow, Founder of the label SUGARCANDYMOUNTAIN www.sugarcandymountain.com

May 13, 16.00 in Soros auditorium – guest lecture by Arun Markus ands Fabian Johow, Founders of the company UNDPLUS and owners of the UrbanArtGalery www.undplus.com

Further information will be updated on the SSE Riga web page.

You are kindly invited to the SSE Riga Choir concert on March 6, 16:00 in the Ave Sol Concert Hall, Citadeles iela 7.
The choir has a new programme, and it is all about love...
Choir conductors: Lauris Goss and Elina Karaseva.
Tickets will be sold starting an hour before the concert, ticket price - 1LVL.

On March 3, over 40 graduates attended the SSE Riga Alumni Association's general meeting. During this meeting alumni had the possibility to hear what has been done during the 2008 and 2009 as well as elect the new board.

Congratulations to Raimonds Kulbergs (President), Yuri Romanenkov, Mārtiņš Mellēns, Mikk Tamme and Zane Zvagule, who will represent alumni community for the next two years.

The final part of the meeting was devoted to the discussion about the school's future. It is decided that the school will be owned by a foundation, however, there are still uncertainties about who will be the founders and how much financing is required during the transition period of the next five years. Janis Teteris (graduate 1996) will represent alumni in the workgroup that is writing the articles for the new foundation. During the next five years the tuition fee is planned to remain 3500 EUR.

Alumni agreed that in order to attract capable students the alumni scholarship project should be continued. Thus Alumni Association encourages individual and group donations for this purpose also for the next year.

All in all the atmosphere was nice and alumni left school only at around 10 pm.

Thanks to all alumni who have contributed their ideas and time so far.

Alumni Association has informed the Ministry of Education and SSE that we would be willing to participate in the future management and funding of SSE Riga if the agreement on the following issues is found:

- English language is kept as the official study language of SSE Riga.
- Students from all Baltic countries are accepted and the school is open to students from other countries as well.
- The brand of Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and Rīgas Ekonomikas Augstskola stays as it is currently
- All founders of the foundation have equal voting rights, irrespective of the capital invested in the establishment of the foundation
- SSE controls the study process as well as the application process, however, more transparent pricing of the study courses is required which is approved by the Board of the Foundation.
- Majority of the votes is required about strategic and financial decisions
- Rector should be approved by all founders
- All existing fixed assets of SSE Riga are retained within SSE Riga, including real estate owned by SSE Riga
- Decisions about the operations with school’s real estate should be approved by all founders
- The expense structure of SSE Riga should be very transparent, so donors can follow the funds they have trusted to the Foundation.

Last meeting between the Ministry of Education and SSE took place on January 27th. Official announcement is available here.

Last meeting January 27th
Work in progress: the articles of the new foundation
Next meeting February 26th

The London School of Economics and Political Science is delighted to announce scholarships for students starting a postgraduate programme at LSE in 2010.

Students should consult the LSE Financial Support Office website for precise eligibility criteria and details on how and when to apply.

In most cases applicants must already have received an offer of admission to LSE by the end of April 2010 in order to be considered for a scholarship.

If you have any questions or would like further information about any aspect of applying to or studying at LSE, please do not hesitate to contact the Student Recruitment Office at p.a.wood@lse.ac.uk.

JANUARY 30, 10:00-13:00
Strēlnieku iela 4a, Rīga

• General Presentation - information about SSE Riga, the study programme BSc in Economics and Business, the study process and admissions requirements


• Presentation on Student life at SSE Riga - studies as seen by students, social activities, career opportunities


• Short Guiding Seminars - transition from school to university; studying economics; and studying business


• Financial Aid and Housing - how to budget your studies, scholarships, the grant programme, loans, SSE Riga student residence hall


• Guided tour around SSE Riga premises


• Guided tour to the SSE Riga student residence hall - an opportunity to see one of the housing options in Riga; for this activity you should register by e-mail admissions@sseriga.edu.lv

Everybody interested in Executive MBA programme are welcome sign up for an individual consultation with the EMBA Programme Director Karlis Kreslins: KarlisK@sseriga.edu.lv

January 14th, 17:00-18:30, SSE Riga, Room 311 (3rd floor)
Lecture is organized by Latvian Art Directors Club (LADC)
Joachim Sauter is a lecturer of New Media Art and Design at the University of the Arts in Berlin. Joachim Sauter: “I will present projects from art+com and discuss how communication in space (exhibitions, brand spaces, opera stages, public space) and communication in general has changed over the last 10 years”.

More information: www.joachimsauter.com

REA Mentoru Klubs piedāvā Rīgas Ekonomikas augstskolas absolventiem - vadītājiem un uzņēmējiem - platformu biznesa pieredzes, domu un ideju apmaiņai. Kluba aktivitātes ir iespēja gūt gan svaigu skatījumu un jaunas idejas pašu darbības jomai, gan kļūt par biznesa mentoru un palīdzēt kādam citam Latvijas uzņēmumam attīstīties.

REA Mentoru Klubs organizē regulārus pasākumus saviem biedriem, kas ietver aktuālas biznesa tēmu diskusijas, mentorējamo uzņēmumu analīzi un kontaktu veidošanu. Katrs biedrs ir gatavs brīvprātīgi uzņemties biznesa mentora lomu kādam citam ambiciozam un perspektīvam uzņēmumam. Tas prasa laika ieguldījumu ~ 5 stundas mēnesī, taču var sniegt nenovērtējamu atbalstu Latvijas uzņēmējdarbības attīstībai.

Noslēdzot otro darbības gadu, REA Mentoru Klubs vēlas paplašināt biedru sastāvu. Aicinām Jūs apsvērt interesi un iespējas pievienoties Kluba aktivitātēm. Nākamais pasākums ir 2009. gada 17.decembrī. Ievada daļa jaunajiem biedriem sāksies 16:30.

Piesakies par mentoru un saņem 17.decembra pasākuma programmu šeit: http://www.alumni.lv/mentors

Vairāk informācijas par Klubu: www.mentoruklubs.lv
Prezentācija no Mentoru Kluba ir atrodama šeit.

Homecoming is a wonderful tradition, providing the opportunity to come together, to see one another and appreciate one another. This year as we celebrate the 15th anniversary, it has been a very special homecoming here at SSE Riga.

Throughout the year we have witnessed your support in designing the anniversary programme, and we are proud to have many dedicated members of the Alumni Association who have been committed to putting together a tremendous programme both for current students, including the Student research paper seminar and the Experiences and lifestyles in different industries seminar, and for the alumni with the Social Entrepreneurship Forum, the Alumni Forum, social events and the HoCo party. In the times when the alumni have their careers and young families, we would especially like to thank Linda Amerika (Solovjova), Anna Andersone, Kārlis Andersons, Tatjana Cvetkova, Deniss Kiseļovs, Lelde Kļaviņa, Mečislavs Maculēvičs, Vilma Midverytė, Ilze Poikāne, Harro Rannamets, Yuri Romanenkov, Natalja Točelovska and Raiko Uri for being part of the organizing team.

Today we feel extra special with the batteries charged as another five years have just unfolded and as we bear witness in the evolution of SSE Riga into yet another phase of academic achievement. We have received a number of great suggestions and ideas about further alumni support, and the encouragement and good wishes have been an amazing gift. Thanks to all SSE Riga Alumni community. Home is where the heart is.

Anders Paalzow, Diana Pauna

On behalf of SSE Riga

VIDEO from the anniversary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqHh6JKd2O0

We are extremely grateful for all the support we have received from alumni this year. Every student at SSE Riga has in one way or another been touched by the generosity of our donors. Whether through the endowing of a scholarship, providing guest lectures, internship placements or supporting the Student Association, you have helped shape the future of SSE Riga students. Your support has enabled your Alma Mater to continue to provide a high quality educational experience for all who chose to study at SSE Riga, and your donations help keep our school strong.

This year there were 43 applicants, and 25 students were granted scholarship awards that totaled EUR 44.400. The alumni involvement in the scholarship planning and awarding process was felt throughout the year. The scholarships were granted generally based on student applications, however, in a few cases there were special award conditions established by the donor, for example, personal interviews, specific academic achievement, geographical origin or other criteria.

You are an essential part of this contribution, and we hope that you derive as much pleasure from giving as students from receiving. Working together we are achieving so much.

Facts 2009-2010
Estonia - 9 applicants for scholarships, granted 3 full scholarships and 2 scholarships covering half of the study fee
Latvia - 21 applicant for scholarships, granted 8 full scholarships and 6 scholarships covering half of the study fee
Lithuania - 14 applicants for scholarships, granted 5 full scholarships and 1 scholarship covering half of the study fee

Many thanks to the generous individual donors and association chapters in each country!

Diana Pauna

As a result of requests from alumni who were willing to donate to Alumni scholarship project to first year students, we had applied for the status of public benefit. And yes today we got approved!

This means that those alumni who donate for Alumni scholarships next year among LV graduates should be able to receive 85% reduction from the income tax.

We hope that this will encourage donations from companies as well!