>>>The European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) is proud to launch the 16th edition of its European Master's Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) 2012/2013.
>>>E.MA  is an intensive one-year advanced master's programme aimed at educating 90 professionals in human rights, democracy, peace and development.
>>>To find out more about the programme and university check here or here.

>>>Maybe you feel tired or stressed? Can't focus on the works you are doing? Then here is what may really help you: SSE Riga Executive Education programme that was developed in response to SSE Riga Alumni expressed needs.

>>>This programme offers you to learn a lot of new things that may be implemented in your daily life. For example, optimizing your personal resources or reaching more of your full potential.

>>>The programme will take place on April 19-20, 2012 and there will be two days full of events. More information about the schedule and the programme itself can be found here.

>>>The pro-rector of our university Diana Pauna suggested to create such programme. And here you can find special address by her.

Take your chance to promote your company to young active students and attract potential employees! The Latvian Shadow Day is organized by Junior Achievemnt Latvia and attracts the most active students of Latvia to explore their future career opportunities.
Apply as a shadow giver here

Do you have an idea worth spreading? Are you looking to Inspire.Change.Impact through  your actions?
 
TEDxBled is looking for two young inspirational speakers to take the stage on 18 March 2012 in Bled, Slovenia. Costs covered. We’re looking for you to share your story! Applications are open: register here
 Deadline: 6 February 2012
 
TEDxBled, under the theme of Inspire.Change.Impact, is an independentely organized TED event. Through 10 minutes well-focused speeches, selected speakers coming from ten different countries are going to inspire, drive change and make an impact by sharing innovations, sustainable ideas, social projects and the personal impact they’ve made.

Bonus for selected speakers: full participation at Challenge:Future Summit, 16-22 March 2012.
 
Take this chance to be on TEDxBled stage!

Winter Symposium 2012 is coming and we kindly invite you to join this event. 

>>>Winter Symposium will take place for the fourth time in the history of SSE Riga. The participants will have a chance to compete in friendly team competitions, go skiing/ snowboarding, participate in the slalom race and relax at the modern guesthouse in the evening.  

>>>The event will take place on January 28-29, in Zagarkalns Mountain and after sport activities continue in the guest house.

>>>Approximate schedule:
~11:00am - Opening of the Winter Symposium 
~12:pm-1:30pm - Friendly team competitions/relays in Zagarkalns
~12pm- 7pm - Skiing/ snowboarding on the mountains (grilled sausages and tea will be available on the spot for free) 
~4 pm - Slalom Challenge competitions both for skis and snowboards (individual competitions)
~7 pm- 8pm - Arriving at the guest house
~8 pm - Eating Pizzas 
~9 pm - Award ceremony at the guest house.
~10 pm - Warming up & PARTY!

>>>The guest house Spāriņu Kalns is located 20 km away from Zagarkalns. The price of the event is 12 Ls/person (including supper and accommodation). Guest house location: Spāriņi, Priekuļi, Priekuļu novads, LV-4127.

>>>None of the scheduled activities are obligatory. One could choose what he/she would like to do (compete in the relays, or just come to the mountain etc.)

>>>New information regarding available scholarships from the E. Wilhelmsen Foundation.
>>>This scholarship is awarded to students with a bachelor degree from your institution that are accepted into one of NHH’s English MSc Programmes:www.nhh.no/en/study-at-nhh/master-programmes.aspx
>>>Please see the following link for detailed information regarding the application process: : www.nhh.no/en/about-nhh/international-profile/international-relations-office/scholarship.aspx

The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga celebrated the 17th anniversary on November 11th and 12th.
 >>>The activities varied from SSE Riga Working paper presentations, a public guest lecture by Muzaffar Khan, dinner for former Student Association Presidents, a cocktail party, and an SSE Riga Choir concert.
>>> The high point of the events was on Saturday, when more than 250 alumni representing every graduation year from 1996-2011 came home to their Alma Mater.
 >>>The Alumni Scholarship Awards ceremony was a meaningful and emotional event which took place in Soros auditorium at 10 pm. Twenty-four scholarships, funded by private alumni donations, were awarded to first year students.
 >>>Video about the Alumni Scholarship Awards http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yblesiRHOYs&feature=youtu.be
>>>After the official ceremony all alumni were invited to meet the Rector to share a glass of wine and sign the guest book for honored guests
.>>>And here are photos from all the events that took place during Homecoming 2011:
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sse_riga/sets/72157628202563511/

Dear Alumni,

We are glad to announce that Days of Opportunities 2012 will take place at March 30th, 2012.

Every year we try to get the best companies to provide internship opportunities for our students. However, this year we would especially like to strengthen the link between alumni and the school; thus, we are hoping of getting as many alumni companies as we can. For this reason, all the alumni-established companies get the participation fee reduced by a half.

You can find the proposal for the alumni-established companies attached. More info about the event is available here. You can still enjoy  the video of 2010.

If you are interested in hearing more please contact:
Chief organiser Rasa Girtavičiūtė: rgirtaviciute@sseriga.edu;
Latvian coordinator Anastasija Vasilevska: avasilevska@sseriga.edu;
Lithuanian coordinator Paulius Jurgutis – pjurgutis@sseriga.edu;

We hope that we can all work together for SSE Riga!

Best regards,

Days of Opportunities 2012 organizing team

Just a few days to go till our next meeting in London! The place chosen is one of the landmark, funky and cosmopolitan cocktail bars in Shoreditch - Callooh Callay. We don't have any space booked, so please just come, grab a cocktail, meet your friends and make new ones in the bar area!

As always, please bring your partners, mates, colleagues - the more the merrier!:)

Time:
Thursday, the 1st of December starting at 6:30 pm
Please note that those coming in at 9 pm or later might have to queue up to get in.

Location:
65 Rivington Street EC2A 3AYTransport Old Street tube or Shoreditch High Street rail:
See here
See you soon!

SSE Riga 17th Anniversary Programme

>>>Nov 11, 10.15-11.15
Public lecture
Entrepreneurs and professionals: responsibilities and contribution to society by Muzaffar Khan.

>>> Nov 11, 12.00-14.00
SSE Riga Working Paper Presentations
SSE Riga Student Working Papers include a selection of the best BSc theses and EMBA diploma papers of 2011. This year’s SSE Riga Student Working Papers cover the areas of finance, entrepreneurship, consumer behavior, economics of culture, and education.

>>> Nov 11
Social Entrepreneurship Forum: Opportunities For an Ageing Society (Day 1)
The phenomenon of an ageing society can be viewed as change that leads to opportunities for individuals, organisations, businesses, and in public policy, and not as a potential hazard to our society. Bringing together professionals in the field, social entrepreneurs, companies and organizations, pensioners, government officers, NGOs, and artists, the Forum seeks to discuss the issue of an ageing society and the opportunities it brings, as well as to find creative ways to realize these opportunities.
The Forum will be organized partly as guest lectures (November 11), and partly as workshop activities (November 12), where participants will form teams and work together to find concrete solutions to the challenges of an ageing society within the scope of social business. The solutions will be presented, and the best ideas will be awarded with start-up financing.
To register click here. To download forum's programme click here.

>>>Nov 11, 19.00
Dinner for former Student Association Presidents

>>> Nov 11, 21.00
HoCo Welcome Cocktails at Albert hotel Star Lounge

>>> Nov 12
Social Entrepreneurship Forum: Opportunities For an Ageing Society (Day 2)

>>> Nov 12, 18.00-19.00
SSE Riga Choir concert at the Concert Hall AVE SOL

>>>Nov 12, 19.30
HoCo for Staff and Faculty (6th floor)
All current and former staff and faculty members are warmly invited to a staff reunion, to share memories and to just have a good evening together.

>>> Nov 12, 22.00
HoCo Official opening
Rector’s welcome, speeches and announcements from the Alumni Association

>>> Nov 12, 22.00
Alumni Scholarship Awards for first year students For the third year, SSE Riga Alumni have raised funds to support tuition fees for first year students. This year 24 students from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were awarded full and partial scholarships.

>>> Nov 12, 22.00
Party at SSE Riga
When autumn gets darker, we yearn for more bright things around us, so we will bring brightness too our premises: rock rhythms and live music, warming cocktails, conversations in classrooms between graduating classes and, of course, the SSE Riga spirit.
Bring the brightness with you! Dress code: bright accent (tie, scarf, hat...)!

>>> November 22nd - 25th, 2011, London
The London International Human Rights Congress 2011"
Immigration &Integration in an Age of Austerity: Challenges and Opportunities"

The aim of the conference this year is to reflect on the operation and application of Human Rights with particular focus on Immigration and Integration. Raising new questions such as how far should National Financial or Economic failings be allowed to influence the Universality of access to fundamental rights? The London International Human Rights Congress will discuss the challenges and opportunities which arise in the quest to protect Human Rights in the 21st Century.
For more information visit:  http://www.lihrc.org
Apply here

>>> December 6th - 9th, 2011, Brussels
The International Conference on Cultural Diplomacy in the EU
"Crisis, Conflict, and Culture: The Role of Cultural Diplomacy in the European Project"

ICD Academy Sessions are weeklong programs that explore the role of cultural diplomacy in contemporary international relations. Each program features lectures, seminars and workshops lead by experts from the fields of international politics, diplomacy, academia, civil society, and the private sector. During their time in Berlin participants will also have the opportunity to take part in cultural and social activities and to visit institutions such as the German Foreign Office, the German Parliament, the Berlin City Hall, cultural institutions and Berlin-based embassies.
For more information visit:  http://www.eu-culturaldiplomacy-conference.org
Apply here

>>>December 15th - 18th, 2011, Berlin
The ICD Annual Academic Conference on Cultural Diplomacy 2011
“Cultural Diplomacy and International Relations: New Actors, New Initiatives, New Targets”

The EU & Cultural Diplomacy Conference is the first of a series of three conferences dedicated to enhancing awareness and understanding of international governing institutions and their role in promoting cultural diplomacy across the world. The goal of this year’s conference is to facilitate exploration of the unique challenges currently facing Europe from the debt crisis, to crippling military engagements to the debate over increased political and economic union.
For more information visit: http://www.icd-academy.org
Apply here

>>>
The European African Alliance Conference 2012
" Development Initiatives, Trade Relations and Interregional Cultural Exchange in the European African Alliance"
 Africa’s relationship with Europe and European Institutions has developed significantly over the last decade making the European African Alliance an interesting and relevant topic for discussion today. The program will consist of lectures, seminars, debates and panel discussions that will feature leading figures from international politics & diplomacy, academia, civil society, and the private sector. This conference will focus on and analyze economic issues such as migration and employment, political issues such as the use and affect of institutions, democracy and international relations and security and trade issues. 
For more information visit: http://www.experience-africa.org
Apply here

>>>January 9th - 15th, 2012, Berlin
ICD Young Leaders Forum "Cultural Diplomacy in Africa: A Forum for Young Leaders"
Development Initiatives, Trade Relations and Interregional Cultural Exchange in the European African Alliance
(a weeklong seminar)
For more information visit: http://www.icd-ylf.org
Apply here
**Participants of the forthcoming  CDA weeklong seminar will take part in the International Conference “The European African Alliance Conference 2012 (Berlin, January 10th - 13th, 2012)

SSE Alumni in Brussels are sticking to the tradition of meeting every last Thursday of the month. This time we met in "Enoteca da Valentino", a great Italian shop & resto. It started with some Belgian Elvis Presley look-alike (live!) performance, then we saw a presentation of some cigars from Provence... but all in all, we had time to enjoy some wine with Italian snacks and catch up with who is up to what. One graduate, Vytautas, came all the way from Ghent to participate in this meeting -- and we hope he found it worth it, and we will see him again soon!

The two day “Building Powerful Brands” programme with Philippe Mihailovich (France/SouthAfrica) will take place on October 31 - November 1, focusing on competitive and creative brand development. Mihailovich has devised brand stretching guidelines for Wella, Nivea and Virgin. As a CEO of HAUTaLUXE he advises luxury retail brands and hotels in Paris, London, New York, Russia and elsewhere. More information on this and other Executive Education programmes is available here..

New co-financing opportunity of up to 72% refund is available for all executive education training programmes. Find out more about the application process here.

Additional 15 % discount applies to all SSE Alumni!

Please find a note from the Peak Time organizing team below.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dear all,

New Peak Time organizers were elected and the work was started. This year the organizers are trying to make the event even bigger and more international, thus all interested are invited to become a part of it.

Maybe, you would like to become a jury member? Perhaps, you have foreign media contacts or would be willing share your knowledge about successful PR? Maybe, you would like to support Peak Time 2012, or be willing to help in any other way? If you think that any of these apply for you, please contact us via involved@peaktime.org . Let’s make Peak Time 2012 exiting together!


Best regards,

Peak Time 2012 organizing team

>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Rector, Anders Paalzow, Alumni Relations Manager, Gita Grinberga and the Head of the Economics Department, Morten Hansen are coming to London to visit our Alumni community! Definitely one NOT to be missed!

The preliminary program for the evening is as follows:
- Gita will give an update on the school status
- Anders will touch upon the value of SSE Riga diploma
- Vilma will give an update on the UK Charity status and alumni in the UK
- Morten will present his viewpoint on the economies of the Baltic States and invite everyone for a discussion

WHEN: September 15th, Thursday, 7PM to 11PM, presentations starting at no later than 7:30PM
WHERE: The Counting House

If you live in London or will be visiting at that time, please join the event and feel free to invite friends! Please drop an email to sseriga.aauk@gmail.com if you are planning on coming.

SSE Riga Executive Education launches the school year with the latest technologies, new business programmes and co-financing opportunities.

Join us for a glass of wine and try out the SMARTboard X880 on Tuesday, September 13th at 17:00 on SSE Riga Executive floor as you reveal what’s in store for the upcoming year.

Alumni discount of 15% and early registration rate still apply to “Building Powerful Brands” and “Negotiation Strategy” programmes this Fall. Don’t miss out!

More information is available on our website - www.sseriga.edu.lv

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dear Alumni,

I am happy to announce that Bottomline Summer Symposium 2011 is going to take place on 10-11 September in Ratnieki (see the map attached).

This year there will be 6 kinds of sports to participate in: basketball, football, volleyball, frisbee, dodgeball for women and rope pulling.

To register, please fill in the sign up sheet that I attached. All the prices and deadlines are in the same sheet, as well.


Yours faithfully,

Gerard Chmyznikov
Sports Committee Chairperson

gchmyznikov@gmail.com
+37125530667 (LV)
+37162590643 (LT)

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Sign-up sheet
Rules
Map

You are kindly invited to a talk by CORINNE ESTRADA on Business Opportunities in the Art World! The talk will be followed by an A & Q session.

Date: September 8th
Time: 4pm (about 45 min.)
Venue: Soros auditorium

Corinne Estrada, CEO at the PR & Marketing company Agenda, Paris will share her vision on business opportunities in the Art World drawing on her vast experience in Europe, Asia, the US and other markets.

Exhibitions in the world’s large museums have become blockbusters with millions of visitors and consumer products. It is time to learn how to work in order to attract private and public partners to take a profit share from the recent developments. The marketing mix, branding and communication strategies are vital components in this success story.”

Please find more information here.

Latvian alumni who might consider studying for the MSc degree in Germany can apply for a scholarship from Rochus und Beatrice Mummert-Stiftung.

Please find detailed information in this brochure (in Latvian).

It was with deep sadness I received the news of the sudden death of SSE Riga faculty member Roger Henning. With Roger's passing the SSE Riga community has not only lost a dedicated faculty member, but also a long term friend and supporter.

Roger joined the SSE Riga faculty in the academic year 2005/2006 and since then several generations of SSE Riga students have benefitted from sharing Roger's knowledge in many aspects of organisation and management. Roger was never afraid of challenging the students academically – he wanted to provide them with solid theoretical foundation that would allow them to analyze why organisations might or might not work. In terms of teaching the best way to characterize Roger’s approach is “dedication”. Dedication to students manifested through a genuine interest in their academic development and through a continuous development of the courses. Dedication also to younger colleagues, many of them freshly minted Ph.Ds., guiding them and allowing them to gradually grow in their role as teachers.

When Roger came to SSE Riga in the mid-2000s, he was not a first time visitor. Roger had, since the early days of Baltic regained independence, been genuinely interested in the impact of the economic transition on management practice. In fact, he was one of the few Swedish researchers taking this opportunity. At the time of his death he was working on a book chapter on the impact of Swedish management in the Baltic countries and Poland drawing on 15 years of field work in the region. Roger’s dedication to Latvia was also manifested in a genuine interest in Latvian culture life, in particular in opera - during his Riga sojourns he was a regular at the Latvian National Opera.

At this moment our thought and prayers go to the family of Roger. A look in the annual Yearbooks produced by the SSE Riga Student Association tells us how important and close Roger was to his family. When asked about his greatest victory in life, it was his family, wife, daughters and grandchildren that came to his mind.

Knowing that Roger considered the words of John Lennon in “Strawberry fields forever” as describing him best, I would like to end:

Let me take you down, 'cos I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hungabout.
Strawberry Fields forever.

Anders Paalzow

The alumni based in Belgium has reunited for the second time in the double-day meeting in the ‘Poechenelle’ Cellar, puppet theatre converted into a pub, on August 18 and the bakery ‘Le pain quotidien’ on August 21, 2011. Graduates from all three Baltic states and six classes ('96, ’98, ’00, ’02, ‘04, '08) were represented.
The next meeting will take place on the last Thursday of September (29). If you live in the region and would be interested to take part in the future alumni meetings, make sure your contact details in alumni.lv are up todate.

The Embassy of Sweden and the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga) have the honour of inviting you to a presentation of the book "Returnings - Swedish Security Policy and the Baltic Countries during their First Years of Independence 1991-1994" ("Återkomster. Svensk säkerhetspolitik och de baltiska ländernas första år i självständighet 1991-1994". Atlantis publishing house), which is published in Latvian by the publishing house Atena in August 2011 with the title " Atgriešanās. Zviedrijas drošības politika un Baltijas valstu atgūtās neatkarības pirmie gadi 1991—1994".

The presentation will be given by the author, ambassador Lars Peter Fredén. A vin d´honneur will be offered after the presentation.

Date: Monday, August 29
Time: 16.00
Venue: Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Soros Auditorium, 2nd Floor (Strēlnieku iela 4a, Rīga)

Signing up for the event is available here.
More info in this brochure.

StartupHighway is a business accelerator, which combines mentorship, funding and other resources needed for starting a business. The aim of the program is to accelerate the development of a business from the idea to first profit and offer further business support.

Funding
- Each team will receive up to €14.000 in exchange for 10% of the business’ shares (this is not a loan, in case of failure you will not have to give the money back)
- Office space and other essential services (legal advice, accounting, hosting, etc.) will be provided for free

Mentorship
- StartupHighway has a network of over 70 international mentors (you can see our mentors here )
- These mentors will share their experience, provide advice on business development and share their network of contacts

Process – how to get funding?
- We invite you to apply on our webpage until August 15th
- There is no need to write a business plan, just answer the 20 question application form on our website
- The program will start on the 15th of September in Vilnius

Please find a detailed description file attached here.

Canadian entrepreneur, educator and author James Bowen will return to Riga and present a seminar on Entrepreneurship. You are invited to the seminar on August 2 at RTU Riga Business School.

This is a real opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship from all sides and of all kinds. James Bowen has been a serial entrepreneur since he was 20 and brings his experience in business, research and business teaching to this seminar. In addition to the multiple businesses he has successfully started, he is an inventor and is a teacher at 9 different graduate schools of business. His annual teaching times in Latvia guarantees that he knows, understands and has insight into the complexities of the Latvian business environment. He will talk about getting started in entrepreneurial work, whether you are in a corporate environment or outside. He will help you weigh where, how and in what form to bring your vision to life.

The price for this 4 hours of learning, discussion and feedback is 30 Ls and we invite SSE Riga students, alumni, faculty and staff to register for 20Ls. In addition, James will have copies of his most recent book available at 5 Ls (retail 10Ls).

To register, please contact Tom Schmit at thomas.schmit@rbs.lv or 29183269.

Alumni Association has started fundraising for the Equal opportunities scholarships. It will support Year 1 students whose financial situation is not good enough to afford a study fee in the amount of EUR 3,500. Find more info in the Donation section.

AmCham together with SSE Riga and the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce presents the next seminar in the Outlook series, with the focus on the present investment climate in Latvia.

The seminar takes place on June 30 at 10.00 in the Soros auditorium at SSE Riga.

Please find attached the seminar programme here.

If you are interested to participate, please register.

Dear All,

I would like to share the great news with SSE Riga students winning five out of six awards for student research papers by the Central Bank of Latvia.

Read more in Latvian or in English.


Wishing you all a very nice summer,

Diana

Register here.

SSE Riga invites you to a discussion on pursuing post-graduate degrees abroad on Monday, June 13 at 17:00 in Soros auditorium.

Many current and former SSE Riga students dream about MBA studies abroad, in Europe or in the USA. Only a small percentage makes it happen, however. Sometimes the reasons are as genuine as personal discomfort with the idea or a lack of information about where to start, what the experience will be like, and how to afford it. Many SSE Riga alumni have made the dream a reality, and have firsthand experience with the transition, the academic process, and post-MBA life abroad or back in their home country. SSE Riga would like to bring the alumni back to school to share their experiences with current SSE Riga students and alumni, to provide personal insights and words of wisdom.

Sometimes the logistics of moving and the financial aspects are just technical details to consider when pursuing an MBA degree abroad; for some, the intangibles and value assessment of an MBA degree and the overall experience may be the most important, but often overlooked, aspects that should guide the decision to pursue an advanced degree abroad.

Please sign up for the discussion.

Please find a note from Diana about Year 2 performance interviews below:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dear Alumni,

The time has come to meet Year 2 students to discuss their academic development so far and their future plans. Please find attached the schedule of meetings and the Student Self-Evaluation (SSE form) form.

Each meeting is scheduled for 20 minutes, and during the meeting we will go over each student report. Please let me know if you are interested and have time to participate in a few interviews. We started this last year, and it went really well. I hope for good this response this year well.

Thanks a lot and with regards,

Diana

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

SSE form
Schedule