Riga Medical College of the University of Latvia was founded in 1980 and at that time it was called Riga Medical School No. 5. In 2004, in compliance with Latvia’s legislation, it was transformed into Riga Medical College. Later the College was restructured into Riga Medical College of the University of Latvia in accordance with the Ordinance No 574 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia. The College implements first level professional higher education study programmes in fields of NURSING, MEDICINE and THERAPY and REHABILITATION, that provides the whole range of knowledge, competences and skills relevant and appropriate for the present-day labour market and health care system.
The graduates of the programme NURSING receive the fourth level professional qualification of Nurse in one of the following areas – General Nurse, Internal Medicine Nurse, Paediatric Nurse, Anaesthetist Nurse, Intensive/ Critical Care Nurse, Surgical Nurse or Outpatient Nurse. The study program prepares nursing specialists who work in health care institutions and public health or as a self-employed person. The program prepares nurses to independently carry out and manage patient care, participate in medical treatment, educate patients and their family members, as well as society as a whole.
The graduates of the programme MEDICINE receive the fourth level professional qualification of Physician Assistant or Physician Assistant in Ambulatory Care or Physician Assistant in Emergency Care. The study program prepares specialists, who provide emergency medical care to victims of a life-threatening, critical condition at the pre-hospital stage and in inpatient admissions departments, determine diagnosis and continuous treatment, and primary health care, while educating patients and members of the community.
And graduates of the First Level Professional Higher Education Study Programme in Massage un hydrotherapy (in the field of THERAPY and REHABILITATION) receive qualification – Massage Therapist. The study program educates specialists in massage therapy, who are medical practitioners, and perform treatment by using different types of massage, improve the health and functional state of a patient or a client, as well as advance health-related quality of life and well-being.
There are more than 600 students, 22 full-time teachers on staff, many tutors and mentors in the health care institutions in the clinical area: Nurses, Physicians and other health care professionals.
The main aim of the College is to develop those professional and personal skills of students that are vital for people in a European multicultural society.
The College educates and trains health care professionals who remain competitive not only in Latvia, but also in the European Union labour market. Education quality is assured by using innovative pedagogy that motivates lifelong learning, as well as by using distance learning and contemporary medical technologies.