This is a project for higher education student and staff mobility between Programme Countries and Partner Countries. Please consult the website of the organisation to obtain additional details.

Realizing the study and traineeship programme Erasmus+, Art Academy of Latvia implementing in the most important targets of its internationalization strategy, thereby ensuringcompetitive and aware status of European art and design university. Effectively implemention and participation experience in the Erasmus+ programme, allowed to develop strongconnections and tight network within the leading art and design institutions in Europe, which is an essential and important basis for the exchange of experience and improve the quality ofthe studies. At the moment, Art Academy of Latvia has signed cooperation agreements with more than 120 higher educational institutions in 27 different countries. The programme offers a widerange of activities in the fields of education and training not only to the students, but also to the teaching staff and personnel of the academy. A lot of enthusiastic teachers and studentshave also taken the opportunity to visit Latvia and gain experience in our academy. During the 2016/2017 academic year project 43 students have studied abroad, whereas 28 studentshave gained professional experience in various European companies and organizations. The academic and non-academic staff of the academy also has taken active part in Erasmus+mobility. 41 employees of the academy have visited the partnerschools and different art and design institutions for training activities in order to share their experience, 13 completed their teaching mobilities - 10 employees conducted workshops and gave guest lectures, and 3 were invited guest lecturers from enterprises abroad. At the same time 39 foreign students completed their study mobility and 1 realized the traineeship mobility, and 21 teaching and training staff from other institutions have chosen the Art Academy of Latvia as the destination of their exchange, creative workshops and guest lectures. Art Academy of Latvia is satisfied that the degree of mobility is increasing and that the established international connections offer new existing and enriching experience to everyone. That specific experience is the key for providing competitive study programmes in Latvia in field of art and design. Based on the cooperational agreements, as well the former successful experience, the Art Academy of Latvia has taken on the role of organizing several projects with other partner institutions in different countries. In 2016/2017 academic year realized project, student exchange offered even more extensive and valuable opportunities in each study cycle than in previous projects, which should be marked as very important and successful Erasmus+ program improvement. Erasmus+ project provided unique opportunities to the academic and non-academic staffwithin the framework of the programme, a number of such mobility projects demonstrated willingness and productive outcome for common tasks and study programmes. Staff mobilitiesprovided lectures, developed and co-created study programmes, conducted workshops, improved lecture courses and teaching materials, which is very important for art and designstudies, participated in seminars and cooperated in projects, visited various cooperative institutions, as well as took part in study visits, observation periods and job shadowing, thus gainingsignificant experience in the intercultural dialogue and contributing to the transnational cooperation. Although all the mobilities are very significant and valuable experience both for studentsand staff, the most important factor is the sustainability of the programme and long-term benefits that increasing international contacts and cooperation. The mobility funding providedobjectively measurable and significant results in the field of intercultural education for the guest students and lecturers, as well as language learning and communication skills for thestudents and staff at Art Academy of Latvia.

This action supports physical and blended mobility of higher education students and staff from EU Member States and third countries associated to Erasmus+ to any country in the world. Students in all study fields and cycles can take part in a study period or traineeship abroad. Higher education teaching and administrative staff can take part in professional development activities abroad, as well as staff from the field of work in order to teach and train students or staff at higher education institutions.

Europe is undergoing a significant change that results in shifting of existing socioeconomical paradigms and requires new ways to develop humancentric solutions in situations of increasing uncertainty. Desire for a sustainable approach of doing business and experiencing a quality life have defined ambitious goals set forth in the Green Deal and needs for ensuring of competitiveness in a way where parts of population and business are not left behind have resulted in critical initiatives of Digital Transformation. These challenges and aspirations need radically improved or even completely new solutions. They even require entirely new ways of understanding and interpreting of the problems and needs in complex and uncertain contexts. Our answer to this is a multi-disciplinary, joint-degree awarding Service Design Strategy and Innovation Masters’ programme, SDSI (120 ECTS), involving the Art Academy of Latvia, the University of Lapland, the Estonian Academy of Arts and the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, aimed at educating of leaders who will be able to address ongoing shift to sustainability and digitalization in a human-centered way.SDSI will prepare students to become versatile service innovators who can enable change in public and private organizations through strategic design, management and creative leadership. Its focus is on interdisciplinary studies and cross-specialization in design, business, technologies and social sciences. SDSI graduates will become change facilitators to contribute to innovative, effective and socially responsible service organizations globally, in their home countries after graduation.