Statutes of Riga Technical University
Riga Business School

1. General terms:

1.1. Institute “Rīgas Biznesa skola” (hereinafter – RBS) of Riga Technical University ((hereinafter – RTU) is an independent structural unit of  RTU, reporting to the RTU Rector;
1.2. The address of RBS -11 Skolas Str., Riga, LV-1010, Latvia;
1.3. The activity of RBS is governed by, and its legal base are the regulations of the Republic of Latvia, the decisions and regulations of RTU governing bodies, these Statutes, and other internal legal acts;
1.4. RBS Statutes, their further additions and amendments are approved by RTU Rector;
1.5. RBS carries out study, methodological, research, and commercial activities and implements study programs;
1.6. The management of RBS is provided by the RBS Advisory Board, RBS Council, and RBS Director in accordance with these Statutes;
1.7. RBS has its own seal and visual identity;
1.8. The name of RBS in English is RTU Riga Business School.

2. The goal of RBS is to provide high quality internationally recognized study process by implementing study programs and courses (study as well as commercial), to carry out research and consulting activities in the field of management, according to the strategy determined by RTU and RBS.

3. The main objectives and activities of RBS:

3.1. In consultations with industry partners, to develop, submit for approval according to RTU processes, and implement study programs for first cycle (bachelor’s) and second cycle (master’s) degrees, and/or professional qualifications or professional development;
3.2. To conduct training and professional development of companies’ managers and specialists through life-long learning courses;
3.3. In collaboration with companies and organizations, to develop scientific potential in order to carry out research and consulting activities;
3.4. To attract financial resources by realizing local and international scientific, research, and consulting projects;
3.5. To facilitate the professional development of academic and general personnel that also ensures succession;
3.6. To organize RBS cooperation with other RTU structural units, Latvian and foreign universities and scientific research organizations
3.7. To maintain recordkeeping for programs carried out by RBS;
3.8. To inform the public about the operation of RBS and the achieved results;
3.9. To perform other RBS activities necessary to achieve the goal.

4.The structure of RBS

4.1. Basic structure of RBS
4.2. In addition to the basic structure of RBS, it contains 1 (one) structural unit – Education Innovation Laboratory.

5. The RBS Advisory Board evaluates the RBS strategic plan and encourages the RBS director to submit proposals, as well as makes proposals for its implementation at RTU.

5.1. The RBS Advisory Board comprises 11 (eleven) members, including one representative each from the State University of New York at Buffalo (USA), the University of Ottawa (Canada) and the public organization “RBS Alumni Association”. These entities nominate and withdraw their representatives at their own discretion, informing the chairperson of the RBS Advisory Board and RTU Rector. Correspondingly, at least one representative of Riga Technical University is nominated to the RBS Advisory Board at the Rector’s discretion;
5.2. The RTU Rector approves the authority and composition of the RBS Advisory Board for 3 (three) years. Candidates to the Advisory Board are recommended to RTU Rector by the chairperson of the previous Advisory Board in consultation with the organizations mentioned in point 5.1;
5.3. The director of RBS and the Chairman of the Council of RBS are not members of the RBS Advisory Board, but are entitled to participate in the work of the RBS Advisory Board without voting rights. If necessary, the RBS Advisory Board may invite other RTU and RBS representatives, as well as external consultants without voting rights, to solve specific issues;
5.4. The RBS Advisory Board is headed by its Chairperson, who is elected by the Board among its members. The RBS Advisory Board may elect a Co-Chairperson(-s) and define their responsibilities. The Chairperson and Co-Chairperson are elected for 3 (three) years with the possibility of being re-elected;
5.5. The meetings of the RBS Advisory Board are organized by the Chairperson at least 2 (two) times a year. The Chairperson represents RBS Advisory Board without special authorization between the meetings of the RBS Advisory Board;
5.6. The meeting of RBS Advisory Board has the quorum if 2/3 (two thirds) of its members are present;
5.7. Decisions are made with a simple majority of votes at the meetings of the RBS Advisory Board;
5.8. The RBS Advisory Board can create special committees to solve specific issues;
5.9. Members of the RBS Advisory Board must obey these statutes, the Conflict of interest prevention policy at RTU and the principles and guidelines set out in the Code of Ethics of RTU Students, Academic Personnel and Staff. The chairperson of the RBS Advisory Board is responsible for ensuring compliance with these internal regulations.
5.10. Functions of the RBS Advisory Board:

5.10.1. examines and agrees the RBS strategic plan, taking into account the overall RTU operational strategy;
5.10.2. establishes a Nomination Committee for selecting candidates and provides a recommendation for the RBS Director candidate to RTU Rector;
5.10.3. examines and submits proposals to RTU rector and/or RBS director changes necessary in RBS internal procedures to ensure RBS’s strategic development, and proposes changes in these Statutes;
5.10.4. examines and provides proposals and opinion recommendations for RBS budget development and long-term investments and commitments; The RBS budget, and long-term investments and commitments are approved in accordance with the procedures established by RTU;
5.10.5. supervises the work of the RBS administration in the implementation of strategic plans, provides recommendations to the RBS director and, if necessary, to the rector of RTU. If the recommendations are not taken into account without justification, the RBS Advisory Board may propose to the Rector of RTU to terminate the working relationship with the director of RBS;
5.10.6. performs other activities that contribute to the achievement of RBS’s strategic goals.

6. RBS Academic work is managed by the RBS Council:

6.1. Selection, appointment, and dismissal of RBS Director:

6.1.1. The Council of RBS shall be composed of nine (9) members, as follows:
– The Director of RBS;
– Head of Structural unit within RBS;
– At least twenty percent (20%) of the composition, but no fewer than two (2) RBS students;
– at least 2 (two) or more representatives of full-time academic staff elected by RBS, of whom at least 2 (two) have a doctorate degree and whose primary workplace is RBS.
The numerical composition of the RBS Council may be expanded if it is not feasible to establish it with nine (9) members as stipulated in this provision. In that case, it shall be expanded to the extent necessary to include the categories of representatives.
6.1.2 The composition of the RBS Council is proposed and submitted to the Rector by the Director. The representatives of the academic staff on the RBS Council are recommended by the RBS academic staff assembly through a simple majority vote. When making recommendations, the assembly considers the suitability for independent and qualitative performance of council functions and endeavors to maintain a balanced representation of RBS structural units wherever possible.
6.1.3. The representatives of the students on the Council are nominated by the RBS Student Union.
6.1.4. The composition of the RBS Council is approved by the Rector for a term of 5 (five) years. In the event of changes to the personnel of the Council during its 5 (five) year term, the changes are determined by the order of the Rector of RTU.
6.1.5. The RBS Council elects its chairperson for a term of 5 (five) years.
6.1.6. The RBS Council is authorized to make decisions if two-thirds (2/3) of its members are present. The meetings of the RBS Council are recorded in minutes. The RBS Council makes decisions through open or closed voting, with a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the deciding vote is cast by the chairperson of the RBS Council.
6.1.7. Until the new composition of the Council is confirmed, the previous Council performs the functions of the RBS Council.

6.2. The main tasks of the RBS Council are:

6.2.1. To approve conceptual documents regulating the study process, the approval of which is not within the RTU Senate’s or the Rector’s competence and is not contradictory to the internal normative acts and decisions approved by the RTU Senate and by the Rector of RTU.
6.2.2. In accordance with external and internal regulations of RTU, appoint associate professors (practical), lecturers, and assistants, and scientific staff (leading researchers, researchers, and scientific assistants), as well as following the evaluation criteria set by the Senate for academic personnel assessment, to assess the scientific and pedagogical qualifications of candidates for the position of associate professor (practical), lecturer, or assistant, as well as to evaluate other academic personnel, taking into account the provisions of the Law on Higher Education regarding various academic positions.
6.2.3. Nominate RBS representatives to the RTU Senate;
6.2.4. Award academic degrees;
6.2.5. Nominate or support candidates for awards and honorary titles;
6.2.6. Evaluate academic and research processes at RBS, including regulations in various processes, and provide suggestions to the director for improvements.
6.2.7. Provide advisory support to the Director and other RBS employees in addressing various issues within his/her competence or other significant matters concerning RBS.
6.2.8. Perform other tasks arising from external or RTU internal regulatory acts that do not fall within the competence of other governance institutions.
6.2.9. Examines students’ submissions related to implementation of the study process;
6.2.10. Reviews and approves RBS academic integrity assurance procedures, as well as approves RBS academic integrity committee.

7. The operational management of RBS is provided by the RBS Director, implementing RTU strategic goals and objectives and RBS strategic plan in compliance with RTU internal regulatory acts, recommendations of the RBS Advisory Board and decisions of the RBS Council:

7.1. Selection, appointment, and dismissal of RBS Director:

7.1.1. The search, appointment and approval of the RBS Director is carried out in accordance with the principles of good governance;
7.1.2. RTU announces an open international competition for the position of RBS Director. The acting RBS Director has the right to submit their application for the competition without any restrictions;
7.1.3. For the selection of RBS Director candidates, the RBS Advisory Board establishes a Nomination Committee, in consultation with the RBS Council and the RTU Rector. The composition of the committee is approved by the RTU Rector’s order;
7.1.4. The nomination committee includes representatives of the RBS Advisory Board, RTU administration, RBS academic and/or general staff, representatives of students and/or graduates;
7.1.5. The finalists are interviewed by the RBS Advisory Board, RBS Council, faculty and staff of RBS;
7.1.6. Applicants for the position of RBS Director submit the RBS development concept to the Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee examines the qualifications of the candidates and the submitted development concepts, conducts interviews and recommends one or more applicants to the RBS Advisory Board;
7.1.7. The RBS Advisory Board evaluates the recommendations of the Nominations Committee and submits a recommendation to RTU Rector on the most appropriate candidate / candidates for the position of RBS Director;
7.1.8. The RTU Rector appoints the RBS Director or initiates a new selection process; in case of appointment, the RTU Rector signs a 5 (five) year employment contract with the selected candidate for the RBS Director’s position;
7.1.9. The RBS Director can be dismissed before the end of the contract in accordance with RTU’s internal regulatory acts, which can be suggested by the RTU Rector, RBS Advisory Board or RBS Council. The decision on the dismissal of the RBS Director is taken by the RTU Rector.

7.2. Rights and responsibilities of the of RBS Director:

7.2.1. To ensure the implementation of the decisions of RTU Advisory Board, RTU Senate, RTU Rector and administration, RBS Advisory Board, and RBS Council;
7.2.2. To inform RTU Rector about RBS operational activities and achievements in fulfilling strategic goals;
7.2.3. In accordance with RTU’s operational strategy, coordinate the development and regular improvement of RBS’s strategic plan, as well as coordination and approval of that in accordance with RTU regulations and the procedures set out in these Statutes.
7.2.4. To independently decide on the issues pertaining to RBS operation, to sign contracts with individuals and legal entities for the implementation of the goals and objectives stated in the RBS statutes within his/her competence, delegation and subject to authorization by the RTU Rector;
7.2.5. To develop organizational structure of RBS, approving it in accordance with RTU regulations. To manage, coordinate, and/or monitor the activities of RBS structural units for the performance of their assigned tasks;
7.2.6. To search, hire and fire RBS academic and general staff in accordance with RTU regulations;
7.2.7. To issue orders and give instructions, as well as coordinate the development of regulatory documents for the implementation of RBS operations;
7.2.8. To coordinate RBS academic work;
7.2.9. To represent RBS in the RTU Senate and RTU administrative institutions;
7.2.10. At least once every six months provide a report on the results of RBS’s work to the RBS Advisory Board and the RBS Council;
7.2.11. To carry out other activities in order to facilitate achieving of RBS strategic goals. Professional responsibilities and/or commitments outside RBS are to be agreed with the RTU Rector and RBS Advisory Board.

8. RBS financial and commercial issues:

8.1. RBS’s income consists of:

8.1.1. RBS student tuition fees;
8.1.2. Income from RBS economic activity, incl. room rental and rental fees, organized seminars, etc. in accordance with RTU regulations;
8.1.3. Ministry of Education and Science budget and other funds to ensure the activity of RBS in accordance with RTU regulations;
8.1.4. Studies and other services fees are calculated by RBS. The price list of study fees and other services is approved in accordance with valid RTU internal and external regulations.

8.2. Economic issues (maintenance of premises, fees for heat, electricity, etc.) RBS resolves according to the procedure adopted by RTU.

9. RBS is reorganized and liquidated by order of the RTU Rector in accordance with the decision of the RTU Council.

[1] Although the English translation is as precise as possible, only the text in Latvian is legally binding.