BA School of Business and Finance (BASBF) is an institution of higher education for which not only feedback from students is important, but also an opinion from industry on current trends in the labour market, so that during the study process we are able to provide students with the most current and up-to-date trends. This will be a very active year for the university, as we are working on the integration process and it is important for us to listen to the students of the BA School of Business and Finance and their vision for future financial and entrepreneurial education as part of the new university strategy.
On January 17, 2023 we organized the student hackathon “Future Higher Education of Finance and Entrepreneurship in 2040” along with our partner, the international professional service company EY Latvia, with whom on May 17, 2022 the BA School of Business and Finance signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting the development of higher education and business environment.
To participate in the hackathon was specifically invited 25 of our university’s strongest students, who worked in 5 teams. Hackathon was an opportunity for students to be active makers of the future of the BA School of Business and Finance, work on interdisciplinary teams, get to know active students from other groups and programs, as well as to get to know employees of EY Latvia.
Hackathon jury: Nauris Kļava (EY Latvia Consulting services Partner), Zane Martinsone (EY Latvia Senior project manager of the management services department), Anda Asere (Labs of Latvia editor), Līga Peiseniece (Rector of BASBF), Ansis Grasmanis (Member of the Council of BASBF), Andris Nātriņš (Vice-Chairman of the Council of BABSF), Kārlis Danēvičs (Member of the Convent of Advisers of BASBF, Member of the Council of SEB). The final presentations were evaluated by the criteria divided into 3 parts – concept (40%), analytics (40%) and communication (20%).
From the left: Kārlis Danēvičs (SEB) , Nauris Kļava (EY), Zane Martinsone (EY), Atis Migals (EY), Andris Nātriņš (BASBF), Anda Asere (Labs of Latvia), Ansis Grasmanis (BASBF).
The winner title “Team with the most comprehensive and vivid vision of financial and entrepreneurial education in 2040” and the opportunity to travel to Lithuania’s EY office, as well as gifts from EY Latvia and BA School of Business and Finance, received Artūrs Ozerskis, Baiba Kajaka – Kargane, Katiuscia Pelli, Kristaps Auders Balodis and Renārs Šķesters – Kambals. Congratulations to the students!
Title: Most analytical team – Raitis Čivkulis, Kristafers Zeiļuks, Elva Evija Kaužēna, Arnita Bernāne and Alise Patrīcija Dreimane.
Title: Most strategic team – Filips Juris Krišjānis, Jurijs Sergejevs, Kristīne Mālmane, Liene Apine and Loreta Bojarune.
Title: Most innovative team – Andis Jēkabsons, Beāte Monta Eihe, Emīls Lisovskis, Ingmārs Jakovļevs and Karīna Elizabete Valtere.
Title: Student centered team – Liāna Linda Anspoka, Marta Znotiņa, Maksims Koroļovs, Toms Vāvere and Everts Kistkins.
The winners of the other titles received gifts from EY Latvia and a ticket to a seminar hosted by EY Latvia, where EY’s brightest minds will talk about industry trends.
Teams worked all day on issues and assignments on topics “Future Higher Education of Finance and Entrepreneurship in 2040”, “What is Finance and Business higher Education like in 2040”, “How are students learning Finance and Business in 2040”, “What is a university like where students are learning Finance and Business in 2040”. To work on these topics, student teams had to imagine they were in the year 2040. Throughout the day, students were assisted by the Hackathon mentor Atis Migals (EY Latvia Assistant Manager).
At the conclusion of Hackathon, all five teams presented their ideas for future financial and business education, which included:
- lifelong learning – highlighted by several teams as one of the most important components of everything
- reorganisation of the structure
- digital opportunities in education
- expanded practice in earlier course years
- flexible study arrangements, the possibility for the student himself to determine his or her list of classes
- involvement of the employer and experts in the study process
- data automation
- international universities, etc.
After the team presentations, both the jury and the management of the BA School of Business and Finance acknowledged that students have provided a lot of great ideas that will certainly help to shape the university’s new strategy. Students also admitted that being part of the hackathon has been a great experience, not only because they have played a part in shaping the future of the university, but the most important thing, however, was getting to know new people, students from different study programs, different courses and study levels working on the teams (undergraduate and masters students).
Huge thank you to our partner EY Latvia for their joint work on organising the hackathon and spending the day with us and our students. Such activities and such collaborations only unite us and open up much wider opportunities for students, both in education and networking.
