In September 2023, the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) study programme “Service Design Strategies and Innovations” (SDSI) and the Riga Airport are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration that is set to redefine the boundaries of industry and academia cooperation.

Kristaps Zariņš, the rector of the Art Academy of Latvia, emphasizes: “This partnership represents a unique fusion of academia and industry, where students will assume the role of a service design agency while working on real projects presented by the Riga Airport, who in turn assumes the role of a client. It brings practical relevance to academic theories, creating a win-win scenario for students and the airport.” Design thinking principles and service design methodologies will be applied to solve real service challenges, address problems, and stimulate innovation at Riga Airport.

“We hope that this hands-on experience will enrich the students' understanding of service design and its potential impact, and vice-versa: this initiative and collaboration offers Riga Airport the opportunity to test and observe how service design methods contribute to innovation processes,” says Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of the Board of Riga Airport.

Beyond the immediate project scope, this collaboration is set to enhance the general understanding of "service design" in Latvia, shedding light on the transformative power of this discipline in creating better service experiences and innovative solutions. It bridges the gap between theory and practice, empowering students to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world context.

The collaboration officially commences with an exciting excursion to Riga Airport on September 21, 2023, where students will be introduced to the project by Member of the Board of Riga Airport Artūrs Saveļjevs. The project will culminate in final presentations by student teams in January 2024, where they will unveil their service solutions and innovations to Riga Airport.