From its very first class in 1994 with only 56 Latvian students the School has grown into a well-known international business school and nurtured an immensely powerful community. Today SSE Riga numbers students from 25 countries while the number of graduates now totals 2251 Bachelor alumni and 342 Executive MBA alumni. Thanks to staff and student dedication to excellence SSE Riga has been propelled to the top of the region’s universities.

During the 25th Anniversary Party, SSE Riga Rector Anders Paalzow stressed that he is proud that graduates of the School have contributed to growth in the region and that SSE Riga continues to be a hub for great minds from the Baltic states, EU Eastern Partnership countries and beyond. 

Ambassador of Sweden Annika Jagander in her speech shared some memories from the debate way back - in June 1993 - when the Swedish Parliament decided to back the government’s bill to establish a pan-Baltic business school in Riga. Her conclusion: "Surely, one of Sweden’s best development assistance projects and investments ever" received a loud applause! 

On this evening guests included honoured people who have played an important role in the development of the School and provided outstanding research. Long-term staff and faculty members received special acknowledgement from the Ministry of Education and Science. A certificate of acknowledgement was presented by State Secretary Līga Liepiņa to Anders Paalzow (Rector since 1999), Māris Slokenbergs (Pro-rector 1993‒2002), Diāna Pauna (Pro-rector 2002‒2016), Ingrīda Loža (Executive Education Senior Advisor), Morten Hansen (Head of the Economics Department), Arnis Sauka (Professor and Head of the Centre for Sustainable Business) and Tālis Putniņš (Professor).

The event included musical performances by the SSE Riga Mixed Choir as well as alumni bands and the evening was filled with great conversations and joy. SSE Riga would like to thank everyone who joined the celebration event!