Ināra Upmale

Ināra Upmale, holding a Doctorate in Administration (Dr. sc. admin.), has served as the Director of Riga Stradiņš University's Red Cross Medical College (RSU SKMK) since 2014. As one of Latvia's oldest medical educational institutions—founded in 1920 as the School of Mercy Sisters—she has driven its evolution into a modern, student-centered college offering five first-level professional higher education programs, including a joint program with RSU, alongside secondary and vocational training. Under her leadership, the college secured a six-year maximum accreditation for its Health Care study direction until 2029 and achieved recognition under the international EFQM excellence model twice consecutively.

Her research and institutional focus lies in

• innovative healthcare education methodologies
• quality assurance systems
• digital technology integration in teaching
• industry collaboration
• international project participation (e.g., Interreg, Erasmus+)

. Notably, she spearheaded the award-winning 'Hospital Work Simulation for Healthcare Students' project, which earned the 2021 International Quality Innovation Award.

Ināra emphasizes the importance of empathy and lifelong learning in healthcare careers, advocating for dynamic, needs-based educational frameworks. She highlights RSU SKMK's role in bridging labor market demands with high-quality, accelerated training that prepares skilled professionals within 2–3 years, while maintaining core values of professionalism, compassion, and responsibility.