On 12 February 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in the annual career education campaign, Job Shadow Day 2020. Diplomats in their daily work were followed by 38 “shadowers” from across Latvia.
In his welcoming address to the Ministry’s “shadows”, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed his pleasure at meeting so many young people interested in foreign policy. Working for the diplomatic service is an opportunity to protect the interests of Latvia and its nationals internationally. Today you will have the opportunity, said the Minister, to learn about various aspects of work at the Ministry, comprising our economy, security, bilateral relations and communications, as well as duties performed by the State Protocol.
I hope, he noted, that those who will soon have to make their study choices will opt for programmes that can be useful in a Foreign Service career. The Minister underlined that experts in most diverse fields – not only lawyers, political scientists or international relations specialists – are welcome to join the Foreign Ministry team. At the moment, our colleague with a degree in solid state physics is successfully protecting Latvia’s interests in negotiations on the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework.”
This year, students had the opportunity of shadowing Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs; Parliamentary Secretary Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica; State Secretary Andris Pelšs; Deputy State Secretary and Political Director Jānis Mažeiks; Press Secretary Jānis Beķeris; and diplomats at the State Protocol, the Communications Group, the European Union Coordination and Policies Department, the Strategic Goods Export Control Division, the Americas and the Caribbean Division, and the Foreign Service History and Diplomatic Documents Division.
The students followed diplomats in their daily work – took part in various meetings and helped with drafting documents, thereby getting hands-on experience of the Foreign Service’s daily work. The job shadowers also attended the annual press conference on consular updates and attended a joint press conference of the Latvian Foreign Minister, Edgars Rinkēvičs, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, Aureliu Ciocoi.
At its shadow day events, the Foreign Ministry hosted students from Baloži Secondary School, Daugavpils State Gymnasium, Dobele State Gymnasium, Ikšķile Secondary School, Jelgava State Gymnasium, Jelgava State Gymnasium, Jēkabpils State Gymnasium, Jūrmala Alternative School, Kuldīga Centre Secondary School, Vilis Plūdonis Kuldīga Secondary School, Edgars Kauliņš Lielvārde Secondary School, Mārupe State Gymnasium, Ogre Secondary School No. 1, Olaine Secondary School No. 2, Pumpuri Secondary School, Salaspils Secondary School No. 1, Viesīte Secondary School, Valmiera State Gymnasium, and schools located in Riga – Riga State Gymnasium No. 1, Riga State Gymnasium No. 2, Riga State Gymnasium No. 3, Riga French Lycée, Āgenskalns State Gymnasium, Riga State German Grammar School, Riga Teika Secondary School, Riga Secondary School No. 49, Riga Secondary School No. 64, Riga Secondary School No. 10, and Riga Style and Fashion Technical College.
The aim of the Job Shadowing Day in Latvia is to introduce students to the specific requirements of various jobs and sectors, helping young people with their career choices and preparing them to enter the job market. For 19 years, the programme has been successfully integrating career-related subjects into the educational process, and encouraging young people to make plans for their future while still in school. By building cooperation between schools, society and potential employers, the Job Shadow Day promotes inclusion of young people in their community and increases their connection to the future labour market.