Shadow Day with Oral History Researchers
On April 4, the annual Shadow Day, organised by the career education organisation Junior Achievement Latvia, took place across Latvia. The initiative gives secondary school students the opportunity to spend a day alongside professionals from a wide range of fields, allowing them to observe everyday work practices, gain first-hand insight into different professions, and explore potential future career paths.
On this occasion, Maija Krūmiņa and Ginta Elksne, researchers at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia, and members of the research project «Navigating Post-Exile: Transformations and Transitions in the Latvian Exile Community after 1991» (No. lzp-2024/1-0114), welcomed four students as part of Shadow Day.
During the visit, Elīza, Aleksandra, Elizabete Emma, and Sofija, who came from Pļaviņas Secondary School, Riga State Gymnasium No. 3, and Jelgava Spīdola State Gymnasium, were introduced to the day-to-day work of researchers. They learned about the collection and analysis of oral history sources, the development and implementation of research projects, and various aspects of scholarly communication. The researchers also presented the «Navigating Post-Exile: Transformations and Transitions in the Latvian Exile Community after 1991» project, explaining its concept, objectives, and main research goals related to exploring the experiences of the Latvian exile community following the restoration of Latvia’s independence.
To provide the students with not only a theoretical but also a practical insight into research, they were invited to complete a task based on reading and analysing excerpts from the life stories of members of the Latvian exile community. This activity gave them the opportunity to experience the methods used in oral history research firsthand, while also encouraging an appreciation of oral history as a valuable approach to exploring collective memory and the lived experiences of communities.
We wish the students every success in their future career choices and are delighted to have had the opportunity to introduce them to the diverse career paths and possibilities offered by academic research.