Bridging HERM and BPM: Insights from Rīga Stradiņš University

Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) is located in the capital of Latvia, Rīga. RSU is recognized for study programmes in medical, health, and social sciences. With over 11700 students of whom 26% are international students from 82 countries, RSU is continuously improving its administrative efficiency, business process management (BPM), and strategic governance. RSU consistently maintains its ISO 9001:2015 certification, demonstrating ongoing commitment to quality and continuous improvement. As part of a digital transformation roadmap, RSU has adopted ADONIS, a BPM tool, to document, analyse and improve business processes. This paper presents initial insights as a part of a broader initiative at RSU to implement BPM using ADONIS, specifically focusing on analysing how RSU process landscape aligns with the Higher Education Reference Model (HERM). HERM is a globally recognized framework that standardizes business capabilities, data models, and IT governance in higher education. The objective of this study is to identify gaps, assess coverage, and evaluate areas for improvement, ensuring alignment with this internationally recognized higher education framework. The analysis highlights RSU strengths in supporting HERM capabilities, uncovers areas requiring improvement, and provides recommendations for improving compliance with HERM. This research contributes to a broader understanding of how HERM, combined with a BPM tool, can support analysis of university business capabilities.