Riga Technical University (RTU) is the oldest higher technical educational establishment in the Baltic States, the direct predecessor of which – Riga Polytechnicum – started operating on 14 October 1862. In 1896, it was reorganized into Riga Polytechnic Institute. On 3 August 1919, the Interim Government of Latvia closed Riga Polytechnic Institute, and the Higher School of Latvia (later – the University of Latvia) was established on its basis in September 1919. On 19 March 1990, Riga Polytechnic Institute was renamed as RTU.