In 1996 he graduated from the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and obtained his first bachelor's degree in arts.

His dissertation topic was ‘Civil society discourse in modern political theory and its elements in the history of Latvian political ideas’ (Pilsoniskās sabiedrības diskurss modernajā politikas teorijā un tā elementi Latvijas politisko ideju vēsturē).

In addition, his academic experience is backed with a series of intensive courses in the fields of legislation, governance and integration.

Ijabs is a full member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Delegation for relations with the United States.

[8] In June 2024, he was re-elected as a member of the European Parliament from the "For Latvia's Development" party, which won 9.36% of the vote.