Foreign students promise to improve in two years / day

The number of foreign students in Latvia has doubled over the last decade, according to MES. In 2024, 11,542 foreign students studied at Latvian universities, most of whom studied at Riga Stradins University and Riga Technical University – nearly 6,000 students. Almost 1,500 students studied information systems and management university.

Of the total number of foreign students, 72% are third -country nationals, which is 15 percentage points more than in 2020. About one in four foreign students in Latvia is an Indian citizen, but one in ten comes from Uzbekistan, according to data on the situation last fall.

The average foreign students in Latvia in 2023/2024 were 37%, similar to a local student’s drop, added Levada. Complete clarity is currently lacking in complete information about foreign students who have begun and completed their studies, as the national education information system began to collect data only in 2018 and several students have taken academic leave. Data accuracy increases every year.

The representative of the MoES did not name which Latvian higher education institutions have the largest dismissal of foreign students. At the same time, she admitted that « these some universities » had come to the ministry several times. The situation is then checked by the State Education Quality Service in cooperation with the MoES.

Under the Immigration Act, higher education institutions are obliged to report to the State Border Guard if a foreign student does not go to study for more than two weeks without justification. If the duration of the studies does not exceed three years, the student can take one academic leave, and in the longer study programs up to two academic leave. Foreign students may change their studies up to twice.

Leva said most of the universities fulfill the requirements of the law in good faith. « We trust universities. The absolutely majority (foreign students) have come to Latvia with the aim of studying, » she said.

She also noted that the use and quality of students’ attracting agents are currently not regulated. Foreign students should be transparent, but there are cases where agents are unfairly trying to « bypass the system » and getting the student to be enrolled at university. Foreign students and students can attract universities according to their quality criteria.

In order to promote the responsibility of the inventers of Latvian educational institutions and to attract « truly interested » foreign students in Latvia, the MoES has developed an action plan. Accordingly, it is planned to raise success requirements for foreign students, as well as in accreditation of higher education institutions focus on foreign students.

If the university has a high percentage of visas, it could limit the right to admit foreign students. In the absence of examining students, administrative liability could be claimed from the Rector of the School.

It is also planned to develop a strategy for the international internationalization of higher education, as well as to revise opportunities to invite students on a short cycle, secondary vocational, non -formal education and professional development programs.

The issue of foreign students is scheduled to be addressed gradually, said Levada, commemorating work on the improvement of the Immigration Law. « We plan to implement some of the requirements there, » she stated.