Latvian universities have pledged to focus on attracting students from OECD countries and the European Economic Area, aiming to reduce the number of students from third countries enrolled in their institutions.
In a recent parliamentary investigation committee, representatives from Latvian universities committed to adjusting their admissions strategies by seeking to attract more students from European and OECD member countries, rather than students from third countries. This discussion came after university officials presented information regarding the demographics of their student populations, which highlighted the significant number of third-country students already enrolled.
Among the universities discussed, the Riga Technical University (RTU) reported having full-time students from 49 different countries, with a substantial portion coming from India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. RTU’s International Cooperation Department head, Polina Shtolca, indicated that the university is planning to reduce the admissions of students from third countries, focusing instead on students from OECD and European Economic Area countries to potentially modify the existing student demographic landscape.
The rector of the Transport and Communications Institute (TSI), Juris Kanels, echoed these sentiments, noting that students from third countries currently constitute a significant percentage of their overall student body. With international students making up 66% of TSI's enrollment, the emphasis on changing admissions policies reflects broader trends and pressures within the Latvian higher education system to align more closely with European and OECD standards, while addressing concerns over the rising number of international — particularly third-country — students in the country.
