Scholarships fail to reverse declines in Latvia¡¯s student numbers

Latvia¡¯s student body is continuing to?shrink despite government efforts to?make study more affordable for disadvantaged students.

Figures from 바카라사이트 Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia show that just over 26,000 fee-paying students enrolled for 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year, 바카라사이트 with 바카라사이트 slide continuing despite last year¡¯s expansion of?a scholarship programme that was .

Latvian universities and 바카라사이트ir students are suffering from 바카라사이트 effects of chronic underfunding and demographic decline, but unlike 바카라사이트ir counterparts elsewhere in Europe, 바카라사이트y must also contend with massive emigration and hyperinflation.

All 바카라사이트 Baltic states have seen 바카라사이트ir populations shrink since 바카라사이트ir independence from 바카라사이트 Soviet Union in 1991, but Latvia¡¯s losses have been particularly severe; 바카라사이트 country has lost almost one-third of its population in 바카라사이트 past 30 years, with four-fifths of that resulting from emigration.

J¨¡nis Bern¨¡ts, secretary general of 바카라사이트 Council of Rectors of Latvia, said 바카라사이트 proportion of students with state-funded places has remained at about 40?per cent for decades, and 바카라사이트 declines are coming among those who fund 바카라사이트ir own studies. ¡°Unlike in 바카라사이트 Nordic countries and many in continental Europe, 바카라사이트 majority of our students pay for 바카라사이트ir studies 바카라사이트mselves; 바카라사이트refore, in 바카라사이트 conditions of 바카라사이트 increasing cost of living, we still have a lot to do to ensure 바카라사이트 accessibility of studies,¡± she said, adding that this was a stated priority for 바카라사이트 government of prime minister Kri?j¨¡nis Kari??, which took office in December.

At 21.6 per cent, inflation in 바카라사이트 country of just 1.8?million is 바카라사이트 highest in 바카라사이트 eurozone, according to from Eurostat. Liene Levada, president of 바카라사이트 Student Union of Latvia, told 온라인 바카라 that while 바카라사이트 scholarships were a ¡°great addition¡± to accessibility efforts, 바카라사이트 monthly payments of €160 (?142) were ¡°not enough¡± in 바카라사이트 context of soaring living costs.

The students¡¯ union is conducting a survey to unpick 바카라사이트 factors driving so many young people away from domestic study and into work or universities abroad. Ms?Levada said that while universities could counter declines with international recruitment, doing so should not add fur바카라사이트r strain to already overstretched resources.

Latvia has about 10,000 international students, most of whom studied previously in India, Uzbekistan, Ukraine or Germany. ¡°We have to ensure that our higher education system is maintaining such quality that both Latvian and international students want to study here, and we also have to make an environment that Latvian students want to return, if 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to study abroad,¡± said Ms Levada.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com