Student mobility is not a bad thing, but careful selection of international students should be considered - Melbarde

RIGA - The international education space is as open as ever and student mobility is not a bad thing, but in order to attract people who are motivated to learn, we need to think about a careful selection procedure, Minister of Education and Science Dace Melbarde (New Unity) told LETA.

Referring to the doubling of the number of students in the last ten years, she said that the Latvian higher education system is already attractive to foreign students. Internationalization, in her view, is also necessary for the competitiveness and survival of Latvian universities.

Melbarde pointed out that it is important for Latvia to attract motivated students from other countries, as this enriches the educational environment and allows young people to gain international experience, make contacts and broaden their horizons. At the same time, it is an opportunity for Latvia to attract new talent. Latvia is currently one of the countries with a "brain drain" and the Minister hopes to reverse this trend in the future.

Several important steps have been taken in the last five years to improve the academic environment, but to attract motivated foreign students, it is not enough to have quality study programs and lecturers - thoughtful and careful selection of students is also important, Melbarde said, referring to the State Education Development Agency initiative Study in Latvia and the professional approach of higher education institutions.

"What should be fought against are the so-called fake students who come here not to study, but to get an entry card to live and work in Europe, and for whom getting a diploma is more of a formality," Melbarde said. She calls on universities to look more carefully at the recruitment of students, especially from at-risk countries, and to cooperate with security authorities where necessary.

At the same time, Melbarde stressed that universities are autonomous and the Ministry of Education and Science has no direct tools to interfere in their activities. She pointed out that the ministry can raise the issue with university councils, which can influence the student admission process, and security authorities, which have an "active dialogue" with universities. Amendments to the Immigration Law are also being considered, which would make universities more accountable for the foreign students they invite.

The politician believes that the level of requirements for admission of third-country students should be raised, including thinking about requirements for Latvian language proficiency. "Then we would be more confident that we would have students who are really motivated and have added value," she said.

At the same time, Melbarde stressed that it is important for Latvia to attract students from the European Union and like-minded countries, as well as to maintain links with its students abroad. "It is important that we know where our students are studying and we have a mechanism for how we build and maintain links with them, especially those who have been to excellent universities abroad," she said.

The politician also mentioned the amendments adopted to the Law on Higher Education, which will allow higher education institutions to set their own admission deadline so that high school graduates in their final year can choose and secure a place at a Latvian university more quickly.

Melbarde pointed out that the changes in the legal framework will enable those secondary school graduates who want to plan their future in time to choose to study in Latvia instead of going to foreign universities.