Teaching Foreign Students in Latvian Higher Education Institutions . Teaching Foreign Students in Latvian Higher Education Institutions Dita Stefenhagena, LIZDA, Latvia Seminar «Differentiation and integration of teaching in the context of the internationalization of the student body» Tallinn, January 12,2018

LIZDA is an independent organization founded in May 19, 1990 and is the largest trade union in Latvia Unites 30 220 employees, students and seniors working in education and science 54% of education and science employees are LIZDA members and actively pursue their interests of improving work and living conditions Social partner of the Latvian Government and works actively in the National Triangular Collaboration Council 12.01.2018.

Member support . • stability of a work place • adequate salary • improvement of work and life conditions (social support is important when educational reforms are implemented) • health – caring work conditions • insurance of work accidents • involvement in a development of education and science • involvement in work experience exchange • personal growth 12.01.2018.

. Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA) demand additional state financing for effective education reforms ensuring  decent pay for educators and science employees! 12.01.2018.

Students in Latvia 58 state (public) and private HEIs (including colleges). Total number of students: 82914 Foreign students: ~ 10% of total number. During the last 3 years the number of foreign students has increased 82% - from 4457 students in 2014/2015 to 8137 students in 2016/2017 12.01.2018.

Number of foreign students in HEIs in Latvia . Number of state HEIs Total number of students Total number of foreign students Percentage (%) of foreign students Changes comparing 2015 and 2016 17 (without colleges) 56 788 4962 9% +28% Number of private HEIs Total number of students Total number of foreign students Percentage (%) of foreign students Changes comparing 2015 and 2016 15 (without colleges) 16 002 2918 9% +27% Total: 32 Total: 72 790 7880 18% +27% Source: Ministry of Education and Science data on Higher Education, 2016 12.01.2018.

Differentiation between countries . Country Number of students % from all foreign students Germany 1182 14,5% Uzbekistan 1057 13,0% India 750 9,2% Russia 603 7,4% Sweden 369 4,5% Kazakhstan 358 4,4% France 346 4,3% Ukraine 277 3,4% Turkey 237 2,9%

Students from EU, European Economy Zone Increasing number of students from other countries Latvian students are interested in study programmes in English Students (later years) have possibility to join international students’ groups . Teaching in mixed groups. 12.01.2018.

Normative regulations on teaching foreign students Law On Institutions of Higher Education (Chapter XI - International Co-operation of Institutions of Higher Education, Section 83. Studies by Foreigners in Latvia) foreigners as full – time students, issued a residence permit for the period of studies education documents of foreigners shall be in conformity with the standards of Latvia foreigners shall have a sufficient knowledge of English foreigners shall pay the study fee in accordance with the agreement, however it may not be smaller than the study costs state budget may allocate funds to HEI or college for ensuring a scholarship for the studies of a foreigner 12.01.2018.

. November 17, 2017.Minister of Education and Science signed the agreement with HEIs in Latvia on good practice of attracting foreign students and developing study programs Ensures activities for increasing standards of study process for international students Possibilities for HEIs to participate in international activities/visits at state level 12.01.2018.

The lowest monthly salary for academic personnel in HEIs Positions EUR (bruto) per month Professor 1530 Assoc. professor 1225 Docent 980 Lecturer 785 Assistant 625 Source: Law on teachers’ salary regulations, 2016 Average salary in 2017: 927 EUR (Source: Central Statistics, Latvia) Min. salary from 2018 = 480 EUR (380 EUR in 2016) 12.01.2018.

«Promoting unity of students and decreasing foreign students discrimination» . 24% from foreign students have experienced negative attitude and have indicated it as one of the main negative factors for studies in Latvia The Latvian Student Union has adopted a resolution: Foreign students integrated in study process and Latvian society Their interests have to be represented Reasonable (balanced with local) study fees Source: research by Latvian Students’ Union, 2016. 12.01.2018.

Honest principles for financing foreign/asking study fees adopted at the HEI Representation of interests (translation of Student Union meetings, possibility for foreign students to undertake positions at student government) United platform in English (information about country, HEIs, including normative regulations) 12.01.2018.

Representation of interests of HEIs’ academic personnel in teaching foreign students – main problems and possible solutions 12.01.2018.

Payment is different among HEIs 1. Extra payment is not provided Description 2. Included into the workload Each contact h is multiplied by coefficient (1,1 to 2) Different (not equal) calculations of lecturers’ workload and payment among HEIs exist 3. Increased payment per h Significantly differs among HEIs; Priority is STEM programmes 4. For preparing a course (1KP) in English One time payment, 300 EUR 12.01.2018.

Academic staff training problems to be solved Activity Description of problems 1. English language courses for academic personnel Payed by personnel’s private budget Partly payed by HEI Not all language levels are available (in-depth courses vs. beginners) Attendance of courses in free time 2. Cross – cultural learning (communication, traditions) Very limited if not at all Have to be included in regular personnel’s training 3. Resources in English Included into the university library supplement Note: Extra timing is not usually planned for the academic personnel to support development of new/improving existing materials/courses in English! additional consultations (time) for foreign students 12.01.2018.

Other problems related to teaching foreign students Activity Description of problems 1. Respect to Latvian social and academic environment Problems with being on time Cooperation problems 2. Latvian language Difficult, no motivation to learn (limited use) Latvian students speak English 12.01.2018.

Recommendations to be used Academic staff Able to communicate, understand cross-cultural differences Tolerant to differences of rase, culture, religion, gender, age, health and other factors of possible discrimination HEIs To organize a foundation year for the foreign students Friendly electronic environment: materials, information To ensure availability of consultations in academic, social and psychological matters 12.01.2018.

General problems in HE Serious differences in calculations of personnel's workload and payment exist (the same positions in HEIs receive different payment) Replacement of generations exist in some scientific fields Diminishing HE competitiveness (serious investments of state and EU structural funds' in professional education (vocational schools) 12.01.2018.

Lack of social dialogue – there is no clear vision of HE and science development; limited number of discussions with stakeholders (students, entrepreneurs, educational NGOs, etc.) The consequences of problems - insufficient financing for HE and science Enormous support for STEM (both in HE and science) – unequal position for other fields and sub-fields of science (social, humanitarian, management, etc.) 12.01.2018.

Demands in HE . The Cabinet of Ministers has to ensure gradual implementation of the Law on Institutions of Higher Education – increase of financing for studies at public HEIs is not less than 0,25% from GDP, until it reaches at least 2% from GDP 12.01.2018.

Demands in science The Cabinet of Ministers has to ensure gradual implementation of the Law on Scientific Activities– increase of financing for scientific activities is not less than 0,15% from GDP, until it reaches at least 1% from GDP 12.01.2018.

Thank you for attention! dita.stefenhagena@lizda.lv Expert on HE and Science, LIZDA Coordinator of International Affairs, LIZDA 12.01.2018.