1. 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

2. LIZDA is an independent organization founded in May 19, 1990 and is the largest trade union in Latvia
Unites 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

3. 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

4. .
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!

5. 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

6. 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:
7880
18%
+27%
Source: Ministry of Education and Science data on Higher Education, 2016

7. 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%

8. 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.

9. 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

10. .
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

11. 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. «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.

13. 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)

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

15. Payment is different among HEIs1.
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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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)

20. 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.)

21. 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

22. 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

23. Thank you for attention!
Expert on HE and Science, LIZDA
Coordinator of International Affairs, LIZDA