Universities warn state-funded places may eventually go only to National Guard service graduates
The rector of the University of Latvia says the number of students qualifying for state-funded studies after voluntarily completing National Guard service is growing rapidly, reducing budget-place availability for other students.
Latvian universities are seeing a growing number of students who gain the right to study at state expense after voluntarily completing the National Guard service. This trend is observed across the country.
Gundars Bērziņš, rector and professor at the University of Latvia, said on the programme "Spried ar Delfi" that the number of such students at the university is increasing "in geometric progression." Although universities generally support the arrangement, the rising number of National Guard graduates is reducing the availability of state-funded places for other students.
Universities warn that if the current trend continues, in the future all state-funded places in a given programme could be occupied by those who have completed National Guard service, leaving fewer opportunities for other applicants.
