Influx of State Defence Service volunteers into state-funded places worries universities
Volunteers who have completed the State Defence Service are entitled to study in state-funded places. The number of such places at universities does not rise automatically, raising questions about other applicants' chances.
In Latvia, people who have voluntarily completed the State Defence Service are given a privilege: the opportunity to study in state-funded places.
However, the number of state-funded places at the country's universities does not increase automatically when more people take part in the service. This has caused concern in higher education institutions.
What raises the questions
If the number of volunteers keeps growing, these young people could take up a larger share of all state-funded places. Because the total number of such places stays the same, fewer may remain for other applicants.
This prompts the question of whether other prospective students will increasingly have to consider paying tuition fees. The answer will depend on how the number of service graduates changes and on whether the volume of state-funded places is reviewed.
Why it matters
The privilege for those who have completed the service is a deliberate state decision, intended as support for volunteers. At the same time, universities and future students must take into account that the number of places is limited and is not linked to the popularity of the service.
The question of how state-funded places are shared between different groups of applicants is becoming more pressing, as interest in the service is not declining. Universities are watching the situation closely and are waiting for clarity on how a balance will be kept between service graduates and other applicants.
