Indians flock to Latvia to attend university

DW (English)

The small Baltic state has become a top destination for ambitious Indians wanting to study abroad.

Transcript

00:00At night when I went to deliver an order, there were drunk people inside.

00:06I was delivering pizzas, I think a few pizzas I delivered it and the guy was tipping me to euros.

00:13He looked at me up and down and he said, do you want a kiss?

00:16I dropped the tip on the spot like that and I said no and I just went back so fast

00:21and that was my last order for that day, I just went back home.

00:24Like many Indian students in Latvia, 20-year-old Sanjana Grace Palla juggles between her studies and part-time jobs.

00:32A computer system student, she delivers food and groceries for online companies even working on weekends.

00:39To take it from the shop to the car, the distance you have to walk from the car to the customer is also hard.

00:47So I had to carry that 25 kgs of bottles to five floors up, there wasn't any lift.

00:52Latvia, a European member state, has seen a sharp rise in the number of Indian students in recent years.

00:59From engineering to medicine, many are choosing this Baltic nation to chase their dreams.

01:04The Riga Technical University, popularly known as RTU, remains one of the top choices.

01:0924-year-old Khalid Mohamed Rizwan is studying smart electronic system at the RTU.

01:14Also the main reason were the expenses.

01:20So the expenses were also manageable in Latvia and the course which I also wanted was basically provided in Latvia.

01:27So we just decided to go with Latvia as well.

01:30In 2014, there were just 164 Indian students enrolled in Latvian universities.

01:36Now that number has exceeded 3,000.

01:38Beyond the low cost, students are attracted by EU-recognized degrees and English thought programs.

01:45They are also allowed to work during the semester, up to 20 hours per week for bachelor students and 44 masters.

01:52Immigration experts note that this policy has been a significant draw for international students,

01:57providing valuable opportunities to support themselves while studying.

02:01People from India is very high educated.

02:05They are better students than local.

02:08You know, because local has everything.

02:11Foreign students, they just have to survive.

02:14They just making their best.

02:16And finish university with very good diploma.

02:20Latvia may not be the very first country that comes to mind for Indian students.

02:24But it has increasingly become an affordable gateway to Europe.

02:27A degree from institutions like Riga Technical University or Riga Medical College

02:32offers many students the momentum to launch their careers on a global stage.

02:37However, not every journey unfolds as expected.

02:41Some students fall victim to scams and misleading opportunities,

02:45only realizing the risks once they arrived in Latvia.

02:48I advise to find some trust for people or to communicate directly with university

02:55because there are many people who are dealing with immigration process inside the university.

03:00And they will tell more about the process.

03:04Just find out all steps.

03:06It's not like I need a visa and that's it.

03:09No, it's a very, very long process.

03:12While many students view Latvia as a stepping stone to other countries,

03:16others have found compelling reasons to make it their home.

03:20Gokul Manju Santosh is one of them.

03:22Currently pursuing his master degree,

03:24Gokul has also become a popular influencer,

03:27connecting with both local and international students.

03:30Latvian words that I struggle to pronounce.

03:33We're starting off easy with

03:34A lot of international people get recruited to come work IT jobs,

03:42affiliate marketing jobs in really high positions.

03:44And all of them still get considered kabab workers

03:47or they still get considered delivery workers

03:49because that is the stereotype here.

03:53And it is quite unfortunate

03:55and that is the stereotype that I'm actively working against.

04:00Instead of shying away from these challenges,

04:03Gokul turned them into comedy

04:04using humour to bridge cultures

04:06and give Latvians a glimpse into

04:09what life is really like for outsiders.

04:13However, not every student finds it easy to integrate.

04:17Language barriers, cultural gaps

04:18and subtle discrimination

04:20still keep many to the margins.

04:23My plans for now are to continue masters as well

04:26wherever the opportunity is best.

04:27So right now I'm in Latvia.

04:29If I find the similar courses

04:31and everything suitable for me in any different country,

04:34for example, like Germany or Poland

04:35or any other Scandinavian countries,

04:38it would be better

04:39and I would be ready to move there.

04:41The Latvian government recognizes these challenges.

04:43For any Saldabola,

04:45head of the integration and inclusion agency,

04:47supporting foreign students at GIST

04:49remains one of the top priorities.

04:51Despite all the talk of opportunity and integration,

05:15the reality for most students

05:17is a delicate balance between studies,

05:19survival and finding a sense of belonging.

05:23For Sanjana Grace Palla,

05:24in a good month she can earn up to 600 euros.

05:27Anything less could derail her dreams in Riga.

05:30Move to somewhere else to study first,

05:32you would know the difference

05:33how to behave with people,

05:34how to make friends.

05:36Over here you cook,

05:37you do everything yourself.

05:38You get to understand how your life goes

05:41without anybody else helping you.

05:43When it comes to studies,

05:44you have to focus on that too.

05:46And I pass all my subjects,

05:48I don't have even one background.

05:50And like her,

05:50thousands of young Indians in Latvia

05:52are just taking it day by day,

05:54juggling work and classes

05:56and doing whatever it takes

05:58to keep the dream alive.

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