Universities warn VAD graduates could eventually take all state-funded study places

Latvian universities are seeing a rapid increase in students who qualify for state-funded study places after voluntarily completing national defence service, known as VAD.

University of Latvia Rector and professor Gundars Bērziņš said on the programme “Spried ar Delfi” that the number of these students at the university is growing “geometrically.”

Universities generally support the system, but they warn that the expanding pool of VAD graduates is making fewer state-funded places available to other students. If the trend continues, all budget-funded places in some programmes could eventually go to students who have completed the service.

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The number is growing geometrically.