CONFERENCEhttps://doi.org/10.22364/ilt.26.07 | 102-111 | PDF
Līga Feldmane
PhD, Latvijas Biozinātņu un tehnoloģiju universitātes docente un pētniece
Sabiedrības attieksme pret ārvalstu studentiem: reģionāla mozaīka
Atslēgvārdi: ārvalstu studenti, sabiedrības attieksme, reģionālās atšķirības, augstākās izglītības internacionalizācija, studentu mobilitāte
Public Attitudes Toward Foreign Students: Regional Mosaic
Keywords: foreign students, public attitude, regional differences, internationalization of higher education, student mobility
The presence of international students, both worldwide and in Latvia, is a continuously growing trend that leaves distinct imprints on society, fostering intercultural dynamics, changes in demographic structure, and potentially influencing national economic development. To ensure a positive contribution by international students, their satisfaction during the studies is paramount, and the local community can play a vital role in fostering this. The study provides insight into the attitude of Latvian society towards international students, particularly highlighting regional differences and their impact on the perception of international students’ influence on local safety, economy, and integration processes. Overall, it was found that a neutral attitude towards international students dominates in society, which often indicates a lack of information or direct contact. Analysing the data by region, it was revealed that Riga stands out as the most polarized region and the city, where, although there is a higher proportion of positive evaluations regarding international students’ contribution to the economy, a more pronounced negative attitude is simultaneously observed, especially concerning the perception of safety and overall impact on the place of residence. This could be related to the fact that Riga has the highest concentration of international students and, consequently, more frequent interaction with diverse cultures, which can lead to both positive and negative experiences.
Saliedētības vektori. Sast., zin. red. I. Kivle, M. Kūlis. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2026, 200 lpp.