At the rescheduled emergency Council meeting of the Student Union of Latvia (LSA) on April 26, 2025, two new Vice Presidents were elected in accordance with the organization’s newly implemented board model. Rūdolfs Aleksandrs Strods was appointed Vice President for Policy Affairs, while Paula Vikaine was elected Vice President for Organizational Affairs. Changes in the Board Structure The new LSA…

The debate over the “Studētgods” stipend fund has intensified as the Latvian Ministry of Finance (FM) and the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) proposed reducing its funding by over 2.6 million euros, affecting socially vulnerable student groups. The “Studētgods” stipend is currently the only state-provided financial support based on social criteria, targeting students from large families, those with disabilities,…

The Student Union of Latvia (LSA) conducted a survey between August 13 and 28, focusing on students’ views regarding the National Defense Service (NDS). The goal was to assess risks related to NDS and evaluate student awareness of available support. The survey results revealed significant gaps in public knowledge about alternative service options, training, and support mechanisms. LSA urges the…

The Student Union of Latvia (LSA), in collaboration with the Ombudsman’s Office and Berg Research, launched a survey addressing experiences of sexual harassment in higher education institutions. This initiative arises from recent reports of sexual harassment within Latvian universities and the broader societal response, highlighting the need for a more in-depth exploration of this issue. The survey, now closed, invited…

The Baltic Organizational Meeting (BOM) is a regional cooperation agreement between the national student associations of the Baltic States, which aims to promote cooperation and knowledge transfer between student organizations in the Baltic States. This year, BOM will take place in Estonia from the 2nd through to the 4th of August and will focus on student mental health in higher…

To improve the urban environment and promote greener neighborhoods, Riga City Council wants to hear students’ opinion. Your ideas will help to improve the overall look and functionality of the city! One of the problems that the City Council has discovered – there are abandoned and environment-degrading bicycles in the city. They undermine the city’s aesthetics and also cause inconvenience…

The Student Union of Latvia has developed a student housing guide to help incoming international students find a suitable and comfortable place to live when starting their studies in Riga. In consultation with international students, it was concluded that moving to a new city can be a great challenge if the possibilities of local housing and the procedures for obtaining…