In an increasingly interconnected world, education remains a powerful force not just for individual advancement but for international solidarity and cooperation. Educational and research collaboration between countries is more than a policy instrument; it is a vital bridge that deepens understanding, enriches cultures, and strengthens bilateral relations in the 21st century.
According to UNESCO (2018), nearly two-thirds of all internationally mobile students study in Europe. However, within Europe, there exists an imbalance in the mobility patterns where Western Europe emerges as the primary destination, with relatively limited student movement toward Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs).
Nevertheless, since the fall of the Iron Curtain, CEECs have undergone substantial political, economic, and educational transformations. The integration of CEECs into the European Union and the adoption of the Bologna Process and Erasmus+ framework have led them to modernize their higher education systems, aligning themselves with the rest of Europe. This transformation has not only redefined intra-European educational dynamics but also positioned CEECs as attractive destinations for students from different parts of the world, including India.
Latvia’s Emergence as a Higher Education Hub
Among the CEECs, Latvia has emerged as a particularly appealing destination for international students, notably those from India. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 in between, there has been an overall rise in the number of students from 164 in 2014 to 3,089 in 2024 as per the Official Statistics of Latvia. The rationale for this increase lies in a variety of economic, academic, and cultural factors. Low tuition fees – 30 percent lower on average than those in Western Europe, combined with lower living costs, make Latvia financially viable for Indian students. The availability of English-taught programs and a growing presence of Latvian higher education institutions in international rankings further enhances its appeal. Latvia’s reputation as a scenic, safe, and culturally rich country also contributes to its growing popularity among Indian students (Kirloskar & Inamdar, 2024).
Source: Graph generated by author using the data points from the Official Statistics Portal, the Official Statistics of Latvia
Currently, Latvia hosts 48 higher education institutions, including 26 universities and 22 colleges. The academic year 2024-25 recorded an enrollment of over 11,000 international students, with 3,900 new entrants. Significantly, 72.9 percent of these students are from non-EU countries, and Indian students constitute the largest national group, accounting for 27.9 percent of the international cohort. Preferred fields of study for Indian students include Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Information Technology, and Health and Welfare (Official Statistics Portal, Official Statistics of Latvia, 2025).
While Western European countries continue to dominate as the primary destinations for international education, the rise of CEECs like Latvia offers a more affordable yet academically robust alternative. Western European students also consider CEECs as second-choice destinations increasingly due to rising costs in their home countries. This shift signals a gradual rebalancing of the European higher education landscape.
Reciprocal Exchange, Institutional Ties, and Capacity Building
Importantly, the educational exchange between India and Latvia is not one-sided. In 2020, approximately 4,000 Latvian students were enrolled in Indian Universities (Jain, 2023). These trends reflect the growing recognition of India’s academic and research capabilities and a willingness among Latvian students to engage with alternative global education centers.
This mutual academic engagement builds on a solid foundation of bilateral relations that dates back to 1992. Key agreements in 1995, 2006, and 2019 have focused on strengthening cooperation in culture, arts, education, science, and technology (Embassy of India, Riga, Latvia, 2025). While early political collaboration set the foundation, universities and private institutions have emerged as central actors in expanding academic and research ties.
Underlying these growing ties are the historical and cultural affinities that further enrich India-Latvia relations. Cultural landmarks like the Art Museum Riga Bourse housex 1930s paintings depicting the Brahmaputra and the Himalayas, symbolizing Latvia’s long-standing cultural curiosity about India. Moreover, researchers in linguistics have noted structural and lexical similarities between Sanskrit and Latvian, pointing to a deeper historical India-Latvia connection.
The University of Latvia has taken a lead role in fostering India-Latvia collaboration. It established the Centre for Indian Studies and Culture in 2013 (University of Latvia, 2013) and began offering a three-month diploma course in “Introduction to Ayurveda” in partnership with Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore (Embassy of India, Riga, Latvia, 2025). In 2018, an Ayurveda Chair was established at the University- an unprecedented initiative in the Baltic region. In return, India founded the Latvian Higher Education Centre in Chennai in 2014 to facilitate further academic linkages (University of Latvia, 2014).
Another milestone was the establishment of the Centre for Baltic Studies in 2016 at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya in Haridwar. This Institution has since formalized academic collaborations with Riga Technical University, the University of Latvia, and Turiba University in Latvia. Indian private universities like Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), and Chitkara University have participated in the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the Field of Higher Education, on developing “Content and Language Integrated Learning – Resource and Training Centre for a Multilingual India,” in which the University of Latvia was an important member. Notably, Chitkara University has worked with Riga Stradiņš University on a Jean Monnet Module titled “Decoding European Union”, introducing the European Union and European integration to Indian students and academic staff. The University of Latvia is also an important partner with the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at MAHE, Manipal.
Beyond student mobility and institutional linkages, the two nations have significantly advanced collaborative research and faculty exchange programs. Over the past decade, around 35 Latvian professionals have received training in India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program, primarily in areas such as Audit and Parliamentary Studies. Under Erasmus+ mobility grants, several Indian and Latvian faculty members have taught courses at the University of Latvia and Manipal Centre for European Studies in India, respectively.
More recently, the Central University of Karnataka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences in Latvia. This partnership aims to promote faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and the development of collaborative curricula. Such MoUs exemplify the expanding depth and breadth of educational cooperation between the two nations (The Hindu, 2025).
Research Collaborations
Importantly, academic and research collaborations have extended into traditional medicine and space technology. In traditional medicine, an MoU was signed in 2020 between the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the University of Latvia, Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, and Baltics SIA, focusing on the Ayurvedic management of Type-2 diabetes (Embassy of India, Riga, Latvia, 2025). In March 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Latvian Space Industry Association (LAIK) have agreed to cooperate in advanced technological areas such as satellite data processing for forest management, quantum communication, and radioisotope-based deep space energy solutions (Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Latvia, 2025). These high-level research endeavors demonstrate the maturity and potential of India-Latvia partnerships in frontier technologies.
The mutual investments in academic infrastructure, the establishment of cultural and research centers, and growing participation in programs like Erasmus+ demonstrate the strength and sustainability of India-Latvia educational ties. Moreover, collaborations in space technology, Ayurveda, and European studies showcase the diversity and innovation at the heart of this bilateral relationship.
Educational and research collaborations between India and Latvia exemplify how soft diplomacy, driven by universities, scholars, and students, can become a strategic bridge between nations. Through such connections, both nations not only broaden educational opportunities but also cultivate deeper cultural understanding and mutual respect. In a global higher education system still shaped by hierarchies and imbalances, Latvia’s ascent as a hub for Indian students represents a shift towards a more equitable and multipolar academic world.
Embassy of India, Riga, Latvia. (2025, June). Retrieved from India-Latvia Relations: https://www.eoiriga.gov.in/page/india-latvia-relations/
Jain, A. (2023, March 1). Baltic expats in India shatter colonial images of the country and discover spiritual life. Retrieved from The Baltic Times: https://www.baltictimes.com/baltic_expats_in_india_shatter_colonial_images_of_the
_country_and_discover_spiritual_life/
Kirloskar, P., & Inamdar, N. (2024). Emergence of Central and Eastern European Countries as Destinations of International Education. In N. Inamdar, & P. Kirloskar (Eds.), Reimagining Border in Cross-border Education. Manipal Universal Press.
Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Latvia. (2025, March). Retrieved from SUCCESS: Latvia’s Space Industry Takes a Significant Step Toward Closer Cooperation with Indian Space Research Organisation: https://space.sciencelatvia.gov.lv/en/news-events/success-latvias-space-industry-takes-a-significant-step-toward-closer-cooperation-with-indian-space-research-organisation/
Official Statistics Portal, Offical Statistics of Latvia. (2025, February 2). Retrieved from The number of students in academic year 2024/25 has slightly increased: https://stat.gov.lv/en/statistics-themes/education/higher-education/press-releases/22128-topicalities-higher-education?themeCode=IG
The Hindu. (2025, April). Retrieved from Central University, Vidzeme University of Latvia sign MoU for academic exchange: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/central-university-vidzeme-university-of-latvia-sign-mou-for-academic-exchange/article69479175.ece
University of Latvia . (2014, January). Retrieved from On 31 January 2014, a Latvian Higher Education Centre was opened in Chennai, India.: https://www.lu.lv/en/about-us/ul-media/news/archive/archive-news/t/17660/
University of Latvia. (2013, September). Retrieved from On 9 September University of Latvia (UL) celebrated opening of the Centre for Indian Studies and Culture.: https://www.lu.lv/en/about-us/ul-media/news/archive/archive-news/t/9741/
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