The amendments provide that in all universities and colleges, studies are carried out in Latvian, but if the university meets certain quality criteria, it will have the right to hold study programs in another language which is an official language of one of the European Union's (EU) Member States.
No more than one fifth of the amount of credits from the study program may be taught in other languages, and it cannot include final and national examinations and qualifications, bachelor's and master's degree defenses.
Changes were needed because the Constitutional Court ruled that the law, which stipulated that private universities and colleges should only hold classes in Latvian, does not comply with the national law.
The quality criteria for which universities would be granted the right to implement study programs in a foreign language will apply both to private and state educational establishments.
As in the past, study programs will continue to be read in other languages if defined in the framework of transnational cooperation agreements, or it is necessary to achieve the objectives of the study program, such as language and cultural studies.
The amendments to the Law on Higher Education will enter into force on 1 May.
