The Covid-19 pandemic has restricted both travel and learning, so going to another country may seem like an unattainable goal at the moment. However, the Erasmus exchange program shows that both local and foreign students are still going to study in other countries, and almost as well as before the pandemic.
Every year, Erasmus exchange programs give thousands of students from all over Europe the opportunity to go abroad for several months to study internationally. Hundreds of domestic students also use this opportunity every semester.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, studies in most countries are remote and travel is limited in many places. However, it is said in higher education institutions that despite the difficult situation, interest in exchange programs has not disappeared.
“Interest has definitely remained, interest has not diminished. And considering that we apply once a year in January, we could not say that there were fewer applications in January, when we already knew what was happening, the number of applications for the next academic year was exactly the same and maybe even higher, ”says Riga Stradins University (RSU) Maruta Funta, Head of International Relations.
“The interest really remains very high, both on the part of our students and students of partner universities. The applications come despite the fact that the application deadline has already expired, ”confirms Aleksandra Kjakse, External Relations Coordinator of the University of Latvia (UL).
Comparing the number of participants in this year’s and last year’s Erasmus programs at both universities, the decline is relatively small. Last year, LU admitted 504 Erasmus students, but this year it is planned to expect over 400 students. Meanwhile, 89 participants of the program studied at Stradiņš University last year. This year it is planned to admit at least 80.
For those who have left, the learning process depends on the epidemiological constraints imposed in each country – they can take place both in person and remotely. The students addressed by TV3 News are in Spain and the Czech Republic. The decision to leave was taken at a time when the second wave of Covid-19 was just beginning in many parts of Europe.
“At that time, the number of Covid-19 cases per day in Latvia averaged five to ten, and in the Czech Republic they began to rise. At that point, I began to think – maybe I should come to the Czech Republic sooner than cancel my Erasmus program. I wasn’t afraid because it was the goal I wanted to achieve, ”says RSU student Sintija Kukaine, who is on an exchange program in the Czech Republic.
“I decided to take a risk because I believe that everything can always change. I don’t think that if anything changes in this world, I’ll be sitting scared at home all the time. “
Cynthia is studying medicine and has all the practical classes in person. Gerdai is located in the Spanish province of Huelva and its borders are closed due to restrictions. However, the studies are combined – practical work in person, but lectures online.
The girls re-evaluate their trip to Latvia twice and judge that they will be able to return no sooner than next year. Both already know that due to the requirements of self-isolation, it will not be possible to visit the family, for example, at Christmas.
“If I wanted to return to Latvia for Christmas, I would have to sit in quarantine for 10 days and my semester would end only on the 20th of December. This means that if I returned to Latvia at Christmas, I would be separated from my family and I don’t even know if I could be 100% back afterwards, ”says an exchange student in the Czech Republic.
“For the Christmas holidays, I will be the only person from my Erasmus corridor to stay. The conditions in Latvia are such that when I return I have to observe self-isolation and I see no reason why I should go home and then sit on four walls again, ”says a Latvian exchange student in Spain.
The girls say that the restrictions just need to be adapted, because they are everywhere in the world. Despite the challenges, both students do not regret the decision to go on an exchange trip.
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