Study in Latvia Centre opened in Chennai

Seven universities in Latvia have come together to open a Study in Latvia Centre (SLC) in Chennai. The office was inaugurated on Saturday. Representatives from Latvian universities said they decided to open the office in the city as most Indian students were from Chennai and Hyderabad. This has made Latvia the fifth European Union (EU) country to set up an office in India, said Zane Purlaura, deputy director, foreign students department, Riga Technical University (RTU). The UK, Germany, France and Netherlands are the other EU states that have their centres in India. "We are opening opportunities for cooperation between European Union and Asian countries to enhance awareness on Latvia as a study destination," said Igors Tipans, deputy rector of RTU, which partnered with six other Latvian universities to open the study centre in Chennai. The other universities are: Turiba University, Liepaja University, University of Latvia, B A School of Business and Finance, Latvia University of Agriculture and Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration. The universities offer bachelors, masters and post doctoral degrees in engineering, management, law, media and other subjects. Latvian universities have always attracted Indian students with their 'study in Europe at Indian cost' slogan. A course at a Latvian university, for example, costs Rs 1,40, 000 per year as tuition fee while the same in the UK may cost anywhere between Rs 9 lakh to 15 lakh as tuition fee. "The tradition in northern Europe is to keep the cost low so that education is accessible to all," said Leonids Ribickis, rector, RTU. RTU has signed memoranda of understanding with Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT University) and Hindustan University for students and staff exchange programmes. Divya Chandrababu Feb 2, 2014 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-02-02/chennai/46923152_1_rtu-tuition-fee-indian-students