Riga, 10 October 2025

This autumn, the four-part BrainGain Latvia workshop series concluded, helping international students and members of the returnee community meet, share experiences, and learn practical tools for life and careers in Latvia. The series was organised by the association Ar pasaules pieredzi Latvijā (APPLV) in cooperation with the Riga City Municipality. In total, more than 40 students took part, representing countries such as Colombia, Kenya, Turkey, India, Ukraine, Indonesia, Egypt, and others.

From housing to work and community

In April, the workshop “How to Find a Home” featured real-estate experts Madara Balode and Ādolfs Mārtiņš Krauklis (AVER Real Estate), who explained the specifics of Latvia’s rental market and how to create a trustworthy digital first impression for landlords. Participants improved their social media profiles and practised communicating with landlords.

In May, “How to Find a Job and Build a Career in Latvia” was led by career coach Dagnija Veide — students worked on their CVs, LinkedIn strategies, and interview skills, and deliberately expanded their professional networks. The most ambitious received one-to-one consultations.

In June, “How to Find Your Place in Society” focused on leadership, participation, and civic engagement with entrepreneur Jānis Kreilis (Hyperscan.ai) and Ance Mālkalna (Civic Alliance–Latvia). Group work explored how involvement in NGOs and initiatives supports career development, strengthens leadership skills, and aids integration into local communities — and how to build a professional network through purposeful social engagement.

In September, “Where to Seek Help When Things Are Hard” addressed mental health. Alise Pīrāga (University of Latvia Career Centre) explained how to recognise overload and where to turn for support, while coach Baiba Žīga introduced the Territory Mapping method — a practical tool for clarifying personal goals.

Participant experience

“These workshops helped me realise I’m not alone on this journey. Beyond practical knowledge about life in Latvia, I gained a sense of support and understanding. I now feel more confident and know where to look for help and opportunities,” says Deepthi Nenavath (India), a computer science student at the University of Latvia.

Students especially valued the safe, inclusive atmosphere where they could ask questions freely. Many said they felt a sense of belonging to Latvia for the first time and want to continue engaging with the local community.

Key insights

The series highlighted three common hurdles: (1) limited practical information about rental culture; (2) uncertainty about how to start a career purposefully while still studying; (3) difficulty finding quality psycho-emotional support in English. These challenges can be addressed through mentor support, structured learning activities, and collaboration with the returnee community.

What’s next — conference on 25 November

This project was co-funded under the Riga City Social Integration Programme. On 25 November, APPLV, in cooperation with the Society Integration Foundation (SIF), will host a high-level conference to present the results of a large-scale study and discuss how to strengthen international students’ contribution to Latvia’s economy.

Why it matters

International students make up nearly 14% of all students in Latvia, most of whom study in Riga. They are future engineers, IT specialists, entrepreneurs, and researchers — people who can significantly strengthen the labour market and innovation ecosystem. Yet only a small share remain in Latvia after graduation, mainly due to complex access to housing, insufficient information about opportunities, and weak networks. The BrainGain approach helps bridge this gap by building a practical, trusted link between locals and newcomers.