From August 2024, HOTEL SCHOOL Hotel Management College invites new participants to join free integration courses for citizens of third countries. As part of the courses, HOTEL SCHOOL Hotel Management College organizes lectures on Latvian history, culture, state administration, health and education, and thematical activities, such as excursions to museums, visits to state institutions, and movie evenings. After completing the course, the civic, social, and cultural skills of participants will be improved, as well as their inclusion in Latvian society, access to the labour market and education opportunities.

HOTEL SCHOOL Hotel Management College offers integration courses since November 2023. In less than a year, 11 groups finished the course, and 111 participants received their certificates for successfully completing the course.

Currently, applicants can join English or Russian language groups on weekday mornings and on Saturdays. From the end of September, groups will also be organized on weekday evenings. Lectures will be held once a week at the premises of HOTEL SCHOOL Hotel Management College in Riga, Smilšu Street 3. To apply, please visit the website of HOTEL SCHOOL Hotel Management College: www.hotelschool.lv  or call us: +371 6721 3037 or +371 2663 4824. The participants will be offered coffee breaks between lectures; the participants with children may apply for a babysitting service for the duration of each lecture.

Requirements for applicants:

• citizens of third countries who are legally staying in Latvia; or
• persons who seek international protection and to whom the refugee or alternative status has been officially granted; or
• asylum seekers.

Applicants who have arrived in Latvia within the last five years and are at the age of 13 can apply to participate in the courses. Unfortunately, citizens of European Union member states and citizens of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation cannot take part in the courses.

Introductory courses are implemented within the project “Introductory course for citizens of third countries about life in Latvia at HOTEL SCHOOL Hotel Management College”, project no. PMIF/13.3./2023/1/03, under the Action No. 13.3. “Measures for the integration of citizens of third countries, which promote the integration of the target group into society” of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the programming period 2021-2027. The total funding of the project is EUR 257,870.00, of which EUR 193,402.50 is funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, and EUR 64,467.50 is funding from the state budget. The project implementation period is from October 2023 to August 2026. During the project, 600 people will take an introductory course on life in Latvia, thereby promoting their integration into Latvian society.

Project no. PMIF/13.3./2023/1/03 is co-financed by the European Union.

HOTEL SCHOOL Hotel Management College is responsible for the content of the publication. More information about the project is available at www.hotelschool.lv.