Translation from Lithuanian

Translation from Lithuanian Translation from Lithuanian GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA R E S O L U T I O N No. 768 On Approval of the Qualitative Regulations of Higher Education and the Regulations for the Establishment and Assessment of Higher Education Institutions Vilnius, 14 October 1993 The Government of the Republic of Lithuania r e s o l v e s:

1. To approve the qualitative regulations of higher education (attached).
2. To approve the regulations for the establishment and assessment of higher education institutions (attached). Prime Minister Adolfas Ðleþevièius Minister of Justice Jonas Prapiestis APPROVED by Resolution No. 768 of 14 October 1993 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania Qualitative Regulations of Higher Education General Provisions
3. In the Republic of Lithuania, higher education shall be acquired by studying in state or non-state institutions of higher education and shall be conferred according to the results of examinations or other tests of assessment provided for in the statute of the institution of higher education. In the Republic of Lithuania, higher education shall be recognized upon completion of the basic studies at the institution of higher education. Thereafter, specialized professional studies, master's courses and doctoral studies may be pursued.
4. In the programme of the basic studies, the fundamentals of the field of research or arts shall be integrated with the specialized study of some trend of professional activities. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall approve the classification of the fields and trends of the basic studies upon recommendation of the Science Council of Lithuania and the Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions. Upon completion of the basic studies, a bachelor's degree, an equivalent academic qualification degree, or professional qualification shall be awarded, depending on the study programme.
5. Upon completion of the basic studies, specialized professional studies or a master's course may be pursued. Upon completion of specialized professional studies, a professional qualification shall be awarded by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania according to the established procedure. Upon completion of master's courses, a master's degree or an equivalent academic qualification degree shall be awarded. Doctoral studies shall be regulated by the general regulations of the system of research degrees and academic (research) titles of the Republic of Lithuania.
6. Consecutive studies in the institutions of higher education of the Republic of Lithuania may be offered in one, two or several stages. The single-stage programme may, in addition to the basic studies, include master's or professional studies. If said study programme is not completed, higher education shall not be recognized and no academic qualification degree shall be awarded.
7. Studies, upon completion of which higher education is recognized and academic qualification degrees awarded, must meet the requirements related to the content and minimum of studies and the minimum educational and material potential of the institution of higher education. The scope of the study programme shall be consistent with the average duration of a student's studies in the classroom as well as his/her individual studies certified by the institution of higher education. Evaluation of whether or not the competence of a professor (docent) corresponds to the trend of studies shall be based on his/her research and methodological publications as well as creative works.
8. Persons who wish to be trained in some trend without acquiring recognition of higher education may opt for inconsequent studies in one or more disciplines offered at institutions of higher education. Persons who complete such studies shall receive certificates. If said persons later begin consecutive basic studies, the curriculum for their studies may be reduced, taking the results of inconsequent studies into account.
9. The state shall establish which positions and which state-regulated professional activities require higher education, certain academic qualification degrees, or professional qualification acquired upon completion of specialized studies; the state shall also establish the cases in which certain professional experience is needed after higher education as well as how such experience shall be acknowledged: simply upon acquiring some record of professional work or upon passing additional examinations as well. Academic Qualification Degrees
10. Academic qualification degrees shall be awarded upon completion of studies in accordance with the programme of the appropriate level.
11. A bachelor's degree shall certify a person's comprehensive higher education in a specific trend of research or art as well as his or her preparedness to continue studies in that trend.
12. A master's degree shall certify a person's specialized higher education in a specific trend of research or art as well as his or her preparedness to pursue doctoral studies.
13. The field or trend of research or art of the completed studies shall be indicated on the diplomas of bachelor's and master's degrees. Each institution of higher education shall draw up a list of fields and trends. The Science Council of Lithuania shall approve the said list upon endorsement of the Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions.
14. On master's diplomas, the specialized trend of study shall be indicated as well. The titles of these trends shall be approved by the Council (Senate) of the institution of higher education. Qualitative Requirements of the Basic Studies
15. Persons possessing a matriculation certificate or equivalent document attesting secondary education shall be admitted to the basic studies.
16. The programme of the basic studies must comprise at least 6,400 hours (160 credits). Programmes of full-time (day) studies must include at least 2,400 class hours. The minimum class hours of programmes of part-time (evening, extramural, etc.) studies shall be established by the institution of higher education, observing that said minimum is sufficient to acquire the skills of the trend of studies and to verify proficiency thereof. Upon recommendation of the Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions, the Science Council of Lithuania shall establish the trends of study in which external students may acquire higher education.
17. The structure and content of the programmes of studies shall be defined by the institution of higher education, specifying the following for each trend of study: 15.
18. Three blocks of studies for the award of a bachelor's degree: 15.1.
19. the first block is that of comprehensive higher education in the humanities and social sciences, which must comprise at least 1,200 hours. In this block, basic disciplines of natural sciences and mathematics may be substituted for part of the basic humanitarian disciplines in humanitarian studies, and for part of the basic social science disciplines in the social studies; 15.1.
20. the second block is that of comprehensive higher education in the fields of research or art being studied, which must comprise at least 30 percent of the entire programme. 15.1.
21. the third block is that of special training in the trend of research or art chosen, which must comprise at least 30 percent of the entire programme. This block includes final exams and/or Diploma thesis (project). 15.
22. Two blocks of studies to acquire professional qualification: 15.2.
23. the first block is that of comprehensive higher education (in the basics of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics and the field of research or art being studied), which must comprise at least 2,000 hours; 15.2.
24. the second block is that of special training in the elected trend of research or art, which must comprise at least 50 percent of the entire programme. This block includes final exams and/or thesis (project).
25. Each study programme must specify groups of optional subjects chosen by the student. At least 5 percent of the programme must be left for subjects chosen freely by the student.
26. In order to ensure that the provided higher education of the basic studies is of necessary level, at least 50 percent of lecturers teaching each block of the study programme must be staff members of the said institution of higher education and must have research degrees or academic (research) titles; at least 5 percent of said lecturers must be doctors habilitatus or professors. Students may study certain subjects in other institutions of higher education (including institutions abroad), although at least 2/3 of the study programme must be studied at the institution of higher education which is awarding the degree or diploma of qualification. Qualitative Requirements for Master's Courses
27. A bachelor's degree or equivalent degree is required for admission to Master's courses. The procedure for enrollment into master's courses shall be established by the institution of higher education.
28. At least 400 hours must be allotted for lectures of master's courses. The programme for master's courses shall be established by the institution of higher education. The field or trend of the studies, for which a master's degree will be awarded upon completion of the studies, shall be indicated in the programme. Studies shall be completed by defending the master's thesis.
29. Master's courses must be taught by lecturers who have research degrees or academic (research) titles and whose research activities correspond with the subjects they teach. At least one of the lecturers must be a professor or a doctor habilitatus in that trend of study. Diplomas of Academic Qualification Degrees and Higher Education
30. Upon completing the basic studies, a person shall be awarded a diploma of higher education or (those who studied according to a special programme) a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification diploma. Persons who have completed master's studies shall be awarded a master's degree diploma.
31. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall determine the mandatory inscriptions on diplomas, which shall be the same for all institutions of higher education of the Republic of Lithuania.
32. The production of diploma forms of a standard form shall be organized by the Lithuanian Agency for Higher Education, Research and Development. Institutions of higher education may establish their own form of issued diplomas and may order the production thereof according to the established procedure.
33. Diplomas of academic qualification degrees and higher education as well as their forms shall be stored and issued according to the rules of management of documents of state importance. _____________________ APPROVED by Resolution No. 768 of 14 October 1993 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania Regulation for the Establishment and Assessment of Institutions of Higher Education General Provisions
34. According to the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Research and Higher Education, state institutions of higher education shall be established, reorganized, and liquidated by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania upon recommendation of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Non-state institutions of higher education shall be established upon obtaining a licence from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. These regulations shall regulate the procedure for initiating the establishment, reorganization and liquidation as well as quality assessment of state institutions of higher education, and the procedure for the establishment, reorganization and liquidation as well as quality assessment of non-state institutions of higher education. These regulations shall not control the restructuring of institutions of higher education in accordance with their statutes.
35. An institution of higher education may be established provided that it is ready to meet the quality requirements indicated in articles 4 and 5, and to offer programmes of higher education in at least three different trends of the basic studies. The principal language of instruction in an institution of higher education must be Lithuanian. A subdivision (faculty or branch) of an institution of higher education may be established and function in another city provided that at least one programme of the basic studies is offered and at least one third of the programmes is taught by professors and docents of said subdivision.
36. Institutions of higher education which are founded shall be registered in the register of research and higher education institutions of the Republic of Lithuania, which shall be managed by the Lithuanian Agency for Higher Education, Research and Development. Qualification Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education
37. The teaching activities of institutions of higher education must correspond to the requirements of the Qualitative Regulations for Higher Education. At least 50 percent of the lecturers of an institution of higher education must have research degrees or academic (research) titles, and at least 5 percent of the lecturers (10 percent for master's and doctoral studies) must be professors or doctors habilitatus. The research or artistic activities of an institution of higher education must be sufficient to maintain the level of research (artistic) qualification of the academic staff, as well as the unity of higher education and research (creative work). The research (creative) activities corresponding to the field (trend) of doctoral or master's studies must be systematic and productive, and both the lecturers and the students must participate therein.
38. An institution of higher education must have a library, classrooms, laboratories and facilities for research, creative and instructional purposes which correspond to the study programme and the qualifications provided. Establishment, Reorganization and Liquidation of State Institutions of Higher Education
39. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania, ministries and town municipalities shall have the right of initiative to establish state institutions of higher education.
40. If the establishment, reorganization or liquidation of a state institution of higher education is initiated by someone other than the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the initiators must submit the following to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania: 7.
41. a grounded proposal to investigate: 7.1.
42. the need to establish, reorganize or liquidate; 7.1.
43. the possibilities of establishment or reorganization; 7.
44. a proposal (in the event of establishment) concerning the trends of study (research and creative) according to which higher education and qualification degrees would be awarded, as well as the year which student enrollment would begin.
45. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall make up and, if necessary, finance a group of experts which shall prepare a draft of the activities of the state institution of higher education which shall be coordinated with concerned ministries, municipalities and institutions of research and higher education. The said draft shall include: 8.
46. in the event of establishment: 8.1.
47. a grounded assessment of the number of new specialists for each proposed trend of studies under proposal which the state needs; 8.1.
48. drafts of the programmes of studies; 8.1.
49. prospective trends of research activities of the institution of higher education as well as the foundation for these activities; 8.1.
50. a programme for the formation of academic staff of the institution of higher education; 8.1.
51. a programme for the creation of a material base for the establishment of higher education; 8.1.
52. the need for state material and financial resources until the institution of higher education begins functioning in full; 8.1.
53. proposals for the composition of the constitutive council of the institution of higher education and the regulations thereof; 8.
54. in the event of reorganization or liquidation: 8.2.
55. a programme for the organization of further studies of students; 8.2.
56. a programme for the employment of academic and administrative staff; 8.2.
57. a programme for the use of the property of the institution of higher education.
58. The group of experts shall submit the project defined in Article 8 to the Science Council of Lithuania, the Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions, and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.
59. The Science Council of Lithuania, taking the suggestions of the Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, and their own experts into account, shall submit final conclusions to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
60. Upon decision of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, on recommendation of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, to found or reorganize a state institution of higher education, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall: 11.
61. form a provisional constitutive board. If an institution of higher education is divided into two or more institutions, or if one institution of higher education is being founded by merging two or more institutions, a provisional council of each new (reorganized) institution of higher education shall be set up; 11.
62. approve the regulations of activities of provisional (constitutive) boards; 11.
63. determine a time limit within which the provisional (constitutive) board must prepare a draft statute of the founded (reorganized) institution of higher education; 11.
64. appoint an acting rector of the institution of higher education, upon recommendation of the provisional (constitutive) board.
65. Once the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania approves, upon recommendation of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the statute of the institution of higher education and the council of the institution of higher education is elected thereby, the provisional (founding) council shall lose its authority. The rector appointed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall resign when the council elects a rector according to the procedure established in the statute.
66. Once the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania has decided, upon recommendation of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, to liquidate an institution of higher education, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall set up a liquidation committee. Establishment of Non-state Institutions of Higher Education
67. The founder of a non-state institution of higher education shall present the following to the Lithuanian Agency for Higher Education, Research and Development: 14.
68. a request to acquire a license for the institution of higher education to function. The request must indicate the premises of the institution of higher education, the motives for the founding thereof, and the time planned to commence the work of the institution; 14.
69. drafts of the planned programs of basic studies (in at least three different trends); 14.
70. a programme for the formation of academic staff, including the character of research activities of the professors and docents who are planned to be invited for permanent work as well as their agreements to work in said institution of higher education; 14.
71. a programme for the creation of a financial and material base of the institution of higher education; 14.
72. a draft of the resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the granting of the license indicated in Article 14.1 which specifies the name of the establishment of higher institution, its founders, the permitted study programmes, and the conditions and period of validity of the license.
73. The Lithuanian Agency for Higher Education, Research and Development shall prepare a draft resolution coordinated with concerned institutions and shall submit it to the Science Council of Lithuania, the Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions, and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.
74. The Science Council of Lithuania, taking the recommendations of the Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, and its own experts into account, shall present its conclusions to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
75. Upon decision of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to issue a license for a non-state institution of higher education to function, the Lithuanian Agency for Higher Education, Research and Development shall officially draw up the said license.
76. The Lithuanian Agency for Higher Education, Research and Development shall make a public announcement of the expiration of the validity of a license at least one year prior thereto. The decision of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, upon proposal of the Science Council of Lithuania, to shorten the term of validity of a licence of a non-state institution of higher education shall also be publicly announced one year in advance. Assessment of Institutions of Higher Education
77. In carrying out quality control and assessment of institutions of higher education: 19.
78. the possibility provided by the study programmes, methods of instruction, facilities, and educational and informational technology for the qualitative regulations of higher education to be implemented shall be assessed; 19.
79. the correspondence of the qualifications of the academic staff with the requirements for institutions of higher education shall be evaluated; 19.
80. the material and financial resources of the establishment of the institution of higher education; 19.
81. the research (creative) activities of the institution of higher education and the conformity thereof with the unity of higher education and research (creative work) shall be assessed; 19.
82. means and ways to maintain an appropriate level of high education shall be proposed;
83. Every 5 years or more frequently when necessary, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall form a committee of experts to assess the level of higher education in the state. The report of the expert committee shall be submitted to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
84. Each institution of higher education shall organize continuous self-analysis and self-assessment. Institutions of higher education may prepare their own programme of quality assessment for the implementation of which scientists shall be invited from Lithuanian and foreign institutions of research and higher education. Upon approval of the Science Council of Lithuania and the Rectors' Conference of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions such a programme may be financed from the general budget assignations for research and higher education.
85. Self-assessment of an institution of higher education shall be supplemented by the quality control organized by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, and shall be carried out by experts according to the qualitative assessment and accreditation regulations of institutions of higher education.
86. Assessment and accreditation conclusions shall be made public. A summary of conclusions and recommendations shall be submitted to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
87. On the grounds of assessment and accreditation conclusions, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania may receive proposals to change the amount of state support appropriated to separate study programmes or to revoke the license of a non-state institutions of higher education. _______________________