IN HIGHER EDUCATION

General provisions

1. Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education - (hereinafter – the Centre) is a State budget institution, organizing the assessment of scientific and pedagogical activity of research and higher education institutions, assessment of qualifications of higher education and giving information about the recognition of qualifications.

2. The Centre is established by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania.

3. In its activity the Centre follows the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law on Research and Higher Education of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law of Higher Education of the Republic of Lithuania and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania as well as the resolutions of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and other deeds and regulations.

4. The Centre co-ordinates its programme of expert work with the Department of Science and Higher Education upon the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter – the Department). Fulfilling its tasks, the Centre co-operates with the Science Council of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Academy of Science, conferences of heads of research and higher education institutions, vocational and employment associations and other public institutions.

5. The Centre is a juridical person, having its bank account and the seal with State Emblem and its name.

6. The residence of the Centre is situated in 1 Suvalku Street, 2600 Vilnius.

Main goals and functions of the Centre

 7. The basic goals of the Centre are as follows:

7.1. To co-ordinate and methodically guide the regular self-analysis process of scientific and pedagogical activity of the State and Non-state institutions of research and higher education, to organize the expert evaluation of that activity, to accumulate and publish information about the quality of that activity, to offer suggestions about the improvement of that activity;

7.2. To evaluate qualifications of higher education acquired abroad, to give information on all questions regarding the recognition of higher education.

8. The Centre, implementing assigned goals, fulfils the following functions:

8.1. In the field of assessment of research and higher education institutions:

8.1.1. Makes plans for assessment of research and higher education institutions referring to the Law of Research and Higher Education of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law of Higher Education of the Republic of Lithuania and other deeds regulating research and studies, and other information concerning the research and higher education in the country;

8.1.2. Organizes quality expertise of realization of university, non-university programmes of the basic and second level studies as well as integral studies and the realization of these programmes entered in the State registry;

8.1.3. Co-ordinates the regular self-analysis process of the activity of research and higher education institutions, prepares its united methods;

8.1.4. Organizes the quality expertise (peer review) of the activity of research and higher education institutions and their subunits, combining it with the self-analysis process of the institutions;

8.1.5. Accumulates, summarizes and publishes the information concerning the conclusions of the self-analysis and peer review of the institutions, the quality of the study programmes;

8.1.6. Formulates and co-ordinates with different institutions the suggestions about the quality improvement of scientific and pedagogical activity of research and higher education institutions, offers these suggestions to the Department.

8.2. In the field of recognition of qualifications:

8.2.1. Evaluates qualifications connected with higher education, other qualifications and partial studies;

8.2.2. Fulfils functions of the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) – gives information, consultations and recommendations for research and higher education institutions of the Republic of Lithuania, and other juridical and natural persons, when it is necessary to estimate, how diplomas of higher education, certificates or study programmes and their parts in foreign countries meet the higher education system and requirements of higher education of the Republic of Lithuania;

8.2.3. Collects and analyses information, which is necessary to evaluate and recognize qualifications acquired abroad;

8.2.4. Providing international information exchange within the Network of European National Information Centres for Academic Recognition and Mobility (ENIC) gives information for analogous institutions abroad, fulfils functions, which are necessary that qualifications acquired in Lithuania could be evaluated and recognized abroad;

8.2.5. Gives information to foreign partners according to the European Union Council Directive 89/49/EEC of 21/12/1988 “General system for the recognition of higher education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years” chapter 9.3 and the European Union Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18/06/1992 “Second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement the Directive 89/48/EEC” chapter 31.3.

Rights of the Centre

9. Fulfilling its functions the Centre has the right:

9.1. To obtain information about the scientific activity, the study programmes and their accomplishment of research and higher education institutions from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Department, the State and Non-state institutions of research and higher education, to become acquainted with the documents of that activity;

9.2. According to set form to represent the Republic of Lithuania at the international organizations and conferences where the questions concerning higher education quality assessment and recognition are discussed;

9.3. To set up working and expert groups for the assessment of research and higher education institutions activity and for other questions that are under the Centre’s competence and to pay their work under the treaty;

9.4. To publish periodicals and single information editions;

9.5. Within its competence to propose to the Department suggestions and notes on the drafts of deeds;

9.6. Other rights, invested by laws and other deeds.

Organization of work

10. Centre is governed by a director who is appointed to take this position for five years by the Vice-minister of Science and Education – director of the Department. Entry into this position is by competition.

11. The director of the Centre:

11.1. Organizes activity of the Centre and is responsible for implementation of commissioned tasks;

11.2. By the order of the Department gives the Centre’s activity report to the Ministry of Science and Education as well as to the Department;

11.3. By virtue of laws engages employees of the Centre to take an appropriate position and to dismiss them from their posts, defines their incumbency level and category, submits descriptions of officers incumbency of the Centre;

11.4. In agreement with the Vice-minister of Science and Education – director of the Department, submits the structure of the Centre and incumbency list staying within the annual wages-fund;

11.5. By virtue of laws affirms office employee’s salary according to approved wages-fund;

11.6. Organizes and supervises the meeting of officers of the Centre.

12. In absence of the director of the Centre his/her duties are functioned by a deputy director. Deputy director is directly answerable to the director of the Centre, who defines his/her functions and competence.

Centres allocation and its usage

13. The activity of the Centre if financed by the State budget vote, designated to supply general needs of the system of research and higher education in accordance to annual estimate submitted by the Vice-minister of Science and Education – the director of the Department.

14. By virtue of laws the Centre can operate and non-State budget allocations.

15. Non-State allocations can be composed of Lithuanian, foreign and international funds, juridical and private bodies support, incomes received for done works and services.

16. Control of the Centre’s financial activity is made by the Department and other control institutions commissioned by the State.

17. The Centre organizes and implements its accountants record and financial accountability by the virtue of laws.

Final regulations

18. The Centre can be reorganized or liquidated by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Lithuania.

19. After reorganization of the Centre, the usage of its untapped resources is decided by the Department.

RECONCILED
Chairman of the Science Council of Lithuania
Prof., Habil. Dr. Leonas Kadziulis

March 6, 1995