Reform of higher education and research system

The objectives of the reform of higher education and research system can be easily described by one word, viz. opportunities. The reform provides new opportunities for all the participants of higher education and research system.

For students:

• High quality studies in Lithuania;
• Better teaching;
• Modern teaching facilities, libraries and laboratories, better accommodations;
• Once the State funding or a soft loan is secured, there will be no need to look for options to earn money, and all the energy and time can be spent for studying.

For teachers and researchers:

• Opportunity to get a respectable pay and a stimulus to seek better results for which due compensation is provided;
• Cutting-edge research facilities and access to the latest research information;
• Cooperation with colleagues from all over the world, and enhancement of qualification;
• More focus on the quality of teaching

For higher education institutions:

• Opportunity to invite good and recognised teachers;
• Upgrading of teaching infrastructure and improvement of study programmes;
• Additional funds from research and inventions, EU investments into the quality of studies;
• Less restricted disposal of assets.

For the State:

• Decreasing brain drain;
• Efficient use of funds;
• Design and export of intellectual property products;
• Increasing competitiveness of the country.

Thus, students, researchers and higher education institutions are provided with the best conditions to improve.
Opportunities, naturally, mean responsibility: responsibility in choosing studies, participating in research projects, independently dealing with day-to-day issues of a higher education institution. However, responsibility motivates to act, do your best, search for best solutions and find new opportunities.

The key goals of the reform are quality, efficiency and accessibility. Consequently,

• Higher education institutions with modern teaching facilities will employ professional teachers, ensure social assistance to students and provide them with attractive accommodations and clean dormitories;
• Higher education institutions and the academic community will gain the actual autonomy, and at the same time the education and research system shall be outcomes-oriented;
• The State will allocate twice as much funding for each student than before, and students will be able to “carry” the student’s basket with them to the selected.

Lithuanian higher education institution, whether private or not, while students who die not get places funded by the State will be able to get a loan under favourable conditions.
The road has been paved for achieving these goals: the new Law on Higher Education and Research, came into force in April 2009, which enforced the new management and funding procedure of higher education institutions and research institutions and provided additional instruments for ensuring the quality of studies. Financial preconditions for changes are provided by EU structural assistance; therefore, changes are well under way. We’ll get the chance to appreciate the outcomes soon.