03 - Lithuania - Specific legislative framework
The Republic of Lithuania Law on Education (2003) establishes the mission and the objectives of
higher education studies seen as structural parts of the whole system of education.
The Republic of Lithuania Law on Research and Higher Education (12 February, 1991) stipulates the
research and higher education system of the country, the legislative basis for the establishment,
reorganization and abolishment of institutions of higher education and research institutes, the confines
within which they are regulated by the state, and the principles of financing higher education, research
and experimental development. On 21 June, 2002, a new wording of the Law on Research and Higher
Education was adopted and in 2004, 2005 and 2006 amendments to several articles of the law were
passed.
In implementing the higher education reform, the Republic of Lithuania Law on Higher Education was
adopted on 21 March 2000. It established the system of studies upon completion of which a person is
recognized as having obtained higher education, the principles of acquiring professional qualifications,
qualification and scientific degrees at higher education institutions; it legalized the autonomy of higher
education institutions and the confines of their regulation by the state; it stipulates students’ rights and
duties, the legislative principles of founding, re-organization and liquidation of higher education
institutions, the key requirements the higher education institutions and their study programmes must
meet, the principles underlying evaluation and registration of study programmes, financing of and
admission to higher education. In 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 a number of amendments to the
Law on Higher Education were adopted by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.
Other key legal acts regulating provision of higher education:
The Republic of Lithuania Government resolution On the Approval of the Classification of the
Fields and Areas of Consecutive University and Non-University Studies Provided at Higher
Education Institutions of Lithuania and the Approval of the List of Qualifications Awarded on
Completion of the Studies thereof (2001); The Republic of Lithuania Government resolution On
the Approval of the Regulations on Doctoral Studies. It establishes the order of doctoral studies
and defense of doctoral theses, and the requirements for awarding the scientific doctoral degree
(2002);
The Republic of Lithuania Government resolution (2002) On the Approval of the Regulations on
Postgraduate Art Studies (the new wording was adopted in 2006) establishes the requirements
for postgraduate art study programmes as well as the order of their organization and provision;
The Republic of Lithuania Government resolution (2002) On the state support to doctoral and
post-graduate art students (the new wording was adopted in 2005) establishes the order of
awarding grants to full-time doctoral and postgraduate art students at state-run universities;
The Republic of Lithuania Government resolution (2002) On the Approval of Rules and
Procedures of Granting, Administration and Repayment of State Loans to Students of Higher
Education Institutions (the new wording was approved in 2006) establishes the rules and
procedures of granting state loans to students in higher education;
The Republic of Lithuania Government resolution (1995) On the Scholarship Grants to Students
Enrolled in Full-time Basic, Integrated and Second Stage Studies at State-run Higher Education
Institutions (the new wording was adopted in 2005) establishes the size of the students’
scholarship grant fund, the forms and amounts of grants, the rules and procedures of awarding
them.
The orders of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania:
On the Approval of the Rules and Regulations of Consecutive Study Programmes (2000); On the
Approval of the Rules on the Structure of Study Fields (2003); On the Rules of Validation and
Recognition of Prior Learning Results (2003); On General Requirements for Study Programmes
(2005); On the Approval of the Description of the Rules and Regulations on Accreditation of
Higher Education Study Programmes (2005);
The Republic of Lithuania Government resolution On the Approval of the Lithuanian Higher
Education System Development Plan for 2006-2010 (2006);
The Republic of Lithuania Government resolution On the Approval of Measures for the
Implementation of the first stage (2006–2007) of the Lithuanian Higher Education System
Development Plan for 2006–2010 (2006).
In 2006, regulations on 21 study fields approved by the orders of the Minister of Education and
Science were in force. Regulations on 10 more study fields are planned to be approved in 2007. The
regulations are applied to undergraduate studies.
Elaboration of draft measures for the implementation of the second stage (2008–2010) of the
Development Plan is scheduled for the year 2007.
Every year the Government of the Republic of Lithuania establishes, by its resolution, the overall
number of students to be admitted to state-run higher education institutions according to the forms,
stages and the mode of financing; Establishing the number of students to be admitted to separate
higher education institutions and study fields falls within the competence of the Ministry of Education
and Science.
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
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