Deputies approved an amendment to the Higher Education Act – SME.sk

23. mar 2022 at 17:32 I Updated at 19:03 External study will be shortened and the rector’s choice will be adjusted.BRATISLAVA. Members of the National Council approved an amendment to the Higher Education Act. The external study will be shortened and the election of the rector will be adjusted. The deputies decided on it in Wednesday’s vote. They also approved several amendments. The article continues under video advertising The article continues under video advertising Reform of universities: What is changing The aim of the amendment is a systemic change in the management of public universities with the intention of modernization to make decision-making processes more flexible at the level of universities and faculties. The method of appointing the Rector, the composition of the University Board of Trustees, the establishment of faculty bodies, the competence of the University Academic Senate and the Public University Board of Trustees will be strengthened by strengthening the position of the Board of Trustees. A novelty is the public hearing of candidates at a meeting of the Electoral Assembly. A member of the Academic Senate or the Board of Trustees of a university will not be able to run for rector during the term of office of a member of the Senate or the Board. A member of the Executive Board of the Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education will be able to run at the earliest three years after the end of membership. Related article Related article University reform is undergoing no drama. Even the universities are no longer in unity in the resistance. Read The dean of the faculty will be able to hold office for a maximum of two consecutive terms. The university will be able to determine in its statute that the position of dean is filled by election. If this is not regulated, the position is to be filled by a selection procedure. that it will subsequently be approved by the Board of Directors. A 45-day deadline has also been set, during which the Senate will have to discuss important strategic documents. It is supposed to be a protective mechanism. The representation of students in the academic senate of a public university should make up one third. The changes also respond to the war in Ukraine. The changes are intended to achieve a better and more open set-up of the process, and public control is to be involved. Performance contracts are defined between the ministry and the relevant university in order to increase the quality of higher education. External studies will be reduced to five years. The change will also affect the division of accreditations of the habilitation procedure and the inauguration procedure. The way research and development projects are assessed will be expanded. The changes from the joint committee report also respond to the situation in Ukraine. In the case of persons who are granted asylum or protection, proof of attainment of the required level of education should be replaced by an affidavit and a general study test. MEPs argue that people fleeing the war may not be able to take the necessary documents. These persons will also be included in the exemption from the payment of tuition fees. Among other things, a new type of scholarships will also be introduced following the renewal plan, to be provided as a matter of priority by the ministry. These are scholarships for “top doctoral students, top graduates, students at top universities”. The provision of “sports” scholarships as a special form of motivational scholarship is also stipulated. “Thanks to it, Slovak students will also see better universities and will have a significantly greater motivation to stay studying in Slovakia. It is young people and other generations who will take part in the historical changes in Slovakia,” he said. Paulis sees the approval of the amendment as another step towards university reform. According to him, it introduces a number of changes, such as shorter studies for students of external studies, more teachers with experience from practice and abroad or a more transparent election of the rector. With the approval of the amendment to the Higher Education Act, Slovakia has approached the European Union in obtaining millions of euros from the reconstruction fund. This was stated by Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OĽANO) on the social network: “We have fulfilled one of the other milestones of the Slovak Recovery and Resilience Plan. The Prime Minister also thanked all the deputies who voted in favor of the amendment. “Education is one of the key areas on which our country’s future is based. For many years, our higher education system has stagnated, causing a massive outflow of our students and talent On average, one in five students is leaving Slovakia. I am convinced that this reform will also help to increase the performance and quality of universities, “he added. however, he does not consider the text of the amendment to be optimal or beneficial. TASR was informed about this by Simona Šintalová from the Charles University External Relations Department.