Riga UNIVERSITIES IN LITHUANIA: QUO VADIS ? Prof. Benediktas Juodka Vilnius University
Lithuanian institutions of higher education and research At present there are 93 institutions: Universities – 22 ( of them 15 state, 7 private); Colleges – 28 ( 16 state, 12 private); State research institutions – Riga B.Juodka
Part of GDP (in percents) for research and development (EU 27 and Lithuania) Riga B.Juodka EU27 average Lithuania
WWhat are strengths and weaknesses of Lithuanian Higher Education? What is the future of such a lumpish and underfinanced research and study system? WWhat are the mission and sustaining elements of Lithuanian higher education system? Riga B.Juodka
Weaknesses of Lithuanian Higher Education Riga B.Juodka LOW QUALITY OF OUTPUT AND RESULTS Scarce resources Non- effective management of the system and of higher education institutions Low quality of human resources Insufficient financing Top-down, enclosed management of HE institutions Low quality infrastructure Excessive regulation, slight autonomy and accountability of HEI Low capability to implement the policy, limitations of quality assurance Non- transparent and ineffective distribution of financial resources
Mission and sustaining elements of Lithuanian Higher Education system Mission of HE: to be a catalyst of the advance of society Create conditions, necessary for research based HE to return to the European landscape Flexible planning of studies, close partnership with business sector. Increased orientation towards life-long learning Diversified system of HE: two research based universities, regional, state and specialized private HEI Smarter and better financing Quality culture and independent Agency of Quality Assurance Polarization towards Lithuanian students as well as close international integration More autonomy, more accountability, enterprising management and improved control Riga B.Juodka
Change in number of students, who seek for higher education for the first time Riga B.Juodka
The Sunrise Valley and National Open Access Scholarly Communication and Information Centre Riga B.Juodka