Estonia

The autonomy of Estonian universities is rated as “high” in all four areas.

The only restriction imposed on universities’ organisational autonomy concerns the executive head: the law prescribes that candidates must hold an academic position in order to be eligible for the post of rector. Estonian universities may freely select the external members of their senate.

No major constraints are imposed on universities’ financial and staffing autonomy. They require the approval of an external authority to sell their real estate, but enjoy flexible public funding modalities, may set fees and are entitled to borrow money on the financial markets.

Universities have complete freedom of action regarding staff recruitments, remunerations, dismissals and promotions.

Regarding academic affairs, restrictions mainly relate to accreditation and quality assurance practices. Universities may independently open degree programmes, though only in specific and previously defined academic fields. While they are free to select quality assurance providers, the required mechanisms are prescribed in the form of periodical institutional accreditation and reviews of curricula.

The particularly high level of institutional autonomy in Estonia is seen to be accompanied by considerable accountability requirements. In combination with budgetary constraints caused by major public funding cuts starting in 2008, these have been putting increasing pressure on Estonia’s universities.

Organisational weighted 87% unweighted 82%

100

100% Selection procedure for the executive head

The selection of the executive head is not validated by an external authority

75

75% Selection criteria for the executive head

The law states that the executive head must hold an academic position

This applies to 13 other countries: Cyprus, Denmark, Flanders, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey

100

100% Dismissal of the executive head

The procedure for the dismissal of the executive head is not stated in the law

0

0% Term of office of the executive head

The exact length is stated in the law

100

100% External members in university governing bodies

Universities can decide to include external members

This applies to 2 other countries: Italy, United Kingdom

Universities can freely decide on external members

This applies to 4 other countries: Denmark, Finland, Portugal, United Kingdom

100

100% Capacity to decide on academic structures

Universities can decide on their academic structures without constraints

100

100% Capacity to create legal entities

Universities can create legal entities without constraints

Financial weighted 90% unweighted 93%

60

60% Length of public funding cycle

100

100% Type of public funding

Block grant and there are no restrictions on the allocation of funding

100

100% Ability to borrow money

Universities can borrow money without restrictions

This applies to 6 other countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Flanders, The Netherlands

100

100% Ability to keep surplus

Surplus can be kept without restrictions

60

60% Ability to own buildings

Universities can sell their buildings with the approval of an external authority

This applies to 7 other countries: Cyprus, France, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland

100

100% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 3 other countries: Hungary, Latvia, Luxembourg

100

100% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 7 other countries: Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, United Kingdom

100

100% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

100

100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

100

100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

100

100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

Staffing weighted 100% unweighted 100%

100

100% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff

Recruitments are carried out freely by universities

100

100% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff

100

100% Salaries for senior academic staff

Universities can freely decide on staff salaries

This applies to 4 other countries: Czech Republic, Latvia, Sweden, Switzerland

100

100% Salaries for senior administrative staff

Universities can freely decide on staff salaries

100

100% Dismissal of senior academic staff

There are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)

100

100% Dismissal of senior administrative staff

There are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)

100

100% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff

Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures

100

100% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff

Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures

Academic weighted 92% unweighted 92%

60

60% Overall student numbers

Universities decide on the number of fee-paying students while an external authority sets the number of state-funded study places

This applies to 3 other countries: Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia

100

100% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level

Admission criteria are set by the university

100

100% Admissions procedures at Master's level

Admission criteria are set by the university

80

80% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level

Other restrictions

This applies to 6 other countries: Cyprus, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Poland, Turkey

80

80% Introduction of programmes at Master's level

Other restrictions

This applies to 6 other countries: Cyprus, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Poland, Turkey

80

80% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level

Other restrictions

This applies to 6 other countries: Cyprus, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Poland, Turkey

100

100% Termination of degree programmes

Universities can terminate degree programmes independently

100

100% Language of instruction at Bachelor level

Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes

100

100% Language of instruction at Master's level

Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes

100

100% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms

Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms

100

100% Selection of quality assurance providers

Universities can choose the quality assurance agency freely according to their needs (including agencies from other countries)

This applies to 7 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Cyprus, Hesse, Iceland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Switzerland

100

100% Capacity to design content of degree programmes

Universities can freely design the content of degree programmes and courses (other than for the regulated professions)