Lithuania

The Lithuanian higher education system is rated as “medium low” in financial and academic autonomy, “medium high” in organisational autonomy and “high” in staffing autonomy.

As regards organisational autonomy, regulations apply for the selection criteria, dismissal and term of office of the rector. The university council must include external members, who are appointed partly by the institution and partly by the relevant ministry. Universities may freely decide on their academic structures and create for-profit and not-for-profit legal entities.

Lithuanian universities receive a one-year block grant which is split into broad categories. They are unable to keep a surplus and own buildings, but may borrow money with the approval of the ministry.

Staffing autonomy is more developed. The law only states general guidelines concerning the selection procedure and criteria for senior academic employees. For the latter staff group salary bands are externally prescribed. Both academic and administrative staff may only be promoted if there is an open post at a higher level. The dismissal of university staff is not regulated.

Lithuania has a split system in which the ministry regulates the number of publicly-funded study places, while universities decide on the number of fee-paying students. Admissions at Bachelor level are regulated by the ministry through a centralised admissions council. Bachelor and Master’s degrees must undergo programme accreditation on a regular basis and institutions are evaluated by a national quality assurance body every six years. Institutions may choose the language of instruction for programmes that form part of internationalisation strategies.

The Lithuanian higher education law was amended extensively in 2010. The implementation process and consequences of some reforms, such as the change of universities’ legal status, remain unclear.

Organisational weighted 75% unweighted 73%

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 a doctoral degree

This applies to 8 other countries: Cyprus, Finland, Flanders, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden, Turkey

80

80% Dismissal of the executive head

The dismissal is confirmed by an external authority but the procedure is decided by the university

This applies to 5 other countries: Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden

0

0% Term of office of the executive head

The exact length is stated in the law

57

57% External members in university governing bodies

Universities cannot decide as they must include external members

External members are partly appointed by the university and partly by an external authority

This applies to 5 other countries: Austria, Cyprus, France, Hesse, Iceland,

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 51% unweighted 62%

60

60% Length of public funding cycle

60

60% Type of public funding

Block grant is split into broad categories and there are no or limited possibilities to move funds between these

This applies to 7 other countries: France, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden

80

80% Ability to borrow money

Universities can borrow money with the approval of an external authority

This applies to 5 other countries: Cyprus, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, Spain

0

0% Ability to keep surplus

Surplus cannot be kept

This applies to 3 other countries: Cyprus, Greece, Ireland,

0

0% Ability to own buildings

Universities are not allowed to own their buildings

This applies to 5 other countries: Brandenburg, Hesse, Hungary, North Rhine-Westphalia, Sweden

40

40% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level

Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority

This applies to 5 other countries: Flanders, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia, Portugal, United Kingdom

40

40% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level

Universities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority

This applies to 3 other countries: Flanders, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia

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 83% unweighted 83%

75

75% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff

Recruitments are carried out freely by universities

Other restrictions

100

100% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff

75

75% Salaries for senior academic staff

Salary bands are prescribed by an external authority for all staff

This applies to 5 other countries: France, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Turkey

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)

57

57% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff

Promotions are only possible if there is a post at a higher level

This applies to 5 other countries: Brandenburg, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Turkey

57

57% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff

Promotions are only possible if there is a post at a higher level

This applies to 5 other countries: Brandenburg, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Turkey

Academic weighted 42% unweighted 44%

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: Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia

0

0% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level

Admissions are entirely regulated by an external authority

This applies to 7 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Flanders, France, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland

100

100% Admissions procedures at Master's level

Admission criteria are set by the university

0

0% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level

All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced

0

0% Introduction of programmes at Master's level

All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced

40

40% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level

Only some universities/academic units can open new degree programmes

This does not apply to any other country.

100

100% Termination of degree programmes

Universities can terminate degree programmes independently

83

83% Language of instruction at Bachelor level

Universities can choose the language of instruction for certain programmes

This applies to one other country: Iceland

83

83% Language of instruction at Master's level

Universities can choose the language of instruction for certain programmes

This applies to 2 other countries: France, Greece,

0

0% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms

Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms

0

0% Selection of quality assurance providers

Universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency

60

60% Capacity to design content of degree programmes

Authorities specify some content of academic courses

This applies to 3 other countries: Italy, Latvia, Poland