Bill for the Higher Education Institutions – Senate of the AOP: Introduces many positive provisions that, however, risk being annulled in practice

The bill of the Ministry of Education, for the operation of the institutions introduces many positive provisions that are in danger of being annulled in practice due to the inefficient administration system that it is trying to institutionalize, the Senate of the Athens University of Economics considers.

According to its announcement, the bill contains regulations that are positive, as they offer alternative and flexible forms of study organization, enhancing the interdisciplinarity and mobility of students-three as well as other positive provisions. The provisions concerning the MPS are also considered positive, as they reduce the bureaucratic and administrative burden (eg approvals of the Ministry of Education on their establishment and amendment). At the same time, the regulations concerning the ELKE are considered to be improving, as they reduce restrictions that existed mainly in public procurement procedures and the management of the MPS. However, it expresses its disagreement with the proposed system of government.

Her announcement in detail:

The Senate of the Athens University of Economics and Business in its meeting, on 10.06.2022, examined the consulted draft law of the Ministry of Education and Religions entitled “New Horizons in Higher Education Institutions: Enhancing the Quality, Functionality and Connection of Universities and other provisions “and unanimously states the following:

Organization and Operation of First Cycle Programs

The bill contains regulations that are positive, as they offer alternative and flexible forms of study organization, enhancing the interdisciplinarity and mobility of three students. Such are, for example: the provisions for joint (joint degree) and dual study programs and the possibility of organizing internal mobility programs for undergraduate students-three.

Organization and Operation of Second and Third Cycle Programs

The provisions concerning the MPS are also considered positive, as they reduce the bureaucratic and administrative burden (eg approvals of the Ministry of Education on their establishment and amendment). In addition, these provisions expand the categories of teachers, while the potential use (and no quotas) of modern distance education methods contributes to the desired internationalization of the PMS (with the participation of distinguished professors from foreign universities, but also the attraction of students from abroad). Also, the institutionalization of industrial doctorates strengthens the connection of education and research with entrepreneurs, with mutual benefits.

Operation of a Special Account for Research Funds

The regulations concerning ELKE are considered to be improving, as they reduce restrictions that existed mainly in public procurement and management procedures. These arrangements would be reformist if they dealt definitively with bureaucratic issues arising from the fact that the ELKE is still a General Government Body. Significant improvements would be the removal of certain limitations or ambiguities, such as the division of responsibilities of the management bodies, the clarification of the role of the executive director, the increase of the term of the staff contracts, and the setting of a realistic budget target. result of ELKE.

Other settings

The regulations for the Companies for the Utilization and Management of the Property of the HEIs are generally considered to be better, as well as for those concerning the organization and operation of the laboratories, the university Institutes and the Research and Innovation Centers.

Arrangements to enhance transparency and meritocracy in the process of electing and evolving faculty members are moving in the right direction.

University Management System

The Senate expresses its disagreement with the proposed system of government. Regarding the Board of Directors, problems are identified at the level of its composition, as well as at that of its responsibilities, ultimately raising questions as to its effectiveness.

Regarding its composition, the Senate points out that the representativeness of the electoral process for the election of Rector is not guaranteed and, in addition, there is a risk of electing external members of the Board of Directors with criteria that may be incompatible with the spirit of the bill.

In terms of its responsibilities, the Senate considers that the Board of Directors should have a strategic role, as dictated by similar internationally accepted good practices, and expresses serious reservations about its proposed involvement in issues related to the day-to-day administration of HEIs.

Based on the above, the Senate expresses its strong reservations regarding the efficiency of the operation of the proposed administration system.

Regarding the electoral processes, the representativeness must be ensured and the will of the electorate must be reflected, through the direct election of a Rector (and the Rector’s Office). It should be noted that the bill under consultation degrades the important institutional role of the Senate and the Vice-Rectors, while the Deans are appointed by the Board of Directors, instead of being elected by the Schools.

In summary, the Senate of the AOP considers that the bill introduces many positive provisions that are in danger of being annulled in practice due to the inefficient system of administration that it seeks to institutionalize.