Major institutional changes in the operation of universitieswhich concern the Chancellor’s elections, the abolition-establishment of departments, the EAP, Visiting Professors, the digitization of HEIs, the amendment of budgets and a brave additional funding of tens of millions of euros announced the Minister of Education K. Pierrakakis at meeting of the Synod of Rectors, which was held in Kavouri. The Synod, in the presence of Minister K. Pierrakakis, took place in a very good atmosphere. There had been continuous discussions between the minister and the chancellors on the issues of HEIs with the object of the absolutely necessary major changes in the operation of HEIs in order to improve their level and adapt to that of HEIs in developed countries.

In particular, the Minister of Education announced the following institutional changes:

Management Boards: The second round of elections is abolished (s.s. re-announcement from the “zero” of the elections) when they are declared barren, because the election of the external members is impossible and a new provision is added which stipulates that the vote of the first elected internal member counts as double for the highlighting the external members.

Removal -Establishment of new departments: The Minister of Education announced the abolition of bureaucratic procedures for the establishment and abolition of departmentsas it is today.

The new provisions that will bring to Parliament shall stipulate that:

When the University wants to establish from “scratch” a department or abolish one that is already operating, it will follow the following procedure:

· Submits the file to the National Higher Education Authority requesting an Opinion

· As long as the ETHAAE Opinion is positive the University proceeds with the implementation of the decision, abolition or establishment of a departmentwithout consulting or involving the Ministry of Education.

However the Minister of Education reserves the right to ask ETHAAE about the restructuring of the academic map.

Budgets: K. Pierrakakis also announced the repeal of the provision which stipulates that in order for a University to modify its budget, a ministerial decision is needed.

So now the competent bodies of the Universities will modify the budget without waiting (weeks and months many times) the relevant minister to sign the relevant decision.

The salary cap is removed: With a new provision, the fee ceiling in the national co-financed Programs will be abolished

Draft Law for the Hellenic Open University: The minister pledged that immediately, within the next quarter the passage of the Draft Law on the autonomy of the Hellenic Open University will be completed

All Universities digital: K. Pierrakakis stated that in the next period all the procedures at the Universities will be done digitally

Associate Professors: The minister pledged to expand the institution of associate professors, with funds through ELKE. On the subject, K. Pierrakakis requested a recommendation from the Synod of Chancellors.

Financing

The Minister of Education announced an increase in the regular funding of HEIs by 11 million euros.

Also, as he said, Universities will be funded

· with 130 million euros from the Recovery Fund, mainly for research equipment

· with 60 million euros for the internationalization of Postgraduate and Undergraduate Programs.

· with 90 million euros for partnerships of excellence

· with extraordinary grant of 16.1 million euros.

After the end of the Synod Mr. Pierrakakis referred to the proceedings of the meeting in his post and pointed out the following:

“The 104th Rectors’ Summit was an excellent opportunity to exchange views with the rectors’ bodies of our universities. After all, our dialogue is ongoing, something that will also be reflected in the “Free University” lawadopting most of the proposals of the HEIs.

At the center of our discussion were the institutional changes and simplifications of procedures launched by the Ministry of Education, Religion and Sports to strengthen the extroversion and flexibility of universities, but also proposals regarding problems facing higher education.

With the increase of the state budget for higher education, the provision of additional resources for the internationalization of institutions, and with new financial tools that we establish, we ensure the financial support of the operation and development of HEIs.

With the new law, we are introducing reforms to simplify and digitize administrative procedures in Universities. Our goal is to immediately achieve the bureaucratization and the release of the institutions from shackles and unnecessary administrative burdens.

We are further strengthening the self-government of the universities according to all European standardsthus effectively upgrading the role of the institutions themselves and of ETHAAE in the establishment and abolition of departments.

We remain committed to working closely with the rectory authoritieswith the aim of drawing up a modern and effective strategy. The public University is a priority and we are committed that it will continue to play a leading role in upgrading higher education.”

The financial tools for public universities 2023/2024

The financial tools of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports for public HEIs that contain both emergency funding for 2023 amounting to 16,100,000 euros and the allocation of state budget funds for 2024 were presented by the ministry in today’s post.

THE allocation of funds as follows:

Emergency funding for 2023

16,100,000 euros, increased compared to the corresponding fund of 2022, which (excluding the energy component) amounted to 7.5 million euros. It is noted that the emergency funding for 2023 corresponds to almost the entire cash reserve of the Ministry of Finance.

Regular budget for 2024

An increase of 11 million euros compared to last year, from 116 million in 2023 to 127 million euros for 2024. In addition, one million euros is planned for the School of Fine Arts.

Work “Universities of Excellence”

Project funded by the Recovery Fund and will be announced next week. The 132 million euros of the project will be distributed to all the universities according to criteria that will be formulated in cooperation with ETHAAE. It is essentially a “second budget”, which will be able to be directed mainly to research equipment, but also to the widest possible range of actions and projects.

Furthermore funding for internationalisation

An additional 60 million euros will be provided from the Recovery Fund to further strengthen internationalisation. This fund will also be accompanied by additional institutional capabilities, so that universities will be able to agree with foreign institutions on a plan for a full validation agreement, which is currently not legally possible. In fact, there will be the possibility of front-load disbursement of the relevant funds, for their immediate payment. If, however, additional financial needs arise, they will be covered by other resources of the Ministry.

Trust in the Stars Program

The pre-publication of the project, amounting to 93 million euros from the Recovery Fund for young researchers and research partnerships from different HEIs, has been issued.

“Research Excellence Partnerships” Program

90,700,000 euros will be directed from the Recovery Fund for 70 collaborative actions.

“Research – Innovate”

For research and innovation purposes, 182 million euros will be directed by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation + an additional 60 million euros from ELIDEK (still under negotiation).

New research program

Collaboration with the General Secretariat of Research and Innovation for an additional research program funded by the NSRF for a total of 300 million euros.