The aim of this reform is to upgrade the quality of the educational, research and in general scientific work of A.E.I.
The next one ThursdayJuly 7, the bill “New Horizons in Higher Education Institutions: Strengthening the quality, functionality and connection of HEIs with society and other provisions”.
According to the explanatory report, with the first part, “the legislative framework for the operation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is reformed and improved as a whole, through an integrated approach that includes the gathering, codification and radical reformation of the existing provisions. The aim of this reform is to upgrade the quality of the educational, research and in general scientific work of AEIs, as well as their individual academic and research units and structures, the strengthening of their human resources, their interconnection with the development needs of the country and the provision of additional tools for the implementation of their strategic plan, the National Strategy in Higher Education and the National Strategy for Research, Technological Development and Innovation”.
It also states that “arrangements are being introduced for the new governance model of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)” and that “the new management model and the distribution of responsibilities per administrative body aims to strengthen efficiency and functionality, limit over-centralization, strengthen transparency and accountability, effectively promote the autonomy of Universities and the extrovert their character, which, among other things, contribute to the development of the country and offer multiple benefits to society”.
Of particular importance, it is also emphasized, are the provisions of the Chapter for the “individual Academic and Research Structures of the Academic Units”, the aim of which is to modernize the organization and operation of the University Clinics, University Museums and especially the University Laboratories, as it introduces a full and flexible institutional framework regarding their establishment, organization, operation and staffing process. Possibilities are provided for the development of academic and research structures that will not only contribute to the education and research produced within the HEIs, but will essentially contribute to society through their operation. The proposed regulations cover the legal gap that existed for the issue of the provision of services by University Laboratories, as the current framework of the p.d. 159/1984 (A’ 53) was outdated, did not meet the needs of every University and had created a brake on the development and operation of these units.
In relation to the arrangements for the organization and operation of study programs, the explanatory report states that the aim is to modernize the institutional framework for the organization and operation of first, second and third cycle study programs. With these arrangements, their quality is enhanced, as their prior certification by the National Authority for Higher Education (ETH.A.A.E.) is required before they start operating, as well as their periodic certification in the context of the academic unit that are included every five (5) years. Also of particular importance, as mentioned, are the arrangements for strengthening the interdisciplinary nature of study programs, through the establishment of joint and double study programs within the framework of cooperation between Departments of the same or another HEI, the introduction of the institution of internal mobility of students to study programs of another A.E.I. for a period of one semester, the possibility of attending courses from other study programs of A.E.I., the possibility of preparing a one-year minor program, the introduction of new educational activities with greater interaction between professors and students, the institutionalization and upgrading of the institution of practical training and the utilization of new technologies in teaching in the organization of study programs, making use of the experience created during the coronavirus period.
At the same time, in the explanatory report it is pointed out that regulations are introduced which aim to:
– in the creation of a new framework for the election and development of members of Teaching and Research Staff (D.E.P.) that ensures the principles of meritocracy, objectivity and transparency in the method of election and development, promotes excellence and fundamentally tackles the phenomena that they arose during the election process, such as the definition of particularly narrow academic subjects and the flawed composition of the electoral bodies. In addition, exclusive deadlines are foreseen in order to speed up the process of completing the selection and development procedures and that the average time does not exceed one year, as it is observed that the average time can reach 2-3 years. Finally, the institution of legality control is strengthened both internally by the AEI and externally by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, as the legality control is now carried out by a collective body, the Administrative Council, while in the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs a special advisory body that assists the Minister in checking legality.
– in the upgrading of the human resources of A.E.I. and attracting young scientists from abroad, contributing to “brain gain”. The introduction of new categories of teaching and research staff, financed mainly from the AEI’s own resources, such as Joint Chairs, Visiting Professors, Visiting Researchers and Contract Researchers, can significantly contribute to the reformation of study programs and in the strengthening of research activities, but also in the development of collaborations with foreign bodies, strengthening the extroversion of A.E.I.
-The aim of the establishment, organization and operation of the University Center for Research and Innovation and the Research Institutes per A.E.I., but also the University Research Institutes (URIs) as distinct legal entities, is to provide the necessary of tools at A.E.I. and the members of the academic community for the strengthening and methodical and effective promotion of basic and applied research and in general the scientific work produced within the HEIs, the creation of new research groups and the development of interdisciplinary disciplines, with the aim of development of the country and the production of innovative products and services within the framework of the National Strategic Research, Technological Development and Innovation.
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