Organizational structure of higher education institutions

The Law of Ukraine On Higher Education outlines the structure of higher education institutions in Ukraine.

The essential component of the governance structure of a higher education institution of the third or fourth accreditation level is the Academic Council (Academic Senate). The Academic Council is the collective governing body. The Academic Council is headed by the Rector of the institution and consists of the heads of the institutional subdivisions, outstanding members of its teaching and research staff, and representatives of the student community.

The Council, set up for a five-year term (seven years for ‘national’ institutions) can submit draft amendments to the institutional rules and regulations, financial plans, and reports forwarded to the governing body (the Ministry); proposals on recruitment or dismissal of senior management members; elect department chairs and professors; approve of new educational and research programs; award institutional academic titles and submit applications for state-awarded academic titles for the benefit of the research and teaching staff.

The Academic Council of a higher education institution elects the rector who is responsible for the overall organization of the institution. The rector should implement the decisions of the Academic Council and is accountable for the development of educational and research activities, financial management, and maintenance.

Prorectors (vice-rectors) assist the rector with particular areas of work (e.g., academic process, research, or international contacts).

A higher education institution consists of faculties headed by deans. Faculties are the principal structural units of a higher education institution at the third and fourth levels of accreditation. A faculty includes at least three teaching departments and enrolls no fewer than two hundred full-time students. Faculties may also have their Academic Councils operating similarly to the Academic Council of the higher education institution.

Faculty members are organized in teaching departments (kafedry) according to their area of knowledge. Teaching departments are responsible for teaching and research within a single academic field or several fields. They may also be responsible for overall training in one or several related specialities.

Faculty positions include assistant, senior lecturer, associate professor (which usually requires a PhD (Candidate of Sciences) degree), and professor (usually requiring the Doctor of Sciences degree).

A higher education institution may also include research centers, innovation centers, and laboratories. Besides it may have branch subdivisions. A branch subdivision of an educational institution is a separate structural unit organized outside of the main campus, aimed at meeting local demands of the labor and educational markets.

The Law of Ukraine On Higher Education, stipulates that each higher education institution must have a library available for its students.

Дата добавления: 2014-01-04