Galery

1

The new bill of the Ministry of Education introduces two main changes in higher education: three years at a university and at least one foreign language are required for obtaining a diploma. Free textbooks provided at the expense of the state budget will be cancelled still in the 2014-2015 academic year. Students will get the training materials from the Internet where they will find the detailed notes of their teachers. Official departments will be established along with this which will deal with the provision of additional funding. The bill also provides training in foreign languages, changes in the choice of university councils and in the assessment of teachers.
 
The new law brings changes to the so-called "eternal" students, it does not refer to university immunity and entrusts the "process of ensuring academic freedom" to the academic community. It even provides mergers and closures of departments and faculties, electing the rector through international competition, and major changes in funding, which will be largely based on active students.

Under the new framework law, there will be two categories of students in universities. The first category will include all those regular students who have not overrun the planned graduation term plus two years. The second category will include those who have preferred the so-called "partial" training, which provides double the planned duration. It is intended primarily for students who are working in parallel with their studies. If a student does not enroll for two consecutive semesters he or she will be automatically removed from the faculty. Those students who can submit documents proving that they are working more than 20 hours per week will be eligible to enroll for "partial" training.

The law does not mention the term "university asylum". Instead, the universities are provided with the academic freedom in holding researches and lectures as well as free dissemination of ideas in the rector’s responsibility. Each university is free to decide how to protect the academic freedom.

The basic academic unit in universities is the faculty and the former sub-faculties will be closed. The faculty will be responsible for the curriculum, for assigning it to groups of teachers and will issue the diplomas, according to the rules of the university.

The draft framework law on education and the bill of the Ministry of Economy stipulate for the removal and closure of university departments. The legal text states that "the establishment, closure, merger or separation of faculties and universities, in accordance with the above procedure, should be in compliance with the needs and capabilities of the national economy and the regional urban planning. The transfer of a university or a department to another building outside their headquarters as well as in Athens is prohibited." Also, "The universities that will be formed through mergers following the provisions of this article are subject to its activities from the outset and without any formalities of all obligations and rights of the universities. In case of separation or closure of a faculty, the issues of this paragraph shall be regulated by a presidential decree."

The university council will consist of 15 members for big and 9 members for small universities. Seven of them will be internal members; seven will be persons who are not connected with the university in any way, and there will be one representative of the students. The chairman, his deputy and all other persons outside the university will be elected by the university members by an open vote and increased majority of four fifths. Following an international competition, the rector will be elected by an open vote and increased majority of four fifths of the members of the council. The mandate of the rector could be extended once by a decision of the council as described. It is not allowed one person to be rector for three consecutive terms. The same procedure applies to the faculties’ deans.

Each university will have a unit to ensure the quality of education that will be responsible for the teachers’ assessment. The same scheme was provided in the previous law but it was introduced in few universities. The deputies of university teachers with experience over eight years and senior teachers will be assessed every five years. The relevant committee will consider their research, education, teaching and research activities. The specific categories of teachers in universities and colleges will be assessed by committees, which will consist of five senior teachers from other universities or colleges in the country or abroad.

In the case of a particularly negative assessment of permanent employed teachers it is possible a Dean’s decision to not allow them to participate in committees for selection or development of teachers, to teach in graduate programs and to control and verify doctoral dissertations. In such cases, the assessment is repeated after three years at the latest unless the teacher himself does not wish to be assessed earlier.

The law provides for the signing of "contracts" with foreign teachers who can teach in Greek universities. There will be no lecturers and the appointment of permanent teachers will be at the level of deputy teachers. The assistants will be elected for four years and will be able to renew their mandate after an assessment.

The process of education will be held in three cycles. The first one could be within three years if the universities choose it, 5 years with the master’s degree and 8 years with the doctor’s degree. Committees, which will consist of seven tachers or deputies, will be responsible for the selection and development of the teachers of all grades. At least three committee members should be teachers in other Greek or foreign university or in other educational institution in the same category.