Core Academic Units
Description of the CAU scheme
This scheme presents the structure of a Vilnius University core academic unit (faculty, institute, centre, academy, school) (hereinafter - VU CAU), which carries out the University's main activities of all types. The VU CAU operates in accordance with the VU Statute, model regulations for VU CAU approved by the Senate, and other University governance documents. You can find each VU CAU's activity documents on its webpage. These documents are also included in decisions made by the VU Senate.
Using this scheme, you will learn what bodies exist within a VU CAU and how they interact with each other. You can read more about each of them by following the links.
Why is it important to understand the structure of a VU CAU? Because we ourselves participate in VU CAU structures as student representatives or elect student representatives to these bodies during the reporting-electoral conferences of VU SA P. The scheme also helps to understand which body to approach when trying to resolve an issue arising in a VU CAU, for example, a dispute over a final course assessment or a wanting to improve your study programme.
Scheme prepared on the basis of: Model Regulations of the Core Academic Unit
Vilnius University core academic units
Vilnius University core academic units (hereinafter - VU CAUs) - faculties, institutes, centres, academies, schools - are internal organisational units of the University where all main University activities are carried out. The goals of CAUs are to train highly qualified specialists and researchers, develop high-level international research, ensure the unity of research and studies, ensure the quality of research and studies, and foster active and responsible citizens and social leaders.
VU CAU Council
The VU CAU Council is a collegial governing body of the CAU, elected for a four-year term. The CAU Council elects the CAU Head and approves their deputies, the CAU activity plan, budget, research directions, the composition of Study Programme Committees (SPC) and CAU commissions (excluding student representatives), discusses new study programmes and changes to existing ones, and evaluates research and study performance. The CAU Council consists of the CAU Head, academic staff, members of the academic and non-academic community, social partners, and students.
Chairperson of VU CAU Council
Chairperson of VU CAU Council -- organises the smooth functioning of the CAU Council.
Head of VU CAU
VU CAU head is elected by the CAU Council for a five-year term and is responsible for leading the CAU, implementing the CAU activity plan and ensuring its compliance with the University Statute, and ensuring the overall effectiveness and development quality of study programmes and research within the CAU's main area of activity.
Deputy Heads of VU CAU
The CAU Head has deputies: one is responsible for study organisation, and the others for research, and for the use and development of CAU infrastructure.
VU Subordinate academic unit
VU subordinate academic unit (hereinafter -- SAU) is a structural sub-unit of the CAU whose primary activities are research and studies.
Head of VU SAP
The Head of the SAP is responsible for leading the unit, preparing and implementing the SAP activity plan in line with the CAU activity plan, and for the quality and outcomes of research conducted in the SAP and their connection with study fields.
VU CAU Dean's office / directorate (if the CAU is not a faculty)
A permanent advisory body assisting the CAU Head on organisational matters. It consists of the CAU Deputy Heads, Heads of SAP units, and the Chairperson of VU SAP.
Study college
Advises the CAU Deputy Head responsible for study organisation on study implementation and quality improvement. The Study College consists of the chairpersons of SPCs operating in the CAU and a student representative delegated by VU SA.
Study program committees
Study Program Committees (hereinafter -- SPC) are bodies responsible for the management of study programs, ensuring their quality and the achievement of intended learning outcomes.
Main SPC functions:
Monitor and improve the coherence of the program's objectives, competencies to be developed, content, methods, and assessment of student achievements, as well as the program's relevance and competitiveness;
Analyse the implementation of the study program, identify problems, propose solutions, and update the program;
Prepare reports on the implementation of the study program and present them to the CAU Council at least once per academic year;
Approve decisions on credit accumulation and transfer, as well as individual study plans;
A pprove competencies acquired through non-formal or self-directed learning.
SPCs consist of instructors who implement the study program, social partners, and at least one student representative (in the case of a joint program committee -- at least 2).
You may contact the student representative of your SPC if you have suggestions on how to improve the quality of the study program or if you have questions related to its implementation or to forming an individual study plan.
Doctoral school
A Doctoral School is an internal organisational unit of one or several CAUs responsible for organising doctoral studies and doctoral research in several related research fields at the University, ensuring the quality of doctoral studies and providing suitable conditions for doctoral candidates to conduct research and experimental development.
VU CAU Dispute settlement committee
The Committee examines applications related to disputes involving research and study activities between students taking courses (modules) offered by the CAU and other members of the community working within the CAU. The CAU Dispute Settlement Committee reviews appeals concerning the assessment of study achievements, mid-term assessments, examinations, the final examination or thesis defence procedure, as well as other violations that may influence the final course grade.
VU CAU dispute settlement committee is composed of 3 CAU instructors and 3 student representatives.
VU CAU academic ethics committee
The Committee reviews submissions regarding actions of academic community members working or studying in the CAU that may potentially violate academic ethics.
The CAU Academic Ethics Committee consists of 4 CAU instructors and 2 student representatives.
VU CAU recruitment-evaluation committee
This Committee organises competitions for academic and research positions and conducts performance evaluations. It decides on the hiring and contract renewal of academic staff. When an academic staff member's employment contract with the University approaches its end, the Committee evaluates their teaching performance and research activity and decides whether the contract will be extended.
VU CAU election committee
Responsible for organising elections within the VU CAU. All information received during the meetings of the CAU Election Committee is confidential and therefore not publicly disclosed.
Temporary working groups and named scholarships committees
These bodies are established by decision of the VU CAU Head or the VU CAU Council to address a specific issue. Such working groups are temporary and operate only until the assigned task is completed.