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LITHUANIA |
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LITHUANIA |
INSTITUTIONAL SETTING
PA degree programmes are currently taught in four institutions of higher education in Lithuania. In chronological order, according to the implementation of the degree programmes, these institutions of higher education are:
Kaunas University of Technology (Kauno technologijos universitetas, KTU), 1994;
Vilnius University (Vilniaus universitetas, VU), 1998;
Vytautas Magnus University (Vytauto Didziojo universitetas, VDU), 1998;
Law Academy of Lithuania (Lietuvos teises akademija, LTA), 1999.
The divisions of universities that have implemented PA programmes and the departments directly responsible for their operation are summarised in Table 1. Faculty of the departments responsible for the implementation and operation of PA programmes primarily lecture in their discipline. Other courses (e.g., general sciences and the humanities) are generally taught by representatives of the respective departments (faculties, chairs, etc.).
Table 1: Universities and Divisions Offering Public Administration Programs
Institution of higher education
Division
Unit responsible
for PA programmes
Kaunas University of Technology
Faculty
of Social Sciences
Department
of Public Administration
Vilnius University
Institute
of International Relations and Political Science
Institute
of International Relations and Political Science
Vytautas Magnus University
Institute
of International Law
and Political Science
Department
of Public Administration
Law Academy of Lithuania
Faculty
of State Governance
Department
of Management Theory
The major academic programmes of the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) are in engineering-related fields. However, after the restoration of Lithuania's independence, KTU rapidly began developing academic programmes in the social sciences, including management and administration. These programmes were housed in the Faculty of Administration and in the Faculty of Management. In September 1999, the Faculty of Administration was reorganised and became the Faculty of Social Sciences. The Institute of Politics and Public Administration had been established previously, and the Department of Public Administration was incorporated into this institute. The Department of Public Administration is responsible not only for the PA programs but also for the master's programme in sociology. The department also provides legal courses for students of the Faculty of Social Sciences and other faculties.
In 1998, the Department of European Integration was founded by the Faculty of Administration, and a master's programme in European Integration related to the public administration programme was introduced. The department designed several courses focused on European integration and Lithuania's preparation to join the EU.
Vilnius University is the oldest university in Lithuania and has a classic academic structure. The Institute of International Relations and Political Science, established a decade ago, offers the following programmes: a bachelor's programme in political science and master's programmes in European studies, comparative policy, international relations and public administration, among others. The resources of other faculties such as economics and law are utilised in the implementation of these programmes.
The newly re-established Vytautas Magnus University (1989) is oriented to the social sciences and humanities. The Institute of International Law and Political Science offers bachelor’s programmes in political science and public administration, and master's programmes in political science, law and journalism, among others.
The Law Academy of Lithuania is one of the youngest academic institutions in Lithuania. Established in 1990 as the Lithuanian Police Academy, it was reorganised as the Law Academy of Lithuania in 1997. The Faculty of State Governance and the Faculty of Law are preparing academic PA programmes and related special courses. The core of the new bachelor’s and master’s PA programmes at the academy are courses taught in law and management programs. The Department of Political Science, established in 1999, will be involved in the public administration programmes as well.
Public administration programmes are evaluated by the Study Quality Evaluation Centre, established by the Lithuanian Ministry of Education and Science. The regulations foresee two stages of evaluation, which are institutional self-analysis and an external evaluation. The positive conclusion of the evaluation in essence means the program has been accredited. To date, the PA programs of the Kaunas University of Technology and Vilnius University have successfully completed these two stages.
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