STATUTES OF ESTONIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES

VERSION ADOPTED by
Regulation no. 27
of Council dated 27.10.2005
VERSION REGISTERED by
Directive no. 7 of the
Minister of Education and Research dated 02.01.2006
(effective as of 02.01.2006)
AMENDED by
Regulation no. 15
of Council dated 21.12.2006
AMENDMENT REGISTERED by
Directive no. 41 of the
Minister of Education and Research dated 24.01.2007
(effective as of 24.01.2007)
VERSION ADOPTED by
Regulation no. 11
of Council dated 27.11.2008
AMENDED by
Regulation no. 12
of Council dated 29.10.2009
 

This version has been adopted pursuant to Universities Act section 14 paragraph 3 clause 1.

1. General Provisions
2. Structure of University
3. Management
4. Management of Studies
5. Membership
6. Assets and Financing
7. Supervision, Reporting and Control
8. Implementation of Statutes


I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. These statutes (hereinafter the Statutes) shall specify the areas of activity of the Estonian University of Life Sciences (hereinafter the University), its tasks and structure, the basis for the management and the academic, research and development activities of the University, the main rights and responsibilities of its members, the procedure for possession and disposal of property, and the basis of financing, reporting and control.
2. The full name of the University in the Estonian language shall be Eesti Maaülikool and in the English language, Estonian University of Life Sciences.
3. The location of the University shall be the city of Tartu. The structural units of the University may be located outside Tartu.
4. The University shall be a legal person in public law, acting pursuant to the Universities Act, the Research and Development Organisation Act, these Statutes and other legal acts. The University shall be an educational, creative and research and development institution, which provides studies pursuant to the Standard of Higher Education on the three levels of higher education.
5. The University may independently:
5.1. make decisions on the contents of academic, research and development activities, organisation of studies and curricula pursuant to the law, establish the conditions and the procedure of student admissions, the conditions and procedure of studies and the conditions and procedure of graduation;
5.2. determine its structure and the procedure for its formation and amendment;
5.3. establish the qualification requirements for the academic staff members and their conformity evaluation requirements and procedure; establish the conditions and procedure for evaluation of teaching staff members, research staff members and doctoral students;
5.4. establish legal persons in private law to support its main activities;
5.5. make decisions in other matters falling within its competence.
6. The task of the University shall be to promote research activities and culture, to provide academic, research and other creative activities based services required by the society, and to shape its students into responsible and initiative citizens.
7. When accomplishing its mission, the University collaborates with other universities and the society, providing support with its effective research, development or other creative activities for the development of the society and the preservation of national culture, and creating and developing opportunities based on integrated academic and research activities for international cooperation, for acquisition of research-based higher education, and for lifelong learning.
In order to achieve its objective, the University shall:
7.1. conduct research and development in compliance with present-day requirements in all the areas of rural life and rural economy and in areas related with the economical use of natural resources; and organise innovative activities;
7.2. organise research-based academic education and in the educational institutions included in the structure of the University, professional higher education and continuing education, and issue certificates and documents certifying the respective education;
7.3. initiate and organise research and development programmes and projects and participate in them;
7.4. create and develop international relationships, cooperate and make contracts with other research and educational institutions and persons in Estonia and abroad;
7.5. provide consultations, conduct expert analyses and provide services in its field of activity;
7.6. develop the library of the University;
7.7. create conditions for its members for active and efficient work and guarantee them freedom of creation;
7.8. promote commercial and non-profit making activities to achieve its aims.
8. The University shall have its bank accounts, seal and insignia.
9. The Statutes of the University shall be approved and amended by the Council of the University by a two-thirds majority.

II. STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY

10. The structural units of the University shall divide into units of academic structure and support structure. Academic units shall organise research and development activities and academic activities; the units of support structure shall manage, guide and assist the academic, research and development activities and organise the financial and administrative service. The institutions of the University may belong to the units of academic and support structure.

II. 1. ACADEMIC STRUCTURE

11. The academic structure shall be composed of research and development institutes or institutions, centres and other structural units. Decisions on the establishment of an academic unit shall be made by the Council of the University.

II. 1.1. Institute

12. An Institute shall be a structural unit, which acts as a research and development institution or an institution of a legal person in public law. The Institute shall determine its structure and organisation of work proceeding from these Statutes and the general rules of academic, research and development activities.
12.1. The areas of activity, tasks and structure of an Institute, the basis of its management, research and development activities, the procedure of possession and disposal of property, the bases of financing and reporting and control shall be provided by the statutes of the Institute, which are adopted by the council of the Institute and approved by the Council of the University.
12.2. The objective of an Institute shall be to promote research and academic traditions, and to provide academic, research and development services required by the society.
13. The tasks of an Institute shall be:
13.1. to conduct academic, research and development activities in compliance with present-day requirements, and to develop innovative activities;
13.2. to organise internationally competitive research and development activities in its fields of research;
13.3. to guarantee the complex development of its research areas and specialities in the Institute, the University and in Estonia;
13.4. to organise academic activities pursuant to the curricula of the University;
13.5. to guarantee that the tasks related with academic activities are fulfilled pursuant to the procedure established in the University;
13.6. to initiate, organise and perform contracted research and development work;
13.7. to develop co-operation within its competence with other structural units, other research and development institutions and organisations in Estonia and abroad;
13.8. to provide consultations and conduct expert analyses and provide services in its field of activity pursuant to the procedure established in the University.
14. The highest decision-making body in the Institute shall be its council;
14.1 the procedure for the election of the council, its composition and competence shall be provided in the statutes of the Institute.
15. The activities of the Institute shall be directed by a director.
15.1. [Repealed – Council Regulation No. 12 of 29.10.2009 – effective as of 31.10.2009];
15.2. [Repealed – Council Regulation No. 12 of 29.10.2009 – effective as of 31.10.2009];
15.3. [Repealed – Council Regulation No. 12 of 29.10.2009 – effective as of 31.10.2009].
16. The Institute may include units of the academic and support structure required for the fulfilment of separate tasks. The activities of the units shall conform to the requirements provided in these Statutes.

II. 1.2. Research and Development Institution

17. The basis for the activities of a Research and Development Institution shall be specified in section 23 of these Statutes.

II. 1.3. Centre

18. A Centre is an academic unit teaching general subjects and/or performing research work, performing its tasks stipulated in the Statutes in the whole University. The Centre is an independent structural unit in the area of responsibility of the Vice Rector.
18.1. The activities of the Centre are directed by the Head of Centre, who is elected by the Council of the University and with whom a fixed-term employment contract is concluded by the Vice Rector for a period of up to five years.
18.2. The bylaws of the centre shall be approved by the Council of the University.

II. 1.4. College

19. A College is an educational institution included in the University. Its tasks and bases of activity are specified in its statutes. The activities of a College are directed by a director who is elected by the Council of the University pursuant to the procedure provided in the statutes of the College.

II. 1.5. Interdisciplinary Unit

20. Under the proposal of the council(s) of one or several academic units, the Council of the University shall be entitled to establish interdisciplinary units with no regular staff. An Interdisciplinary Unit shall embrace the research and development activities and/or academic activities of several structural units.
20.1. The objective of an Interdisciplinary Unit shall be to initiate and foster interdisciplinary research and development and/or academic activities and to find additional means of financing for that purpose.
20.2. The activities of an Interdisciplinary Unit are directed by the head of unit. The responsibilities of the head of unit shall be performed by an employee of an academic unit involved in the activities of the interdisciplinary unit, who is appointed by the Rector.
20.3. The basis and procedure of the activities of an Interdisciplinary Unit shall be stipulated in the bylaws approved by the Council of the University.

II. 2. SUPPORT STRUCTURE

21. The support structure shall include the administrative and financial units, the library, the units that manage the academic, research and development activities and other units whose function it is to provide services across the University, who act within their competence to pursue and perform the tasks specified in their bylaws/statutes or the directive of the Rector. The heads of the units of the support structure shall report to the Rector or a person appointed by the Rector.

II. 3. INSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY

22. An Institution is a structural unit, which performs independent tasks. The Institution shall act according to its statutes approved by the Council of the University and have its own accounting. An Institution may be a unit of both the academic and the support structure.
22.1. The operations of an Institution are directed by a director. The director is elected by way of public competition for a period of up to five years according to the conditions and procedure established by the Council of the University. The Rector of the University shall conclude an employment contract with the director of an Institution.
22.2. The director of an Institution shall report of its activities in the scope and according to the procedure specified in the statutes of the Institution.

II. 3.1. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTION

23. A Research and Development Institution is a unit of the academic structure of the University, which is registered in the register of research and development institutions by the Ministry of Education and Research. The main activity of the institution according to its statutes shall be research and development and the institution can partake in teaching and the organisation of academic activities according to the procedure established by the Council of the University. Research and Development Institutions shall act pursuant to the Research and Development Organisation Act, to these Statutes, its statutes and other legal acts.
Research and Development Institution is led by a director, who is elected by the Research Council of the Research and Development Institution by way of public competition. The director shall be appointed by the Rector of the University, who shall conclude a fixed-term employment contract with him/her for a period of up to five years.

III. MANAGEMENT

24. The University shall be directed by a Rector; and the collegiate decision-making body shall be the Council of the University.

III. 1. COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY

25. The highest decision-making body of the University shall be the Council of the University. The Council shall be composed of the Rector, Vice Rectors, Academic Secretary, persons appointed by the Rector, elected representatives of structural units, and the representatives of students elected by the Student Council. The authorised representative of the board of governors and persons invited by the Rector shall participate in the Council of the University meetings with the right to speak.
25.1. The Council shall be chaired by the Rector or during his/her absence by one of Vice Rectors, pursuant to the procedure of substitution of the Rector.
25.2. The secretary of the Council shall be the Academic Secretary of the University. The procedure for the substitution of the secretary shall be provided by the Rector.
26. The competence of the Council:
26.1. The exclusive competence of the Council shall be:
26.1.1. to approve the Statutes of the University and amendments thereto;
26.1.2. to approve the academic structure of the University;
26.1.3. to approve the bylaws/statutes of the units included in the structure of the University and the statutes of the student body;
26.1.4. to adopt the development plans of the University and approve the development plans of the academic units and the institutions of the University harmonised therewith, and submit the named to the Minister of Education and Research for information;
26.1.5. to approve the curricula of the University;
26.1.6. to adopt a joint curriculum and approve signing of a cooperation agreement for a joint curriculum;
26.1.7. to establish the rules of the organisation of studies;
26.1.8. to establish the conditions and procedure for student admissions, including the minimum requirements for the level of skills in the language of instructions to evaluate the sufficiency of language skills of a foreign citizen, pursuant to the Aliens Act § 12 (2) ((3));
26.1.9. to establish the conditions and procedure of exclusion of students from the University;
26.1.10. to make proposals to the Minister of Education and Research about state-commissioned education;
26.1.11. to approve the areas, form and procedure of continuing education;
26.1.12. to establish the conditions and procedure for the defence of academic degrees;
26.1.13. to establish the general rules of the management and the academic and research activities of the University;
26.1.14. to make decisions on the general issues pertaining to the academic and research activities of at least two structural units;
26.1.15. to establish the conditions and procedure of evaluation of the teaching staff members, the research staff members and doctoral students;
26.1.16. to establish the qualification requirements for teaching staff members and the conditions and procedure of evaluation the conformity, and the conditions and procedure of evaluation and taking into account the prior studies and professional work experience of students;
26.1.17. to establish the rules of competition for the employment of regular teaching staff members and research staff members;
26.1.18. to elect Full Professors;
26.1.19. the right to grant the titles of Professor Emeritus and Associate Professor Emeritus;
26.1.20. the right to grant the title of Honorary Doctor to persons who have achieved distinguished results in research and teaching, and who have significantly contributed to the development of the fields related with the activities of the University;
26.1.21. to award honorary decorations to persons who have contributed significantly to the development of the University, the economy and culture of Estonia or higher education, and give other awards;
26.1.22. to make decisions on the establishment, reorganisation and termination of legal persons founded by the University;
26.1.23. to approve the budget and the annual report of the University;
26.1.24. to establish the limit to which the study costs of a person admitted in the University are compensated for;
26.1.25. to determine the value of assets the Rector, Vice Rector and heads of structural units are entitled to control;
26.1.26. to make decisions on the acquisition and transfer of immovable property, encumbering it with limited real rights, and taking loans;
26.1.27. to designate assets that the University is entitled to grant into the use of another person for a specified term;
26.1.28. to express no confidence to the Rector;
26.1.29. to elect an Acting Rector until the new Rector assumes office;
26.1.30. to establish the conditions and procedure for the competition for the employment of the director of an Institution of the University.
26.2. The Council shall:
26.2.1. hear the proposals of the Board of Governors;
26.2.2. make decisions on and take a stand in the issues submitted by the Rector, members of the Council of the University or the councils of institutes;
26.2.3. hear the reports of the Rector, Vice Rectors and, if necessary, the directors of Institutes, heads of institutions and divisions;
26.2.4. make decisions in other matters included in its competence pursuant to the Statutes and legislation or a legal act.
26.3. The Council shall be entitled to include in its exclusive competence other issues related with the objectives and tasks of the University in addition to those specified in section 26.1 herein, which are not the competence of other persons pursuant to the law or the Statutes of the University.
27. Legislation of the Council and enactment.
27.1. The Council shall adopt regulations and decisions within the limits of its competence.
27.1.1. An opinion of the Council, which contains general rules, shall be executed in the form of a regulation signed by the Rector or, in his/her absence, Vice Rector and the secretary of the Council of the University and it shall be communicated to the University members in the document register of the University within the day of signing or the working day following thereof at the latest.
27.1.2. An opinion of the Council on an individual matter shall be executed in the form of a decision signed by the Rector or, in his/her absence, Vice Rector and the secretary of the Council and it shall be communicated to the persons concerned within the day of signing or the working day following thereof at the latest.
27.2. The decisions and regulations of the Council of the University shall take effect at the time of communication to the members of the University or to the persons concerned.
28. In the case of disagreement with the Council’s opinion the Rector has a right for single veto: he shall not sign the regulation or decision, but send the issue for review by the following Council meeting, whose decision shall be final. The Rector shall make his/her decision within 7 days at the latest after the meeting.

III. 1.1. Composition of the Council

29. The number of Council members and the quota of representation of academic units shall be determined by the Rector after inauguration or after changing the academic structure of the University. Each academic unit shall have up to four representatives in the Council of the University. The student representation quota shall be 20 per cent of the number of Council members and each level of higher education shall be represented by at least one student. The Rector shall be entitled to appoint by name up to 10 per cent of the Council members for the period of his/her term of office.
30. The representatives of academic units shall be elected for the period of two years. The representatives shall be elected by secret ballot from among the persons working full-time in elected office. Candidates can be appointed by academic units acting pursuant to their statutes/bylaws.
31. If a Council member leaves the University, or upon the termination of his/her employment contract or the expiration of the term of representation, the council of the academic unit shall elect a new representative, whose authority shall commence after the membership of the Council is approved.
32. The student body shall elect its representatives in the Council of the University by secret ballot for one academic year.
33. The membership of the Council shall be approved by the Rector by the beginning of the new academic year at the latest.

III. 1.2. Basis for Council activities

34. The work format of the Council of the University shall be a meeting, which takes place according to the rules of procedure approved by the Council.
34.1. The Council’s rules of procedure shall stipulate the convening of the Council meeting, approval of the agenda, discussion and voting of issues and discussion of other questions.
34.2. The meetings shall be regular or extraordinary. The person who convenes the Council meeting shall send the agenda of the meeting and the prepared materials at least 6 days before the meeting.
34.2.1. Regular meetings shall take place at least six times in an academic year following the agenda approved by the Council. The regular Council meetings shall be convened and chaired by the Rector or in his/her absence by the substituting Vice Rector.
34.2.2. An extraordinary meeting shall be convened by the Rector or, upon request by at least one fourth of the Council members, by the Academic Secretary.
35. The Council shall have a quorum if more than a half of the Council members vested with the right to vote are present. A decision shall be passed if more than a half of the members attending the meeting are in favour, unless otherwise provided in the law or these Statutes.
36. The Council meetings shall be recorded by the secretary of the Council; the minutes shall be completed within 7 days at the latest after the meeting. The minutes shall be signed by the chairperson of the meeting and the secretary of the Council.
37. The Council shall form standing committees: the Committee of Academic Matters, the Committee of Study Matters, the Research and Development Committee, and the Budget Committee, as well as other committees. Standing committees shall be elected at the first meeting of the academic year and shall be approved for one academic year. Upon the proposal of the chairperson of the committee, the Council may change the composition of the standing committee. The standing committees shall consist of 7 members. The Committee of Academic Matters shall consist of Full Professors only, and the rest of the committees shall include at least one student. The chairpersons of the committees shall be appointed by the Rector from among Vice Rectors.
At least two thirds of the voting members of the committee shall be Council members. Each Council member, excluding Vice Rector, may belong to one committee only. Experts who are not committee members can be involved in the work of a committee.
37.1. The area of responsibility of the Committee of Academic Matters shall include the issues of job requirements for the teaching and research staff, the issues of applying for the position of Full Professor, awarding honorary titles, and those pertaining to academic ethics and practice.
37.2. The area of responsibility of the Committee of Study Matters shall include the issues concerning the admission of students, organisation of studies, curricula, continuing education and other issues pertaining to studies.
37.3. The area of responsibility of Research and Development Committee shall include the issues of strategic development plan, changes in the structure, foreign relations, organisation of research work and other issues related with the general development of the University.
37.4. The area of responsibility of Budget Committee shall include the issues pertaining to budgeting principles, implementation of the budget and other financial matters.
38. The committees shall discuss the most important problems in their area of competence and prepare them for discussion in the Council, express opinions and give opinions on the issues on the agenda of the Council meeting, make proposals to the Rector and the Council of the University. If a problem pertaining to the competence of a standing committee, which has been included in the agenda of a Council meeting, has not been discussed at the committee meeting, the chairperson of the committee shall be entitled to apply for rescheduling the problem to the following Council meeting. The work organisation of standing and other committees formed by the Council of the University shall be provided in the procedure rules of the University.

III. 2. RECTOR

39. The University shall be directed by the Rector, who shall execute the highest administrative and disciplinary authority. The Rector shall be responsible for the general status and development of the University and report to the Council of the University and to the institutions specified in law.
39.1. The insignia of the Rector shall be the Rector’s chain of office.
39.2. In the absence of the Rector, the Rector’s responsibilities shall be performed by Vice Rector, who is assigned the task of substituting for the Rector pursuant to the procedure of substitution of the Rector.
40. The Rector shall:
40.1. represent the University and act on behalf of the University within the limits of the rights granted to him/her in these Statutes without special authorisation;
40.2. represent the University as the employer;
40.3. be the chairperson of the Council and the Board of the University;
40.4. ensure the implementation of the regulations and decisions of the Council of the University;
40.5. determine the number of Council members and appoint up to 10 per cent of the Council members;
40.6. form the Board of the University and determine the basis and procedure for the activities thereof;
40.7. approve the internal procedure rules, the documentary procedure rules and the internal accounting rules of the University;
40.8. determine the number of Vice Rectors and the Heads of Divisions and their sphere of responsibility;
40.9. appoint Vice Rectors and makes employment contracts with them for a period of up to five years;
40.10. appoint the Heads of Divisions;
40.11. determine the procedure for the substitution of the Rector;
40.12. issue orders and directives to organise the internal activities in the University;
40.13. declare invalid the regulations that conflict with law or other legal acts or send such regulation to the issuer thereof to declare it invalid;
40.14. ensure the preparation of the budget and annual report of the University and submit them to the Council of the University for approval;
40.15. resolve other general problems of the University and other issues placed in his/her competence pursuant to these Statutes or legislation or a law act.
41. The elections of a Rector shall be regular and extraordinary. A rector shall be elected for a period of five years by the electoral body of the University by secret ballot. The electoral body shall include all the members of the Council of the University, members of the councils of all academic units, all Full Professors, Docents (Associate Professors), lead research fellows, senior research fellows and student representatives elected by the student body. Student representatives shall form one fifth of the composition of the electoral body of the University, including the members of the Council of the University and the councils of academic units and the student representatives elected by the student body.
42. Individuals eligible for the post of Rector shall be citizens of the Republic of Estonia who are or have been elected full professors.
43. Elections shall be organised by a 5-member electoral committee.
43.1. The Council of the University shall form an electoral committee for regular elections and appoint its chairperson not later than six months before the expiration of office of the current Rector. The chairperson of the electoral committee shall publicly announce the elections of rector in at least three major daily newspapers of Estonia five months before the expiration of office of the current Rector. Regular elections shall take place according to the rules of elections of the rector, approved by the Council of the University not later than six months before the expiration of office of the incumbent Rector.
43.2. To organise extraordinary elections, the Council of the University shall form an electoral committee and appoint its chairperson not later than on the tenth day after the Rector is released from office. The chairperson of the electoral committee shall publicly announce the elections on behalf of the Council of the University not later than three months before the day specified in section 45.2 herein.
Extraordinary elections shall be organised pursuant to the rules of extraordinary elections of the Rector, approved by the Council of the University not later than two months before extraordinary elections.
44. Candidates may be nominated by the councils of academic units, the Student Council, councils of public universities and Estonian research institutions, the incumbent Rector and the former rectors of the University. Candidates shall be nominated in a written submission to the electoral committee.
45. Terms of the elections:
45.1. Regular elections shall take place not later than three months before the expiration of office of the incumbent Rector.
45.2. Extraordinary elections shall take place in the case specified in section 49 herein in the case of the premature release from office of the Rector and in other cases prescribed by law not later than four months after the Rector is released from office.
46. The candidate who collects the votes of more than a half of the voting members of the electoral committee shall be deemed elected.
47. The Rector shall assume office by taking an oath of office before the Council of the University.
48. The eldest member of the Council of the University shall make an employment contract with the Rector.
49. The Rector shall be released from office prior to the expiry of the term of contract by the Council of the University:
49.1. by motion of no confidence;
49.2. on other grounds prescribed in law.
50. A motion of no confidence may be submitted in the case of violation of the law by the Rector or failure of the Rector to perform the duties of his/her office.
51. The issue of motion of no confidence can be brought to the Council by the councils of at least three academic units.
52. To discuss the issue, the Council of the University shall elect a temporary chairperson.
53. The motion of no confidence in the Rector shall be passed by the Council by secret ballot. The motion shall be passed if at least two thirds of the Council members are in favour.
54. [Repealed – Council Regulation No. 12, 29.10.2009 – effective as of 31.10.2009].
55. The authority of a Rector shall terminate on the date of the Rector being released from office in the case of voluntary resignation from office, or on the expiration date of the contract or the date of his/her release prior to the expiry of the contract. In the case of the premature release from office of the Rector, the duties of the Rector shall be performed by the Vice Rector who is the first substitute to the Rector pursuant to the procedure of substitution of the Rector, until an Acting Rector is elected. The Vice Rector as the first substitute to the Rector shall represent the University without special authorisation.
56. In the case of the premature release from office of the Rector, the duties of the Rector shall be performed by the Acting Rector until the new rector assumes office.
56.1. Acting Rector shall be elected by secret ballot at the first meeting of the Council taking place after the premature release from office of the Rector. The candidate who collects the votes of more than a half of the Council members shall be deemed elected. The eldest member of the Council of the University shall make a fixed-term employment contract with the Acting Rector until the date the new rector assumes office. The contract shall be signed at the first meeting after the extraordinary elections. The Acting Rector shall represent the University without special authorisation.
56.2. If the Acting Rector is released from office on the grounds specified in section 49 herein, section 56.1 of these Statutes shall be applied.
57. The employment contract of the person who has been elected the Rector shall be suspended for the term of office as a Rector and he/she shall be entitled to return to his/her former position after release from the office of Rector.

III. 3. VICE RECTOR

58. Vice Rector shall:
58.1. direct the academic fields of activity assigned by the Rector and coordinate the activities of structural units in his/her area of responsibility;
58.2. be responsible for the development of his/her area of responsibility and report to the Rector and the Council;
58.3. represent the University in relationships with third persons within the authority delegated to him/her by the Rector and issue orders within the limits of his/her area of responsibility;
58.4. substitute for the Rector or other Vice Rectors pursuant to the procedure of substitution of the Rector.
59. The Rector shall appoint Vice Rector in office, conclude a fixed-term employment contract with him/her, and release from office. The employment contract with Vice Rector shall be made for the term of office of the Rector. The Vice Rector’s contract of employment in his/her former position in the University shall be suspended for his/her term of office, and he/she shall be entitled to resume work in his/her former position in the University after the expiration of his/her office as Vice Rector.
 

III. 4. HEAD OF DIVISION

60. The Head of Division shall:
60.1. direct the area of responsibility of a support structure assigned by the Rector and the structural units related with the respective area of responsibility;
60.2. be responsible for the development of his/her area of responsibility and the status of the structural units in the area, and report to the Rector.
60.3. The Rector shall appoint a Head of Division into office, conclude an employment contract with him/her and release from office.

III. 5. BOARD

61. The Board of the University shall be a body of operational management, formed by the Rector.
61.1. The Board shall be formed and the principles and procedures of its activities shall be established by the Rector in his/her directive.
61.2. The Chairman of the Board shall be the Rector; its members shall be Vice Rectors, directors of the Institutes of the University and the chairperson of the Student Council and the members vested with the right to speak and/or to vote, appointed by the Rector.
61.3. The opinions and decisions of the Board shall be advisory for the Rector and the Council of the University.

IV. ORGANISATION OF STUDIES

62. Studies shall be regulated by the rules of organisation of studies, the conditions and procedure of the defence of academic degrees and other rules regulating the organisation of studies in the University, adopted by the Council of the University or the Institute.
62.1. The rules of the organisation of studies shall provide:
62.1.1. grounds for academic activities, including the status of the student and forms of study;
62.1.2. general requirements of full-time and part-time studies;
62.1.3. the rights and responsibilities of the teaching staff and the students pertaining to academic activities;
62.1.4. the procedure of admission, expelling and re-admission of students and the procedure of application for academic leave;
62.1.5. the procedure of taking examinations and preliminaries, the procedure of defence of final theses and taking final examinations, and other general rules related with studies.
62.2. The conditions and procedure of defence of academic degrees shall among other issues stipulate the conditions and procedure of the defence of the academic degrees granted to the graduates of Bachelor’s or Master’s degree studies and the studies based on the integrated curriculum of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree studies, as well as the conditions and procedure of the defence of Doctoral theses.
63. Studies are conducted based on curricula that conform to the Standard of Higher Education and are approved by the Council of the University and registered in the Estonian Education Information System. A curriculum is the source document for study which sets out the objectives of the studies, the standard period and volume of study, the conditions for the commencement of studies, the list and the scope of subjects, the short descriptions of subjects, the opportunities and conditions for choosing subjects, the opportunities for specialisation and the conditions for completion of studies.
64. The rules for student admissions shall stipulate the conditions and the procedure of admission of students to professional higher education studies, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral studies, and studies based on the integrated curriculum of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree studies. The rules for student admissions shall be established by the Council of the University based on the proposals of the academic units.
65. The Council of the University shall make a proposal to the Ministry of Education and Research concerning the number and financing of state-commissioned student places. To provide state-commissioned education, a contract under public law shall be concluded between the University, the educational institution with whom a cooperation agreement has been concluded for a joint curriculum, and the Ministry of Education and Research for a period of three years. As an appendix to the contract under public law, a performance agreement is concluded. The named contracts shall be concluded in the extent and pursuant to the procedure prescribed by the Universities Act.
66. In addition to state-commissioned student places, the University shall be entitled to establish student places, the costs of which shall be covered by the customer. The rates shall be approved by the Council of the University.

V. MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY

67. The members of the University shall be the staff, the students and the professors emeriti and docents (associate professors) emeriti of the University and other persons specified in legislation.

V. 1. STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITY

68. The staff of the University shall be the teaching staff members, the research staff members and other employees working in the University under an employment contract.

V. 1. 1. Teaching staff and research staff

69. The teaching staff of the University shall consist of professors, docents (associate professors), lecturers, assistants and teachers. The teaching staff shall divide into regular teaching staff and extraordinary teaching staff.
70. The research staff of the University shall consist of lead research fellows, senior research fellows and research fellows. The research staff members of the University may participate in conducting the studies. Research staff of other research institutions and other persons having the required qualifications shall take part in conducting Master's degree and Doctoral studies according to the conditions and procedure established by the Council of the University.
71. Regular teaching staff and research staff members are elected by way of competition for a period of five years. An employment contract for an unspecified term shall be concluded with persons who have been employed in the same University and worked as a Professor for at least 11 years and have been evaluated pursuant to the conditions and procedure established by the Council of the University.
72. The vacancy of a teaching staff or research staff can be filled for a fixed term without announcing a competition with a person conforming to the qualification requirements for a teaching staff or a research staff member, in case:
1) the competition of electing a teaching staff member or a research staff member has failed;
2) the position of a teaching staff member or a research staff member has become vacant prematurely;
3) the position of regular teaching staff or research staff shall be filled by appointing a regular teaching staff or research staff member in office for a period of up to three years.
72.1. The Rector or the director of institution shall make an employment contract with the winning candidate. The Rector or the director of institution may refuse to conclude an employment contract, if the conditions and procedure of competition have been violated.
72.2. Regular teaching staff members shall have the right, within a five-year period, to a one-term sabbatical leave with basic salary paid, to pursue professional development or other creative activities.
72.3. Under the conditions established by the Council of the University, the Rector shall be entitled, without announcing a competition, to invite scientists or other outstanding creative persons or outstanding practitioners in their profession to conduct studies as extraordinary teaching staff members.
73. The regular membership of teaching staff and research staff shall be approved by the Rector as proposed by the director of an institute and the head of an institution of the University. The regular staff member shall be approved for each academic year.
74. Full Professors, Docents (Associate Professors), lead research fellows and senior research fellows shall be elected to office by way of competition for up to five years; lecturers, assistants, teachers and research fellows for up to four years. The conditions and procedure of competition shall be determined by the Council of the University.
75. The requirements set forth for working in the positions of regular and extraordinary teaching staff shall be established by the Council of the University pursuant to the principles provided in the Standard of Higher Education.
76. The teaching and research staff members of the University shall perform research, teaching and methodological activities in accordance with the requirements established for their position.
77. No employment contract shall be made with the visiting teaching staff member of the University. A visiting teaching staff member shall have equal rights with the University members to use the infrastructure of the University in the interests of academic and research work.

V. 1. 1. 1. Professorship

78. Professorship includes professors and professors emeriti.
79. Professor is a leading scholar actively taking part in research, development or other creative activities on the international level, who arranges and conducts teaching of his/her group of subjects, leads research, development or other creative activities and efficiently instructs students, teaching staff members and research fellows involved in these activities.
80. The title of Professor Emeritus may be awarded by the Council of the University to person who has worked as a professor in the University for at least 10 years or has been elected Full Professor at least two times, and who is of retirement age.
Professor Emeritus shall have the right to participate in the activities of the University, without performing the duties of a Full Professor; and to receive the remuneration of Professor Emeritus pursuant to the procedure established by the Council of the University.
Payment of remuneration for Professors Emeriti shall be supported from the state budget, with presenting state-commissioned education figures through the Ministry of Education and Research.

V. 1.1.2. Docent (Associate Professor)

81. Docent (Associate Professor) is a teaching staff member, who conducts studies in his field of study in the University, actively participates in research, development or other creative activities and efficiently instructs students and teaching staff members involved in these activities.
82. The title of Docent (Associate Professor) Emeritus may be awarded by the Council of the University to person who has worked as a docent (associate professor) in the University for at least 15 years, and who is of retirement age. When the title of Docent (Associate Professor) Emeritus is conferred, employment as a professor or researcher-professor may be accounted within the length of employment as a Docent Associate Professor). A Docent (Associate Professor) Emeritus shall have the right to participate in the activities of the University, without performing the duties of a regular docent (associate professor); and to receive the remuneration of Docent (Associate Professor) Emeritus pursuant to the procedure established by the Council of the University.
Payment of remuneration for Docents (Associate Professors) Emeriti shall be supported from the state budget, with presenting state-commissioned education figures through the Ministry of Education and Research.

V. 1.1.3. Lecturers, assistants and teachers

83. Lecturer is a member of the teaching staff who conducts studies in the University at the two first levels of higher education, or in case the lecturer has got an academic degree, at all the levels of higher education. The lecturer instructs students at the first and second stage of higher education and may be involved in research and development activities.
84. Assistant conducts seminars, practicums, practical training classes, performs other practical kind of study tasks, may instruct students of the first level of higher education and be involved in research and development activities.
85. Teacher conducts seminars, practicums, practical training classes, performs otter practical kinds of study tasks, and may be involved in research and development activities.


V. 1.1.4. Lead Research Fellow

86. Lead Research Fellow is an internationally acknowledged scientist in his/her field, who of study, who supervises research in their specialised field and supervises Doctoral students in a research and development institution. The candidate to the position of Lead Research Fellow must be a person with a Doctoral degree conferred in Estonia or an equivalent academic degree from a foreign country; the candidate must have work experience as a Docent (Associate Professor), Senior Research Fellow or a university Professor of at least ten years and he/she has supervised at least one Doctoral degree thesis that has been defended or he/she has supervised research work, which has lead to patented products or processes.

V. 1.1.5. Senior Research Fellow

87. Senior Research Fellow is a recognised scholar in his/her field, who leads a research theme or a project or is responsible for the completion of substantial parts thereof. The candidate to the position of Senior Research Fellow must have a Doctoral degree or an equivalent academic degree conferred in a foreign country.

V. 1.1.6. Research Fellow

88. Research Fellow is a member of the research staff, who participates in the completion of a research theme or project. A candidate to the position of Research Fellow shall have a Master’s or Doctoral degree or an equivalent academic degree conferred in a foreign country.
89. Labour and salary provisions:
89.1. the employment relations of the staff members of the University shall subject to labour laws;
89.2. the conditions for remuneration of staff members shall be determined in the salary rules of the University, which are approved by the Rector;
89.3. the rights and responsibilities of the staff members shall be specified by the internal procedure rules and the job description.

V. 2. STUDENTS

90. Student is a person who has been admitted to the University to full-time or part-time professional higher educational, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral study or the study based on the integrated curricula of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree study.
91. Students have the right:
91.1. to choose subjects for their curricula outside their field of study pursuant to the procedure established by the Council of the University, regardless of their speciality;
91.2. to continue their studies pursuant to another curriculum or at another university should the University or any of its curricula be closed;
91.3. to elect their representatives to and be represented in the collegiate decision-making bodies of the University;
91.4. to submit a reasoned request to the Rector to remove a teaching staff member from teaching activities;
91.5. to obtain study allowances and study loan under the conditions provided for in the Study Allowances and Study Loans Act;
91.6. to take academic leave, generally up to one year, once at each academic level pursuant to the procedure established by the Council of the University, and additional academic leave of up to two years for health reasons, of up to one year for service in the Defence Forces, and to care for a child until the child is 3 years of age;
91.7. to request the opportunity to take an examination or assessment before a board;
91.8. to obtain a student identification card pursuant to the procedure established by the Minister of Education and Research;
91.9. to use lecture halls, laboratories, computer rooms, libraries, equipment and other assets free of charge pursuant to the procedure established in the University;
91.10. to study counselling and career counselling;
91.11. pursuant to legislation, to form representative, executive and supervisory bodies and associations and organisations with other student bodies without possessing the status of a legal person as provided in the Non-Profit Associations Act § 5 and the Foundations Act § 5 (2);
91.12. exercise other rights provided for students by the law, the Statutes of the University, the internal procedure rules and other legislation.
92. Students shall fulfil the obligations provided for students by the Universities Act, the Statutes of the University, internal procedure rules and other legislation and be liable for any violation thereof.
93. Students of the University shall form the student body.
94. The student body is an institution, which exercises the right of the students to self-government. It has the right to independently decide on and manage issues of student life, pursuant to law and legislation, based on the interests, needs, rights and obligations of students.
95. The student body has its statutes. The student body shall adopt the statutes by simple majority.
96. The responsible representative body that governs the student body is the democratically elected Student Council.
96.1. Student Council and the executive bodies of the student body formed by the Student Council pursuant to the statutes of the student body shall represent the student body in relations with the University, Estonian and international organisations, agencies and persons.
96.2. Student Council shall independently control the funds allocated in the budget of the University for exercising student government to perform the functions arising from law and the statutes of the student body, on the basis of authorisation issued by the Rector and pursuant to the procedure established by the student body.

VI. ASSETS AND FINANCING

97. The University is the owner of its assets, and it shall possess, use and dispose of its assets pursuant to the conditions and procedure prescribed by the law acts of the Republic of Estonia and these Statutes, and the conditions and procedure established by the Council of the University.
98. The decisions on acquisition or transfer of immovable property, or encumbrance thereof with limited real rights or the right of superficies shall be made by the Council of the University.
99. The University shall acquire movable property according to the resolution of the Rector, Vice Rector, head of a structural unit or other persons, who have the right to dispose of financial means, taking into consideration the amount of assets they have at their disposal.
100. The procedure for the redistribution of the assets of the University shall be decided by the Rector on the proposal of the structural unit. If a structural unit does not agree to transfer the assets in their possession to another person, the matter shall be settled by the Council of the University.
101. When assets of the University are transferred to other persons, the structural units of the University shall have the priority to apply for having the named assets in their possession.
102. The University shall transfer the property that is not necessary for the University to achieve its objective, following the principle of increasing the gains that the University can receive from these acts or transactions and preventing losses, and ensuring that the transactions made with the property conform to legal acts and are transparent and verifiable.
103. The value of assets that the Rector, Vice Rectors and heads of structural units of the University are entitled to dispose of shall be determined by the Council of the University.
104. The University may grant the use or possession of its assets to another person for a specified term provided that the Council of the University decide that such assets are necessary to attain the objective of the University, but it is impossible or impractical to use such assets temporarily. The immovable property of the University may be leased for a period of up to 25 years, movable assets for up to 10 years. The Rector or persons authorised by the Rector shall have the right to lease assets.
105. The University has the right to provide services related to the main activities of the University for a charge to other persons and any revenue received therefrom shall accrue to the budget of the University and shall be used according to the procedure established by the Council of the University.
106. The University shall be financed from the funds allocated from state budget, money received to reimburse study costs, revenue from research and development activities, revenue from the provision of services related to main activities for a charge, and other income.
107. A balanced budget shall be prepared concerning all revenue and expenditure of the University.

VII. SUPERVISION, REPORTING AND AUDITING

108. State supervision over the activities of the University is exercised by the Ministry of Education and Research and other legally designated agencies and persons on the grounds, to the extent and following the procedure prescribed by law. The National Audit Office shall audit the activities of the University pursuant to the National Audit Office Act.
109. The Minister of Education and Research shall have the right to suspend the validity of illegal acts issued by the Rector and the Council of the University and demand amendment thereof. In the case of disagreement the matter shall be settled in court.
110. The University shall report on its activities and submit a statistical report on its activities and a report on the implementation of its budget to the extent and pursuant to the procedure provided by law.
111. The University shall report on the spending of targeted financing to the financier at the latter’s request.
112. The reporting of the structural units of the University shall be performed according to the procedure provided by legislation.

VIII. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATUTES

113. The statutes and bylaws of the structural units of the University and the rules and procedures referred to herein shall be harmonised with the Statutes of the University within 2 months starting from the date of entry into effect of these Statutes. The persons and decision-making bodies elected before the entry into effect of the Statutes shall function until the end of the term of office, unless otherwise specified in these Statutes.
114. The requirements for teaching staff as provided in the Statutes of the University, Chapter V sections 1.1.1. to 1.1.3. shall be implemented for the elections of teaching staff members starting from 1 January 2009. Employment contracts made with teaching staff members signed before 1 January 2009 shall be in force until the end of the specified term.




/signature/
Mait Klaassen                                                                                                                    /signature/
Rector                                                                                                                                  Lea Michelson
                                                                                                                                              Academic Secretary