Assessment of the European Union Structural Funds support for improvement of quality in higher education in Lithuania: approach of experts in higher education
Mykolo Romerio universitetas |
| Date |
|---|
2016 |
Taigi, empiriniai tyrimo rezultatai rodo, jog viena vertus, ES SF subsidijos inicijuoja galimybę patobulinti studijų kokybę pakeliant ją į kitą lygį, suteikiant galimybę konkuruoti tarptautiniame aukštojo mokslo kontekste. Kita vertus, ES SF parama per projektinę veiklą (aukštojo mokslo įstaigose) yra nacionalinės valdžios įrankis pritraukti ir įsisavinti lėšas.
The article analyses the effectiveness of support of the European Union Structural Funds (EU SF) in the programming period 2007–2013 as the financial instrument of public policy for the improvement of quality in higher education (HE) in Lithuania. Results of the expert evaluation revealed that EU SF investment was beneficial in respect of human capital, generation of ideas, fostering of created “products”, and the quality culture of Lithuanian higher education institutions (HEIs); therefore, positive impact of use of EU SF support on HE quality can be expected. However, weaknesses related to efficiency, eligibility and sustainability of investment use have been also identified. Addressing these gaps highlights problems related to the main aim of the use of EU SF support in HEIs in Lithuania: the goal of effective quality improvement in higher education is accompanied by the goal to spend money.