Study prices: the most important criterion is quality
The Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK) have repeatedly emphasized that study funding must be substantially reviewed and focused on quality assurance. It supports the draft of the project on the calculation of normative study prices, submitted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to the Government. LPK advocates measures that would reduce the number of funded places, focusing on the training of qualified specialists, and would be aimed at motivating salaries for qualified teachers.
Gintautas Kvietkauskas, Vice-President of LPK, Chairman of the Education Committee of LPK, notes that the key issue in evaluating the proposal of ŠMSM is the quality of studies.
“It is understood that high quality of studies can be achieved only by ensuring adequate funding, and currently the normative tuition fees applied to pay for the studies of state-funded students only partially cover the costs of organizing studies. Today, a small study basket promotes quantity but not quality, and unbalances the system. The business community constantly emphasizes the need for motivated employees with the necessary competencies,” says the LPK Vice President.
According to G. Kvietkauskas, when business faces a shortage of qualified employees, it is important that funding increases proportionally for all fields of study. Vacancies of study must be planned taking into account the needs of state economic, social and cultural development and assessing graduates’ employment indicators.
“Fees for all categories must be increased – without excluding one specific group of studies. It must be taken into mind that, for example, an engineer costs more to prepare for the engineering industry than a worker in most other fields. It is necessary to ensure a very clear and realistic ratio of qualified and unskilled workers in the industry,” says the LPK Vice President.
LPK points out that when increasing funding, it is necessary to ensure proper distribution so that money is not diverted to infrastructure. It should be reviewed, optimized and refined where possible.
