APPROVED by Law of the Republic of Lithuania No. I-281 of 12 June 1990 (Updated version of Law of the Republic of Lithuania No. XII-862 of 6 May 2014 (enacted on 21 May 2014)(Register of Legal Acts, 2014-05-20, 2014-05522) THE STATUTE OF VILNIUS UNIVERSITY The community of Vilnius University, Being aware that, founded on 1 April 1579 by the privilege of Stephen Báthory, the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, and by the Bull of Pope Gregory XII of 30 October of the same year, and named Academia et Universitas Vilnensis Societatis Jesu; closed by the Russian government on 1832; reopened by the Decree of the State Council of Lithuania of 5 December 1918 and granted the name of Vilnius University; having survived occupations; with its autonomy restored by Law No. I-281’On the Approval of the Statute of Vilnius University’ passed by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania on 12 June 1990; today a world-wide representative of Lithuania, this county’s oldest institution of science and study of national significance, has always been, and still is, one and the same Vilnius University (hereinafter, the University); Consistently implementing the aspirations of the Founders to ensure that, irrespective of any social formation, political order, the dominating ideas or languages, the University will forever remain an international centre of science; Recognising the exceptional role of the University in all the areas of science and study inherent in the nature of a classical university; Facing the contemporary challenges posed to science and studies by the increasingly intensive relationships between people, communities, nations, and states in this globalised world; Taking in regard the ongoing reform in the system of Lithuanian institutions of science and education, and being convinced that any reform in this area has to be designed to ensure the promotion of progress of the Lithuanian society and wellbeing of the Nation, enhancement of material and spiritual resources of the country as well as its cognitive and creative potential; Being aware of its responsibility to the Nation and the State of Lithuania and the necessity of openness and accountability to society; Guided by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Lithuania that ensure continuity of the mission and activity of the University, the autonomy of institutions of higher education and the freedom of culture, science, research, and teaching, Shall base the mission, structure, activity, and governance of the University on this Statute of Vilnius University (hereinafter, the Statute). 1 CHAPTER ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1. The Statute as the legal basis of the University activity The Statute shall be a legal act that defines the mission of the University, determines its structure, and regulates its activity and government. Article 2. The name, status and the head office of the University 1. The official name of the University in the Lithuanian language shall be Vilniaus universitetas, in Latin – Universitas Vilnensis, in English – Vilnius University, and in French – Université de Vilnius. 2. The University shall be an institution of science and education – a State school of higher education. 3. The legal form of the University shall be a public institution. 4. The owner of the University shall be the State of Lithuania. 5. The address of the University head office shall be: 3 Universiteto Street, LT-01122 Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania. Article 3. Autonomy of the University 1. The University shall exercise the autonomy guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law on Higher Education and Research of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter, the Law on Higher Education and Research), and the present Statute and shall ensure, safeguard, and protect the freedom of culture, science, research and teaching by using all lawful means and measures available. 2. The autonomy of the University shall embrace the freedom, recognised by all State institutions, in managing the University’s academic, administrative, economic and financial matters, the legal guarantees of inviolability of its territory, the buildings possessed by the University as well as any current and fixed tangible and intangible assets of historic, artistic, bibliographic or any other cultural value. 3. The boundaries of the University territory, the possessor of the University buildings, cultural heritage objects in State ownership may be changed only by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter, the Government) upon the consent of the University Council (hereinafter, the Council), or, in the event of the Council objecting to such a change, by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter, the Seimas). 4. The autonomy of the University shall be harmonised with its responsibility to the Nation and the State of Lithuania, as well as with openness and accountability to society. 5. The principles of the responsibility of the University to the Nation and the State of Lithuania, of openness and accountability to the community established in Paragraph 4 of this Article shall not be interpreted as providing any grounds for restricting the autonomy of the 2 University, inter alia, for limiting the freedom of culture, science, research, and teaching, the freedom of managing academic, administrative, economic or financial affairs of the University; for eliminating, or otherwise invalidating, the legal guarantees for the inviolability of the buildings in its possession, territory, any current and fixed tangible and intangible assets of historic, artistic, bibliographic or any other cultural value, otherwise than expressly established in the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Lithuania. CHAPTER TWO ACTIVITY OF THE UNIVERSITY SECTION ONE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, OBJECTIVES, AREAS, TYPES, AND PRINCIPLES OF ITS ACTIVITY Article 4. The mission and objectives of the University 1. The mission of the University – arising from the past, driven by the challenges of the present, and to be passed on to future generations – shall be the University’s irrefutable obligation and inalienable right to enhance cognitive and creative powers of both Lithuania and the world; to nurture academic and other spiritual and social values; and to educate active, responsible citizens and society leaders of the State of Lithuania. This mission shall be based on the principles of academic freedom, responsibility of the University to the Nation and to the State of Lithuania, openness and accountability to society, as well as on the awareness that the status of the University, which, in the course of centuries, has become a seedbed of science and culture of national significance, imposes special obligations on the University community and the society, of which this community is a part. 2. In executing its mission, the University shall: 1) ensure continuity of academic culture and development of both its centuries-long traditions and new ideas; 2) foster the freedom of thought, variety of opinions, openness to world ideas and innovations, the values of collegiality, mutual respect, trust, and academic ethics; 3) seek to preserve and enhance leadership in all spheres of science and education inherent in the nature of a classical university; promote scientific and artistic research of international level; 4) create conditions for learners to acquire universal education based on the unity of science and study, to become committed, responsible specialists characterised with a strong need and abilities to pursue life-long cognitive and professional development, to be active participants in the activity of the State and in the life of society; 5) ensure that the quality of all forms of study conforms to the highest international standards and meets the requirements of the learners, the society, and the State. 3. The objectives of the University shall be the following: 3 1) to conduct research of high international level in fundamental and applied sciences and art, to promote experimental, social, cultural and technological development by encouraging students of all study cycles to also participate therein; 2) to implement university study programmes of all study cycles based on the unity of science and studies and aimed at forming a creative, critical, responsible and continuously developing personality; to train competent, erudite scientists (researchers) and other highly qualified specialists; 3) to ensure the level of research and study that would enable members of the University community to effectively participate in international scientific and academic cooperation, to be active and responsible members of international academic community; 4) to foster the role and significance of science, study, knowledge and innovations in the development of society; 5) to create conditions for persons with higher education to enhance the level of their competence; 6) to nurture traditional academic values; to base scientific, artistic, pedagogical activity, dissemination of science and art, and any other activity of the University on the principles of impartiality, integrity, international scientific community spirit and other commonly recognised standards of honourable and ethical academic and academic-related activity; 7) to protect all the property and cultural heritage accumulated by the University since its inception, to continue and cultivate humanistic traditions of the University. 4. The University shall carry out its mission and pursue its objectives by defining the tasks of its activity and