Educational Process Organization

Approved
by the Decree of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine
dated June 2, 1993, No. 161

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine
dated November 23, 1993, No. 173

R E G U L A T I O N S

ON ORGANIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROCESS AT HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

1. General provisions

1.1. Educational process at higher educational institutions (hereinafter referred to as “educational process”) is a system of organizational and didactic measures, aiming at realization of educational content of a certain educational or qualification level in accordance with the state educational standards.
Educational process is based on the principles of scientific content, humanism, democracy, consistency and continuity, independence from any political parties, other civil and religious organizations. The language of education is determined with the Law of Ukraine “On Languages”.
Educational process is organized with the help of modern educational information technologies. It aims at forming educated personalities with the ability of constant scientific knowledge development, professional mobility and rapid adaptation to changes, development in social and cultural spheres, technologies, control systems, job organization under market economics.
1.2. Educational content is a scientifically motivated system of educational material, arranged didactically and methodologically. It is applied in different educational and qualification levels. Educational content is determined with educational and professional training programmes, structural and logical training schemes, curriculums, other standard acts of the state educational management bodies and administration of higher educational institutions. It is reflected in appropriate books, tutorials, methodological materials, didactic means, educational studies, etc. 
Educational and professional training programme is a list of core and selective subjects with hours for their study and a type of final control. Structural and logical training scheme is a scientific and methodological basis for the educational and professional training programme realization. Educational content consists of core and selective parts. Core part of educational content is determined by a higher educational institution.
1.3. Educational process organization is based on the multistage higher education system.

2. Standard legal basis of educational process organization:

2.1. Educational process organization of higher educational institutions is based on the Law of Ukraine “On Education”, the state educational standards, and other legal acts of Ukraine on education.
The state educational standard is a complex of norms with demands for educational (qualification) levels. Components of the state educational standard are: educational (qualification) characteristic; standard educational content; tests.
Educational characteristics are main demands for qualities and knowledge of a person with a certain educational level. Qualification characteristics are the main demands for professional qualities, knowledge, and skills of experts, necessary for successful fulfillment of professional obligations. Tests are systems of formalized tasks for setting up a correspondence of educational (qualification) levels to the demands of educational (qualification) characteristics.
2.2. Educational process organization is fulfilled by educational subunits of higher educational institutions (faculties, departments, subject and cyclic committees, etc.). The main standard document, stating educational process organization in a certain field of educational or qualification training, is a curriculum.
Curriculum is a standard document of higher educational institution, which is composed under educational and professional programmes and structural logic training schemes. It states a list and scope of core and selective subjects, sequence of their study, certain ways of holding classes and their scope, educational process schedule, forms and means of control.
Curriculum has to be approved by a director of a higher educational institution. To concretize educational process planning there is a functional curriculum every year.
Core subjects are determined with the state educational standard. The following their names and scopes is obligatory for higher educational institutions. Selective subjects are determined by higher educational institutions.  Selective subjects have to satisfy educational and qualification demands of a person; during them possibilities and traditions of a certain educational institution, regional demands, etc. are to be considered. A place and significance of a subject, its content and demands for knowledge and skills are determined in a programme for the subject. The educational programme for core subjects is a component of the state educational standard. The educational programme for selective subjects is composed by higher educational institutions.
2.3. For each subject of the educational and professional training programme higher educational institutions make functional educational subject programmes, which are standard documents of higher educational institutions.
The functional educational subject programme is characterized by particular content of a subject, continuity, organizational form of study and scope. It determines forms and means of control. Structural parts of the functional educational subject programmes are: - list of topics; - means of control; - educational and methodological literature.
2.4. The education of a student is held in accordance with a curriculum. The student individual curriculum is composed on the basis of the functional curriculum. It covers all core subjects and some selective subjects. The individual curriculum is composed every year and approved in accordance with the regulations of higher educational institutions. Selective subjects of educational and professional training programmes, introduced by higher educational institutions, and added to the student curriculum, are obligatory for study.
2.5. Higher educational institutions endow their students with the ability of usage of educational buildings, libraries, educational, methodological and scientific literature, equipment, and other educational means in accordance with internal regulations.
2.6. The correspondence of students’ training level to the demands of the state educational standards is in the scope of an administrator of educational structural subunit (faculty, department, subject and cyclic committee, etc.). The fulfillment of the individual curriculum is in the scope of the student.

3. Forms of educational organization

3.1. The educational process at higher educational institutions is held in such forms: classes, individual tasks, students’ independent work, practical training, tests.
3.2. The main types of classes are: - lectures; - laboratorial, practical, seminar, individual classes; - consultations. Other types of educational classes are chosen in accordance with regulations of higher educational institutions.
3.3. Lectures
3.3.1. A lecture is a main form of classes at higher educational institutions for the theoretical material learning. As a rule, the lecture is a component of a course of basic theoretical materials of a certain subject or of some of them. Subject matter of the course is determined with the functional educational programme. Giving certain lectures on the issues, concerning the subject, but above the educational programme, is also possible. Such lectures are held by prominent scientists or specialists for the students and personnel of higher educational institutions in addition to classes (beyond them).
Lectures are held by lecturers – professors and associate professors (teachers) of higher educational institutions – and prominent scientists or experts, invited for the giving lectures. Lectures are held in the appropriately equipped buildings – auditoriums for not less than 1 academic group of students.
3.3.2. A lecturer to give lectures has to provide the department with lecture notes and tests before the beginning of the appropriate term. 
A head of the department (head of subject or cyclic committee) can oblige the lecturer, giving lecture course for the first time, to give test lectures with departmental teachers and personnel present. A lecturer has to adhere to the educational programme choosing lecture topics. At the same time, they are not restricted in giving educational material, choosing forms and means of bringing it to the students. 

3.4. Laboratorial classes

3.4.1. Laboratorial classes are a form of educational classes where a student led by a teacher holds full-scale or simulation experiments to prove practically certain theoretical points of a certain subject. During them students achieve practical skills of work with laboratory equipment, computing machinery, measuring equipment, experimental techniques of a certain subject field.
Laboratorial classes are held in the educational laboratories equipped appropriately for the educational process. Laboratorial classes can also be held in real professional atmosphere (e.g. at schools, factories, scientific laboratories).
Laboratorial classes are held for not more than a half of one academic group. Topics of laboratorial classes are stated with the functional educational subject programme. Replacement of laboratorial classes by any other classes is forbidden, as a rule.
3.4.2. Laboratorial classes involve control of the students’ level, tasks, individual reports and their defence. Laboratory work has to be assessed by teachers. Final marks are put into register of laboratory work. The students’ final marks for laboratory studies are taken into account for putting a final mark for a term in this subject.
3.5. Practical training
3.5.1. Practical training is a form of classes where a teacher studies certain theoretical positions of a subject with students and forms practical skills by means of individual fulfillment of appropriate tasks by students. Practical training is held at auditoriums or educational laboratories equipped with necessary technical means, computing machinery for training.
Practical training is held for not more than a half of one academic group. Topics of practical classes are stated with the functional educational subject programme. Practical training involves methodological materials, tests, tasks of different difficulty. The methodological means are prepared by a teacher of practical training and are to be approved by a lecturer of the subject.
3.5.2. Practical classes involve control of the students’ knowledge and skills, an issue and its discussion with students, tasks, tests, assessment. The students’ final marks for practical studies are taken into account for giving a final mark in this subject.

3.6. Seminars
3.6.1. Seminars are a form of classes where a teacher discusses some topics with students. On the topics students prepare brief outlines of their reports on the basis of the performed tasks. Seminars are held at auditoriums or educational rooms with one academic group. Topics of seminars are stated with the functional educational subject programme.
3.6.2. Every seminar a teacher assesses students’ assignments, reports, activity in discussions, skills of formulating and proving of their points of view, etc. Final marks are put into special register. The students’ final marks for seminars are taken into account for giving a final mark in this subject.
 
3.7. Individual classes

3.7.1. Individual classes are held with some students to advance their level and develop individual creative skills. Individual classes are held in accordance with a schedule on the basis of students’ individual curriculums. The classes can be a part of or a whole scope of classes in one or several subjects. Types of individual classes, their amount, forms and methods of their holding, forms and methods of control (except the state certification) are assigned with students’ individual curriculums.   
3.8. Consultation

3.8.1. Consultation is a form of classes where students ask questions and teachers answer and explain some theoretical positions or aspects of their applying.
3.8.2. Consultation can be individual or held for groups of students if a teacher consults about individual tasks, or theoretical positions, respectively. The time for consultation is stated in the curriculum.
3.9. Individual tasks

3.9.1. Individual tasks in some subjects (reports, calculating, graphical work, term papers, graduation theses, etc.) are given to students in the period assigned by higher educational institutions. Individual tasks are performed by students by themselves with teachers’ assistance. Several students can also have common topics.
3.9.2. Term papers are performed to solidify, advance, and generalize students’ knowledge. Subject matter of term papers has to match with tasks of a certain subject. It has to be connected with practical needs of a certain speciality.
The order of approval of term papers topics and their fulfillment are stated by higher educational institutions. Term papers are led by the most qualified teachers. The defence of term papers is held before a committee of 2-3 departmental teachers (subject or cyclic committees) with a teacher leading the project. Results of the defence are given in 4-point scale (“excellent”, “good”, “satisfactory”, “nonsatisfactory”). Term papers are kept in the appropriate department (subject or cyclic committees) for a year and then they are appropriately written off.
3.9.3. Graduation theses (qualification papers) are performed at the final stage of students’ education at higher educational institutions. They are written to show skills of systematization, solidifying, broadening of theoretical and practical knowledge in the speciality and the ability of their applying, solving certain scientific, technical, economic, production, and other tasks; development of skills of independent work and research and experiment techniques acquisition. A student is given a right to chose a thesis topic given by the graduating departments (subject or cyclic committees), or suggest their own topic, proving its reasonability. The teachers, leading projects, are professors or associate professors of higher educational institutions, or highly skilled production specialists. The order of defence is held in accordance with provision 3.12.3.3 of these Regulations. Graduation theses are kept at libraries of higher educational institutions for 5 years and then they are appropriately written off.
3.10. Students’ independent work
3.10.1. Student independent work is a main way of learning during leisure time.
3.10.2. Time for independent learning is regulated with the functional curriculum. It has to be not less than 1/3 and not more than 2/3 of the whole students’ learning time for a certain subject.
3.10.3. A content of students’ independent study is assigned within the subject educational programme, methodological materials, tasks, and teachers’ instructions.
3.10.4. Independent study is provided by means of educational and methodological system resources for a certain subject: books, educational and methodological manuals, notes of lectures, etc. Methodological materials for student independent study have to provide students with self-testing tasks. To study independently students are recommended to use some scientific and professional monographs and serial publications.   
3.10.5. Students’ independent study in a certain subject cam be held in a library of higher educational institutions, educational institutions, computer classes (laboratories), and other domestic conditions. In some cases the study can be held in accordance with some schedule. It guarantees the possibility of students’ individual access to the necessary didactic means. A student is given the schedule at the beginning of the term.
3.10.6. If the independent study is held, using difficult equipment or machinery, complicated information access systems (e.g. computer data bases, computer-aided design systems, etc.), the necessary consultation or professional help has to be given.
3.10.7. Subject educational materials for the curriculum of independent work are checked in the same way as the rest materials are.

3.11. Students’ practical training

3.11.1. Students’ practical training is an obligatory component of the educational and professional programme for the qualification level obtaining. It aims at achieving some professional skills by students. Students’ practical training is held in leading enterprises and organizations of different fields of economics, science, education, healthcare, culture, trade, and the state administration.
3.11.2. Practical training is held under conditions of professional activity. It is headed by teachers of higher educational institutions and an expert in the necessary field. Practical training programme and its time are stated at curriculums. Practical training organization is regulated with the Regulations on students’ practice holding at higher educational institutions of Ukraine, approved by the Decree of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine, dated April 3, 1993, No. 93.
3.12. Control
3.12.1. Control consists of running and final checks. Running control is held during practical, laboratorial classes, seminars. It aims at checking of students’ knowledge level for a certain piece of work. A form of control and assessment systems are assigned by an appropriate department (subject or cyclic committee). Final control is held to assess the results of training at a certain qualification level, or at some final stages. Final control consists of term control and student state certification. Higher educational institutions may use module and other forms of final control in the end of practical classes or lectures in a subject. They also choose what influence the results have.
3.12.2. Term control

3.12.2.1. Term control can be a term exam, a differential credit, or a credit in a certain subject. A scope of materials and time are assigned in the curriculums. A term differential credit is a form of final control. It consists in assessment of students’ knowledge of educational material in some subject based on performance of individual tasks.  
The term differential credit is planned without module controls and exams. Students’ presence is not obligatory. Term credit is a form of a final control that consists in assessment of students’ knowledge of educational material based on performance of certain individual tasks during their practical, laboratorial classes and seminars. The term credit is planned without module controls and exams. Students’ presence is not obligatory. Students may take the term control (a term exam, differential credit, or a credit) in any subject if they have performed all the necessary tasks.
3.12.2.2. Students take exams during examination sessions stated in curriculums. Higher educational institutions may give students individual deadlines for credits and examinations. If there is a module control, examinations are optional. Exams are held according to some schedule given to teachers and students not later than in a month before a session. Order and techniques of credits and exams are assigned by higher educational institutions.
3.12.2.3. Results of examinations and differential credits are given according to 4-point scale (“excelent”, “good”, “satisfactory”, “nonsatisfactory”), of credits are given at 2-point pass-fail scale. The results are included in exam records, student’s record books, student’s educational cards.
Students with more than 2 non-satisfactory marks have to be expelled. Students with less than 2 non-satisfactory marks may pass the exams failed till the next term. Retaking of exams can be held not more than 2 times in a subject: the first time a student takes an exam before a teacher, the second – before a committee created by a dean (head) of the department. Students absent without reasonable excuse are considered to be students having non-satisfactory mark in the subject.  
3.12.3. The state student certification
3.12.3.1. The state student certification is held by the state examination (qualification) committee (hereinafter referred to as “the state committee”) after the end of training at a certain educational qualification level or at one of its stages. It aims at checking of actual correspondence of educational (qualification) training level to the demands of educational (qualification) characteristics.
Conferment of Junior Specialist is made by the state qualification committee; other qualifications are given by the state examination committee.
The state committee is created for full-time, extra-mural, distant education, external studies in each speciality. If there are many graduates, several committees should be created. If there are a few students, committees for related specialities can be integrated.
The state committee checks graduates’ scientific, theoretical, and practical training. It decides on conferment of educational qualification levels, on giving out of the state documents on education (qualification), it also considers offers for specialists’ educational qualification level quality advance at higher educational institutions.
3.12.3.2. The state committee has to be organized every year. It functions during one year. The committee consists of a head and its members. A head of the committee is assigned by ministries, authorities, which a higher educational institution reports to. They may be also assigned with decision of a principle of a higher educational institution among leading production experts or scholars.
The state committee consists of a principle (director), or a vice-principle (assistant director) for education or research, a dean of the faculty, or their deputy (a head of department, or their deputy), heads of departments, professors, assistant professors (teachers) of chief departments, leading production experts, and personnel of research institutes. Examiners may be professors and assistant professors (teachers) of appropriate departments (subject and cyclic committees) if there are no representatives of the departments at the committee composition. In that case they have the same rights as the committee members do.
Members of the state committee and examiners are approved by principles (directors) of higher educational institutions but not later than in a month before the state committee begins to work. The time of work of the state committee is assigned with curriculums of higher educational institutions. A schedule of committee work is to be assigned by principles (directors) and vice-principles for academic affairs of higher educational institutions. It is given not later than in a month before the state examinations or defence of graduation theses.   
3.12.3.3. Those students who graduate take the state exams and defense their qualification projects (graduation theses). To take the state examinations and defense graduation theses only those students who have complied with the requirements of curriculums. Lists of students who are allowed to take the state examinations are given to the state committee by a dean of an appropriate faculty (a head of an appropriate department).
Before the beginning of the state examinations or defence of graduation theses the state committee is given such documents to: - a consolidated register for students’ fulfilment of the curriculum with their marks for theoretical subjects, term papers, practical classes, the state examinations (before graduation thesis defence). NB: if there are several marks for one subject, the integer weighted average mark is taken to the consolidated register; - advisor’s comments; - an appropriate expert’s review of graduation theses.
Reviewers are assigned by the faculty dean (head). NB: the state committee may be given other materials to show scientific and practical value of the project (thesis): published articles, documents for approbation, prototypes, models of materials, products, etc.
3.12.3.4. The taking of examinations or defence of theses is held at public meeting of the state committee with more than a half of its members and the head of the committee. The defence can be held at higher educational institutions, enterprises, different establishments and organizations, interested in the topic of a thesis.
The state examination is held as a complex check of students’ knowledge in some subjects of the curriculum. There are examination papers in accordance with the educational programmes of higher educational institutions. The time of the state examinations may not be more than 6 academic hours per a day.
3.12.3.5. The results of the defence and examinations are assessed with such marks: “excellent”, “good”, “satisfactory”, “non-satisfactory”. The results are announced at the same day after filling up a record of the meeting.
A student, who has defended the graduation thesis (project) and passed the state exams, is given an appropriate educational qualification level in accordance with the requirements of the educational and professional training programme and with the state committee’s decision. They are given the state document on education (qualification).
A student with more than 75 % “excellent” marks for all the subjects and individual tasks and rest “good” marks, with “excellent” mark for the graduation thesis and the state examinations is given the honour document on education (qualification).

The decision of the state committee concerning assessment of students’ knowledge, of an appropriate educational (qualification) level conferment and giving of the state document on education (qualification) is made by the state committee at private meeting by open voting (by simple majority of participants). A head of the meeting has a deciding vote if there is the same number of votes for both sides.
A student, who hasn’t passed exams or defended the graduation thesis, has to be expelled from the higher educational institution. He is also given a transcript. If a student hasn’t defended the thesis, the state committee decides whether they may defence the corrected thesis once more, or the student has to be given a new topic stated by the department (subject or cyclic committee).
A student, who hasn’t passed the state examination or defended the graduation thesis, is allowed to retake the examination or defence the corrected thesis once more during 3 years after graduating.
NB: the state examination subjects for those, who have failed, are stated in the curriculum of their graduation year.
Students, who have failed their state examinations or haven’t defended their theses because of a reasonable excuse, may be given a chance by the principle to prolong their training till the next state committee sitting. But it may not be more than a year.

3.12.3.6. All the state committee sittings have to be recorded. The record consists of marks, questions asked, educational (qualification) levels, kinds of the given documents on education / qualification (honoured document or not).
The records are signed by a head and members of the state committee, participating in the sitting. The register of the records is kept at the higher educational institution. As soon as the committee finishes its work, a head of the committee makes a report and gives it to the principle. The report demonstrates analysis of a graduates’ training level, thesis performance quality; correspondence of thesis topics with the current demands; students’ knowledge characteristics, drawbacks in knowledge; pieces of advice for the educational process advancement. The report has to be discussed at the meetings of the Academic Board of the higher educational institution, of the faculty (department).
4. Students’ training time

4.1. Students’ training time is a number of hours for the training programme performance in the appropriate educational or qualification level.
Students’ training time units are academic hours, academic days, weeks, terms, years.
An academic hour is a minimal training time unit. The academic hour is 45 minutes, as a rule. Two academic hours are a period.
An academic day is a part of students’ training time. It is not more than 9 academic hours.
An academic week is a part of students’ training time. It has to be not more than 54 academic hours.
An academic term is a part of students’ training time. It ends with a final check. The term time is assigned in the curriculum.
NB: The training time is measured in credits. The credit is 3 academic hours of classes and independent work in the academic week during the academic term. A final check is not to be considered in the credit.
An academic year is an accomplished period of students’ training. The academic year time considers academic terms, final checks, and holidays. Annual holidays (except last year) have to be not less than 8 weeks. The beginning and the end of any-year students’ training have to be formalized with appropriate decrees.
An academic year is 12 months. It begins on September 1, as a rule. It consists of academic days, final checks, exams, day-offs, and holidays.
4.2. The academic days and their time are assigned with the annual educational process schedule. The schedule is composed annually, taking into account shift of day offs and holidays. It has to be appropriately approved in accordance with an appropriate higher educational institution.
Classes at higher educational institutions are 2 academic hours with a break between them. They are held according to a schedule. The schedule aims at fulfillment of the curriculum.
4.3. Non-regular attendance of lectures can be allowed to students of the third and further years. The permission can be given in accord with the order of a higher educational institution. Other educational classes (except consultations) have to be attended. It is forbidden to draw students away from classes without reasons provided for by law.
5. Teachers’ working hours
5.1. Teachers’ working hours are assigned with their educational, methodological, scientific, and organizational obligations of a current academic year, shown in the curriculum. Full teachers’ working hours are 1548 per academic year. An average teachers’ week is 36 hours.
5.2. Academic hours of a certain teacher’s educational classes characterize their teaching load. Obligatory classes are assigned by their department (subject or cyclic committee).
5.3. At III-IV-accreditation level higher educational institutions minimal and maximal obligatory teaching load is assigned by the higher educational institutions in accordance with their other methodological, scientific, and organizational obligations, according to the order, provided for by the regulations and collective agreements. At the I-II-accreditation level higher educational institutions teaching load is assigned in accord with the current legislation.
5.4. If it is necessary at the III-IV-level higher educational institutions a teacher can be given classes above their obligatory teaching load. Extra hours are assigned by higher educational institutions and cannot be more than a quarter of the minimal obligatory teaching load. Changes at teaching loads are to be added to teachers’ curriculums.
5.5. Teachers’ working schedule is specified with a timetable of classes, consultations, checks, etc. These kinds of work have to be provided in teachers’ curriculums. A teacher has to keep to their schedules. Teachers are forbidden to be drawn away from their classes.
6. Modes of study
6.1. There such modes of study at higher educational institutions: - full time; - evening classes; - extramural; - external degree. Combination of different modes of study is also possible.
6.2. A full-time mode of study is a main form of obtaining a certain educational or qualification level. Educational process organization has to be organized in accordance with the state standards of education and these Regulations. 
6.3. An extramural (distance) mode of study is an in-service form of obtaining a certain educational or qualification level. Educational process organization has to be organized by higher educational institutions in accordance with the state standards of education and these Regulations. Benefits for the people, who combine work and training, have to be also considered.
6.4. Study for an external degree is a special mode of study for the people with an appropriate educational (qualification) level. It serves for obtaining a certain educational or qualification level by means of self-study of subjects and taking credits, exams, and other forms of final check, in accordance with curriculums.
6.4.1. A list of training fields (specialities) and higher educational institutions with study for an external degree has to be previously studied by the Ministry of Education and Science.
6.4.2. Educational process organization of study for an external degree is held by higher educational institutions in accordance with the state educational standards and these Regulations. Its time has to be identified in educational process schedules for full-time and extramural modes of study.
6.4.3. Those, who would like to study for an external degree, have to apply for and file the certificate on education (qualification) to a certain higher educational institution. Those, who have enrolled, are given a student grade book.
6.4.4. External students, who have passed all credits, exams, and other checks, have to be accepted to the state exams and graduation theses defence.
7. Scientific and methodological support of educational process
7.1. Scientific and methodological support consists of: - the state educational standards; - educational plans; - educational programmes in all core and selective subjects; - programmes of educational and other practical trainings; - books, textbooks; - instructive and methodological materials for seminars, practical and laboratorial classes; - individual term tasks for students’ self-study; - control tests for seminars, practical and laboratorial classes; - control tests for students’ knowledge check; - methodological materials for self-study, term papers, theses.
Other educational process characteristics have to be identified by teachers, departments, higher educational institutions.
The Decree of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine No. 161, dated June 2, 1993, has annulled such decrees of the former USSR: No. 513 “On the Approval of “Regulations on Annual Examinations and Credits in the USSR Higher Educational Institutions”, June 2, 1993; No. 245 “On the Approval of “Regulations on the State Examination Committee and Instructions on Theses of the USSR Higher Educational Institutions”, March 14, 1974; No. 510 “On the Approval of “Standard Regulations on the Order of Faculties’ Teaching Load Planning”, July 17, 1987; No. 138 “On Cancellation of Teaching Load Standards and Limitation of Full-time Teachers’ Holding Several Appointments”, March 18, 1991.