THE PROBLEM OF STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THE UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Abstract

Effective management of higher education institutions is a prerequisite for ensuring the normal development of the higher professional education sector. The participation of students in the governing bodies of higher education institutions is extremely important, as the students are the direct beneficiaries of higher education institutions. The aim of the research is to study the dimensions and problems of students' participation in the management processes of higher education institutions of the Republic of Armenia. The purpose of this article is to comprehensively study the issue of student participation in the university management process. We have studied the legislative-regulatory documents regulating the field, the changes proposed by the draft law on higher education and science, which offer significant changes in the management processes of higher education institutions. Within the framework of the research, the dimensions of students' participation in different governing bodies of the university and development perspectives were revealed. Overall, we have reached the following conclusions.

We can state that the legislative regulations in force in the Republic of Armenia, in particular Article 28, Part 10 of the Law on Education of the Republic of Armenia, adopted on April 14, 1999, which defines the mandatory nature of twenty-five percent participation of students in all governing bodies, clearly defines students. Involvement in higher education management processes, which, however, is not reflected in the draft law on higher education and science of the Republic of Armenia, which is a step back from the reforms implemented in the field of higher education. Students are currently involved in governing bodies, but there are a number of issues, mainly related to student participation rates, student involvement, selection requirements, and other provisions. The draft law on higher education and science of the Republic of Armenia does not exclude the participation of students in the process of governing universities, but there are a number of incomprehensible formulations, provisions that do not completely regulate the current situation and problems.