Assessment of Learning Outcomes, Academic Debts and Appeals

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

The University may carry out permanent, interim and final assessment of learning outcomes in a course unit (module).

The studies of a course unit (module) shall be concluded with a final assessment of learning outcomes – an examination or an assessment of the student's independently completed work (project).

The final assessment of the study course unit (module) may be a cumulative grade, the composition of which is calculated according to the proportions provided for in the syllabus of the study course unit (module). The first parts of a continuing course (module) may be assessed by credits. Examinations and assessments shall be written or written and oral. Assessment by computer or other electronic means shall be equivalent to written assessment.

The learning outcomes shall be assessed by the lecturer who taught the study course unit (module) and who supervised the studies, or by a panel of experts in the field, including the lecturer who taught the course unit (module) and who supervised the studies. A committee for the evaluation of the results of studies may be set up in other cases at the motivated request of the students.

The competences acquired by the students in the final assessment of the course unit (module)/module shall be evaluated on a ten-point scale, from 1 to 10, and in the case of credit examinations, with or without credit.

Other assessment principles are also possible (more information about crediting and grading system can be found here).

Time of Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Examinations and credits are held during the examination period provided for in the study calendar of Vilnius University.

A student who is unable to attend the final assessment of the course unit (module) at the time specified in the schedule due to illness or other important reason may submit a request to the head (dean) of the core academic unit (faculty) to allow the final assessment of the course unit (module) at another time, but no later than within one month from the beginning of the new semester.

A student who is unable to attend the interim assessment of a course unit (module) at a specified time due to illness or other important reason may, in agreement with the coordinating lecturer of the course unit (module), hold the assessment at another time agreed with the coordinating lecturer.

The student must notify the administration of the core academic unit (faculty) and submit a justification document about the reason for non-attendance at the final assessment of the course unit (module) study achievements or interim assessment within three working days from the date of the examination scheduled in the examination period.

Debts, Academic Debts and Their Elimination

Unsuccessful exams (credits) may be retaken once within the first 2 weeks of the new semester and, if the exam period has been extended, within 2 weeks of the expiration of the extended term. Failure to pass the exam (ECTS credit) is a debt.

If a student fails to retake the course unit (module) exam (i.e. receives a grade lower than 5 points out of 10), a debt is recorded, which can be eliminated in the following cases:

• repeating the course unit (module),
• by retraining the course unit (module) externally after self-repetition, or
• by replacing the course unit (module) with another (in the case of general university studies course units (modules).

When a student repeats a course unit (module), retakes the course unit (module) for the first time externally after independent repetition or replaces the course unit (module) with another course unit (module), and fails the course unit (module) and then fails and retakes, academic debt is recorded, which is eliminated by analogous methods of debt elimination.

It is important to note that Vilnius University students who have collected more than 15 ECTS credits debts and (or) academic debts are expelled from the University.

Appeals

A student who does not agree with the final assessment of the course unit (module), no later than within seven calendar days from the date of publication of the final assessment of the course unit (module), has the right to apply to the dispute resolution commission of the core academic unit (faculty). Appeals against the final decisions of final examinations or final theses may not be approved.

Student due to procedural violations of interim assessment, final course unit (module) assessment, final exam or final thesis defense, not later than within three working days after interim assessment, final course unit (module) assessment, final exam or final thesis defense, has the right to apply to the dispute resolution commission of the core academic unit (faculty) in a reasoned written manner.

The appeal must contain:

• the name, surname, main study programme, University-provided e-mail address and telephone number;
• describe the infringement and state the grounds for the statement, i.e. y. the circumstances justifying the fact of the infringement;
• the specific request of the applicant;
• the signature of the applicant, unless the application is submitted in the eStudent environment.

The decision of the Dispute Resolution Commission of the core academic unit (faculty) regarding the assessment of the exam is final.

Other decisions of the Commission of the core academic unit (faculty) may be appealed to the Central Dispute Resolution Commission not later than within seven calendar days from the day of their delivery.

Dispute Resolution

In addition to the appeals discussed above, Dispute Resolution Commission of the core academic unit (faculty) shall also hear other applications concerning disputes related to research and study activities, disputes between students studying course units (modules) in the core academic unit (faculty) and other members of the community. Any student of the University who believes that his/her rights are being violated may submit complaints to the Commission.

The statement may be submitted no later than one month from the date on which the violation was committed or became apparent. This time limit may be extended by a decision of the Disputes Resolution Commision, provided that less than 6 months have elapsed since the infringement was committed or became apparent, for important reasons and at the reasoned request of the applicant.

The Dispute Resolution Commission of the core academic unit (faculty) shall be composed of 6 members: three members shall be appointed from among the teaching and research staff of the Unit and the other three shall be students' representatives. The Commission shall work in accordance with the regulations approved by the Senate.

Students, upon a reasoned request, may not apply to the Dispute Resolution Commission of the core academic unit (faculty) and submit the application to the Central Dispute Resolution Commission. Further details can also be found in the Regulations of the Central Academic Ethics Commission of Vilnius University.