Organic Structure projected for the UNTL
The Timor Lorosa’e National University (Portuguese acronym UNTL) Statute defines the competences that the State has towards the institution, in terms of financing, support and management.
The diploma, of which the approval is competence of the Council of Ministers, also defines the role of the various University components: governance organs, advisory organs, teaching staff, students, non teaching staff and the organic units (faculties, centres and institutes).
After the Statute approval, and the institution’s adaptation to the new rules, it will be time for the several faculties and research centres that belong to the UNTL to have their own statutes but that will stay, however, integrated in the National University Statute. Because some of the “rules”, such as the disciplinary competence, for example, will be defined in the UNTL Statute.
The project for the Statute defines the creation of a General Council. “This is a new organ, it is a deliberative organ, in which the Government will also be represented”, advanced the Minister of Education, João Câncio Freitas. The General Council has the function of taking care of the strategic issues. This means that it will define the University’s short, medium and long term plans. It will also define campus development and construction at the national and regional level.
The creation of the Management Council is also planned, in which University senior members (in Portuguese decanos) will be integrated. Overall, four governance organs are predicted: General Council, Dean, Management Council and Disciplinary Council.
In academic terms, another organ will also be created – the Academic Senate – that will deliberate on teaching / learning issues, curriculum contents, scientific investigation, in other words, issues of academic character.
