Features of the Legal Status of Members of Supervisory Boards at Institutions of Higher Education

Abstract

This article examines the legal status of supervisory boards of legal entities, particularly higher education institutions, and the specific features of the legal status of their members. The  aim of this article is to define the legal status of supervisory boards of higher education institutions and the legal status of their members, taking into account the provisions of current legislation and the theoretical contributions of scholars in this field.

Methods. The methodological tools used in this study encompass a range of general scientific and specialized legal methods. The systematic method was used for a comprehensive study of the nature of the legal status of supervisory boards of higher education institutions and the legal status of their members. The comparative legal method made it possible to identify positive practices in this field from other countries and to propose their implementation in Ukrainian legislation. The formal-methodological method ensured a thorough examination of the normative provisions of current legislation within the scope of the research topic. The analytical method provided the tools to identify the characteristic features of the legal status of supervisory boards and the legal standing of their members.

Results. It has been established that the supervisory board of an educational institution is a type of specialized governing body designed to ensure a harmonious balance between the private interests of the founders and the public interests of society regarding the development of high-quality human resources, with the aim of ensuring the well-being of the community and the country and maintaining public order.

It has been demonstrated that the effectiveness of the formation and activities of a higher education institution’s supervisory board fully correlates with the criteria for evaluating the quality of educational services provided and reflects policies in this area, as enshrined in the provisions of special legislation on ensuring the quality of higher education. It is proposed to include a mandatory requirement in current legislation regarding the inclusion of representatives of veterans on the supervisory board of a higher education institution, who will ensure the implementation of public oversight of the activities of higher education institutions, including with regard to the formation of governing bodies and the approval of key strategic steps in this sphere.