I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
The regulations of the Institute of Forestry and Engineering of the Estonian University of Life Sciences (hereinafter: the University) (hereinafter: the Institute) define the objectives and governance of the Institute.
The Institute is an academic structural unit of the University, operating on the basis of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Act, the University Statutes, these regulations, and other legal acts.
The purpose of the Institute is to organise basic and applied research and development activities in accordance with the development interests of Estonian society, to mediate knowledge through teaching, publishing, cooperation with enterprises, and knowledge transfer, and to promote academic practices.
To achieve its purpose, the Institute shall:
4.1. conduct internationally competitive research and development in its academic areas of responsibility, ensuring integrated development in the Institute, the University, and Estonia;
4.2. organise teaching based on the University’s curricula;
4.3. provide consulting, expert opinions, and other knowledge services;
4.4. conclude, amend, and terminate contracts in accordance with legal acts and University procedures;
4.5. implement the development plans of the Institute and its academic areas of responsibility;
4.6. ensure the development of future academic staff in its fields of responsibility;
4.7. enhance its material and technical base.
The Institute has the right to use the University’s symbols in accordance with the University’s regulations.
The official name of the Institute is:
6.1. in Estonian: Eesti Maaülikooli metsanduse ja inseneeria instituut (abbreviated as MI);
6.2. in English: Institute of Forestry and Engineering.
II. GOVERNANCE
7. The highest decision-making body of the Institute is the Institute Council (hereinafter: the Council).
8. The Institute is managed by a Director, who is elected according to the procedure established by the Rector.
III. COUNCIL
9. The Council consists of 15 members. The procedure for electing the Council is established in the regulations.
10. The Council is chaired by a Chairperson elected from among the Council members. In the Chairperson’s absence, the meetings are chaired by the Director of the Institute; in the Director’s absence, by the Acting Director.
11. Council meetings are recorded and administrative matters are handled by the Council Secretary. The Secretary and the procedure for substitution are appointed by the Director of the Institute.
12. The responsibilities of the Council include:
12.1. submitting the Institute’s regulations and amendments thereto to the Rector for approval;
12.2. submitting the Institute’s development plan and development plans for academic areas of responsibility to the University Senate for approval;
12.3. adopting the rules of procedure of the Institute Council;
12.4. establishing operational units within the Institute for efficient functioning;
12.5. approving the Institute’s budget and sub-budgets;
12.6. electing academic staff through public competitions, except for full professors;
12.7. hearing reports from the Director, Heads of Chairs, and heads of operational units;
12.8. making decisions on other matters within the Council’s competence as provided by legal acts.
13. In addition to the above, the Council may assume responsibility for other matters aligned with the Institute’s objectives and functions, provided they are not assigned to another authority by law or the University Statutes.
14. Council Acts and Their Entry into Force
14.1. The Council adopts decisions within its competence, signed by the Chairperson and the Secretary. Decisions must be communicated to relevant parties within five working days after the Council meeting.
14.2. Council decisions enter into force on the date of publication or on the date specified in the decision.
14.3. Council decisions are binding on all members of the Institute.
Formation of the Council
15. The Council includes, by virtue of position, the Director and the Heads/Holders of Chairs of the Institute. Student representation from all higher education levels must constitute 20% of the Council membership. The Director appoints, for the duration of their term, 20% of the Council members to represent other University units, government institutions, international organisations, and other entities or individuals relevant to the Institute’s activities.
16. Student representatives are elected by secret ballot for one academic year, ensuring that different levels of study are represented.
17. Eligible candidates for Council membership representing the Institute are full-time academic staff. Candidates are nominated by the Director and academic staff.
18. The Institute’s representatives on the Council are elected by secret ballot of an electoral body consisting of academic staff working at the Institute with at least a 20-hour weekly workload. When a Council member’s employment ends, the next candidate in the ranking list is appointed. If no candidates remain, new elections are held to appoint a replacement.
19. The term of office for Council members begins upon approval of the named composition and lasts three years, except for student representatives, whose term is one academic year.
20. The named composition of the Council is approved by the Director of the Institute. At the first meeting, convened by the Director, the Council elects a Chairperson from among its members.
Principles of Council Activities
21. The primary form of Council work is the meeting, including electronic meetings, conducted in accordance with the Council’s Rules of Procedure adopted by the Institute Council.
22. The Rules of Procedure define how the Council is convened, how agendas are approved, how matters are discussed and voted on, and how other business is handled.
23. The Council shall hold meetings at least four times per year, based on an agenda approved by the Council.
24. Council meetings are convened by the Chairperson of the Council. In extraordinary circumstances, meetings may be convened by the Rector or, at the request of at least 1/4 of Council members, by the Council Secretary.
25. The convener of the meeting shall distribute the agenda and preparatory materials at least five working days prior to the Council meeting.
26. The Council has a quorum when more than half of its members are present. A decision is adopted if more than half of the participating members vote in favour, except in the case of amendments to the Institute's regulations, which require a two-thirds majority of the participating members. In the event of a tie during a public vote, the vote of the meeting chairperson shall decide.
27. Council meetings are generally open to the public. At the proposal of the Chairperson or at least three Council members, the Council may declare a meeting closed.
28. Council decisions are adopted by public vote. Elections of individuals are carried out by secret ballot.
IV. DIRECTOR
29. The Institute is led by a Director, who is appointed by the Rector. The Director is responsible for the overall status and development of the Institute, for the lawful and appropriate use of financial resources, and reports to the Council, the University Council’s Budget Committee, the Vice-Rectors, and the Rector. The Director must ensure that the Institute operates in accordance with these regulations, the University Statutes, and other legal acts.
30. In the Director’s absence, the duties are performed by a person authorised by the Director.
31. The Director shall:
31.1. represent the Institute and act on its behalf within the powers granted and within the rights defined in the regulations;
31.2. exercise the rights and fulfill the obligations of the employer within the scope of the authority granted;
31.3. ensure the implementation of Council decisions, as well as the regulations and decisions of the University Council and Senate;
31.4. issue directives for the organisation of work at the Institute, which are binding on the Institute’s staff;
31.5. submit the draft budget of the Institute to the University’s Finance Office and ensure that sub-budget proposals and their execution plans are presented to the Council;
31.6. resolve other matters assigned to their competence under legal acts.
32. The Director shall report on their activities to the Council at least once per year.
V. MEMBERSHIP OF THE INSTITUTE
33. The members of the Institute are its employees, students, professors emeriti, and associate professors emeriti.
VI. SUPERVISION, REPORTING AND CONTROL
34. The Institute shall submit a budget and budget implementation reports aligned with the Institute’s development plan, in accordance with the procedures and deadlines established by legal acts.
35. Heads of chairs and operational units are responsible for the overall status and development of their respective areas and report to the Director and the Council.
VII. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGULATIONS
36. I hereby repeal Rector’s Directive No. 1-8/39 of 31 March 2021, Directive No. 1-8/48 of 7 May 2021, and Directive No. 1-8/115 of 20 December 2021.
37. These regulations enter into force on 1 January 2022.
Approved by Rector’s Directive No. 1-8/119 of 23 December 2021.
