Study Fields‘ Descriptors

The Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC) has prepared 53 study fields’ descriptors during the period of 2012-2015. During the period 2019-2022 the descriptors were reviewed and renewed. Also 22 new study fields’ descriptors were prepared.

Study field descriptors are essential documents that Higher Education Institutions follow while preparing new and improving ongoing study programmes in various disciplines. The descriptor describes the study field, defines the requirements for implementing study programmes. In addition, it provides guidance of how to formulate general and specific learning outcomes: information of what kind of knowledge and its application, abilities to perform research, special, social and personal abilities there should be. The Descriptors are also used by the experts from Lithuania and foreign countries who evaluate study programmes. Study fields’ descriptors supplement the hierarchic structure of learning outcomes which is characteristic of studies in Lithuania – the Lithuanian Qualification Framework (approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania), and Descriptor of Study Cycles (approved by the Minister of Education and Science).

The descriptors have been prepared by groups of experts from various Higher Education Institutions and the representatives of stakeholders. The groups were composed and facilitated by the SKVC. The draft projects of descriptors were actively discussed not only with academic community members, but also stakeholders – representatives of the field of work and students.

The development of descriptors was jointly financed by the funds of European Union and the budget of the Republic of Lithuania.