21 January 2011, 14:37
The Committee focused on the enhancement of quality of education, development of science, improvement of working conditions of educationalists, harmonization of domestic laws on education and science with the international standards and norms.
During the seventh session, the Committee held 5 meetings, and scrutinized 50 issues, 37 of which concerned the bills and resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Two bills and three resolutions were adopted on the Committee´s initiative.
The following Laws were adopted:
"On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Priority Areas of Scientific and Technological Development" that determines the priority areas of scientific and technological development till the year 2017;
"On Amendments to Clause 24 of the Law of Ukraine "On Research, and Research and Development."
The following resolutions were passed:
"On Recommendations of the Parliamentary Hearings "Strategy of the Innovation Development of Ukraine for 2010-2020 under the Conditions of Globalization";
"On awarding Scholarships of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Most Talented Young Scholars in the Year 2011";
"On awarding Scholarships of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Most Talented Young Scholars in the Sphere of Fundamental and Applied Research, and Research and Development in the Year 2010."
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the following bills under the Committee´s jurisdiction in the first reading:
on Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine regarding Scientific Parks (Reg. No.6553). The bill regulates economic activity of scientific parks, determining the legal entities granted the state assistance in the implementation of the research parks projects as envisaged by the effective Law "On Scientific Parks." The bill also specifies the principles on lease rights for the property of higher education establishments and/or research institutions. The amendments to the Law "On Scientific Parks" state that the projects of scientific parks, implementation of which needs state assistance pursuant to clause 19 of the effective Law, shall undergo specialized state registration in the order established by the Cabinet of Ministers. The projects of the research parks implemented at the expense of the scientific park or its partner funds that do not envisage the state assistance pursuant to this Law are not subject to the state registration;
on Amendments to several Legislative Acts regarding the Intellectual Property (Reg. No.7205). The bill improves the relations connected with acquisition, realization and protection of the intellectual property right on inventions, useful models, design inventions, marks for goods and services, masswork rights, and geographic names;
on Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine regarding Priority Areas of Innovations (Reg. No. 7333). The The bill provides for the concentration of intellectual and financial resources in the priority areas of innovation development to support production of high-technology science-absorbing goods, its sale at the domestic market and accession to the global market. Namely, the bill specifies the priority areas of innovations, and cuts their number to five sectors. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine shall set and adopt the mid-term priorities of innovation activity.
The bill on student loans (Reg. No. 1084) was returned to the subject of legislative initiative.
The bill on amendments to the Law "On Research, and Research and Development" (order of registration of new sectorial academies of sciences) (Reg. No. 4271) was referred for adjustment.
As the Committee focuses on the financial support of education and science, and the social security of educationalists, the Committee submitted its motions concerning the draft Tax Code, the draft Budget Code, and the draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2011.
Fulfilling its supervisory function, the Committee listened to the reports on implementation of the Verkhovna Rada resolutions "On Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Foundation of M.M.Hryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine" and "On Immediate Action for the Protection of Territorial Integrity of M.M.Hryshko National Botanical Garden."
During the seventh session, the Committee drafted the petitions on conferring the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine decorations to 14 research scholars, and academic and teaching employees.
The Committee processes the citizens´ appeals. During the seventh session, the Committee has received more than 1050 appeals and petitions from the collectives of education establishments, research institutions, central and local executive bodies, individuals.