The Riigikogu passed with 79 votes in favour the Universities Act and Institutions of Applied Education Act Amendment Act (968 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The amendments to the Act specify the definition of credit point in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One credit point of the ECTS will correspond to 26 hours of studies, spent by a student, which form a total of 1.560 hours and 60 credit points during the academic year. The European Credit Transfer system will be applied to study programmes from the academic year of 2009/2010.  Among other things, restrictions concerning state-commissioned studying on student places, will be specified. In the future the amendments to the Act also allow the citizens of the European Union to run as candidates for a Rector of a University (so far only the citizens of Estonia have enjoyed this right), and eliminate the maximum age limit for the Rector – 60 years. § 1(3), § 5 (2), § 10 and § 11 (3) of the present Act enter into force on 1 September 2007. Nobody voted against the Act and nobody abstained.

On the motion of the Estonian Centre Party Faction the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Language Act (902 SE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction and Res Publica Faction, was suspended. 46 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 33 members of the Riigikogu against it.

The Riigikogu Press Service