UNIVERSITY STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF BP IN SERBIA

1. UNIVERSITY STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF BP IN SERBIA Grant Applicant Institution: Universite Paris 12 Val de Marne, Prof Patricia Pol, Vice President Grant Coordinator: University of Nis, Prof Gradimir Milovanovic, Rector

2. Consortium Members from EU • University of Ghent, Belgium: Delfien Cloet, International Relations Officer • University of Ljubljana, Slovenia: Irena Briner, Head of the International Programes Office • HRK- German Rectors Conference: Barbara Braun, Program Manager South East Europe

3. Consortium Members from SCG • University of Belgrade: Prof. Dejan Popović, Rector • University of Kragujevac: Prof. Miloš Đuran, Rector • University of Arts in Belgrade: Prof. Nebojša Ignjatović, Vice Rector • University of Novi Sad: Prof. Miroslav Plancak, Vice Rector • University “Braća Karić”: Prof. Ivan Bagarić, Vice chancellor for international cooperation • Ministry of Education and Sports of Serbia: Prof Emilija Stanković Deputy Minister for Higher Education

4. Expected benefits and aims • Serbian Universities will benefit from the project promoting and implementing Bologna Process in a widespread manner. • This project aims at helping Serbian Universities to fulfill some very important requirements and deadlines set by the Bologna Declaration and instigate other reform actions.

5. Background of the project • The unified Europe requires higher education to be established on common principles, providing easy mobility, exchange and employability all over the continent. • The new law for high education in Serbia, which is in line with the Bologna Process principles, is expected to be passed soon. • With the existing strong support from the Ministry of Education, Universities in Serbia are expected to reinforce the Bologna Process implementation. • National Bologna Promoters Team is established. Bologna related activities for the reforms of curricula and university management are initiated in all HE institutions. • However, there is a need of a more structured approach and concrete engagement and distribution of responsibilities. • Strengthening the implementation of the Bologna process is crucial for successful building of modern Serbian universities with all it’s aspects: teaching and study, research and development, education and training of young academics, continuing academic education and services to society.

6. Background of the project • There is a necessity of putting certain time deadlines for the implementation of agreed tasks and to have a clear picture about the development in any moment in order to avoid possible obstacles in Bologna Process implementation. • All Serbian universities had gone through an EUA Institutional Evaluation Program in 2001/2002, before Serbia officially joined the Bologna process. • Common European platform creation become a national strategy. • All Serbian Universities took action and start introducing mechanism that could instigate the Bologna oriented reforms. • However, Serbia is in early stage of the reform process. • After the new law for high education in Serbia, which is in line with the Bologna Process principles, there is an urgent need for moves towards the wide-scale adoption of Bologna process principals and reviewing curricula, increasing student mobility and contributing to a policy of transparency and more learner-oriented study possibilities.

7. Possible problems in the BP and Higher Education Low implementation i SCG • Disintegrated university for more than 50 years • Difficulties with putting pieces together • Extreme differences in relation students : professors from faculty to faculty • On some faculties 90% of the professor’s work is student examination (serious problems with work load) • Different goals from faculty to faculty in study programs designs • High level of unemployment • Small number of students on technical faculties and high on management • Financial aspects of the BP implementation

8. Development of concrete strategy and action plan in the implementation of the new low and BP • Study programs • Procedures for the university professors election • Normative regulations • How to organize integrative functions of the university • To proceed with postgraduate studies (master studies) until new programs for PhD studies are established • How to organize PhD studies (university, interuniversity, international) level

9. Specific project objectives • The aim of the project is to enable Universities in Serbia, themselves, to accomplish their key responsibilities in regard of BP. • The Main objective of the project will be building university strategies for implementation of Bologna Process in Serbia, and to establish direct responsibility at university level in the process of Bologna principles implementation. • This will reinforce the Bologna Process implementation at the Universities in Serbia through the upgrading of their policy, structural organization and initiating all important actions in line with the Bologna Process: restructuring the study programs, quality assurance assessment and implementation of the European Credit Transfer System.

10. A list of goals • Recommendations, related to the establishment of the Universities and Faculties commissions for the implementation of BP, will be established. • Establishment of University Commissions that should have a strong long term mandate from the University senates or Faculty councils with the support and participation of the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Republic of Serbia • Commission will have the following sub-commissions: 1. Sub-commission for restructuring the study programmes according the Bologna principles 2. Sub-commission for quality assurance 3. Sub-commission for implementation of ECTS • Establishment of university network, among Serbian Universities involved in the project, with the support and participation of the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Republic of Serbia

11. A list of goals • Training of Bologna Process consortium members for implementation of Bologna principles, • Exchange of knowledge in the area of Bologna Process implementation • Analysis of current progress of the Bologna Process implementation at the Universities in Serbia, • Identification of the challenges and chances for the Bologna Process implementation at the Universities in Serbia. • Development of the Bologna Process promotional strategy at Serbian Universities • Promotion of Bologna Process principles and philosophy among professors, students, administrative staff and public by making them better informed about the significance, necessity and benefits of Bologna Process implementation, • Establishment of activities that would enable long-term Bologna Process assistance following the completion of the project.

12. Work plan • Study of the experience of EU universities in the implementation of BP • Workshop for the formation of policy papers and strategies • Expert assistance to university and faculty authorities in the establishment of commissions and sub commissions • Organization of internet discussion forum • Workshop for the elaboration of compatible action plan for all commissions • Training sessions for for the heads of all university sub-commissions in EU universities • Seminar for all members of the university sub-commissions for the restructuring of university studies • Organization and proceeding with self-assessment in all faculties