Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and
Herzegovina

• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
  in
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Belgrade, 1-2 November 2007
• Sector for Education
• Vojislav Šuka Aida Duric
• Head of Department for Higher Education
  Senior Official for Higher Education

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General Overview of HE Reforms in BiH

• BiH retified the Lisbon Recognition Convention
  and joined the Bologna Process in 2003
• Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and
  Herzegovina is a state level authority
  responsable for Higher Education in Bosnia and
  Herzegovina
• Framework Law on Higher Education of Bosnia and
  Herzegovina in force from August 15, 2007

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BiH Structure of Higher Education
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Stakeholders

• Ministries (13)
• Universities (Public and Private)
• Conference of Education Ministers
• Rectors Conference
• BFUG
• Trade Union
• Entities Student Associations
• Team of Bologna Promoters
• HEWG/Bologna Commitee (no consent by RS)

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Legislation

• By entering into force of the state level
  Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and
  Herzegovina a preposition for a system-like
  approach for reform process has been assured
  including implementation of all Bologna goals
  such as
• - quality assurance
• - recognition of qualifications
• - assurance of horizontal and vertical
  mobility within educational system of BiH and EU
• - issuing of a common context of diplomas and
  diploma supplement
• - introduction of ECTS system
• - cooperation in promotion of European
  dimension of higher education etc.

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CoE/EC ProjectStrenghtening HE in BiH

• RESULTS 7 documents to be adopted by the Council
  of Ministers of BiH
• (http//www.coe.ba)
• - The framework for higher education
  qualifications in BiH
• - Recommendations for implementation of higher
  education
• qualifications in BiH
• - Standards and guidelines for quality assurance
  in higher
• education in BiH
• - Recommendations for implementation of quality
  assurance in
• BiH
• - National Action Plan for recognition in BiH
• - Users manual diploma supplement model for BiH
  
• - Diploma supplement model for BiH

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The framework for HE qualifications in BiH

• Consists of three cycles (180-240 ECTS, 60-120
  ECTS, 180 ECTS)
• The BiH descriptors describe knowledge, skills
  and abilities associated with typical end cycle
  qualifications (Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree
  and Doctorates)
• Currently BiH Framework does not include any
  further levels or sub-divisions within the three
  cycles to illustrate progression within the
  structure (structure reflects credit ranges
  associated with the Bologna framework)

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The stage of implementation of NQF in BiH

• LEGISLATION IN PLACE ? No suitable information
  provided
• STAKEHOLDER AGREEMENT FINALISED ? v in process
• WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED ? v
• OUTCOME BASED QUALIFICATIONS DESCRIPTORS ? v
• IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE AGREED ? No suitable
  information provided
• Bosnia and Herzegovina got YELLOW mark as extent
  to which its NQF is in line with QF in EHEA.
• Taken from Stephen Adam's report based on the
  analysis of individual country 2007 Stocktaking
  submissions on the implementation of NQF, on the
  occasion of Forum on Qualifications Frameworks
  Background Report held in Strasbourg, 11-12
  October 2007).

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The objectives of QF of the BiH area

• Enable employers, schools, partners, prospective
  students and others to understand the
  achievements and attributes represented by the
  main qualification titles, and how qualifications
  relate to one another
• Assist HEI, learners and others to clarify
  potential routes for progression and credit
  transfer, particularly in the context of wider
  participation in lifelong learning
• Create and maintain international comparability
  of standards
• Improve the recognition of BiH qualifications and
  the employability of citizens by ensuring their
  relevance to the needs of the national and
  international labor market
• Ensure that access to, and the content of, BiH
  higher education is based upon the principles and
  values of democratic society

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Implementation principles

• Long-term political commitment
• Close cooperation and full involvement of
  stakeholders
• The procedures for linking qualifications to the
  framework should be transparent, properly
  documented and based on the Bologna guidelines
• The implementation process should entail genuine
  curriculum change together with the development
  of appropriate teaching and assessment strategies
  in HE institutions
• (TEMPUS projects for HE, VET 3 Project for
  secondary vocational education ? completion of
  overall NQF)

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Steps for Implementation

• 7 documents achieved approval from relevant
  governmental authorities at various levels (13
  Ministries and Rectors Conference)
• Announcement of 7 documents at Official Gazette
  of BiH
• Consultation and dissemination with actors in the
  process
• Information Campaign
• Training of BiH Promoters (already in place)

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What remains to be done?

• This is only the beginning of the process of
  system-like HE reforms in BiH!
• Establish
• -National Agency for the Development of HE and
  Quality Assurance
• -Centre for Information and Recognition (NARIC)

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• Start with Instrument for Preaccession Assistance
  (IPA)
• 2 projects in 2008
• 1.) EU support to reform of HE in BiH aiming
  at
• - Strengthening of ENIC/NARIC Center
• - Drafting Law on recognition
  
  
  
  
• - Establishment of system of exchange
  information and cooperation
• model
• - Elaboration of model of integrated
  university ....
• 2.) Strengthtening of HE in BiH aiming at
• - Review of legislation and recommendations
  relevant to NHEQ
• - Review of legislation and recommendations
  relevant to quality assurance in HE
• - Revision of study programmes in line
  with the NHEQF
• - External evaluation of 8 public
  universities and numerous private
• - Establish a network of experts for
  quality assurance and the HEQF......

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Bologna Process Stocktaking London 2007
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• Thank you for your attention!