Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Herzegovina

The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications inin

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Belgrade, 1-2 November 2007 Belgrade, 1-2 November 2007

Sector for Education: Sector for Education: Vojislav ŠukaVojislav Šuka Aida DurićAida DurićHead of Department for Higher Education Senior Official for Head of Department for Higher Education Senior Official for Higher Education Higher Education

General Overview of General Overview of HE Reforms in BiHHE Reforms in BiH

BiH retified the BiH retified the Lisbon Lisbon Recognition Recognition Convention and Convention and joined joined the Bologna the Bologna Process Process in in 20032003

Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Herzegovina is ais a state level authority state level authority responsable responsable for Higher Education in for Higher Education in Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina

Framework Law on Higher Education of Framework Law on Higher Education of Bosnia and Herzegovina in force from Bosnia and Herzegovina in force from August 15, 2007August 15, 2007

BiH Structure of Higher BiH Structure of Higher Education Education

Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and

Herzegovina

Federation Ministry of Education and

Science

RS Ministry of Education and

Culture

Brcko District Education

Department

10 Cantons

Stakeholders Stakeholders Ministries (13)Ministries (13) Universities Universities (Public and Private) (Public and Private) Conference of Education MinistersConference of Education Ministers Rectors’ ConferenceRectors’ Conference BFUGBFUG Trade Union Trade Union Entities Student Associations Entities Student Associations Team of Bologna PromotersTeam of Bologna Promoters HEWG/Bologna CommiteeHEWG/Bologna Commitee (no consent by (no consent by

RS)RS)

Legislation Legislation

By entering into force of By entering into force of the the state level Framework state level Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina a a preposition for a preposition for a systemsystem-like approach for reform -like approach for reform processprocess has been assured has been assured including implementation including implementation of all Bologna goals such asof all Bologna goals such as::

- quality assurance - quality assurance - recognition of qualifications - recognition of qualifications - assurance of horizontal and vertical mobility within - assurance of horizontal and vertical mobility within

educational system of BiH and EU educational system of BiH and EU - issuing of a common context of diplomas and - issuing of a common context of diplomas and

diploma supplement diploma supplement - introduction of ECTS system - introduction of ECTS system - cooperation in promotion of European dimension of - cooperation in promotion of European dimension of

higher education etc. higher education etc.

CoE/EC ProjectCoE/EC Project“Strenghtening HE in BiH” “Strenghtening HE in BiH”

RESULTS: 7 documents to be adopted by the Council of RESULTS: 7 documents to be adopted by the Council of Ministers of BiHMinisters of BiH((http://www.coe.bahttp://www.coe.ba): ):

- - The framework for higher education qualifications in BThe framework for higher education qualifications in BiHiH- - Recommendations for implementRecommendations for implementation of ation of higher educationhigher education

qualifications in Bqualifications in BiHiH- - Standards and guidelines for quality assurance in higherStandards and guidelines for quality assurance in higher

education in education in BiHBiH- Recommendations for implementation of quality - Recommendations for implementation of quality assurance in assurance in

BiHBiH- National Action Plan for recognition in BiH - National Action Plan for recognition in BiH - - Users’ manual diploma supplement model for BUsers’ manual diploma supplement model for BiHiH - - Diploma supplement model for BDiploma supplement model for BiH iH

The framework for The framework for HEHE qualifications in Bqualifications in BiHiH

Consists of three cycles (180-240 ECTS, 60-Consists of three cycles (180-240 ECTS, 60-120 ECTS, 180 ECTS)120 ECTS, 180 ECTS)

The BiH descriptors describe: knowledge, The BiH descriptors describe: knowledge, skills and abilities associated with typical skills and abilities associated with typical end cycle qualifications (Bachelors Degree, end cycle qualifications (Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree and Doctorates)Masters Degree and Doctorates)

Currently BiH Framework does not include Currently BiH Framework does not include any further levels or sub-divisions within any further levels or sub-divisions within the three cycles to illustrate progression the three cycles to illustrate progression within the structure (structure reflects within the structure (structure reflects credit ranges associated with the Bologna credit ranges associated with the Bologna framework)framework)

TThe stage ofhe stage of implementation of NQF in implementation of NQF in

BiHBiH * *

LEGISLATION IN PLACE →LEGISLATION IN PLACE → No suitable information providedNo suitable information providedSTAKEHOLDER AGREEMENT FINALISED →STAKEHOLDER AGREEMENT FINALISED → √√ in process in process WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED → √WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED → √ OUTCOME BASED QUALIFICATIONS DESCRIPTORS →OUTCOME BASED QUALIFICATIONS DESCRIPTORS → √ √IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE AGREED →IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE AGREED → No suitable No suitable information information providedprovided

Bosnia and Herzegovina got Bosnia and Herzegovina got YELLOWYELLOW mark as extent to which its mark as extent to which its NQF is in line with QF in EHEA. NQF is in line with QF in EHEA.

* * TTaken from Stephen Adam's reportaken from Stephen Adam's report based on the analysis of based on the analysis of individual country 2007 Stocktaking submissions on the individual country 2007 Stocktaking submissions on the implementation of NQF, on the occasion of Forum on implementation of NQF, on the occasion of Forum on Qualifications Frameworks Background Report held in Qualifications Frameworks Background Report held in Strasbourg, 11-12 October 2007). Strasbourg, 11-12 October 2007).

The objectives of QF of the The objectives of QF of the BiH area:BiH area:

Enable employers, schools, partners, prospective Enable employers, schools, partners, prospective students and others to understand the achievements students and others to understand the achievements and attributes represented by the main qualification and attributes represented by the main qualification titles, and how qualifications relate to one anothertitles, and how qualifications relate to one another

Assist HEI, learners and others to clarify potential Assist HEI, learners and others to clarify potential routes for progression and credit transfer, particularly routes for progression and credit transfer, particularly in the context of wider participation in lifelong learning in the context of wider participation in lifelong learning

Create and maintain international comparability of Create and maintain international comparability of standardsstandards

Improve the recognition of BiH qualifications and the Improve the recognition of BiH qualifications and the employability of citizens by ensuring their relevance to employability of citizens by ensuring their relevance to the needs of the national and international labor the needs of the national and international labor marketmarket

Ensure that access to, and the content of, BiH higher Ensure that access to, and the content of, BiH higher education is based upon the principles and values of education is based upon the principles and values of democratic society democratic society

Implementation Implementation principles principles

Long-term political commitment Long-term political commitment Close cooperation and full involvement of Close cooperation and full involvement of

stakeholders stakeholders The procedures for linking qualifications to the The procedures for linking qualifications to the

framework should be transparent, properly framework should be transparent, properly documented and based on the Bologna guidelines documented and based on the Bologna guidelines

The implementation process should entail The implementation process should entail genuine curriculum change together with the genuine curriculum change together with the development of appropriate teaching and development of appropriate teaching and assessment strategies in HE institutions assessment strategies in HE institutions

((TEMPUS projectsTEMPUS projects for HE, for HE, VET 3 Project VET 3 Project for for secondary vocational education → secondary vocational education → completioncompletion of of overall NQF)overall NQF)

Steps for Steps for Implementation Implementation

7 documents achieved approval from 7 documents achieved approval from relevant governmental authorities at relevant governmental authorities at various levels (13 Ministries and Rector’s various levels (13 Ministries and Rector’s Conference)Conference)

Announcement of 7 documents at Official Announcement of 7 documents at Official Gazette of BiHGazette of BiH

Consultation and dissemination with Consultation and dissemination with actors in the process actors in the process

Information Campaign Information Campaign Training of BiH Promoters Training of BiH Promoters (already in (already in

place)place)

What remains to be What remains to be done? done?

This is only the beginning of the process This is only the beginning of the process of of system-like HEsystem-like HE reforms in BiH! reforms in BiH!

Establish:Establish:

-National Agency for the Development -National Agency for the Development of HE and Quality Assurance of HE and Quality Assurance -Centre for Information and Recognition -Centre for Information and Recognition (NARIC) (NARIC)

- Start with Instrument for Preaccession Assistance (IPA) Start with Instrument for Preaccession Assistance (IPA) 2 2 projects in 2008projects in 2008::

1.) EU support to reform of HE in BiH aiming at:1.) EU support to reform of HE in BiH aiming at:

- - StrengtheningStrengthening of ENIC/NARIC Center of ENIC/NARIC Center - Drafting- Drafting Law on recognition Law on recognition - Establishment of system of exchange information and co- Establishment of system of exchange information and cooperationoperation model model - - Elaboration of modelElaboration of model of of integrated university integrated university ........2.) 2.) StrengthStrengthtteneninging of HE in BiH of HE in BiH aiming at: aiming at:

- Review of legislation and recommendations relevant to NHEQ- Review of legislation and recommendations relevant to NHEQ - Review of legislation and recommendations relevant to quality assurance - Review of legislation and recommendations relevant to quality assurance in HEin HE - Revision of study programmes in line with the NHEQF- Revision of study programmes in line with the NHEQF - External evaluation of 8 public universities and numerous private - External evaluation of 8 public universities and numerous private - Establish a network of experts for quality assurance and the HEQF......- Establish a network of experts for quality assurance and the HEQF......

Bologna Process Bologna Process Stocktaking London 2007Stocktaking London 2007

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!