Monitoring of the Bologna Process at the University of Sarajevo

1. Monitoring of the Bologna Process at the University of Sarajevo • Project Results • Prof. Dr. Roberta Maierhofer • Mag. Ulrike Krawagna

2. Presentation outline Background of the Project Methodology Results of Student Evaluation Results of the Management Assessment Conclusion and Recommendations

3. Background • Examination of the actual situation of the implementation of the Bologna Process at the University of Sarajevo • Assessment of student attitude through anonymous and comprehensive questionnaires • Management Assessment

4. Introductory remarks: • This summary report focused on the general attitude of teachers, academics and administrators of the University of Sarajevo and its member institutions • It has focused particularly on the positive impact of the reform process as well as on the challenges and obstacles met and not on the successes of the past years • We therefore want to acknowledge the enormous efforts that have been undertaken by the University of Sarajevo and its member institutions in the past years

5. Methodology Student Survey via Online Service Pre-Test May 2007: Faculty of Economics November 2007: All Faculties University Management Questionnaires Interviews May 2007: by Vice Rector Roberta Maierhofer Site Visits and Workshops May 2007: University of Pécs, Hungary November 2007: University of Graz

6. Results: Student Evaluation Pre-Test Faculty of Economics

7. Facts and Figures • Students: • Pre-test: 118 • Survey: 425 • Total: 543 • 1st cycle, BA: 88,2 % • 2nd cycle, MA: 11,8% Participating faculties • Sports and Physical Education • Criminology • Natural Sciences and Mathematics • Agriculture • Electrical Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Law • Faculty of Economics • Academy of Fine Arts

8. Do you think you are sufficiently informed about the Bologna reforms?

9. Did the Bologna reforms bring any improvements for the institution/ the status of students?

10. Which of the Bologna Goals are you familiar with?

11. What influence will the curriculum changes have on the future employment opportunities of graduates?

12. Are you familiar with the concept of „learning outcomes“

13. Are students involved in the Bologna reforms at your institution?

14. Does your institution offer information (brochures, manuals, ECTS guide etc.)

15. Student Evaluation: Résumé

16. Summary (1) • Best known Bologna goals: Curricula reform, introduction of a diploma supplement and implementation of ECTS as an accumulation and transfer system • A vast majority is not familiar with concept of "learning outcomes" as one of the main tools for the development of a more student-centered university. • Recognition of university degrees outside of BiH and enhancement of mobilityopportunities is not emphasized as an added value of the Bologna reforms • Students are aware of the importance of students‘ involvement in university life and ask for more participation in decision making procedures • Wide-spread pessimistic view among students on their employment opportunities, but hope for positive impact in the future

17. Summary (2) • Only half of the students identified the Bologna Process as a European-wide reform process • Most of the students do not feel sufficiently informed about the Bologna goals • Some of them question the effectiveness of a reform such as Bologna due to the lack of proper preconditions • Thus, there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty about the "correct" implementation • Nevertheless, a majority consider the Bologna reforms as positive for both students and the institution

18. Results: Management Assessment

19. Facts and Figures: Questionnaires • Topics: • Degree structure and curricula • Awareness & general attitude • Credit system and recognition • Mobility • Student services and student involvement • Quality issues • Lifelong learning and qualification framework • Social dimension • Participating Faculties (11): • Economics • Political sciences • Pharmacy • Sports and physical education • Civil engineering • Medical faculty • Veterinary medicine • Philosophy • Faculty of electrical engineering • Medical health care college • Faculty of criminal sciences

20. Does your institution have a Bologna co-ordinator?

21. General attitude: Current level of awareness

22. Facts and Figures: Interviews Participating institutions: • Representatives of the Rectorate • Faculty of Economics • Faculty of Medicine • Health Care College • Faculty of Mechanical Engineering • Faculty of Sports and Physical Education • Teacher Training College • Faculty of Law • Drama Academy • Music Academy Topics discussed: • General attitude (awareness of/support for Bologna reforms) • Curricula reforms • Recognition of degrees • Quality assurance • Results achieved, obstacles met • Use of online students‘ services

23. Résumé: Challenges & obstacles Lack of: • staff and infrastructure • Bologna awareness: supportive but no correct implementation • communication between faculties and the central University level • state law: framework for legal regulations • state support & state strategy • evaluation system on University level • accreditation and recognition agency

24. Résumé: Challenges & obstacles • No central co-ordination: implementation results from individual work • Overload • Question of length of study programs: 3+2 or 4+1: no national or central framework • Financial and organizational issues • Need of diploma recognition center • Tradition vs. the Innovation: difficulties of change

25. Résumé: positive impact • End of "after-war stagnation": opportunity for modernization and internationalization in a compatible and convergent manner • Decrease of drop-out rate • Better communication between students and professors through more interactive teaching and learning • More transparency through study guides and online course guides

26. Conclusions and Recommendations: • The results of the survey and interviews allow the conclusion that information about the objectives of the Bologna reforms are still not widely distributed and discussed both within the University and the Faculties even though there are considerable differences between certain faculties • Efforts to include students in the project (workshops and seminars) by the central university management were perceived as very positive, but there is still a strong need for the integration of students in decision making procedures as well as quality assurance mechanism (such as curriculum development, evaluation etc.)

27. Conclusions and Recommendations: • Even though all participating member institutions stated that ECTS has been introduced there is a need of more transparency of the correct use of ECTS as a tool for re-thinking and re-organizing teaching and learning through a more transparent, student-centered system focusing on learning outcomes and competences and a clear qualification profile • Organizational structure of the University does not yet provide suitable (legal) framework • Integrated University will bring a lot of advantages for a successful implementation of the Bologna Process such as:

28. Conclusions and Recommendations: • Potential for the establishment of a coherent organizational structure • Potential for standardized quality assurance system of all areas on University level • Potential for standardized legal guidelines and regulations concerning implementation of new curricula and ex-ante evaluation as well as accreditation procedures • Potential for standardized guidelines for the correct use of ECTS as an accumulation system which means increase of transparency of learning outcomes, competences and assessment

29. Concluding remarks: • The University of Sarajevo is well on its way to “Bologna”! • However, in order to meet the challenges at hand, strong support from public authorities as well as from all university levels is needed!