TEMPUS SCM Form N. C032B06 West Balkan Bologna Promoters Network Bratislava, 22-23 February 2008

1. TEMPUS SCM Form N. C032B06 West Balkan Bologna Promoters Network Bratislava, 22-23 February 2008 Implementation of ECTS at the University "St. Kliment Ohridski“ Bitola

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • About Macedonia • About the University • Current situation in the HE in R. Macedonia • Bologna declaration • Education system • ECTS • ECTS key features • Tools of ECTS • Expected outcomes • ECTS Challenges • 7 steps to credit transfer • International mobility • Conclusion - ECTS added value for students

3. ABOUT MACEDONIA • “There, where sun shines forever-there is Macedonia”, says an old popular song. And Macedonia is exactly that – a small country settled on the Balkan Peninsula. • Official name: Republic of Macedonia • Total area: 25 713 sq km • Population: 2 000 000 (Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs and others • Official Language: Macedonian – written using Cyrillic alphabet • Capital City: Skopje

4. ABOUT the UNIVERSITY • St. Kliment Ohridski University • Bul. 1. Maj bb • 7000 Bitola • Tel.: +389(0)47 223788, 223 192 • Fax: +389(0)47 223 594 • Web page: www.uklo.edu.mk

5. ABOUT the UNIVERSITY • Was founded in 1979 with its seat in Bitola and institutions located in Bitola, Ohrid, Prilep and Skopje. It represents an association of 8 Higher education institutions and 3 Research Institutes • 13000 students are enrolled in the education process • 38 study programs, 26 post-graduate study programs • 349 academic staff; 53 research staff,

6. CURRENT SITUATION IN THE HE IN R. MACEDONIA • 4 state universities • 1 private university • Many private colleges and faculties sprouting everyday • Europe and globalization knocked at our door, and we have to face with the new challenges in the education process of the 21 century.

7. BOLOGNA DECLARATION • Bologna Declaration signed by Macedonian authorities in Berlin in September 2003 • Objectives of the Bologna declaration accepted • - System of easily comparable degrees • - System based on three cycles • - Common system of credits • - Mobility • - Cooperation in quality assurance • - European dimension in Higher Education (HE)

8. EDUCATION SYSTEM 3+2+3 (4+1+3) • Starting from 2003, new curricula have been prepared. A good course description in Macedonian and in English (for few courses) version has been prepared and credits allocated. The proposed curriculum changes for increasing efficiency were: • - decreasing the number of semesters from 10 or 9 to 8 or 6 • - all the courses last one semester • - decreasing the number of lectures and exercises/week(25) • - continuous engagement of students • - 60 credits per study year, total 240 (180) credits to get a diploma • - 4 to 8 credits per course • - introducing optional subjects • - introducing more than one foreign languages • - no entrance exam

9. EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM • A process of implementation of ECTS has already started in the framework of a Tempus project (UM_JEP-15058-2000), as a pilot project at the Traffic and Transport engineering department at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Bitola. • To implement the ECTS Key features • Conceptually easy, Difficult in practice • - Change education paradigm from teaching to learning centered • - Not only contact hours taken into account • ECTS is supposed to be extended to all high institutions in Macedonia up to the end of 2010

10. ECTS KEY FEATURES • Credits express the volume of the students work- questionnaire among the students about the time needed for individual learning for each subject • Credits are awarded when the course is successfully assessed • Credits are always linked to a study program • A degree is only awarded after completion of the minimum number of credits foreseen in the degree program • All the tools of ECTS are used

11. TOOLS OF ECTS • The ECTS system is based on three core elements: • information (on study programmes and student achievements), • mutual agreement (between the partner institutions and the student) and • - use of ECTS credits (to indicate student workload). • These three core elements are being operationalized through the use of three key documents: the information package, (annex 1), the application form/learning agreement and the transcript of records. (annex 2,3,4)

12. EXPECTED OUTCOMES • ECTS to be used in a coherent way in Europe: • To allow for the diversity in European education systems • To build mutual understanding • To create the European Education Space

13. ECTS - CHALLENGES • How well understood is the concept of the students workload? • Have Institutions fully accepted the change in education paradigm (Teacher centered  student centered)? • How well does our credit allocation stand when subjected to quality assurance processes? • How well explained are our degrees (ECTS is a tool, not a goal on itself)?

14. 7 STEPS to CREDIT TRANSFER • Institutional commitment • Credit allocation to course units • Information Package • Learning Agreement • Award of credits to students • Transcript of Records • Academic recognition

15. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION • University Center for International Mobility • International programmes - TEMPUS Program (28 projects realized) - DAAD – Germany (mobility of students and staff) - Fullbright Program (mobility of staff) - Fund Institute “Open Society” • Cooperation with more than 30 European and other international Universities – bilateral agreements - Universities from former Yugoslavia - Universities from neighboring countries, - Universities from EU, - Other universities • Membership in few international associations

16. CONCLUSION - ECTS ADDED VALUE FOR STUDENTS • Broadens choice for study abroad • Facilitates access to regular programmes alongside local students • Improves information on study abroad options and helps to build up a programme of study (information package) • Provides certification of study abroad achievements • (transcript of records) • Guarantees academic recognition • (learning agreement, transcript of records)

17. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION