Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina

1. 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 Durić Head of Department for Higher Education Senior Official for Higher Education

2. 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

3. BiH Structure of Higher Education

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. CoE/EC Project“Strenghtening 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

7. 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)

8. The stage ofimplementation of NQF in BiH * LEGISLATION IN PLACE →No suitable information provided STAKEHOLDER AGREEMENT FINALISED →√ in process WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED → √ OUTCOME BASED QUALIFICATIONS DESCRIPTORS → √ 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 reportbased 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).

9. 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

10. 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)

11. Steps for Implementation • 7 documents achieved approval from relevant governmental authorities at various levels (13 Ministries and Rector’s 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)

12. 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)

13. 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......

14. Bologna Process Stocktaking London 2007

15. Thank you for your attention!