UNIVERSITY OF NIŠ

University Strategyfor implementation of BP at University of Niš

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Motives for HE Reform

• Low efficiency of studies (only 11% of students graduates in time; average duration doubled)

• Compatibility with EU educational system

• Change over from teacher-oriented to student-oriented education (students are engaged as partners in the teaching process improvement)

• Establishment of recognizable standards• Teaching based on a modern education theory,

with the application of IT and multimedia

Possible problems in the BP and Higher Education Low implementation i SCG

• Society in transition• Disintegrated university for more than 50 years• Difficulties with putting pieces together• Extreme differences in the relation of number students :

professors from faculty to faculty• On some faculties 90% of the professor’s work is student

examination (serious problems with work load)• Different goals from faculty to faculty in study programs

designs• High level of unemployment • Small number of students on technical faculties and high on

management • Financial aspects of the BP implementation

Ongoing activities in order to solve all possible problems

• Activities on faculty level• Activities on university level• Activities on interuniversity level• Activities on state level

Integrated university 1905 - 1954

• After 1954• Faculties are almost independent

institutions• University is an association of Faculties• Election of professors• Employment policy• Financial independence• Self-governing system for a long time, etc.

HIGHER EDUCATION LAW – UNIVERSITY

The Statute of a higher education institution, the Founding Act of a higher education unit and general acts of a higher education unit shall determine the powers and the manner of governance that shall assure unified and coordinated activities of the higher education institution.

The university shall integrate the functions of all the institutions and units that it comprises, particularly the faculties, by conducting unified policies aimed at continual promotion of the quality of courses and improvement of scientific research and artistic creativity.

To achieve the objectives referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, a university and/or an academy of professional career studies shall have specific competencies in the following fields:

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Article 48

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Article 48 1.establishment of unified standards of work of departments and

services and unified standards for creating data bases of all units; 2.strategic planning; 3.adoption of study programs; 4.quality assurance and control; 5.enrolment policy; 6.election of teachers; 7.issuance of diplomas and supplement diplomas; 8.international cooperation; 9.investment planning;10.employment policy planning and the hiring of teachers and

associates;11.establishment and development of a unified information system;12.lifelong learning.

A higher education unit shall have the right to make proposals relating to matters referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article in the manner regulated by the Statute of the university.

Comments to the text of the New Law of Higher Education

• The Law is written in a gentle style • Many definitions are not strict, saying

mostly “it is possible” or “you may”• Interpretation: What is possible is NOT

necessarily obligatory”

•

Necessary Requirements• To recognize integrative functions of universities

and provide funds within the state budget for their financing;

• To provide immediately budget in 2006 for the reform process initiated by the Higher Education Law;

• To urgently adopt a strategy of higher education development in Serbia.

• Formation of the funds for:• development, • capital investment and • solidarity

UNIVERSITY OF NIŠ

STUDY PROGRAMS

Actual problems:

Old and obsolete classification of occupations

The National Council for Higher Education, which would be responsible for the accreditation of study programs, has not yet been established

Discussions with the members of the Faculty Teaching Staff Councils

The scheme 3+2+3, and exceptionally 4+1+3, is accepted

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BASIC SCHEME (two ways)

1a) ACADEMIC (B – 3 years ; M – 2 years)

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2) PROFESSIONAL (3 years)

1b) DOCTORAL (3 years)

ACADEMIC STUDIES

Basic academic studies Problems Excessive number of study-program

proposals by the Faculties

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Visits to the Faculties to clarify essential principles: Wide-ranging orientation of programs

Unambiguous recognizability, sufficient program comprehensiveness, employability

Optional subjects 20-40%

Pursuit of adjusting the number of study programs to teaching staff potentials and other capacities

ACADEMIC STUDIES

Diploma academic studies (Master)

Excessive

Orientation

Greater number of programs (up to 5)

Interdisciplinary character – collaboration of several Faculties

Possible specialization

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Introduction of new programs: agriculture, management in other sciences

ACADEMIC STUDIES

Doctoral academic studies

In the process of formation

Interuniversity level

International level – Established agreement: Niš (Serbia) – Szeged (Hungary) – Potenza (Italy)

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ACADEMIC STUDIES

Professional career studies

Narrower in orientation

Oriented toward concrete professions

Possible specialization

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Mobility – studentsProblems – lack of ECTS

One program within the CEEPUS framework in the field of mathematics (Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics)

Student exchange – in all Faculties Physics (Faculty of Science and Mathematics) – the

coordinator of the Southeastern European Network in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics

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Mobility – teaching staff visits

WUS

CEEPUS

SCOPES

FP6

Joint scientific projects

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ECTS in preparation for future programs of study

Diploma supplement as a universal system of university/faculty communication within the European higher education area

Quality assurance Preparation of the accreditation procedure

Establishment of scientific-professional councils

Selection of teachers and associates

Exploitation of all resources

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Programs of activities

Statutes and books of rules

Forming of bodies and elections

Lifelong learning

Faculty of Medicine – Lifelong Medical Education Center (since 2004)

Faculty of Law – Civil Law Clinic, Regular Seminar "EU Law" with distinguished foreign and domestic lecturers, advanced professional seminars

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – retraining of military service personnel

Faculty of Economics – management, consulting,

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CONSTITUTION OF UNIVERSITY BODIES TIMETABLE AND TARGET DATES

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The University administrative, executive and professional bodies, as well as the Students' Parliament, shall be constituted within the three-month period starting from the date of passing the official order of the University reorganization.

1. Issuing of the official order of the University organization:Target date: June 30, 2006

2. Constituting the University Council:Target date: September 30, 2006

3. Constituting the University Senate:Target date: September 30, 2006

4. Constituting the Student's Parliament:Target date: December 10, 2006- Issuing the order of calling elections: October 01, 2006- Holding elections: November 10, 2006

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TIMETABLE AND TARGET DATES

5. Election of Teaching Staff Council members, deans and vice-deans at the faculties:Target date: September 30, 2006

6. Constituting other professional bodies of the University:Target date: December 10, 2006

7. Election of the University rector and vice-rectors:Target date: December 10, 2006- Issuing the order of opening election procedure: September 30, 2006

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TIMETABLE AND TARGET DATES