BOLOGNA PROCESS

Regional Network on Qualification Frameworks for South East Europe

Launching MeetingCetinje, Montenegro, 8-9 July 2008

Bosnia and HerzegovinaSanela Turković prof. dr Novica Nosović

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (BIH) HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFIKATIONS FRAMEWORK

• Joint project (CoE/ EC) 2006-2008 “Strengthening Higher Education in BiH”• Results:- Seven documents aiming at further implementation of BP in BiH and Low on Higher Education in BiH:

- The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in BiH- Implementing a Framework for Higher Education Qualification

in BiH- Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher

Education in BiH- Recomendations for the Implementation of Quality Assuranse in

Higher Education in BiH- National Action Plan for the Recognition of Qualifications in BiH- Diploma Supplement Model for BiH- Users Manual for the Diploma Supplement Model for BiH

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (BIH) HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFIKATIONS FRAMEWORK (2)

• Council of Ministers of BiH adopted 7 documents on December 12, 2007

• 7 adopted documents represent:

– Activity Framework for all institutions and each individual included in implementation of BP;

– Tight conection between Framework Qualification, Quality Asssurance and Qualification Recognition;

– Implementation of these 7 elements- key for sucessfull reforme of HE System in BiH

Structure of the Framework

Framework consists of three cycles reflecting and expanding upon the “Dablin Descriptors”, adopted by ministers in Bergen 2005.

- BiH desctiptors describe the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with typical and cycle qualifications, i.e. Bachelors Degree, Master Degree and Doctorates.

- Currently, Framework does not includ any further levels or sub-divisions within the three cycles to illustrate progression within the structure

- Structure reflects ECTS credit ranges associated with the Bologna Framework (First cycle=180-240 ECTS; Seconde cycle=60-120 ECTS; Third cycle= “Dablin” descriptors exist but are under discussion and expansion)

The objectives of the qualifications framework

• 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 higher education institutions (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, especially in intra-institutional, regional and European context, and to facilitate mobility for all (students, academic and non-academic staff, citizens),

• Eradicate inconsistency and confusion between higher education qualifications by a clear description of qualifications in term of cycle/level, learning outcomes and credit,

• Help create domestic and international confidence in BiH higher education qualifications and standards by integrating them with the new BiH quality assurance system fully consistent with the European Higher Education Area, European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) standards and guidelines,

• Improve the recognition of BiH qualification and the employability of citizens by ensuring their relevance to the needs of the national and international labour market,

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

Steps in implementation of BiH NQF

Completion of the following set of steps for implementation may take 2-3 years:

- Consultation and dissemination with actors in the process;

- Information campaign;- Training of BiH promoters (started);- Pilot project for applying the general

framework to particular fields of study;- Legislation

Further steps of NQF implementation BiH (within IPA projects)

2 IPA projects: “ EU Support to BIH Higher Education” and “Strengthening Higher Education in BiH”, projects starts soon.

2 Project aims listed below are based on results achieved by now in implementation of Bologna process:

– Elaboration of Framework Low on Recognition of Higher Education Qualification (Nov 2010);

– Elaborate recommendation for adapting legislation relevant to quality assurance and the national Framework for Higher Education Qualification (end of 2010);

– Implementing a generic qualification framework for higher education in 4 determined fields of studies (Nov 2010);

– Establishment network of BiH experts for quality assurance and Framework for Higher Education Qualification (Sept 2010);

– Strengthening capacities of institutions involved in development of quality assurance in higher education and document recognition (Oct 2010);

Low on Higher Education in BiH

- Adopted on August 2007- Supports implementation of 7 documents- System integration into BP – by introducing

principles and institutions for compleat BP implementation in BiH, i.e. quality assurance, recognition of documents, mobility, introduction of three cycle higher education system, unified module for diploma and diploma supplement, ECTS...

Low on Higher Education in BiH (2)

• Low forsees establishment of 2 nacional agencies:

1.Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance- (operational)

1.Agency for Information and Recognition of Documents (ENIC/NARIC)- (Will be operational on September 2008)

Conclusions

• Last year was the most fruitfull concerning higher education reform process.

• Strong step forward was made in terms of basic juridical and institutional prepositions for BiH integration into EHEA.

• This mark a real beginning of future work: Framework is done, now efforts are to be invested in its

fulfilment.• Proof that we seriously approached towards this job is

just elaborated IT Nacional Qualification Framework

IT National Qualifications Framework in BH TEMPUS SCM Nr.C010B06

• Descriptors build upon the common reference points from EHEA QF and NQF as adopted by the BH Ministerial Council

• Descriptors build for the IT sector specific competences based on the EuroINF standards for accreditation of IT programmes (for the first and the second cycle)

• Third cycles descriptors – not sector specific!

IT Sector Specific NQF in BH

• Euro – INF Project (4 partners)

• TEMPUS JEP-19015-2004 (8 BH partners)

Euro-Inf Standards

• First cycle degree capabilities:Underlying Conceptual Basis for Informatics

–knowledge and understanding of the principles underlying informatics

–knowledge and understanding of their respective informatics specialisation, and awareness of the wider spectrum of informatics disciplines

–a systematic understanding of the key aspects and concepts of their discipline of informatics, including some at the forefront of the discipline

Euro-Inf Standards

• First cycle degree capabilities:Analysis, Design and Implementation (1)– understanding of the feasibility and complexity of informatics

problems – ability to select relevant analytic and modelling methods – formalisation and specification of real-world problems where

informatics forms part of the solution – ability to familiarise themselves quickly with new informatics

applications – insight into possible application fields of informatics – identification of application problems in the overall context and

know the appropriate solution patterns – appreciation of the need for deep domain knowledge in certain

application areas and demonstrated their appreciation of the extent of this in at least one situation.

Euro-Inf Standards

• First cycle degree capabilities:Analysis, Design and Implementation (2)– the ability to describe solutions at abstract level– application of their knowledge and understanding to design hard-

and/or software which meets specified requirements – knowledge of all phases of the life cycle for building new, and

maintaining existing, informatics systems. Selection of appropriate process models for projects concerning traditional applications as well as emerging application areas

– modelling and ergonomic design of user interfaces suitable for application

– selection of programming environments appropriate to the respective problem

– professional creation and thorough testing of informatics systems – familiarisation with existing technologies and sensible use of

their elements

Euro-Inf Standards

• First cycle degree capabilities:Other Professional Skills – ability to develop an approach relevant to any application without which

core competence in informatics cannot fully develop in practice – consideration of the economic, social and legal conditions expected in

informatics practice – awareness of project management and business practices, such as risk

and change management, and understanding of their limitations – ability to effectively function as an individual and as a member of a team – independent organisation of their own work – problem solution using informatics in a cost-effective and time-efficient

way accepted by all participants. – basic knowledge in estimating and measuring expense and productivity – effective communication with colleagues, (potential) users and the

general public about substantive issues and problems related to their chosen specialisation; communication competence to convincingly present ideas and suggested solutions in written and verbal form

Euro-Inf Standards

• Second cycle degree capabilities:Underlying Conceptual Basis for Informatics– profound knowledge and understanding of the principles of

informatics – either a deepened knowledge of a chosen specialisation or

broadened knowledge of informatics in general – critical awareness of the forefront of their specialisation

Euro-Inf Standards

• Second cycle degree capabilities:Analysis, Design and Implementation – specification and solution of informatics tasks that are complex,

incompletely defined or unfamiliar – formulation and solution of problems also in new and emerging

areas of their discipline – application of the state of the art or innovative methods in

problem solving, possibly involving use of other disciplines – ability to think creativity to develop new and original approaches

and methods

Euro-Inf Standards

• Second cycle degree capabilities:Technological, Methodological and Transferable Skills

– integration of knowledge from different disciplines, and handling complexity

– comprehensive understanding of applicable techniques and methods for a particular specialisation, and of their limits

– awareness of the limits of today’s knowledge and knowledge understanding practical application of the state-of-the-art technology

– respective knowledge and understanding of informatics to create information models, complex systems and processes

– ability to contribute to the further development of informatics

Euro-Inf Standards

• Second cycle degree capabilities:Other Professional Skills – independent work in their professional field – good managerial abilities and effective functioning as leader of a

team that may be composed of different disciplines and levels – effective work and communication in national and international

contexts – systematic approach to risk management

Further Developments

• Outcome-based acreditation – for the first time in the EHEA

• Professional associations bare the main responsibilities for acreditations standards ie. QF descriptors

• Strengthen professional associations in both capacity building and state recognition