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Case Study Presentation: University of Zagreb

Melita KovačevićVice-Rector for Science and Technology

University of Zagreb

PRIUM, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, November 12 – 13, 2008

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Doctoral education - Past

1. Non existence of doctoral studies

/individual mentorship

2. Frequently not related to research projects

3. Long-lasting process

4. Non existence of monitoring mechanisms

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New University challenges: Reform

Bologna(HR, 2001.)

3 cycles PhD studies

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Legal background:

• Law on Research and Higher Education, 2003 (last revision 2007)

• National Council for Higher Education - recommendations

• University Statute, 2005 (and Faculties Statutes)• Regulations and Codes related to particular doctoral

study• University document (regulations) on doctoral studies –

in preparation

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Sljeme workshop – recommendations - September 2006 (organized by the University of Zagrebu and The National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia)

1. Doktorski studiji bitna su odrednica sveučilišta te ključna sastavnica u unapređivanju znanstveno-istraživačke djelatnosti na sveučilištima i znanstvenim institutima.

2. Doktorski studiji snažan su instrument za čvršće povezivanje EHEA i ERA.3. Doktorski studiji kljucan su instrument za izgrađivanje kompetencija istraživača u hrvatskom

istraživačkom prostoru.4. Najslabiju točku cjelokupnog sustava doktorskih studija na nacionalnoj razini predstavlja

nepostojanje sustava financiranja.5. tražiti financiranje doktorskih studenata iz sredstava različitih istraživačkih projekata6. Procjena kapaciteta nastave, istraživanja i mentora.7. Suradnja8. Uvjeti9. Kvaliteta i osiguranje kvalitete.10. Preoblikovanje dosadašnjih poslijediplomskih studija u doktorske studije11. Razlikovanje specijalističkih od doktorskih studija12. U doktorskim studijima koristiti sve hrvatske kapacitete13. Potrebno je razvijati uvjete za ostvarivanje mobilnosti14. Uspostava kvalitete doktorskih studija u svim znanstvenim i umjetničkim područjima15. Sudjelovanje novaka u održavanju nastave16. Naši najbolji studenti i dalje odlaze na strana sveučilišta, a strani ne dolaze17. Valja mnogo više raditi na privlačnosti studija nego do sada

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Structural issues to be taken care of:

1) research vs. teaching

2) courses

3) ECTS

4) duration

5) full-time vs. part-time

6) enrollment criteria

7) quality (publishing, completion, mentoring system)

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Ad 1) research vs. teaching

- should be a focus

- different levels- formal, informal- level/quality

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Ad 2) courses

• number• distribution over years• quality• specific vs. generic competences

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Ad 3) ECTS

• how to distribute them?• to have them at all?• what are the arguments for ECTS?

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Ad 4 & 5) duration/full-time vs. part-time

• what is optimal time to obtain a doctorate• should doctoral candidates be both – full-time

and part-time students• how to stimulate them to enroll and finish ASAP

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Ad 7) quality (publishing, completion, mentoring system)

• how to stimulate early publishing• how to have a good rate enrolled/completed• how to develop a good monitoring system• student evaluation

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Conferences and seminars on doctoral study programmes

• Maastricht, October 2004• Salzburg, February 2005• London, September 2005• Vienna, June 2006• Sljeme, September 2006 (organized by the University of Zagrebu

and The National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Republic of Croatia)

• Brussels, October 2006• Nice, December 2006• Lousanne, June 2008• Paris, June 2008• London, January 2009

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Ten basic principles (Salzburg, February 2005)

1. The core component of doctoral training is the advancement of knowledge through original research

2. Embedding in institutional strategies and policies

3. The importance of diversity

4. Doctoral candidates as early stage researchers

5. The crucial role of supervision and assessment

6. Achieving critical mass

7. Duration

8. The promotion of innovative structures

9. Increasing mobility

10. Ensuring appropriate funding

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EUA-CDE Launch Conference(Lausanne, 1-3 June 2008)

SOME OTHER ISSUES: Demography and nature of the institution Discipline-focused workshops Range of careers, not just academic Counseling and advising students Gender issues …

TOPICS AND ISSUES: Supervision requirements and conditions Institutional Cooperation Doctoral/Graduate/Research School Skills training Quality control/evaluation and review Student progress Structured programmes Doctoral candidate mobility and travel Careers and personal development

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UNICA – PhD meeting 2008(Paris, June 12 & 13, 2008)

Goal:To bring together a number of people responsible for the development and organisation of PhD programmes at UNICA universities, with the aim of establishing and promoting good practice by sharing views and experience. This meeting starts from the premise that we can learn from one another because there is substantial common ground between the UNICA universities, and that a lot of time can be saved by not reinventing the wheel.

Topics: Success rate Increasing European and international dimension. Research training. Postdoctoral opportunities. Business aspects

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Postgraduate study application and evaluation procedure:

• Curriculum development. • Delivery of postgraduate study programme to the University of Zagreb (2 copies of study

programme + electronic version of the programme sent to e-mail: amihalic@unizg.hr ). • Task force for the postgraduate programmes and doctoral thesis nominates the internal

evaluators. Task force  reviews the evaluations and, if necessary, requires the opinion on remarks given by applicant of the study programme.

• After positive evaluations, study programme is address to the Field Council sessions for discussion and dissenting.

• The Senate brings the decision on initiation of the procedure for study programme acceptance based on the Field Council opinion.

• University of Zagreb submit the study programme to the Ministry of science, education and sport (NVVO) for the valuation process.

• Agency for Science and Higher Education sends to the University the study programme keyword for the application MOZVAG.

• The University of Zagreb units must implement the study programme into the application MOZVAG for the valuation process.

• After positive valuation of the study programme of the NVVO, the NVVO gives the recommendation to the Minister to accept the study programme.

• Minister brings the final decision on the study programme acceptance and gives the accreditation.

• The Senate informs on accreditations issued by the Ministry.

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STRUKTURA STUDIJA

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Facts and figuresChallenges and obstacles

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Projects

Year Number of national projects

Number of international projects

2004 849 134

2005 851 182

2006 829 213

2007 986 190

Source: www.mzos.hr , http://projects.unizg.hr/projekti

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Mobility of doctoral students

Fields: yes no

Biomedicine 40 42

Biotechnical sciences 31 28

Social sciences and humanities

64 47

Technical sciences 66 131

Natural sciences 53 37

Total 254 285

Source: Questionnaire, Doctoral students, University of Zagreb, January, 2008 (no=539)

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Number of doctoral students employed at the University of Zagreb

Year Number of doctoral students employed at the University

2002/2003 1355

2003/2004 1468

2004/2005 1587

2005/2006 1542

2006/2007 1601

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Doctoral degrees – statistics (2007)

University: Doctors of sciences %

University of Osijek 31 6,7

University of Pula 1 0,2

University of Rijeka 34 7,3

University of Split 22 4,7

University of Zadar 13 2,8

University of ZagrebUniversity of Zagreb 365365 78,378,3

Total 466 100

Source: www.dsz.hr

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Number of Doctorates defended in the year 2000 (per one million of people)

Source: OECDSource: OECD

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Opened questions and dilemmas and obstacles to be overcome

• Legal framework– new laws on higher education; research; university– University Statute revision– University Codes of Conduct for Doctoral Studies

• Structural issues– Establishment of Doctoral Schools– Monitoring and supervision of doctoral candidates– Employability– Linking Education – Research – Innovation

Opening University towards Society