Bologna Process - University of Zenica

About the Bologna process

Consideration of information on the degree of implementation of the Bologna process at UNZE
As part of the regular activities of self-evaluations that are carried out at UNZE during the month of October in several places with the founders of UNZE, information on the achieved level of elements from the Bologna process at UNZE in the three previous years was analyzed. So this information (complete text in pdf format, 588 kB) which was done as part of the regular university self-evaluation for the period 2004-2006, was presented and discussed at the session of the cantonal government (October 25), then at the Youth Commission of the Ze-Do Cantonal Assembly (October 26), the Education and Science Commission of the Cantonal Assembly ( 28.10) and most recently at the October session of the Canton Assembly on 31.10.2007. This document will also be considered by the UNZE Senate members at their session on October 31, 2007. years. The document was prepared by the UNZE QA team led by UNZE vice-chancellor Prof. Dr. Darko Petković, who also represented UNZE in discussions with members of the parliament. In those talks, Vice-Chancellor Petković was given a brief overview of the current situation in the elements of the Bologna process, the most significant problems that UNZE is facing and the expectations that teachers and students of UNZE have from Ze-Do Canton when it comes to further fulfillment of the conditions from the Bologna process.

Certainly today, in university circles and beyond, one of the most frequently mentioned terms is the Bologna Declaration or, more precisely, the Bologna Process. Officially started with the Bologna Declaration, on June 19, 1999, the Bologna process rests on a series of documents and declarations, starting with the Magna Charta Universitatum, on September 18, 1988, in which the basic principles of the foundation, construction and operation of universities are given, and through the Lisbon conventions, the Sorbonne Declaration, the Bologna Declaration, the Salamanca Convention, the Prague and Berlin Communiqués, until the conference in Bergen, Norway, in May 2005.
The essence of the Bologna Process was expressed in the Bologna Declaration, by which 29 European ministers undertook to establish a European area of higher education by 2010, and to promote the European system of higher education throughout the world. Only a European education system organized in this way can achieve the desired synergistic effect, which would enable the competitiveness of the aforementioned area to be increased, both in the economic and cultural-educational domains.
Putting this idea into practice should, in accordance with the already mentioned Bologna Declaration, be realized through:

Adopting a system of easily understandable and comparable academic titles
Adoption of a system with two main cycles (undergraduate/postgraduate)
Establishment of the credit system - ECTS
Promoting mobility by removing obstacles for the effective application of free movement of students, teachers, research associates and administrative staff
Improvement of European cooperation in quality assurance with the aim of developing comparable criteria and methodologies
Promoting the European dimension in higher education

As a supplement to this list, the Prague Communiqué emphasized the following elements essential for the field of higher education:

Lifelong learning - lifelong learning
Involvement of students
Improving the attractiveness and competitiveness of the European area of higher education to other parts of the world.

ANNOUNCE:

SEMINAR "Developing awareness of the Bologna Process - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Integration into the European Higher Education Area 2005", which will be held from June 6 - 10, 2005.
More information at: https://www.sus.ba/bologna/seminar.html

Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG):

The Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG) is a formation of representatives of 40 signatory countries of the Bologna Declaration and NGOs dealing with higher education (EURIDYCE, ESIB, EUA, ENQUA, etc.). CIRCULAR LETTER TO 9 BOLOGNA DECLARATION SIGNATORY COUNTRIES (pdf, 178 kB)
Report from the Bologna conference on the "Qualifications Framework (EFQ) in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)" held in Copenhagen from 12-14 January 2005 (pdf, 174 kB)
OVERVIEW of regulations in the field of education in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (pdf, 113 kB)
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TWO-CYCLE STRUCTURE (pdf, 466 kB)
Bologna Scorecard criteria (pdf, 164 kB)
Bosnia and Herzegovina scorecard (pdf, 59 kB)
Standards and instructions for quality assurance in the European area of higher education (pdf, 176 kB)
Framework for European Higher Education Area Qualifications (pdf, 799 kB)
Presentation – Bologna Scorecard 18.04.2005. (Powerpoint presentation, 2 MB)

Report from the meeting of the Bologna Follow up Group (BFUG)
Manchester 12-13 October 2005

In Manchester, England, on October 12-13, 2005, the first session of the Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG-Bologna Follow Up Group) was held after the Ministerial Conference in Bergen.
The meeting was held in England, as it is customary and established rule that the BFUG meets in the country that presides over the European Union.
BFUG had a very substantial agenda.
At the beginning of the meeting, the new Bologna Secretariat was presented. As Great Britain has decided to organize the next ministerial conference in London in May 2007, it is organizing the Bologna Secretariat. The secretariat consists of:
1.Ann McVie – Team Leader
2. Yvonne Clarke – advisor
3. Louis Riply – advisor
Communication with the Secretariat is done via e-mail: bologna.secretariat@dfes.gsi.gov.uk, tel. 0044 20 79256311/7364.
The Secretariat has its own website: www.dfes.gov.uk/bologna.
The session was chaired by Rachel Green (representative of the current EU presidency, Great Britain), and the presidency was also attended by a representative of the previous EU presidency from Luxembourg and a representative of the next EU presidency, Austria.
The first working day of the Bologna Process Monitoring Group was spent in considering the Work Program until the next Ministerial Conference, which will be held in May 2007 in London. The program envisages that the activities of BFUG in this period will be concentrated on

activities of 6 working groups
organizing seminars
making projects
and discussions at BFUG sessions

The proposed working groups are as follows:

RG for stocktaking
RG for "outer dimension"
RG for the "social dimension" of the Bologna process
RG for the European Qualifications Framework
RG for drafting the communique for the Ministerial Conference in London
RG for recording the mobility of staff and students and the transferability of scholarships and grants

Leaders (countries) of working groups and participating countries in working groups are proposed.
It was decided to reduce the number of seminars: it was adopted to hold 6 seminars.
Two projects were adopted: one should be done by the EAU (European Association of Universities), and it refers to the doctoral (third) cycle, and the other one is done by ENQA, and it refers to the European Register Agency for Quality Assurance. In the work program of BFUG there are also some other events as well as several very important topics for discussions at BFUG

On the second day of the session, the consultative members of the BFUG (CoE, ENQA, ESIB, EURASHE, EC, UNESCO-CEPES, UNICE, EI) gave reports on what they are doing on the way to the Bologna reform.
The next BFUG meeting will be held in Austria, which has held the EU presidency since January 2006. The meeting will be held on April 6-7, 2006 in Vienna.
In the next year, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a large number of significant obligations regarding the implementation of the Bologna reforms.
I remind you that according to the assessment of the special commission in the implementation of the Bologna reforms, Bosnia and Herzegovina is at the bottom of the ranking list (among the last three on the list: Andorra, BiH and Serbia). Precisely for this reason, the Bologna process should be closely monitored and implemented and strive to catch up with other countries or at least with those from our environment, which are making better progress in the Bologna reforms (Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia).
First of all, it is necessary to make up for the lag from the previous period in the following areas:

establishing a quality assurance system
recognition of diplomas and periods of study (as a matter of urgency ensure the implementation of the Lisbon Convention, which BiH signed in 2003)
establishment of a two-cycle study system in full and preparation for the third - doctoral cycle

In addition to these, by the Ministerial Conference in London in the spring of 2007, work should be done on the following tasks:

Start work on the creation of a national/state framework for qualifications that will be harmonized with the European Framework for Qualifications
Fully implement the standards and guidelines in the national/state quality assurance system proposed by ENQA
introduce a proposed model for external control of quality assurance agencies
introduction of lifelong learning system
introduction of the social dimension in higher education (equal access to higher education for all students)

We in Bosnia and Herzegovina need to keep track of the fact that in a little more than a year (by the end of 2006) we will have to do:

a new national/state report in which we will describe our two-year work on the implementation of the Bologna reforms between the two ministerial conferences (Bergen - London, 2005-2007)
a new "stocktaking" report in which we will be asked about the exact elements in the implementation of the Bologna reforms

On the basis of these reports and on the basis of independent reports of various European institutions for higher education, all members of the Bologna process will be evaluated and ranked according to their success in implementing the Bologna reforms.
In order for all this recording to be possible for Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is necessary to start collecting statistical data from the higher education system (State Agency for Statistics) URGENTLY.

Lamija Tanović, Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina in BFUG
Sarajevo, 15.10.2005.

ECTS – European Credit Transfer System

One of the basic "tools" in building a unique area of European education is ECTS - European points transfer system, which enables national systems across Europe to provide efficient mobility of students and professors at the European level.

European Credit Transfer System, ECTS - the European system of transfer of points/credits is designed as a single system that enables easier recognition and comparison of different educational programs at universities and other higher education institutions in European countries. The rating system is based on points that express the student's workload in mastering a certain study program. So, in short, we can say that it is the "weight factor" of a course or study, but in order to rationalize the study space in Europe, it was clearly stated that for one academic year it is necessary to collect 60 ECTS points, 30 for a semester, or 20 for a trimester. The application of the ECTS system in university practice contributes to the mobility of students in the European area of higher education, with the possibility of transfer and accumulation of points acquired at different institutions, which creates the initial assumptions of quality inter-university cooperation of both students and teachers. The ECTS system is not only that. It is also the best indicator of the study profile that the student has completed, which is of great importance for employers.

Credits - points or credit points (points) are the key element of ECTS. Points/credits are awarded to individual courses/modules/subjects, as well as other forms of mastering the intended study program (projects, seminars, studies, experimental work, exams, field work, dissertations...). ECTS are a quantitative measure of the student's overall effort in mastering the intended material and are awarded to the student after the successful completion of a specific program.

ECTS is above all an effective instrument for creating transparency of the programs offered by higher education institutions and the diplomas they issue. ECTS connects institutions in an easier way and thus expands the choice for students. The system makes it easier for institutions to recognize the student's results in mastering a specific study program through generally accepted criteria for evaluating it - ECTS points. This provides a unique approach in the interpretation of national higher education systems throughout Europe.

IN BRIEF the general philosophy of ECTS is to enable flexibility.

01/13 – meeting of ECT(A)S coordinator of UNZE
02/13 – meeting of ECT(A)S coordinator of UNZE
03/13 – meeting of ECT(A)S coordinator of UNZE
04/13 – meeting of ECT(A)S coordinator of UNZE
05/13 – meeting of ECT(A)S coordinator of UNZE

A guide to ECTS for teachers and students >>

Report on the results of the student load assessment survey >>

EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM (ECTS):

ECT(A)S guide for teachers and students (2012) in Bosnian language (pdf, 3.2 MB)
Guide for ECTS in English (pdf, 729 kB)
Framework of European qualifications (pdf, 799 kB)
ECTS Users Guide (pdf, 746 kB)
COURSE STRUCTURE (pdf, 1.35 MB)
Basics at the University of Zenica (pdf, 1.93 MB)
INTRODUCTION OF THE ECTS-EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM INTO THE TEACHING PROCESS AT THE FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (pdf, 290 kB)

Education reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Modernization of management and management capabilities of universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (joint project of the European Commission and the Council of Europe):

3rd seminar for management training, 21.04.2005: Minutes (pdf, 123 kB)
2nd seminar for management training, 15.03.2005: NOTES FROM THE WORKING GROUPS (pdf, 128 kB)
List of Participants – 2nd Management Training Seminar 17-18 February 2005 Hotel Palas Sarajevo (XLS, 35 kB)
2nd seminar for management training, 15.03.2005: Report (pdf, 123 kB)
The third seminar for creating a prototype of the university statute, 05.03.2005: Report (pdf, 118 kB)

Documents on education reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Studying in Europe 2 (pdf, 1.63 MB)
Functional overview of the education sector - Final report (pdf, 1.2 MB)
Education reform - a message to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (pdf, 254 kB)
Education in BiH - Report of the Council of Europe for the World Bank (pdf, 386 kB)
EUA institutional evaluations of seven Universities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (pdf, 254 kB)
Science development strategy in FBiH (pdf, 2604 kB)
Strategy for the development of NI-IR work in FBiH (pdf, 590 kB)

Rectors' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina

About the Conference:

The Rector's Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina/Rector's Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina is an association of universities, which determines and represents the common interests of Bosnian universities towards authorities and all entities interested in the development and future of higher education, and especially towards international entities dealing with higher education.

The following universities are members of the Rectors' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina/Rectors' Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
1. University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Trg srpski vladara 2,
2. University of Bihać, Bihać, Kulina bana 2/II.,
3. Džemal Bijedić University in Mostar, Mostar, Midhata Hujdura Hujke bb,
4. University of East Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Vuka Karadžića 1,
5. University of Mostar, Mostar, Trg hrvatski velikana 1,
6. University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Obala Kulina bana 7/II.,
7. University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Muharema Fizovića 6/II.,
8. University of Zenica, Zenica, Fakultetska 3.

The University of Zenica presided over the Rectors' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina/Rectors' Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 17.12.2012. until 18.11.2013. years.
During the presidency of the University of Zenica, the Rectors' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina/Rectors' Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina held 4 (four) sessions, where issues from the competence of this body were discussed, with the agenda of the sessions as follows:

01/13 – The first session of the RKBH/RZBiH held on January 21, 2013. years
1. Adoption of the Minutes from the 4th session of the RKBH/RZBiH held on December 17, 2012. in Bihać
2. Discussion on the work plan of the RK BiH/RZ BiH for the mandate period
3. Compliance of legal solutions of all levels of educational authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, number: 59/07 and 59/09) (issues of academic freedom, academic self-governance and university autonomy)
4. Institutional accreditation of public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Act of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina entitled European Commission - General Directorate for Translation, Information
6. Current issues
7. Supplement to the agenda, at the suggestion of the director of the Agency for the Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ph.D. Husein Nanić, Proposal of one representative of the RKBH/RZBiH as a member of the Commission for the selection of domestic and international experts who evaluate and conduct quality audits and make recommendations on the accreditation of higher education institutions and study programs

02/13 – Second session of RKBH/RZBiH held on April 15, 2013. years
1. Adoption of the Minutes from the 01/13 session of the RKBH/RZBiH held on January 21, 2013 in Zenica
2. Information on the project "Higher Education Financing Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina"
3. Framework work plan of the RK BiH/RZ BiH for the mandate period
a) Conclusions from the meeting held on March 12, 2013. in the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. Compliance of legal solutions of all levels of educational authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, number: 59/07 and 59/09) (issues of academic freedom, academic self-governance and university autonomy)
5. Information on the completion of the procedure for changing the registration of the RKBH/RZBiH and the opening of the account of the Rectors' Conference of BiH/Collection of Rectors of BiH, link Decision on financing the work of the RKBH/RZBiH from the 4th session of the RKBH/RZBiH in Bihać from 17.12.2012. years
6. Current issues
7. Addition to the agenda, at the suggestion of Prof. Ph.D. Uga Vlaisavljević, vice-rector for international relations of the University of Sarajevo, consideration of the status of the Tempus office in BiH, coordination of new projects and in general the issue of the relationship between the Tempus office and the RKBH/RZBiH

03/13 – The third session of the RKBH/RZBiH held on September 2, 2013. years
1. Making decisions about:
a) dismissal of the President of the RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. Sabahudin Ekinović
b) the appointment of the president of the RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. Dževad Zečić
c) dismissal of the person authorized to represent the RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. Sabahudin Ekinović
d) appointment of a person authorized to represent the RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. Dževad Zečić
2. Adoption of the Minutes from the 02/13 session of the RKBH/RZBiH held on April 15, 2013. in Zenica
3. Initiative to mark the tenth anniversary of Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the Bologna Process - University of Tuzla, number: 01-4072/13 dated 05/28/2013. years
4. Initiative for negotiating and signing bilateral agreements between public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on academic exchange - University of Tuzla, number: 01-4198/13 dated 06/05/2013. years
5. Information - Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, number: 09-33-5-1134-ALĆ/13 dated 05/14/2013. year, point 2 of the Conclusion of the RKBH/RZBiH, number: 01-100-020-1244/13 dated 04/15/2013. years
6. Information on non-compliance of cantonal/entity laws with the Framework Law on Higher Education in BiH - Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, number: 09-33-4-692-2-ALĆ/13 dated 05/22/2013. year, connection Conclusion number: 01-100-020-1242/13 dated 15.04.2013. years
8. European Union and Council of Europe new joint project "Strategic development of higher education and qualification standards" in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reporter Roberts Karen
9. Initiative - University of Tuzla for the participation of members of the RKBH in regional rectors' conferences, document number: 01-5453/13 dated 18.07.2013. years
10. Written address of the vice-chancellor of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Ph.D. Uge Vlaisavljević to the chairman of the RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. to Sabahudin Ekinović, document number: 0103-38-1823/13 dated 03.06.2013. years
11. Current issues
12. Supplement to the agenda, at the proposal of the president, Prof. Ph.D. Dževad Zečić, rector of the University of Zenica, consideration of the letter from the Agency for the Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance Banja Luka, entitled Request for the appointment of a representative of the Rector's Conference to the Advisory Board of the IPA Twining project - "Strengthening of institutional capacities in quality assurance"

04/13 – The fourth session of the RKBH/RZBiH held on November 18, 2013. years
1. Adoption of the Minutes from the 03/13 session of the RKBH/RZBiH held on September 2, 2013. in Zenica
2. Implementation of conclusions from the 03/13 session of the RKBH/RZBiH
3. Act of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entitled Rulebook on the use of academic titles and the acquisition of scientific and professional titles, number: 09-33-5-1138-3-A??/13 dated 21.10.2013. years
4. Report on the work of the RKBH/RZBiH during the presidency of the University of Zenica and the handover of duties to the University of Sarajevo with a financial report, and making decisions on:
a) Adoption of the Report on the work with the financial report on the operations of the Rectors' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina/Rectors' Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina
b) Dismissal of the president of RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. Dževad Zečić,
c) Appointment of the President of the RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. Muharem Avdispahić,
d) Dismissal of the person authorized to represent the RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. Dževad Zečić,
e) Appointment of a person authorized to represent the RKBH/RZBiH, Prof. Ph.D. Muharem Avdispahić,
f) Dismissal of the General Secretary of the RKBH/RZBiH, Mediha Arnaut, Bachelor of Laws,
g) Appointment of the general secretary of the RKBH/RZBiH,
h) Amendments to Article 3, paragraph 4 of the Statute of the RKBH/RZBiH - The seat of the RKBH/RZBiH is "Obala Kulina bana no. 7/II, Sarajevo",
i) Change of headquarters of RKBH/RZBiH - Sarajevo, Obala Kulina bana number 7/II,

4. Current issues

Documents:

Minutes from the meeting held on February 17, 2005. (MS Word document, 49 kB)
Statute (MS Word document, 103 kB)
Minutes from the session of the RKBH-RZBiH from July 12, 2005 (MS Word document, 43 kB)

European university regulations

The Magna Charta of University, Bologna, 18 September 1988 (pdf, 68 kB)
JOINT DECLARATION ON HARMONIZATION OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM, Paris, the Sorbonne, May 25 1998 (pdf, 123 kB)
Bologna Declaration, 19 June 1999 (pdf, 66 kB)
Bologna Declaration (translation) (pdf, 66 kB)
CREDIT ACCUMULATION AND TRANSFER SYSTEMS, Leiria, Portugal, 24 –25th November 2000 (pdf, 137 kB)
The Bologna Process Seminar on Bachelor-level Degrees Helsinki, Finland February 16-17, 2001 (pdf, 73 kB)
TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATION PROJECT REPORT and RECOMMENDATIONS, March 2001 (pdf, 179 kB)
Message from the Salamanca Convention of European higher education institutions SHAPING THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA, 29-30 March 2001 (pdf, 164 kB)
Furthering the Bologna process – Reports to the Ministers of Education of the signatory countries, Prague, May 2001 (pdf, 420 kB)
TOWARDS THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA Communiqué of the meeting of European Ministers in charge of Higher Education in Prague on May 19th 2001 (pdf, 129 kB)
EUA Graz declaration – Forward form Berlin: the role of universities, Leuven, 4 July 2003 (pdf, 155 kB)
Communiqué of the Conference of Ministers responsible for Higher Education in Berlin on 19 September 2003 (pdf, 40 kB)
EUA Progress towards the European Higher Education Area: What Trends reports are telling us..., 29 January 2004 (pdf, 49 kB)