Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education Analysis of current state in internationalization from the accreditation aspect of HEIs Maja Macan and Marina Cicović Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance WP1_Activity 1.1._Analysis of current situation about internationalization and recognition mechanisms /08-09 March 2016 Logo of your organization Project number: EPP BE-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP "This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein"

Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education One of the highest priorites in the global context Two components evolving in the internationalization of higher education, by Knight – Internationalization at home, more curriculum oriented – Internationalization abroad, including all forms of education across borders Internationalization in HE

Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education International cooperation is one of criteria in the institutional accreditation in BiH „International cooperation – HEI has international cooperation through international projects, bilateral agreements, joint programmes, etc. – HEI promotes and secures international mobility of students and academic staff, and it applies experiences thus acquired in its own activites – HEI has procedure in place and secures resources to support its international activites“ Assesment of internationalization

Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education HEI needs to determine – WHY is important for it to be more international oriented – WHAT needs to be implemented/strategic goals needs to be achieved – HOW to achieve goals, HOW to monitor implementation, measure achived results and make concrete improvements Self assesment of internationalization

Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education In the external evalaution process, experts asses – how HEIs policies, procedures, and activities with regard to internationalization contribute to the overall quality of higher education institutions, HAVING IN MIND context and strategy of the concrete HEI, specific region, cultural diversity etc. External Assesment of internationalization

Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education Findings are created on the basis of 19 experts’ evaluation reports of HEIs that completed institutional accreditation process and are listed in the State Register of Accredited HEIs All experts evaluation reports are available at x?id= x?id=6502 The fullfilment is assesed as fully at five (5) HEIs – 3 public and 2 private universities The fullfilment is assesed as substaintially at fourteen (14) HEIs – 5 public and 5 private universities; and 4 private colleges Assesment of internationalization

Key obstacles for internationalization Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education External evaluation reports show that key obstacles for internationalization are: Financial support Lack of strategic approach

Findings Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education „HEI has international cooperation through international projects, bilateral agreements, joint programmes, etc.“ External evaluation reports show us that: HEIs have signed bilateral agreements with institutions from abroad HEIs participate in the international projects HEIs organize and participate in international conferencies, BUT In most cases there is a lack of strategic approach when signing mutual agreements and when applying for projects; There is a lack of joint programmes and programmes in English or other foreign language Language barier

Findings Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education „HEI promotes and secures international mobility of students and academic staff, and it applies experiences thus acquired in its own activities“. External evaluation reports show us that: student, academic, research and administrative mobility is low, mostly due to following reasons: – Low or no financial support; – Foreign language barier; – Not interested students; – Lack of information about posibilities; – Recognition of credits; – Motivation of management and academics/not regulated employability status; – Lack of study programmes in English or other foreign languages; – Study programmes are not compatible enough with those in the region or abroad

Findings Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education „HEI has procedure in place and secures resources to support its international activities“. External evaluation reports show us that: – small number of HEIs have strategy for internationalization – HEIs have individuals or offices dealing with international issues, which in most cases are not sufficient – Lack of staff trained for project management – Lack of monitoring and evaluation process – In most HEIs there are lack of appropriate procedures dealing with different aspects of internationalization

Good examples Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education Experts identified following good practices: Existance of internal drivers for internationalization: management, international offices, staff at all levels of HEI are competent and commited Sistematic and selective approach when signing international agreements, applying for projects and organizing conferences Appropriate use of project outcomes and results After identifying obstacles for mobility of different categories, HEI made concrete actions in order to Improve foreign language knowledge mechanisms for motivation and benefits Good disemination of posibilities and institutional support when there is no lack of motivation for mobility or other international activities

General Experts Recommendations Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education To make study programmes more compatible To introduce study programmes in English To introduce more joint programmes To better motivate academic staff To strenghten human capacities in the international offices To introduce more relevant procedures based on the strategy To regularly disseminate information about internationalization to selected target groups To better use possibilities offered by agreements and projects To define research profile of the HEI and make it more internationaly visible

Thank you for your attention Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education