“Introduction of the ECTS Universities of Bihać ” University of Bihać “Introduction of the ECTS Universities of Bihać ”

Basic information / Degree structure University of Bihać was established in 1997 and it consists of 6 faculties and one college, College of Nursing Studies. There are around 6000 students at the University of Bihać. There are two systems of education adopted at the University of Bihać: 3+2+3 and 4+1+3. Technical Faculty 3+2+3 Biotechnical Faculty 3+2+3 Pedagogical Faculty 4+1+3 Law Faculty 4+1+3 Faculty of Economics 4+1+3 College of Nursing 3 Islamic Studies Faculty 3+2+3

Last academic year 2006/2007 we started with the Bologna process Last academic year 2006/2007 we started with the Bologna process. This year we were able to recognize objective and subjective shortcomings. Objective shortcomings are: lack of teaching staff, space and equipment. Another problem we had to face was the lack of preparation of teachers to the new way of teaching. Great number of teachers still works according to the old system of teaching. Students are also unprepared since they have not expected this quick change in educational system. As a result of that, there are demands by students for more examination terms. University of Bihać is not an integrated University and faculties dealt with this issue in different ways. Some gave additional examination terms, some only 2 and University couldn’t influence it in any way.

Currently, the students at our University attend the second year of this system. We do not have any students attending the second and the third cycle although the curricula for their education have been adopted. Now we are waiting for this generation to reach the fourth year. At the Technical faculty Faculty of Law and at the Faculty of Economics there are graduate programmes four semesters long. However, other faculties do not have graduate programmes yet. It is possible to submit and defend a doctoral dissertation at the University.

ECTS management All the faculties have prepared curricula as adopted according to the methodology of ECTS system. The points-systems at the faculties are not uniform. Some of the faculties have used so called linear scoring points. Some faculties have used formulas so we have not coordinated it at the level of the University. This part comes within the competence of the faculty, so all faculties have successfully completed it. We have also issued the brochures, the books with the complete curricula and they are available to students at most faculties. Moreover, they are available online.

The majority of the faculties have prepared the Freshmen Guides. We have also made the ECTS Guide for students and academic staff at the University. All the faculties have web sites but they are not regularly updated. Diploma Supplement has not been issued yet although we do have a related regulation.

ECTS management All faculties have provided the ECTS coordinators. They are not fully trained for this job and they are burdened with their everyday activities. This position is mainly assigned to the teaching assistants. At some faculties this job is performed by the deans for academic affairs. The University itself does not have an ECTS coordinator. The students are introduced to their obligations and rights at the beginning of the academic year within the Bologna frame.

After the completion of the 1st and 2nd semester, we made an internal evaluation at some faculties. A survey was conducted about teachers’ work and students gave their opinion about the new educational system. We noticed some shortcomings in curricula so that faculties had the opportunity to make corrections of their curricula again and adapt them to the ones at faculties in the region.

Quality insurance University of Bihać does not have an Office for quality insurance. There is an obstacle regarding the hiring of new staff at the Vice-chancellor's office because the local government has not agreed to employ a person to run the Office for Quality Insurance, a person for the position of the ECTS coordinator and the person to run the Office for International Cooperation. Currently, the University of Bihać employs just one person who is charge of international cooperation but who also performs other activities and duties in the Vice-chancellor's office.

Relationship with other universities and USK government With regard to the international cooperation and cooperation between universities there is a number of agreements that we have signed with universities in Bosnia and agreements with universities abroad. The universities in question are mainly the universities in the region. Effects of the signed contracts are already noticeable. Some of our assistants have already enrolled Universities, such as University of Novi Sad, University of Zagreb, etc. There was the second meeting of deans and vice-deans from Faculties of Pedagogy and Philosophy held in September 2007 in Mostar according to the initiative of the Faculty of Bihać. The theme was harmonization of curricula at the state level. Boards of various experts are established in order to harmonize the curricula. The relations with the government of USK (local government) which were not in the past satisfactory, have improved recently in our view. The Minister of Education has shown considerable interest in resolving the issues at the University.

Student mobility Due to the lack of staff the University does not have information on the mobility of students. A few students use the scholarships by the international associations and there is record at the faculty. Such students are denied the support of the faculty and are left on their own. Students' mobility at the University of Bihać is missing. We haven't had any demands by students from other universities to come to our University for a semester. The major reason for that is probably the lack of means and insufficient information about studying possibilities.

Future challenges Currently, the new Higher Education Law is under way in the USK canton. The University has offered its support and expertise to the Ministry of Education. Concurrently, we are preparing the Statute of the University and other regulations. The burning issue at the University is the teaching staff. As this is the transitional period in which many professors have been retired there is a huge gap in this area. Another problem is the lack of space as only two faculties have adequate buildings. All other faculties rent their buildings or the space they are using is inadequate, so that management of the university considers it its major priority.

Future challenges There are two main fields of activity at the University of Bihać: academic staff – PhD lecturers and space – buildings. Currently, the University is in the phase of preparation of the objects to move two faculties. The Federal government has given away the army barracks which will enable better working conditions. There is also a plan to employ enough TAs at the faculties in order to upgrade the quality of teaching. We also have in mind to found the Office for the International Cooperation, the Office for the Quality Insurance and to choose the ECTS coordinator at the level of the University.

Effects of Tempus JEP “Introduction of the ECTS Systemat B&H Universities” In accordance with this Project, and on the initiative of Rector’s Conference, the meeting of vice-rectors from all universities in BiH was held last Tuesday. The goal of the meeting was harmonization of educational system and curricula. The major goal is the unique education system in order to enable students’ mobility. Some conclusions were proposed and additional ways of acting in future period will be proposed in the next meeting of Rectors’conference in October.

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