WEB MOB Development of Researchers Mobility Policy Guidelines for the Region of Western Balkans Mobility in Serbia Zorica Korac, Regional Environmental Center 25 th October 2007, Zagreb

Overview Current situation Factors influencing mobility; more about: employment recognition of degrees reform of educational system Funding Focal points Research and academic Institutions

Serbia mobility guide Brief Overview Moving to the new country Overview of the education system Working conditions Living conditions Social issues Regarding the researchers Information resources

Mobility of Researchers in Serbia “Brain drain” in Serbia is high, estimations vary; Around 8% of the top university students leave Serbia; A poll conducted among 3,200 young people between the ages of 16 and 35 found that as many as 43% are ready to leave if they find the opportunity to do so. No official data available on the number of researchers coming to Serbia, however, there is a general agreement that the number is low.

Incoming mobility of researchers in Serbia is influenced by a number of factors: administrative obstacles (the process of obtaining residence and work permits, recognition of degrees), ongoing reform of educational system (unresolved issues remain), lack of attractive research opportunities due to the low researchers’ salaries and the lack of English language courses at Universities, low awareness about the importance of foreign researchers’ inflow.

The Employment of Foreigners Prerequisites: residence permit (RP) and work permit (WP). National Employment Office issues WP to the foreigner on his request (if he has permanent RP), or on employer’s request (if the foreigner has temporary RP). Work permit can be issued for the period that is specified on residence permit. If the Employment Office has unemployed local residents on its waiting list, that have the same qualifications as the foreigner who applied for the specific job position, then local residents have the priority in this employment process. In order to continue working after the WP expires, foreigner needs to extend RP and obtain new WP.

Recognition of Academic Degrees Complicated procedures. The recognition of foreign higher education qualifications is done by Council of the faculty competent for specific education area. If an institution competent for specific area doesn’t exist then University recognizes foreign higher education qualifications. Procedure should take up to 30 days, but in some cases it takes days. Usually Faculty receives the documents, forms a Commission that writes a report for the Council; Council makes the decision; this decision is then forwarded to, and has to be approved by University.

Reform of educational system - unresolved issues The May 2002 Law on Higher Education - positive developments. However, it did not integrate each individual university, which is still no more than a weak conglomerate of highly autonomous faculties and other bodies, fragmented structures (improvement must come from a top-down legislative decision). Lack of interdisciplinary studies.

The existing academic degree granted with a diploma was transformed into a bachelor and some programs were shortened from 4 to 3 years. The degree granted with a ‘magistratura’ was mostly transformed into a master degree, achieved after 5 years of study (3+2 or 4+1). PhD degree remained. Although The Law on Higher Education says that universities have to recognize the equivalency of diplomas and titles, faculties want students to enroll in the fifth year - new master program, and pay for it (around one thousand euros each), in order to get the diploma.

Students who are already enrolled in the program of old Master studies (Magistarske studije), which last two years, and are more complex than the new Master studies. It is not clear yet if these students will just have to write the final PhD theses, (because they have already finished all the exams) or they will go directly to the second or third year of a new PhD program. Many universities lack effective management information systems for the collection and use of data; Very high tuition fees

State funding The overall percentage levels of state funding for education (3.2% in 1999) and research (0.32% in 2004,) are very low in European terms (5.7% OECD average and 1.9% EU average in 2001 respectively); although research funding grew from 0.1% in 2000 to 0.32% in R&D public spending in Serbia is set to increase to 1.4% in The link between the university, its students and current and potential employers needs to be strengthened, more strategic links should be established with these external partners. The S&T policy was based on the “push” technology model. European University Association, Institutional evaluations of Universities in Serbia

Focal Points Serbian Government (basic facts, statistics, districts, constitution) Ministry of Science Department of International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Ministry of Education Ministry of Foreign Affairs -Consular Affaires (Visas Regime, List of Border Crossings, Travel Documents, Customs Formalities) -International bilateral treaties in the field of cultural, educational and scientific cooperation

National ENIC/NARIC office for recognition of academic and professional qualification -National Information Centre, National Education Bodies, System of Education, University Education, Post-secondary Non-university Education, Recognized Higher Education Institutions, Policies and Procedures for the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, Diploma Supplement Information URL:

Ministry of Science Department of International Scientific and Technological Cooperation is in charge with following issues: International, scientific, technological, bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Projects and programs of European Community in domains of scientific and technological researches. Cooperation with organizations and agencies from United Nations system. Cooperation with foreign scientific, government and non government organizations and associations. Cooperation with our scientists and experts in Diaspora. Preparations of programs for scientific and technical cooperation. Making of the contracts, agreements, conventions and the other general acts with regard to the international scientific cooperation. Other affairs in the Department’s competency onid=9&id=41&Itemid=45

Bilateral Cooperation Ministry of Science funds projects of scientific and technological cooperation between Serbian and foreign scientific and research organizations based on bilateral agreements. m_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=45 Multilateral Cooperation m_content&task=view&id=155&Itemid=45 -France -Greece -India -Israel -China -Macedonia -Germany -Slovakia -Slovenia -Suisse

Research and academic institutions University of Belgrade (established in 1838) 31 faculties, 61 research centers, 86 institutes, 190 laboratories, students University of Novi Sad (established in 1960) 13 faculties, students University of Niš (established in 1965) 13 faculties, 11 faculties are located in Nis, the Faculty of Technology is in Leskovac and the Teacher-Training Faculty inVranje, students University of Kragujevac (established in 1976) 11 faculties, students University of Priština (established in 1970) Two separate institutions recognized by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), around students University Novi Pazar (established in 2002) 4 faculties

Research institutions Institute for Nuclear Sciences Vinča Scientific program on molecular biology and endocrinology Sustainable energy development, clean coal technologies, solar energy, etc. Center for Multidisciplinary Studies School of Medicine (in English)

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