1 Presentation of the Institute for the Development of Education Presenter: Ninoslav Šćukanec, President, Institute for the Development of Education

2 Content of presentation I.Vision, mission, strategic goals II.1. Main activities and achievements : Service-provision and educational advising II. 2. Main activities and achievements : Advocacy and higher education reform

3 I. Vision, mission and strategic goals

4 Vision The Institute for the Development of Education is an active participant in the transformation of Croatia into a knowledge society by contributing to positive changes in the Croatian HE system. The Institute for the Development of Education advocates for the Croatian HE system to be based upon the values of: –flexibility (adapting to the needs of society and labour market) –democratic governance –inclusiveness (of all citizens and social groups) –quality-assurance (by promoting innovation and excellence).

5 Mission statement The Institute for the Development of Education is a non-profit and non-governmental organization that is committed to the development of higher education policy in Croatia and to its effective implementation in accordance with social needs. The Institute for the Development of Education acts through advocacy work, cooperation with institutions on development projects and provision of information and advising services for individuals and institutions.

6 Strategic goals Provision of information-dissemination and advising services on higher education opportunities in Croatia and abroad 2.Advocacy for improvements in higher education policy in Croatia 3.Enhancing the work and services of institutions in the field of higher education

7 II.1 Main activities and achievements : Service-provision and educational advising

8 1. Study opportunities in Croatia and abroad IDE has become a reference point within the Croatian academic community for educational advising services IDE provides integrated, accurate and free information and advice on study opportunities in Croatia, Europe and the USA IDE provides information on higher education systems, study programmes and financial aid for higher education 2. Scholarships: IDE launched the first Croatian scholarships web portal IDE organises the largest Scholarships Fair in Croatia, now widely recognised as a high-profile educational brand IDE administers 7 scholarships programmes for study abroad

9 Service-provision and educational advising 3. Educational services: IDE is a Croatian testing centre for the TOEFL iBT test and offers free information and advice on a range standardised tests (TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, SAT, TOEIC). IDE organises unique courses for preparing for standardised tests, and for academic and business writing IRO organises foreign language courses in over 50 locations worldwide as an official agent of the EF International Language Schools

10 Service-provision and educational advising Statistics: how many people contacted in 2006? Total web hits: 164,018 responses to queries: 12,491 Visitors (in person and by phone): 2,051 Visitors to Scholarships Fair 2006: 6, Monthly web hits on 18,000www.iro.hr Monthly web hits on : 30,000www.stipendije.info

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13 III.2 Main activities and achievements : Advocacy and higher education reform

14 Advocacy and higher education reform IDE is involved in the development of higher education in Croatia through innovative projects implemented in cooperation with higher education institutions in Croatia and abroad. These projects take place within two fields of activity: –Development of university services –Democratisation of higher education

15 1. Advocacy and higher education reform A. Development of university services IDE is involved in the reform of the Croatian HE system, with special emphasis on student services in Croatian universities. Since the Bologna Process places the student in the centre, IDE supports the efforts for Croatian universities and their programmes respond to the needs of students and of the wider community. IDE has implemented two Tempus projects related to the development of student services.: –VIRTUS: Virtual Academic Information Service –CAREER: Platform for Career Advice Centres in Croatia

16 1. Advocacy and higher education reform “VIRTUS: Virtual Academic Information Service” ( ) Goal: To establish an Internet information service on scholarships opportunities for Croatian citizens. Objectives: 1) Creation and launch of the first Croatian schoalrships web portal 2) Organisation of Scholarships.info conference on the role of scholarships in increasing academic mobility

17 VIRTUS results: Web portal

18 Advocacy and higher education reform “CAREER: Platform for Career Advice Centres in Croatia” ( ) Goal: To create the platform for launching Career Advice (CA) centres in all Croatian universities. Objectives: 1)Needs analysis/feasibility study of the introduction of Career Advice centres into Croatian universities 2)Drafting of CA centre models corresponding to the needs of each Croatian university 3)Publication of platform for launching CA centre in Croatian universities

19 CAREER results: Presentation of research results

20 Advocacy and higher education reform B. Democratisation of higher education IDE actively works on the democratisation of Croatian universities, placing particular emphasis on the respect for, and protection of, the human right to higher education (and human rights within higher education). IDE once a year organises the “Right to Education“ campaign, with the aim of: –Raising awareness of and promoting the human right to higher education in Croatia. –Opening access to information on HE opportunities, financial aid and on the human right to education

21 Advocacy and higher education reform B. Democratisation of higher education Basic statistics on Croatian higher education demonstrate that there are a number of problems regarding the right to higher education and/or rights in higher education. Only 7.2% of the Croatian population has attended higher education/university (17% average in EU) Only 46% of enrolled Croatian students graduate from college 7 years is the average for graduating from college (4 years average in EU)

22 Advocacy and higher education reform B. Democratisation of higher education The “Right to Education” campaign organised once a year by IDE consists of two central events: Scholarships Fair: –Attended by 4000 visitors in 2005 and 6000 visitors in 2006 Expert Symposium on the human rights to/in higher education: –Attended by 54 participants, including decision makers from universities and state institutions, as well as numerous representatives of the academic community, student organisations and NGOs

23 Advocacy and higher education reform B. Democratisation of higher education Significance of the “Right to Education” campaign: Scholarships Fair: First and largest scholarship fair in Croatia Highlights the importance of equal access to education based on merit, and the importance of providing financial aid for higher education Expert Symposium: Unique advocacy event covering key themes such as: –Socio-economic aspects of the human right to higher education –Marginalisation in higher education: perspectives of ethnic, gender and sexual minorities and students with disabilities

24 Scholarships Fair 2006

25 Symposium 2006

26 IDE and the MOBIL project IDE applied for the MOBIL project in 2006 upon request from (and in cooperation with) the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports. The MOBIL project directly addresses the development and reform of HE and addresses a number of “cross-cutting issues” that correspond to fields of activity that IDE has been actively involved in since 1999: raising academic mobility improvement of university services development of an international dimension in education provision of financial aid/scholarships for HE improvement of access to education

27 Further information Preradovićeva 33/I, HR Zagreb Tel: + 385/ Fax: + 385/