Assessing student participation in governance and management in HE institutions towards improved QA Nenad Jovanovic, University of Nis

What is European Tempus project Sigmus? The Project SIGMUS is designed to strengthen the role of students in governance and management at the Universities of Serbia in line with the Bologna process. The project was in the line with National priorities for Structural Measures for Serbia in the area of Governance Reform – University management and student services. Project background ECTS, curriculum development base on learning outcomes, new architecture of HE, external and internal quality assurance, accreditation, qualifications frameworks, Law on Higher Education (2005). In the previous years the higher education reform in the Republic of Serbia has been conducted entirely in the spirit of the Bologna Process and has encompassed the principal aspects of this Process, including:

Main Project Characteristics Expected national impact: to upgrade the legal framework on student participation in governance and management at the Serbian Universities through creation of proposal for a new legislation and participation in Ministry of Education and National Council of Higher Education. to create and develop student services at Universities, through creating a database of all student organizations, implementing student e-services and establishing student mentor system. Specific objectives of the project To improve legal framework for students participation in governance and management at the Universities in Serbia and in the HE regulatory bodies. To strengthen and enhance capacities of student representative bodies in HE issues related to implementation of Bologna action lines. To establish and develop organized and efficient student services at the Serbian Universities.

NATIONAL PARTNERS University of Belgrade (Grant Holder) University of Novi Sad University of Nis University of Kragujevac State University of Novi Pazar University of Singidunum University of Megatrend The Association of Directors of Serbian Schools of Applied Studies. Ministry of Education and Science National Council of Higher Education Students' Alliance of Belgrade Student Union of Serbia INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS Technical University of Crete University of Maribor University of Udine Middlesex University Student Union BOKU Partners

WP. 1 – Evaluation of student participation in the university governance and management and student services in the consortium members. WP. 2 – Tuning of the legal framework on student participation in governance and management at the Serbian Universities in the line with the EU best practice WP. 3 – Strengthening of student representatives bodies WP. 4 – Improvement of student participation in the implementation of Bologna Process by promotion of European dimension in higher education WP. 5 – Establishment and development of student services at Serbian Universities WP. 6 – Quality Control and Monitoring WP. 7 – Sustainability WP. 8 – Dissemination WP. 9 - Management Working packages

Main areas covered by the survey: Teaching Scientific Board Council of High Education Institution Dean’s Board Other bodies of the HEI Students questions WP. 1 - Survey The questionnaire was filled-in online on EVO portal ( by: management staff of higher education institutions official student representatives Basic results: 66% of all HEI (106/159) 146 fulfilled surveys 45.89% student representatives 54.11% management staff of HEI

Involvement of students in the HE governance and management Council of HEI – 17.7% of students Teaching Scientific Board – 13.7% of students Quality Commission – 22% of students Disciplinary Commission – 30.6% of students Dean Selection Committee – 14.5 % of students up to 20%

Involvement of students in the HE governance and management 9% Teaching Scientific Board In which cases students are not involved? 3.2% Council of HEI 7.14% Quality Commission 15.22% Disciplinary Commission 30.23% Dean Selection Committee

Involvement of students in decision making process at the universities Teaching Scientific Board– discussion: 18.25% often, 73.02% periodically, 8.7% don’t discuss at all Council of HEI – discussion: 28.33% often, 66.67% periodically, 5% don’t discuss at all

Influence in decision making in higher education area 12345Row Total f1,39%8,33%43,06%38,89%8,33%52,17% s3,03%12,12%50,00%24,24%10,61%47,83% total2,17%10,14%46,38%31,88%9,42%100,00%

Education and capacity building of student bodies’ leaders

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