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

2. 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
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:
ECTS, curriculum development base on learning outcomes,
new architecture of HE,
external and internal quality assurance,
accreditation,
qualifications frameworks,
Law on Higher Education (2005).

3. 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.

4. Partners 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

5. Working packages
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

6. WP. 1 - Survey Main areas covered by the survey:
Teaching Scientific Board
Council of High Education Institution
Dean’s Board
Other bodies of the HEI
Students questions
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

7. 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%

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

9. 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

10. Influence in decision making in higher education area1 2 3 4 5
Row Total f
1,39%
8,33%
43,06%
38,89%
52,17% s
3,03%
12,12%
50,00%
24,24%
10,61%
47,83%
total
2,17%
10,14%
46,38%
31,88%
9,42%
100,00%

11. Education and capacity building of student bodies’ leaders

12. Q & A
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION