EUA Conference, Marseille, 1EUA Conference, Marseille, 1stst – 3 – 3rdrd April 2004 April 2004Universities and Society: Engaging StakeholdersUniversities and Society: Engaging Stakeholders

Establishing Strategic PrioritiesEstablishing Strategic Priorities

Prof. Prof. Fuada StankovićFuada Stanković, Rector, RectorCase study: University of Novi SadCase study: University of Novi Sad

About the University of Novi SadAbout the University of Novi Sad

University of Novi Sad (UNS) started in 1954 with two University of Novi Sad (UNS) started in 1954 with two faculties: Agriculture and Humanities/Sciences.faculties: Agriculture and Humanities/Sciences.

Today it is a comprehensive university with 13 faculties:Today it is a comprehensive university with 13 faculties:

1. Academy of Arts1. Academy of Arts2. Agriculture2. Agriculture3. Chemical engineering3. Chemical engineering4. Civil engineering4. Civil engineering5. Technical sciences/Engineering5. Technical sciences/Engineering

Electrical engineering and telecommunications Electrical engineering and telecommunications Mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering Computer engineering Computer engineering DesignDesignArchitectureArchitecture

6. Economics6. Economics7. Law7. Law8. Medicine8. Medicine9. Sciences9. Sciences10. Social Sciences and Humanities10. Social Sciences and Humanities11. Sports11. Sports12. Teachers training12. Teachers training13. Teachers Training in Engineering and Management13. Teachers Training in Engineering and Management

UNS is the only university in the province of UNS is the only university in the province of Vojvodina with the population of about 2 million.Vojvodina with the population of about 2 million.

Second largest university in Serbia (after University Second largest university in Serbia (after University of Belgrade).of Belgrade).

40.000 students40.000 students1600 teachers and researchers1600 teachers and researchers2000 administrative staff2000 administrative staff

85% of all research in Vojvodina is concentrated at 85% of all research in Vojvodina is concentrated at the University.the University.

Vojvodina is the most developed part of Serbia (at Vojvodina is the most developed part of Serbia (at the third place in the former Yugoslavia after the third place in the former Yugoslavia after Slovenia and Croatia).Slovenia and Croatia).

Major industries: agriculture, food processing, Major industries: agriculture, food processing, refineries, metal industry, pharmaceuticals…refineries, metal industry, pharmaceuticals…

Inefficient use of water resources (Danube river and Inefficient use of water resources (Danube river and canals).canals).

Links between the University and Links between the University and its social partnersits social partners

StrengthsStrengths

1. High level of university autonomy1. High level of university autonomy

2. University is among founders and members of 2. University is among founders and members of different consortiums: different consortiums:

Novi Sad Incubation Centre (with the local and Novi Sad Incubation Centre (with the local and provincial government)provincial government)

Independent Centre for strategic planning (with Independent Centre for strategic planning (with the provincial government)the provincial government)

Regional Agency for SMEs developmentRegional Agency for SMEs development

Innovation Centre with state governmentInnovation Centre with state government

Strengths (continued)Strengths (continued)

3. SKILL - student company for services to SMEs 3. SKILL - student company for services to SMEs CORE - student services to different activities CORE - student services to different activities within and outside the University (design and within and outside the University (design and organisationorganisation of University stand at the of University stand at the bookfair…)bookfair…)

4. Joint projects with NGOs within the University 4. Joint projects with NGOs within the University (Association of students with special needs, (Association of students with special needs, Roma students Roma students organisationorganisation……

Strengths (continued)Strengths (continued)

5. Joint projects with external NGOs (OSCE, Centre 5. Joint projects with external NGOs (OSCE, Centre for Democratic Elections - CESID, First Stop for Democratic Elections - CESID, First Stop Serbia-Denmark...)Serbia-Denmark...)

6. Contracts at the University level with several 6. Contracts at the University level with several large companies (scholarships, donations in large companies (scholarships, donations in equipment, joint projects)equipment, joint projects)

7. Fund for talented students - 20 institutions 7. Fund for talented students - 20 institutions involved from companies to banks and local and involved from companies to banks and local and provincial governments, Bar Association of provincial governments, Bar Association of Vojvodina, Chambers of CommerceVojvodina, Chambers of Commerce

Strengths (continued)Strengths (continued)

8. Individual efforts in commercialisation of 8. Individual efforts in commercialisation of knowledgeknowledge

9. Dispersed practice of LLL at the level of 9. Dispersed practice of LLL at the level of faculties and departmentsfaculties and departments

10. ALUMNI Association Established10. ALUMNI Association Established

11. Campus-based university11. Campus-based university

12. Website as a mean of communication with the 12. Website as a mean of communication with the inner and wider communityinner and wider community

13. Technical condition for E-learning established 13. Technical condition for E-learning established

WeaknessesWeaknesses

1. Lack of strategic priorities in facing stakeholders1. Lack of strategic priorities in facing stakeholders

2. Rather coincidental instead of more integrated 2. Rather coincidental instead of more integrated collaboration collaboration

3. Lack of organized and systematic dialogue with 3. Lack of organized and systematic dialogue with stakeholders on human resource development - stakeholders on human resource development - no systematic contacts with former students to no systematic contacts with former students to get opinions about the programmes and curricula get opinions about the programmes and curricula and their relevance for the needs of wider and their relevance for the needs of wider environmentenvironment

4. Lack of tradition in joining the systematic social 4. Lack of tradition in joining the systematic social dialogue by majority of university members and dialogue by majority of university members and external stakeholdersexternal stakeholders

Weaknesses (continued)Weaknesses (continued)

5. Informal, individual instead of institutional links5. Informal, individual instead of institutional links among researchers and stakeholdersamong researchers and stakeholders

6. Decentralized LLL at the department and faculty 6. Decentralized LLL at the department and faculty level instead of LLL centre at the University level level instead of LLL centre at the University level - - organisedorganised approach to approach to commercialisationcommercialisation of of knowledge is in the initial phaseknowledge is in the initial phase

7. Research strategy related to the regional 7. Research strategy related to the regional development is missingdevelopment is missing

8. No E- learning yet8. No E- learning yet

Weaknesses (continued)Weaknesses (continued)

9. Lack of specialized office/officers to facilitate9. Lack of specialized office/officers to facilitate dialogue with stakeholders dialogue with stakeholders

10. No representatives of industry in the University10. No representatives of industry in the University bodiesbodies

11. No public adult education and evening classes11. No public adult education and evening classes

Students as stakeholdersStudents as stakeholders

University should offer students not only University should offer students not only professional knowledge but also environment professional knowledge but also environment which propagate which propagate civilisingcivilising values of values of behaviourbehaviour, , citizenship, freedom of thought and expression citizenship, freedom of thought and expression (Magna Charta (Magna Charta UniversitatumUniversitatum).).

The UNS strategy is to use the advantage of its The UNS strategy is to use the advantage of its campus (and being comprehensive University) in campus (and being comprehensive University) in order to become a guardian of regional and national order to become a guardian of regional and national cultures and an open space for citizens to come and cultures and an open space for citizens to come and enjoy in different cultural events.enjoy in different cultural events.

Academy of arts with its music, drama, fine arts Academy of arts with its music, drama, fine arts departments, foreign languages departments, departments, foreign languages departments, collections at biology department can offer collections at biology department can offer interesting events for the wider public as well as interesting events for the wider public as well as other departments (lectures, round tables etc.).other departments (lectures, round tables etc.).

The goal is to develop feeling of belonging to the The goal is to develop feeling of belonging to the university community (corporate culture) within the university community (corporate culture) within the University (students, teaching staff, employees). University (students, teaching staff, employees).

It is a long lasting process of changing image of the It is a long lasting process of changing image of the University from an "ivory tower" to a precious University from an "ivory tower" to a precious centre of knowledge, culture and highest ethical centre of knowledge, culture and highest ethical values and a treasury for the wider environment.values and a treasury for the wider environment.