Gap Analysis and Recommendation for Higher education reform in B&H

Prof. dr Mirsad DjonlagićTempus JEP “Introduction of the ECTS at B&H Universities”Workshop in Porto22. 02. 2008.

Background of the project

“Assistance to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to improve capacity to undertake European integration tasks at EHEA and cooperation with the BiH Rectors’Conference”

BIH Rector conference , German Rectors’ Conference, Ministry of Civil affairs in BiH, expert groups

Project objectives and aims Overall objective: to foster a

consistent higher education refom process in line with Bologna Declartion throughout the whole of BiH; to increse active participation of BiH in the EHEA.

Strengthening the institutional and functionla capacities of RC BIH

Tematic issues Role, tasks and structure of a rectors’

conference Organisation and financing of the higher

education sector and higher education institutions

Bologna process and its implementation IT-based information and communication

management in higher education

National system of higher education is decentralised

Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH is only public administration with responsibilities in the field of higher education

8 public universities and 22 private HEIs

Overview of the higher education system in BiH

Reforms in higher education

Major problems are categorised as follow:1. Funding and financial flexibility2. Quality of Higher education3. Teaching and studies4. Research5. Governance structure of HEIs6. Autonomy of HEIs7. Higher education legislation at the national

level

Information and data

A broad range of written material on higher education

Evidence from interviews and discussions with actors in higher education sector of BiH

Rectors conference, role and tasks

To provide a forum for inter-university cooperation and for the formation of joint opinions and policy positions

Act as political and public voice of the HEIs

Offer services to its members Consult politics and public

administration

Functional model

FORUM for inter-university cooperation and the formation of

joint opinions

SERVICE AGENCY to members

RC BiH

Political and public VOICE of the HEIs

CONSULTANT to politics and public

administrations

Gaps and recommendation

1. The systemic environment faced by RC BiH and its members

2. Structure of Higher education governance in BiH

3. organization of RC4. Issues of communication5. commitment

Gaps Financial Resources and responsibilities Human resources Perceptions of the legal settings Political influence on HEIs Autonomy of HEIs Governance of HEIs Change Management at the HEIs Organization and functioning of the RC BiH Work flow at the RC BiH Funding of the RC BiH Internal communication and visibility External communication and visibility Commitment