Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
2009
Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................1 1.1. Scope...............................................................................................................................1 1.2. Education in Serbia.........................................................................................................1 1.3. SNQF status.....................................................................................................................1 1.4. Legislation.......................................................................................................................1 2. Higher Education in Serbia....................................................................................................2 2.1. Higher education bodies..................................................................................................2 2.1.1. Serbian Ministry of Education.................................................................................2 2.1.2. National Council for Higher Education...................................................................3 2.1.3. Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance............................................3 2.1.4. Conference of Universities.......................................................................................3 2.1.5. Conference of Academies of Professional Career Studies.......................................3 2.1.5. Student conferences..................................................................................................3 2.2. Structure of Studies.........................................................................................................4 2.2.1. Types and Levels of Studies.....................................................................................4 2.2.2. List of Titles.............................................................................................................4 2.2.3. Organization of Studies............................................................................................4 2.2.4. Grading System........................................................................................................5 2.3. Higher Education Institutions..........................................................................................5 2.3.1. University.................................................................................................................6 2.3.2. Faculty / Art Academy.............................................................................................6 2.3.3. Academy of Professional Studies.............................................................................6 2.3.4. Higher Education School.........................................................................................6 2.3.4. Colleges of Professional Studies..............................................................................6 2.4. Admission requirements..................................................................................................6 2.5. Tuition fees......................................................................................................................7 2.6. Academic year.................................................................................................................7 2.7. Curriculum......................................................................................................................8 2.8. Credit system...................................................................................................................8 2.9. Diploma and Diploma Supplement.................................................................................8 2.10. Quality Assurance and Accreditation............................................................................9 2.10.1. Self-Evaluation.......................................................................................................9 2.10.2. External Evaluation................................................................................................9 2.10.3. Accreditation..........................................................................................................9 2.11. Recognition of Foreign Higher Education Documents...............................................10 3. Cycle Descriptors.............................................................................................................10 3.1. First Cycle Descriptors..................................................................................................11 3.1.1. Professional Career Studies (Bachelor)..................................................................11 3.1.2. Academic Studies (Bachelor).................................................................................11 3.2. Second Cycle Descriptors.............................................................................................11 3.2.1. Professional Career Studies (Specialist)................................................................11 3.2.2. Academic Studies (Master)....................................................................................12 3.2.3. Academic Studies (Specialist)................................................................................12 3.3. Third Cycle (Doctorate) Descriptors.............................................................................13 5. SNQF....................................................................................................................................13
1. Introduction
1.1. Scope
This document describes the Serbian higher education system along with the National Qualifications Framework (SNQF). This document also compares the SNQF with the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The basic information, in English, about the higher education system in Serbia can be found at the official site of the Serbian Ministry of Education (http://www.mps.sr.gov.yu/code/navigate.php?Id=279).
1.4. Legislation
The higher education system in Serbia is governed by the Law on Higher Education (available in English at http://www.mps.sr.gov.yu/upload/dokumenti/visoko/Law_on_Higher_Educ ation.zip), published in the Official Herald of RoS, No. 76/05 of August 30, 2005, Rules and regulations on accreditation standards and procedures of higher education institutions and study programs (available only in Serbian at http://www.mps.sr.gov.yu/upload/dokumenti/visoko/AKREDITACIJA/Pra vilnik-i-standardi-za-akreditaciju-ustanova-i-studijskih-programa.zip), published in the Official Herald of RoS, No. 106/06 of November 24, 2006 (further: Standards).
These documents do not define the national qualifications framework, but the forthcoming amendments of the Law on Higher Education are expected to fulfill this gap. The draft of the SNQF is also based on the EHEA documents, in particular, on the overarching framework for qualifications in the EHEA (available at http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/). The Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education relates national frameworks to each other with the objective to enable international transparency, international recognition of qualifications, and international mobility of learners and graduates. The key elements of the overarching framework are the three cycles established in the Bologna Process. These cycles are basically defined by the Dublin descriptors, which have been accepted in Europe. Qualification descriptors are designed to be read as general statements of the typical achievement of learners who have been awarded a qualification on successful completion of a cycle. The draft of the SNQF also takes into account the Serbian legislation related to employment and to scientific research. The draft of the SNQF also establishes the relations between the Serbian higher education area and the Recommendation on the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF). This recommendation creates a reference framework which will relate qualifications systems and frameworks in different countries. The EQF texts are available at http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/educ/eqf/index_en.html. Regarding the higher education area, there are no fundamental differences between the EHEA overarching framework and the EQF. The differences are primarily in the specific terms and formulations.
professional career studies. The Student Conferences pursue the common interests of students as partners in the process of higher education. Two representatives designated by the Student Conferences may take part, without the right to vote, in the work of the National Council in respect of matters related to student interests.
corresponding area bachelor. In the list of titles, a distinction is made between academic bachelor studies that encompass 180 ECTS credits (3-year programs) and those that encompass 240 ECTS credits (4-year programs). A person who finishes the basic professional studies acquires the professional title that includes the name of the profession of the first level of professional studies in the corresponding area bachelor appliqu. A study program of the basic and specialist studies can include a final written work. Graduate academic studies (master) can be organized by a university, faculty, or a higher education school. The graduate academic studies last one or two years, depending on the duration of the basic academic studies. A study program of graduate academic studies always includes a final work. The person who finishes graduate academic studies acquires the academic title-graduated, with the name of profession of the second level of graduate academic studies in a corresponding area-master. Integrated studies (one cycle program) can be organized to combine the basic level and the master level. Academic study programs of medical sciences can be organized and integrated studies with a total of maximum 360 ECTS points. PhD studies can be organized by universities and faculties. PhD studies last for at least three years with previous basic and graduate academic studies that lasted for at least five years. PhD dissertation is the final part of the study program of PhD studies, with the exception of the PhD in Art which is an artistic project explained through an academic written work. Exceptionally, a person can achieve the PhD title by graduating from medical studies and finished specialization, on the grounds of the dissertation defense based on his/her works published in leading world magazines.
2.3.1. University
A university is an independent institution of higher education the performance of which unites educational, scientific, research, and professional/artistic work, as components of the unique higher education process. The university can perform all types and levels of studies. An institution of higher education has the status of university if it performs academic study programs at all levels of studies, within at least three fields (natural sciences and mathematics, social and humanistic studies, medical science, technical and technological science, and arts) and three areas (which are defined, within the three fields, by the National Council). As an exception, a university can be established in the area of art, if it contains all three levels of studies from at least three fields of art.
entrance exam, in accordance with the rules of the independent institution of higher education. An independent institution of higher education can direct the candidate, who passed the professional/artistic final high school exam instead of the entrance exam, to take tests in certain subjects of the general, final high school exam. On the basis of the competition criteria, an independent institution of higher education makes the rank order list of applied candidates. The right to enroll the first level of studies has the student who is ranked on the list, within the number of students determined in accordance with the Law on Higher Education. A student of the first level studies of another independent institution of higher education, a person who acquired the higher education at the first level studies, and a person who no longer has the status of a student, in accordance with the law, can enroll the first level studies, under conditions and within forms established by the rules of the independent institution of higher education, at her/his personal demand. A candidate enrolls the second and third level of studies under certain conditions, according to the criteria and procedures established by the rules of the institution and open competition of the candidates who seek admission. Generally, to enter a master program, the candidate must have obtained a bachelor diploma in the corresponding field. To enter a specialist academic program, the candidate must have obtained the bachelor academic title and, possibly, the master diploma. To enter a specialist professional program, the completed bachelor program is required. To enter a doctoral program, according to the Standards, the prerequisite is the master diploma (at least 300 ECTS; 360 ECTS are required for the integrated studies in medical sciences). Upon admission, the student and the institution sign a learning contract.
(semesters), which is the practice of the majority of schools. Other options are three periods (trimesters) and blocks. During an academic year, there are 30 workweeks.
2.7. Curriculum
Higher education institutions have full competences over the curricula of their programs. A curriculum consists of a coherent set of components. The content of the curricula corresponds with the descriptors presented in Section 3.
The diploma is authenticated by the embossed stamp of the independent higher education institution. The Diploma Supplement is obligatorily issued along with the diploma. The Diploma Supplement is supported by a description of the higher education system in the Republic in force at the time of the acquired education specified in the diploma.
2.10.1. Self-Evaluation
Each higher education institution must conduct a procedure for internal assessment and quality evaluation of its study programs, courses, and working conditions. The internal assessment is carried out at intervals of three years at most. The internal assessment procedure includes an assessment by students. The self-evaluation results in a self-evaluation report.
2.10.3. Accreditation
The goal of accreditation is to establish if an institution of higher education and study programs fulfill the Standards established by the National Council and published in the Official Herald of RoS. The accreditation establishes if an institution of higher education has the right to issue public documents, all in accordance with the Law of higher education. In the process of accrediting an institution of higher education, it is established if the institution fulfills certain conditions which are, according to the Law on Higher Education, specified for the given institutions which perform the higher education activity. In the process of accrediting a study program, it is established if conditions of introducing such a program are being fulfilled, in accordance with the law. The process of accrediting is conducted at the demand of the Ministry, founder, or the institution of higher education itself. At the process of accrediting, the Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance does one of the following: Issues a certificate of accreditation to an institution of higher education or study program. Issues an act of warning to an institution of higher education. This act points out the weaknesses concerning conditions, quality of work of an institution of high education or a study program, and gives a deadline for
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removing the weaknesses. When the deadline is over, it makes a decision about the request. Issues a decision which denies the accreditation demand. In the process of deciding about the accreditation, the Commission takes into account the results of the quality assessment and self-assessment defined by the Law of higher education. If the Commission reaches a decision to deny the accreditation, the institution of higher education can file a complaint to the National Council. There could not be a legal process against the decision of the National Council. The institution of higher education has the right to repeat the request for accreditation after the period of one year after the decision to deny the accreditation request was received. The institution of higher education can start working and performing its activities after it receives the work license. The work license is issued by the Ministry, at the demand of the institution of higher education. At the territory of Autonomous Province Vojvodina, the license is issued by the organs authorized for the delegated affairs.
3. Cycle Descriptors
Cycle descriptors in Serbia are defined by the Standards and they fully correspond to the Dublin descriptors.
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can apply their deeper knowledge, understanding, and skills for successful solution of complex problems in a partially new or unfamiliar environments within narrower field of study; have acquired knowledge and skills required for team work during solution of complex problems within their field of study; have increased the ability to integrate acquired knowledge and skills, and formulate potential conclusions based on available information, which include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments; have the ability to efficiently follow and adopt new developments in their areas of specialization and can communicate their conclusions, knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously.
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include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments; have the ability to efficiently follow and adopt new developments in their areas of specialization and can communicate their conclusions, knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously.
5. SNQF
The Serbian National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education is depicted in Figure 1. It illustrates the levels in Serbia. It also shows compliance with Bologna cycles (EHEA) and compatibility with European Qualification Framework (EQF).
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EQF Level
Serbian national qualifications framework Academic studies Applied studies ECTS 480
3rd cycle
180 300
2nd cycle Master H-2 Medicine H-2 Integrated H-2 Specialist HP-2
120-60
180-240 Bachelor 4yr H-1b Bachelor 3yr HA-1 Bachelor HP-1 180-240 0
1 cycle
st
Figure 1. SNQF and its relations to EQF levels ) and EHEA cycles. Candidates(high school graduates The following abbreviations apply to Figure 1: H higher education; A academic studies; P professional studies; Levels are denoted by "1", "2", and "3", whereas sublevels are denote by "a" and "b". In the list of titles, a distinction is made between academic bachelor studies that encompass 180 ECTS credits (3-year programs) and those that encompass 240 ECTS credits (4-year programs). Figure 2 shows the relation between various qualifications in Serbia according to legislative previous to the present Law on Higher Education and their relation to the Bologna cycles.
D egree of qualification EHEA Framework (Bologna)
Academic
Professional
VIII
Doctor of science Specialist in Medicine Specialist 2 nd cycle Graduate studies (diploma) 1st cycle 3 cycle
rd
VII-2
Master of science
VII-1
II degree 3 years
VI-2
I degree 2 years Figure 2. Older qualifications in Serbia and their relations to EHEA cycles.