Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek Ksenija Čulo REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BOLOGNA PROCESS Zagreb, january 2005

First Consensus regarding the acceptance of the Bologna Declaration principles was reached at the University level:

Acceptance of comparable education levels Acceptance of two subsystems: Undergraduate and graduate postgraduate (doctoral)

Introduction of the ECTS Promotion of mobility Quality assurance Promotion of the LLL - Lifelong Learning system

WHAT ARE OUR GOALS? REDUCING THE AVERAGE DURATION OF STUDYING AND RAISING THE PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATING STUDENTS PRESERVING THE SPECIFIC QUALITIES OF THE FACULTIES AND OF THE UNIVERSITY DIRECTING STUDENTS TOWARDS POSTGRADUATE STUDIES ENABLING INDIVIDUAL CREATION OF A STUDENT’S EDUCATION MODEL (through mobility) POINTING OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION OF ENVIRONMENT

ACTIVITIES TO DATE THEMATIC SESSIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE ON THE BOLOGNA PROCESS In order to pursue the Bologna Declaration objectives, the University Senate held thematic sessions on the Bologna Process and implementation of the Law on Scientific Activity and Higher Education. As the different types of activities need to be coordinated, we have appointed committees for: undergraduate and graduate studies postgraduate studies study reform and development of new curricula and ECTS implementation Each committee has been appointed at the University level and acts as an advisory body. Committees meet together regularly among themselves, as well as at the national level with other university representatives and the Ministry.  

APPOINTMENTS OF UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES FOR: definition of study structure (3+2 or 4+1) for undergraduate and graduate studies ECTS implementation definition and development of new curricula quality assurance

“REFORM OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION” 3. LECTURES ON “IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM TO THE UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE STUDIES” 4. LECTURES FOR THE STUDENTS ON “REFORM OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION” 5. active PARTICIPATION IN TEMPUS PROGRAMS 6. PREPARATION OF INFORMATION MATERIALS for the University (publications on CDs) Up to now, the Committees have defined the structure of the two-cycle system. The structure of the first undergraduate and the following graduate cycle will be either 3+2 or 4+1, which depends on particular scientific field of studies. Committees also coordinate discussions and activities on diploma and qualification recognition issues. The University organised lectures on "Implementation of the European Credit Transfer System to University Postgraduate Studies“ . These lectures were held for faculty management staff and for academics involved in organization of postgraduate studies. The lectures provided some guidelines on ECTS implementation from a viewpoint of new Law on Higher Education and proved to be great help for further activities on establishment of credit transfer system at each Faculty of the University of Osijek.   In order to present the reform activities, the University is currently in progress of preparing information materials and publications, which will be also available on CDs and online.

7. COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT “STUDIES FROM STUDENT PERSPECTIVE: ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THEIR STUDIES” and provision of guidelines for study reform 8. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE at the University Important to mention is also the project “Studies from Student Perspective”. The project has been carried out among students of last study years at each Faculty, Department of Mathematics and Teacher Training College in order to gain insight into their opinions and attitudes on their studies. The obtained data have been analysed in cooperation with the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb and have provided valuable guidelines for restructuring of existing study programs, as well as for creation of new ones. When speaking of promotion of student, academic and administrative mobility and promotion of European dimension in Higher education, it is important to mention participation of our University in the international programs such as CEEPUS and especially TEMPUS. All completed and ongoing TEMPUS projects at the University of Osijek are very important not only for mobility, but also for the reform of studies, introduction of new teaching methods and widening of European perspectives. As a follow up of the Tempus QUASYS project and in accordance with CARDS project, the University of Osijek has recently established the Office for Quality Assurance, and it is to expect that the internal evaluation will be completed at the whole University, based on which the Office will provide guidelines for reform of university studies and offer further proposals for curriculum changes, improvement of quality of studies, intensification of international cooperation and promotion of European dimension, and improvement of overall organizational culture. To sum up, there are still lots of work to be done and lots of issues to define in order to fulfil all objectives the University has set on its way to European Higher Education Area, however we think that we are all on the right way and that much will be achieved by the year 2010.

INSTEAD OF A CONCLUSION!!! Definition of new curricula is in the final stage Insufficient attention is paid to quality assurance in the studies Insufficient attention is paid to the formation of a communication-information subsystem within the system of university education on the university level and beyond VERY IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY: setting up a TQM system on the faculty level (conforming with the ISO)