WEB-MOB project HEIS, Bosnia and Herzegovina Mobility of Researchers in Western Balkan Region Mapping exercise Bosnia and Herzegovina Mapping exercise Bosnia and Herzegovina

WEB-MOB project HEIS, Bosnia and Herzegovina REMINDERREMINDER

Foreign Researchers in B&H Many obstacles prevent foreign researchers from working in Bosnia: difficulties to obtain residence permits, work permits, getting foreign academic degrees recognised... Almost impossible to bring someone from abroad to work on a project for one year; Many obstacles prevent foreign researchers from working in Bosnia: difficulties to obtain residence permits, work permits, getting foreign academic degrees recognised... Almost impossible to bring someone from abroad to work on a project for one year;

Legal Requirements In B&H, each entity/district has its own law related to employment of foreign nationals: -FB&H: “Law on Employment of Foreign Nationals”; -RS: “Law on Employment of Foreign Nationals and Persons without Citizenship”; -Brčko District: “Law on Employment of Foreign Nationals”; In B&H, each entity/district has its own law related to employment of foreign nationals: -FB&H: “Law on Employment of Foreign Nationals”; -RS: “Law on Employment of Foreign Nationals and Persons without Citizenship”; -Brčko District: “Law on Employment of Foreign Nationals”;

Legal Requirements All three laws state that: A foreign national can sign a contract with an employer in B&H, only if he/she has a work permit; The work permit shall be issued only if the foreign national has a temporary or permanent resident permit and under the condition that no citizen of B&H with qualifications required by the employer is registered on the list of Employment Agency; All three laws state that: A foreign national can sign a contract with an employer in B&H, only if he/she has a work permit; The work permit shall be issued only if the foreign national has a temporary or permanent resident permit and under the condition that no citizen of B&H with qualifications required by the employer is registered on the list of Employment Agency;

Legal Requirements Work permits are issued on a determined period of time, usually one year, with possibility of extension; Exceptionally, for foreign nationals with permanent resident permit, the permanent work permit may be issued Work permits are issued on a determined period of time, usually one year, with possibility of extension; Exceptionally, for foreign nationals with permanent resident permit, the permanent work permit may be issued

Recognition of Academic Degrees One of the preconditions to get work permit, is recognition of academic degree as an equivalent to the local one;  Universities in B&H do not have proper understanding of foreign systems of education, and very often the requests for recognition of foreign academic degrees are rejected; One of the preconditions to get work permit, is recognition of academic degree as an equivalent to the local one;  Universities in B&H do not have proper understanding of foreign systems of education, and very often the requests for recognition of foreign academic degrees are rejected;

Recognition of Academic Degrees According to the Law, the procedure for recognition of one diploma should not take longer than 60 days; In practice, this procedure takes much longer since there are no penalty provisions if the procedure is not implemented in the determined period of time; This procedure takes approximately one year in most cases, and sometimes even more; According to the Law, the procedure for recognition of one diploma should not take longer than 60 days; In practice, this procedure takes much longer since there are no penalty provisions if the procedure is not implemented in the determined period of time; This procedure takes approximately one year in most cases, and sometimes even more;

Finding Information about Scientific-Research (SR) Institutions in B&H Some of the institutions do not even have web-sites; Institutions that have web sites, do not regularly up-date them, thus the information presented is very often incorrect; Some of the institutions do not even have web-sites; Institutions that have web sites, do not regularly up-date them, thus the information presented is very often incorrect;

Finding Information about SR Institutions in B&H The web sites very often do not provide information about departments and especially about facilities of institutions; Information about vacancies was found only at one web-site; The web sites very often do not provide information about departments and especially about facilities of institutions; Information about vacancies was found only at one web-site;

Scientific-Research Institutions in B&H Universities/faculties; Public Research Institutes; Private Research Companies; Other; Up to now, 150 scientific-research institutions found; Universities/faculties; Public Research Institutes; Private Research Companies; Other; Up to now, 150 scientific-research institutions found;

SR Institutions According to Type

Research Areas Of the research areas given, the largest number of institutions belongs to the following: 1. Health; 2. Materials and Production; 3. Socio-Economic Sciences; Of the research areas given, the largest number of institutions belongs to the following: 1. Health; 2. Materials and Production; 3. Socio-Economic Sciences;

Division of SR Institutions According to Research Area

Employment Options at SR Institutions in B&H No vacancies offered; No defined exchange programmes for researchers, nor for students at universities /faculties; Only links to different schools and universities that offer scholarships for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees; No vacancies offered; No defined exchange programmes for researchers, nor for students at universities /faculties; Only links to different schools and universities that offer scholarships for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees;

International Cooperation Almost all universities have some type of International Relations Office, which is in charge of arranging cooperation with other scientific institutions; Most of the work in these offices is again related just to finding universities/faculties in other countries, that offer scholarship possibilities for Bosnian students or possibilities to attend different seminars and trainings; Almost all universities have some type of International Relations Office, which is in charge of arranging cooperation with other scientific institutions; Most of the work in these offices is again related just to finding universities/faculties in other countries, that offer scholarship possibilities for Bosnian students or possibilities to attend different seminars and trainings;

International Cooperation Some of the research institutions are involved in international projects (e.g. EU FP6 programme), but this cooperation is usually limited to just several joint meetings where project results are discussed;

State Authority in Charge of International Cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affaris of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Department of Scientific, Technical, Educational, Cultural and Sports Cooperation; - One of the tasks of this Department is cooperation related to: “international, scientific and research projects in the areas of science, technology, education and culture”, however, not one of these projects is mentioned at the site; Ministry of Foreign Affaris of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Department of Scientific, Technical, Educational, Cultural and Sports Cooperation; - One of the tasks of this Department is cooperation related to: “international, scientific and research projects in the areas of science, technology, education and culture”, however, not one of these projects is mentioned at the site;

113 Faculties, students in 2004/05 In 2005: –8127 graduated (B.Sc.) –298 M.Sc. –91 Ph.D. Estimated ~1000 Ph.D. (I Congress, Sarajevo, September 2006) 303 secondary schools with pupils, finished in Faculties, students in 2004/05 In 2005: –8127 graduated (B.Sc.) –298 M.Sc. –91 Ph.D. Estimated ~1000 Ph.D. (I Congress, Sarajevo, September 2006) 303 secondary schools with pupils, finished in 2005 Agency for Statistics BiH – 2005 data

WEB-MOB project HEIS, Bosnia and Herzegovina SINCE LAST MEETING

QUESTIONNAIRES Sent to 149 institutions Received total of 8 responses, after repeated requests 3 foreign researchers (plus 2 non- permanent) Sent to 149 institutions Received total of 8 responses, after repeated requests 3 foreign researchers (plus 2 non- permanent)

STATISTICS OF RESPONSES Incoming mobility to BiH exists – only one positive response, majority says NO Incoming mobility important for development of research potentials – 100% YES Incoming mobility important for EU accession – 100% YES Is there any present offer at your institution for foreign expert engagement –two positive responses Would you like to increase involvement of foreign researchers in your organization – 100% YES Incoming mobility to BiH exists – only one positive response, majority says NO Incoming mobility important for development of research potentials – 100% YES Incoming mobility important for EU accession – 100% YES Is there any present offer at your institution for foreign expert engagement –two positive responses Would you like to increase involvement of foreign researchers in your organization – 100% YES

STATISTICS – RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS Major obstacles for engagement of foreign researchers are: Salaries level Visa Work permit Diploma recognition Major obstacles for engagement of foreign researchers are: Salaries level Visa Work permit Diploma recognition

STATISTICS –FOREIGN RESEARCHERS IN BIH Major obstacles for engagement of foreign researchers are: Long-lasting procedures and “papirology” related to getting visa and permit to stay in the country Inexistence of any support centre that would provide foreign researchers interested for working in BiH all information on licences and permits, diploma recognition accommodation etc. Major obstacles for engagement of foreign researchers are: Long-lasting procedures and “papirology” related to getting visa and permit to stay in the country Inexistence of any support centre that would provide foreign researchers interested for working in BiH all information on licences and permits, diploma recognition accommodation etc.

MOBILITY GUIDES BiH

Focal point - Institution nameLevel of administration Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Department for Scientific, Technical, Educational and Sports CooperationState level Ministry of Security BiHState level Ministry of Civil affairsState level National Conact Point BiHState level FB&H Ministry of Education and ScienceSub-state/entity level RS Ministry of Science and TechnologySub-state/entity level RS Ministry of Education and CultureSub-state/entity level Education Department of Brcko District GovernmentSub-state/entity level Ministry of Education and Science of Sarajevo CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Tuzla CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Central Bosnia CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Posavina CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Herceg-Bosnia CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Bosnia-Podrinje CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of West Herzegovina CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Una-Sana CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Hercegovina-Neretva CantonCantonal level Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Zenica-Doboj CantonCantonal level