EUA Conference, Marseille, 1 st – 3 rd April 2004 Universities and Society: Engaging Stakeholders Establishing Strategic Priorities Prof. Fuada Stanković, Rector Case study: University of Novi Sad

About the University of Novi Sad

University of Novi Sad (UNS) started in 1954 with two faculties: Agriculture and Humanities/Sciences. Today it is a comprehensive university with 13 faculties: 1. Academy of Arts 2. Agriculture 3. Chemical engineering 4. Civil engineering 5. Technical sciences/Engineering  Electrical engineering and telecommunications  Mechanical engineering  Computer engineering  Design  Architecture

6. Economics 7. Law 8. Medicine 9. Sciences 10. Social Sciences and Humanities 11. Sports 12. Teachers training 13. Teachers Training in Engineering and Management

UNS is the only university in the province of Vojvodina with the population of about 2 million. Second largest university in Serbia (after University of Belgrade) students 1600 teachers and researchers 2000 administrative staff 85% of all research in Vojvodina is concentrated at the University.

Vojvodina is the most developed part of Serbia (at the third place in the former Yugoslavia after Slovenia and Croatia). Major industries: agriculture, food processing, refineries, metal industry, pharmaceuticals… Inefficient use of water resources (Danube river and canals).

Links between the University and its social partners

Strengths 1. High level of university autonomy 2. University is among founders and members of different consortiums:  Novi Sad Incubation Centre (with the local and provincial government)  Independent Centre for strategic planning (with the provincial government)  Regional Agency for SMEs development  Innovation Centre with state government

Strengths (continued) 3. SKILL - student company for services to SMEs CORE - student services to different activities within and outside the University (design and organisation of University stand at the bookfair…) 4. Joint projects with NGOs within the University (Association of students with special needs, Roma students organisation…

Strengths (continued) 5. Joint projects with external NGOs (OSCE, Centre for Democratic Elections - CESID, First Stop Serbia-Denmark...) 6. Contracts at the University level with several large companies (scholarships, donations in equipment, joint projects) 7. Fund for talented students - 20 institutions involved from companies to banks and local and provincial governments, Bar Association of Vojvodina, Chambers of Commerce

Strengths (continued) 8. Individual efforts in commercialisation of knowledge 8. Individual efforts in commercialisation of knowledge 9. Dispersed practice of LLL at the level of faculties and departments 9. Dispersed practice of LLL at the level of faculties and departments 10. ALUMNI Association Established 11. Campus-based university 12. Website as a mean of communication with the inner and wider community 13. Technical condition for E-learning established

Weaknesses 1. Lack of strategic priorities in facing stakeholders 2. Rather coincidental instead of more integrated collaboration 3. Lack of organized and systematic dialogue with stakeholders on human resource development - no systematic contacts with former students to get opinions about the programmes and curricula and their relevance for the needs of wider environment 4. Lack of tradition in joining the systematic social dialogue by majority of university members and external stakeholders

Weaknesses (continued) 5. Informal, individual instead of institutional links among researchers and stakeholders among researchers and stakeholders 6. Decentralized LLL at the department and faculty level instead of LLL centre at the University level - organised approach to commercialisation of knowledge is in the initial phase 7. Research strategy related to the regional development is missing 8. No E- learning yet

Weaknesses (continued) 9. Lack of specialized office/officers to facilitate dialogue with stakeholders dialogue with stakeholders 10. No representatives of industry in the University bodies bodies 11. No public adult education and evening classes

Students as stakeholders

University should offer students not only professional knowledge but also environment which propagate civilising values of behaviour, citizenship, freedom of thought and expression (Magna Charta Universitatum). The UNS strategy is to use the advantage of its campus (and being comprehensive University) in order to become a guardian of regional and national cultures and an open space for citizens to come and enjoy in different cultural events.

Academy of arts with its music, drama, fine arts departments, foreign languages departments, collections at biology department can offer interesting events for the wider public as well as other departments (lectures, round tables etc.). The goal is to develop feeling of belonging to the university community (corporate culture) within the University (students, teaching staff, employees). It is a long lasting process of changing image of the University from an "ivory tower" to a precious centre of knowledge, culture and highest ethical values and a treasury for the wider environment.