1. Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education
Analysis of current state in the area of recognition of qualifications - Higher education institutions aspect
University of Sarajevo
STINT Consortium meeting in Banja Luka/ 8 March 2016
Project number: EPP BE-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP
"This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein"

2. 1) Competent recognition authority
Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education
1) Competent recognition authority
Professional recognition
University take procedure for professional recognition
Department for Recognition of foreign higher education qualifications is not present in a form of a separate department
This procedure is taking place within the Legal Department University of Sarajevo
Rector of the University is required to appoint a Commission for conducting the recognition procedure.
Commission consists of three members, as a rule, the Commission members are the members of the UNSA academic staff. (One member is a Universitiy Vicerector; other two are from the academic staff)

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Academic recognition
Procedures for academic recognition are carried out on levels of Faculties and Academies
Dean of a Faculty is required to appoint a Commission for conducting the procedure of recognition (Commission has five members. As a rule, the Commission members are the members of the UNSA academic staff)
Purpose for the submitting academic application is enrollment in cycles of higher education (master studies, doctoral studies)
University also undertakes academic procedures in case of a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary program for which there is no corresponding Faculty/Academy.

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2) Regulations
Recognition of foreign higher education qualifications is stated in the Statute of the UNSA and Higher Education Law of the Sarajevo Canton
Regulation of foreign higher education qualifications recognition exists in a special form
There is official Regulation for recognition of foreign higher education qualifications, named Rulebook on recognition of foreign higher education qualifications at UNSA
This Rulebook regulates the procedure of academic and professional recognition of foreign higher education qualifications and it has been valid since 2010.
All regulations including Application for recognition of foreign higher qualification are available on the University‘s official website -

5. 3) Recognition procedure - aplication
Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education
3) Recognition procedure - aplication
Procedures and criteria used in the assessment and recognition of qualifications are transparent, coherent and reliable.
The procedure starts with the submitting of an application for recognition of foreign higher qualification
Aplicants are:
citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina
foreign citizens and
stateless persons

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The application for recognition shall be accompanied by the following documents:
three copies of the foreign qualification original documents (diploma, certificate),
translation of the foreign qualification documents in one of the official languages ​​in Bosnia and Herzegovina done in three copies by an authorized court interpreter,
three copies of the original documents confirming the study period or passed exams (diploma supplement),
translation of the documents wich confirm the study period or passed exams, in one of the official languages ​​in Bosnia and Herzegovina done in three copies by an authorized court interpreter,
degree program in the language in which the education was acquired and translated into one of official languages ​​in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
the original final paper (printed or on a CD) and a brief summary in one of the official languages ​​in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
biography,
verification of payment of the proceedings costs

7. 4) Evaluation of foreign higher education qualifications
Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education
4) Evaluation of foreign higher education qualifications
Evaluation of foreign higher education qualifications is made solely on the basis of acquired knowledge, skills and competences.
During the procedure, opinions, recommendations, and information concerned, shall be obtained from the Center for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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5) Criteria
Article 5 of the Rulebook on recognition of foreign higher education qualifications at UNSA sets forth in detail the criteria for evaluation of foreign higher education qualifications;
However, Medical science group studies that are evaluated to 360 ECTS credit points in the first cycle are exempted from evaluation criteria.

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6) Right to appeal
Pursuant to the UNSA Senate ruling, Rector makes a decision on qualification recognition.
Applicants dissatisfied with the decision cannot appeal.
However, they can file a suit at the competent Sarajevo court regarding the recognition procedure, within thirty days after recieving the unfavorable decision.

10. 7) Internal and external quality evaluation
Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education
7) Internal and external quality evaluation
The recogniton procedures undergo internal and external quality evaluations at UNSA.
In 2014, the University succesfuly passed the external quality evaluation conducted by the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance in BiH.
The Agency acted upon the Self-Evaluation Report prepared in 2013.

11. 8) Necessary information for recognizing foreign HE qualifications
Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education
8) Necessary information for recognizing foreign HE qualifications
Articles 7 and 9 of the Rulebook on recognition of foreign higher education qualifications at UNSA regulate the procedure and necessary documents for recognizing the qualifications obtained at foreign HEIs.
Education system in the foreign state, study programme, study duration and accreditation of the HEI are some of matters taken into regard when the recognition procedure is being performed.
ENIC/NARIC network’s services are quite helpful and regularly used in the recognition procedures.

12. 9) Number of submitted applications at UNSA
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9) Number of submitted applications at UNSA
In the period, the University recieved in total 1112 aplications for the recognition of higher education qualifications – professional recognition to be used for the purpose of finding employment.
The majority of submitted appplications came from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Austria, Germany, France, UK, USA, Malaysia, China, Japan, India and many other states.

13. Thank you for your attention!
Strengthening of Internationalisation in B&H Higher Education
Thank you for your attention!