European and international higher education experts have conducted an in-depth analysis of external quality assurance in the area of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). This Analysis of Legal Provisions is the first component of the project “Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Quality Assurance”, which represents a twinning partnership between BiH and Austria and is funded by the European Union under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA 2011) with 1 million Euro.
The experts recognise the commitment of BiH to implement the Bologna Reforms, in particular to align the quality assurance system with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
Based on identified problems the experts issued recommendations for further development of external quality assurance in BiH which were presented today in Sarajevo at the premises of the Delegation of the European Union to BiH.
The following prominent higher education experts worked on and presented the recommendations: Achim Hopbach, Managing Director of the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Austria (AQ Austria) and former president of ENQA, Peter Findlay, Assistant Director of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education of the United Kingdom (QAA) and ENQA international reviewer, Adi Kovačević, AQ Austria consultant for SEE, Bastian Baumann, Independent Higher Education Consultant and ENQA international reviewer, and Alexander Kohler of the Ministry for Science and Research of Austria, who is also the EU Twinning Project Leader from the EU Member State, Austria.
Mr Hopbach pointed out that “although the Framework Law for Higher Education in BiH is in line with the Bologna reforms there are some shortcomings and inconsistencies in the implementation.”
The BiH external quality assurance system in its current state is not likely to be recognised at European level with substantial consequences for mobility of students and reputation for BiH higher education.
The experts are in particular concerned about the legal status of degrees. “If action is not taken to address urgently the slow progress with implementing accreditation, it is possible that, under the terms of the Framework Law, the status of degree qualifications will come into question”, stated Mr Hopbach.
The experts consider that it would be helpful to clarify further points regarding the implementation of the Framework Law, and a consistent translation into other relevant regulations. Mr Hopbach continued that whilst maintaining the existing assignment of competencies “an agreement on a consistent implementation of the recommendations is of utmost importance.”
The experts apreciated that the implementation of the current accreditation procedures is supported by the ongoing EU-funded Twinning Project. Mr Hopbach concluded that “The implementation of the recommendations is an opportunity for Higher education in BiH to further develop the European dimension and to become a recognised part of the European Higher Education Area as other countries in SEE.”
Background information on the project:
The project “Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Quality Assurance” is comprised of four components: Analysis of legal provisions, strengthening the capacities of the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance in Bosnia and Herzegovina (HEA); Implementation of quality management system in higher education institutions, and support in organising external reviews of higher education institutions and study programmes.
The total duration of the project is 24 months, starting from 13 September 2013 and lasting until 12 September 2015. The objective of the project is to increase mobility and employability of the labour force through improvement of the quality of higher education institutions in line with the Bologna Process. The project purpose is to improve and strengthen human resources and institutional capacities for quality assurance in higher education. The main partner for the project implementation is HEA, while other partners are the BiH Ministry for Civil Affairs, competent entity and cantonal ministries of education, Education Department in the Government of Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Agency for Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions of the Republic of Srpska and higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On behalf of Austria, the project is implemented by the Agency for European Integration and Economic Development. AQ Austria, in cooperation with relevant experts, provides the appropriate expertise during the project implementation.
