A two-day regional conference on University Management in the Western Balkans Countries, focusing on “Successes and Challenges Towards Integrated Higher Education Institutions“, began Tuesday in Sarajevo.

The Conference is a part of the second component of the 1.1 million Euro EU project “Support to Reform of Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina“, organized in cooperation with the BiH Rectors’ Conference. The project is intended to enable a broad dissemination of information related to higher education system in BiH at a regional level. Its conclusions and recommendations will be used in the upcoming activities pertinent to training of staff in all higher education institutions in BiH on university management.

In his opening remarks, Mr Renzo Daviddi, Acting Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, stressed that education reform is high on the list of EU priorities since education is the foundation of economic and social development of a country, and the main vehicle towards progress and wellbeing of a nation. “Properly developed education systems, modern universities, well educated people should be the priorities of every country in the world and certainly are priorities inside the EU. This is why the EU invests so much in education through different financial instruments, direct support to countries, community programmes, structural funds etc.”, said Mr Daviddi. 

Furthermore, he explained the reasons why the new EU strategy “Europe 2020” is very much focused on education, research and innovation: “Let me try to sum up some of the priorities outlined by the Europe 2020 strategy.  We speak of smart growth, which means developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation. We refer to sustainable growth, promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy. We speak of inclusive growth which is fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion”.

According to Mr Daviddi, ”Europe 2020” specifies a number of targets such as that by 2020 75% of the population aged between 20 and 64 should be employed, 3% of the EU’s GDP should be invested in resource development,   the share of early school leavers should be under 10% and at least 40% of the younger generation should have a tertiary degree. 

Mr Paul Rinderu, the Project Team Leader, explained that Component 1 of the project deals with recognition of diplomas and qualifications, and Component 2 focuses on higher education institutions in terms of supporting integration of universities.

“This is one of a series of projects providing support to the reforms that will help integrate BiH higher education into the European education area,“ said Mr Mitar Novakovic, President of the BiH Rectors’ Conference. Mr Pero Lucin, Rector of the University of Rijeka, stressed the importance of ensuring a transformation into “third generation” universities that can help develop society and the economy.

Mrs Jadranka Mihic, Task Manager for Health and Education with the EU Delegation to BiH, stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina has shown some progress compared to its neighbouring countries. “The University of Tuzla is a pioneer in the region,” she said, “since it became an integrated university already in 2003. Also, Zenica University was established as an integrated university to begin with, both public universities in the RS are integrated, and the University of Bihac is moving in this direction. As for the others, they are still working on the laws and the relevant activities.”

Mrs Mihic added that the project had identified certain problems experienced by the universities, most notably the insufficient involvement of students. Key role of students in a university community and an education reform was also recognised by other speakers, namely: Mr Pere Aslimoski from the University St. Kliment Ohridski of Bitola, Mr George Konstantinos Charonis of the European Students’ Union and Mrs Radmila Marinkovic-Neducin from the University of Novi Sad.

In addition to the Rectors and representatives of the higher education institutions from BiH, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and FYR of Macedonia, the Conference also brought together the representatives of BiH students, Ministries of Education, Ministry of Civil Affairs, higher education institutes from BiH and the region, as well as the representatives of regional and local international bodies active in the field of education.