BOLOGNA PROCESS IN CROATIA PATH TO KNOWLEDGE-BASED

SOCIETY

Prof. dr. sc. Dražen Vikić-Topić State Secretary for Science and Technology

Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia

Scientific Conference with the International ParticipationScientific Conference with the International ParticipationEngineering Education Engineering Education

The Bologna ProcessThe Bologna Process "3 years later“"3 years later“

Zagreb, Zagreb, November 8-10, 2007November 8-10, 2007

Knowledge-based Society

Knowledge-based Economy

Promote & foster

Education

Science

Technology

Innovations

Visionof Croatia

“a small country

with great knowledge”

Making education and research a

priority on the

political agenda

One has to establisha new culture

of collaboration and partnership among

academic community, industry and

state administration

To developa multiculturalism in

communication based on trust and credibility as a platform for

long range mutual commitments of academia, industry and administration

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN CROATIA

Pri

ma

ry s

ch

oo

l -

8 y

ea

rs

Se

co

nd

ary

sch

oo

l -

4 y

ea

rs

University

Undergraduate program3-4 years, B.Sc., B.A.

Graduate program1-2 years, M.Sc., M.A.

Postgraduate program3 years, Dr.sc.

Specialized postgraduateprogram

1-2 years, spec.

Professional school / Polytechnic

Professional undergraduate program2-3 years, professional B.Sc.

Se

co

nd

ary

sch

oo

l -

4 y

ea

rs

Specialized professionalgraduate program1-2 years, spec.

Integrated graduate program5-6 years, M.Sc., B.A.

Reforms of educational system (1)

• Reform of Primary Education - HNOS

(Croatian National Educational Standard)

• Compulsory High School Education

• State Exam in High Schools (Matura)

Reforms of educational system (2)

• Reform of Vocational Studies

• Bologna Process – Improving of Tertiary Education and Reform of Doctorial Studies

• Agency for Adult Education, May 2006

Reforms of educational system (3)

• Law on Adult Education, Feb 2007

• Center for Mobility and EU Programmes(Longlife Learning,YOUTH, ERASMUS, LEONARDO), May 2007

• National Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes, in 2007

Higher education, science & technology institutions in Croatia

• Universities 7• Public Institutes 26• Research Centers in Industry 11• Academies 3• Schools of Professional HE 20 (9+11)• Polytechnics 10• Other Scientific Entities 50• Military Research Centers 1• Technology Centers 5

Number of M.Sc./Ph.D. in Croatia

Public sector8,619

Industry (Public and Private) and SMS3,679

Retirement2,325

Total 14,623

Education and STI strategic documents

2005 “Education Sector Development Plan 2005-2010”

Accepted by National Council for Higher Education, World Bank and Government of the Republic of Croatia

2006 “Science & Technology Policy of the Republic of Croatia 2006-2010”

Accepted by National Council for Science, World Bank and Government of the Republic of Croatiahttp://www.mzos.hr

2007 “Action Plan of Science & Technology Policy of the Republic of Croatia”, Accepted by World Bank and Government of the Republic of Croatia

Year Amount, € Growth in € Growth in %

2003 1,057,939,385

2004 1,116,507,729 60,103,390 5.89

2005 1,172,492,638 55,984,309 5.01

rebalance 2005 1,205,443,926 32,951,787 2.81

total 2005 1,205,443,926 88,936,016 7.97

2006 1.285.475.235 80,031,749 6.64

rebalance 2006 1,295,044,594 6,190,540 0.48

total 2006 1,295,044,594 86,222,290 6.96

2007 1,411,963,000 117,054,282 9.31

Total growth 2003 – 2007 Total growth 2003 – 2007 355,694,494355,694,494 3333..66 66

MSES BUDGET, 2003 – 2007 MSES BUDGET, 2003 – 2007

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY 2006 – 20102006 – 2010

Loan from World Bank Loan from World Bank

for for

Science & Technology ProjectScience & Technology Project

€ € 31 mil.31 mil.

Science & Technology Policy of the Republic of Croatia 2006-2010

Main Goals• Increasing investments into research and

development and the increase of their efficiency • Restructuring Croatia's science system• Strengthening cooperation between science,

government and industry in creation of new knowledge and goods

• Increasing participation of Croatian scientists and other entities in EU Framework Programs

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICYSCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY 2006 - 20102006 - 2010

- adopted by the the National Science Council - policy document setting out short-term and long-term

priorities in S&T

SHORT-TERM PRIORITIES (2006 - 2008) Environment (Adriatic & Karst Region) Health (Food & Biotechnology) Energy and materials (Renewable Sources &

Bionanomaterials) Croatian identity (Contribution to Culture, Croatian

Language)

LONG-TERM PRIORITIES OF CROATIAN S&T (up to 2010)

• Knowledge-driven Basic Research• Environment Protection and Economy, Develompment

of Karst Regions, Adriatic Coast, Sea and Islands• Agriculture, Biotechnology, Food• Health • Information and Communication Technologies • Nanoscience, New materials, Constructions and New

Production Processes• Energy:Alternative and Renewable Energy Resources,

Transport, Security• Social and Human Sciencies• Social Integration, Pedagogics and Education, Lifelong

(Permanent) Learning

Technology in Croatia

HITRA

TEST-Transfer of Technology

(Types of projects: TP, STIRP, JEZGRA)

(HIT Ltd.)

RAZUM-Development of Konwledge-Based Firms

(Commercialization, Start-ups / Spin-offs)

(BICRO Ltd.)

Instruments for Technological Development

• Technology and Innovation Centers

5 Centers (Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, Ston & Osijek)• HIT, Ltd. (TEST)

(Croatian Institute of Technology)• BICRO, Ltd. (RAZUM)

(Business Innovation Center of Croatia)

Instruments for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)

• Regional Competitiveness OP 2007-2013Measure 2: Technology Transfer and Support Services for Knowledge-based Starts-ups

1. Science and Innovation Investment Fund

(IPA: 4.5 mil. EUR, Croatia / MSES: 1.5 mil. EUR)

2. Biosciences Technology Commercialisation &

Incubation Centre

(IPA: 6 mil. EUR, Croatia / MSES: 2 mil. EUR)

Sixth Framework ProgrammeSixth Framework Programme ((2002 - 2006)

Represents the main framework of activities in science, research and innovation on European level, and is the third largest item in EU budget: € 17.5 billion.

2002-2005 Croatia participates as a “third country”.

1 January 2006: Croatia became full member of FP6. Membership fee for 2006 is ca. € 6.6 million (around 50% was covered by pre -accession funds PHARE. Croatia direct participation was ca. € 3.2 million).

Till now Croatian scientists participate in 95 projects, of approx. value of ca. € 10 million.

Return of Croatian Return of Croatian sscientists cientists fromfrom aabroadbroad (64 till now from 2004)(64 till now from 2004)

1. FRANO BARBIR, Ph. D. – Split (University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA) 2. DR.SC. DRAŽEN ZANCHI, Ph. D. – Split (Université Denis Diderot – Paris 7, Laboratoire

de Physique Théorique et Hautes Énérgies, France) 3. IVAN KOLOVRAT, DESIGNER - Split (Fachhochschule Wiesbaden, Germany) 4. VEDRAN DELETIS, Ph. D. – Split (St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, New York, USA)5. ZLATKO PLEŠE, Ph. D. – Zagreb (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA) 6. MARIO GRČEVIĆ, Ph. D. – Zagreb (Universität Mannheim, Germany) 7. VLADIMIR DAVID, Ph. D. – Zagreb (University of New England, Armidale, Australia)8. MLADEN PETRAVIĆ, Ph. D. – Rijeka (Australian National University, Canberra,

Australia) 9. ŽELJKO JERIČEVIĆ, Ph. D. – Rijeka (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA) 10. VIKTOR SUČIĆ, Ph. D. – Rijeka (Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane,

Australia) 11. BISERKA MULAC-JERIČEVIĆ, Ph. D. – Rijeka (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX,

USA)12. MILAN SAK-BOSNAR, Ph. D. – Osijek (University of Applied Science Waedenswill,

Switzerland) 13. DAMIR ĆAVAR, Ph. D. – Zadar (Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA)14. IVAN POLJAKOVIĆ, Ph. D. – Zadar (University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand)15. DARIO KREŠIĆ, Ph. D. – Dubrovnik (Technische Universität München, Germany)

Unity Through KnowledgeUnity Through Knowledge

Within STP (Science and Technology Project) loan that Croatia signed in 2006 with the World Bank, a fund called "Unity Through Knowledge" is being established.

"Unity Through Knowledge" Fund (ca. € 5.0 million) was conceived with a purpose to enable scientific and research work in Croatia for Croatian scientists and researchers working abroad, as well as to enable their return to Croatia.

The Fund will support four activities:

1. Encourage Croatian diaspora to do science research in Croatia;2. Establish a network of Croatian scientific diaspora;3. Short visits of prominent Croatian researchers to Croatia;4. Encourage Croatian diaspora to establish new commercial

companies for advanced technology in Croatia.

In the period 2003 – 2007 the budget for higher education has been In the period 2003 – 2007 the budget for higher education has been

increased by €100 million or increased by €100 million or 46.4%.46.4%.

• Since 2003, €108 million has been secured for capital investments and construction of new university campuses is in progress in Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, Zadar, Osijek, Dubrovnik and Mostar. Total investments in these projects amount to €270 million.

• The Ministry has secured the possibility to use subsidized building loans. So far 1,903 loans have been approved, and in May 2006 the Ministry has secured resources for additional 700 loans.

• The Ministry has levered the usual interest rate of over 6% to 4.4% and 4.9%. The user pays only 1.7% interest, while the Ministry subsidizes the rest. So far, €4.5 million has been paid for the subsidy.

INVESTMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATIONINVESTMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Amending higher education Amending higher education legislation in Croatialegislation in Croatia

Achievements and steps aheadAchievements and steps ahead

Higher education Act

Croatia passed the new Act on Scientific Activity and Higher

Education in 2003 (amended in 2004 and 2007)

• Introduction and implementation of the Bologna Process

• Lump sum (block grant) financing of universities

• Suspension veto power for student representatives

• Tax reductions for investments in science and higher

education (2007 amendments)

• Intermediary bodies (councils, agencies, committees)

• Functional integration of universities

• Binary system of higher education (division between university

and professional programmes)

Academic and professional titles Act

• Passed in October 2007 - outlines the rules for establishing

equivalence between the old and the new degrees

• Old 4-year degrees equivalent to second-cycle degree

– These degrees allowed access to PhD programmes and in reality

required almost 5 years of full-time work

• Old 3-year degrees equivalent to first-cycle degree

• Old 2-year degrees’ equivalence will be determined based on

rules set by the Rectors’ Council and the Council of

Polytechnics and Schools of Professional Higher Education

– Equivalence will be based on the students’ expected learning

outcomes in particular programmes

Academic titles of graduatesin technical sciences

• Traditionally, graduates in technical sciences were called engineers

• At the beginning of Bologna Process in Croatia the technical higher

education institutions asked that titles for technical graduates be

bachelor/master

• However, it was noticed that the absence of the title “engineer”

could be a setback in the labour market

• The new Act therefore includes both the titles bachelor/master and

the title engineer:

eg. Sveučilišni prvostupnik inženjer geodezije

Which could translate similar to: University Bachelor Engineer of Geodesy

• New Act on Student Council and other Student

Organizations passed in 2007

– Students were majority in the act drafting committee

• Student Council is autonomous in establishing its

internal governance

• Student ombudsman

• Greater accountability for the state funds that are

provided to the Student Council

Student representation Act

Constitutional Court decisions

• December 2006

• Law cannot prescribe final date of legal integration of universities

• Law cannot prescribe that only polytechnics and schools of professional higher education deliver professional study programmes

• New initiatives:– Goal of functional integration of universities still valid

– Ministry communicates with rectorates directly

– Strengthening of polytechnics and schools of professional higher education (funding, equipment, staff, young teachers)

Bologna implementation (1)

• The legal framework was successfully established

• Implementation mechanisms were developed in parallel

– Establishment of relevant agencies: Agency for Science and

Higher Education (2004), Agency for Adult Education (2006),

Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (October 2007)

– External evaluation of all study programmes performed in 2005

– Internal quality assurance is being strengthened in higher

education institutions

– Large increase in resourcing of higher education (funding,

staff, infrastructure)

Bologna implementation (2)

• Polycentric development of higher education - establishment of

new higher education institutions

– University of Pula

– Five polytechnics: Knin, Vukovar, Gospić, Šibenik, Slavonski Brod

– One school of Professional Higher Education – in Virovitica

• New system of recognition of foreign higher education

qualifications

• Bologna 2007 Stocktaking report graded Croatian Bologna

Process with grade 4.1 (up from 3.0 in 2005)

• The Croatian Government passed the Baseline for the Croatian

Qualifications Framework in July 2007

Steps ahead

• Strengthening of Agency for Science and Higher Education in its quality assurance role

• Accreditation and empowering of the Agency for Mobility and EU programmes

• Reform of the system of tuition fees

• Strengthening of capacity for lump sum implementation

• Further development of the Croatian qualifications framework

• Strengthening student participation in higher education governance at national, university and constituency levels

• Further improvement of study programmes

Questions to consider

• What are the new competences that ministries must have?

• How can the number of students in engineering be increased?

• How to assure interdisciplinary approach in engineering education in university context?

• How to balance higher education autonomy and accountability (e.g. Quality assurance?)

• Does university have autonomy :– in governance and management? (Yes?)

– in quality assurance? (Yes but what about external quality evaluation?)

– in programme development? (Yes but what role for students?)

– in funding? (Yes: lump sum funding. BUT issues concerning private funding, state initiatives, tuition fee caps have to be addressed)

• Role of students in academic community? – Consumers? Equal members of academic community?

STRATEGIC GOAL OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONSTRATEGIC GOAL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

““The Union shall become the most competitive The Union shall become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the wworldorld by 2010 by 2010, capable of sustainable economic, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greatergrowth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.” social cohesion.”

– – LLisbon strategy, 2000 isbon strategy, 2000

STRATEGIC GOAL OF CROATIASTRATEGIC GOAL OF CROATIA

““To tTo transform Croatia into a knowledge-based ransform Croatia into a knowledge-based society and society and to to make Croatian science and make Croatian science and educationeducation sector the most competitive in this part sector the most competitive in this part of Europeof Europe by 2010.” by 2010.” – – Croatian Medical Journal 2006; 47:809 – 24 Croatian Medical Journal 2006; 47:809 – 24

Thank you!

• Web: www.mzos.hr• Phone: 00385/1/4569-000• E-mail: ured@mzos.hr• Address: Trg hrvatskih velikana 6

HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia