The Structure and Role of QA Bodies at the University and faculty/department levels

UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE Serbia

31 Faculties 10 Research Institutes

Scheme of the Organisation

RECTORATE

1 Faculties of Social and Humanistic Sciences

2 Faculties of Medical Sciences

3 Faculties of Sciences & Mathematics

4 Faculties of Engineering and Technology

Groups: University Library

Computer center

UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE Serbia

PR service

Career center

Centre for strategic management of higher education

Sport center

Information center

Staff:

1 Full Professors = 1.058

2 Associate professors = 710

3 Assistant professors = 850

4 Assistants = 1.169 + 556 = 1.725

5 Administration = 2.493

UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE Serbia

1 Undergraduate = 71.099

2 Graduate = 3.026

Students: Academic year 2007/2008

Present state:

Higher Education system at the University of Belgrade is essentially based on two main cycles:

The second cycle leads to the MASTER and/or DOCTORATE degree

Access to the second cycle requires successful completion of undergraduate studies

II GRADUATE andI UNDERGRADUATE

1

2

3

UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE Serbia

UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE Serbia

1

Diploma Supplement

Establishment of a system of credits (ECTS)

Updating and restructuring of specific subject’s curricula

Considerable involvement of the University of Belgrade in the preparation of the Law on Higher Education

Development of the informative system for student schooling and services

Self-evaluation of faculties in respect to the Bologna Declaration requirements

2

3

4

5

6

Implementation of Bologna Declaration

Organisation ofUniversity

Organisation ofQA Bodies

SCHEME OF THE ORGANISATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF QUALITY ASSUARANCE

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE

Faculties groups

Faculties

University of Belgrade

University committee

for QA

University working group

for QA

Faculties’ working groups

for QA

Faculty working

group for QA

Responsibilities and reports

Communication

Establishment of the working groups

UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE Serbia

External evaluation May 2002 *

Significance of Accreditation in EuropeSignificance of Accreditation in Europe

The Berlin Declaration ( 2003) reads as follows: The Berlin Declaration ( 2003) reads as follows: “The quality of higher education has proven to “The quality of higher education has proven to be at be at the heartthe heart of the setting up of a European of the setting up of a European Higher Education Area.”Higher Education Area.”

National quality assurance systems should include the following:

• Evaluation of programmes or institutions, including Evaluation of programmes or institutions, including internal assessment, external review, participation of internal assessment, external review, participation of students and the publication of resultsstudents and the publication of results,

• A system of accreditation, certification or comparable A system of accreditation, certification or comparable procedures.procedures.

These political concepts have been largely implemented to date: practically all countries in Europe have established all countries in Europe have established national quality assurance systems in the domain of higher national quality assurance systems in the domain of higher educationeducation, and accreditation proceduresaccreditation procedures have become an important method for external quality assurance.

Definition and Purpose of Accreditation

The European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA) defines accreditation as “a formal and independent decision, indicating that an a formal and independent decision, indicating that an institution of higher education and/or programmes institution of higher education and/or programmes offered meet certain standardsoffered meet certain standards.” This definition also covers some quality assessments that are described as “accreditation like procedures”.

Accreditation is achieved through a multi-step processmulti-step process

selfevaluation/ documentation submitted by the unit

undergoing accreditation;

external assessment by independent expertsexternal assessment by independent experts; the

accreditation decision.

The accreditation decision depends upon a quality

assessment based on internationally accepted quality

standards.

The final decision of the accreditationThe final decision of the accreditation procedure itself

is authoritative in nature, has been determined by an

external process, and results in a “yes” or “no” judgment“yes” or “no” judgment

with a limited validity.

The Law on Higher Education (2005) The Law on Higher Education (2005) “Službeni glasnik 76/2005”“Službeni glasnik 76/2005”

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

ACCREDITATIONACCREDITATION ANDAND QUALITYQUALITY ASSURANCEASSURANCE COMMISSION (CAQA)COMMISSION (CAQA)

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL COUNCIL NATIONAL COUNCIL OF HIGHER OF HIGHER

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Institutions of higher educationInstitutions of higher education

Conference Conference of Serbian of Serbian UniversitiesUniversities

Conference of high Conference of high school principalsschool principals

Republic of Serbia

RULES AND REGULATIONSON STANDARDS OF SELF-SELF-ASSESSMENT AND QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND QUALITY CONTROLCONTROL OF HEIs

RULES AND REGULATIONSON STANDARD PROCEDURES OF EXTERNAL QUALITY OF EXTERNAL QUALITY CONTROL CONTROL

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF ACCREDITATION STANDARDS ACCREDITATION STANDARDS AND PROCEDURESAND PROCEDURES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONSINSTITUTIONS AND THEIR STUDY PROGRAMSSTUDY PROGRAMS

Accreditation and Quality Assurance CommissionAccreditation and Quality Assurance Commission proposed toproposed to the National Council the rules,regulations procedures and standards for self-assessment and quality control, self-assessment and quality control, external quality control and external quality control and accreditation of the high education institutions and study accreditation of the high education institutions and study programmes.programmes.

The National Council of higher education (2006) The National Council of higher education (2006) approved the following:

www.mps.sr.gov.yuwww.kapk.org.yu

ACCREDITATION STANDARDS FOR THE FIRST AND THE FIRST AND

SECOND LEVEL OF HIGHER EDUCATIONSECOND LEVEL OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Standard 1. Study program structure

Standard 2. Study program purpose

Standard 3. Objectives of the study program

Standard 4. Competences of the graduated students

Standard 5. Curriculum

Standard 6. Quality, modernity and international compliance

Standard 7. Admission of students

Standard 8. Grading and advancement of students

Standard 9. Teaching staff

Standard 10. Organization and material resources

Standard 11. Quality control

Standard 12. Distance learning courses

ACCREDITATION STANDARDS FOR

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONSHIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Standard 1. Basic goals and objectives

of higher education institution

Standard 2. Planning and control

Standard 3. Organization and

administration

Standard 4. Studies

Standard 5. Science research and

artistic work

Standard 6. Teaching staff

Standard 7. Non-teaching staff

Standard 8. Students

Standard 9. Premises and equipment

Standard 10. Library, textbooks and IT

support

Standard 11. Sources of funds

Standard 12. Internal mechanisms for

quality assurance

Standard 13. Transparency

ACCREDITATION STANDARDS FORSTUDY PROGRAM OF DOCTORAL STUDIESDOCTORAL STUDIES

Special standard - Competence of the higher education institution to carry out the doctoral studies

Standard 1. Study program structureStandard 2. Study program goalsStandard 3. Study program objectivesStandard 4. Competence of graduated studentsStandard 5. CurriculumStandard 6. Quality, modernity and international

compliance of study programStandard 7. Admission of studentsStandard 8. Grading and advancement of studentsStandard 9. Teaching staffStandard 10. Organizational and material resourcesStandard 11. Quality control

The accreditation request supported by the data and documents

ОДЛУКА О АКРЕДИТАЦИЈИ

The accreditation procedure The accreditation procedure

The Commission form sub-commission

The Commission, at the proposal by sub-commission, designate two reviewers

The reviewer report to the sub-commission

The sub-commission finalize the draft report for accreditation

The sub-commissionVisit institution- report

The CommissionThe accreditation decision

accept the accreditation request and grant the

Accreditation Certificate

reject the accreditation

postpone decision on accreditation

complain to the National Council of Higher Education

11

22

Institutions of higher education in Serbia achieve Institutions of higher education in Serbia achieve accreditation from accreditation from

Commision for Accreditation and Quallity Assurance CAQACommision for Accreditation and Quallity Assurance CAQA

The Law on Higher Education The Law on Higher Education “Službeni glasnik 76/2005”“Službeni glasnik 76/2005”

By virtue of Article 116., item 1. of the Law on Higher Education, the accreditaton of all the accreditaton of all Institutions of higher Institutions of higher educationeducation in Serbia should be finished to the june 2009. in Serbia should be finished to the june 2009.

250 Institutions of higher educationInstitutions of higher education>1500 >1500 study programsstudy programs

All higher education institutions in the Republic of Serbia and their respective study programs shall be subject to the procedure for accreditation.

It leads to formal external recognition of quality, which is important not only with regard to recognition of credits and degrees and with regard to funding, but also in acquiring legitimacy in the higher education system, towards other institutions, towards employers and other stake-holders, and towards students and the general public.

As institutions increasingly gain autonomy, external accreditation is seen as an affirmation of the self-regulating capacity of institutions.

Of course, accreditation also has important benefits for institutions and programmes themselves.