TEMPUS SCM Form N. C032B06West Balkan Bologna Promoters Network

Bratislava, 22-23 February 2008

About MacedoniaAbout the UniversityCurrent situation in the HE in R. MacedoniaBologna declarationEducation systemECTSECTS key featuresTools of ECTSExpected outcomesECTS Challenges7 steps to credit transfer International mobilityConclusion - ECTS added value for students

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

“There, where sun shines forever-there is Macedonia”, says an old popular song. And Macedonia is exactly that – a small country settled on the Balkan Peninsula.

ABOUT MACEDONIA

Official name: Republic of MacedoniaTotal area: 25 713 sq kmPopulation: 2 000 000 (Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs and othersOfficial Language: Macedonian – written using Cyrillic alphabetCapital City: Skopje

St. Kliment Ohridski UniversityBul. 1. Maj bb7000 BitolaTel.: +389(0)47 223788,

223 192Fax: +389(0)47 223 594

Web page: www.uklo.edu.mk

ABOUT the UNIVERSITY

Was founded in 1979 with its seat in Bitola and institutions located in Bitola, Ohrid, Prilep and Skopje. It represents an association of 8 Higher education institutions and 3 Research Institutes 13000 students are enrolled in the education process 38 study programs, 26 post-graduate study programs 349 academic staff; 53 research staff,

ABOUT the UNIVERSITY

CURRENT SITUATION IN THE HE IN R. MACEDONIA

4 state universities1 private universityMany private colleges and faculties sprouting everydayEurope and globalization knocked at our door, and we have to face with the new challenges in the education process of the 21 century.

Bologna Declaration signed by Macedonian authorities in Berlin in September 2003 Objectives of the Bologna declaration accepted

- System of easily comparable degrees- System based on three cycles- Common system of credits- Mobility- Cooperation in quality assurance- European dimension in Higher

Education (HE)

BOLOGNA DECLARATION

EDUCATION SYSTEM3+2+3 (4+1+3)

Starting from 2003, new curricula have been prepared. A good course description in Macedonian and in English (for few courses) version has been prepared and credits allocated. The proposed curriculum changes for increasing efficiency were:

- decreasing the number of semesters from 10 or 9 to 8 or 6- all the courses last one semester - decreasing the number of lectures and exercises/week(25)- continuous engagement of students- 60 credits per study year, total 240 (180) credits to get a diploma - 4 to 8 credits per course- introducing optional subjects- introducing more than one foreign languages- no entrance exam

A process of implementation of ECTS has already started in the framework of a Tempus project (UM_JEP-15058-2000), as a pilot project at the Traffic and Transport engineering department at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Bitola. To implement the ECTS Key featuresConceptually easy, Difficult in practice

- Change education paradigm from teaching to learning centered

- Not only contact hours taken into accountECTS is supposed to be extended to all high institutions in Macedonia up to the end of 2010

EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM

Credits express the volume of the students work- questionnaire among the students about the time needed for individual learning for each subjectCredits are awarded when the course is successfully assessedCredits are always linked to a study programA degree is only awarded after completion of the minimum number of credits foreseen in the degree programAll the tools of ECTS are used

ECTS KEY FEATURES

TOOLS OF ECTS

The ECTS system is based on three core elements: - information (on study programmes and student achievements), - mutual agreement (between the partner institutions and the student) and

- use of ECTS credits (to indicate student workload).

These three core elements are being operationalized through the use of three key documents: the information package, (annex 1), the application form/learning agreement and the transcript of records. (annex 2,3,4)

ECTS to be used in a coherent way in Europe:

To allow for the diversity in European education systems To build mutual understanding To create the European Education Space

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

ECTS - CHALLENGES

How well understood is the concept of the students workload?Have Institutions fully accepted the change in education paradigm (Teacher centered student centered)?How well does our credit allocation stand when subjected to quality assurance processes?How well explained are our degrees (ECTS is a tool, not a goal on itself)?

Institutional commitmentCredit allocation to course unitsInformation PackageLearning AgreementAward of credits to studentsTranscript of RecordsAcademic recognition

7 STEPS to CREDIT TRANSFER

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

University Center for International Mobility International programmes

- TEMPUS Program (28 projects realized)- DAAD – Germany (mobility of students and staff)- Fullbright Program (mobility of staff)- Fund Institute “Open Society”

Cooperation with more than 30 European and other international Universities – bilateral agreements

- Universities from former Yugoslavia- Universities from neighboring countries,- Universities from EU, - Other universities

Membership in few international associations

Broadens choice for study abroadFacilitates access to regular programmes alongside local studentsImproves information on study abroad options and helps to build up a programme of study (information package)Provides certification of study abroad achievements(transcript of records)Guarantees academic recognition(learning agreement, transcript of records)

CONCLUSION - ECTS ADDED VALUE FOR STUDENTS

THANK YOU

FOR YOUR ATTENTION