STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN BiH
An important Twinning project for Bosnia and Herzegovina
In a globalized world all countries need to improve students mobility as well as academic staff and labour force. To follow this trend BiH can benefit from this Twinning project for a fairrecognition of foreign Higher Education qualifications in line withthe Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) in strengthening human resources and harmonizing its legislation. To achieve this goal 3 Member States (Croatia, France and Latvia) built a consortium offering to BiH partners from institutions with a prior experience in the implementattion of twinning projects to address its needs in this matter. Short-term experts coming from different European offices about recognition of qualifications will support the project.The European Union is investing in the development of institutional capacities to promote the recognition of foreign qualifications in higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the provisions of the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Through the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, a Twinning project is implemented in the total amount of EUR 600.000. The Twinning project will include activities to improve the legislative framework, procedures for recognizing foreign higher education qualifications and strengthening human capacities.Improving the procedures for recognizing foreign higher education qualifications will benefit citizens who complete their studies abroad by simplifying administrative procedures if they wish to continue their studies or work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.The project will last 15 months and will be carried out by experts from the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia, the International Center for Pedagogical Studies of the Republic of France and the Academic Information Center of the Republic of Latvia, together with experts from the Center for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education of BiH (CIP). Institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina that are competent in regulations and procedures for the recognition of foreign higher education qualifications will also actively participate in the project. It has 3 components:
1)IMPROVING THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK(Strategic planning)
The project will include activities for improving the procedures of recognizing foreign educational qualifications by the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Experts will work on the analysis of existing legislationthat will be used to develop recommendations for improving the recognition of qualifications. After the analysis, action planswill be developed for the institutions responsible for the recognition of foreign educational qualifications. The aim is to establish high quality recognition procedures, in line with the provisions of the Lisbon Recognition Convention, which ensure anequal treatment of all citizens who complete their studies abroad.Adatabase, to be developed within the project in the CIP, will ensure the exchange of information on the results of recognition of foreign educational qualifications in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This will be supported by the competent authorities for efficient, transparent, high-quality and reliable procedures in recognizing foreign educational qualifications.
2)DEVELOPING RECOGNITION PROCEDURES FOR FOREIGN HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
The project will contribute to the harmonization ofproceduresfor recognizing foreign educational qualifications with the Lisbon Recognition Convention which is implemented by ministries and higher education institutions for improvement of understanding of "Bologna" qualifications in the labor market.
3)STRENGTHENING HUMAN CAPACITIES
A series of workshopsabout capacity building will be held which will include representatives of the ministries of education,employment offices and educational institutions from the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as public and private sector employers and experts involved in the procedures for recognition of foreign higher education qualifications.
The project started from 5 September. A Kick-off meeting was held on 11 October and more than 50 participants attended itcoming from all relevant institutions in BiH. The ambassadors of Croatia and France delivered very supportive speeches expressing their interest with the representative of the European Union Delegation. The same day, a first Steering Committee composed of 9 members discussed the rolling Workplan, the Communication and Visibility Plan as well as the Budget for the next 6 months.Short-term experts will start coming at the endof Octoberabout Strategic Planning. This part should be finalized by January and then procedures for recognition will be studied. Capacity building will then be set up in spring to train different stakeholders in order to increase their awareness of this process.
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