Study visit within the SMEQA project at the University of Split: Our staff participated with experts

Study visit within the SMEQA project at the University of Split: Our staff participated with experts

Our staff actively participated in the Study visit held from July 2 to 4, 2024 at the University of Split as part of the SMEQA project, focused on the topic of quality assurance in higher education institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During this event, our employees had the opportunity to attend lectures by renowned experts such as prof. Ph.D. sc. Dragan Ljutić, prof. Dr. Mile Želajija, prof. Ph.D. sc. Jadranke Šepić, as well as AZVO representatives - Sandra Bajzak and Emita Blagdan, and other experts in the field of quality assurance.

These experiences allowed us to expand our knowledge and improve activities in the field of quality assurance at our university.

In Split, at PMF from July 2-4, 2024, as part of the Erasmus+ SMEQA project, study visits were held for representatives of universities, ministries and agencies from the area of ​​BIH on the topic of external quality assurance and evaluation in higher education. The event was organized by representatives of the University of Split and the Agency for Science and Higher Education Zagreb. On the first day of the workshop, on July 2, a welcome speech was given to the participants with incentives and wishes for successful work: in front of the PMF, the vice dean for teaching, assistant professor Ph.D. sc. Goran Radobolja; project manager prof. Ph.D. sc. Malik Čabaravdić (University of Zenica); prof. Ph.D. sc. Jusuf Duraković, rector of the University of Zenica and finally in front of the Rectorate of UNIST, prof. Ph.D. sc. Nikša Jajac, Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure.

After the welcoming words, presentations by representatives of our University followed. Asst. Ph.D. sc. Doris Rušić (MEFST) presented to the participants the system of internal quality assurance and improvement at the University of Split, its structure, functioning and stakeholders, as well as the results of the second cycle of reaccreditation by University components. Prof. Ph.D. sc. Jadranka Garmaz and Doris Žuro, mag. soc. (KBF) shared the experience of the process of preparation for the re-accreditation process at the component level, using the example of KBF Split. Dean of PMF, prof. Ph.D. sc. In his presentation, Mile Dzelalija talked about the follow-up activities after the reaccreditation procedure, and the potential challenges that the institution may face in its efforts to further improve quality. At the end of the first working day, exec. prof. Ph.D. sc. Jadranka Šepić (PMF) presented the preparation process, course and results of the ERC project "SHExtreme", i.e. through the example of this project, emphasized the importance of participation and application of projects in raising all aspects of the quality of higher education and scientific institutions.

On the second day of the study visit, the representatives of AZVO, Sadra Bezjak and Emita Blagdan, held three presentations on the subject of the system of external quality assurance in the Republic of Croatia, the legislative framework and procedures in the context of new ESG standards, different types of external evaluation (reaccreditation, initial accreditation, thematic evaluations ) as well as the most frequent challenges and problems that AZVO observes at institutions in external evaluation procedures. The last presentation of the second working day on the topic of the results of the report on the analysis of quality assurance among the 12 competent educational authorities in BiH was held by Assoc. prof. Ph.D. sc. Luciana Boban from the University of Mostar.

The last day of the working visit was dedicated to the agreement between the partners regarding the further successful implementation of the project. Mr. Sc. Marko-Antonio Brkić (University of Herzegovina) presented the dissemination plan of the project and the visual identity proposal (web pages and project logo). Prof. Ph.D. sc. Goran Janjić from the University of Banja Luka presented the quality management plan and instruments that will be used to monitor quality and results during the project cycle. In the end, the project leader prof. Ph.D. sc. Malik Čabaravdić and Amra Muslić-Halilović, prof. from the institution of the project holder, they informed the participants about the upcoming activities and obligations of the project partners.