Background of the project
Objectives

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

THE ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK

One of the most important factors that are affecting the present Serbian economic scene is perhaps the fact that the country embarked on transition with a ten years delay, due to the political and international situation in the 1990s. What might have looked like a severe disadvantage then, might as well prove to be an opportunity today. The experience gained during those years by the other countries on various as-pects of the process could be effectively used by Serbia, but most of all provide the opportunity to avoid the mistakes made by other countries.

Nonetheless the process towards transition in Serbia has been to a sense wavering. Transition began in Serbia in 2000 and started off at a fast pace. By the end of its first year considerable results had been achieved. However, it turned out that such a pace simply could not be sustained. Probably as a result of the “self-management” attitude the country had developed after the conflict between the domestic and the Soviet Union communism, it is difficult today to detect an original, internal driving force for transition since there is no consensus among political forces on whether transition is a desirable outcome. Transition in Serbia is thus mostly unfolding under the influence of the international community, with the European Union in the forefront.

Some positive results have been achieved in the public sector. Much needs to be done in the private one. Experience has proved that it is new private companies that can sparkle the economic growth, provided they can count on a a renewed institutional scenario, and on fresh, updated personal competencies. This is exactly what Serbia lacks, and evidently what a modern education system that is up to international standards can offer.

THE NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION CONTEXT IN THE PARTNER COUNTRY AND HOW THIS RELATES TO THE PROJECT PROPOSAL

Until the beginning of nineties in Serbia there were only state owned higher education institutions.

Only at the beginning of the nineties private higher education institutions started to appear and the growth was especially intense in last two years, when 50 such institutions were registered. Today in Serbia there are 6 state and 6 privately owned universities. The new “Law of Higher Education” of September 2nd 2005, brought radical changes, mainly as a result of the adhesion to the Bologna Process. Three levels of higher education studies were defined: Basic studies or studies of the first degree with 180-240 ECTS; studies of the second degree – master studies with 60-120 ECTS (depending on the number of ECTS achieved on the first degree) and Specialist studies with 60 ECTS; and the studies of the third degree – Doctoral Studies with 180 ECTS.

Many faculties have made serious preparations in anticipation of the new law. Some are already launching the third year of restructured study programmes, but a good part of others has just started with the implementation of the reform.