Prishtina. The ninth meeting of the “Small Group” for developing the Strategy for Research and Development of the University of Prishtina within the Project “Creating R&D Capacities and Instruments for boosting Higher Education - Economy Cooperation”, was held yesterday at WUS Austria, Prishtina Office.

After developing the first draft of the Strategy for Research and Development of the University of Prishtina, at the beginning of September a workshop will be organized with a “Wider Group” consisting of 20 persons, including three members of WUS Austria’s staff (the complete list of the group members can be downloaded here).

According to the work plan, it is foreseen that the Strategy for Research and Development of the University of Prishtina will be finished at the beginning of October, 2011.

Prishtina. Within the framework of the TEMPUS Project: “Creating R&D Capacities and Instruments for boosting Higher Education and Economy”, financed by European Commission, two representatives from the University of Oxford, Ms. Linda Pialek and Ms. Elena Andonova, conducted a visit at the Prishtina University from 24th to 26th of August, 2011. The aim of the visit was to review the progress made so far in the implementation of the R&D project at the R&D unit at the University of Prishtina.

On the first day of the visit, Ms. Pialek and Ms. Andonova visited the Research Project Support Unit at the UP were they had a meeting with the Manager of the Unit, Prof. Dr. Hysen Bytyqi and his assistant Mr. Besnik Fetahu. In addition, the representatives from Oxford University met the relevant stakeholders involved in the project, such as: Prof. Dr. Bajram Berisha, Vice Rector for Teaching and Research of the University of Prishtina, Prof. Dr. Avdulla Alija, Board Member of the Kosovo Centre for Higher Education, Research and Technology Cooperation (K-CIRT) and Mr.Sc. But Dedaj, Regional Manager of the WUS Austria, Prishtina Office.

Bogë, Peja. Within the TEMPUS Project: “Creating R&D and Instruments for boosting Higher Education – Economy Cooperation”, from 2 – 4 of September a workshop was held in Bogë, Peja Region, for developing the Strategy for R&D for the University of Prishtina.

Montenegro. On Friday, 9^th September 2011, the WUS Austria Consortium (including Austin Pock + Partners, SFG Innofinanz GmbH, Foundation Educational Business Start up Centre Zenica, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre at the University of Zenica, and individual experts from Italy, Spain and Slovenia) presented the Feasibility Study for the establishing of a Science and Technology Park (STP) in Montenegro.

The study was developed during August and was presented to the Ministry of Science and other relevant stakeholders in Podgorica; based upon the study the political stakeholders will make a decision on the establishment of the STP. The action will enhance Montenegro’s development into a knowledge-based society, the country’s competitiveness on the international market and consequently its economic development and integration into the European Union.

See here for the news at the Ministry’s website.

Bucharest, Romania. In the frame of TEMPUS project: “Supporting and Developing the Structures for QA at the Private Higher Education Institutions in Kosova”, a study visit took place at University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest (UPB) and some private higher education institutions, in Romania during September 7th – 11th, 2011.

The study visit comprised a delegation, representing mainly QA Officers and representatives from the private higher education institutions from Kosovo, as well as  representatives  from the University of Salzburg and WUS Austria.

The objectives of the study visit were to get familiar with the Romanian Qualification Framework and to gain a deeper insight into the accreditation process of the universities and study programs in Romania, in addition to the organization of internal Quality Assurance. Furthermore, there was a workshop organized on the development of QA manuals.

The aim of the project is to introduce and enhance Quality Assurance (aspects and standards in quality) in the higher education system in Kosovo in accordance with the goals of the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in Kosovo (2005-2015). Furthermore, the goal of the project is to establish and strengthen the quality assurance at the ten Kosovar private higher education providers (PHEP).

Alicante & Girona, Spain. In the frame of TEMPUS project: “COMPETENCE at the University of Prishtina”, a study visit took place at the University of Alicante and University of Girona, Spain, during September the 12th – 18th . 

The study visit comprised of a delegation of 18 people, mainly representatives and professors from the University of Prishtina, Ministry of Education,  as well as representatives from WUS Austria.

The study viait took place in the context of knowledge transfer to UP COC, University Management and the Competence eperts, concerning procedures and work of EU partners in the field of competence matching/surveys catalogues/cooperation with buiness environment  and policy makers/nation-wide observation, strategy development for qualifications frameworks etc.

The objectives of the study visit were to gain an overview of competence based teaching at the University of Alicante (UA) and University of Girona (UdG) and to get familiar with the UA and UdG models for management of teaching. Furthermore, the study visit helped the Kosovo group to gain new knowledge and practical experiences developing the competence based curriculum. This study visit at the UA and UdG raised awarness among participants in adopting the given advices and new ideas to formulate and implement competences in the teaching at the UP in order to improve the teaching at the UP.

The aim of the project is to introduce a competence center at the Up, which will act a a service center for students and staff and will with its activities directly contribute to quality assurance and to the development of partnerships with enterprises.

The developmed competence catalogue and information system will make education at the University more transparent and accessible. It will link the worlds of work and education through Tempus and support the development of life long learning.

Kotor. On the gorgeous Montenegrin coast the seventh project meeting was organized by the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Managament (University of Montenegro) in their facilities. The meeting took place between the 6th and 8th of September 2011 and it gathered ca. 20 people including representatives of all project partners. (Agenda of the meeting is available here)

The Competence partners have met in Kotor to work on the on the final project activities – the further development of the recommendations for the curriculum development at each SEE partner university, and on the creation of the strategy document, officially called “Declaration”. This document will contain the lessons learned from this project and should become an instrument useful to Competence Observation Centers, partners and especially universities from the partner SEE countries. It is will focus on three levels: policy (government), university (management) and study programme (staff) with the aim that on all levels actions be undertaken that will assure better implementation of competence based teaching and increase the employability of the students. The “Declaration” will be completed until the end of October and will be presented at the next project meeting that is taking place within the conference “Techno-Educa 2011”. This student conference is focusing on the topic of competences and it will be organised at the University of Zenica on the 10^th and 11^th of November 2011. (Information about the “Techno-Educa 2011” conference can be found here.)  

Upon its completion, the “Declaration” will be published on the project’s website, together with all the other project documents under downloads (www.link-competences.org/index.php#downloads).

Another two important topics were particularly addressed at this meeting and these are the matters of dissemination and sustainability. Partners have presented the dissemination activities conducted so far and have discussed different future dissemination and sustainability possibilities.

We had the pleasure to visit the wine company “13. jul plantaze” and hear about their development and strategies as one of the biggest and most important companies in the country. We have also had the opportunity to taste their fantastic wines and to enjoy their local food. The Competence partners also had the opportunity to visit the Maritime museum of Kotor and to talk to their management about their cooperation with the University of Montenegro and particularly with the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management.

We are grateful to all the partners for their inputs and discussion, but we would especially like to thank our host from Montenegro, who made all the arrangements and made us feel warmly welcomed in his sunny country.

Prishtina. Within the framework of the project: “PhD in Food Science and  Food Technology and Creating Capacities for PhD Reform at the University of Prishtina/ Kosovo”, financed by  the European Commission, the second consortium meeting and two workshops were organized during 29th -30th of September at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary of the University of Prishitna, Kosovo.

The first day comprised of two sessions:

• Consortium meeting, which started with a presentation of the project on: "Status Quo of the PhD program development", by the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Scientific Research at UP, Prof. Dr. Bajram Berisha, and continued with a presentation on "Activities overview and next steps" by Martina Handler, WUS Austria. The upcoming project activities were discussed and set (places for study visits, workshops as well as deadlines) in agreement with all project partners.
• Workshop: Presentation of the Preeliminary Results of the Gap Analysis and Benchmarking Report, by representatives of the University of Graz. During the workshop reccomendations for the PhD structure based on the current human and infrastructure capacities at UP were given and discussed among the participants of the workshop.

The second day comprised of another workshop on:

• "Research Capacities - Local Needs", where the main issue discussed during the workshop were the training needs of UP staff on the basis of:
  - human capacities;
  - infrastructure capacities;
  - outputs (projects and publications) and
  - networks.

An analysis report and action plan for research training, as well as equipment should be purchased for research within the PhD program.

The aim of the project is to support curricular reform and capacity building at the University of Prishtina. It focuses on reforming PhD Curricula in accordance with the Bologna process and up to date European standards, thus supporting the integration of Kosovo into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

WUS Austria introduces the first Children’s University in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) that gathers children around science and research-based topics in order to promote higher education cooperation between primary schools and universities in BiH, as well as to build a common future. The first Children’s University (CU) in BiH took place from October 12 – 14, 2011 at the University of Sarajevo.

The overall objective of the action is to increase the interest in science, research and technology from a very young age and to engage children in exciting, interactive, real-world learning experiences. This way the children develop academic talent and knowledge, creativity and personal growth, and they are encouraged to be curious and to think critically.

Moreover, the project strengthens the role of civil society, human rights and democratic principles through participation of all groups of society in higher education. This aim is reached by fostering dialogue and interest in higher education in children who are important multipliers in the present and even more so in the future. Introducing the first Children’s University in BiH, and establishing the concept nationwide will contribute to educating a new generation in the whole region who will be capable of taking their future into their own hands and implement their rights in a self-confident and peaceful way.

 Within the program, the academic staff of the University held lectures for children from the age of 10-12 at the following five faculties:

- Faculty of Sports and Physical Education

- Academy of Performing Arts

- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

In the pilot phase (2011) 96 children, accompanied by 17 teachers, coming from 9 schools in BiH (Mostar, Capljina, Doboj and Banja Luka) took part in the Children’s University. Apart from lectures at the faculties, the children also participated in “extra – curricular” activities, such as a visit to the Sparkasse Bank, interactive workshops in English language in cooperation with the British Council, a visit to the National Museum and seeing a play at the Sarajevo Youth Theatre.

The CU in BiH is financed through the Robert Bosch Foundation and ERSTE Foundation, further sponsors and partners include: Sparkasse, Merkur Osiguranje, British Council, Vienna Children's University, Prodravka d.o.o., McDonald's, Strabag and Freytag & Berndt.

You can download the agenda here.

Find out more information about the Children's University in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the project website.

Heidelberg. An initial meeting of the Consortium Committee of the project Tempus project „Embedding Quality Assurance in Doctoral Education – EQADE, financed by the European Commission took place on November 15 – 16, 2011 at the University of Heidelberg. The Consortium Committee consisted of representatives of the Medical Faculty of the University of Heidelberg, WUS Austria, University of Palermo, University Dunarea de Jos of Galati, Ministry of Education and Culture of Republic of Srpska, Agency for Higher Education Development and Quality Assurance and all BiH public universities.

At the first day of the Kick-off meeting representatives of partner institutions delivered short presentations on their institutions, providing an overview of and general information on their respective institutions, with a special focus on their doctoral education systems.

The presentations were delivered in the following order:

• University Dunarea de Jos of Galati by prof. Luminita Moraru
• University of Palermo by prof. Antonella Plaia
• BiH Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance by Jugoslav Vuk Tepic
• Ministry of Education and Culture of Republic of Srpska by Vanja Aleksic
• University of Banja Luka by prof. Jovo Ateljevic
• University of Bihac by prof. Refik Sahinovic
• University Dzemal Bijedic in Mostar by Alim Abazovic
• University of East Sarajevo by prof. Dejan Bokonjic
• University of Mostar by prof. Ivo Colak
• University of Tuzla by prof. Enver Halilović
• University of Zenica by prof. Darko Petković

Furthermore, the meeting participants had the opportunity to hear about two successful examples of PhD programmes at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, delivered by prof. Predrag Minic, and the Hartmut Hoffman-Berling International Graduate School of Molecular and Cellular Biology in Heidelberg, presented by the head of the PhD program, prof. Elmar Schiebel.

The second part of the day and the second day of the meeting served as a valuable opportunity to discuss future project implementation, partner responsibilities, financial aspects and all technical details pertaining to the project conduct. To that aim, presentations on the following topics were held by prof. Hans-Günther Sonntag, Chairman of the meeting and Dean Emeritus of the Medical Faculty at the University of Heidelberg, and mr. Dino Mujkic, WUS Austria Regional Manager:  

• Project introduction, overview of activities and reponsibilities, definition of a project timetable, by mr. Dino Mujkic
• Financial aspects, by prof. Sonntag
• Definition of a project timetable for the 1st year, by mr. Dino Mujkic

The primary outcome of the Kick-off meeting is a consolidated project work plan.

Prishtina. The final meeting of the  project R&D Capacities was held at the University of Prishtina from 8th-9th December 2011. The meeting was opened by Vice-Rector Bajram Berisha, with an introductory speech by Ms Kimete Canaj from the National Tempus Office, followed by  welcome words from Mr. But Dedaj,   contact person for the project at the UP.

The meeting marked the final phase of the project which will end in January 2012. Within the framwork of the project four universities in the Western Balkans, University of Montenegro, University of Sarajevo, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and the University of Prishtina,  set up R&D Service Centres which have developed business plans, and services and instruments tailored to the needs of the respective university. The history of the project and the success stories are shared in the final project publication "Looking back and into our future" available in hard copy at the R&D Service Centres or WUS Austria or via download from the project website.

To take a look at the agenda click here. 

To find out more about the project visit the project website at www.rd-capacities.org.

Prishtina. The final event of the project QA@PHEP (www.qa-kosova.org)  took place in Prishtina on 10th January 2012. To see the AGENDA click here.

The event was attended by the project partners including an afternoon session which was open to the public. The range of speakers at the event included Consortium members - Kosovar and EU partners - and guests:

- Norma RYAN (University College Cork)

- Mariana MOCANU (University POLITEHNICA Bucharest)

- Ferdije ZHUSHI-ETEMI (Kosovo Accreditation Agency)

- Naim HASANI (Ministry of Education, Technology and Science, Kosovo)

- Michaela HANDKE (WUS Austria)

-  Vjosa MULLATAHIRI (external evaluator)

- But DEDAJ (WUS Kosova)

You can download all PRESENTATIONS here.

You can find all information about the project here: www.qa-kosova.org

 

TEMPUS INTERFACE

Sarajevo. The meeting in the frame of the Interface project was hosted by the University of Sarajevo from December 1-2, 2011.  This project aims at developing and setting up measures for initiating, enhancing and sustaining Higher Education-Society-Cooperation.

To see the agenda, click here.

Prishtina. The 2^nd Consortium Meeting and Workshop of the Tempus-project KIKT took place at the University of Prishtina, Faculty of Medicine on 27^th and 28^th of October 2011. To see the agenda, click here.

Sarajevo. The kick-off meeting for the new Tempus project "Quality in Research - QinR" took place in Sarajevo from 24th-25th January 2012. 

The overall objective of the project is to support the mostly teaching-oriented universities in four Western Balkan Countries (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania) to enhance their research capacities.

More specifically the project aims to enhance the conversion of Western-Balkan research standards with those of the EU member states, i.e. to meet the goals formulated in the Lisbon Convention and those set by the Bologna Process.

In detail  it aims at:
1) The introduction of quality assurance in scientific research in the target region of SEE. High standards in research also contribute to the improvement of teaching and foster innovation processes (Knowledge Triangle).
2) The development of regional as well as international relations and the fostering networking activities among the scientific community of PCUs and EUUs.
3) Supporting the Human Resource development by fostering the research work of young scientific staff at the PCUs in order to strengthen their capacities and skills and to prevent them from going abroad (brain drain).  

To see the agenda of the kick-off meeting click here.
 

The project is coordinated by the R/D Centre of the University of Sarajevo. For further information please also see the website of the R/D Centre.