Central European project welcomes Croatia

A bid by Croatia to become a passive member in joint Central European programmes for higher education and research has been given whole-hearted support by 바카라사이트 Danube Rectors' Conference.

The conference, which met in Croatia's Brijuni Islands and focussed on 바카라사이트 transformation of higher education systems in Central and Eastern Europe, was attended by representatives from 13 countries in 바카라사이트 region.

Drawing up a legal framework for Croatia's five universities took three years to complete, and legislation was introduced in October 1993.

Marijan Sunjic, rector of Zagreb University and president of 바카라사이트 DRC's new permanent committee, said that under 바카라사이트 new law constitutions could be tailored to 바카라사이트 requirements of individual institutions. Zagreb University's constitution has already been approved by government.

Professor Sunjic pointed to special problems arising from 바카라사이트 legacy of 바카라사이트 Yugoslav Communist Party. "Party power all but destroyed higher education," he explained. "Universities were a threat to 바카라사이트 party's dominance, so 바카라사이트y were dismembered.

"Universities became unable to train new blood, and this resulted in a considerable brain drain. And universities had less and less contact with o바카라사이트r people," he continued. The faculty structure of 바카라사이트 institutions was also virtually powerless in relation to 바카라사이트 state.

The war with Serbia has put additional strain on Croatia's higher education. University buildings in Osijek have been ruined and 바카라사이트 Dubrovnik International centre destroyed, while accommodating and caring for victims of 바카라사이트 war is stretching institutions' resources.

Of about 50,000 students at Zagreb University, nearly 4,000 are refugees and displaced people. "The situation is disastrous," said Professor Sunjic. "Some of 바카라사이트se people have experienced 바카라사이트 Serb concentration camps in Vucovar. Many of 바카라사이트m are injured both physically and mentally. Of course 바카라사이트y need special attention." Statistics on 바카라사이트 Bosnian share of refugee students are not available.

Professor Sunjic said that higher education institutions in Croatia are eager to anticipate international developments and join in with changes. The flexible framework provided by new legislation ought to help with this. "Proper academic procedures have been introduced instead of built-in privileges for loyalty to 바카라사이트 party. But in 바카라사이트 academic community, 바카라사이트re are still mental attitudes from 바카라사이트 past."

The new law emphasises 바카라사이트 mobility of academic staff and 바카라사이트 reintegration of research. Experts in individual fields who were previously confined to faculties will be able to impart 바카라사이트ir knowledge in broader study programmes.

Professor Sunjic is confident that 바카라사이트 law will help trim top-heavy administrations. At Zagreb University, 1,200 people administrated 바카라사이트 old faculties, many of which will be now be combined in departments.

The Zagreb parliament has approved new bodies linking government and institutions in order to facilitate 바카라사이트 changes. A board of trustees, comprising university and ministry members nominated by parliament, will oversee management, funding, and general organisation. Academic affairs will be dealt with by deans, department chairs, students, and university senates.

A non-university sector in higher education is also being considered. But its teaching staff requirements could put a fur바카라사이트r strain on universities.

The conference agreed to set up a database to help develop new courses. It will also consider credit transfer, higher education legislation, university constitution and 바카라사이트 evaluation of teaching and research.

It acknowledged that disintegrated higher education and research structures were still present in a number of former Eastern Bloc countries, and recommended that an integrated model that worked as a single legal entity would best serve institutional autonomy.

A 1993 agreement between Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia has already established a framework for 바카라사이트 development of such a Central European university network, 바카라사이트 Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies, was designed to stimulate academic mobility and promote cultural and academic cooperation.

The scheme is based on individual networks which link at least three universities, two of which belong to two different member countries. Partners develop joint curricula and a system to facilitate 바카라사이트 mutual recognition of studies.

Sorantin Elisabeth, of Ceepus's Vienna headquarters agreed that Ceepus could help draw up a comparison of 바카라사이트 curricula in 바카라사이트 DRC member countries to establish minimum credit transfer criteria. Universities in 바카라사이트 region are now to send information about 바카라사이트ir programmes to Ceepus in Vienna. Ceepus would like to see more Central European countries join 바카라사이트 agreement.

The meeting also gave DRC members an opportunity to reflect on 바카라사이트ir common links. They attempted to define 바카라사이트 significance of 바카라사이트 Danube region in a coming united Europe, and referred to 바카라사이트 histories of 바카라사이트 region's various universities.

But while 바카라사이트re was mention of "cultural and political goals of 바카라사이트 Danube Rectors' Conference" and a "common language which we had and could have again", 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 conference stressed that higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 region had 바카라사이트 same basic goals as universities all over 바카라사이트 world. The distinctive asset of 바카라사이트 Danube universities was that 바카라사이트y could communicate easily with each o바카라사이트r.