Improving student mobility raises the level of education, but Serbian universities are still facing the challenges in this area, said participants of the session “Experience and perspectives in organising credit mobility”.
Participants of the session – organised by Foundation Tempus–Erasmus +, Ministry of Education and EU Info Centre – named the needs to inform students on exchange possibilities and support foreign students as the main challenges.
Director of Foundation Tempus-Erasmus+ Marija Filipovic Ozegovic said that the Foundation advocated mobility as students’ opportunity to spend part of their studies abroad.
European Union has allocated some 20 million euros for credit mobility projects within higher education in Western Balkans’ countries through the new Erasmus+ programme. Compared to previous Erasmus Mundus programme, Erasmus+ offers more flexibility in cooperation as it allows any faculty, department or institute to sign contracts on student/teacher exchange through universities and colleges. We estimate that the exchange would be doubled, which is why it is crucial for higher education institutions to prepare for these challenges, Filipovic Ozegovic said.
“In a way, this session is designed to prepare institutions of higher education to apply for credit mobility projects and inform these institutions on how to behave once their students start leaving for European universities, but also on how to treat foreign students coming to higher education institutions in Serbia. It is a two-way exchange. We consider it is important for them to hear other universities’ experiences on recognising the exams and related procedures, because students’ biggest worry concerns the courses and their recognition once they get back to home faculty,” said Filipovic Ozegovic.
“Faculties must decide on their mobility priorities: whether they want to train their young teachers and assistants, or exchange students. Strategic approach is also important: this means deciding whether the exchange would be based on the principles of similarity or dissimilarity or on the mix of those two and, and, once they receive the invitation to the programme, considering the study programmes and determining whether they are corresponding to theirs. They also need to know what to do with students who would spend time at their institution: Will there be a mentorship?, Are there study programmes in English?… All of this is necessary in order to achieve a quality mobility for the purpose of improved education,” Filipovic Ozegovic said.
Assistant Minister of Education Zorana Luzanin said that students mobility was one of the subjects in which Serbian academic community had yet to reach “a passing grade”, even though the mobility was significant as a safe way to raising the level of education.
Students who had already took part in exchanges should pass their experience to others, she said, adding that Ministry of Education wants Serbia to adopt a strategy for the internationalisation of higher education in 2015.
In five or ten years, when universities across Europe open their doors to Serbian students, the price of irresponsible approach to mobility will show itself, she said.
Representatives of universities of Belgrade, Kragujevac and Novi Sad stressed that students and university staff lacked information on mobility opportunities and encountered issues in recognising exams passed during exchanges.
Milica Spasojevic of the University of Kragujevac, points to the fact that from 2009-2014, this University focused on outgoing mobility.
“Erasmus+ programme is more comprehensive and brings a new model of operation, which is why there is a need to adjust our procedures to it. University of Kragujevac prepared the Rulebook on the participation of University and credit mobility under Erasmus+ programme, whereas the network of Erasmus+ coordinators has been established so as to ensure a systemic approach to the new programme and achieve efficient communication and coordination of activities, Spasojevic said.
Universities in these cities have introduced several methods of student support, such as foreign language classes and assistance in applying for exchange programmes.
