Director of the Agency was in show "Srpska today"

Director of the Higher Education Accreditation Agency of Republic of Srpska (Agency), Biljana Vojvodic, PhD on 28^th February 2019, was guest in the RTRS television show "Srpska Today". In addition to the director, the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs of the University of Banja Luka, professor Strain Posavljak, PhD was also a guest.

In introductory address, director of the Agency briefly referred to the current developments in the process of accreditation of the Agency and higher education institutions in Republic of Srpska.

Amongst other issues, director pointed out that participation in international projects is of great importance for the Agency and for higher education institutions from Republic of Srpska, among others, in ERASMUS+ projects. However, administrative problems and misinterpretation led to a delay in the accreditation process. The Agency insists on the respect of constitutional competences and cannot permit the adoption of documents transferring jurisdiction in the field of higher education.

According to the Rulebook on accreditation of higher education institutions and study programs, higher education institutions in the process of re-accreditation are considered accredited until completion of re-accreditation, and for a maximum of two years. All higher education institutions in the Republic of Srpska have additional solutions according to deadlines in which they are considered accredited and that deadline is in the year 2020.

There was a meeting held on the 28^th March 2019 with the EU Delegation in BiH. Head of Delegation Lars-Gunar Vigemark and his associates addressed the problem of delayed accreditation of higher education institutions. The Delegation of the European Union requested for the problem to be resolved as soon as possible. They suggested to appoint panels of experts regardless of what happens with the adoption of the document, Decisions on Norms. Another meeting was scheduled with the EU Delegation for next week in Sarajevo, where representatives of the Steering Board and competent ministers should be present too.

Source: RTRS