Tempus JEP CD 19087

THE PROJECT

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EVENTS

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TEMPUS JEP CD 19087 - 2004:

THE PROJECT - BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

DESCRIPTION

OBJECTIVES

OUTCOMES

BACKGROUND

 

             Curricula for studies of Economics at Universities in Serbia have been created in harmony with the national economy and to follow and influence its development through graduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies and scientific research. In conformity with the strategy of the country with industry dominating, Curricula designed at Faculties of Economics in Serbia were mostly orientated towards industrialization processes during the period of 50 years. However, during last few years, because of all the changes brought to our country regarding needs and requirements of the environment, Faculties of Economics have applied up-to-date processes by introducing new courses at graduate and postgraduate studies. 

There is a variety of Departments and appropriate courses at undergraduate studies of the Faculties of Economics in Serbia. The Faculty of Economics in Kragujevac has 5 Departments, the Faculty of Economics of the University of Belgrade has 9 Departments and the Faculty of Economics of the University of Nis has 3 Departments.

             Duration of undergraduate studies in Serbia is 4 years. On the Faculty of Economics in Kragujevac the first two years are common, and at the third year students select one of the 5 courses, while at the 4th year students select one of the 9 sub courses. Department for Management only has unique structure and curriculum for all 4 years. Number of teaching staff is 78, and number of employees in administration and support services is 45. Number of different subjects is 88, and number of elective subjects is 24. Comparing numbers of teaching staff (professors and assistants), students and number of subjects we have relation of 1.5 subjects per lecturer and 45 students per subject.

             There are approximately 10.000 students and 130 lecturers on the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade, the largest Faculty of Economics in Serbia. Students are able to select one of 9 courses at the second year of studies, at the third year they can select one of the 14 sub courses. Number of different subjects is 88, and number of elective subjects is 52. Comparing numbers of teaching staff (professors and assistants), students and number of courses we have relation of 1 subject per lecturer and 71 students per subject.

             The Faculty of Economics from Nis has similar curricula and departments as the Faculty of Economics in Kragujevac. There are 3.500 students and 77 teaching staff in the Faculty. Number of different subjects is 50, and number of elective subjects is 22. Comparing numbers of teaching staff (professors and assistants), students and number of subjects we have relation of 1 course per lecturer and 47 students per course.

             According to the above information faculties academic staff consists of academic staff (professors, assistant professors and assistants) and 50% of them are assistants. It means that approximately, on the Faculties of Economics in Kragujevac, Belgrade and Nis, one professor participate in lecturing of 2 courses.

             If we analyze the number of administrative staff, on the Faculty of Economics in Kragujevac, it makes 40% of employees and 30% in Nis. This percentage could be considered as very high.

             All Faculties of Economics in Serbia have their libraries, but they do not contain current issues of books or magazines because economic situation does not allow purchase of new books and magazines. The best equipped and the largest library of the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade contains approximately 133.000 units (it makes relation of 13 units per student). This relation is not satisfactory for education process and scientific and research work.

             All employees at Economic Faculties in Serbia had foreign language subject during their studies (mostly one foreign language, and some of them two foreign languages). Only small number of employees has the opportunity to improve their knowledge of foreign language through study stays in EU countries. According to these facts we can identify communication gap.

             The changes within the Curricula have brought greater number of students and emphasized the importance of knowledge of Economics in economy. Nevertheless, the circumstances in Serbia affected the level of communication with EU countries, thus many global processes and challenges have not been included in the Curricula. On the other hand, low success of students at the exams requires the existing Curricula to be revised and the new ones to be created as well as a new approach to higher education according to Bologna Principles. Other Faculties of Economics in Serbia have the same experience also.

             Despite the measurable improvements within the Curricula of the Faculties of Economics in Serbia, studies of Economics are not satisfactory for the following reasons:

·        prevailing old-fashioned ex-cathedra approach to education with insufficient two-way communication and individual students’ work,

·        old-fashioned Curricula is not in accordance with domestic needs and European trends,

·        insufficiency of teaching material from contemporary economics and management (banking, insurance, tourism, stock exchange,  entrepreneurship, e-business, e-commerce and other services),

·        low level of success at the exams (close to the success at the exams in Serbia: 11%) and approximate length of studies of 8.5 years,

·        insufficient use of information and communication technologies in teaching processes, management staff, student affairs office, library, communication with students, communication with the environment,

·        weak links with other faculties within the University in order to realize interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies,

·        rudimentary students’ knowledge of foreign languages and information technologies,

·        low number of computers available (1 computer at approximately 120 students).

             In spite of the need for study of Economics (number of students enrolled at the first year of studies at the Faculties of Economics in Serbia varies from 900 to 1.500 and it is the biggest figure at the Universities in Serbia) and obvious need for the economists in Serbia, the present state of study of Economics is not satisfactory.

             Three Universities from Serbia within the Consortium will be included in building new ambience and implementation of contemporary aspects of the Curricula. The project proposal supposes joined system approach to needs analysis, Curricula design on modular principle, Quality Management Systems development and implementation, up-to-date information and communication technology implementation in teaching process in order to improve regional cooperation of the Universities in Serbia and EU countries.

             Following groups and their needs have been identified below:

· STUDENTS: higher effectiveness and efficiency of studies, immediate and adequate employment, higher level of up-to-date knowledge, good education in foreign languages and information and communication technologies, and enhanced mobility of students,

· TEACHING STAFF: personal specialization and Curricula improvement, enhanced mobility, team-work promotion through module studies, better quality and more efficient communication with students, management bodies and scientific and professional environment,

· MANAGEMENT: Better transparency of processes at Faculties of the Universities in Serbia by using up-to-date information and communication technologies and integrated information systems, facilitate management process by Quality Management System implementation, greater economic efficiency and effectiveness and higher competitive level,

· BUSINESS: graduate economists, holders of master and doctoral degrees in Economics, with high level of knowledge available in new economic conditions, continuous employees’ knowledge innovation through innovation centers, permanent education and other ways of knowledge dissemination,

· LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITY: Quick integration of graduate economists and PhD into economic organizations in order to improve business outcomes, new enterprises establishing for which new knowledge in Economics, Management, Information and Communication technologies is required, and consequently lower unemployment rate (unemployment rate for the Serbia is approximately 30%),

· STATE: increased efficiency and effectiveness of financial sources engaged, more economists with high level of knowledge, better information and communication infrastructure, building network of competent and competitive Faculties of Economics, increased mobility of students and teaching staff according to Bologna principles, immediate knowledge dissemination. The above mentioned needs will be met in: short term (3 years) through implementation of the Tempus project proposed and long term, through dissemination of outcomes of this one and other Tempus projects.

             According to the Project implementation, it is to be expected that Faculties of Economics in Serbia will actively take part in realization of the economic strategy in Serbia, building adequate knowledge infrastructure, communication and information channels and quicker knowledge transfer from EU countries into Serbia.

 

 

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Faculty of Economics, Djure Pucara Starog 3, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia

tel. +38134303502, fax. +38134303516

tempusress19087@kg.ac.rs