Description of start-up activities in the Project

The First Consortium Meeting was held at the co-ordinating institution, University of Zagreb from October 27-30, 2004. All Consortium members were present. They presented the state of art in implementing the Bologna Declaration at their home universities so that all partners in the Project can become acquainted with the present situation in this respect. This knowledge will enable Croatian higher education institutions to identify the EU partner institutions they want to visit for specific aspects of the Bologna Process. It also provided the EU partners with an opportunity to establish what the current situation is at Croatian universities. The discussions following presentations were very interesting and useful for all partners in the Project and established a good level of understanding amongst the partnership.

In addition to the contact persons in the Project Consortium group, the vice rectors in charge of the Bologna Process at each of the Croatian university were asked to present their current situation and to express their expectations from the Project. Robert Wagenaar from the University of Groningen, presented in great detail the newest trends and results achieved at European level with regard to the implementation of the Bologna process. His presentation was excellent and evoked a very lively debate.

Although not a member of the Project Consortium, the newest Croatian university, the University of Dubrovnik, which was established after the Project proposal was submitted in December 2003, was invited to participate at the meeting and to participate in the Project actions at its own expense. Finally, the meetings were also attended by representatives of the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport.

All the partners' presentations are published on the Project web pages.

A considerable part of the meeting was dedicated to the planning of future activities. It was agreed that all aspects of the Bologna Process are equally important and worthy of promotion. However, the Croatian Act on Scientific Work and Higher Education demands that all Croatian higher education institutions implement new study programmes by the beginning of the academic year 2005/06. Consequently, member of the Bologna Follow-up Group and Vice Rector of the University of Zagreb, Professor Aleksa Bjeliš, asked the Project Consortium to support this most urgently. Therefore, all Croatian partner institutions have been asked to identify the European partners they would like to visit in order to learn more about the implementation of the Bologna Process with specific reference to study programmes. The Project Co-ordinator will - together with the European partners - make a final plan for the site visits. The first site visits should take place in the spring 2005.

Since the Project was submitted the situation at Croatian universities has changed. The New Act and its Amendments have come into force and put pressure on the Croatian higher education institutions with regard to the implementation of the Bologna Process, especially in relation to study programmes.
The Universiy of Zagreb conducted an internal survey. This was done via a questionnaire that was presented at the first Consortium Meeting. The results showed that conducting the survey considerably increased the awareness across the University about the Bologna Process and initiated changes in line with it.

During the Consortium Meeting in Zagreb the project partners discussed how they should promote the Bologna Process. Different groups at different levels have been identified as target groups:

1. Senate, Deans and other relevant Committees
2. Academies/faculties/departments, Interuniversity Programmes, Academic Staff, Administrative Staff
3. Students and Student organizations

It was agreed that in the promotion of the Bologna Process, a close co-operation of this Project with the National Follow-up Group, the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, the National Agency and other projects dealing with the issue of the Bologna is very important. The co-ordinator should ensure that all actions are tuned and that all actions of this Project are well promoted throughout the higher education institutions involved.

It was agreed that students should be the one of the first target groups. A questionnaire will be drafted by the University of Split which aims to find out how many students are aware of the different aspects of the Bologna Process. A draft questionnaire will be sent to all Consortium Members for comments. Following that, a survey will be carried out among students at Croatian partner universities.

The first staff development workshop will be organized for the staff of the International Relations Offices and the administrative staff involved in the promotion of the Bologna. The workshop will take place at the University of Zadar, in the spring of 2005. The universities of Leuven and Bristol will be jointly responsible for the content together with project coordinator.

Some of activities have already started.

Activity 2.3, the Language Training Programme. Administrative staff of International Relations Offices and other members of staff involved in the promotion of the Bologna Process have enrolled in different language courses at schools for foreign languages at their home cities. Altogether 11 persons enrolled on formal language courses in English, German, Italian and French. The language training was welcomed at all universities and it will help a greater number of staff to improve their language skills.

Activity 3.4, the Establishment and maintenance of a dedicated website, has also been initiated. Staff at the University of Zagreb drafted the web pages with help from staff at the University of Leuven. The web pages will be published by the end of January 2005. The University of Zagreb will be in charge of its content and maintenance, but all partners will regularly provide up-to-date information.

It is intended that all equipment is bought in the first half of 2005, so that it can be used immediately. All Croatian universities in the project are beneficiary institutions and the collection of proforma invoices has started. The University of Bristol as Contractor will monitor the procedure and the expenditure.

The division of tasks both academic and administrative among various institutions in the Consortium for other activities are agreed via direct contacts, during Consortium Meetings and telephone discussions as well as by e-mails. Management of all actions in the Project and financial management will be done by the co-ordinator and grant applicant, who have worked together successfully in previous Tempus projects.

The next Consortium meeting is planned for the October 2005 and it will be held either in Rijeka or Split.

No significant changes have been foreseen in the Project. If during the course of the Project a need for some changes appears, this will be agreed among all partners and only following approval by the Commission and staff at the European Training Foundation.