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TEMPUS-CARDS
UM-JEP-18023-2003
INTEGRATION & STRUCTURING OF INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS IN MACEDONIA (ISDRIM)
Sustainability of ISDRIM project :
outcomes, problems, new organization at central level
and future of international cooperation projects
Prof. Dr Ljubica Šuturkova,
Vice-Rector
Novi Sad, 19th January 2007
“Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University
Skopje, Macedonia

The establishment of the European Higher Education Area
(EHEA) by 2010 is a major area of reform for higher
education in Europe.

Universities are committed to develop innovation processes
throughout the transfer of knowledge to society. Integration
between universities, industry and other service related
organizations should be improved and facilitated by public
authorities.
WHO ARE WE IN THE PROCESS?
Ss Cyril and Methodius University consists of:
-23 faculties, 10 research institutes and 7 other
accompanying members
The present structure of the Ss Cyril and Methodius
University in Skopje can be illustrated by the following:
- over 40 000 students from Republic of Macedonia as well
as 800 foreign students are enrolled at all the faculties;
- around 2500 teaching and scientific staff and associates are
engaged in the teaching, educational and scientific processes
at the faculties and
- around 300 staff members at the various institutes.
Until now over 110 000 students have acquired their
Bachelor’s degree, 5000 candidates have obtained their
Master’s degree, and over 2300 postgraduates have earned
their Doctor of Science degree in all teaching and scientific
fields.
TEACHING AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The UKIM faculties function as legal entities and carry out higher
educational, scientific and research activities, while the research
institutes (that are also legal entities) carry out scientific and
research activities.
As yet, postgraduate studies have not been organized on a central
level with the exception of 5 interdisciplinary studies that were
organized within the framework of the TEMPUS program.
PRESENT STRUCTURE
- The University presents an association of members that
transfer some of their competencies like organization,
coordination and decision-making to the University bodies.
AUTONOMY AND LEGISLATION
- According to the Law on higher education, the faculties and
institutes have total autonomy in gaining and allocating funds
obtained from the budget and other sources respectively. They
independently plan, make the curricula and study programs. In
addition to this, they also insure the necessity for staff renewal,
elections to teaching, scientific and associate’s titles.
WHAT ARE WE DOING
AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL?
- UKIM has independently determined to move
contemporary higher education systems. Before the
signing for committing to the Bologna process,
the
members had accepted the spirit and principles
Declaration.
toward
formal
UKIM
of the
- Projects under the TEMPUS Programme included 76 JEPs, 27
compact measures and over 350 grants for individual mobility
which contributed to the following:
 Enhanced efficiency and the effectiveness of university
management
 Promotion of existing and developing new curricula and
academic programmes with a series of pedagogical
innovations
 Introducing comparable criteria and maintaining a high
I Objective
Building mechanisms and instruments
for cooperation between faculties and
scientific institutions, as well as
between faculties, institutes and
university managerial bodies
II Objective
Developing international study courses
and enhancement of European dimension
of higher education
III Objective
Reorganization of the International
Relations Office of the university in
order to respond to the requirements
of all faculties/institutes
IV Objective
Strengthening the international
cooperation
1.1. Central coordination
Significance
The centralized coordination of the administrative expenses and
other costs increases the internal communication and releases
additional assets
Activities

Forming central libraries

Common services assurance
Results

Improved access to scientific materials for academic staff and
for students

Improved communication and thus increased exchange of
experiences

Reduced expenses and more efficient administrative functioning
1.2. Participation in international
researches
Significance
Avoiding research replication and recurrence
Activities
 Introducing interdisciplinary researches, action
and study programs
 Organizing continuous education courses
Result
 Reaching a research level in compliance with
higher European standards
1.3. Central storage of information
and statistical data
Significance
Surpassing the deficit of institutional
information and statistics
Activities
 Installation of central information service
Results
 Easier and more efficient analysis of
information and statistic data
 Improved capacity for demand responding
1.4. Forming a central research body
Significance
Improved founding of project agreements with
national and external source; Improved teaching;
Surpassing the lack of strategic planning in research
Activities
 Assistance for implementing project agreements
 Implementation of project results for the
requirements of both education and society
 Interdisciplinary research between faculties and
institutes
1.4. Forming a central research body
Results
 Enhanced participation in projects
 Dissemination of project results
 Strategic research planning
 Results that will respond to scientific and educational
needs
 Responding to educational and educational
requirements
 Enhancement of cooperation in research.
 Establishment of interdisciplinary research action
 Common advanced researches in compliance with
European standards
1.5. Centralized decision-making
Significance
Central decision making on decentralized
initiative basis
Activities
Reforms in Regulation
Results
Easier objectives’ implementation and therefore
strengthening the democracy in decision-making
1.6. Promoting internal responsibility
Significance
Evaluation of UKIM action
Activity
Creating an academic debate throughout
involvement of research results and students
2.1. Commercialization of productknowledge
Significance
The globalization imposes new forms of
product-knowledge and new approaches for
organizing academic work
Activity
Introducing new study programs
Result
Society acquirement and fulfillment of the
labor market needs
2.2. Surpassing the obstacles due to the enlarged
commercialization and international education
Significance
Improving quality in education;
Increasing mobility
Activities
- International activities in compliance with the
agreed principles and essential values
(joint programs, summer/winter universities)
- Research and educational agreements
- Involvement in regional networks of
communications and exchange
Results
 Going beyond the obstacles for mobility and the
role of citizens in higher education
 Promoting long-distance learning
 Short and intense programs for academic and
student exchange
 Involvement in project “Europe and learning”
 Promoting Centers of excellence in science and
technologies, innovations and economic
modules
3.1. Surpassing the formal and legal
obstacles for reorganization of IRO
Significance
Elimination of all the obstacles existing in the UKIM Statute and
relevant laws in R. Macedonia and removal of the state band on
employment in public administration
Activities

Changes in the Statute of the University – introduction of new
organizational structure of IRO

Negotiations with permission of the Government in order to
remove the obstacles of new staff employment (this activity
should be also carried out for accomplishment of other objectives)

Preparing strategic plan for international cooperation
(Direction for reorganization of IRO)
Result
 Operational plan adopted by the University
Senate with clearly defined new organizational
structure of IRO as well as the time limit for
establishment of this organization
3.2. Implementation of previous subobjective results
Significance
Reorganization of IRO as foreseen in the
operational plan
Result
New structure of IRO able to respond to every
requirement of the faculties and institutes members of UKIM
4.1. University internationalization
Significance
Internationalization of contents and
university activities
4.1. University internationalization
Activities
 Internationalization of university staff throughout individual
training and mobility
 Increasing the number of foreign teachers and initiation of new
mobilities
 Increasing the number of courses realized in foreign languages.
 Intensification of international cooperation towards cooperation
with university with higher standards as possible
 Augmentation of research funds throughout improved access to
information and creation of research funds support service
 Annual planning of exchange of any kind
 Improvement of language and computer skills of existing staff
 Organization of Macedonian language courses for foreign
students
 Study program marketing
4.1. University internationalization
Results
 Internationalized university
 Internationalization of the researcher and his
increased efficiency
 Improvement of quality level in education
Intensification of student and academic mobility
 Augmentation of number of foreign students
Extension of finances for research
 Academic staff able to respond to the challenges of
European enlargement and globalization
4.2. Academic staff mobility
Significance
Exchange of professors and researchers
Activities
- Scheduling the in-coming and out-going lecturers
within the curricula planning
- Preparing annual report on mobility useful for
planning future exchanges
- Improved access to EU and other funds for exchange
throughout involvement in university networks
- Creation of support service for lecturers and
researchers involved in mobility
- Preparing a model for compensation of faculties
expenses due to long-term mobility
4.2. Academic staff mobility
Results
 Reaching a balance between the in-coming and
out-going academic staff
 Quality improvement in educational process
 Exchange of Know-how
 Improved preconditions for study programs
marketing
 Responding to the challenges of Europeanization
and internationalization of higher education
globalization
4.3. Student mobility
Activities
 Integrating student mobility in the process of planning
the university activities and faculties separately
 Student mobility is promoted throughout bilateral
agreements and university networks
 Improving access to European and other funds
 Completed credit transfer in compliance with
previously approved study plan
 Separated diploma supplement for student mobility
 Organization of summer universities
 Creation of student mobility service to support
exchanged students
4.3. Student mobility
Results
 Increasing the number of UKIM students that
have had at least one semester study stay at
foreign university toward university having
standards as higher as possible
 Improvement of quality of education that
students will obtain
 Developing student skills
 Producing human resources that will compete
equally on the labor market
4.4. Foreign students
Significance
Enrollment of foreign citizens as students on
undergraduate and postgraduate studies in UKIM
Activities
- Developing existing courses on foreign language and
introducing new courses on Macedonian language for
foreign students
- The increased financial need caused by intensification
of in coming student mobility will be considered during
the negotiations with the government
- Introduction of on-line application
- Creation of service for supporting and advising foreign
students
4.4. Foreign students
Results
 Increasing the number of foreign students
 More efficient marketing
 Exchange of culture
THANK YOU
HVALA
MERCI