The constant progress of information technologies, both in the world and in our country, allows us to introduce new technologies and services aimed at improving the educational process. Thanks to the fact that a large number of teaching staff and students use information technology, there was a need to do a project to provide better education and communication, and provide timely information on various programs, scientific papers and research opportunities at the University "Džemal Bijedić" in Mostar .

Džemal Bijedić University in Mostar is permanently committed to improving both the organizational structure and the quality of education, provision and delivery of knowledge. Back in 2004, the University "Džemal Bijedić" in Mostar adopted the Institutional Development Plan (PIR), within which the strategic goals defined the quality management system, which clearly shows the commitment of the University "Džemal Bijedić" in terms of quality assurance.

Significance of the project

Higher education reform in Europe is an intensive process aimed at providing a single academic space. The changes involved in the reform process are very diverse, and the time in which these changes need to be introduced and implemented is getting shorter. In addition, the changes are becoming more complex, and the consequence is, above all, the times in which we live: advanced technologies, fast communications, the expansion of communications and the like. Of course, if the increasingly complex expectations, requirements and needs of all participants in the educational process are taken into account, ie. universities (teachers, scientists and students), society, economy and the state, there is inevitably resistance to change.

Establishing a quality information system that will enable the collection, analysis and use of relevant data is extremely important for a higher education institution. Every higher education institution should have efficient mechanisms for collecting and processing all data, which would facilitate the overall management of teaching processes. In this regard, by upgrading the existing system and implementing new modules, the University "Džemal Bijedić" strives for even greater popularization and improvement of the quality of teaching activities, and meeting the criteria for institutional accreditation "Information System".

The project should provide support for the implementation of quality assurance guidelines through records of teaching data, curricula, scientific research papers and projects, and various types of analysis and statistical reports. This will make the most of the possibilities of databases and ensure the consistency and centralization of all information of the University institutions. Taking these steps will create all the preconditions for public disclosure of information through a website (accreditation criterion "Presentation of information to the public") which will be implemented as part of the new version of the system.

Also, great importance is attached to students with new opportunities that include online exam registration, access to teaching resources, monitoring the maintenance of teaching activities, review of personal data with success, etc. This will make the study process more dynamic and create mitigating circumstances in general, and interest students and encourage them to work and learn.

This project will establish a unified policy of the work of its institutions at the University, which will significantly contribute to the organization and the accreditation process.

Project goals

The main goal of the project is to implement guidelines for quality assurance, and activities for institutional accreditation of the University "Džemal Bijedić" in Mostar, and accreditation of study programs. The benefits that will be obtained from the implementation of this project are divided into several groups. In this regard, there will be improvements in the overall administration of the University, individual faculties and study programs, including new opportunities for teaching staff, students, student services and other staff involved in the scientific-teaching process.

The higher education institution should regularly publish updated, impartial and objective information on all study programs and cycles, the professions they offer, teaching, learning and testing. The current version of the system provides a good basis for fulfilling all the above items. In order to define the project guidelines as clearly as possible, the objectives of its modules will be described below.

• The implementation of the online exam registration system aims to facilitate the process of exam registration for students as well as to improve the organization of exams, which will ensure the monitoring of students' passing by various criteria. Also, students will be given access to teaching resources, a schedule of teaching activities, a review of personal data and the success achieved.
• The module for managing the coverage of teaching aims to regulate the organization of teaching activities at all institutions of the University. This will let you know at any time the schedule of teaching staff, their workload and the occupancy of the premises.
• The aim of the project data record module is to make information on all projects carried out at the University publicly available. This will be made possible by detailed records of participants, project phases, implementation success, etc.
• Records of scientific research should provide mechanisms for monitoring the progress of teaching staff. Achieving this goal will enable effective reporting on teaching staff and their references.
• The register of diplomas will establish a connection between employers and students who have completed their study programs at the "Džemal Bijedić" University in Mostar. This will greatly facilitate the verification of the correctness of the diploma, as well as the details of the searches of all graduates.

Also, one of the goals of the project is to make certain (projects, scientific research papers, etc.) information available to the general public through the University website (accreditation criterion "Presentation of information to the public").

The project envisages the formation of a working group that will provide support to teaching and administrative staff during and after the implementation of the project. With the adoption of the systematization of the University, this working group should grow into a department for information technologies.

Analysis and statistical reporting

The implementation of the mentioned modules and reports will enable a simpler statistical analysis of study parameters, as well as the participation of the University in scientific research and other projects.

In addition, the project aims to:

• records of data on taking exams by exam deadlines,
• data on projects in which employees and associates at the University participate, with the possibility of monitoring the project implementation process,
• data on published scientific papers, with the possibility of reviewing basic data on published papers,
• analysis of teaching coverage, workload of students and teaching staff,
• curriculum analysis,
• analysis and statistical reports on student pass rate by different criteria.

Project beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of the project will be primarily University staff, teaching staff (University and faculty), students and all others involved in some form of cooperation with the University.

The management of the University will have the opportunity to perform statistical analyzes on the pass rate of students by subjects, the pass rate or dropouts of students, and an overview of the occupancy of space, teaching staff and students in the teaching process. In addition to the above, this will provide an overview of participation in projects, as well as many other activities where the University is involved.

Teaching staff will be involved through the use of the UnSIS application to keep records of exams, passed subjects and other necessary information for keeping student records. In addition, the teaching staff will update their data on the projects and scientific research works in which they participated. Currently, the University employs about 170 teaching staff and senior and technical staff to benefit from this project.

Administrative staff will have a simpler way of managing data, and easier insight and review of general data on the number of students, employees and the like. The University currently employs about 60 administrative and technical staff to benefit from this project.

Students will have access to their data that is in the UnSIS database, and the opportunity to register for the exam through the online system.

Employers will have the opportunity to check the accuracy of the data from the diploma issued by the University if the University grants them access to the data. In order to preserve privacy, access to the mentioned data will require the implementation of certain procedures that will be subsequently defined at the University level.

Year: 2012

Project leader: Salko Kovačić

Source of funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Science

Budget: 40,000 KM