Private And State Education In Serbia 2017

GUIDE

Private and State Education In Serbia 2017

INTERVIEW

We Have The Potential To Shine Researchers from British universities recognised Serbia as the only country in Europe that has a chance to be a superstar in higher education. Simultaneously, in terms of dual education we have not only caught up with Europe, but we will actually regulate the legal framework for this type of education before many other countries MLADEN ŠARČEVIĆ Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development

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peaking with Serbian Education, Science and Technological Development Minister Mladen Šarčević, we discussed his ministry’s plans for the period ahead and the potential to improve the education system and ensure its more efficient connecting with the needs of the market.

• What are your priorities in terms of catching our connections with the world?

- We have grabbed our connections with the world in many areas. In the

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TIMSS survey, which covers the first part of primary school, Serbia is ranked 27th in the world, and is far above the world average. This testifies to some elements of the reforms being recognisable. In that part of schooling we are striving to make computer literacy mandatory, as opposed to an optional subject.

Because of that we must influence the colleges that teach personnel to give them new and different competencies than the current ones. When it comes to PISA testing, we have a specific problem because, for some banal reason, we did not participate in the last cycle. Now a PISA council has been formed that also deals with the fourth literacy-financial component, which is not permeated through our curricula.

When it comes to colleges, many of them are high-ranking, not only the University of Belgrade on the Shanghai list, rather according to some other criteria the University of Novi Sad is also highly rated, as are parts of the University of Niš and the University of Kragujevac.

Also testifying to the fact that we are a country on the rise when it comes to higher education is the fact that Serbia was identified by researchers from British universities as the only country in Europe that has a chance to be a superstar in education. This gives us the potential to, in accordance with our financial capabilities, have expansion of academic education and the academic community. In dual education we have not only caught up with Europe, but we will

actually regulate the legal framework for this type of education before many other countries.

• You were in the state school system and then established a series of private schools. What do you see as the pros and cons of the two systems?

- They are of course different, but not just because of who founded them, rather also because in a private school you can set a goal for which it was founded. There are many people who established schools just to make money or gain prestige. For me, those were secondary objectives, with my primary one being to establish ideas and quality that is measured through some high standards, such as the possibility of becoming part of the IB school system, recognisable and very highly rated, with children who achieve results that are achieved only by 0.2% of the world's school pupils.

Not all institutions were established because of that. Both in the private and public sectors, there are good and bad schools. You'll see that in many parts of academic education we can quickly achieve great results only if laws are adopted and reform processes come to life, if the training of people is initiated, if efficiency is achieved and if the State envisages significantly more funding from the budget for 2018.

• As a consequence of that, how do you see their future coexistence?

- Only those best ones will exist excellently, because they will seek the best knowledge, and that knowledge must be confirmed by someone neutral. External assessment is the sole criterion to determine whether someone did something well or not. That goes for all schools. When it comes to state schools, in some subsequent stage of reform we will insist that

those better ones also receive more money. In Serbia there is regimentation when it comes to payments for good and bad schools, and good and bad teachers, and good and bad directors and managers.

• Education today, perhaps more than ever, has become one of the most important factors in the competitiveness of countries. What primarily needs to be done in this context in order for Serbia to utilise its potential?

- Serbia is in the process of a new industrialisation, and the introduction of foreign companies creates the conditions for the employment of young people. At present the country is mostly turned towards the IT-sector and as a result of that we have increased the enrolment quotas for IT departments, because those students can immediately gain employment. A

I hereby call on ambassadors to consider granting a greater number of scholarships for our students, because it has already been proven that, especially in science, they achieve excellent results • What most concerns you and what instils hope in you when it comes to the equipping of educational institutions, their programmes and staff readiness?

- When it comes to the readiness of personnel, I’ve already said that the training of all participants is necessary. When it comes to equipment, we have schools that are really equipped at the world level, while we also have those that we need to equip. We are now in the phase of equipping schools with IT equipment and raising IT maturity, both among students and teachers.

greater number of such personnel will represent a good factor in the competitiveness of the country, because that’s what companies recognise. It is important to involve the scientific diaspora in all of that, which we are considering these days.

• To what extent are young people in Serbia today willing to consider their possibilities of finding a job when it comes to selecting their high school or college?

- I think very few people in Serbia think in the direction: which school or university should I enrol in, in GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

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there is ever less of a desire for independence, and educating for that comes earlier.

Because of that we are introducing entrepreneurial education, for children to learn how to think in a free and creative way. When choosing a school, children should first start by considering the needs of local governments, because the dominant thought in the world is - let me complete something that will immediately secure a job, and then after that I have the opportunity to continue with my studies and ultimately complete a doctorate. We will

Only the best private and state schools will be able to survive in a system in which we will impose qualitative and neutral external assessments order to more easily secure employment. And it seems that the biggest problem is troubling parents, who often direct their children towards some interesting, fine managerial occupations and nice office jobs.

That doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. Elsewhere in the world work is respected, the labour market is respected. I did various jobs while I was a student and when I graduated I didn’t have a problem working in many other professions due to an inability to secure work in the profession for which I had studied. There is also a problem in that among children

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conduct campaigns on education for parents and children regarding the importance making the right education choices, and I believe we will resolve many of their misconceptions.

• How many instruments and which ones should support equal access to education for all categories of the population?

- Categorical access to all levels of education has long been present in our country, primarily through free primary and secondary education, while good students have possibility of using student dormitories at minimum

prices, while there are also scholarships and loans. A month’s residence in a student dorm costs 12 euros, which is less than a phone bill. These are very high quality conditions in a country like Serbia. That is the heritage of the old Yugoslavia, which we did not stop during the time of hyperinflation or even during the bombing. All of this is not only available to members of the majority ethnicity, but also to national minorities, while we are devoting special attention and exerting efforts, along with many partners, on the inclusion of the Roma people.

• You’ve said that during your term you will take into the interests of teaching staff, because no reform can be achieved without them. What does that now mean in practical terms, given that there should now be a reduction in the number of employees?

- Reducing the number of employees in education is a regular occurrence in a system characterised by depopulation and falling birth rates. This is a principle that applies in all countries.

Reductions also occur when the reform process is introduced, when the system is being changed. When that is a large system, it does not automatically mean that you reduce the number of employees; you can also change something. For example, different types of instructors appear if you introduce dual education.

The level of salaries for teaching staff has been declining over the last nine years. This government has finally turned around the direction of that movement. In the first increase they received one per cent more than others, and in 2017 that trend is expected to continue. There is an idea that we are agreeing with the unions whereby realised savings will be added to the fund for salaries. The aim is for salaries in education to be equal

to those for all other occupations in the public sector as soon as possible.

This is the first time that the problem of the position of teachers has been approached systemically, and if that isn’t care then I don’t know what is.

There are various categories that are hidden in education, including so-called personal school revenues that are generated by schools themselves, which are very rarely seen and can rarely be included in stimulating workers, mostly ending up in “black channels”. We will also prevent that with new laws. We will definitely take care of educators in all possible ways.

• How much are education employees interested in advancing their own education and how much do they have opportunities for that?

- I think there is a small number of employees who are not interested, but that will be imposed on them. I cannot believe that someone who loves their profession doesn’t want to see what’s new and innovative in the world. We must find money for their training, because t well-trained teachers represent the basis of reform.

• To what extent has our schooling progressed in terms of adapting to new forms of learning brought by digitisation?

- Digitisation helps to improve certain teaching processes, starting from information technology, or from the fact that a tablet is an interactive notebook. However we also have to be careful with that. Younger children must practice dexterity motor skills, must speak well, write well, learn their native language well, which provide the basis for all other knowledge and skills. When it comes to new forms of learning, I will repeat that it is important for us to switch to conceptual models of learning. Dig-

itisation is an important tool in that model, but it is not sufficient in itself.

• Today there are many embassies in Serbia that award scholarships to Serbian students. How important

providing as many scholarships to us as we give them. I’m sorry about that to an extent, because our students are very good. On the other hand, I don’t think that a Cambridge Scholarship is exceptionally good, because most of them remain in the UK, which thereby gains very good experts. We cannot prevent young people from leaving, but part of what Serbia has invested in their education should be returned to Serbia.

I hereby call on ambassadors to consider granting a greater number of scholarships for our students, because it has already been proven that, especially in science, they achieve excellent results.

• When they return to the country, these people still

There are various categories that are hidden in education, including so-called personal school revenues that are generated by schools themselves, which are very rarely seen and can rarely be included in stimulating workers, mostly ending up in “black channels” is this kind of assistance when it comes to raising the level of knowledge in the country?

- There aren’t quite that many scholarships. This is a misconception. I have spoken with all ambassadors and told some of them openly that there is declining interest in learning their language, with more students interested in other foreign languages – those of countries that provide more scholarships, have more investors and more job opportunities.

Apart from Hungary, all other countries work on the level of reciprocity,

face the problem of their diplomas being recognised and validated.

What are the chances of serious progress being made in this domain?

- We have significantly improved processes for recognising diplomas.

For many Ph.D. students from our universities we have recognised the role of reviewers for the appropriate level of studies, made models and budgeted part of the funds for reviewers for areas that were previously not covered. Our Enik-Narik Centre is now working at full capacity. ■ GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

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CORPORATE RADIVOJE MITROVIĆ PH.D., DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING IN BELGRADE

Innovative Industry – Key To Serbia’s Development The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering can and must be the driver of the new industrialisation of Serbia

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new form of industrial development, founded on knowledge and new technologies, is only possible to achieve in the triangle of education - economy - state. In this sense, the academic community as a whole, and in particular the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and allied colleges that deal with information technology, are the creators of ideas and tangible proposals that will act as a guideline for policymakers in defining new strategies and policies for the industrial development of the country.

possible. We are aware that the most developed countries keep these technologies and production for themselves, while low accumulative branches are left for developing countries, so the gap between them is gap.

That’s why the essence of our approach is for the share of newly created values, based on knowledge, innovation and research, to be as big as possible. I am convinced that in the new international division of labour, Serbia can earn an adequate place even with just a small share of top HI TECH products.

These considerations are a result of the joint work of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and representatives of the business community and the relevant ministries of the Serbian Government.

In the context of the upcoming negotiations with the EU on Chapter 20, which relates to industrial policy and innovation, it is very important to formulate new strategies of industrial development and to define the interests of Serbia. That’s why

I am convinced that in the new international division of labour, Serbia can earn an adequate place even with just a small share of top HI TECH products • Where do you see the role of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in the industrial development of Serbia?

- In the area of technological development there are very fast changes happening around the world. That’s why Serbia must find room to develop its high-tech production as soon as

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we organise a large number of meetings and conferences, including the International Conference “U.S.-EU-Far East-Serbia”, which brings together the world’s leading experts in this field.

• Do you agree with the assessment that Serbia neglected industrial and technological de-

velopment and scientific research in previous decades? In which segment can the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering help?

- Searching for accountability will not lead to change. Our goal is to make a turnaround and offer tangible solutions. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering can help with its own experience, because that is the nucleus of creating new industries based on knowledge.

As a result of a large number of projects, previous Faculty of Mechanical Engineering improved technical solutions, new technologies, modern testing methods and the like. All staff members, through classes or projects, today train students to take on innovation and entrepreneurship. The establishment of business incubators is envisaged, in which teachers and graduates can establish companies, work on the commercialistion of their ideas and develop innovations.

Our Centre for Lifelong Learning has great cooperation with leading companies like NIS and EPS. We offer competence and the latest results of our own and international research, and knowledge that engineers in practice are lacking.

We are part of the Business-Technical Incubator of the group of technical colleges.

We reflect with great dedication on the further improvement of cooperation with the Scientific-Technological Park in Belgrade.

We also plan to establish a research and development centre of educational-economic excellence. With that we will attract foreign companies.

• To what extent is Serbia able, in these circumstances and considering the state of the economy, to create a new industrial policy that would significantly improve overall development?

- This is a great political and economic issue.

Open global issues include internationalisation (globalism), but also sovereignty. Do countries decide independently on their own technological and industrial development, or are they under the influence of the owners of capital and multinational companies, which is a dominant trend in the world today. I am of the opinion that Serbia has a right, but also an obligation, to decide on its own development itself and for our actions to be in the interest of the development of our state.

It is essential that our decisions are based on our resources. For example, Serbia should not only be orientated towards primary agricultural production, for which it has excellent conditions.

The emphasis should be placed on the further processing of raw materials. Through much greater quantities of valuable high-quality products on the global market, along with competitive prices, we will achieve a GDP growth rate of seven per cent or more.

• From your perspective as the dean of a higher education institution, what would you include in the reform process in Serbia?

- In the next decade, one of the priorities is certainly the continuation of reforms launched in our education system and its harmonising with the needs of the market economy. That is a complex, lengthy and gradual process. It doesn’t depend only on the relevant ministry or educational institutions, and it also includes all other interest groups, primarily businesses.

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is focused on raising the quality of teaching, scientific research, cooperation with industry and international cooperation. We have undertaken a number of activities: we have improved organisation, modernised the content, introduced the

visualisation of theoretical teaching, better and more extensive laboratory exercises, expanded and improved professional practice, improved the quality of textbooks and applied modern teaching aids. We carefully monitor world events on the ground. In accordance with good global practice, as of this academic year we have included introductory courses in mathematics and physics in the teaching process, as well as the institution of mentors. The aim is to facilitate first year students attending classes and improving their efficiency throughout their studies.

Experience through scientific research is also very important for the quality of teaching. That’s why we stimulate the writing of scientific papers and their publishing in prestigious scientific journals. It is very important to us that the results of

our scientists-professors are a good as they can possibly be. Patents and technical solutions are especially important to us. All theoretical, technical and scientific knowledge is best translated into practical values through cooperation with the economy in concrete projects.

Through the developed cooperation that our professors and associates have with business, we realise 30 per cent of our revenue. We also devote great attention to international cooperation through EU projects (Horizon 2020

project or projects within the framework of the Erasmus+ programe). There are also significant bilateral cooperation projects that are financed by the relevant ministry through cooperation with foreign universities, international scientific and professional meetings and the like.

• Have novelties and innovation in the teaching process yielded the expected results?

- We will only have a serious analysis of the results after the January-February test period.

The positive assessments of teachers who teach freshmen are undisputed, especially those who participated in the implementing of introductory lectures. According to them, a different approach to teaching is noticeable among students, as well as much greater enthusiasm for studying.

• All of the aforementioned is conditioned by considerable financial resources. To what extent is the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering materially equipped to procure modern teaching aids and ensure training in new technologies?

- The Faculty possesses a large number of well-equipped laboratories dedicated to scientific research and work with students. Also, within its composition, alongside the Innovation Centre, there are numerous accredited testing laboratories and inspection bodies. That equipment is modern and compatible with that found at prestigious universities elsewhere in the world. We carry out procurement on the basis of several factors: from projects funded using the financial assistance of the EU through pre-accession assistance (IPA), Erasmus and other international projects; from the budget of the Government of the Republic of Serbia; and, in no small part, with funds resulting from cooperation with the economy. ■

Student-centred education The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering nurtures and encourages the entrepreneurial spirit among students through lectures of our former students who are now owners of highly successful companies. Formula Student - Team “Road Arrow” has become a brand, not only of our faculty, but of industrial engineering in general. For the past six years, our students, in cooperation with colleagues from other faculties, have independently made racing cars and successfully participated in prestigious international competitions.

Apart from the “Road Arrow”, the Euroavia-Belgrade Students Association also operates, competing in the Air Cargo Challenge. The

formation of other student sections is underway, such as in modelling and other areas that are subjects of mechanical engineering studies.

Through the encouraging of entrepreneurship, we expect our graduate masters of engineering to acquire both theoretical and practical skills that are increasingly valued and sought in the world.

When it comes to student issues, important roles are played by the Student Parliament and the Student Vice-Dean. Thanks to their good organisation and the tradition that we inherit as professors – paradigm: “Student at the learning centre” is greatly brought to life at this faculty.

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CORPORATE JOVANA PEJČIĆ, REGIONAL MANAGER, SWISS EDUCATION GROUP

An Education That Provides Direct Entry Into The Job Market According to Jovana Pejčić, Regional Manager for the Swiss Education Group, the success of the Swiss education system lies in it having the right balance between practical and academic learning

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ince graduating from the Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS) in 2010 and Hotel Institute Montreux (HIM) in 2011, Serbian born Jovana Pejčić has dedicated her career to promoting the Swiss education system across Eastern Europe to students ready to jump-start their careers.

• In your opinion, what makes Switzerland’s education system unique in the world?

- What makes Switzerland’s education system unique is how it has mastered the balance between practical and academic learning. A strong focus on professional education and training programmes is what helps ensure access to the job market. Around the world, the university experience traditionally focuses on academia. But in Switzerland, in addition to academics, students are also provided with the opportunity to learn real life job skills starting from inside the classroom!

• As someone that came through the Swiss Education system gainfully employed, what was the game-changer for you when it came to education?

- My Swiss education was a true school of life.

At the end of each academic year, we were required to undergo an internship that provided

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us with the opportunity to immediately apply in practice what we learned in the classroom.

I completed internships in different departments in the hotel industry in the United States, in Paris, France, and on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Each role I had allowed for the opportunity to learn from other professionals and reflect on what type of position I wanted for myself in the future.

• Can you tell us more about the Swiss Education Group and its approach to education?

- The Swiss Education Group is a Swiss alliance of five leading hospitality management schools. We offer a tailored, five-star education experience unlike anywhere else in the world. Switzerland is renowned for its world-class hospitality schools and choosing to study hospitality management here is a natural choice, given its heritage, tradition and reputation in the industry. But what I think truly sets us apart is the direct access to the industry that our students are given.

• Why is working hand-in-hand with industry so important for education providers?

- Working directly with the industry helps ensure that courses are tailored to meet the evolving industry’s needs. Swiss Education Group invites the industry right into the classroom, offering a platform to participate in the education and recruitment of their future employees. Close ties and strong partnerships with top international players, like Hublot, Ritz Paris, UBS, Four Seasons and many more, ensures the education is current, relevant and always ahead of the curve.

• Why do you think the hospitality industry has been able to remain a prosperous industry, even during tough economic times?

- The hospitality industry currently represents 1 in 11 jobs worldwide. As an extremely dynamic industry, I think it has remained successful thanks to its capacity to be flexible and adapt to the constant changes all around.

A good hospitality education needs to reflect this and, when done well, the career prospects are endless. I believe a hospitality education with the right combination of practical and academic elements is a perfect choice for young students interested in exploring their options and securing a promising international career. ■

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CORPORATE MARKO CARIĆ, DEAN OF THE LAW FACULTY FOR INDUSTRY AND JUSTICE, UNIVERSITY BUSINESS ACADEMY IN NOVI SAD

Fewer Words –More Deeds The nonexistence of sufficiently adequate criteria to measure the quality of higher education institutions, colleges and universities, leads to less attention being paid to deeds and more to words

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he most important parameter for gauging the quality of higher education institutions is the employment of students following graduation and their ability to cope in a turbulent business environment, both in the country and abroad. A large number of our students have secured employment and are now successfully building their careers in the prosecutor's office, the legal profession, industry, in the public and private sectors, but also abroad, which represents confirmation of our quality.

• In your opinion, what does the work of private higher education institutions mean to the overall modernisation of the education process and why is the quality of private institutions still uneven?

- I divide colleges into high quality and low quality, and not into private- and stateowned. There are state universities that are top quality, but also those that are unjustifiably forced and privileged. The same goes for private colleges. Some colleges represent only an instant boiler for the production of diplomas. I hope young people will realise that it is not only a diploma that is important. The credibility of the institution where they received their education is im-

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portant; it is important to gain knowledge and skills, as well as the ways of thinking that they have adopted. A diploma is just an entrance ticket, and not a goal.

• In your opinion, to what extent is the institutional framework in the field of further and higher education conducive to advancing the quality of teaching and overall operational conditions for private and state universities?

- Each higher education institution should develop the quality of its teaching, and the education system should provide the basis for something like that to be done. Apart from that, it is also necessary to harmonise the curricula of higher education institutions with the real needs of the economy.

It is already a clear necessity for students, in addition to theoretical and professional knowledge, to acquire business skills, in order for them to be able, as graduates, to apply their knowledge. The quality of higher education in Serbia is not bad, it just lacks the practical component. We strive to ensure that our students are able, during their studies, to gain a certain vision of their future direction, and they will only be able to do that if they have encountered practical achievements from theoretical issues.

The priority is to awaken a desire to succeed in young people, for us to teach them how to set their goals and how to work on achieving them each day, and then for us to build up their awareness of the fact that knowledge is important and studying pays off. Without synergic action of the state and all educational institutions, our prospects of achieving that are poor. The time has come to end the divisions between private and public colleges, because young people and the future of Serbia depend on all of us and the quality of knowledge and skills that we can provide for them. The success of society depends on the success of individuals, and it is up to us to do our best to create successful individuals.

• How much has the Bologna Process enabled better cooperation between local and foreign higher education institutions and eased fluctuations of students between higher education institutions in the country and elsewhere in the world?

- Internationalisation, the mobility of students towards world universities and joint projects with foreign countries are generally indicators of the quality of work of every college. The Bologna Process primarily eased the process of enabling students to

be mobile, but it also enabled the easier creating of joint programmes between higher education institutions in the country and abroad. University Business Academy has very well-developed international cooperation with higher education institutions in the world, which also opens the door for our students to more easily gain employment or train abroad. International cooperation gives our students the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at one of Europe’s top universities. Our graduates can also continue their master’s and Ph.D. studies at universities abroad. The internationalisation of universities and colleges is very significant not only for students, but rather we as a country will advance quickly and more easily, develop and integrate ourselves into global flows.

• We are witnessing the fact that many universities in our region, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, are attracting foreign students, including those from the EU, thanks to the high quality of their teaching. Why is Serbia not among them?

- Serbia is among the countries that are attractive to foreign students.

Specifically, we have interested students from Africa and Asia, as well as individual EU countries, and even Mexico.

However, the number of students interested in studying with us is not nearly equal to the number of those who have actually enrolled.

The reason for that is not in the quality and conditions that we offer, because that’s why they contact us in the first place, but rather in the visas that are very difficult for interested students to obtain. Our country should be more receptive to foreign students, primarily in terms of granting visas for them, because these foreign students bring foreign capital into our country and strengthen it, and afterwards they become kind of promoters of our country and the universities they attended.

• We recently received the first education minister with experience in the private sector. What are your expectations when it comes to levelling out the positions of private and state education?

- I believe that the new education minister,

given that he proved professionally a long time ago that he is one of the few ministers to have recorded significant results, will be able to help equalise the positions of private and public education, and thereby improve the overall education process in Serbia. This is a man who knows what is required for the high quality functioning of private educational institutions, and I’m sure he is familiar with all the pros and cons of both private and state education. It’s good for this position to be held by a man who is aware of the privileges that state colleges attribute to themselves, as well as the discrimination against, and often unen-

there is unfair competition, which is completely counterproductive and creates a bad climate in the field of higher education.

• You are an example of a man who lives the concept of lifelong learning. How accepted is that concept in our country and how ready are people to constantly invest in their education?

- Education is a continuous process that requires continuous improvement of quality. The purpose of education – not only for our students, but also for students of other universities – is to receive an education that will help them accomplish their business goals, but also many other life goals.

Our goal is not only to enable them to study, but also to enable them, through their studies, to clearly consider their wishes and preferences, define their priorities, discover their talents and improve themselves further in that direction.

Everyone should constantly work on improving and educating themselves, and thus improving the quality of their lifestyle, because breathers are not characteristic for people or institutions that always want to be better tomorrow than

I believe that the new education minister, given that he proved professionally a long time ago that he is one of the few ministers to have recorded significant results, will be able to help equalise the positions of private and public education, and thereby improve the overall education process in Serbia

viable position of, private higher education institutions. I hope that the Minister and his team will focus on the new draft law that should represent global interests, and not individual ones. In this sense, private universities should choose among themselves who will be representatives in the Commission for Accreditation, the National Council for Higher Education and the like, and in accordance with the number of students they have compared to state-run colleges.

However, private universities aren’t completely unanimous in their views either, and

they are today. Unfortunately, I am of the opinion that people generally do not find enough time for themselves and do not invest enough in their own advancement. However, we have been able to develop a positive attitude towards learning among our students, and through numerous extracurricular activities – such as competitions, specialised courses, forums, public debates and similar activities – contributed to heightening their desire for new knowledge and bringing them closer to the importance of the concept of lifelong learning. ■ GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

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European University Founder and Chancellor, Professor Doctor Milija Zečević

Belgrade, Carigradska 28, Cetinjska 2; Tel: +381 11 322 11 18; E-mail: eu@eu.ac.rs; www.eu.ac.rs

OPEN ADMISSION FOR ENROLMENT FOR THE 2016/2017 ACADEMIC YEAR HUMANISTIC SOCIAL SCIENCES

Faculty of European Business and Marketing Vojvode Dobrnjca 15, Belgrade Tel: +381 11 339-29-92, 339-29-96 Email: febmeu@gmail.com, www.febm.rs - Graduate academic studies - Master academic studies - Doctoral academic studies

College for Trade, Hospitality and Marketing Vojvode Dobrnjca 15, Belgrade Tel: +381 11 339-29-96 Email: febmeu@gmail.com, www.febm.rs - Graduate professional studies ART

New Academy of the Arts Topličin venac 11, Belgrade Tel: +381 11 328 6118

Email: www.nova.edu.rs - Graduate academic studies - Master academic studies - Doctoral academic studies TECHNICAL-TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Faculty of International Engineering Management

Carigradska 26, 28; Budimska 33, Belgrade Tel: +381 11 322-88-21, 322-93-92 Email: fim@eu.ac.rs, www.fim.eu.ac.rs - Graduate academic studies - Master academic studies - Doctoral academic studies

College for Electrical and Computer Engineering Carigradska 26, 28, Belgrade Tel: +381 11 324-87-02 Email: eri@eri.eu.ac, www.eri.eu.ac.rs - Graduate professional studies European University graduation ceremony 2016

THIRTY YEARS OF TRADITION All our graduate students and students who acquired Master’ s degrees are employed in leading positions as managers, executive managers, marketing managers, account managers and PR managers in the fields of banking, tourism and hospitality, marketing, culture and media, pharmaceuticals, the automobile, fashion and nutrition industries, sports etc.

They work for domestic and international companies, such as Mercedes-Benz, L’Oreal, Knjaz Miloš, the Belgrade Fair, UNICEF, Delta Holding, Hypo Alpe Adia Bank, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Eko Serbia, the National Bank of Serbia, Ford, the OSCE Mission to Serbia, the Council of Europe, Pertini, Jela-Jagodina Ltd., Coca-Cola, Radisson Blu Hotel, Raiffeisen Bank, Oriflame, Laguna Bookshop, Hotel Splendid, Zider Hotel, the Government of Serbia, McCann Erickson and other marketing agencies.

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Institut Franco-Americain de Menagment www.ifam.edu Sales Manager Akademic www.sales-manager.at The European Academy of Informatization www.euro-academy.org.

Institute of European Studies www.ies.rs London Diplomatic Academy www.londondiplomatic.com Albert Schweitzer International University www.albertsc.com MIM – The Centre for European Master's and Doctoral Studies

CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE The European University guarantees and affirms the quality of teaching, while its study programmes are harmonised with the standards and curricula of universities in America and Europe. Our strengths are organising and maintaining the quality of teaching in small groups, the learning of three foreign languages, the level to which buildings are equipped and a certain job after graduating. Colleges organise visits to companies, banks, advertising agencies and trade fairs. The greatest advantage is that all students, after completing their undergraduate studies and during the fourth year of studies at the European University, can spend between three months and a year in New York, Paris, Vienna, Munich, Brussels... They also attend cultural events in Belgrade and Serbia. The University has visiting professors from almost all EU capital cities. This year we are also introducing studies of the Russian and German languages in order to keep pace with the development of the Serbian economy and foreign investment flows. The European University has been completed by more than 3,000 students, all of whom have gained employment in Serbia, Europe and the wider world.

Milija Zečević Ph.D., Rector/Chancellor of the European University

www.eu.ac.rs I www.febm.rs I www.nova.edu.rs I www.fim.eu.ac.rs I www.eri.eu.ac.rs

CORPORATE BRATISLAV FILIPOVIĆ, FOUNDEROFACADEMYFILIPOVIĆ-JAGODINA

Great Contribution Of IT Use In Education

Jagodina’s Academy Filipović, with its professional work and the great efforts of all staff members, has become a synonym for informal education in Serbia and the state. I consider that this needs to be worked on in the future. The awareness of teachers, and therefore education as a whole, has to be raised to a higher level.

A

cademy Filipović’s main activity is informal education. More than 20,000 participants have so far passed through its seminars, courses and training. In accordance with the times in which we live, and the identified needs of educators and educational institutions, this Academy has fused services of professional training with modern interactive software and programmes, all of which, together with other applications of its own, raised the academy to an enviously high level.

• You deal with the training of teaching staff in scientific fields. What are the main goals of the training you conduct?

- Academy Filipović has for 14 years participated in the education of educators in all

• To what extent is informatics represented in your programmes?

- It is evident that computer literacy among teachers in Serbia and the neighbouring countries is not at a satisfactory level. Insufficient knowledge of IT and its sporadic application in teaching places us among the ranks of ICT illiterate, which is why we must make an effort to encourage creativity and innovation, to modernise the learning process and take advantage in the best possible way of the opportunities that new technologies offer us. We have accredited 12 programmes, five of which are in the field of information technology. We actively implement our seminars in a large number of schools in Serbia and we receive high ratings among those who attend them. The most important thing is that the contents of our seminars are immediately applicable in teaching, which is confirmed by the reports from the seminars themselves.

We actively implement our seminars in a large number of schools in Serbia and we receive high ratings among those who attend them.

The most important thing is that the contents of our seminars are immediately applicable in teaching, which is confirmed by the reports from the seminars themselves scientific fields. I have been trying for years, along with my team, to raise awareness and understanding among teachers of the importance of continuous development and work in accordance with current trends, in which they must act in the interests of students, society

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• You also deal in designing and developing web applications as assistance in the training process?

- Yes, we are the creators of several web applications that together constitute a serious

information system that is applicable and very useful, and which significantly eases the work of employees in education, from preschool to university level. These are: the Electronic Journal, Portfolio of teachers and students, which won first place in the field of IT in education at DISKOBOLOS 2015 and which is now used by 189 schools in Serbia. There is als the Electronic teaching notebook (Interface for parents, annual plan of professional development at the school level, self-evaluation, printing testimonials etc.), our e-library is supported by the Federation of School Librarians of Serbia and was the winner of the special award DISKOBOLOS 2013 (83 schools use this application), then our platform for developing school websites, (217 schools use this platform), platform for distance learning (e-learning), our Electronic diary of program for PP service.

In cooperation with renowned companies, we also enable schools to use the programme for creating teaching schedules and the presentation programme for 3D models - Mozabook and Moza-web.

We equip schools with modern IT equipment and programmes that are definitely an imperative in the modern way of learning. We introduce teaching staff to the world of IT through various trainings and seminars. In our offer we also have portable and interactive devices/tablets, which our competition in this category does not have.

They are precise, easy to use, do not require special computer literacy, are a favourite among teachers and students, and are used for teaching purposes in more than 250 schools.

We fight against computer illiteracy with our strength and I believe associates of Academy Filipović have in these fourteen years provided a great contribution in this part of the education system. ▪

JOHN NAISBITT UNIVERSITY

CORPORATE

A Step Ahead Of The Rest John Naisbitt University is a leading private higher education institution in Central and Southeast Europe, with experience dating back almost three decades

T

oday it is a widely-dispersed and well-organised academic family comprising the following 12 colleges, one institute and two higher

schools:

1. Faculty of Business Studies (academic and vocational), Belgrade 2. Geo-economic Faculty (college of international economics), Belgrade 3. Faculty of Law, Belgrade 4. Faculty of Culture and Media, Belgrade 5. Faculty of Computer Science, Belgrade 6. Faculty of Civil Aviation, Belgrade 7. Faculty of Arts and Design, Belgrade 8. Faculty of Bio-farming (College of agricultural engineering), Pančevo and Bačka Topola 9. Faculty of Management (academic and vocational studies), Zaječar 10. Faculty of Business Studies, Požarevac 11. Faculty of Business Economics, Valjevo 12. Faculty of Business Studies, Pančevo and Vršac The higher education institutions of John Naisbitt University include studies of 71 study programmes at all three levels of studies (undergraduate, master’s and doctoral studies) in scientific and artistic fields: Business economics, International economics, Culture and media, Law, public administration and security, Management and business, Art and design, Aeronautics

(Civil aviation) and agriculture (Biofarming).

The lecturers and teaching staff at John Naisbitt University include many prominent names in the fields of science and the arts who have been affirmed not only on the domestic scene, but also in international circles.

Three of them have the title and status of academics, while at the head of the Council of the University is academic and prominent Serbian and world scientist Ljubiša Rakić.

Through their scientific, artistic and media contributions, our teaching staff affirms the social, cultural and economic benefits that come from all forms of education, irrespective of the ownership type of the facilities and infrastructure of colleges and universi-

education and reduce the space for assumptions about the level of knowledge acquired at universities not established by the state.

In the past 27 years the labour market has recognised the quality of education acquired at the colleges and higher schools of John Naisbitt University, especially the favourable ratio of theoretical and practical courses. Our graduates relatively easily secure employment, which is evidenced by the geographic breadth of our Alumni-Club, whose members remain connected with the university after graduation via liaising.

In the past five years John Naisbitt University has used its own budget to provide free education for the schooling of about

In the past 27 years the labour market has recognised the quality of education acquired at the colleges and higher schools of John Naisbitt University especially the favourable ratio of theoretical and practical courses ties. The reception of the work of our teachers and students argues in favour of the generally accepted view in the modern world that public values are also created in the private sector, thus, consequently, our university, and others that are not under state ownership, carry out public work and submit to all forms of public control, contributing significantly to increasing the overall public values of society.

These kinds of activities of our teachers and students destroy stereotypes about private

12,000 first year students, in the amount of 15 million euros. This is a unique example of corporate social responsibility in Europe and around the world. With this the University directly assisted 12,000 families in Serbia to more easily educate their children, as well as providing the Serbian economy and society with 12,000 highly qualified young workers of varying profiles. ▪ Until we see each other at John Naisbitt University!

GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

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CORPORATE MILAN KOMNENOV, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER, INFOSTUD

Maturang – An App That Graduates Love!

Company Infostud has launched a new application Maturang that enables high school graduates to prepare for an entrance exam for their desired faculty or college in an innovative way just by using their smart phones

T

he application Maturang was developed as a result of research by the website Prijemni. infostud.com on the needs of generation Z, and supported by the Infostud group. The research clearly showed that social networks and smart phones are part of their everyday life, and that this generation is very IT literate. Because of this, attention was paid to every single detail so that the app would meet the sophisticated needs of future students.

students choose a specific school.

Maturang will enable youths who are thinking about enrolling to prepare for the entrance exam in time, in a way adapted to their everyday life and habits. By combining the results of online tests and points based on their high schools grades, the app creates a potential ranking list of candidates for a specific faculty. In this way not only do the graduates test their knowledge in a specific field, but they can also compare their realistic competences with potential future colleagues who

Maturang will enable youngsters who are thinking about enrolling to prepare for the entrance exam on time, in a way adapted to their everyday life and habits • Maturang is the result of Infostud’s great experience in communication with the younger generation. What is the basis of this project?

- The main goal of this app is to help young people who are thinking about enrolling to prepare themselves more easily with the help of tests provided by the app. It also ranks them in comparison with other high school graduates, and on the basis of a preliminary simulation of the entrance exam and ranking at a certain faculty/college, it helps future

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are thinking about enrolling at the same school, and thus better assess their chances of being accepted.

• What is the basis of the Maturang app and what are the benefits for its users?

- The app is designed in such a way that all users and schools have their own profiles. All information about entrance exams can be found under the schools’ profiles. Apart from that, Maturang provides an option for the schools to address a target group of graduates

who have shown interest in a certain field of study. The tests in the app are highly relevant and available for 268 faculties and colleges. The database contains over 7,000 questions in 22 fields, dowloaded from the official websites of the schools, and it fully simulates the entrance exam.

• Where could users find more information about the app and everything it contains?

- The test are active on the website Prijemni.infostud.com, where visitors can test their knowledge in various fields.

In addition, the website Prijemni.infostud.com provides information on university education in the country and abroad, as well as the complete offer of university education in Serbia. Through this website, faculties and colleges have a more efficient and simpler way to reach future students.

Prijemni.infostud.com supports young people in their effort to continue their education and helps them to make the right choice and develop an active approach to their professional development. The university education team works continuously on improving and innovating its services and business operation to better meet the needs of visitors, clients and partners.

Maturang is designed precisely by listening to our users, and it keeps up with modern times and the needs of generation Z, which in the digital age change at a dizzying speed. ▪

MIRO SMOLOVIĆ PMP, ACADEMY LEADER, PWC ACADEMY, PWC SERBIA

CORPORATE

Learn From The Best

P

PwC Academy is the educational arm of PwC in Serbia. The education programmes are designed for professionals at a variety of organisational levels

wC Academy Serbia is a part of the PwC system that consists of a network of firms providing professional services, with over 223,000 staff in 157 countries worldwide.

PwC provides services in audit, tax advice, human resources, business transactions, improving business processes and business risk management.

They place their knowledge and experience at the disposal of students of the PwC Academy.

• For whom are PwC Academy programmes designed?

- PwC Academy has a clearly defined purpose: helping clients re-think how they do business. This means that our clients are mainly experienced people who wish to enhance their existing skills and develop new ones. As our ambition is to support personal and professional development in the context and strategy of the client’s organisation, we invest effort in recognizing the real development needs and work with clients to design educational programmes that increase the value of human capital.

• Why is this type of education important for business professionals?

- The business environment is rapidly changing, but the workforce is changing too. According to New York Times bestselling author Daniel H. Pink (Drive – The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us), money is no longer the primary

motivation factor. Daniel Pink came to the conclusion that for jobs that require cognitive skills, there are three new key motivators: Purpose: The yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves Mastery: The urge to become ever better at something that matters Autonomy: The desire to direct our own lives.

The answer to the question is therefore multidimensional: • lifelong learning and the constant development of a range of skills and knowledge is a

- I am happy to say that in many cases we have had client feedback on how working with PwC lecturers helped individuals to better understand their job requirements, solve important problems, or simply to be better at what they do. We consider a workshop successful if it leads to increased performance or to a satisfied and confident business professional.

Your readers may also be interested to know that PwC has the second most powerful global brand, according to Brand Finance's latest ranking of the top 500 global brands. It also has the #1 most valuable professional services brand and

PwC has the second most powerful global brand, according to Brand Finance's latest ranking of the top 500 global brands. It also has the #1 most valuable professional services brand and the 59th most valuable brand overall condition for being successful in any job • education helps professionals to rethink, or to step back in order to come to new conclusions about the job they do • to become better at things that matter.

In other words, education helps professionals to maintain their efficiency and grow professionally, but more importantly, it also helps them to stay motivated.

• How can knowledge and certificates obtained at PwC Academy help in your clients' careers?

the 59th most valuable brand overall. I am mentioning this as it answers how a PwC certificate may help our clients' careers. Our alumni have told us about major career changes and a high level of trust by employers when they have been educated by PwC. • Who are PwC lecturers?

- One of PwC Academy's mottoes is “Professional training by professionals”.

So all the lecturers are experts in relevant areas, from the PwC network. ▪ GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

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CORPORATE THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BELGRADE

Educated At ISB, Equipped For The World

Facts and Figures • Established 1948 • Students of 43 nationalities, aged 3 to 18: Pre–Kindergarten through Grade 12 • Average class size: 15 Academic Programmes and Curriculum •The only International Baccalaureate®World School in Belgrade, offering the highly regarded Diploma, Middle and Primary Years programmes (DP, MYP, PYP) • Academic excellence, artistic expression and international understanding • Challenging, student-centred, project-based learning environment International Faculty • 80 Faculty members, Specialists and Instructional Aides representing 11 nationalities • Over 60% Masters or Doctoral level degrees • Caring, committed and highly qualified educators • Inspiring, student-centred and individualised teaching Accreditation and Authorisation • International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) • Council of International Schools (CIS)

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• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) • Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia After School Activities (ASAs) • Multiple opportunities to think, explore and develop outside the academic boundaries of the school day Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA) Athletics and Activities • The only CEESA school in Belgrade • Home of the ISB Dragons • Active participation in academics, sports, performing arts and cultural activities • Opportunities for travel and forming friendships throughout Central and Eastern Europe College Placement • Experienced university counsellors on staff • Graduates accepted into competitive colleges/ universities around the world Scholarship Programme • Full high school scholarship for academically promising students from Serbia

GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

• Celebrating diversity in student population, building strong community ties, and promoting academic excellence • Visit www.isb.rs for more details Community and Service • Developing our students’ sense of community and participation in its improvement • Regular and meaningful engagements with senior citizens,orphans,migrantsandthelocalRomapopulation Other Highlights • 21st century instructional technology standards • Student excursions throughout Europe • Supportive parent community • Beautiful pastoral setting Open Day • Annual Open Day on 17th May 2017 • Email isb@isb.rs for invitation inquiries Mission ISB is a collaborative learning community that inspires, equips and empowers its students to succeed and contribute positively to society. ▪

STEP BY STEP DAYCARE IN ENGLISH CORPORATE

Daycare Services With A Special Touch

Step by Step Daycare creates their own programme, which is planned very carefully and updated constantly to create a better environment for children every day

“A

s the father of a child who attended Step by Step Daycare, I have to say that the commitment to children at this nursery is at the highest possible level… The Step by Step programme consists of a series of activities through which children learn and have fun at the same time. They return home happy and cannot wait until the next day to come back to the daycare. This kindergarten should be an example to all others!” – parent’s testimonial • Tell us a little about your daycare centre and how everything started?

- Step by Step Daycare was founded when two professionals, native Belgraders who grew up and studied in Canada, decided to move back to Serbia and open a daycare centre where children can play and learn in a stimulating, engaging and creative environment that places an emphasis on all important skills and values.

Step by Step is a daycare centre where children learn in English.

• Does this mean that everything is in English at Step by Step Daycare?

- Yes. English is the primary language used at Step by Step.

Therefore, it is an environment that is suitable for native English speakers, as well as children just learning English. English at Step by Step is learned spontaneously, through various fun and engaging activities. Our

teachers are very skilled and experienced and they make sure to teach with a lot of care and patience, so that children always feel relaxed and comfortable, even if they are not English speakers.

• What would you say sets Step by Step apart from other daycare centres?

- To put it simply in a sentence: we care.

Without it sounding like a cliché, we really do.

We care about every aspect of our daycare services. We constantly invest in ourselves and our ideas to make this experience better for our children every day.

• Is there a programme that you follow?

- We create our own programme. Our pro-

gramme is planned very carefully and updated constantly. As you probably know, teaching is a profession that is constantly evolving.

There are always new and different ways to approach children, to teach them about the world around them, to help them and guide them in achieving their full potential.

We make sure that our programme provides children with the best learning experience we can provide, with a lot of hands-on activities that allow children to experience everything around them and have ownership over their own learning. Our carefully selected teachers make sure that the programme is followed, but also adapted and modified, enabling children to learn at their own pace and further develop their strengths, while addressing areas that require more attention.

• And, finally, in a few words, tell us about the Step by Step Daycare experience?

- Step by Step is about fun, play, exploring, constantly learning and expanding our horizons. It’s about art, science, music, dancing, books, stories, acting, laughing and enjoying the wonderful outdoors! ▪ Step by Step Daycare Pustorečka 7, Banovo brdo, Belgrade +381 11 301 77 90 office@stepbystep.rs; www.stepbystep.rs

GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

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CORPORATE NIKOLETA RAKOČEVIĆ, DIRECTOR OF QUEEN VICTORIA EDUCATION AND TRANSLATIONS

Better Today

Than Yesterday Queen Victoria Education and Translations was founded 11 years ago. From the very beginning the goal was to become the leading language centre in Belgrade in terms of the quality of services they provide, not the number of students they instruct or the number of branches they operate

Q

ueen Victoria Education and Translations takes a long-term view based on the notion that the most important rewards of being an educator are not financial but the satisfaction of being a human factor in others’ lives. They are a language one-stop shop and provide general and specialised courses, translation and linguistic consulting services for individuals and corporate clients,

is, however, no magic formula for learning a language in a fast and efficient way.

How fast and how easily you learn will depend on factors such as: trust in the professionals you have chosen to guide you through the process, motivation, discipline, love for the language, exposure to it, hard work, and so on. Some people say it’s harder when you’re older.

Children acquire language easily, while adults sometimes struggle to learn, but if a good teacher manages to combine acquisition and learning, it’s a win! Whatever happens, just enjoy the ride. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t manage to keep to the schedule. Don’t measure yourself against anyone but yourself.

This type of learning has been praised by foreigners who have taken our classes. We are therefore often foreigners’ first stop when they arrive in Belgrade meeting or exceeding all relevant professional standards offering premium services in a highly competitive market.

Their goal is simply to be better than they were yesterday.

• Can anyone learn a language?

- Yes, everyone can do it. People with dyslexia manage, so why not you? There

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Just practice stick-to-itiveness. Your efforts will bear fruit and you will feel truly amazed at your accomplishment.

• What are the most popular services you provide?

- Definitely general conversation courses in English, German, and Serbian for foreigners. All courses are designed in

compliance with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) standard. That doesn’t mean that learning has to be uniform! Learning a language should be entertaining. Textbooks are only guidelines, a place to start. It’s important to learn from real-world examples. We use role-play, magazine articles, YouTube, films, music and more to steep students in the living language as it is used by native speakers. Courses are taught only in the language learnt, with equal attention paid to the development of all language skills. Our Serbian for foreigners courses, with a focus on functional skills and contextual learning, introduce students to Serbian culture, traditions, and customs to help them embrace and enjoy life in Serbia.

This type of learning has been praised by foreigners who have taken our classes. We are therefore often foreigners’ first stop when they arrive in Belgrade.

• Do you offer international exampreparation courses?

- We specialise in Cambridge exampreparation courses, for children and adult learners (YLT, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE), exams people take as a mandatory part of the immigration process (IELTS, TOEFL), GMAT, GRE and many more. We are members of the British

Council Addvantage programme, and we have recently partnered with the biggest college sports recruitment agency in the world – Athletes USA. Athletes who wish to study and compete in professional sports in the United States will come to our centre to prepare for American entrance exams – the SAT or ACT. All of them achieve flying colors at their SATs, which makes it possible for them to get scholarships at prestigious American universities.

• Do you offer services to corporate clients?

- We have recognised a growing need for specialised courses for both top management positions and lower-level employees. English has become the first language of communication in the business world, and thus in myriad companies in Belgrade as well. We have therefore created English-forspecial-purposes courses for professionals. You can learn both in our center and in-house. Instructors are mainly professor-translators who are specialists in the desired field. We also offer general business courses, BEC exam preparation courses, and more. Give us some rough guidelines and let us tailor a course for your company! Syllabus design is what we love!

• What are your highest achievements in terms of translation services?

- The agency is a bit young, yet we have

succeeded in standing out among our competitors. We have signed contracts with renowned public and private entities such as IKEA Serbia, Energoprojekt, Halkbank, IMC Worldwide, the government of the RS, and others – all thanks to our highly skilled, and devoted team of professionals. Some of the eager young professionals now work with those who used to be their trainers and professors, translating

involved in continuous professional development, both in Serbia and abroad.

One of our teachers has just acquired a master’s degree at Cambridge. Another taught English to babies in Japan. A member of our team worked for the New York Times as a journalist ,etc.

We know that none of those qualifications mean anything without skills and attitudes that make you a great professional and a great person – so

Learning a language should be entertaining. Textbooks are only guidelines, a place to start. It’s important to learn from real-world examples in booths at conferences worldwide.

Some of us are official EU interpreters, and some of us have worked on some of the most complex laws in Serbia. One book we are especially proud of having translated is Peter McLaren’s Life in Schools: An Introduction to Critical Pedagogy. It has been named one of the 12 most significant writings in the field of educational theory and practice. We translate everything from brochures to legal documents. You name it!

• What are you especially proud of?

- Our team, qualifications, achievements and our humanity. Our staff members are locals and native speakers who are devoted to their work and

we improve ourselves in other spheres too, praise and love each other. Empathy and a human approach guide us every day. Our ultimate goal is to make ourselves unnecessary to you. Your independence and confidence mean we did a great job!

We are visionaries who ultimately want to be able to provide free-ofcharge courses to the socially and economically deprived, primarily young children and teenagers, so they can go out into the world and have an extra skill to offer. Education is the greatest gift they can receive and can never be taken away from them. It is a long-term tool to greater prosperity and a better quality of life. ■

P R E M I U M L A N G UA G E S O L U T I O N S Edukacija. Prevodi. Sudski tumač.

www.qvictorias.com school@qvictorias.com prevodi@qvictorias.com +381 63 72 303 52

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CORPORATE BOŠKO VLAHOVIĆ PH.D., DIRECTOR AT EDUKA

Embracing Innovative Technologies Our society still fails to recognise the most valuable products in knowledge, new ideas, science – the new economy, and that means a happier future

T

his is the main reason why our schools endure in old clichés of pedagogy, why they are indifferent towards major innovations in information technology and beyond.

• In the world today, more than ever, there is discussion about the most effective forms of education for young people. How do you see current education trends in Serbia and what needs to be done from, the perspective of a publisher, in order to improve the system?

- Almost twenty years ago, the European Union adopted - in the context of the Lisbon Declaration - a decision on teaching strategies with the use of modern information technology, as a key direction of the modern development of education. This was also done by all of its members. Clearly, the focus of

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society must be on innovative schools: with this objective in mind, for Serbia's education it is first essential to have a strategy for internal changes that would be adopted at the state level. Changes are necessary for a systemic approach rather than leaving things to chance and improvisation. Innovative education requires new competencies among both administrators and teachers.

• Your publishing strategy is based on the principles of monitoring modern pedagogical science and innovation processes. What are the priorities in implementing these processes?

- Starting from the fact that resources for work determine the technology of all work, including the technology of education, as well as the fact that the textbook is the basic and most important resource for learning, publishing enterprise “Eduka” endeavours for the textbooks it produces to be a kind of sublimation of modern pedagogical sciences. Moving to embrace the intentions of modern science and innovative tendencies, the priority of “Eduka” is for the textbook to be a workbook,

which is to say in support of active independent, creative, developmental learning. To this end, the publisher’s attention is focused on various aspects of this source, especially on its: interactivity, multimedia qualities; for the text of the textbook to correspond with modern trends of innovation in education. A special priority of “Eduka”, as its sets out to embrace modern science, are its electronic textbooks and other materials, as well as sources of information for teachers on modern education technology and its application.

• On the basis of which criteria do you make decisions about the content of textbooks, in order to satisfy the interests of teachers and students?

- The phenomenon of disinterest (passivation) among students in traditional school is a phenomenon that has been known for a long time. The causes and consequences of that are known. Good textbooks can be one of the steps on the road to raising awareness and raising students’ interest in teaching content, without which there is no true knowledge.

The focus on the child – as the user of a textbook – is the first and basic criterion that forms the basis for selecting and didactically shaping the content of “Eduka” textbooks. This is a modern strategy of education that has the child as the starting point – his capabilities, age, interests, preferences and needs.

Considering that a decision is made to include in the textbook content that is intellectually provocative, and which are experiential and emotionally activated. The motivational values of “Eduka” textbooks are also contained in: their interconnectedness with life, their readability, visual and graphic structuring, interactivity, multimedia qualities, communicative power and their applicability for the student, in the language the textbook and its other pages.

We strive to raise the interest of students and teachers in teaching content to a higher level with our production of textbooks and other materials in electronic (digital) form.

Electronic (digital) textbooks are focused on students, enable more interaction, learning through play, a higher degree of freedom, intellectual activity, creative expression and the like.

• Your editions are equally intended for both students and teachers. What contents are today essential for teachers in the process of training students?

- There is a wide list of what is necessary for teachers today and what will be essential in the future. Modern pedagogy education, schools, teaching/ learning requires a fundamental resetting of teacher training as a whole. It requires deeper knowledge about man, about new learning paradigms that offer more about new goals of education, about what and how to learn; about the development of learning – generally

about modern technologies of education. A teacher needs awareness about innovative schools, about schools of the future. He needs a digital culture, knowledge of all newer informationcommunication technologies.

Apart from the textbooks we work on being a kind of manual for teachers, at “Eduka” we have also launched the “Teaching crossroads” Library for informing teachers about current issues in the field of pedagogical sciences.

Publishing enterprise “Eduka” Belgrade opted to follow this path. This publishing company has been working for a long time on textbooks, textbook supplements and other sources of learning which transmit the content of curricula via digital interactive multimedia technologies (internet, smart phones, tablets and laptop computers, interactive whiteboards and corresponding applications).

Schools show ever increasing interest in electronically supported teaching/learning. This interest is precisely proportional to the digital culture of teachers in schools.

It should be expected that electronic technology will develop rapidly in the future and that its use in learning will intensify in line with the intensifying of the digital education of teachers.

• What impressions did you take away from the recently completed “New Technologies in Education” Fair and Conference?

Schools show ever increasing interest in electronically supported teaching/learning. This interest is precisely proportional to the digital culture of teachers in schools. It should be expected that electronic technology will develop rapidly in the future and that its use in learning will intensify • You’ve also paid attention to the development of interactive electronic content and textbooks that help knowledge to be acquired faster. How do schools respond to this innovative learning and how do you see their future development?

- Electronically supported learning is, undoubtedly, an innovation that indicated much more complex implications for the future of education and human development.

- My impressions are very positive. Always in similar circumstances optimism awakens in me regarding the future of education. I have the impression that the model of the old school is really dead and that we are on the threshold of a new paradigm of education; education that is embedded in information technology. This fair affirmed itself as a powerful means of transferring new educational technologies, and thereby further improving education. ■ GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

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CORPORATE OLIVERA ĐIKANOVIĆ, EDITOR IN CHIEF AT BIGZ ŠKOLSTVO

Textbooks Tailored To Teachers And Pupils Our publishing company strives to strike a balance between the traditional method of learning, which implies the use of printed textbooks, and modern technology, which enables us to enrich content, says Olivera Đikanović, Editor in chief at BIGZ školstvo

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ontemporary trends in education require contemporary textbooks and teaching aids. Publishing house BIGZ školstvo is the first in Serbia to offer teachers and pupils e-textbooks and e-manuals, applications that contain multimedia accessories - photo galleries, audio and video records, 3D animation, links and presentations.

To find out how modern technology can be of great assistance to teachers and lecturers in preparing lessons, and to students in coping with extensive materials, CorD spoke to Olivera Đikanović, Editor in chief at BIGZ školstvo.

and the investigative spirit among children.

Various multimedia contents enrich lessons and provide the possibility to create textbooks tailored to teachers and pupils.

• What do e-textbooks and e-manuals contain that makes them different to traditional printed textbooks?

- An e-textbook is an interactive electronic version of an existing textbook that contains tools for students and teachers to mark parts of lessons themselves, to highlight and underline certain passages of text and to add their own content. Multimedia content can compensate for the lack of some

In parallel with its e-textbooks and e-manuals, BIGZ školstvo has also launched its School portal, dedicated to schools and education, where teachers, students and parents can read about innovations in the world of education, news from schools, various experiences from schools in Serbia and worldwide, the views experts etc. Testifying to the attention it has attracted is the fact that more than 15,000 users visit our portal on a monthly basis • How do you respond to the challenges facing schools as a result of digitisation?

- It is a fact that modern trends in education are moving towards introducing modern technologies to schools. With the aim of supporting teachers and students, our publishing company was the first to make e-textbooks and e-manuals, as well as multi-media esupplements, which promote involvement

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GUIDE TO PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATION IN SERBIA 2017

teaching resources, such as equipment for laboratory exercises. This kind of lesson is more interesting, the kids are interested, can more easily follow the material and are able to learn quicker. Teaching through interaction and multimedia content makes the learning process more efficient and fun.

In e-manuals teachers receive annual and monthly plans and preparations for lessons

in electronic format, which they can change and adapt to suit their needs, as well as tools that they can use, with the help of projectors and smart boards, in the actual teaching process (stopwatch, school writing board, calculator, markers etc.).

It is important to note that the etextbook can never completely replace the printed version, but it can supplement it successfully. BIGZ školstvo has endeavoured from the very beginning for the right measure, for a balance between the traditional method of learning, which certainly implies the use of printed textbooks, and modern technology, which allows us to enrich its content.

• How able are our school textbooks to follow changes in terms of content?

- We live in times when everything is changing rapidly, thus it follows that there is a need to change textbooks. Although the procedure for preparing and approving textbooks is a lengthy process, it is our obligation to monitor the latest developments in science and the environment, and for that data to form the basis for us to update the contents of existing textbooks. A textbook’s contents are its most important segment, but also the manner in which that content is presented requires special attention and constant updating. In this sense, we are trying to be current and modern, to meet the needs of teachers and pupils, but also parents. ▪

NEW FROM KLETT – 21st CENTURY EDUCATION

According to the information we receive from teachers, students and parents, we can say that the textbooks of KLETT Publishing House became a favorite among many. The reason for this is certainly the fact that the writing and editorial teams of KLETT bring new solutions and new quality to the learning process with every new publication.

Aware of the fact that it is difficult today to attract and retain a child's attention, and to motivate them to read and learn, our writing teams are always aware, as a focus in the creation of textbooks and additional materials, that content must be presented in an interesting and understandable way.

When creating each set of books we also keep in mind the undisputed fact that our children were born in the digital era, and that is their natural environment in which they should also be given the opportunity to learn.

It is precisely for that reason that we have developed our Interactive educational portal MAŠA & RAŠA. On the internet portal www.masairasa.rs, teachers and students can expect didactically designed interactive tasks, animations, films, songs and other multimedia content.

Within the framework of the SCHOOL STREET segment, contents are organised as an overview according to grades and subjects, providing an excellent supplement to textbook sets from 1st to 4th grade. Tasks are set at different levels of difficulty and encourage the development of different skills and knowledge. Using a modern approach to education, children actively learn through play.

Access to this interactive “kingdom of knowledge” is available to teachers and students (alone or with the help of parents), and they can solve tasks everywhere - in school, at home, with friends ... Apart from games that help children master writing, mathematics, the world around us, nature and society, learning songs and the English language, this educational portal also contains educational films and additional contents.

Apart from here in Serbia, these innovations in education have also been recognised in Europe, thus in the past 12 years of its existence in Serbia, KLETT Publishing House has received exceptional awards for its work, including THE AWARD FOR THE BEST EUROPEAN TEXTBOOK at the Book Fair in Frankfurt, then THE AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN SERBIAN ART PEDAGOGY at the International Book fair in Belgrade, as well as THE SPECIAL AWARD FOR LONG-TERM CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPREADING THE CULTURE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES at the Novi Sad Book Fair.

It is extremely important that the state and all those involved in education policy do everything in their power to harmonise teaching methods with the needs of the modern child and modern economy. It is essential to make every effort for schools to obtain the necessary equipment and for teachers to have the necessary training, thus ensuring that modern educational materials are available to everyone and are used in as many schools as possible.

It’s easier to learn with Maša and Raša