Changes to law for speedier recognition of foreign diplomas

BELGRADE - Amendments to the law on higher education will facilitate speedier recognition of foreign university degrees, and establish a more precise procedure for revoking a university's accreditation, Serbia's Education Minister Srdjan Verbic said on Friday.

Amendments to the law envisage at least one, mandatory, external reviewer for the evaluation of the doctoral thesis and the introduction of vocational masters, Verbic said at a public hearing on draft amendments to the law at the Serbian parliament.

If passed in the proposed form, the law will make it easier for citizens to validate their degree done at a foreign university whether they want to continue their studies or find a job, he said.

The recognition of university degrees for further studies will remain within the competence of faculties which will have a 60-day timeframe since the submission of a request to decide on the matter, while the validation of diplomas for reasons of employment will be transferred to the European Network of National Information Centers on academic mobility and recognition (ENIC) and the National Academic Recognition Information Centers (NARIC) within the education ministry.

One of the most important changes is greater transparency in universities' work, Verbic said, adding that an entirely new law should be passed next year.

The public hearing is bringing together MPs, members of the parliamentary committee on education, rectors of state and private universities, representatives of the National Council for Higher Education, the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission, national councils of minorities, students.

Photo Tanjug, R. Prelic