As part of the Erasmus+ project SMEQA – Strengthening Capacities and Mechanisms for Enhancement of Quality Assurance System in Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a two-day workshop was held on March 24–25, 2025, at the University of Banja Luka.
The SMEQA project aims to strengthen the quality assurance system in higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina by developing improved accreditation models aligned with ESG standards, enhancing institutional cooperation, and preparing the system for full membership in ENQA and EQAR. The workshop titled “Support to External Quality Assurance: Strengthening Capacities of the QA System in Higher Education” brought together representatives of higher education institutions, competent educational authorities, the Centre for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (CIP BiH), the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HEA BiH), and project partners from Croatia and Slovenia. Representatives of the University of Zenica opened the workshop, the project coordinator, and emphasized the importance of aligning domestic practices with European standards.
Throughout the two-day event, participants discussed the role of QA agencies in national higher education systems, institutional support for HEIs, training of QA experts and evaluators, involvement of students in QA processes, and dialogue with decision-makers and competent authorities. A special contribution was made by representatives of the international partners – the Agency for Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Croatia (AZVO) and the National Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Quality in Higher Education (NAKVIS) – who shared experiences from their countries regarding external QA, expert training, institutional support, and student engagement in QA. These sessions were followed by a presentation from HEA BiH on the practices and developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As the state-level institution responsible for setting accreditation criteria, maintaining the register of accredited HEIs and study programs, and issuing recommendations to competent authorities, HEA BiH plays a central role in coordinating diverse actors within the country’s administratively fragmented higher education system. Its participation in the SMEQA project reaffirms its strong commitment to improving external QA in Bosnia and Herzegovina through partnership, structured dialogue, and expert contribution aligned with European standards and best practices.
On the second day of the workshop, a consortium meeting was held, during which the partners reviewed the project’s financial and administrative components, discussed reporting procedures, and defined the action plan for the next 12 months of implementation.
