Project Econqual

Name of the project

ECONQUAL - Adoption of the Croatian Qualification Framework Principle (CroQF) in Higher Education Institutions in the Field of Economics

The purpose of the project is to enhance the quality of managing the development process of Croatian higher education qualifications, in particular, the CroQF register and sub-register. This project represents a vital step towards the creation of a sustainable higher education system in economics and business to the satisfaction of employers, students and higher education teachers.

The project was aimed toward enhancing the quality of higher education in economics and business through the development of qualification standards in the field of economics and consequently, the development and enhancement of study programs through the development and implementation of up-to-date program delivery and teaching methods.

The achievement of the project’s specific objectives was based on the best international and European practice recommendations and the CroQF principles, and resulted in the documentation needed for entering qualification standards in the CroQF Register. The project objectives were reached through cooperation, integration and coordination of all relevant stakeholders in the design of higher education programs in economics.

Project’s specific objectives

• Development of qualification standards in the fields of economics and business within the higher education system

• Development of criteria for innovating and enhancing study programs at Croatian faculties offering higher education in economics and business in line with labor market needs and Croatian Qualifications Framework principles

• Developing new ways of program delivery, teaching and learning in line with the CroQF principles

The total value of the project was HRK 3,994,842.20. The project was co-financed in the amount of HRK 3,794,856.45. The non-refundable funding was granted through the European Structural and Investment Funds, the European Social Fund through the Human Resources Development Program 2007 – 2013 and the State Budget of the Republic of Croatia.

Project duration: 15 months (18/06/2015 -18/09/2016)

Principal investigator

Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka

Contracting bodies

The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports

Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education - Organizational unit for management of structural instruments (DEFCO).

Partner investigators:

1. University of Split, Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism

2. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business

3. Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics

4. University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management

5. University of Zadar, Department of Economics

6. Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Economics and Tourism

7. University of Dubrovnik, Department of Economics and Business Economics

Project stages/sections

1. Creation of a common ground enabling harmonization of labor market needs and higher education in the field of economics and business economics

2. Profiling of economists holding higher education degrees in economics and business in line with occupations, classification and national classification of occupations

3. Analysis of the higher education area in the fields of economics and business economics

4. Defining the sets of learning outcomes to be achieved within undergraduate and graduate study programs in business economics (by direction)

5. Defining the sets of learning outcomes to be achieved within undergraduate and graduate study programs in economics (by direction)

6. Development of qualification standards in the fields of economics and business economics

7. Development of recommendations for innovating and enhancing study programs

EVENTS

Closing Conference

The closing conference of the ECONQUAL - Adoption of the Croatian Qualification Framework Principle (CroQF) in Higher Education Institutions in the Field of Economics project was held on September 16, 2016. The conference was focused on the dissemination of obtained findings and results, the presentation of the book resulting from the project and the discussion on the significance and possibilities/opportunities for enhancement of higher education, especially in the fields of economics and business economics.

New computers for students

Within the ECONQUAL - Adoption of the Croatian Qualification Framework Principle (CroQF) in Higher Education Institutions in the Field of Economics project, the computer rooms at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Rijeka, as well as those at other faculties and departments in Split, Zagreb, Osijek, Opatija, Pula, Zadar and Dubrovnik participating in the project were equipped with a total of 64 computers intended for student use. The computers put at students’ disposal facilitated their access to library materials, available databases and other online materials needed in their studies and research.

Field trips

Klagenfurt April 6 – 8, 2016

A field trip to the Alpen-Adria-Universität in Klagenfurt was organized to allow participants to see in person an example of good practice in the development of qualifications founded on learning outcomes.

The Science and Technology Park of the University of Rijeka (Step Ri)

A filed trip was also organized to the University’s Technology Park, where Mag. David Pitschmann, Bakk. and Mag. (FH) Tanja Scheliessnig presented the Park’s activates, projects and future ideas.

UNIVERSITY OF RIJEKA, FACULTY OF ECONOMICS

Prof. Alen Host PhD - project leader

Prof. Danijela Sokolić PhD - project coordinator

Petra Adelajda Mirković - administrative officer of the Project

UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT, FACULTY OF ECONOMICS, BUSINESS AND TOURISM

Prof. Ivica Pervan PhD - coordinator at partner institution

UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB, FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

Prof. Zoran Krupka PhD - coordinator at partner institution

UNIVERSITY OF RIJEKA, FACULTY OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

Prof. Goran Karanović PhD – coordinator at partner institution

UNIVERSITY OF ZADAR, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Prof. Berislav Bolfek PhD – coordinator at partner institution

UNIVERSITY OF DUBROVNIK, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ECONOMICS

Prof. Ivona Raguž Vrdoljak PhD– coordinator at partner institution

JURAJ DOBRILA UNIVERSITY OF PULA, FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND TOURISM "DR. MIJO MIRKOVIĆ"

Prof. Manuel Benazić PhD –coordinator at partner institution

JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK FACULTY OF ECONOMICS IN OSIJEK

Prof. Sunčica Oberman Peterka PhD – coordinator at partner institution

Project Econqual

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