Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma o priznavanju kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju na Zapadnom Balkanu

Član 1

Potvrđuje se Sporazum o priznavanju kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju na Zapadnom Balkanu, potpisan u Berlinu, 3. novembra 2022. godine, na engleskom jeziku.

Član 2

(1) Tekst Sporazuma, u originalu na engleskom jeziku i prevodu na srpski jezik, glasi:

(2) WESTERN BALKANS AGREEMENT ON THE RECOGNITION OF HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

(3) The representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia (hereinafter referred to as “Parties”)

(4) Taking into consideration the Western Balkans Leaders “Declaration on Common Regional Market – A catalyst for deeper regional economic integration and a stepping stone towards EU Single Market“ adopted at the Summit of the Western Balkans leaders under the framework of the Berlin Process;

(5) Considering higher education as a public good and a public responsibility, and being aware of the need to uphold and protect the principles of academic freedom and of the autonomy of higher-education institutions;

(6) Desiring to promote and strengthen the close ties and to expand the foundations for co-operation in the Western Balkans, and to develop cooperation between higher education and research institutions of the Parties and to promote academic mobility;

(7) Convinced that the recognition of qualifications concerning higher education will facilitate interdependent learning and knowledge development via the mobility of students, academics, researchers, and professionals and will enhance cooperation in higher education;

(8) Desiring to respond to the need for a Global Convention on the recognition of qualifications concerning higher education to complement the regional agreements on the recognition of qualifications concerning higher education, and to enhance the cohesion between them;

(9) Considering the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, and the commitments of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), including the implementation of the tools of the Bologna Process;

(10) Having regard to the development of the external and internal quality assurance mechanisms based on the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in EHEA;

(11) Convinced of the need to find common, practical and transparent solutions to improve recognition practices in higher education by establishing a standard and procedures for the recognition of higher education qualifications;

(12) Convinced that this Agreement will promote academic mobility, as well as cooperation regarding fair and transparent procedures for recognition and quality assurance and academic integrity in higher education in the Western Balkans;

(13) Have hereby agreed as follows:

(14) ––––––––

(15) * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

(16) GENERAL PROVISIONS

(17) Article 1

(18) (I) This Agreement regulates the recognition of higher education qualifications, the continuation of studies and access to non-regulated labour market in each of the Parties.

(19) (II) The present Agreement applies to the Higher Education (HE) qualifications obtained in the public accredited Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of the Parties, the list of which will be further specified by the Commission.

(20) (III) The jurisdiction of the individual higher education institutions of the Parties is safeguarded for the purpose of access to higher education, the continuation of studies and the obtainment of higher education qualifications. They exercise this jurisdiction in the context of their autonomy and in accordance with their respective systems, taking into account the coordination framework that this Agreement establishes.

(21) (IV) The correspondence between the higher education qualifications indicated in this Agreement does not imply exemption from other obligations connected with access to the HEIs of the Parties, enrolment in the study program.

(22) (V) This agreement is without prejudice to and shall not derogate any previous arrangement, practices or agreement between two or more Parties that is more beneficial to natural persons/holders of higher education qualifications and does not provide an obstacle for the establishment of any such further arrangement or agreement.

(23) RECOGNITION OF HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

(24) Article 2

(25) (I) For the purpose of this Agreement the higher education qualification represents any degree, diploma or other certificate issued by a competent HE institution of one of the Parties attesting the successful completion of a study programme offered by an accredited institution.

(26) (II) The recognition of the higher education qualifications issued by the HEIs of the Parties at the completion of the respective study program, in accordance with the legal framework in force in the respective Party, shall be realized in accordance with the correspondence, which also specifies recognition procedures and rules as follows:

(27) – Qualifications will be evaluated and recognized in accordance with the right acquired by the qualification in the issuing Party;

(28) – Parties shall recognize qualifications in a flexible manner and only substantial difference which should be elaborated, might lead to non-recognition. On the request of the other ENIC/NARIC centres, an ENIC/NARIC centre shall respond within a week or inform that an additional investigation is needed;

(29) – For acquiring additional information, on the request of an ENIC/NARIC centre of that Party, every institution in the Party should respond within 7 days.

(30) OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAMMES

(31) Article 3

(32) Qualifications of shortened and other education courses offered by HEIs of the Parties may be evaluated and recognized as valid, as long as they provide the obtainment of high education achievement corresponding to ECTS or learning outcomes, as well as in respect to the corresponding level of the qualification framework and relevant regulations of the Parties.

(33) RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR ACCESS TO NEXT-LEVEL COURSES PURPOSES

(34) Article 4

(35) Enrolment in study programs is subject to compliance with the internal regulations of the HEIs in the receiving Party.

(36) COLLABORATION BETWEEN ENIC/NARIC CENTERS

(37) Article 5

(38) In order to facilitate the evaluation of the HE qualifications issued by the respective HEIs and to increase evaluation skills of the foreign HE qualifications, presented also from third-party systems, the Parties undertake to encourage maximum collaboration between the respective domestic Recognition Centers (ENIC/NARIC Centers), including the exchange and the sharing of experiences, tools and databases, including cooperation through the Western Balkans Regional Recognition Database (RRD), as well as collaborating among themselves to implement projects related to the assessment of HE qualifications, transparency in the documentation to be presented for the recognition of foreign HE qualifications and to fight the phenomenon of forgery of documents awarded by HEIs.

(39) To avoid the phenomenon of forgery from the previous paragraph, every HEI from the Parties is obliged to reply on the request of the ENIC/NARIC centres of Parties, free of charge and within 14 days after receiving the request for confirmation of an authenticity of qualification.

(40) JOINT COMMISSION ON RECOGNITION OF HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

(41) Article 6

(42) A Joint Commission on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (the Commission) shall be established based on this Agreement tasked with organising, coordinating and monitoring activities related to the implementation of this Agreement.

(43) Article 7

(44) (I) The Commission shall be composed of three representatives of each Party.

(45) (II) The work of the Commission shall be coordinated by the Regional Cooperation Council in cooperation with Education Reform Initiative of South-East Europe (ERI SEE).

(46) Article 8

(47) (I) Parties shall provide the Commission with their own list of accredited HEIs, subject to this Agreement, no later than 3 months after entry into force of this Agreement, which may be reviewed by the Commission if so requested by one of the Parties.

(48) (II) The Commission shall meet at least twice a year, or upon request of a Party, and shall report annually to the Parties concerning the implementation and application of this Agreement.

(49) (III) The Commission shall adopt its Rules and Procedures.

(50) (IV) All the decisions of the Commission shall be made by consensus of all Parties.

(51) Article 9

(52) The Commission shall also focus on, but is not limited to:

(53) a) Facilitate cooperation and communication among Quality Assurance Agencies, including visits to Accreditation Agencies, if applicable;

(54) b) Facilitate smooth cooperation of relevant institutions through the RRD;

(55) c) Address issues related to substantial difference in relation to recognition of qualifications;

(56) d) Analyse various issues regarding recognition of qualifications, and propose joint actions.

(57) Article 10

(58) The Commission shall review and approve the updates of the lists provided by the Parties to reflect the changes in the accreditation status of the Higher Education Institutions in the Parties. Such updates shall respect the responsibility of the Parties for the organisation of the education systems.

(59) TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

(60) Article 11

(61) This Agreement may be amended only with the written consent of all Parties subject to the same procedure necessary to conclude this Agreement.

(62) Article 12

(63) The scope of this Agreement can be expanded to accredited private HEIs, with the written consent of all Parties.

(64) Article 13

(65) The Parties agree that any disputes arising from the implementation of this Agreement shall be discussed within the Commission established according to Article 8.

(66) ENTRY INTO FORCE

(67) Article 14

(68) (I) This Agreement is subject to ratification, acceptance, or approval in accordance with the requirements foreseen by the relevant legislation of the Parties. The formal notice of ratification, acceptance, or approval shall be deposited with the Depositary.

(69) (II) This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day upon the deposition of the third formal notice of ratification, acceptance, or approval for those Parties that have deposited their formal notice of ratification, acceptance, or approval.

(70) (III) For each Party depositing its formal notice of ratification, acceptance, or approval after the date of the deposit of the third formal notice of ratification, acceptance or approval, this Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the day on which that Party deposits its formal notice of ratification, acceptance, or approval.

(71) (IV) North Macedonia shall act as Depositary and shall notify all Parties of any notification received in accordance with this Article and any other act or notification relating to this Agreement.

(72) Article 15

(73) If one Party withdraws from this Agreement, it shall cease to be effective only for that Party within 30 days from the date of delivery of the notification thereof to the Depository.

(74) Article 16

(75) This cease of this Agreement shall not have any impact with respect to:

(76) (a) Recognition decisions taken previously under the provisions of this Agreement;

(77) (b) The recognition assessments still in progress under this Agreement.

(78) Article 17

(79) The Agreement is drawn up in the English language in one original version, which will remain in the possession of the Depository. Each Party will receive one verified copy of the Agreement.

(80) Done at Berlin on 3/11/2022

(81) SPORAZUM O PRIZNAVANJU KVALIFIKACIJA U VISOKOM OBRAZOVANJU NA ZAPADNOM BALKANU

(82) Predstavnici Albanije, Bosne i Hercegovine, „Kosova”*1, Crne Gore, Severne Makedonije i Srbije (u daljem tekstu: „Strane”)

(83) UZIMAJUĆI U OBZIR „Deklaraciju o zajedničkom regionalnom tržištu – katalizator za dublju regionalnu ekonomsku integraciju i odskočna daska ka jedinstvenom tržištu EU” lidera Zapadnog Balkana, usvojenu na Samitu lidera Zapadnog Balkana u okviru Berlinskog procesa;

(84) UZIMAJUĆI U OBZIR to da je visoko obrazovanje javno dobro i javna odgovornost, i svesni potrebe da se poštuju i štite principi akademske slobode i autonomije visokoškolskih ustanova;

(85) U ŽELJI DA unaprede i ojačaju bliske veze i da prošire temelje saradnje na Zapadnom Balkanu, kao i da razviju saradnju između visokoškolskih i istraživačkih ustanova Strana i da unaprede akademsku mobilnost;

(86) UVERENI DA će priznavanje kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju olakšati međuzavisno učenje i razvoj znanja putem mobilnosti studenata, akademika, istraživača i stručnjaka i da će unaprediti saradnju u visokom obrazovanju;

(87) U ŽELJI DA odgovori na potrebu za Globalnom konvencijom o priznavanju kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju kojom se dopunjavaju regionalni sporazumi o priznavanju kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju i da se poboljša kohezija između njih;

(88) UZIMAJUĆI U OBZIR Konvenciju o priznavanju kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju u evropskom regionu i obaveze Evropskog prostora visokog obrazovanja (EPVO), uključujući primenu alata Bolonjskog procesa;

(89) IMAJUĆI U VIDU razvoj eksternih i internih mehanizama osiguranja kvaliteta zasnovanih na standardima i smernicama za osiguranje kvaliteta u EPVO;

(90) UVERENI u potrebu pronalaženja zajedničkih, praktičnih i transparentnih rešenja za unapređenje prakse priznavanja u visokom obrazovanju uspostavljanjem standarda i procedura za priznavanje kvalifikacija iz oblasti visokog obrazovanja;

(91) UVERENI da će ovaj sporazum unaprediti akademsku mobilnost, kao i saradnju u pogledu poštenih i transparentnih procedura za priznavanje i osiguranje kvaliteta, i akademski integritet u visokom obrazovanju na Zapadnom Balkanu;

(92) Ovim je dogovoreno sledeće:

(93) ––––––––

(94) 1* Ovaj naziv je bez prejudiciranja statusa i u skladu je sa Rezolucijom Saveta bezbednosti Ujedinjenih nacija 1244/1999 i Mišljenjem Međunarodnog suda pravde o Deklaraciji o nezavisnosti Kosova.

Član 3 OSTALI STUDIJSKI PROGRAMI VISOKOG OBRAZOVANJA

Kvalifikacije skraćenih i drugih obrazovnih kurseva koje nude visokoškolske ustanove Strana mogu se vrednovati i priznati kao validne sve dok se njima stiču postignuća u visokom obrazovanju koja odgovaraju ESPB ili ishodima učenja, kao i u odnosu na odgovarajući nivo kvalifikacionog okvira i relevantnih propisa Strana.

Član 4 PRIZNAVANJE KVALIFIKACIJA ZA SVRHE PRISTUPA MODULIMA SLEDEĆEG NIVOA

Upis na studijske programe vrši se u skladu sa internim propisima VŠU u Strani primaocu.

Član 5 SARADNJA IZMEĐU CENTARA ENIC/NARIC

(1) Kako bi se olakšala evaluacija kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju koje su izdale dotične VŠU i kako bi se povećale veštine evaluacije stranih kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju, takođe iz sistema trećih strana, Strane se obavezuju da će podsticati maksimalnu saradnju između odgovarajućih domaćih centara za priznavanje (centri ENIC/ NARIC), uključujući razmenu iskustava, alata i baza podataka, uključujući saradnju kroz Regionalnu bazu podataka o procedurama priznavanja (RRD) Zapadnog Balkana, kao i međusobnu saradnju na sprovođenju projekata koji se odnose na procenu kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju, transparentnost dokumentacije koja se podnosi za priznavanje stranih kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju i saradnju u borbi protiv pojave falsifikovanja dokumenata koje izdaju VŠU.

(2) Kako bi se izbegla pojava falsifikovanja iz prethodnog stava, svaka VŠU iz Strana je dužna da odgovori na zahtev centara ENIC/NARIC svake od Strana, besplatno i u roku od 14 dana od prijema zahteva za potvrdu autentičnosti kvalifikacije.

Član 6 ZAJEDNIČKA KOMISIJA ZA PRIZNAVANJE KVALIFIKACIJA U VISOKOM OBRAZOVANJU

Zajednička komisija za priznavanje kvalifikacija u visokom obrazovanju (Komisija) osniva se na osnovu ovog sporazuma, sa zadatkom da organizuje, koordinira i prati aktivnosti u vezi sa sprovođenjem ovog sporazuma.

Član 7

(1) (I) Komisija je sastavljena od tri predstavnika svake Strane.

(2) (II) Rad Komisije koordinira Savet za regionalnu saradnju u saradnji sa Inicijativom za reformu obrazovanja Jugoistočne Evrope (ERI SEE).

Član 8

(1) (I) Strane će dostaviti Komisiji sopstvenu listu akreditovanih visokoškolskih ustanova, koje su predmet ovog sporazuma, najkasnije tri meseca nakon stupanja na snagu ovog sporazuma, koju Komisija može da revidira ako jedna od Strana to zatraži.

(2) (II) Komisija se sastaje najmanje dva puta godišnje, ili na zahtev neke Strane, i jednom godišnje podnosi izveštaj Stranama o sprovođenju i primeni ovog sporazuma.

(3) (III) Komisija donosi svoja pravila i procedure.

(4) (IV) Sve odluke Komisije donose se konsenzusom svih Strana.

Član 9

(1) Komisija se takođe fokusira, između ostalog, na sledeće:

(2) a) Olakšanje saradnje i komunikaciju između Agencija za osiguranje kvaliteta, uključujući posete Agencijama za akreditaciju, ako je primenjivo;

(3) b) Omogućavanje nesmetane saradnje relevantnih ustanova kroz RRD;

(4) v) Rešavanje problema vezanih za suštinske razlike u vezi sa priznavanjem kvalifikacija;

(5) g) Analiziranje različitih problema u vezi sa priznavanjem kvalifikacija i predlaganje zajedničkih akcija.

Član 10

Komisija pregleda i odobrava ažurirane liste koje obezbede Strane kako bi se odrazile promene u statusu akreditacije visokoškolskih ustanova u Stranama. Ova ažuriranja poštuju odgovornost Strana za organizaciju obrazovnih sistema.

Član 11 PRELAZNE I ZAVRŠNE ODREDBE

Ovaj sporazum može biti izmenjen samo uz pisanu saglasnost svih Strana po istom postupku neophodnom za zaključenje ovog sporazuma.

Član 12

Obim ovog sporazuma može da se proširi na akreditovane privatne visokoškolske ustanove, uz pisanu saglasnost svih Strana.

Član 13

Strane su saglasne da će se o svim sporovima koji proisteknu iz sprovođenja ovog sporazuma raspravljati u okviru Komisije osnovane u skladu sa članom 8.

Član 14 STUPANJE NA SNAGU

(1) (I) Ovaj sporazum podleže ratifikaciji, prihvatanju ili odobrenju u skladu sa zahtevima predviđenim relevantnim zakonodavstvom Strana. Zvanično obaveštenje o ratifikaciji, prihvatanju ili odobrenju biće deponovano kod depozitara.

(2) (II) Ovaj sporazum stupa na snagu tridesetog dana nakon deponovanja trećeg zvaničnog obaveštenja o ratifikaciji, prihvatanju ili odobrenju za one Strane koje su deponovale svoje zvanično obaveštenje o ratifikaciji, prihvatanju ili odobrenju.

(3) (III) Za svaku Stranu koja deponuje svoje zvanično obaveštenje o ratifikaciji, prihvatanju ili odobrenju nakon datuma deponovanja trećeg zvaničnog obaveštenja o ratifikaciji, prihvatanju ili odobrenju, ovaj sporazum stupa na snagu tridesetog dana od dana kada ta Strana deponuje svoje zvanično obaveštenje o ratifikaciji, prihvatanju ili odobrenju.

(4) (IV) Severna Makedonija ima dužnost depozitara i obaveštava sve Strane o svakom obaveštenju primljenom u skladu sa ovim članom i svakom drugom aktu ili obaveštenju u vezi sa ovim sporazumom.

Član 15

Ako se jedna Strana povuče iz ovog sporazuma, on prestaje da važi samo za tu Stranu u roku od 30 dana od dana dostavljanja obaveštenja o tome depozitaru.

Član 16

(1) Ovakav prekid Sporazuma nema uticaj na sledeće:

(2) (a) Odluke o priznanju koje su ranije donete u skladu sa odredbama ovog sporazuma;

(3) (b) Procene priznanja koje su još uvek u toku prema ovom sporazumu.

Član 17

(1) Sporazum je sastavljen na engleskom jeziku u jednoj originalnoj verziji koja ostaje u posedu depozitara. Svaka Strana će dobiti po jednu overenu kopiju Sporazuma.

(2) Sačinjeno u Berlinu, dana 3. novembra 2022. godine.