Delegation of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development (MoESTD) visited Croatia, from the 3^rd until the 6^th of December 2017, within the project “European Qualifications Framework – National Coordinating Point 2017”. The delegation of the ministry consisted of: Ljiljana Todorović, Senior Advisor for normative and legal affairs in higher education, from the Sector for Development and Higher Education, Dragana Prelević Dovedan, Head of the National Qualifications Framework Unit, from the Sector for Development and Higher Education, Dragan Marinčić, Coordinator for promotion of secondary education and adult education, from the Department for Secondary Education and Adult Education and Ana Brkić Đorđević, Project Associate of the project “Youth Employment Initiative” from the Sector for Development and Higher Education.

The study visit of the MoESTD delegation began, as planned, with the visit to the Conference of the National Council for Human Potential Development (NVRLJP) on the topic: Opportunity for quality implementation of a comprehensive education reform. The conference program lasted from 9 am to 5 pm, and could be divided into two thematic units:

1.      A comprehensive reform of education in Croatia (at all levels) utilizing the Croatian Qualification Framework (HKO)

2.      Investing in human potential – social investment

Within the first thematic unit we could point out that there were discusions about the Croatian Strategy for Education, Science and Technology and the Curricular Reform, the program for the development of vocational education and training and the change of the laws that regulate and ensure the quality and relevance of education and acquisition of qualifications at all levels of education. The background of the second thematic unit were the strategic plan for the development of a system of evaluation and recognition of previous learning, the National Plan for the Improvement of Social Dimension in Higher Education and the project – “European Social Fund and Investments in Human Resources”.

During the all-day conference of the NRRLP, our delegation had the opportunity to hear eminent experts in the field of qualifications not only in Croatia, but in the whole region. Some of the important names that held lectures and presentations were: Prof. Dr Ružica Beljo Lučić, Prof. Dr. Blaženka Divjak, B.Sc. ing. Elido Bandelj, Dipl. Ing. Jasmina Lukačević, Prof. Dr Branka Ramljak, Prof. Vlado Prskalo, Mr. Sc. Ana Tecilazic Goršić, Ms. Mislav Balković, Prof. Dr. Mile Dželalija, Ms. Sandra Bezjak and others.

Lectures and discussions at this conference were especially important for the Serbian delegation referring to the European Qualifications Framework, especially bearing in mind Criterion 3, regarding the learning outcomes, which implies the validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNFIL). VNFIL was one of the main topics in the presentation of Mr. Elido Bandelj, who showed how Slovenia dealt with the issue. Dr. Mislav Balkovic also spoke about the validation of non-formal and informal learning, and Mr. Sc. Hrvoje Silesnik, State Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Education, spoke about the Law on Adult Education that covers programs for evaluating non-formal and informal learning.

During Tuesday, December 5th, the MoESTD delegation visited the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education throughout the day. The program consisted of topics:

·         Legislative and institutional framework for the development and implementation of the Croatian Qualifications Framework

·         The role of the Agency for Science and Higher Education in quality assurance in higher education utilizing the HKO

·         Application of HKO in higher education – experiences of a higher education institutions

·         The role of the Agency for Vocational Education and Adult Education in the implementation of the HKO

·         Application of HKO in vocational education

Lecturers who tried to present all these elements of the HKO to the Serbian delegation were: Ana Tecilazić Goršić, Elisabetta Fortunato, Jure Biloglav, Martina Turković, Sandra Bezjak, Mirjana Gopić, Prof. Dr. Bruno Zelić, Tamara Hudolin, Prof. Vlado Prskalo and Davorka Schmidt.

The speech of Ms. Sandra Bezjak on quality assurance while applying the HKO, with particular reference to the level of HKOs in higher education, was particularly important, especially taking into account Criterion 5 and Criterion 6 in the process of referencing the National Qualifications Framework with European Qualifications Framework, i.e. Adoption by relevant institutions for quality assurance.

On Wednesday, December 6^th , the Serbian delegation headed to the University Computing Center of the University of Zagreb – SRCE, where it gained insight into the information system of the HKO Register, with the help of Dr. Ognjen Orell. After the lecture of Mr. Orell, Dr. Mislav Balkovic explained the role of the Croatian Employers’ Association in the work of the Sectoral Councils.

Afterwards, the MoESTD delegation headed to the Ministry of Labor and the Pension System. During this brief visit to the Croatian Ministry of Labor, our delegation was able to examine their role in the implementation of the HKO, as well as the role of the Croatian Employment Service. During the presentation of the Croatian Employment Service, the MoESTD delegation had an insight into a survey of occupational standards, which was of great importance to our delegation. During the talks with the representatives of the Ministry of Labor and the Pension System, the MoESTD delegation was told that, without the successful cooperation of the labor and education ministries, there is no successful implementation and successful establishment of the National Qualifications Framework, which brings us back to Criteria 1 of referencing the EQF National Qualifications Framework i.e.: Institutions and interest groups – roles and responsibilities, which implies that the competent authorities have clearly defined and performed the responsibilities and/or legal competencies of all relevant actors – national authorities which participate in the referencing process.