The first session of the Council for the National Qualifications Framework of the Republic of Serbia in the new convocation was held on January 30, 2023, in the Palace of Serbia. At the proposal of competent institutions and by the Law on NQFS, the Government appointed new members of the Council for a period of four years.

Appointed members of the Council for the National Qualifications Framework of the Republic of Serbia:

1. Gabrijela Grujić, PhD, acting Director of the Office for Dual Education and the National Framework of Qualifications, at the proposal of the Ministry of Education;

2. Dragica Ivanović, Senior Advisor, head of the Department for active employment policy in the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, at the proposal of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs;

3. Mišela Nikolić, Special Advisor to the Minister of Economy, at the proposal of the Ministry of Economy;

4. Snežana Žugić, acting Assistant Minister of Tourism and Youth, at the proposal of the Ministry of Tourism and Youth;

5. Ivana Savićević, Assistant Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, at the proposal of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government;

6. Nebojša Jokić, PhD, Senior Advisor in the Department of Health Service Organisation in the Ministry of Health, at the proposal of the Ministry of Health;

7. Biljana Kašerić, acting Assistant Provincial Secretary for Education, at the proposal of the Provincial Secretariat for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities-National Communities;

8. Ivana Boroja, Educational Inspector, at the proposal of the Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research;

9. Pelt Ilona, acting Assistant Provincial Secretary for Economy and Tourism, at the proposal of the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism;

10. Ilija Knežević, Head of the Education and Training Department at the National Employment Service, at the proposal of the National Employment Service;

11. Aleksandra Milićević, Senior Advisor for Education Development, Department for Dual Education and Education Policy at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, at the proposal of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce;

12. Ana Stojanović, Head of the Department for Dual Education and Education Policy at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce; at the proposal of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce;

13. Milena Dragićević Šešić, PhD, Professor, University of Arts in Belgrade, at the proposal of the Conference of the Universities of Serbia;

14. Nikola Jorgovanović, PhD, Professor, University of Novi Sad, at the proposal of the Conference of the Universities of Serbia;

15. Vladimir Džamić, PhD, Professor, Alfa BK University in Belgrade, at the proposal of the Conference of the Universities of Serbia;

16. Slobodan Živkucin, PhD, Director of the College of Vocational Studies for Management and Business Communications, Novi Sad, at the proposal of the Conference of Academies for Applied Studies;

17. Svetlana Karić, PhD, Vice President of the Conference of Academies for Applied Studies of Serbia, at the proposal of the Conference of Academies for Applied Studies;

18. Jugoslav Bogdanović, Director of the Chemistry, Food-processing and Textile School “Uroš Predić”, Zrenjanin, at the proposal of the Association of Vocational Schools;

19. Branko Subotić, Director of the Electrical Engineering School “Nikola Tesla”, Belgrade, at the proposal of the Association of Vocational Schools;

20. Marijana Isaković, Director of the Grammar school in Šabac, at the proposal of the Association of Grammar Schools;

21. Ivan Kovačević, MSc, General Director of “Đuro Salaj” AD, at the proposal of the Social and Economic Council of the Republic of Serbia;

22. Aleksandar Damnjanović, PhD, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Business and Law of Union University in Belgrade, at the proposal of the Social and Economic Council of the Republic of Serbia;

23. Miloš Miljković, Executive Secretary of UBTU “Independence”, at the proposal of the Social and Economic Council of the Republic of Serbia;

24. Zoran Savić, President of the Union of Employees in Healthcare and Social Protection of Serbia, at the proposal of the Social and Economic Council of the Republic of Serbia;

25. Nataša Vučković, ”Centre for Democracy” Foundation, at the proposal of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue.

As stipulated by the Law, the Council will propose qualification standards for all levels of NQFS, propose the establishment of sector skill councils for a specific sector, monitor and give recommendations for improving their work, give an opinion on the advice of sector skill councils regarding enrolment policy in secondary schools and higher education institutions, provide recommendations on improvements in connecting education and the needs of the labour market, and advice on the process of planning and development of human resources following strategic documents, give an opinion on standards for self-evaluation and external quality control of the work of PROAEA and perform other tasks within its jurisdiction.

The session of the Council was opened by Gabrijela Grujić, PhD, Director of the Office for Dual Education and the National Qualifications Framework.

The Council session was also attended by representatives of the Qualifications Agency, who explained the initiatives for developing and adopting qualification standards submitted in the previous period. The qualification standards proposals were created based on intensive research of the needs of the labour market conducted by sector skill councils. Most qualifications were updated following the needs of employers, technological development or the needs of regulated professions, as is the case with the Aviation technician qualification. After a short discussion, the Council adopted nine qualification standards proposals in the arts and humanities, other services, engineering, food processing, mechatronics, automatics and electronics, healthcare and traffic engineering.

Plans and activities expected from the Council in the coming period at the strategic level were presented.

Closing the session, Gabrijela Grujić, PhD, presented the scope of work of the Office for Dual Education and NQFS, stressing that an essential joint task of the Office and the Council is the networking and integration of the work of all relevant institutions to develop new qualification standards at all levels.