Problems detected in the Croatian higher education system before 2004 have in the past few years brought about the considerable reform of the system. In 2001, the Government of the Republic of Croatia signed the Bologna Declaration and adopted the Educational Sector Development Plan 2005 – 2010 which defined the goals (to introduce an external quality assurance system by 2006; to decrease the drop-out rate and the duration of studies by 2010) and priorities in higher education (improvement of the quality and efficiency of education.)
The first step in the reform of higher education in Croatia has been the reform of undergraduate, graduate and professional study programs in line with the Bologna cycles in 2005, when first students were enrolled to Bologna programs. In the 2005-2009 period the postgraduate programs were also restructured.
The increase in the number of newly established higher education institutions was also noted: 30 higher education institutions, mainly private colleges, and a large number of public polytechnics, mostly in areas of special state care, were established in line with strategic orientation of the Republic of Croatia towards polycentric development of higher education. First private universities were founded during that period.
The development of the Croatian Qualifications Framework (CROQF) started in 2006 and in July 2007 Basic Concepts of CROQF were adopted and the CROQF Committee established, which together with the Operational Team had the task of creating and implementing the Croatian Qualifications Framework by 2012. The aim of the CROQF is to link together the qualification levels attained in Croatian educational institutions with the appropriate European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and Qualifications framework in the European higher education area (QF-EHEA) levels. Referencing and Self-certification Report of the Croatian Qualifications Framework to the European Qualifications Framework and to the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area was presented at the meeting of the EQF Advisory Group of the European Commission in March 2012. The Croatian Qualifications Framework Act was adopted in February 2012.
These comprehensive activities should contribute to alignment of the Croatian higher education with the European systems and its integration in the European Higher Education Area, improve the quality of the study programmes and their delivery, increase mobility, recognisability and reliability of Croatian higher education qualifications, improve access of people with foreign higher education qualifications to the Croatian labour market and assure equitable access to the Croatian higher education system.
These comprehensive activities should contribute to alignment of the Croatian higher education with the European systems and its integration in the European Higher Education Area, improve the quality of the study programmes and their delivery, increase mobility, recognisability and reliability of Croatian higher education qualifications, improve access of people with foreign higher education qualifications to the Croatian labour market and assure equitable access to the Croatian higher education system.
Two significant changes were introduced in the Croatian education system in the academic year 2009/2010 – the State Matura for the completion of a four-year secondary education and an information system for applications to higher education institutions. When candidates are ranked for enrolment, the results of the State Matura exam are taken into account (i.e. State Matura exams have replaced the old system of entrance exams at higher education institutions).
With the aim of quality assurance and improvement in higher education, procedure of external quality assurance of higher education institutions has been launched. During 2008 and 2009, in line with the Act on Science and Higher Education, 21 higher education institution underwent external evaluation. Since in April 2009 the Act on Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education was passed, in 2009 the re-accreditation procedure was carried out in accordance with the new Act. By the end of 2013, HEIs delivering study programmes in the fields of economics, technical and biotechnical sciences, and majority of private higher education institutions underwent re-accreditation. Re-accreditation of HEIs offering study programmes in social sciences and humanities is underway.
During 2013, teams of experts worked on the Strategy for Education, Science and Technology, and its draft version was presented in September 2013, followed by public discussion.
These comprehensive activities should contribute to alignment of the Croatian higher education with the European systems and its integration in the European Higher Education Area, improve the quality of the study programmes and their delivery, increase mobility, recognisability and reliability of Croatian higher education qualifications, improve access of people with foreign higher education qualifications to the Croatian labour market and assure equitable access to the Croatian higher education system.