{"id":30174,"date":"2025-11-27T11:05:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T10:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.azvo.hr\/?p=30174"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:36:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:36:49","slug":"the-20th-anniversary-of-the-agency-for-science-and-higher-education-marked-with-an-international-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azvo.hr\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-20th-anniversary-of-the-agency-for-science-and-higher-education-marked-with-an-international-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"The 20th Anniversary of the Agency for Science and Higher Education Marked with an International Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The international conference \u201cQuality in Higher Education and Science: From Challenges to Opportunities \u2013 Together\u201d, organized to mark the 20th anniversary of the Agency for Science and Higher Education\u2019s continuous work in ensuring the quality of higher education and science in the Republic of Croatia, was held on 25 November 2025 at the Sheraton Hotel in Zagreb.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \nThis important anniversary brought together leading international and domestic experts, policymakers, representatives of the academic and scientific community, as well as students.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \nThe conference was opened with an introductory address by Prof. Danijela Horvatek Tomi\u0107, PhD, Director of the Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE). On behalf of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, the audience was welcomed by Assistant Professor Iva Ivankovi\u0107, PhD, State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth (MSEY), who emphasized the importance of ASHE\u2019s role in building a strong and internationally recognized higher education and research system in Croatia.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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Prof. Danijela Horvatek Tomi\u0107, PhD, ASHE Director<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n \n \n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
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State Secretary Assist. Prof. Iva Ivankovi\u0107, PhD, Envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n \n \n \n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \nIn her opening address, Prof. Danijela Horvatek Tomi\u0107, PhD highlighted that the 20th anniversary comes at a key moment for reflecting on the future of higher education and science.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n\u201cIn a time marked by accelerated digital transformation, global mobility, the development of artificial intelligence, and growing societal expectations, questions of quality assurance are gaining a new dimension. The system must continuously adapt \u2013 be open, agile, and built on trust,\u201d emphasized Prof. Horvatek Tomi\u0107, adding that quality is not only a goal, but a process \u2013 an ongoing dialogue between institutions, stakeholders, and the society we serve.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \nThe ceremonial opening program was enriched by the screening of a promotional film created to mark ASHE\u2019s twentieth anniversary.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \nThe plenary session gathered prominent European experts in the field of quality assurance. Douglas Blackstock, former President of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), and Aleksandar \u0160u\u0161njar, Director of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), spoke about current challenges and European policies shaping the future of the European Higher Education Area. The plenary block was moderated by Prof. Franci Dem\u0161ar, PhD, long-time Director of the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (NAKVIS). The discussion addressed topics such as the revision of the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), challenges in their national implementation, the independence of higher education agencies, the impact of digital transformation and artificial intelligence on quality systems, and the global relevance of the ESG in the context of increasing international cooperation.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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Douglas Blackstock, ENQA Former President<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n \n \n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Aleksandar \u0160u\u0161njar, EQAR Director<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n \n \n \n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n \nParticularly noteworthy was the presentation by Lana Par, President of the European Students\u2019 Union (ESU), which opened a discussion on expectations, responsibilities, and the role of students in the further development of the quality assurance system.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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Lana Par, ESU President<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n \n \n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Prof. Franci Dem\u0161ar, PhD, NAKVIS Director<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n \n \n \n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n \nThe conference’s first panel, titled \u201cQuality as a Common Language of European Education and Science\u201d<\/em>, was moderated by Prof. Olgun Cicek, PhD, an international quality assurance expert from the University of Ljubljana, and brought together both international and domestic experts: Dr. P\u00e9ter Levente Lakatos, PhD, Director of the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (MAB), Naim Gashi, Director of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA), Prof. Anita Pavi\u0107 Pintari\u0107, PhD, Vice-Rector of the University of Zadar, and Lana Par, President of the ESU. The panellists discussed the role of the ESG as the foundation of trust, cooperation, and mutual recognition within the European Higher Education Area, as well as the challenges faced by higher education institutions in their implementation and student expectations.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \nThe second panel, \u201cChallenges in Higher Education and Science in Croatia\u201d<\/em>, was moderated by Irena Petru\u0161i\u0107 PhD, Deputy Director of ASHE, and brought together key stakeholders of the Croatian higher education and research system: Prof. Neboj\u0161a Stoj\u010di\u0107, PhD, Rector of the University of Dubrovnik and Deputy Chair of the Croatian Rectors\u2019 Conference, Dijana Mandi\u0107, Director of the Directorate for Higher Education at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, Associate Professor Damir Jugo, PhD, President of the Governing Board of Algebra Bernays University and David Matthew Smith, PhD, Director of the Ru\u0111er Bo\u0161kovi\u0107 Institute. The panel examined the challenges of system sustainability in the context of demographic trends, internationalization, employability, digitalization, and the societal role of higher education and research institutions. \n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \nIt was emphasized that synergy between national and European policies, along with the active involvement of the academic community and students, is essential for further enhancing the quality of higher education and science in Croatia.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \nParticipants expressed a strong commitment to the continued development of a system based on transparency and trust.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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