On Monday, the 10th. In November 2022, the first meeting of the “Working Group for the Digitalization of Higher Education and Quality Assurance for the Preparation and Implementation of the e-University Project” was held at the Ministry of Science and Education (MZO).
Project goal e-University It is an improvement of the quality and availability of the higher education system by strengthening the flexibility and innovativeness of public higher education institutions through support for investments in digital teaching infrastructure, which will contribute to the efficiency of digital transformation and increase the digital maturity of higher education throughout the Republic of Croatia.
During the meeting, the concept, content, and scope of the e-University project were presented to the appointed members of higher education institutions.
Representatives spoke about the project MZO as the investor in the “National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) – Digital Transformation of Higher Education” investment, CARNET as the project holder and main partner and coordinator in the project preparation and implementation process, as well as representatives of other partner organizations – the University Computing Centre (Srce), the Agency for Science and Higher Education (AZVO), and the National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK).
The working group consists of two members each from the ranks of the Rectors„ Council representatives, who are recognized as so-called “Digital Leaders" at the Council of Universities or Universities – proven long-term experts in the fields of digital transformation, management and operational levels, responsible for digital infrastructure and/or digital education.
The working group aims to ensure quality two-way communication between universities, the University College Council, and CARNET's project team.
The meeting began with an introductory address by the State Secretary of the relevant ministry, Ivica Šušak. Following the introductory remarks, Ms. Dragana Kupres, Head of EU Projects at the Office of the CARNET Director, briefly explained the conceptual parts of the project, while the CARNET Director, Mr. Hrvoje Puljiz, presented and further indicated the key points, circumstances, and prerequisites surrounding the realization of individual project elements.
Then, the heads of CARNET's expert teams for networking, computer infrastructure, and educational support presented the investments within CARNET's purview, such as investments in network and computer digital infrastructure, equipment and related services, application solutions, tools and content, horizontal cybersecurity activities, as well as educational activities to empower teaching staff's competencies for learning and teaching in a digital environment through the development and experimental implementation of a modular educational program for the development of digital competencies of teaching and administrative staff at higher education institutions, as well as necessary user support and training for technical staff.
After the CARNET presentation, the presentations of other Partner organizations aimed to present other parts of the project elements based on roles, expertise, and legal authority.
Director of the Heart Ivan Marić presented activitiesdevelopment of the information system for central records in higher education (ISeVO), upgrading and adapting existing information systems in higher education, and development of the information system for monitoring program contracts (ISpPU) participate in the research that will be conducted through the project, as well as in the curriculum development and evaluation of the experimental implementation of the modular program for the development of digital competencies of teaching and administrative staff at higher education institutions.
Ms. Sc. Sandra Bezjak, Acting Director of the Agency for Science and Higher Education (AZVO), presented the activities participation of AZVO employees in the curriculum development that precedes the creation of educational modules for the digital competency development program for teaching and administrative staff at higher education institutions, and in the evaluation of the developed educational content and the evaluation of the experimental implementation of the aforementioned educational program, then development of a digital maturity assessment model for VU and implementation of assessment procedures.
Prof. dr. sc. Ivanka Stričević, Director General of the NSK, presented the activities improvements to the library and information system of higher education libraries, equipping and developing the CroAtrium and Sci Lab educational programs as modern centers for supporting digital transition and online learning in the higher education and science system.
In the second part of the meeting, Ms. Gillain Golden, representative of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), policy Expert and project manager for the support project “Digital Maturity of Higher Education Institutions in Croatia,” stemming from the “EC Technical Assistance Instrument,“ also indicated within the scope of the NPOO investment as a prerequisite for previous implementation of infrastructural investments, but above all as support for the preparatory implementation activities of the e-University project.
The purpose of the project support is to analyze the digital maturity and readiness of Croatian higher education institutions (HEIs) and to develop recommendations for necessary investments and development activities that will serve as a basis for further investments in their equipment and expansion of support for institutions, faculty, and students in online teaching and distance learning. Ms. Gillian briefly presented the main findings of the diagnostics and technical report on digital maturity, whose recommendations from the OECD team will serve as guidelines when determining the level, type, scope, and purposefulness of investments within the allocated funds for the e-University, HEI project.
In the last presentation held by Ms. Aleksandra Mudrinić Ribić, Assistant Director of CARNET for Education Support, all members of the RS were informed about the soon-to-be-published public call, through which teaching and professional-technical staff from public higher education institutions involved in the project will be invited to participate in a pilot research study conducted using the action research method. Interested candidates who meet the criteria defined in the public call will be included.
The goals of this research are to identify the current application of digital technologies in higher education teaching, determine the specific needs of teaching staff and students in using digital technologies to improve learning and teaching processes at higher education institutions, establish and build a community of learning and practice, and ultimately develop recommendations and examples of good practice for the application of digital technologies in higher education and equip them with teaching equipment that enables and supports modern forms of teaching, contributing to the assurance and improvement of learning and teaching quality as a sustainable and relevant part of digital transformation, which can also accelerate and strengthen the digital twin transition of higher education studies and programs.
