The Norglobal project book "The Re-Institutionalization of Higher Education in the Western Balkans. The Interplay between European Ideas, Domestic Policies, and Institutional Practices" has been published and is now available on the publisher's website.
The contributions in the book revolve around three dimensions: governance, quality, and the regional role of higher education. Our choice is based on how these dimensions relate to the overall rationale of the book. The book analyzes the changes in both policy and practices in various countries in this region predominantly through a comparative approach. Through a number of empirical studies in which new data was collected and systematized, the book shows how countries in the Western Balkans are struggling to maneuver between adapting to broader European reform ideas while at the same time handling domestic challenges. Hence, the book is a valuable contribution to those interested in studying how various higher education systems are developing in the different European regions.
The book is the result of a large research project undertaken in the Western Balkan region. The project “European integration in higher education and research in the Western Balkans” had the aim of strengthening the capacity of higher education institutions in the Western Balkan countries (WBC) in the area of educational research in general, and higher education and research policy analysis in particular. The project was based on a belief that reliable data and solid analysis of systems of higher education and research are crucial for the on-going processes of reform and change that are taking place in a number of policy areas.
The book has been edited by Jelena Branković (Ghent University / Centre for Education Policy), Maja Kovačević (University of Belgrade), Peter Maassen (University of Oslo), Bjørn Stensaker (University of Oslo), Martina Vukasović, (Ghent University / University of Oslo) and is part of Peter Lang Series: Higher Education Research and Policy (HERP).
The translation of the book in one of the Western Balkans languages is under preparation.