THE CONCEPT OF REFORMS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM OF THE WESTERN BALKANS COUNTRIES IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;">The process of European integration represents  first class, social project for all the countries of the subregion of the Western Balkans. The concept of integration into the European Union covers all spheres of public life, where a significant role is played by the reform of the system of higher education. The author considers the implementation of the Bologna Declaration and the Lisbon Strategy, as well as Tempus and Erasmus Mundus program of the European Commission dedicated to the establishment of a "Europe of Knowledge" in the surveyed countries. The analysis shows that the Western Balkan countries are making great efforts to implement provisions of the Bologna process, particularly at the level of formal adoption in the form of law. However, numerous weaknesses are reported in the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy and the elements of strengthening the impact of the labor market. According to all relevant indicators, the level of the Europeanisation of higher education in the Western Balkans is below the EU average, which points to the unsustainability and  the necessity for the transformation of existing concepts.</p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>