The SPHERE Seminar “Focus on Skills: Implications for Higher Education Learning and Teaching” and the SPHERE Bologna Process Symposium were held at the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Romania, on 14–15 September 2026.

The two-day programme brought together Higher Education Reform Experts (HEREs) and representatives of universities, ministries and relevant organizations to exchange experiences and discuss current developments in higher education reform.

The first day focused on skills development, learning and teaching, with discussions addressing the changing needs of students, society and the labour market, as well as student-centred learning and institutional approaches to skills development.

The second day was dedicated to the Bologna Process and reforms in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), including fundamental values, the social dimension of higher education, quality assurance, ECTS and mechanisms for monitoring and supporting the implementation of Bologna reforms.

Vildana Delibašić, representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, participated in both events, contributing to discussions and the exchange of experiences on higher education reform. The events provided valuable insights into current European approaches that can support further development of higher education policies and practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A meeting with project partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina involved in Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Vocational Education and Training (CBVET) projects was held at the International University of Sarajevo (IUS) on 7–8 October 2026.

The meeting was organized by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), in cooperation with the National Erasmus+ Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina (NEO) and IUS. It brought together representatives of 19 selected CBVET projects to discuss project implementation, exchange experiences and facilitate the dissemination of project results.

The programme included presentations of the participating projects, an overview of Erasmus+ VET projects involving partners from BiH, and two peer-exchange sessions with EACEA project officers. Participants had the opportunity to share practical experiences, discuss challenges and explore opportunities for further cooperation.

The meeting also provided an important opportunity to strengthen interaction between EACEA, NEO and project partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina, while contributing to greater visibility and dissemination of Erasmus+ project results.

A SPHERE Technical Assistance Mission (TAM) workshop on “Automatic Recognition and Recognition of Prior Learning” was held at the International University of Sarajevo (IUS) on 28–29 September 2026.

The workshop was jointly organised by the National Erasmus+ Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina (NEO), the Centre for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (CIP), and the Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) team in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It brought together representatives of higher education institutions, education authorities, HEREs, NEO, and other relevant stakeholders.

The two-day event addressed key issues shaping contemporary recognition practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider European Higher Education Area (EHEA), with a focus on automatic recognition of qualifications, recognition of prior learning, non-formal and informal learning, and recognition of study periods. These areas are increasingly important for making higher education systems more transparent, flexible and accessible, while supporting student mobility, lifelong learning and smoother academic progression.

A key expert contribution was provided by Prof. Dr. Mile Dželalija, University of Split, an experienced European expert in quality assurance, accreditation and qualifications frameworks. He led the main professional sessions and facilitated discussions on both the principles and practical implementation of recognition procedures, highlighting the importance of clear, efficient and consistent approaches that support mobility and reduce unnecessary administrative barriers.

The programme also featured contributions from CIP experts Mirta Mandić Martinović, Dragana Dilber and Dženan Omanović. Ms. Mandić Martinović presented the MOQAR perspective on automatic recognition, Ms. Dilber moderated the panel discussion, while Mr. Omanović presented recommendations and facilitated the final discussion.

The workshop provided a valuable platform for combining European expertise with practical perspectives from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also contributed to ongoing discussions on strengthening recognition practices and bringing the country's higher education system closer to evolving European standards.

The presentations from the event can be found here:

• The Concept of Automatic Recognition
• Automatic Recognition for Access to Higher Education
• Professional vs Academic Automatic Recognition
• Recognition of Non-formal and Informal Learning
• Automatic Recognition and Recognition of Prior Learning - CIP's Recommendations
• Kako dostići automatsko priznavanje - rezultati MOQAR projekta

This animated video introduces the SPHERE initiative, explaining how it supports the Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) network by fostering cooperation, policy dialogue, and capacity building in third countries neighbouring the EU.

These activities cover four key regions: the Southern Mediterranean, the Western Balkans, the Neighbourhood East, and Central Asia. Each country has a national HERE team.

The goal of the HERE network is to inspire policy change in higher education systems, improve institutional strategies and practices, promote European policies, and create links between universities and society, while strengthening cooperation with the EU's European Education Area and the wider European Higher Education Area.

Audiovisual Service - SPHERE: Centralised Support to the Network of Higher Education Reform Experts