The Round table discussion

On September 1st, 2016 The Faculty of Economy at the University of Zagreb hosted the Round table lasting from 10 am to 3 pm. The Round table discussion included four key topics related to professionalization of principals of Croatian educational institutions. Those include the following:

• the standard of the profession of principals of Croatian educational institutions,
• the standard of the qualification of principals of Croatian educational institutions,
• higher education curriculum “Administration and management of educational institutions”
• principal licensing.

The Round table was organized by the Project launchers – The University of Zadar with its partners, The Faculty of Economy at the University of Zagreb and The Faculty of Education Sciences at the University “Josip Juraj Strossmayer” in Osijek. Along with the project team members, the Round table saw also the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, The Education Agency, The Agency for Professional and Adult Education, National Center for External Evaluation of Education, Association of Croatian High School Principals, Croatian Association of Primary School Principals, Dormitory Association of Croatia and other participants in Croatian educational system as well as the interested public.

The objective of the Round table was presentation of the proposal of the standard of the profession and qualification of principals of Croatian educational institutions, followed by a discussion in which a consensus on professionalization of principals at the state level should be reached. In addition, the Round table saw the presentation of the specialist higher education curriculum “Administration and management of educational institutions“. The curriculum presents a concrete contribution to formal education of the future principals and a base for recognition of formally and informally acquired competences of the principals working in educational system. One model of licensing was presented and it served as a scheme for further elaboration with relevant participants in educational system. The mentioned proposals are a result of a scientific and professional analysis: the legal framework, the scientific research and an insight in international experiences gained through visits to European countries (Great Britain, Finland, Austria and Germany) as well as through professional training of all participants in the Project thanks to study visits by foreign experts (the USA, Great Britain and Finland) at the University of Zadar.

The Round table proposals were the discussion topic for participants of Croatian educational system and the interested public aiming to gather relevant information about the possible amendments and improvements to the stated proposals. A constructive discussion, various points of view and experiences of the Round table participants offered a wider and deeper knowledge to be implemented in the application of the proposal to the competent institutions and to be taken into account during further Project activities.

The representatives of educational system who were present at the Round table supported our proposals and accepted a partnership in the realization of further steps towards professionalization of principal’s profession.