Republic of Serbia Bilateral screening: Chapter 25. Open labour market for researchers: mobility of researchers

Transcription

1 Republic of Serbia Bilateral screening: Chapter 25 Open labour market for researchers: mobility of researchers Brussels, 1 December 2014

2 Relevant EU Acquis Innovation Union commitments #1, #4, #30 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions A reinforced European research area partnership for excellence and growth Council Conclusions Competitiveness Council 11 December ERA European Council 24/25 October 2013 ERA, pensions Competitiveness Council 21 February ERA progress

3 Number and % of scientists from current workforce In 2013 the total number of researchers in Serbia was (head count) full time equivalent current workforce 5.4 per 1000 FTE in relation to the total number of employees

4 Serbian scientific diaspora There exist no official statistics on the Serbian scientific diaspora. The Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of Serbia highlights that, in the period , 17,000 residents of the Republic of Serbia with university degree left the country.

5 Serbian scientific diaspora According to prof. dr Vladimir Grečić from Institute of International Politics and Economics in 1999 USA hosted 4100 Serbian scientists and engineers, among which 1300 PhDs. Recent research shows that there are approximately 6000 Serbian scientists in North America and 4000 in Europe

6 Actions to ensure mobility of scientists In order to facilitate the mobility of researchers in Serbia, as well as reducing barriers for mobility, EURAXESS network of Serbia was formed, as part of a pan-european network EURAXESS. Serbian EURAXESS network is formed in 2009 in the framework of the FP7 project SER-MORE: Development of Serbian network of mobility centres (funded by EU from 2008 to 2011).

7 EURAXESS Network of Serbia Bridgehead organization (at the Mechanical Engineering Faculty, University of Nis) Five EURAXESS Service centers, located at the: University of Belgrade, University of Kragujevac, University of Nis, University of Novi Sad, Metropolitan University in Belgrade. Moreover, there are also local contact points in some faculties and institutes. Currently 33 EURAXESS offices are registered in Serbia that are ready to assist mobile researchers.

8 EURAXESS Network of Serbia Since 2010, the EURAXESS network has responded to 472 requests of mobile researchers. The most frequently asked questions were for the recognition of diplomas and employment, as well as conditions for entry and accommodation.

9 Serbian EURAXESS portal Fully operational since beginning of 2010 Helps and supports mobility of researchers Information for incoming and outgoing mobile researchers Accommodation, childcare / school, daily life, health / medical care, language courses, legal issues, research funding, social and cultural aspects, social security, taxation, visa formalities and work permits. Booklet "Serbian Mobility Guide" is free to download from the portal

10 Serbian EURAXESS Job portal Important part of the portal is EURAXESS Job - the part of the portal where vacancies for researchers from all over Europe are published. Only small amount of vacancies in Serbia are published on this job portal. Service Centers have an increasing significance because incoming mobility increases The problem with reporting on statistics provided by Sevice Centers

11 Actions to strengthen and increase number of researchers Programmes to boost research careers and support researchers financially from : Programme supporting basic research Programme supporting research in the field of technological development Programme of co-funding for integrated and interdisciplinary research to support the integration of basic, applied and development research as well as to utilize R&D resources fully, emphasizing commercialization of R&D activities and results.

12 Number of funded researchers In total, through these programs, researchers were funded in 2013, which is equivalent to funding full-time researchers. Comparing to 2011, number of funded researchers has been increased with 573 researchers.

13 MESTD support for PhD students In 2013 in total 6280 students were on doctoral studies in all Serbian universities, of which 4177 were employed on projects in the above mentioned programmes. From 2011 a total of 1828 young researchers employed in national projects had completed doctoral studies. In 2013 a total of 592 PhD students have received scholarship, of which 200 were newly included in the programme. They were also included in appropriate national projects.

14 Popularizing science among young people MESTD has a programme offering young researchers the possibility of participating in knowledge Olympiads and other forms of competition. Since 2010 the Centre for the Promotion of Science has been actively engaged in bringing the science community closer to a wider public. Activities: May Month of Matematics, Days of future, Scientific Exibitions, Panels, Mobile planetarium, Festivals of Science...

15 Charter and Code During 2013 and 2014, MESTD together with EURAXESS Bridgehead Organisation organised many Info days on "Charter and Code" at all university centres in Serbia. So far, six institutions have signed Declaration of Commitment to the Principles of the Researchers Charter and Code. University of Nis is first and only R&D institution in Serbia awarded with HR Excellence in Research logo on

16 Recruitment policy From the legislative point of view, labour market in Serbia is open and recruitment process is transparent. In practice, information on job vacancies are not published in centralized manner, but rather in local newspapers or institutional web sites in Serbian language. Serbian EURAXESS Job portal is fully operational and ready to accept open positions announcement. Only few institutions are publishing job vacancies on EURAXESS Job portal.

17 Measures to stimulate researchers into innovation Legal framework for innovation activities in Serbia is provided by the Law on Innovation Activity and bylaws. The law regulates framework for formation of organizations for support of innovation activities and technology transfer centers. By this Law the Register of Innovative Companies was established, as well as the Innovation Fund. Financing and organization of innovative activities and technology transfer in Serbia are organized through: Innovation Fund Programme for Innovative activities funded by MESTD

18 MESTD Programme for Innovative activities Funding 6 or 12 month projects aiming: development of new products by research institution establishing organizations for innovative activities development of new products by registered innovators Additionally, during the last 10 years, MESTD has been supporting The Best Technological Innovation Competition

19 Innovative doctoral training The Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance (CAQA) has been set up by the National council of HE to deal with accreditation, quality assurance of higher education institutions and evaluation of study programs. CAQA has defined Rules and Regulations on accreditation standards and procedures of higher education institutions and study programs, the integral parts of which are: accreditation standards of higher education institutions; study program accreditation of the first and second tiers of higher education; and doctoral study program accreditation. Rules for doctoral study are to a great extent in line with the principles of innovative doctoral training.

20 Supporting and facilitating mobility of researchers Serbia has signed bilateral agreements for scientific cooperation with some WB and EU countries. Designed to finance short visits of researchers. In 2013 Serbian researchers were involved in 228 bilateral projects with 10 countries. In 2013 Serbia granted 29 scholarships for foreign postdoctoral students and granted support for 120 students and professors for inter universities collaboration.

21 Supporting and facilitating mobility of researchers In order to promote mobility of researchers, as well as EURAXESS network and portal, in the last five years BH organization, together with MESTD, are organizing Info days in the five major university cities: Belgrade, Kragujevac, Nis, Novi Sad and Novi Pazar. Further, presentation of incoming Marie Skłodowska- Curie call are regular part of these info days. Research community is also informed about Serbian EURAXESS network activities using Newsletters and social networks.

22 The issue of visas The Aliens Act, which is applicable from April 1st 2009, determines the conditions for entry, movement and stay of foreigners A foreigner may enter and reside in Serbia, with a valid passport containing a visa or residence permit, if law or international agreement does not provide otherwise. This law does not provide any special incentives for foreign researchers. They are treated in the same manner as any other person. The citizens of many countries do not need visas for staying in Serbia up to 90 days, but for longer stay visa is required.

23 Participating in SGHRM Serbia has nominated delegate in the ERA Steering Group on Human Resources and Mobility since It is professor Miroslav Trajanovic. He regularly attends meetings.

24 Next steps Taking into account increased incoming mobility, Serbia has to raise capacity of EURAXESS service centers MESTD should issue recommendation (or directive) which will force research institution to have HR policy in line with Charter and Code of Conduct on recruitment of scientists Mobility of researchers should be recognized as an advantage in the case of recruitment Remove remaining mobility obstacles

25 Thank you for your attention Q&A