Effects and Implications of the Accreditation Process at Postsecondary Vocational Schools in Serbia

The study explores and analyzes the outcomes of the very first accreditation initiative in Serbian higher education primarily based on the body of knowledge found in literature on policy implementation and organizational change. The chosen topic owes its high relevance to the fact that it deals with one of the crucial moments in Serbian higher education, largely triggered by the prevailing European tendency towards achieving comparable HE systems through the development of national and international quality assurance mechanisms. The scope of research is limited only to postsecondary vocational schools, which have been given the status of vocational HE institutions after the first cycle of accreditation. Main research problems are all centered around critical factors and variables that affect successful policy implementation, i.e. organizational culture, institutional leadership, clarity and consistency of standards, normative dimensions etc. Semistructured interviews were utilized as the primary source of information, but were supported by some relevant documents and reports related to the accreditation process. Illustration of statistical data is also included in the study, providing some extremely interesting findings in terms of quantifiable outcomes and opening some intriguing questions related to the evident disproportion in the number of accredited public and private institutions. One of the main aims of the study was to touch upon the possible implications for the building and development of quality culture in Serbian higher education, while drawing invaluable lessons for the upcoming accreditation of faculties and universities. Some valuable observations and possible conclusions refer mainly to the need for achieving a higher degree of transparency in the process and some further refinement of accreditation standards, paying thus due consideration to institutional differences in terms of size, age, field of study, mode of financing etc. The phase of policy formation should perhaps be understood more as a negotiating process between all the different stakeholders in Serbia higher education. Nevertheless, this pioneer accreditation initiative in Serbia can be seen as a much needed step toward integration into the wider European education area and a great leap forward in terms of national HE system development. Key words: accreditation, evaluation, higher education, postsecondary vocational schools, policy implementation, organizational chang