FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN OSIJEK (FFOS)

STRATEGIC PLAN 2016-2020

MISSION

We create new knowledge and experts in humanities and social sciences. In our work
we connect tradition and innovation, quality and responsibility, and develop
partnerships.

VISION

We will be recognized as a national and a leading regional centre that systematically

develops and enhances the reputation of the humanities and social sciences by
improving academic research and professional work, and by high quality
implementation of the curricula.

How?

IN ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORK

a) Active search for national and European sources of funding research and
professional work
b) Encouraging all forms of research and professional work by investing in human
resources and research infrastructure
c) Continuous improvement of the quality of research and professional work
d) Increasing the visibility, accessibility and application of the results of research and
professional work in the classroom and community
e) Involvement of students in research and professional work
f) Entering into strategic partnerships in research and professional work
g) Development of postgraduate study programmes

IN TEACHING
a) Development of recognizable study programmes tailored to the needs of society
b) Enhanced quality of teaching
c) Student tailored study programmes
d) Efficient and transparent organization

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 OBJECTIVES

I. ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORK

a) Active search for national and European sources of funding research and professional work

OBJECTIVE/TASK INDICATOR TARGET VALUE

1. Select priority national and European 1.1. Priority national and European competitions and By July 2016
competitions and research topics in the research topics have been selected
research fields represented at FFOS 1.2. Selected competitions and research topics have been Once a year
revised
2. Establish the Office of Research and 2.1. Office established By 2017
Project Administration 2.2. Number of experts employed in the Office 2 by 2018

3. Inform and continuously train
administrative and research staff in
submission of project proposals and
project administration
4. Increase FFOS activities in developing
and contracting projects
4.1. Increase the number of project proposals
submitted
4.2. Increase the number of contracted
projects
4.3. Increase the total value of contracted
projects
4.4. Hire external consultants for applications
for European research projects
3.1. Standardized procedure for project administration By 2017
has been established at the Faculty
3.2. Number of notifications of open calls sent to 5
Faculty research staff per year
3.3. Number of individual and group counselling with 5
research staff per year
3.4. Number of informative seminars and/or workshops 5
per year
4.1. Number of submitted project proposals per year 15
4.2. Percentage of the total number of submitted project 20%
proposals
4.3. Total contractual amount per year 10% increase in comparison to the
previous year
4.4. Percentage of projects with external consultants 10%
hired for the process of submission of project proposals

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I. ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORK
b) Encouraging all forms of research and professional work by investing into human resources and research infrastructure
OBJECTIVE/TASK
1. Provide funding for the research
activities of research staff
2. Reward research excellence
3. Support the career development of
young researchers
4. Support advancement to higher research
ranks
5. Provide the necessary research
infrastructure
5.1. Subscribe FFOS to selected databases
and reference sources
5.2. Purchase reference sources required for
research
5.3. Purchase research equipment
INDICATOR TARGET VALUE
1.1. Total amount earmarked in the Research Fund per 10% increase in comparison to the
year previous year
2.1. Number of awards per year 4 (in accordance with the
Ordinance)
3.1. Number of positive performance reports for junior All performance reports are
researchers, assistants and postdoctoral fellows positive
3.2. Number of academic advancements to a higher rank All young researchers who meet
the requirements have been
advanced to a higher rank
4.1. Number of advancements to a higher rank All researchers who meet the
requirements have been advanced
to a higher rank
5.1.1. Total number of subscriptions to the selected At least 5
databases and units of reference sources per year
5.1.2. Improve the access to databases using the VPN By 2017
5.2.1. Amount used for purchase of books and journals 220,000 HRK
per year
5.2.2. Number of purchased literature units per year 1,500
5.3. Annual amount used for purchase of equipment 300,000 HRK
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6. Encourage collaboration of researchers 6.1. Percentage of researchers involved in the 10% by the end of 2020
from different FFOS organisational units collaboration
in research work 6.2. Number of activities realized in collaboration (joint Not less than 10
papers, presentations, projects)

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I. ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORK
c) Continuous improvement of the quality of research and professional work
OBJECTIVE/TASK
1. Increase the value of quality indicators
for research work in all fields and areas
1.1. Research articles published in the
journals in the Web of Science database
1.2. Research articles published in the
journals in the Scopus database
1.3. Other works valued in the process of
election to research ranks
1.4. Scientific author’s books published by
publishing houses in Croatia
1.5. Scientific author’s books published by
publishing houses abroad
1.6. Scientific editor’s books
1.7. Professional books (dictionaries,
manuals, textbooks)
1.8. Citations in WoS and Scopus
2. Improve the quality of the journals
published by FFOS
INDICATOR TARGET VALUE
1.1. Number of articles per year 0.2 articles per full time researcher
1.2. Number of articles per year 0.5 articles per full time researcher
1.3. Number of works per year 0.8 works per full time researcher
1.4. Number of books per year 8
1.5. Number of books per year 2
1.6. Number of books per year 4
1.7. Number of books per year 4
1.8. Total number of citations at the end of the strategic 100% more in comparison to 2015
period
2.1. Journal indexing Increase in comparison to 2015
2.2. National categorisation of the journals Increase in comparison to 2015 or
maintaining the highest category
2.3. Use of contemporary automated systems for Increase in comparison to 2015
editorial protocols
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I. ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORK
d) Increasing the visibility, accessibility and application of the results of research and professional work in the classroom and community
OBJECTIVE/TASK
1. Link the FFOS PhD theses repository to
the DART Europe E-theses Portal
2. Establish an institutional repository of
research papers published by the academic
staff
3. Carry out activities aimed at the
popularization of sciences
4. Develop publishing and promotional
activities
5. Organise scientific and professional
conferences
6. Publish news about FFOS research work
in the media
7. Actively participate in the work of
scientific and professional conferences
INDICATOR TARGET VALUE
1.1. The PhD theses repository has been linked to the By 2017
DART Europe E-theses Portal
2.1. The repository of research and professional papers By 2017
published by academic staff has been established
2.2. Number of papers stored in the repository 3 per Department by 2017
3.1. Number of activities per year 70
4.1. Number of published textbooks, scientific Increase in comparison to 2015
monographs and periodicals per year
4.2. Amount collected for the publishing of publications Increase in comparison to 2015
from other sources than the Faculty
4.3. Number of promotional activities for FFOS Increase in comparison to 2015
publications per year
5.1. Number of conferences At least 5
5.2. Amount collected for the organisation of Increase in comparison to 2015
conferences from other sources than the Faculty
6.1. Number of press clippings per year 20
7.1. Average number of active participation in At least 1
conferences per researcher, per year
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I. ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORK

e) Involvement of students in research and professional work

OBJECTIVE/TASK INDICATOR TARGET VALUE

1. Increase the number of students involved in 1.1. Number of students per year Increase in comparison to
research and professional projects 2015

2. Increase the number of students' research 2.1. Number of autonomous papers and papers in co- Increase in comparison to
and professional papers, either autonomous authorship with a teacher per year 2015
or in co-authorship with a teacher

3. Increase the number of active 3.1. Number of students with active participation per year At least 30
participations by students in scientific and
professional gatherings and conferences

4. Increase the number of student conferences 4.1. Number of conferences per year At least 2
organised by FFOS

5. Encourage the publication of student 5.1. Number of publications per year At least 4
journals and collections of papers

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I. ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORK

f) Entering into strategic partnerships in research and professional work

OBJECTIVE/TASK INDICATOR TARGET VALUE

1. Entering into strategic partnerships in
research and professional work
1.1. Sign agreements on cooperation and 1.1. Number of active contracts/agreements per year 5
exchange of students, researchers,
teachers and experts with related
institutions and external stakeholders
1.2. Enter into interdisciplinary partnerships 1.2. Number of active contracts/agreements per year At least 1
with external stakeholders

2. Join external projects 2.1. Number of external projects with FFOS researchers 10
involved

3. Involve external stakeholders in FFOS 3.1. Number of projects with external stakeholders 2
projects involved

4. Increase research, teaching and 4.1. Number of participants in outgoing mobility 10

professional mobility of FFOS staff programmes per year
4.2. Number of participants in incoming mobility 15
programmes per year

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1. ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORK

g) Development of postgraduate study programmes

OBJECTIVE/TASK INDICATOR TARGET VALUE

1. Encourage the best Master level students 1.1. Number of incentives (co-financing) of Master level 10% of the total number of
to enrol into postgraduate study graduates enrolled into postgraduate studies at FFOS enrolled student in postgraduate
programmes at FFOS studies

2. Improve the mentor – PhD student ratio 2.1. The mentor – PhD student ratio Maximum 1:3

3. Increase the number of papers published 3.1. Number of papers in co-authorship with a mentor 1 per PhD student during studies
in mentor - PhD student student co-
authorship

4. Increase the number of defended PhD 4.1. Nuber of defended PhD theses per year 10
theses

5. Discuss the possibility of launching 5.1. Discussion conducted By 2017

interdisciplinary postgraduate study
programmes in the field of humanities and
social sciences

6. Discuss the attractiveness of the existing 6.1. Discussion conducted By 2017

postgraduate study programmes (with
regard to the programme and the price)

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 OBJECTIVES

II. TEACHING

A) Development of recognizable academic programmes tailored to the needs of society

OBJECTIVE/TASK INDICATOR TARGET VALUE

1. Development of recognizable academic
programmes
1. 1. Launch new exclusive full time or part 1.1. Number of new study programmes launched 3 by the end of 2020
time study programmes
1.2. Further develop existing study 1.2. Number of existing study programmes amended All programmes by the end of 2020
programmes
1.3. Develop lifelong learning programmes 1.3. Number of lifelong learning programmes launched 5 by the end of 2020

2. Monitor the interest in the study 2.1. Annual analysis of applications per study 1
programmes programme
3. Actively promote study programmes to 3.1. Number of conducted promotional activities at the At least 2
prospective students Faculty level per year

4. Monitor the labour market demand 4.1. Analyse the labour market demand by fields of 1
study annually

5. Align learning outcomes and acquired 5.1. Active monitoring and co-creation of the needs of Number of FFOS teachers in
competencies with the needs of society society relevant bodies

5.2. Constructive alignment of learning outcomes with All learning outcomes in all study
the needs of society programmes by the end of 2020

6. Increase the quality of student 6.1. Review of study programmes (practical and All study programmes
professional and practical work professional work of students)
6.2. Number of new partnerships with professional and 10 new partnership contracts by the

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expert organizations end of 2020
6.3. FFOS Ordinance on students’ practical work By 2017
adopted
6.4. Web application for tracking students’ practical By 2017
work has become operational
6.5. Number of equipped specialised classrooms 2 by 2017
(practicums)

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II. TEACHING
b) Improve the quality of teaching
OBJECTIVE/TASK
1. Raise the elective nature of study
programmes for the purpose of increasing
internal mobility
2. Provide support and training
opportunities to teachers
3. Monitor, assure and enhance the quality
of teaching
4. Organize guest lectures by researchers
INDICATOR TARGET VALUE
1.1. The total number of elective courses actively Increase by 10% by the end of
offered at Faculty level 2020
1.2. Number of study programmes in which at least 3 All study programmes
ECTS credits have been accrued within the framework
of internal mobility
2.1. Establish an expert group for teacher support (peer By June 2016
observation)
2.2. Teachers involved in peer observation Based on the results of student
surveys
2.3. Number of participants in the FFOS professional Twice as many as in 2015
training programme
3.1. Classrooms equipped for e-learning (specialised e- 2 by the end of 2020
classrooms for multimedia distance learning)
3.2. Develop and apply quality assessment and By 2017
assurance standards in teaching practice
3.3. Expert group for monitoring teaching quality By 2017
indicators has been established
3.4. Application for encouraging the quality of teaching By 2017
has been developed
3.5. The academic timetable software has been applied By 2017
3.6. E-records for teaching have been introduced By the end of 2020
3.7. The average student assessment of the quality of At least 4.0
teaching at FFOS per year
4.1. Number of organised guest lectures per year At least 20
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and experts 4.2. Number of outgoing FFOS guest lectures per year At least 20
4.3. Percentage of videoconferencing guest lectures held 25% of the total number organised
per year by 2018

5. Apply modern technologies in distance
education
5.1. Percentage of the total number of courses per 10% by the end of 2020
programme in which distance education has been
applied
5.2. Percentage of the total number of teachers and 50% by the end of 2020
associates trained in e-education
5.3. An operational model for distance examination has By 2018
been introduced
5.4. Number of launched individual e-programmes At least 1 by the end of 2020

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II. TEACHING

c) Student tailored study programmes

OBJECTIVE/TASK INDICATOR TARGET VALUE

1. Analyse and align the teaching process 1.1. Systematic analysis of all study programmes By 2018
and programme with the actual workload conducted
of students 1.3. Align the actual workload of students with ECTS By the end of 2020
credits

2. Involve final year students in graduate 2.1. Number of final year students in graduate studies Not less than 1 per study
studies and the alumni in amendments to and the alumni involved in drafting amendments to the programme
the study programmes study programmes

3. Standardize the monitoring and analysis 3.1. Standardised procedure for monitoring and analysis By 2017
of student success of student success has been established

4. Maintain a favourable teacher-student 4.1. Teacher-student ratio in undergraduate and graduate 1:15
ratio studies

5. Maintain the quality of the mentorship 5.1. Number of students with a mentor assigned All FFOS students
system 5.2. Number of mentoring sessions held 1 session per semester per study
programme
5.3. Number of individual mentoring sessions held As required
6. Increase the incoming and outgoing 6.1. Number of students in outgoing mobility 20
mobility of students programmes per year
6.2. Number of students in incoming mobility 10
programmes per year

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II. TEACHING

d) Efficient and transparent organization

OBJECTIVE/TASK INDICATOR TARGET VALUE

1. Balance the powers and responsibilities
for the purpose of increasing the efficiency
of internal organisation
2. Systematic training of management staff
1.1. New Ordinance on the classification of posts has By October 2016
been drafted
1.2. New Ordinance on internal information By October 2016
dissemination system has been drafted
2.1. Number of trainings in management involving 1
management staff per year

3. Foster collaboration and team work 3.1. Number of team-building activities organised per 1
towards common objectives year

4. Foster and award the work of teaching 4.1. Revised Ordinance on rewarding teaching and non- By 2018
and non-teaching staff teaching staff
4.2. Number of incentives/awards for teaching and non- In accordance with the Ordinance
teaching staff per year

5. Introduce a system of individual
performance monitoring for non-teaching
staff
5.1. The system of individual performance monitoring By the end of 2017
for non-teaching staff has been discussed and
conciliated
5.2. The system of individual performance monitoring By the end of 2020
for non-teaching staff has been introduced

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