QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: FROM PROCLAIMED TO REAL DEVELOPMENTAL STATE

Higher education institutions are considered as the main bearers of socio-economic development of society in general. Having in mind that quality is considered as an important part of institution's responsibility as well as its' sustainability, it is necessary to provide a holistic approach that would cover all processes in the institution and offer students and other stakeholders the expected standards of professional and competent functioning in all aspects of life and work. On that basis, every higher education institution tend to design and implement scientific research and professional work in various fields, and to promote and nurture creative and critical thinking values, academic integrity and professional ethics. Dedicated to this mission, many of them attempt to establish themselves as reputable HEI's in the country and the region committed to the standards of the European educational space, endeavoring to develop science, academic community, local and regional social community. Vision of many faculties is oriented toward becoming recognizable in the international academic community by constantly striving to meet as higher as possible educational, scientific and academic community standards, but also, in accordance to their original principles and actions, to contribute to the development a culture of quality in the society. Therefore, the quality management of a higher education institution is a process that continuously and systematically follows-up over a long-time period whether the established system of quality assurance, monitoring and control is effective and adjusted to proclaimed European standards. Purpose of this presentation is to gain insight into to current developmental state of quality management in HEI's in relation to the proclaimed standards.