The international project management for the Reform of Higher Education in transition countries. Some experiences from the University of Bologna

The paper wants to discuss the last evolutionary steps in the approach of project management particularly as it concerns the networking of the organizational structures and the connected processes of performance evaluation. To this purpose it will describe the activities carried out in the management of some international projects under the TEMPUS programme by Bologna University with the main purpose of developing the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Transition Countries. As it regards the new features in the methodological approach argued by the Author, they refer to two main factors: the networking and the organizational structures and processes evaluation. The first considers the project as a network of entities involved in the Higher Education (HE) development and as a relevant tool for the sustainability of the experiences undertaken in the target universities. The modernization of HE is linked to the analysis of organizational structures and processes in implementing the reform in its elements by individuating the macro and micro structure in terms of tasks and responsibilities and designing the positions in the organizational chart of Universities. The research will focus on HEIs, mainly Universities, that are considered the key entities in the successful transition to a knowledge-based economy and society, driving the growth and competitiveness according to the Lisbon Strategy launched by the European Union in March 2000 with the main purpose of restructuring the economic and social systems. The paper, by analysing Bologna University projects, will show the organizational structures and the methodologies used in organizing the modernization of Universities in Transition Countries that are characterized by a need of implementing innovative structures and processes in the educational system. The topic is particularly relevant in a period in which the global crisis with the reduction of traditional resources available for projects is coupled with the general aim of innovation and investment on future generations. From these experiences two different approaches already noticed by theorists and practitioners emerged: the clustering and the networking mainly distinguished as it concerns the use of resources and the applying of network activities supported by WWW. Both methodologies imply a different Project management and a different design of structures and processes together with a distinguished feature in individuating resources needed for the applying of new structures and processes in the modernization of academic and administrative areas of higher education. The paper will present the results achieved about the methodological approach to transition countries by the University of Bologna based on the management of several projects in Albania, Bosnia H., Croatia, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Serbia and Slovenia and particularly on the topic of HEIs modernization. On this purpose the University of Bologna has improved and advanced European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) according to the Bologna Declaration and developed an advanced approach in the realization of this system as it concerns learning and administrative implications in all branches of didactical areas. The ECTS is also supported by an innovative ICT system integrated with an evaluation programme of academic and administrative staff, connected with resources and didactical results.