Author Archives: pro_adm19

Tempus FINHED


Project


530550-2012; 2012-2015

Leader


prof. dr Nevenka Žarkić-Joksimović

Abstract


The project Towards Sustainable & Equitable Financing of Higher Education Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia - FINHED aims to contribute to ensuring a more efficient, effective and equitable financing of higher education in the Western Balkans through (a) gathering and analysing fundamental and essential evidence on system-level and institutional financing and equity in higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia; (b) introduction and implementation of the EUROSTUDENT survey in the three countries of the Western Balkans; (c) strengthening local expertise in developing policies on financing and equity in higher education; (d) development of a policy framework for an efficient, effective and equitable higher education systems in the three countries; (e) development of university financing models based on sensible diversification of income streams and strengthen universities' capacities to implement these models; and (d) the establishment of Regional Resource Point with the purpose to sustain results and disseminate them across the region.
Conceptualised in the manner above, the project would be the first to simultaneously strengthen local capacity for adequately addressing the core issues of higher education financing and equity in three countries of the Western Balkans. Moreover, by introducing and implementing one of the most relevant indicators of social dimension across Europe recognised by the Bologna Process - the EUROSTUDENT survey, the project would enable gathering unique evidence on the social dimension of higher education in these countries and at the same time enable their comparison with the rest of Europe. This synced with an enhanced financing model sensitive to the issues of equity and transparency, on one hand, and the universities embracing a more entrepreneurial and dynamic approach to their funding policies, would undoubtedly contribute to more developed, fair, efficient and consequently effective higher education systems - the sine qua non of the knowledge-based economy.

Aims and Objectives


Specific objectives



  • Gather and analyse evidence on system-level and institutional financing arrangements and equity in higher education in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro;

  • Introduce and implement the EUROSTUDENT survey in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro;

  • Strengthen local expertise in developing policies on financing and equity in higher education;

  • Develop policy framework for securing more efficient, effective and equitable higher education systems in the three countries;

  • Develop university financing strategies for sensible diversification of income streams and train university leaders to implement these models;

  • Establish Regional Resource Point with the purpose to sustain results and disseminate them across the region.


Activities


Project activities have been grouped in the following work packages:

  1. Evidence as base for policy making

  2. Knowledge exchange and capacity building

  3. Equity & Financing Expert Network (EFEN)

  4. Financing & equity policy framework

  5. Institutional funding strategy

  6. Quality control and monitoring

  7. Dissemination

  8. Exploiting HE Regional Resource Point

  9. Project management


Participants from Singidunum University:


Mihajlo Babin (MSc), prof. dr Milovan Stanišić, prof. dr Verka Jovanović, Miloš Erić, (MSc), Tanja Kuzman (MSc), Ana Vjetrov (MSc).

Tempus CAREERS















































































































Tempus - CAREERS - SM 517119-2011
Title Development of Career Guidance Aimed at Improving Higher Education in Serbia
Website www.careers.ac.rs
Application Year 2011
Summary


Number of European documents /Memorandum of lifelong learning, Resolution on better integration lifelong guidance into lifelong learning, ET2020…/ considers career guidance as key strategic component for implementing lifelong learning and employment strategies at national and regional levels. Career guidance contributes to higher efficiency in Higher Education (HE), higher level and better quality of human resource, addresses shortage of skills, decreases drop out, but also contributes to achieving significant objectives in field of employment.



Project CareerS is focused on development of career guidance in higher education as an integral part of development of system of career guidance in Serbia. Specific objectives of project are: Development of Program of Career Information, Guidance and Education aiming to increase youth employability, Enabling wider accessibility and variety of programs in Career guidance at Higher Education Institutions, Raising the level of recognizing importance of Career Guidance by the policy makers and other stake holders and Development of Career Guidance Programme for Youth and Methodology for CGC centres at Serbian HE institution.



Through this project, we will try to contribute to the implementation of certain measures and activities of the National Strategy of career guidance and counselling which are primarily related to students. The document itself represents an important strategic framework and a platform for institutionalization, sustainability and further development and promotion of CGC in Serbia. Readiness of the State to be more actively involved in dealing with career guidance system and the establishment of centres of the state universities that work since 2006. represent a suitable basis to integrate “bottom-up" and “top-down” processes in order to strengthen links between policy and practice in the area of career guidance.



Direct benefit of the project will have students, universities, academic staff, employers and policy makers. 



Address  for the website for this project is www.careers.ac.rs
Scope National
Type Structural Measures - Governance Reform
Duration 3
Tempus grant 763,903.00
Objectives


  • Development of Services for Career Information, Guidance and Education aiming to increase youth employability


  • Enabling wider accessibility and variety of programs in Career guidance at Higher Education Institutions (HEI)


  • Raising the level of recognising importance of Career Guidance by the policy makers and other stake holders


  • Development of Career Guidance and Counselling (CGC) Programme for Young People between the Ages of 19 and 30 (students) and Мethodology for CGC Centres of HEI
Activities planned:




1.1. Establishing principles for labour market analyses

1.2. EU Training on system of career related information (Padua)

1.3. Conduct the survey on employers

1.4. Analyzing labour market as the bases for career decisions

1.5. Production of data base and interactive web site

1.6. Organisation of 5 round tables to present the results



2.1. Survey on employers to assess their needs for information

2.2. EU Seminar on employers surveys (Padua)

2.3. Results of the survey to tailor the questionnaires

2.4. Organising education market analyses

2.5. Creation of information material for employers

2.6. Distribution of information materials to employers



3.1. Creating the plan for cooperation

3.2. Creating team of associates

3.3. Design and production of CareerS-kit

3.4. Organising info sessions with representatives of academic staff and students

3.5. Creating careers info points at the faculties

3.6. Organising promotion for student population



4.1. Analysing examples of best EU practices

4.2. Round table with presentations of best EU practices

4.3. Preparing a package of services for employers

4.4. Piloting programs in cooperation with employers

4.5. Organising workshop for exchange of experiences



5.1. Snapshot of the current state and perspectives

5.2. Organisation of workshop to present the snapshot

5.3. Design of the training for the career services staff

5.4. Organisation of trainings in EU

5.5. Monitoring by the EU partner

5.6. Purchasing equipment and literature

5.7. Development of E-services of career centres



6.1. Forming the team of experts working on this WP

6.2. Analyses of existing programs for CGC and the Methodology

6.3. First Draft of Program and First Draft of Methodology

6.4. Public Discussion on both Documents

6.5. Development of the Final Version of both Documents

6.6. Presentation of both documents



7.1. Project Quality Plan creation and proposal to Project partners

7.2. Agreement upon the control of the quality, completion etc.

7.3. Internal Quality Review Committee appointment

7.4. Development of the internal and external evaluation templates

7.5. Development of the SOW and reviewer for the Q. assurance

7.6. Orientation and training of the external reviewer

7.7. Development of the quality assessment format together with the external reviewer



8.1. Creating the National university network of CC

8.2. Creating the Forum for CGC

8.3. Creating Strategic plan for development of CS

8.4. Initiating adoption of the National program for CGC (6.5)

8.5. Initiating recognizing trainings for active career management

8.6. Establishing Mentoring Network of EU partners



9.1. Creating project leaflet and branded material

9.2. Creating web-site of the project

9.3. Organizing Dissemination conferences and events

9.4. Creating mailing lists to distribute information



10.1. Kick-off meeting and establishing management structure

10.2. Regular Steering Committee meetings

10.3. Regular Consortium meetings

10.4. National Project Team meetings

10.5. University Teams meetings

10.6. Daily project coordination and administration

10.7. Financial Audit
Participant





University of Nis
Serbia (RS)

  • Dragoslav Djokic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 084




  • Borivoje Baltazarevic | Email


  • Jelena Civljak | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 093


  • Dragan Jankovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 085


University of Kragujevac
Serbia (RS)

  • Olivera Mijatovic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 34 304 985
    Rectorate




  • Predrag Vukomanovic | Centre for career development and student counselling
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 34 370 270


  • Biljana Guzvic | Rectorate
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 34 370 270


  • Milka Stojanovic | Rectorate
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 34 370 270


  • Radoslav Eric | Rectorate
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 34 370 270


  • Zorica Avramovic | Rectorate
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 34 370 270


University of Padova
Italy (IT)




Swansea University
United Kingdom (UK)




University of Silesia in Katowice
Poland (PL)




Student Conference of Serbian Universities
Serbia (RS)




The Ministry of Education and Science
Serbia (RS)




The Ministry of Youth and Sport
Serbia (RS)




Beogradska otvorena skola
Serbia (RS)




Infostud 3 d.o.o
Serbia (RS)




University "Singidunum"
Serbia (RS)

  • Iskra Maksimovic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3066 670




  • Nadja Vojnovic | FEFA
    | Email


  • Marina Savkovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3094 060


  • Sladjana Rakin | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3094 060


  • Jelena Vukašinović | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 253


Public Enterprise for electric energy transmission
Serbia (RS)




University of Belgrade
Serbia (RS)

  • Dejana Lazic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3207 463
    Centre for career development and student counseling




  • Marija Jovanovic | Centre for career development and student counseling
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3207 468


  • Jelena Kurjak | Centre for career development and student counseling
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3207 463


  • Matarina Manojlovic-Nikolic | Centre for career development and student counseling
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3207 419


  • Ana Jankovic-Barovic | Centre for career development and student counseling
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3207 419


  • Milena Dimitrijevic | Centre for career development and student counseling
    | Email
    | Phone: + 381 3207 419


  • Katarina Manojlovic-Nikolic | Centre for career development and student counseling
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3207 419


  • Ana Jankovic-Barovic | Centre for career development and student counseling
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3207 419


University of Novi Sad
Serbia (RS)

  • Borislav Obradovic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 450 188
    Faculty of Sport and Physical Education




  • Sonja Sovljanski | Centre for career development and student counseling
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 21 485 2041


Tempus CONGRAD


Project:


JP 517153-2011; 2011-2014

Summary


The CONGRAD project’s wider objective is to enable higher education institutions (HEIs) in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina to continuously conduct graduate surveys for the purpose of enhancing study offerings and facilitating permanent modernisation processes.
CONGRAD is expected to contribute to the improvement of institutional self-evaluation processes by collecting systematic and reliable information on the links between study offerings and subsequent employment of graduates, as well as enable the evidence-based evaluation of higher education reforms and curricular changes in the last decade. Taking into account previous study conditions and the occupational career of graduates, CONGRAD aims for a general insight in country specific conditions of the transition from higher education to labour market, and shall enable partner country HEIs to make evidence-based strategic decisions.

Aims and Objectives


In more specific terms, CONGRAD is expected to result in the implementation of a systematic data collection system about alumni at partner countries’ HEIs.
An initial graduate survey will be conducted: data collection, verification and analysis will be followed by the interpretation of findings and the production of reports. Strategic management workshops based on the reports will be held in each partner countries’ HEI. Additionally, a regional conference and an expert workshop will be organised.
CONGRAD results will be exploited through the development of an action plan for future graduate surveys including other HEIs in the Western Balkans. Dissemination will be ensured by the project website, career guidance services and events for new alumni, as well as open media events organised at partner countries’ HEIs. A regional conference, a project closing seminar and a major publication on the results of the initial graduate survey will also provide for the dissemination of results. The CONGRAD project will be subject to systematic quality control and monitoring.

Participants from Singidunum University:


Mihajlo Babin (MSc), prof. dr Milovan Stanišić, prof. dr Verka Jovanović, prof. dr Marija Kostić, doc dr Marko Šarac, Miloš Erić (MSc), Ana Vjetrov (MSc), Stefan Perišić (MSc), Miona Bašić, Vera Durbaba.

Tempus SIGMUS


























































































































Tempus SIGMUS - SM 511332-2010
Title Strengthening Student Role in Governance and Management at the Universities of Serbia in line with the Bologna Process (SIGMUS)
Website http://www.sigmustempus.edu.rs
Application Year 2010
Summary The Project SIGMUS is designed to strengthen the role of students in governance and management at the Universities of Serbia in line with the Bologna process. The models of student services in the EU partner countries will be in-depth examined through training periods at EU university partners and at EU student associations, with the aim to implant their knowledge and experience in Serbia. Furthermore, strengthening of student representative bodies will be made through detailed planning of capacity building of the student representative bodies and developing on-line visibility of student parliaments through creating web portals. Moreover, training programs for trainers will be held at EU partner universities. In order to improve current involvement of students in the implementation of Bologna process, seminars on student participation in the implementation of Bologna process will be held at all universities in Serbia with participation of EU partner institutions. Establishment and development of student services at Serbian Universities is another important task of the project. It will be realized through creating a database of all student organizations in Serbia, implementing student e-services, creating alumni organizations for each university in Serbia and establishing the Student Mentors Pool. The project consortium will devote full attention to the mechanisms of evaluation and quality control and monitoring of the project activities and outcomes, in the form of internal and external evaluations. The project results will be nation-wide disseminated, but will be also available to the higher education institutions in the area. Having in mind that the project is of high national priority, it has full support from all Serbian Universities, as well as from the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Higher Education; this is the best guarantee for sustainabiltiy of the project beyond its duration.
Scope National
Type Structural Measures - Governance Reform
Duration 3
Tempus grant 750,767.42
Objectives To improve legal framework for students participation in governance and management at the universities in Serbia and in the HE regulatory bodiesTo strengthen and enhance capacities of student representative bodies in HE issues related to implementation of Bologna action linesTo establish and develop organized and efficient student services at the Serbian UnversitiesTo promote the reform and modernisation of higher education in the partner countriesTo enhance the quality and relevance of higher education in the partner countries

To build up the capacity of higher education institutions in the partner countries and the EU, in particular for international cooperation and for a permanent modernisation process, and to assist them in opening themselves up to society at large

To enhance networking among higher education institutions and research institutes both in the partner and EU countries

To enhance networking among higher education institutions and research institutes both in the partner and EU countries

To enhance mutual understanding between peoples and cultures of the EU and of the partner countries University management and services for students
Subject area: 900 University Management
Activities planned: 1.1. Comparative analysis of the current legal framework and regulations and best practice in the field of student participation in the university governance and management, and Higher Education reform in the EU partner countries and in Serbia1.2. In depth assessment of models of students’ services in the EU partner countries1.3. Finding best solutions on student participation in university governance and management and models of students’ services, and designing action plans on their implementation in Serbia2.1. Creating a team of representatives from student bodies, Ministry of Education, National Council of Higher Education, for proposing a new legislative and improvement of current regulations2.2. Creation a proposal for a new legislation on student participation in university governance and management

2.3. Organization of panel discussions on new proposal of Law on Student Organizing and new bylaws

2.4. Adoption of proposal of the Law on Student Organizing by Ministry of Education

3.1. Detailed planning of capacity building of the student representative bodies (SCONUS, Student parliaments)

3.2. Developing on-line visibility of student parliaments through creating web portals

3.3. Training for trainers in issues related to Bologna action lines at EU partner universities

3.4. Training of student representatives at all universities in Serbia

4.1. Designing of methodologies and indicators for monitoring and evaluation process of implementation of Bologna process at Serbian universities with participation of EU partners

4.2. Development of internet based platform for communication, analysis results sharing, coordination and synergy of student representatives and all national partner institutions (SKONUS platform)

4.3. In-depth analysis of student workload and ECTS implementation, involvement of curriculum designing, learning outcomes, etc. by students’ parliaments of universities through internet based platform

4.4. Creating of on-line report on student participation in Bologna process at Serbian universities in comparison with partner institutions and EU standards

4.5. Preparing, printing and distribution of publications related to Bologna process and student involvement to students in Serbia

4.6. Organization of seminars on student participation in the implementation of Bologna Process at all universities in Serbia with participation of EU partner institutions

5.1. Creating a database of all student organisation in Serbia

5.2. Creation and implementing student e-services

5.3. Creating Alumni organization for each university in Serbia

5.4. Creating a team of student mentors from all Serbian Universities, establishment of Student Mentors Pool (SMP)

5.5. Preparing, printing and distribution of guidelines related to SMPs` rights and responsibilities

5.6. Training of local student mentors at all Serbian Universities

1.1. Assessment of the results by the Project Committee for Quality Control and Monitoring

1.2. Evaluation of the project results by students of the partner Universities

1.3. Assessment of the project results by external experts

1.1. Regular meetings of student regulatory bodies and University authorities

1.2. Regular meetings of student regulatory bodies and HE institutions

1.3. Universitynetworking

1.1. Creation of the project web portal and web site

1.2. Ensuring availability of the project results

1.3. Dissemination conference with stakeholders

1.1. Functioning of the Project Management Board

1.2. Regular coordination meetings
Participant University of Belgrade
Serbia (RS)
Coordinating institution

  • Ruzica Maksimovic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3615 554



  • Milovan Kalezic | Faculty of Medicine
    | Email

  • Danilo Jeremic | Faculty of Medicine
    | Email

  • Marko Pavlovic | Faculty of Geography
    | Email

  • David Bakic | Faculty of Biological Engineering
    | Email

  • Marko Loncar | Faculty of Physical
    | Email

  • Aleksandra Tesic | Faculty of Philology
    | Email

  • Djordje Petric | Faculty of Chemistry
    | Email

  • Ivan Sasic | Faculty of Economics
    | Email

  • Milos Zeljkovic | Faculty of Economics
    | Email

  • Balsa Djukovic | Faculty of Organizational Sciences
    | Email

  • Sinisa Lesevic | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
    | Email

  • Davorin Scepovic | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
    | Email

  • Ivan Ivankovic | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
    | Email

  • Nenad Lazarevic | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
    | Email

  • Petar Karlicic | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
    | Email

  • Srdjan Okanovic | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
    | Email

  • Aleksandar Tolic | Faculty of Electrical Engineering
    | Email

  • Milan Popovic | Faculty of Physical Chemistry
    | Email

  • Petar Debelnogic | Faculty of Geography
    | Email

  • Krsto Stanisic | Orthodox Theology Faculty
    | Email
University of Novi Sad
Serbia (RS)

  • Dragan Seslija
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 21 4852 020
    Faculty of Technical Science



  • Aleksandar Sofic | Faculty of Technical Science
    | Email

  • Srdjan Jovanovic | Faculty of Law
    | Email

  • Andreja Dinic | Faculty of Economics, Subotica
    | Email

  • Danilo Ceman | Faculty of Natural Science
    | Email

  • Goran Radic | Faculty of Technical Science
    | Email

  • Goran Andjelic | Faculty of Technical Science
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 21 4852 190

  • Zorana Luzanin | Faculty of Natural Science
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 21 4852 865

  • Leposava Grubic-Nesic | Faculty of Technical Science
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 21 4852 181

  • Valentina Sokolovska | Faculty of Philosophy
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 21 4853 905

  • Ivana Ignjatovic | Faculty of Technical Science
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 21 4852 127
University of Nis
Serbia (RS)

  • Vera Markovic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 529 402
    Faculty of Electronic Engineering



  • Miroljub Grozdanovic | Rectorate
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 970

  • Vesna Lopicic | Rectorate
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 970

  • Slobodan Antic | Rectorate
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 970

  • Divna Puletic | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 970

  • Natasa Miljkovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 970

  • Zlatana Pavlovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 093

  • Marija Milenkovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 970

  • Biljana Stevanovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 18 257 528

  • Nenad Jovanovic | Faculty of Electronic Engineering
    | Email

  • Milos Nesic | Faculty of Economics
    | Email

  • Bratislav Vukajlovic | Faculty of Electronic Engineering
    | Email

  • Aleksandar Vukajlovic | Faculty of Electronic Engineering
    | Email

  • Marija Zivkovic | Faculty of Electronic Engineering
    | Email

  • Danijel Zivanovic | Faculty of Electronic Engineering
    | Email

  • Milan Licanin | Faculty of Electronic Engineering
    | Email

  • Nikola Cvetkovic | Faculty of Electronic Engineering
    | Email

  • Snezana Djuric | Faculty of Philosophy
    | Email
State University of Novi Pazar
Serbia (RS)

  • Cemal Dolicanin
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 20 317 752



  • Zarko Babic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 2512 595

  • Fikro Halilovic | Email

  • Senad Ganic | Department of Law sciences
    | Email

  • Irfan Hodzic | Head of QA Office
    | Email

  • Fikret Hailovic | Carieer development
    | Email
The Assoc. of Directors of Serbian Schools of Applied Studies
Serbia (RS)

  • Ivan Milosevic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 361 6383
University "Singidunum"
Serbia (RS)

  • Stefan Perišić
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 358



  • Verka Jovanovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 222

  • Lazar Drazeta | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 045

  • Marina Zivic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3094 060

  • Slavko Alcakovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 258

  • Predrag Obradovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 247

  • Marko Sarac | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 290

  • Ivana Brdar | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 247

  • Aleksandar Mihajlovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 263

  • Milos Markovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3093 263

  • Miroslav Knezevic | Email

  • Filip Zivkovic | Email

  • Marija Petrovic | Email

  • Aleksandra Stojanovic | Email
Student Union of Serbia
Serbia (RS)

  • Natasa Sajlovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3067 741
Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia
Serbia (RS)

  • Radivoje Mitrovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 36 16 383
National Council for Higher Education
Serbia (RS)

  • Srdjan Stankovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 3370150
University "Megatrend"
Serbia (RS)

  • Milena Joksimovic-Pajevic
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 2092 121



  • Vesna Aleksic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 2092 121

  • Dragana Gnjatovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 2203 000

  • Ana Jovancai-Stamenkovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 2092 122

  • Ljiljana Stanojevic | Email
    | Phone: +381 11 2092 121

  • Slavica Micic | Email

  • Vladimir Djordjevic | Email

  • Marko Grujoski | Email

  • Ivana Simovic | Email

  • Danica Puric | Email

  • Marija Teodorovic | Email
    | Phone: +381 13 344 942
University of Kragujevac
Serbia (RS)

  • Radojka Krneta
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 32 302 762
    Technical Faculty, Cacak



  • Stefan Aleksic | Faculty of Philology and Arts
    | Email

  • Dusan Aleksic | Faculty of Economics
    | Email

  • Dijana Jagodic | Technical Faculty, Cacak
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 32 302 721

  • Djordje Damnjanovic | Technical Faculty, Cacak
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 32 302 721

  • Zeljko Jovanovic | Technical Faculty, Cacak
    | Email
    | Phone: +381 32 302 721
Students\' Alliance of Belgrade
Serbia (RS)

  • Kristina Davidovic | Email
Technical University of Crete
Greece (EL)
University of Maribor
Slovenia (SI)
University of Udine
Italy (IT)
Middlesex University
United Kingdom (UK)
Student Union BOKU
Austria (AT)

Research of opportunities to improve welding technology for micro-alloyed steels


Project


TR 35024; 2011-2014

Leader


Radica Prokić-Cvetković

Abstract


The subject of this project is improvement of the welding technology for micro-alloyed steels, in order to increase productivity and improve the quality of welded joints. It will be evaluated the following welding processes: a) SMAW, b) GMAW-MIG/MAG, c) FCAW-G with mixture of external shielding medium (Ar, CO2  and O2) and d) FCAW-S. In the mixtures of shielding gases the content of Ar, CO2 and O2 would be different, because the preliminary investigations executed in Fac. of Mech. Eng. in Belgrade showed that the appropriate choice of the shielding gas mixture composition can significantly affect the quality of the weld metal, and therefore the welded joint as a whole. Therefore, it is planned that the Project precisely defines the mix of shielding gases and to compare the obtained quality of welded joints with the quality of joints made by SMAW process. It was planned to made joints by FCAW-S process that is currently increasingly used worldwide in this area. It is also planned to investigate the influence of applied welding technologies on the properties of welded joints by different experimental methods: mechanical testing, metallographic examination and fractographic examination.

Keywords


micro-alloyed steels, gmaw-mig/mag, fcaw-s, microstructure, fractography, toughness

Project description


Micro-alloyed steels are vastly used in the process industry, for making pipes and cylindrical and spherical storage tanks for gas and oil. Hence, it was very important to provide high quality welded joint of structural elements made of micro-alloyed steel. Improving of the welding technology for micro-alloyed steels, is in the accordance, and practically follow the development of welding procedures. Preliminary research indicates that the properties of weld metal are affected by many factors like the type of shielding atmosphere, used additional material, heat input. The influence of the shielding medium composition on the properties of weld metal will be accompanied by oxygen equivalent Oeq, which is calculated by empirical expressions available in the literature. Special attention will be devoted to study the impact of shielding gas on weld metal toughness and the formation of different morphology of ferrite in microstructure, which directly affect the properties of welded joints. Besides microstructural investigation and impact toughness testing also hardness measurement, tensile testing and fractographic investigation will be carried out. After detailed analysis of results of above-mentioned experimental research and testing Project will provide experimental welding of micro-alloyed steel by self-shielded flux cored arc wire process (FCAW-S), which was increasingly used in the world. In this Project it was also planed to determine the effect of welding parameters. Because of this, within this part of the project, in addition to the standard mechanical tests, special attention will be paid to detailed microstructural investigation of joints made with self-shielded flux cored wire.

Expected key results


Great efforts are directed worldwide in order to achieve high quality micro-alloyed steel welds . However, by selecting the optimal parameters of welding, and above all, by selecting the appropriate mix of shielding gas it is possible to get the optimum weld metal microstructure, which is one of the objectives of this Project. It is also important to determine the relationship between the parameters of welding with self-shielded flux cored wire and weld metal quality. Verification of the results of this Project will take place even during its preparation. It will be also possible, by comparing the results of numerous destructive tests, to determine which combination of welding processes and parameters provides the best weld quality. Also,  it will be possible to find the optimum combination of diametrically opposite indicators: lower production costs and good quality of products.

Participants from Singidunum University:


prof. dr Dragan Cvetković

Digital signal processing in synthesis of information security systems


Project:


TR 32054; 2011-2014

Leader


prof. dr Milan Milosavljević

Abstract


This project is devoted to development of systems for digital signal processing which satisfy the requirements arising from new trends in information security in modern computer and communications systems. Special care will be given to the development and implementation of four classes of security systems: system for extraction of cryptographic keys from biometric signals of the iris, speech, finger prints and images of faces (KEB - Key Extraction from Biometrics), system for extraction of cryptographic keys on the basis of mutual randomness originated from the physical layer of wired and wireless communication networks (KECR - Key Extraction from Common Randomness), systems for the control of the distribution of digital content and hidden transmission of information (DDCH - Digital Distribution Control and Hiding) and system for intrusion detection in computer networks based on biologically inspired algorithms for detection of anomalies in behaviour (BIIDS - Biologically Inspired Intrusion Detection Systems). Common methodological framework for development of these systems are application of advanced signal processing methods, cryptology, steganography and biometrics, leading to a significant increase in quality and reliability of basic security services, such as secrecy, non - repudiation, authentication and integrity.

Project description


It is believed that the entire field of information security will witness a radical jump in quality in the upcoming period and will shift the basic paradigm of computer security towards a paradigm of theoretical informational security. This shift could allow a synthesis of whole classes of security mechanisms, whose security would no longer depend on the computing power of the attacker. It is interesting to note that the precondition for this endeavour lies in the development of new methods of digital processing of signals on the physical layer of modern IT communication networks that extract sufficient numbers of random bits which are suitable for application in new protocols for establishing and exchanging cryptographic keys of maximal length and randomness. In the domain of reliable and practically acceptable authentication, biometry is becoming a significant source of cryptographic parameters. Digital processing of raw biometrical signals is of decisive significance in both establishing and extracting authentication codes of maximal entropy. In the domain of managing intellectual property of digital content, digital signal processing and watermarking, both visible and hidden, also presents an unavoidable building block. All of this indicates a new place for this discipline in the framework of general theory and practice for the synthesis of information security systems. Classes of subsystems for digital signal processing which satisfy the new requirements arising from these new trends in information security in modern communications systems are identified, analyzed and developed in the proposed project. Special care will be given to the development and implementation of four classes of security systems:

  1. Extraction of cryptographic keys from biometric signals of the iris, speech, finger prints and images of faces (KEB - Key Extraction from Biometrics)

  2. Extraction of cryptographic keys on the basis of mutual randomness originated from the physical layer of wired and wireless communication networks (KECR - Key Extraction from Common Randomness).

  3. Design of systems for the control of the distribution of digital content and hidden transmission of information (DDCH - Digital Distribution Control and Hiding)

  4. Design of the system for detection of intrusion in computer networks based on biologically inspired algorithms for detection of anomalies in behaviour (BIIDS - Biologically Inspired Intrusion Detection Systems)


The KEB Subsystem. Joining biometrics and cryptography as a consequence of need from both disciplines is a phenomenon that is signalled out in the project. There exists an ever present requirement in cryptography for generating quality cryptographic keys which can be easily distributed and memorised, while the wider practical use of biometry takes with it the requirement of safe memorization and recall of biometric data. Both requirements are met in systems for generating cryptographic keys based on biometric data. The development and implementation of new classes of algorithms for forming biometric templates based on iris scans that will in turn generate corresponding cryptographic keys is foreseen. Daugman's standard method give an entropy in the order of 250 bits per template, whereas an entropy up to 10 times higher is expected from the development of this system. Basic changes compared to the standard approach are envisioned in iris segmentation and the choice of transformational domain. KCER Subsystem. Maurer's research in the last fifteen years has demonstrated a real possibility for the construction of a protocol for the exchange of cryptographic keys via public networks, without prior sharing of secret information. The key part of this procedure is the possession of correlated random strings in network points who wish to establish a common secret key, independent of the computing power of the opponent who has access to the entire conversation between these two points. The development of the KCER subsystem will enable an implementation of Maurer's protocols based on random signals available on the physical layer of modern computer networks. The generated cryptographic keys will used in different models of refinement and distribution or as secret keys of symmetric key systems, or directly as one time keys in absolutely secret Varnam cipher. DDCH Subsystem. Managing intellectual property in the digital economic age is no longer a technical question, but rather one of existential value for whole industrial divisions such as the production of multimedia content (audio, video, text, imaging) and software development. One of the standard procedures in solving this problem is steganography (digital stamps and hidden information). The performance of these systems definitively relies on the digital processing of signals and applied coding procedures. In this project, it is suggested that an online monitoring system for the control and distribution of audiovisual content is developed, using on steganographic methods based on perceptively indiscernible manipulation of carrier signals by applying the 'dirty paper' codes . Preliminary research shows that it is possible to achieve a secret channel capacity more than 300 bit/second in the framework of standard audio range without violating the carrier signal. It is possible to imprint identification codes in digital multimedia content efficiently and solve the problem of monitoring the distributing and copyright of such material. BIIDS Subsystem. Modern systems for intrusion detection in computer networks are based on detecting internal anomalies and comprise of two key components: a subsystem for extracting the most characteristic behavioural features of the users of the network and a subsystem for detecting and acting upon rare anomalies in behaviour. This project proposes the development of a system that can be described as analogous to a biological, genetic and immunological defence mechanism, along with detection capabilities based on Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification, and will be included in both of the above mentioned components. The optimization criteria of the SVM classifier is doubly regularized. As such, good generalization properties are obtained which are important where only small training sets are available. Also it is able to separating correlated groups of highly discriminative features, which matches the natural features of anomalies in behaviour in modern computer networks.

Key Expected Results


Two groups of results are expected from this project. The first group relates to getting a better understanding of the new requirements of modern security services, as well as the development of four concrete subsystems: KEB (Key Extraction from Biometrics), KECR (Key Extraction from Common Randomness), DDCH (Digital Distribution Control and Hiding) i BIIDS (Biologically Inspired Intrusion Detection Systems). The second group of results relates to the nurturing of new generations of young researchers (the 5 researchers on this project are currently doctoral students on the "Advanced security systems" program at Singidunum University) in researching and developing systems for information security, which are understandably unavailable to the wider academic and professional communities. While developing the KEB subsystem, a solution that satisfies opposing requirements is expected: safeguarding the accuracy of biometric verification under conditions of ciphered biometric templates. We note that existing solutions do not offer a satisfactory compromise. The sought after result would be a system that allows extraction of cryptographic keys whose length conforms to that of standard algorithms (128 or 256 bit) with insignificant loss of verification accuracy. Preliminary analysis shows that this class of solution could be obtained for iris or fingerprint biometrics. While developing the KECR subsystem, a speed of cryptographic key extraction between any two nodes in a wireless or wired computer network is expected that would allow a practical application of the establishment of secret symmetric keys in the standard algorithms such as AES or 3DES. We note that wireless networks theoretically allow greater possibilities in the form of high cryptographic key extraction, but this remains to be verified practically. Developing the DDCH system would result in a complete technical solution for online monitoring of audiovisual content and the detection and decoding of identification codes which are imprinted in the audio channel in the production phase. Based on the decoded data, reliable information about the origin (copyright) of the content, time of broadcast, quality of transmission and reception, eventual violation of intellectual property (illegal copying), as well as additional information contained within the identification codes can be obtained. As an added benefit, the system can be used for establishing secret communication channels within public networks, with capacities of several hundred bits/second. The development of an algorithm based on double regularization SVMs (Support Vector Machines) for detecting anomalies in behaviour, which correspond to the behaviour of the attacker in computer networks is expected within the framework of the BIIDS system. It becomes possible to get better insight into the discriminatory characteristics of network traffic as well as a better understanding of working features by using this system.

The Significance of the project


he technological advance of the Internet and global communication networks raises the question of security of saved and transmitted data through these media. The question of secure authentication methods of participants in the global network, which has become the infrastructure of digital economy through which transaction are processed whose total is comparable to the GDP of some nations, the falls in the same category. Security Mechanisms that rely on high computational complexity in order to be decripted have opened the door to theoretical security criteria that clearly define the necessary conditions to unconditional security. Systems with this property are invariant to the computational power of the attacker. Theoretical results in the last decade form a solid basis for the practical realisation of certain segments of security services such as secrecy. The proposed project tends to an accumulation of experience in designing and realising the building blocks of this new class of security system. Two proposed systems fall into this category: KEB - Key Extraction from Biometrics, and KECR –Key Extraction from Common Randomness. The implementation of these methods will greatly increase the applicability of biometrics as an ideal mechanism for authentication while simultaneously eliminating the inherent problems related to biometrics such as the impossibility of recall and theft of digital identity. One of the additional benefits of the KEB system would be the potential possibility of replacing PIN codes with smart cards with biometric signatures, which would have a huge impact on the quality of all modern services related to smart cards. Safeguarding the high accuracy of biometric verification would ensure a heightened security of throughput of electronic transactions and personal mobility in today's world of heightened danger from global terrorism and crime. Implementing the KECR system would allow for the practical application of absolutely secret systems of information transmission based on Varnamov's chipher for one-time-use of symmetric secret keys. It is interesting to note that absolute secrecy cannot be achieved by any other cipher transformation. Practical implementation of mechanisms that can generate large number of completely random strings, symmetrically for given nodes in the global communication network, is a necessary first step in the realisation of this class of cipher system. The basic idea of the KECR system is to use the random processes that are present on the physical layer of communication networks for this purpose. The management and protection of copyright is of utmost importance in the modern age of the digital economy. The distribution of digital multimedia content sets a very serious condition on being able to irrevocably prove the delivery of audio and video content in agreed upon time intervals and duration. A good example is in proving that a given commercial has been broadcast in whole in the agreed upon time interval. The price of one second of a commercial in peak TV broadcasting timeslots economically justifies the development of reliable monitoring systems which work continuously with a high degree of precision. The DDCH fully solves this problem, which is currently solved manually with a large team of people and results in large number of errors. It's economic justification is obvious from this observation. In addition, the mass application of this system would in a simple way resolve the issue of payment of appropriate taxes, which is in transitional countries such as Serbia, to a large extent avoided. Intrusion detection systems in computer networks are promising yet still evolving and have not reached technological maturity for mass use in the fight against computer crime and hacking. One reason lies in the difficulty of creating good detectors of anomalous behavior in computer networks. Any progress in this direction is of great importance to the replacement of modern vulnerable networks, reliable infrastructure of the digital economy, and secure use of information resources in general. Successful development of the BIIDS system represents a significant contribution to these efforts. In theoretical and practical terms, progress in this area can not be expected without the use of modern methods of machine learning and theory of decision making under uncertainty, which is the basic idea of the synthesis of the BIIDS system.

Keywords


cryptology, cipher keys, steganography, biometrics, intrusion detection, copyright