DUAL EDUCATION SYSTEMIN THE FIELD OF CIVIL ENGINEERING – EXPERIENCES OF FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING OSIJEK

The Faculty of Civil Engineering University of Osijek carries out university studies and professional studies of civil engineering. After the implementation of Bologna Process in the Croatian Higher Education System (2005), combination of apprenticeships in civil engineering companies, laboratories, construction sites etc. and traditional education has been abandoned on the university studies on all civil engineering faculties in Croatia. It only remains as a part of study curricula of the professional studies. In the last ten years there were several attempts to point out positive sides of dual education system on university studies proposed by Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers, teachers, students and employers. So, we all agree that dual education system is better than present system we have, but it is not easy to introduce it. It is also confirmed by project proposed by Faculty of Civil Engineering of Osijek as a leading partner and all other Croatian civil engineering faculties as partners titled Development and implementation of the Croatian Qualifications Framework in the field of civil engineers higher education started in September 2015. Part of the project is organizing student apprenticeships in different companies. According to the questioned students and employers, practical training is missing in the competences of young engineers. In order to overcome this disadvantage of the study programme, Faculty of Civil Engineering organizes many visits and excursions to different construction sites, civil engineering companies, water supply companies etc. Also, presentations of invited experts and professionals are organized and great efforts are being done on improvement laboratory equipment and exercises. This paper is going to present results of analysis of questionnaires conducted by Chamber and faculties involved in the project Development and implementation of the Croatian Qualifications Framework in the field of civil engineers higher education and activities initiated in order to improve higher education system related to the dual education particularly in a field of hydraulic engineering.