Competences for knowledge based society and national curriculum in Croatia

• Duration: 1. 1. 2007. - 31. 12. 2013.
• Project code: 100-1001677-0938

The interest in scientific research on competences in education has increased in the past few decades as societies face the problem of how to respond educationally to the demands of developing knowledge based societies and growing globalisation. This area of interest is particularly pronounced in developed countries (OECD and EU countries) where the need for developing new competences is most prominent. The proposed project takes a holistic approach to analysing competences by looking at education for competences as part of a broader societal context (a response not only to the particular needs of the individual, but also of society in general).

The aims of the research are as follows:

1. To determine a theoretical framework for conceptualising key competences required in a knowledge based society (identify the criteria for definition and selection of key competences, etc);
2. To identify key competences required in a knowledge based society, as they are presented in the national curricula for compulsory education in developed countries (a representative sample of old and new EU member states);
3. To analyse the national curriculum for Croatian compulsory education (by researching the current programme, as well as the opinions of stakeholders) from the competence approach identified above.

The purpose of this project is to scientifically identify competence indicators which can be used for the development of a Croatian national curriculum, in an effort to improve the quality of compulsory education in Croatia. Our hypothesis is that Croatia, which has only recently began introducing changes to its programmes for compulsory education, unlike the majority of other European countries, still does not have a national curriculum which is harmonised with the curricula of developed countries regarding the basic competences required in a knowledge based society. We expect this research to result in reliable competence indicators useful for the development of a Croatian curriculum for compulsory education, which would be harmonised with European developmental trends, but at the same time in tune with the Croatian context. In addition to its contribution for educational policy making regarding the development of a national curriculum, the research will also contribute to the development of theoretical tools for analysing impacts of the new competences on changes in contemporary national curricula.

• PUBLICATIONS