Bologna Model of Education–MD/PhD Program: Observation of PhD students in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The reform of the higher education system and the introduction of the Bologna Process throughout the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the PhD study became the next step in education after the completion of an integrated study of medicine. Bosnia and Herzegovina officially accepted the principles of the Bologna Process in the field of education in 2003 (1). In Bosnia and Herzegovina, at all public universities (Sarajevo since 2013, Mostar since 2011, Tuzla since 2013, Banja Luka since 2015, East Sarajevo (Foca) since 2015), PhD study is implemented as a three-year program in the biomedical field, and is finalized by writing doctoral thesis. Previously, the old system of study was organized through the undergraduate and postgraduate studies (along with the writing of master’s dissertation), and then writing a doctoral dissertation with subject and a mentor in the field of the work of the healthcare worker. At the first private Faculty of Medicine, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, the PhD program will begin with the academic year 2018/2019. The fact is that the reform of the education system enabled quick movement through the academic hierarchy, and fast possibility of starting the study, but that also led to many problems for the students, who are often not able to fulfill what is expected of them. The requirement for defending the PhD dissertation is to publish an article that covers the part of the PhD dissertation (data from the dissertation should be the core of the article) in the Web of Science (WoS) or Current Contents (CC) or in the reference index database (without specifying which one). This is added in order to avoid the experience from the region, when in the race to meet the criteria, the student does not publish article that is directly related with the topic in journals with high impact factor (2). Inadequate criteria for defending the PhD dissertation, contribute to the emergence of qualitatively uneven dissertations, and thus a minimal increase in knowledge from a certain field at the local and the world level. The purpose of the PhD dissertation should essentially be the candidate’s contribution to the development of certain medical area from which the dissertation is written, and it should provide new knowledge that can improve clinical practice. Such dissertation can certainly find a place in the most high impact journals. Aspiration of some Universities towards science excellence is highly justified and substantiated, and it should be essentially the same for all Universities that award the same degree after the