2012. évi 2. szám - Jura - Pécsi Tudományegyetem

252 Mirela Župan: Conclusion on contemporary legal challenges: EU – Hungary – Croatiaas those on compulsory retirement, are highly controversialsince the economic reasons given collidedwith some principles on human rights. Environmentaltopics were left for the very end: the firstpresentation was all into the regional environmentalimperative: the Danube strategy. This issue was soonfollowed by topics referring to environmental rightsin the context of three legal systems. We have learntthat the role of the Court of Justice in enforcement ofthe third pillar of the Aarhus Convention (1998) at anational level is indispensable, despite the fact thatthe proposal for a mirror directive on access to justicein environmental matters has not been adopted bythe EU Council and the European Parliament. Theparallel panel employed an interdisciplinary approachto investigate the quality of higher educationand student mobility. First the table discussed qualityassurance being the core element of the reformof higher education and a basic requirement forcreating a European Higher Education Area. In accordancewith the recommendations of the BolognaDeclaration, each educational institution is obligedto develop a system which will ensure the quality ofits output. The researchers here conducted a surveyof the perception of students about the quality ofhigher education at the Faculty of Law of Osijek andPécs. The examination was to help higher educationinstitutions shape a model that could monitor thequality of their operations by measuring perceptionsof students in a reliable and proper way.The programme went on with a topic concerningthe international student market which is changingwhereas managing student mobility is becoming morechallenging. The researchers discussed the advantagesand disadvantages of different survey methodologiesused in measuring international student mobility.The study detected and confirmed the validity andreliability of the scales used in a quantitative surveyconducted among students of the Faculty of Law ofOsijek (in 2010) and among students of the Faculty ofLaw in Pecs (in 2011). The final research paper comparedthe perception of the students of the Faculty ofLaw of Osijek and those of the Faculty of Law of Pécswith respect to their satisfaction with the universityservices. This panel ended with a novelty of this year’scooperation: poster session. As part of a topic entitled“In and Outside the Framework of SUNICOP”, fiveposters, jointly created by teachers and students fromboth cooperating faculties, were exhibited. The posterswere respectively named as follows: “Erasmus mobility– Osijek – Pécs”; “From EUNICOP to SUNICOP”;“International Seminars – Cost & Benefits”; “AcademicAdded Value” and “Institutional Added Value”.5. Dear friends, it is obvious that we are facing themost difficult times as far as finance is concerned.Every segment of our society has been affected bythis crisis, particularly the educational and scientificsector. One thing which often comes up when onehas to deal with unprecedented difficulties is questioningoneself whether there are better ways to dowhat is to be done. There is still one advantage thatwe, academics, have in these difficult times and thatis the possibility to create new research, work andteaching patterns of research, working and to offernew options in improving ways in which our legalsystem operates. What is certain is that we haveno choice but to make a real change to the way wetransfer knowledge! Human activities are becomingborderless and the role of the law in this area isto properly shape each activity. In order to governthe legal effects of globalization, cooperation hasno alternative. Sharing experience between projectpartners can only contribute to the learning process.Such occasions can be used to discuss foreign modelsand adapt them to our domestic circumstances aswell as to improve the legal certainty, predictabilityand efficiency of our legal system. These projectsof cooperation between two neighbouring facultiesrepresent a bridge to a new and improved way ofteaching and conducting research and we are allhonoured to have participated in these events!6. In the end, ladies and gentlemen, please let me saya few thank you notes!This project and this conference were, at theirpeak, so successful and joyful since many peoplededicated their time and energy to accomplishment oftheir goals. I’m grateful to our lead beneficiary: prof.Tímea Drinóczi for trusting us and giving us a chanceto be the host of this event, and to Ms Zita Cszászár for„golden” organizational tips! My closest companions,prof.dr.sc. Mario Vinković and dr.sc. Jelena Legčević,have been here for us in all times, so I think thatthey deserve a great applause and sincere gratitude.Also, we could not have done it without the dean’ssupport, prof.dr.sc. Igor Bojanić gave us unreservedbacking. I’m grateful to the rector, prof.dr.sc. GordanaKralik, for giving us permission to use these wonderfulhalls situated at the central University building.The organizational issues of the past days have beendealt with by student volunteers, so my honest thanksgo to Endre Dudaš, Zrinka Gugić, Vjekoslav Mijić,Marko Sukačić and Maša Šoštarko whose help hasbeen really precious to us. In the end, I would liketo express my appreciation to all of the participants,for making interesting and challenging presentationsand discussions – it was an honour for the Faculty ofLaw of Osijek and myself personally to organize thisevent! Today I am standing here overwhelmed withthe deepest gratitude for this wonderful cooperationbetween Pécs and Osijek Law Schools and I hopewe will all be able to attend the 3 rd jointly organizedconference within the scope of a new project!JURA 2012/2.