Prof Marko Carić graduated from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad in 1996 with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree, and he also graduated from the Faculty of Economics in 1999, which earned him a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics. He received his master’s degree in 2002 and three years later his PhD from the Faculty of Management in the scientific field of management on the topic of: “Creating a marketing strategy for the placement of a new product” He defended another PhD dissertation at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in 2008, which earned him a PhD in Technical Sciences, with a dissertation on the topic of: “Research into the effect of innovation on a company’s technological development according to the employees.”

He is the cofounder of the University Business Academy in Novi Sad, President of the Faculty Council of Economics and Engineering Management, and he is a full professor at the Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management, as well as at the Faculty of Law for Economics and Justice, where he is also dean. As a full professor, he gives lectures on undergraduate and post-graduate courses (master’s and PhD); he publishes scientific and professional works; and he participates in scientific research development projects.

Since 2008, he has worked intensively on the improvement of quality in higher education. He is an initiator and a team member for the quality management system ISO 9001:2008 at the Law Faculty of Economics and Justice and the Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management, which were successfully certified.

In 2010 he participated in the organisation of the event 2nd EMUNI Research Souk, The Euro-Mediterranean Student Research Multi-conference “Living together in a multi-cultural society”. He is also a member of the Managing Board of the First International Conference on Entrepreneurial Learning (1st International Conference on Entrepreneurial Learning - ICEL).

Since 1997 he has been chief coordinator and investor in the construction of over thirty holiday homes, and residential and business buildings, five of which are facilities for higher education institutions. He has participated in the projects: Outsourcing Center Serbia, Examination of innovation and cooperation abilities and development possibilities for small and medium sized enterprises in the Hungarian-Serbian cross-border region, and Social entrepreneurship as a support to socioeconomic development in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina - Innovation as a means of new employment opportunities and social inclusion.

He is a regular expert witness in the fields of economics and finance, as well as electrotechnology and telecommunications. He is a member of the Expert Witness Association, as well as of the Serbian Chamber of Engineers, and he holds four licenses - control, design, technical control and the construction of electrical, electro energetic and telecommunications installations. He completed numerous courses at the company Lucent Technologies in Holland, including courses on the introduction of the quality systems GSM/UMTS, TOC/CC, ISDN, Data Com and Networking, courses on the implementation of management systems, LCMT training, modelling policies and so on. In addition, he completed a specialisation in the area of telecommunications in 1994 in Campinas, Brazil.

He has taken part in a great number of national and international conferences, and so far he has published more than 50 scientific works, a great number of which have been published in international magazines. He is the author of more than ten monographs and textbooks. So far, he has been the mentor for dozens of master’s theses and PhD dissertations.

Prof Marko Carić is a member of Mensa.

Prof Marko Carić has provided academic institutions with a stable position in the market of higher education through his intensive and dedicated work aimed at constantly improving the quality of the teaching staff, studying conditions and international cooperation.

As I wrote at the very beginning, how can I introduce our interlocutor? I can only speak of how honoured I was to meet such a person! That is why I recommend you to read the rest of the interview, and see for yourselves who Dr Marko Carić is.

Prof Marko Carić for Profit magazine.

1.Mr. Carić, where were you born and raised? Where were you educated?

How did your career develop?

I was born in Novi Sad 45 years ago. Time passes so quickly. This is where I grew up and received my education. I majored in mathematics at J. J. Zmaj grammar school, and after that I enrolled at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, electrotechnical department. At the end of my studies, I enrolled at the Faculty of Economics in Subotica. Naturally, I completed both faculties and started doing business in various areas. While dealing with a construction and import-export businesses I was not working in my own field, which bothered me, so I accepted the invitation for professional training and work within an innovative team in Holland. It was an unforgettable experience which gave a special mark and contribution to my career development. When my contract finished, I returned to Serbia where I initiated the placement of the acquired capital and the development of my own business. I have never been focused on one job, but on several options and I have parallelly run or at least participated in various business operations. As the old Latins put it “VARIETAS DELECTAT”. After I had spent some time at the Faculty of Technology as a lecturer, I decided to enter higher education and its development via the private sector. Naturally, my focus did not narrow on that particular job exclusively but it nonetheless became my predominant mission with a clearly defined vision.

2. This May, your name entered and occupied an honorary place in the encyclopedia of successful Serbs – Oxford’s Book of Successful People of Serbia. The encyclopedia contains names and biographies of famous and influential people of contemporary Serbia, who have left a mark in the recent past, are part of the present and will undoubtedly affect the future through their deeds. How do you explain such a significant and great success?

I am glad that people creating this publication have recognised true values and I am really glad to appear in “Oxford’s Book” bearing in mind that there was no favoritism, connections, politicking, showbiz, or tabloids involved, but that it was only the quality of a person and their contribution to the respective professional development that served as a parameter and criterion for the biography to enter the book. The devoted work of an expert team and the analysis of relevant indicators make sure that people who have entered the book should not be ashamed because of undeserving people who have appeared in the publication. The licencees are foreigners who did not need to flatter anyone and their sole aim was to obtain the most optimal choice, and all of that was based on merits.

To me personally, it is a great satisfaction - that devotion and hard work are still noticed - and it will serve as a big boost in the further endeavours.

3. Apart from being a full professor and the President of the Faculty Council of Economics and Engineering Management, and dean of the Law Faculty of Economics and Justice, which belong to the University Business Academy, the first accredited University in Vojvodina, future vice-rector for international cooperation, you hold a prestigious award the “Best European”. What does this award exactly mean to you and how do you perceive it?

I am glad to have received this award as well, but to be honest the criteria which I mentioned in the previous question were not applied, so I was on a couple of occasions tempted to return the award when I realised who had also earned it. However, I did not return it since there are many deserving winners of this award.

4. How would you rate the quality of higher education in Serbia, what is, in your opinion, a key issue? What has higher education gained from the Bologna Process?

The quality of Serbian higher education is not bad in my opinion, though we lack the practical component. We try to compensate our students for that, so that during studies they can have an idea of what they would like to do for a living, and this is possible only if they encounter practical aspects of the subject they had been taught.

In my opinion, the problem lies in disrespect and the lack of sufficiently adequate criteria by which the quality of higher education institutions, faculty, university, is measured, since in this way more attention would be devoted to actions than words. For example, some state law faculties often pick on similar private faculties, with them being worse according to most of their criteria. They also try to deprive private faculties of what they are entitled to, and gain far greater privileges than they deserve.

Through the Bologna Process, higher education gained most from the fact that students take tests during the whole term, by which binge learning has been replaced by regular learning.

5. In your opinion, is the process of accreditation of higher education institutions being executed properly?

The Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for higher education, at its second assembly, became a full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education -ENQA-, which is a great success, and without their hard work, they surely would not have achieved that. However, there are a multitude of interfering factors that hinder and to a great extent “ruin” the accreditation process, such as ministries, politics, unfair competition, some state as well as private faculties and their employees. Therefore, commission is not as independent as it should be and this works against the accreditation process.

6. How much does the state invest in higher education?

State investment in higher education is insufficient and it does not focus on problem solving or the adjustment of status between private and state faculties. The ministry of education is not competent enough and it has only made matters worse in the previous period. Their intentions are not always fair towards private faculties which have invested a lot in the development of higher education in the last 10-15 years, and they do not have the opportunity to have students financed from the budget, or the use of campuses, cafeterias, scholarships, etc.

However, we are trying and working with the hope of having more realistic market competition in the future.

7. What is Your message to the future students and young people in Serbia? Do young people have prospects in Serbia, or is it that a brighter future is awaiting them outside the borders of our country?

What to say to young people ... tricky question. It depends on numerous factors, I do not know what is going to happen on a global or local level, the situation may turn around and change, but if we still have the same conditions in our country as in the last 10 - 15 years, I advise them to seek their fortune somewhere in the world since I believe they have better prospects, and a brighter future there, that they have many more opportunities and available options and that they simply have a better and more structured environment there. I could say a healthier and less polluted environment, but I had better not elaborate that topic. They need a bit of audacity and self-assurance and success is guaranteed. They will soon overcome homesickness and then new horizons will open up for them. This is not hear-say, but based on the experience of friends and acquaintances of mine, who are really satisfied in various parts of the world. Obviously, after professional training and specialisation they can return to their country, which they can improve with their newly acquired knowledge and experience.

8. What are your future plans regarding the expansion of cooperation with European and world countries for purposes of professor and student exchange, as well as introduction of various programmes, master studies in English and other languages?

Our goal is to expand international cooperation with similar higher education institutions to the greatest possible extent and as long as we create prospective quality and benefit for our students. We believe that it is extremely important for them to attend some lectures of world renowned experts and to meet potential colleagues from around the world. We believe that in the future world will become more approachable and that international business will become inevitable, so we want our students to be prepared for that. We seek to introduce common study courses with renowned higher education institutions in Europe. As for studying in English language, we already have a good deal of study programmes accredited in that language.

9. What is the significance of international cooperation among universities in the world? Which is your inclination, East or West? As I just said, I think international cooperation is of great importance because it is a way to abolish borders and broaden horizons, in the same way that the spirit of cosmopolitanism develops. To me, the better orientation is towards the East because the east is developing, it has better prospects and it is easier for them to accept people from these regions. The West, in my opinion, is in a downward trend, although this does not mean it should be discarded and that one cannot build a career and gain valid life experience there.

What treatment, status and position do your graduates have in the economy, justice, overseas, science..?

Our students recognise what they want in terms of their future vocation during their studies, what they are interested in and first and foremost what they have adequate aptitude for. A lot of graduates from our faculty are employed in the prosecutor’s office, courts, and in the legal profession throughout Serbia, and with all these institutions we have signed contracts on cooperation as well as respectable and good relations. However, the exception to these good relations is the Lawyers Chamber of Belgrade. Namely, good relations with our Faculty are thwarted by the president of the chamber, who gives inadequate, unfounded, arbitrary and incorrect information, in contradiction to the decisions of the Lawyers Chamber of Serbia and the Administrative Court, assuming he has the right to estimate what faculty graduated students are entitled to apply for on the list of trainees at the Lawyers Chamber of Belgrade. I believe his competence to do this is unfounded, and as a proof of his misjudgements, we have great and successful relations with the Lawyers Chambers throughout Serbia. Our students have the chance to successfully develop their careers in science with our assistance, which enables them to write and publish their scientific works. Students who want to try their luck in economics have the possibility of acquiring practical and new skills and knowledge in numerous companies with which we have signed contracts on cooperation. A lot of students, upon expressing their wishes regarding professional training or postgraduate studies abroad, are guided in that direction and are successfully building their careers all around the world. This is where the future of this profession lies and it is surely the goal that the education system in our faculty aspires to.

10. It is said that you are a man with boundless energy and curiosity for all forms of life and work, that you are a man with innovative ideas which contribute to the advancement and progress of both the University Business Academy and other activities.

Apart from your occupation in the area of education, what else do you do?

For almost 20 years I have been active in the field of construction, which helps me express my creativity. Each completed facility serves as a sort of monument, a three-dimensional treasure. There is, of course, a connection between construction and the faculty since we have built all of our facilities on our own. In this way, through the construction of new, good quality and modern buildings, I like to give my contribution to the development of my city of Novi Sad.

Since I also like sport and understand the importance of development of sport among young people, I have taken part in the construction of sports fields and auxiliary facilities, which fills me with great satisfaction. There are some other businesses and activities which I am involved in, but what I have mentioned is sufficient for this interview. We have to leave something for the next one.

11. In your opinion, what is the status, treatment and personal development of a businessman like in Serbia?

Thestatus and treatment of a businessman in Serbia is inadequate and rather underestimated compared to a foreign investor. Capable, efficient and creative businessmen in Serbia should be appreciated and respected so that they are motivated to establish new values here instead of going abroad, where they will be warmly welcomed. Those people are rare, the wealth of each society, and we should cherish them.

12. To what extent are Serbs, as a nation, devoted to work and how loyal are they?

The Serbs, as a nation, are barely dedicated to work and they are not very loyal. Obviously, there are exceptions, but the overall situation regarding this issue is bad. A lot of skilled people have gone abroad and this trend continues. Negative selection of personnel has been present in our country for years, which serves as a bad example to new generations. Young people are probably filled with various disappointments and there is a multitude of reasons for such a despondent and insufficiently ambitious approach to work, but this kind of resentment is not a way out i.e., a solution.

13. What are you preoccupied with right now? Are you taking part in any project? How much time do you have for additional professional development?

I am currently preoccupied with finishing off all my unfinished activities and fleeing into the unknown (laughter).

I think I have had enough professional training and I should have some time for myself and devote myself to some new horizons and challenges that will come along.

14. How do you manage to overcome everyday stress? I try to do some sport or go to the countryside, and accumulated stress is best relieved with an exotic journey.

15. What is your life motto?

My life motto is to never settle for what I have achieved, I have always strived towards what is higher, highest... and at the same time to “Enjoy the good life” as a friend of mine from India puts it.