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Higher education institutions today face a number of different challenges that have never been so daunting. The education mode changes under the influence of the pandemic, which also affects the system of organization of higher education institutions. Given the current functioning of higher education institutions, it is evident that COVID-19 will have, among other things, negative effects on achieving planned learning outcomes at the level of subjects and study programs, availability of online teaching and resources to all students, continuous learning of specific educational disciplines, employability of graduates, internationalization, realization of projects, but also on the implementation of the accreditation process. The pandemic has caused a disturbance in poor, but also in rich countries, causing radical changes in the way it functions. Given that the functioning "under the pandemic" is still ongoing, it is too early to draw conclusions and show the effects of the consequences of this crisis on the higher education system. This paper presents the various challenges faced by higher education institutions, such as the challenges of teaching, research, internationalization, students, finance, student assessment, quality assurance, and accreditation of higher education institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the tasks of the STINT project (Strengthening of Internationalization in B&H Higher Education) was to conduct self-evaluation at all public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning internationalization in order to determine future actions. Three questionnaires for self-assessment were created both for students and staff members. Using results from the first two questionnaires SWOT analysis for internationalization at the Dzemal Bijedic University was developed. Results from the third questionnaire were used to develop SWOT analysis for recognition of qualifications. SWOT analysis for internationalization showed that there is awareness of importance of internationalization for the improvement of the quality of education and research at the University. Internationalization gives opportunities for long-lasting international collaboration and net-working. One of the problems that we detected were difficulties in finding study programs that match our study programs, which additionally demotivate both students and staff members to participate in mobility programs. Recognition of qualifications is still a problem due to laws at the Cantonal level that are not de-tailed enough. Also, the Statute of the University does not regulate this. A great number of Higher Education Institutions perform recognition of qualification which is detected as one of the threats. From this SWOT anal-ysis we can conclude that there is a need for more centralization in B&H concerning recognition of qualifica-tions and improvement of law legislative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]