Higher education in BiH may be acquired by full-time, part-time, distance learning, or a combination of these modes of study, as provided in the Statute of the higher education institutions, as the basic act governing issues important for the performance of activities of the institution, which must be harmonized with legal provisions. Higher education in BiH has been identified as a priority area of special public interest. Care about the quality of education and its development is becoming a priority in BiH in education policies at all levels. Public universities in BiH have begun reforms and the introduction of policies and practices of quality assurance prior to inclusion of BiH in the Bologna process in 2003. During the academic 2003/2004 year all existing public universities in BiH were included in the institutional assessment of the European University Association (EUA).