Many University members obtain numerous initiatives for quality improvements through intensive involvement in international evaluations and accreditations. This involvement gives the University insight into breakthrough ideas from world-wide quality system upgrades in higher education and, at the same time, serves as a platform for disseminating its own successfully developed knowledge and ideas in the European educational sphere.
PETRA PONGRAC Head of the University Office for Quality Assurance, Analyses and Reporting
In line with its values and development strategy, the University of Ljubljana continuously strengthens the quality of research and education, improves the transfer of knowledge into practice, ensures creative conditions for work and study, and increases internationalisation. Under the University of Ljubljana Quality (KUL) project, which was completed in June 2015 after three productive years, the University of Ljubljana made comprehensive upgrades to its quality system. Participatory leadership was used to develop a quality culture. This approach included individuals and changed the organisational culture, consequently, also at the institutional level. The impact of the KUL project on the development of a quality culture was evident through an increased number of proposals for measures pertaining to quality, leadership and management presented in reports by University members.
We are carefully providing opportunities for cooperation, raising awareness and creativity in order to make improvements to University quality, also following the completion of the KUL project. A tender for the next three years of enhancement-led visits was completed, and training has been provided for improved cooperation of all employees and for the use of modern learning and teaching methods. The activities of the KUL project, particularly general training courses and enhancement-led visits, provided the University of Ljubljana with a priceless network of individuals, thus facilitating future cooperation in quality development.
The approaches used and developed in the KUL project were successfully presented at the European Quality Assurance Forum held in London and were successfully used and presented within the scope of the Tempus EUREQA project, intended for the development of such systems and a culture of quality at universities in the Southeast Balkans.
The University of Ljubljana provides accredited first and second cycle study programmes in all areas of International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) as well as interdisciplinary and joint programmes with partner institutions at home and abroad.
POLONCA MIKLAVC VALENČIČ Assistant General Secretary at the University Office for First and Second Cycle Study
The 2015/2016 academic year has seen 24,765.5 students enrolled in first cycle study programmes and 14,586 enrolled in second cycle programmes, which is 1784 (seven percent) fewer students and 265 (two percent) more, respectively, than in 2014/2015.
New interdisciplinary second cycle programmes are being designed to remove obstacles between professions and disciplines. UL Members have also increased the intensity of their cooperation in the implementation of study programmes. In 2015, calls to enrol in study programmes for all three cycles were prepared at the same time; the application procedure for candidates with foreign certificates is simplified and more closely linked to the recognition of foreign education for enrolment in the University of Ljubljana. More study content is now provided through IT for more interactivity and distance learning. The promotion of University of Ljubljana study has been broadened to facilitate selection of study programmes for candidates and increase their motivation.
In 2015/2016, 23 first and second cycle programmes are planned to be offered in a foreign language.
In 2015, the University of Ljubljana awarded its 10,000th PhD degree, strengthened its cooperation with partners in Slovenia and abroad, concluded new cooperation agreements with research institutes, took an active role in the European University Association Council for Doctoral Education and entered the Regional Platform for Benchmarking and Cooperation in Higher Education and Research.
Prof. Dr. ALEKSANDRA KANJUO MRČELA Head of Doctoral School
In the 2015/2016 academic year, 1448 students were enrolled in third cycle studies, which is 201 (12 percent) fewer than the year before. One of the reasons behind the reduced enrolment in doctoral studies is a non-regulated system of (co)funding for doctoral studies in Slovenia. No public funds for (co)financing or PhD scholarships were provided for the generations of students beginning doctoral studies in the 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 academic years, except under the public call for young researchers.
In 2015, a strategy was developed to promote doctoral studies, and a programme of activities was adopted for Doctoral School, particularly in international cooperation. Activities to connect with partners in Slovenia and abroad were strengthened, agreements were made with research institutes, and the University entered the Regional Platform for Benchmarking and Cooperation in Higher Education and Research. Within the scope of the Platform, joint quality standards for doctoral studies were laid down and preparation of a joint Energy study programme initiated.
We continued to participate in the European University Association Council for Doctoral Education and further strengthened our cooperation with the University of Graz by holding a joint PhD seminar in 2016.
We successfully completed activities in the procedure of extension of the accreditation of all PhD study programmes that expire at the end of the 2015/2016 academic year. The documents were submitted to the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, which will decide on another seven-year extension.
For its PhD studies, the University will strive to intensify interdisciplinary collaboration within the University of Ljubljana and with the leading research institutes in Slovenia. Already, the resulting renewed PhD programme Materials is in preparation which will include all major domestic research institutes in this field.
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