Quality
Third cycle

In 2015, the University of Ljubljana awarded its 10,000^th 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.