Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto

The Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto is an example of a small higher education institution that is developing rapidly and acquiring its own identity as it develops. The Faculty is a reference institution in its environment when it comes to research-oriented higher education institutions. This is reflected in its good rootedness in the business environment, as it is linked both in terms of interest representation and directly, especially through cooperation in the context of practical training for students (job placement). The Faculty has an outstanding track record in the field of scientific research, both in terms of obtaining funding for scientific research activities and in the area of scientific publications. This has been successfully followed by its educational dimension, which is increasingly moving away from the dominance of social sciences and towards computer science and mathematics. The additional funding obtained from the ministry responsible for higher education has enabled the stabilisation and strengthening of the teaching staff, one of the Faculty's biggest development challenges. However, these developments also create some challenges. The first is the spatial capacity of the institution, which is currently at its limits. The second challenge is the adequate level of professional support, which is increasingly being tested as the institution grows. This includes both different forms of support for students (e.g. a career centre) as well as the planning and implementation of career paths for staff. This challenge is further intensified by the fact that the Faculty is filling capacity gaps in some areas with external staff, who are less able to fully integrate into its life. Probably the greatest challenge is the so-called “hybridity”, which is a consequence of the need to enrol sufficient number of students and to address the preferences of students who are less and less interested in traditional studies. The challenge stems from the inadequate revision of study programmes, which requires both appropriate normative changes as well as didactic adjustments. The last major challenge relates to the aspect of accessibility, as information tools (e.g. Moodle, web-office, website) are not adequately adapted to students with different forms of disability.