University of Novo mesto

The evaluation of the University of Novo mesto (UNM) for the extension of the accreditation of a higher education institution was carried out by a group of experts in accordance with the recommendations, criteria and criteria set by the National Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Quality in Higher Education. The UNM audit was performed in four areas: Operation of the higher education institution, Staff, Students and Material conditions. The visit was intended to evaluate the institution as a whole and its members / faculties. The second visit to the university in April 2023 will also focus on individual study programs, when we will also assess the area of Internal Quality Assurance and Improvement, Modification, Update and Implementation of Study Programs. The four areas assessed include 17 standards. Expert Group established that UMS meets all necessary requirements within all 17 standards. This means that a group of experts found no partial or even major weaknesses or non-compliances. Nevertheless, the group of experts has identified several opportunities for improvement and pointed out several strengths. In identifying the strengths, we focused on the most evident strengths of UNM, listing a total of 25, but there are certainly more. UNM is a young research and educational university both in Slovenia and internationally. It is the result of the development of colleges and faculties in the Dolenjska region, where the need for local or regional higher education in the form of a university has become apparent. In this respect, UNM enjoys strong support from the local and regional community. Being a smaller university, it allows for very good communication between the members and greater flexibility in decisionmaking and implementation of decisions and activities. Students are above average satisfied with the study process, information flow, Career Centre services and especially with the system of practical and clinical training. The infrastructure or buildings are pleasant with well-equipped lecture rooms and computer rooms and laboratories in the health sciences area. Notwithstanding the many strengths of UNM, we have highlighted over 40 opportunities for improvement that UNM can take advantage of to further develop and improve the quality of the institution. These opportunities relate to practically all the assessment standards, we highlight the more systematic definition and tracking of strategic and shortterm goals, the strengthening of cooperation with the economy in the form of various projects and services and financial support, the involvement and motivation of students in the management of UNM, the involvement of external stakeholders in UNM bodies, more synergies between faculties and research and education areas, more balanced research activities of individual faculties, introduction of annual interviews with employees to monitor their careers, recruitment of more young researchers, more project work by students, increase the capacity and equipment of the laboratories at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, introduction of an open and freely accessible repository, etc. At this point, the members of the group would like to thank all those who made sure that the five-day visit to UNM took place at a very high level: Nataša Kramar, Jožica Kramar and Klemen Šubic - Nakvis experts, UNM management led by Rector prof. dr. Marjan Blažič and all other stakeholders for constructive cooperation in interviews.