Tehnologije tekstilnega oblikovanja

During the review of the Textile Design Technologies (TDT) study program, the group of experts did not find any deficiencies that could not be eliminated within two years. At the same time, the experts also identified some opportunities for improvement. The general good management and the formed organizational, administrative and management structure are clearly visible. The focus of the study program on students ensures that the program is adapted to their needs and, in most cases, provides them with the necessary knowledge and skills in the modern, developing field of materials. The study program turned out to be partially outdated, since it was not changed more precisely since its establishment in 2005. There are certainly needs for graduates of this program but for this purpose it is necessary to partially reform the study program according to the needs of the external environment and harmonize it with the needs and with modern technological and economic challenges. Updating curricula is essential for the actualization of the educational environment. From the interviews and the analysis of the curricula, it is clear that the program has not undergone major changes since 2008. Minor changes such as changing the subject from elective to core have been implemented. As a result, the basic literature, which in some cases is also not available in the library, was not supplemented or updated. In order to assess the adequacy of the implementation of the study program, they conduct annual surveys among students, which are not mandatory. In addition, they have a system solution for monitoring and providing comments with year tutors, which the students highly praised. The students also pointed out that they feel that they are being heard, and that the problems they are addressing are really being solved. Since it is an informal solution to problems, it would be good to upgrade this type of activity by recording and statistically processing such complaints, and to include them in content in the annual self-evaluation reports. Surveys are conducted annually among employees, and it would be advisable to extend them to external employees as well. At the same time, it is necessary to conduct surveys among external stakeholders (companies and organizations with which they cooperate in the implementation of practical training, as well as alumni). In the study program, they are faced with a lower enrollment, which they have been improving in recent years through proactive action. On average, in recent years, they have enrolled 10 students per year. In the academic year 2023/2024, they have 19 students enrolled in all three years. It is necessary to strengthen enrollment and check the reasons for lower enrollment. The latter is certainly also the result of the study program not being updated since 2008. At the same time, it is recommended to analyze the modernity of the contents of the two study modules on the program and the expediency of their implementation as study modules and not as independent study programs with a more focused specialization, which would enable more numerous interdisciplinary connections. The workload of students is checked with annual surveys. On the basis of surveys and interviews with students, it was possible to understand that their workloads are appropriate, even if a greater workload appears in a certain period, but the professors and management of the institute listen to them and adjust their obligations. The need for specific skills in the external environment can be detected from the interview with external stakeholders. They are partially included in the Strategic Council, in which they are supposed to give their opinions for the improvement of the study program. Given that the Strategic Council includes companies that are connected to various study programs at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, it would make sense to systematize the methods of interviews with companies that the TDT program cooperates with or recognizes as relevant external partners. Partial feedback is already obtained through the manager of practical training, whereby we note that it would be reasonable to strengthen this type of activity and recognize it as key to determining knowledge and employment needs, and to include the findings in self-evaluation reports. As part of the program, Design Week is organized every year, which is widely recognized and includes foreign students. In addition, the CEEPUS winter school is highly praised and highlighted. Since it is a professional higher education program, the emphasis is on artistic and professional work, so it would be advisable to develop more innovative international projects on two already established projects/events. SARs must be documents that are the basis for updating study programs and are not just lists of events. Some of the data highlighted in the interviews indicated that the contents of the SEP are more generic in nature and less of a basis for upgrading the study program. In the documents, it is necessary to clearly define the implementation of the priorities, their timelines and identify the persons responsible for their implementation. The quality loop is formally closed. The group of experts recommends greater involvement of external stakeholders. The action plan is loose and insufficiently concrete. In action plans, goals should be more measurable, specific, realistic and time-definable. It is necessary to determine the responsible persons and time periods for the implementation of the measures, as well as to set SMART goals. Experts recommend the implementation of mandatory general satisfaction surveys for students, as they would be a welcome tool for obtaining feedback on student views on the integrity of the study program. It would be necessary to organize meetings with companies of the local environment about the needs of the environment and their formalization in the action plan. It is necessary to ensure greater involvement of external stakeholders in the renewal and updating of the study program, which also includes the dissemination and concretization of Article 1.24 of the action plan "Intensive cooperation with the economy and other industries in the construction of pedagogical and research infrastructure". The study program changes too slowly. Changes are not agreed on a calendar basis, but based on informal discussions at the chair. From the conversation with the alumni, it is clear that the program offers breadth of knowledge and interdisciplinarity, but at the same time indicates the need to consider the development of two independent study programs that would develop specific competencies required by the rapidly changing external environment. Certain subjects were mentioned by the students as general and unnecessary and they point out the lack of specific subjects that would prepare them for professional life (e.g. knowledge of marketing, product evaluation and branding). The added value of program promotion is also in the recognition of external experts and lecturers who participate in the program. The specificity of the study program is the parallel development of technical and design skills. The lack of staff for design subjects has been highlighted, which has been partially successfully solved in recent years by employing assistants and external collaborators. The program has a well-developed personnel plan for the successful implementation of the study program. In order to ensure the relevance of the program in the long term, it is recommended to regularly update the equipment in accordance with the latest trends in the field of textiles and specific production processes. The scientific and research work is of high quality, which is particularly evident in the Materials and Textile Technologies module. Students evaluate the library's stocking well, but emphasize that they use it very little, as they obtain basic material directly from professors by e-mail. It was noticeable that the stocking of the library with certain basic literature was partially deficient, which needs to be taken care of. The flexibility of the professors regarding exam deadlines and obligations, as well as their responsiveness and openness, is praised. The quality of students' information about events at the faculty is highlighted. A group of experts identified opportunities for improvement. It was evident from the documentation that students' problems with certain professors are being successfully resolved, that the management has taken appropriate action and that things are being resolved appropriately. They continue to look for suitable personnel to carry out pedagogical work. When reviewing the taxonomic levels of learning objectives, experts noticed that it is necessary to elaborate more on specific competencies and learning objectives. There is an urgent need to review the basic and additional study literature and update it and renew it on an annual basis. Students point out the need for knowledge of higher taxonomic levels (so that it is not only about "understanding", but students are also shown the usefulness of this knowledge and apply this knowledge in the real world). Students are satisfied with the schedule, they say that it is sufficiently up-to-date and stable, but they report frequent inaccessibility of the schedule website, which indicates the need for improvements in the functioning of the schedule website. Students are not well informed about the possibilities of using the status of a student with special needs. Experts suggest an improvement in this area, to add a notice that includes information about the request to the notices sent at the beginning of the year. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen efforts to adopt an environment of academic inclusiveness and respect for diversity. A group of experts proposes a radical overhaul of the study program, while the fundamental goals and competencies should remain similar, with the necessary updating and upgrading of the contents. In view of the differences between the two fields of study modules, a group of experts suggests considering the transformation of the two modules into more coherent study program. The formalization and consistent implementation of the quality assurance process at the level of the existing study program in accordance with the institutional process will, in the long term, ensure the priority of the content education currently implemented by the program and provide new momentum for the program and the competitiveness of its graduates on the labor market.