Inženiring in avtomobilska industrija

The expert group reviewed the submitted documentation, visited the faculty premises, and conducted interviews with involved stakeholders during the evaluation of the doctoral study program Engineering and Automotive Industry at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto (FINI). The evaluation was based on the previous NAKVIS evaluation dated 11.7.2023. The study program was not carried out for many years due to a lack of student enrollment. The expert group finds that FINI renewed the doctoral study program at the end of 2023 and has a total of 5 students enrolled in the 2024/25 academic year. The self-evaluation reports attached to the application only cover the periods when the doctoral study program was not carried out, therefore its evaluation is poorer and contains blanket action plans without measurable goals. In any case, the renewal of the program and the revival of enrollment are a sign of progress in the quality of the study program. When reviewing quality standards, the group of experts found that FINI meets most of the standards, but there are opportunities for improvement. FINI quickly implemented, to a certain extent, the findings and comments made by the expert group during their evaluation visit immediately after the visit. In their response to the first report, FINI already demonstrated progress by overhauling curricula, improving the self-evaluation report, and better implementing the quality loop according to NAKVIS criteria, which leads to an action plan with measurable goals. Nevertheless, some areas in the curricula still require better coordination between subjects and an update and harmonization of literature with the study level. The rapid overhaul also introduced an inconsistency in the too-broad specification of mandatory literature. Given the small number of students, it is recommended to adjust curricula and the method of pedagogical process implementation accordingly, to adequately educate pedagogical staff on this as needed, and to ensure the recording of actual contact hours. After the visit and the first report, FINI also demonstrated the physical accessibility of all mandatory literature. Research equipment for conducting doctoral students' research is available partly at FINI, partly at the Rudolfovo Institute and partly at the students' primary employers. The expert group assessed the equipment at the Rudolfovo Institute as modern and suitable for research at the third level of study. In interviews with teachers, students and professional staff, a high level of satisfaction with the studies and the organization of work at the faculty was found. Also, external stakeholders, who mainly represented local business companies, are satisfied with the cooperation with FINI and assess that the quality of the study has increased in the recent period.