eqar.eu
Database
Search
By provider
Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Novo mesto

Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Novo mesto

Fakulteta za industrijski inženiring Novo mesto

Basic information

Identifiers
- DEQARINST2361
- SI0054
- SI-ETER.BAS.NATID: 19
- Erasmus: SI NOVO-ME11
- SCHAC: fini-unm.si
- Erasmus-Charter: E10090910
- EU-PIC: 949406319
- EU-VAT: 93627076
- WHED: IAU-022396
Provider type

higher education institution
Legal seat(s)

Novo Mesto, Slovenia
Website

http://www.fini-unm.si/en/
Founding year

2011
QF-EHEA levels

third cycle, second cycle, first cycle
Permalink

https://data.deqar.eu/institution/2361

National External Quality Assurance Requirements

Accreditation of a study programme
is granted for an indefinite period or the application is denied.
Re-accreditation of a higher education institution
is granted for a period of maximum five years (or less) or, if quality standards are not meet the accreditation is denied.
Initial accreditation of a higher education institutions
is granted for a period of five years or, if quality standards are not meet, the application is denied.
Accreditation of changes of higher education institutions
Changes to another type, merger by acquisition, merger by the formation of a new entity or division of higher education institutions, changing the location in Slovenia
Further information on external quality assurance in Slovenia

External Quality Assurance Reports and Decisions

Filter reports

Institutional level

2 reports

Results per page

Institutional re-accreditation

DEQAR Report ID

114173
Agency

Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency (SQAA)
Type
- Re-accreditation of higher education institutions
Status

part of obligatory EQA system
Formal decision

positive with conditions or restrictions
Date

19/09/2024
Valid until

30/09/2028
Summary

Report summary

The Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto was founded with the vision of becoming a recognised and distinctive higher education institution in the field of engineering sciences with a focus on achieving a high quality level of teaching, scientific research and professional work, continuous improvement of the educational and academic structure of staff and the knowledge of graduates, the development of innovative and internationally comparable study and research programmes, and intensive international cooperation with involvement in the global education and research space. The evaluation shows that the key objectives have not been met and that the institution does not have a clear vision of how to achieve them. In the area of teaching, the Faculty is regressing. Two of the four accredited study programmes are not running at all, while enrolment in the other two is declining. This academic year, only two students are enrolled in the first year of the Master's degree programme. The reasons for this situation are multifaceted, but the institution does not even identify them in the self-evaluation process, let alone analyse them and draw up an action plan for corrective measures. The recent renewal of all four study programmes was carried out on an ad-hoc basis, without a clear vision of what the institution wanted to achieve and without a thorough analysis of the current situation involving all stakeholders. Scientific research within the Faculty is carried out at a very modest level, which does not provide adequate conditions for doctoral studies, nor for studies at master's level. In addition, the study process is carried out almost exclusively at a distance, which is unique in the field of technical sciences, at least among recognised and prominent higher education institutions, in the local and global educational space. Indeed, it is very difficult to imagine studying engineering nowadays without appropriate laboratory exercises on suitable research equipment. The staffing structure of the Faculty has been constantly changing in recent years, with no lecturers employed on a full-time basis. Most of them are only on a contractual basis with the Faculty, and their primary mission is usually carried out at other institutions, while some are already retired. With this staffing structure, the Faculty currently meets the minimum legal conditions for the implementation of all accredited study programmes, only after the accreditation of a university programme was withdrawn in the process of the renewal of the institutional accreditation. However, such a staffing structure cannot guarantee an adequate level of scientific research and the transfer of new knowledge into the study process. Taking into account the material conditions, the available staff potential at the institution and in the environment (experts in companies) and, last but not least, the interest of potential students and the economy, without radical changes that cannot be implemented in a very short period of time, it makes sense to further develop only the high professional education study programme, which, in the given circumstances, is the only one with a long-term perspective. This programme also needs to be radically renewed, and the starting point for this renewal must be a consistent and thorough self-evaluation of the current situation, in which all stakeholders must be involved.

The Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto was founded with the vision of becoming a recognised and distinctive higher education institution in the field of engineering sciences with a focus on achieving a high quality level of teaching, scientific research and professional work, continuous improvement of the educational and academic structure of staff and the knowledge of graduates, the dev...
Report and decision
- Evaluation report (Slovenian)
Permalink

https://data.deqar.eu/report/114173
Agency's identifier

6031-6/2023/18 - PA zavod
Verifiable Credential
- DEQAR format

Programme level

7 programmes

Results per page

Inženiring in avtomobilska industrija (third cycle degree)

Qualification/award
- Doctorate
Level

third cycle (NQF 10)
Programme type

Full recognised degree programme

DEQAR Report ID

100022
Agency

Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency (SQAA)
Type
- External (sample) evaluation of a study programme
Status

part of obligatory EQA system
Formal decision

not applicable
Date

21/09/2023
Valid until

not applicable
Summary

Report summary

The assessed study program was accredited in 2016. Since then, only three students have been enrolled in it, and none of them successf ully completed their studies. The program has not been implemented in the last f ive years. However, the f aculty only began to take action at the end of 2022 when it conducted a very limited evaluation of the program with a f ocus group, which included only the course instructors. Despite the conclusion of the evaluation that f urther measures are not necessary, a working group f or the renovation of the study program was appointed in January 2023, but the goals and starting points of this renovation are not clearly def ined. A thorough analysis of the reasons why there are no students enrolled in the study program was not presented in the evaluation process. There are certainly multiple reasons. The tuition f ee, which currently amounts to 4,830 EUR per year, is undoubtedly too high. The condition that the program will only be implemented if at least 5 students are enrolled is completely unrealistic, as is the additional knowledge assessment in the f orm of a written exam in case of enrolment limitations. The possibility of conducting the program in English, which could attract f oreign students, is also not f oreseen. Surely, the reasons f or the lack of attractiveness are also related to the content and structure of the assessed study program. The name of the assessed study program, "Engineering & Automotive Industry," is not ref lected in the curriculum. If the institution wants to f ill a market gap and of f er a specif ic study program, it needs to thoroughly renovate it and prof ile it in a way that will actually enable the study of content that aligns with the program's name, while appropriately adjusting the program's classif ication. In response to the preliminary report, the institution states that “the name of the study program does not necessarily prejudge its content”, but the group of experts disagrees with this viewpoint. The commission of experts proposes the implementation of a SWOT analysis f or the assessed study program, which will provide an in-depth insight into the current state in the environment, including beyond the region. Only based on such an analysis is it pos sible to def ine realistic goals that will serve as a starting point f or a thorough program renovation involving all stakeholders. The key question, however, is whether FINI has the appropriate human resources, research, and inf rastructure potential f or such a doctoral study program. The f indings of this evaluation do not conf irm that. Relying on the establishment of an University in Novo mesto, which is expected to provide them with the necessary potential, is misguided because the procedures and timeline f or the potential establishment of a n university are not in the hands of the institution, which should strive to enter any newly es tablished entity in the best possible "condition." In this regard, the Quality Commission will also play an important role, as it must take on a more active role in establishing an appropriate quality cycle, which is currently not complete. In response to the preliminary report, the institution states that "it is working, together with other institutes in the region, to establish a public university in Novo mesto, but it does not rely on this, which is also proven by the continuity of past work". However, due to the non-implementation of the assessed study program in the last f ive years, it is hard to discuss its continuity. The possible establishing of the University of Novo mesto has been mentioned multiple times in interviews and indirectly ref erred to in the response to the preliminary report, where the institution justif ies the renovation of the study program based on current changes in the local environment. Hence, we f ind the preceding paragraph's f indings appropriate.

The assessed study program was accredited in 2016. Since then, only three students have been enrolled in it, and none of them successf ully completed their studies. The program has not been implemented in the last f ive years. However, the f aculty only began to take action at the end of 2022 when it conducted a very limited evaluation of the program with a f ocus group, which included only the co...
Report and decision
- Evaluation report (Slovenian)
Permalink

https://data.deqar.eu/report/100022
Agency's identifier

6034-10/2023/8
Verifiable Credential
- DEQAR format

Inženiring in avtomobilska industrija (second cycle degree)

Qualification/award
- Master
Level

second cycle (NQF 8)
Programme type

Full recognised degree programme

DEQAR Report ID

114172
Agency

Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency (SQAA)
Type
- Extraordinary evaluation of study programmes
Status

part of obligatory EQA system
Formal decision

not applicable
Date

19/09/2024
Valid until

not applicable
Summary

Report summary

When the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto was founded, its vision stated, among other things, that it wanted to become a recognised and distinctive higher education institution in the field of engineering sciences with a focus on achieving a high quality level of teaching, scientific research and professional work, continuous improvement of the educational and academic structure of staff and the knowledge of graduates, the development of innovative and internationally comparable study and research programmes, and intensive international cooperation with links to the global education and research space. The Master's degree programme in Engineering and Automotive Industry was launched at FINI in the academic year 2016/17. If the title of the programme could be attributed to innovation, this unfortunately cannot be said of its content, especially as the Faculty repeatedly promotes it as a degree in mechanical engineering, although in terms of content and international comparability this is certainly not the case. Neither is the institution's scientific research activity, which must be the cornerstone of the study process at the Master's study level, internationally comparable. The two main reasons for the unsatisfactory level of scientific research are inadequate staffing and inadequate material conditions, both in terms of the financial resources available and in terms of the research equipment available. While enrolment figures have been fairly stable in recent years, with the total number of students hovering around 20, it is worrying to note that this academic year only two students are enrolled in the first year of the programme. The programme under assessment is delivered as a part-time programme, mainly by distance learning. It is very difficult to speak of a combined form of study, as most of the laboratory exercises, which are already very sparsely timetabled in the curricula, are also carried out at a distance, which is unacceptable in a technical course. The recent curriculum overhaul, which was carried out without a thorough analysis of the existing situation and has not yet been put into practice, has not brought about any significant improvement in this area. On the other hand, by changing the programme's orientation from automotive to sustainable economy, it represents a departure from the strategic objectives set without documented reasons and without a revision of the strategic documents, including a change in the programme's name. Given the material conditions, which do not allow the second degree programme to achieve an adequate level of scientific research and teaching, and the available human resources, which are too limited for a serious approach to the development and implementation of the Master's degree programme, insisting on the implementation of the programme under review is a burden that prevents the institution from focusing all its energy on developing an activity for which it realistically has the appropriate conditions, which it should make better use of. We believe that a thorough self-evaluation of the study programme, involving all stakeholders, would show the same conclusion. There are simply too many serious shortcomings in this report that cannot be ignored and cannot be remedied in a shorter period of time, because some of the key ones, such as the lack of adequate staff, are also beyond the direct influence of the institution.

When the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto was founded, its vision stated, among other things, that it wanted to become a recognised and distinctive higher education institution in the field of engineering sciences with a focus on achieving a high quality level of teaching, scientific research and professional work, continuous improvement of the educational and academic structure of sta...
Report and decision
- Evaluation report (Slovenian)
Permalink

https://data.deqar.eu/report/114172
Agency's identifier

6031-6/2023/18 - program IAI_2
Verifiable Credential
- DEQAR format

Inženiring in vozila (first cycle degree)

Qualification/award
- Bachelor
Level

first cycle (NQF 7)
Programme type

Full recognised degree programme

DEQAR Report ID

114170
Agency

Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency (SQAA)
Type
- Extraordinary evaluation of study programmes
Status

part of obligatory EQA system
Formal decision

not applicable
Date

19/09/2024
Valid until

not applicable
Summary

Report summary

When the Faculty of Industrial Engineering in Novo mesto was founded, its vision stated, among other things, the desire to become a recognized and prominent higher education institution in the field of technical sciences, focusing on achieving high-quality levels of pedagogical and professional work through innovative and internationally comparable study programs. The professional higher education study program in Engineering and Vehicles was launched at FINI in the academic year 2011/12. While the program title may imply innovation, unfortunately, the same cannot be claimed for its content, especially since the Faculty consistently promotes it as a mechanical engineering study, which, in terms of content and international comparability, it is not. The program has not met expectations in terms of recognition, as enrolment numbers have sharply declined. In the academic year 2017/18, a total of 104 students were enrolled in the program, but by the academic year 2023/24, the number had decreased to only 51. The programme under assessment is delivered as a part-time programme, mainly by distance learning. It is very difficult to speak of a combined form of study, as most of the laboratory exercises, which are already very sparsely timetabled in the curricula, are also carried out at a distance, which is unacceptable in a technical course. The recent curriculum overhaul, which was carried out without a thorough analysis of the existing situation and has not yet been put into practice, has not brought about any significant improvement in this area. On the other hand, by changing the programme's orientation from automotive to sustainable economy, it represents a departure from the strategic objectives set without documented reasons and without a revision of the strategic documents, including a change in the programme's name. Considering the underutilized material resources, available human potential within the institution and the environment (experts in companies), and, not least, the interest of potential students and the industry, the evaluated higher education professional study program certainly has prospects for further development. However, to realize this potential, the institution must conduct a thorough self-evaluation of the study program involving all stakeholders. Based on this evaluation, an appropriate action plan for necessary measures should be developed, providing the program with a new impetus, and enabling the institution to fulfil its stated vision. This report contains numerous recommendations that should be considered in this process.

When the Faculty of Industrial Engineering in Novo mesto was founded, its vision stated, among other things, the desire to become a recognized and prominent higher education institution in the field of technical sciences, focusing on achieving high-quality levels of pedagogical and professional work through innovative and internationally comparable study programs. The professional higher education...
Report and decision
- Evaluation report (Slovenian)
Permalink

https://data.deqar.eu/report/114170
Agency's identifier

6031-6/2023/18 - program IIV_1 VS
Verifiable Credential
- DEQAR format

Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Novo mesto

Fakulteta za industrijski inženiring Novo mesto

Basic information

Erasmus Institution Code

SCHema for Academia

Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE)

Participant Identification Code (PIC)

EU VAT number

IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED)

National External Quality Assurance Requirements

External Quality Assurance Reports and Decisions

Filter reports

Institutional level

Results per page

Report summary

Programme level

Results per page

Report summary

Report summary

Report summary

Did you find the information you were looking for?

Verifiable Credentials