Report summary
The external evaluation of study programmes Engineering and Management 1st and 2nd
level from University of Nova Gorica (UNG) 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 evaluation was carried out in
five standards: Internal quality assurance and enhancement of the study programme
(standard 1 and 2), Changes and updates of the study programme (standard 3) and
Delivery of the study programme (standard 4 and 5). Group of experts established that
both study programmes meet all necessary requirement within all five standards. This
means that group of experts found no partial or even major weaknesses or noncompliances. Nevertheless, the group of experts has identified several opportunities for
improvement and pointed our several strengths.
In identifying the strengths, we focused on the most evident strengths of study
programmes and UNG, listing a total of 6, but there are certainly more. Many strengths of
both study programmes and faculty are direct consequence of strengths and excellence of
UNG as a whole, where we first emphasize the fact that UNG is an excellent and reputable
research and educational university both in Slovenia and internationally. Especially in the
field of research, they achieve excellent results in terms of their size, and their structure
of financial resources also shows excellence in obtaining funds for research work. UNG is
an above-average faculty in Slovenian higher education area in terms of the number of
foreign students and staff. They have a unique internal organization that enables good
communication between members and greater flexibility in making and implementing
decisions and carrying out activities. The ratio between the number of students and staff
is favourable. Students are above average satisfied with the study process, the quality and
responsiveness of the teaching staff and the system of practical training. The same applies
to the library's infrastructure and services, with an open and freely accessible repository
in particular. In terms of infrastructure, we additionally emphasize excellent ICT equipment
for full online and hybrid learning and teaching. Within bot study programmes we
additionally point out upgrading study contents with important topics from digitization and
new technologies.
Regardless of the many strengths, we have highlighted 13 opportunities for improvement,
which faculty can use for further development and quality of both study programmes.
These opportunities apply to virtually all assessment standards, where we especially point
out possibilities to upgrade processes for monitoring and ensuring quality of both study
programs. There is a gap between informal and formal approaches to quality assurance,
where the preparation of the self-evaluation report does not follow the actual
improvements in the quality of both study programs. There is also a need to increase
information flow on the results of the self-evaluation report and to involve students even
more intensively in the entire quality circle at the faculty. We additionally emphasize the
need to analyse the number of offered elective courses and the approach of offering
elective courses. We also recommend additional mechanisms for the promotion of the
study program and the profile of the Engineering and Management graduate.
At this point, the members of the group would like to thank all those who made sure that
the five-day visit to UNG took place at a very high level: Nataša Kramar, Gregor Rebernik
and Klemen Šubic - Nakvis experts, UNG management led by Rector prof. dr. Danilo
Zavrtanik, the dean of School of Engineering and Management prof. dr. Tanja Urbančič and
all other stakeholders for constructive cooperation in interviews.