Report summary
The group of experts examined the application for the extension of the accreditation of the
higher education institution, examined the premises and spoke with several groups of
stakeholders of the higher education institution. It adopted a decision to propose to the
Council of NAKVIS to extend the accreditation to the higher education institution, as the
provisions from Articles 12 to 15 of the Accreditation and External Evaluation of Higher
Education Institutions and Study Programs are fulfilled. The report mentions the type of
advantages of study program, equipment and premises. The students' satisfaction with the
way of education and acquired knowledge was evident, as well as the enthusiasm of the
employees. Graduates of the institute are predominantly employed in the local
environment, with a number of them working on their own farms. A significant number are
also employed by the Institute. Due to the scholarship paying nature of the studies, the
number of students was modest until 2023, but they are satisfied with the flexibility of the
studies. As of the academic year 2022/23, the Institute has become a state-established
institution, so the number of students enrolled has increased considerably, and the group
of experts has made many suggestions for improvement, also in the spirit of the changed
operating conditions due to the expected increase in the number of full-time students
enrolled in the coming years. At the Grm Center, students have excellent study conditions
and equipment, and the excellent professional orientation of the thesis is evident. The
group of experts also proposes some opportunities for improvement; including the need to
encourage staff to engage in more research, with some relief from teaching and
organizational work. The library stock is improving, but at least all the compulsory
curriculum literature needs to be added and access to databases needs to be gained. At
the institute, lecturers are predominantly contracted through part-time agreements. It
would be good to increase the proportion of own employees over time.