Report summary
VM Bled carries out a self-evaluation for each academic year (the last self-
evaluation report for the academic year 2022/2022). The report analyses the
implementation of the study programme, the progress of students during their
studies, employability, the number and structure of students and the average
marks of exams. The self-evaluation report also includes the implementation of
the action plan for the school year 2021/2022 and the action plan for the next
school year 2022/2023. The system of cooperation of internal and external
stakeholders includes the cooperation of the Quality Commission with the high
school management, the teachers and the students, who have their own
representative in the Commission, but also the cooperation of the departments in
preparing proposals for changes in the study programme. The expert group notes
that it is necessary to introduce additional forms (focus groups of students,
internship mentors, employers, graduates) for collecting information and proposals
for improving and updating the contents of the study programmes with current
trends in the tourism profession. The current self-evaluation of the study
programmes only partially enables the development and updating of the study
programmes with the aim of keeping them up to date, as the contents of the study
programmes have not changed during the last accreditation period. The
programme does not satisfactorily map new, current changes dictated by the
profession. The results of the evaluation of the study programmes are reflected in
measures in the area of implementation of the study programme (responsiveness
and opening hours of work, responsiveness of lecturers, publication of materials in
e-classrooms), where the quality agreement is concluded, but also in changes and
improvements in the content and timeliness of the study programme. As a result,
the objectives and competences as well as the vertical and horizontal connectivity
remained the same. Considering the development of the professional profile in the
field of tourism and hotel management, it would be useful to examine whether
sustainable tourism, as a fundamental strategy for the development of tourism in
Slovenia and in the world, finds an appropriate place in the third year of study. We
suggest that the area of sustainable development and ecology in tourism should
be placed in the 1st year of study, as the consideration of sustainable development
also touches on other areas and processes in tourism that students learn about in
other subjects. At the same time, the evaluated study programmes do not include
sufficient content related to digitalisation, which is a fundamental guideline for the
future development of tourism and at the same time one of the basic competences
of employees in tourism. The fact that the VM Bled has not identified any actual
professional and developmental changes in tourism in the last 5 years, despite the
collection and analysis of feedback from various stakeholders involved in the
pedagogical process, suggests that the forms and methods of updating the study
programmes at the VM Bled are not effective enough.
The students at the VM Bled are part-time students, most of whom have full-time
or part-time jobs. For this reason, the studies are adapted and mostly take place
in the afternoon. The studies are even better adapted to the students when they
do their work at weekends, which was also confirmed by the students in the
interviews. According to the results of the evaluation for the 3rd. standard, the
experts note that the course holders incorporate the latest professional knowledge,
literature and trends in the implementation of their courses, but this is not evident
in the syllabi as they are not updated with newer sources and literature. The
prescribed literature/sources are usually older than 15 years. Based on the
statements of the lecturers and the management of the institution that they
purchase new literature according to the need, it is expected that the syllabi will
also be updated accordingly.
When reviewing the curricula of both study programmes, an expert group
concluded that there is no obvious possibility of optionality of 10 ECTS from other
study programmes or external optionality.
In an interview with an expert group, students confirmed that most of the study
material is accessible in the online classroom, but the expert group also concluded
in interviews with other stakeholders that the VM Bled does not provide access to
electronic databases and professional databases, which would be accessible
electronic professional resources and professional articles in the field of tourism,
hotel management and medical tourism for students and teachers. Access to
electronic databases and professional articles is a basic adaptation for students to
develop professional competences independently. This is particularly important as
all curricula include many hours for independent work.
The VM Bled states that it enables professional work by students, although a group
of experts has found in interviews with students that this does not take place to a
sufficient extent in practise. In the period since the last accreditation, no
professional projects with students have been carried out at the VM Bled, with the
exception of the professional project on the effects of the pandemic with the virus
COVID 19 on alcohol consumption among young adults (20-30 years). The expert
group notes that 1 project in the last accreditation period involving students of the
VM Bled is not sufficient to fulfill the criterion of students working on professional
projects. The participating students and graduates were not familiar with the
project in the interview with the expert group.
The possibility of transferring at least 10 ECTS from compulsory or elective
subjects from one study program to another is not sufficiently recognisable in the
curriculum, which is inconsistent with Article 6 of the criteria for Credit Evaluation
of Study Programs according to ECTS.
The development of the professional field of tourism, hotel management and
medical tourism is limited and modest, also due to the fact that about 1/3 of the
contract lecturers have no professional work in their professional field, which would
be evident from publications.
As a rule, the VM Bled provides all necessary information for various internal and
external stakeholders via the website. In addition, internal stakeholders are also
informed via e-classrooms and e-mail. The website also provides the subject lists
of the study programmes and summaries of the self-evaluation reports, but there
is no access to the curricula.
An expert group assesses whether the organisation of work and the
implementation of the pedagogical process at the VM Bled are appropriate and
adapted to part-time students. During the evaluation process, the expert group
identified many opportunities to improve and develop the quality of the assessed
study programmes. The institution can realise opportunities for improvement and
also most of the findings defined as partial fulfillment of quality standards. Of
concern is the insufficient activity in the area of tourism development, hotel
management and medical tourism. As highlighted in the report, 1 realised
professional project in the last accreditation period is insufficient to meet the
quality standards. The lack of professional development is also reflected in the
study programmes, which have not changed in content during the last
accreditation period. A comprehensive and systematic approach to the
development of professional activities needs to be organised at the VM Bled, based
on the implementation of professional projects and activities. A group of experts
estimates that the VM Bled will have difficulties to realise this with the current
resources.