And habits are reinforced through established and dedicated activities, which is something we, the Faculty of Tourism, University of Ljubljana, continually strive for when it comes to any aspect of quality. Through various activities, FT UM regularly monitors, evaluates, promotes and ensures the development of a quality system (with the PDCA cycle: plan, do, check, act) in all areas of its functioning. Quality assurance is our fundamental value as well as a continuous dynamic process that grows and develops along with the Faculty. It is the responsibility of all stakeholders involved in the higher education system. Through numerous actions as part of the infinite process of continuous improvements, we build and provide quality, always.

FT UM has established a quality system which is appropriate, efficient and comparable within the European higher education sphere. At FT UM, quality is regarded as a priority when it comes to the functioning of the institution and implementation of study programmes. The significance of quality is something that both the FT UM leadership and employees are well-aware of, as they jointly direct and develop the culture of quality. When it comes to quality assurance, FT UM follows the quality guidelines established at the University of Maribor.

The quality of the functioning of FT UM is monitored, assessed and ensured by the FT UM Quality Assessment Committee, which comprises 9 members from among higher education teachers/associates, students and representatives of non-teaching staff.

Our concern for quality development is guided by high ethical standards, social and academic responsibility and emphasis on the significance of high-quality teaching, research and project work. In our work, we monitor the implementation of the Faculty’s vision and strategic orientation, and actively point out opportunities to improve work and raise the quality at a systemic level. We summarise our findings, in cooperation with other stakeholders, annually in a self-evaluation report, in which we assess the quality of the functioning of all Faculty areas. A regular and systematic self-evaluation process is also the foundation for comprehensive planning and adoption of measures to raise the quality of the Faculty’s functioning.

“Self-evaluation is the first step in the evaluation process and a basic step in the implementation of the internal evaluation process” (Article 4 of the Regulations on quality assessment at the University of Maribor). The purpose of self-evaluation is to constantly maintain, promote and improve the quality of educational and research work, and it provides a rational basis for professional decision-making and development planning pertaining to quality.

In annual self-evaluation, we assess, in accordance with self-evaluation criteria, five key areas: functioning of the higher education institution and integration with local interests, HR, staff, students, material conditions and internal quality assurance and improvement, modification, updating and implementation of study programmes.

Internal programme evaluations are independent evaluations of study programmes conducted by the University of Maribor periodically whereby each study programme is evaluated at least once during a 5-year period. Internal programme evaluation represents the preparation of a university member for external evaluations, and at the same time, through internal programme evaluations, the University of Maribor gains an external and independent view of achieving the set goals of the study programme and verifies the effectiveness of its internal quality system.

Within the internal programme evaluation, the evaluated study programmes, their implementation, achievement of set goals and the needs of students and society are independently evaluated. As a rule, study programmes are evaluated according to the same criteria as used for the self-evaluation of study programmes, while at the same time, the progress made since the last external and/or internal evaluation and the effectiveness of the internal quality system of the university member are evaluated within the internal programme evaluation.

The basis for evaluation is a self-evaluation report of the study programme that contains an evaluation of the areas of assessment. The visit of the Internal Evaluation Committee includes discussions between members of the Internal Evaluation Committee and teaching and non-teaching staff, the leadership of the university member faculty, representatives of students, graduates and external stakeholders.

Training and attending to the career development of employees is of exceptional importance for quality assurance in all fundamental areas of the Faculty. 

To pursue and achieve strategic objectives in quality assurance, the leadership of FT intensively encourages all employees to take part in training and education organised by the University of Maribor and other organisations, and encourages international teaching and expert exchange.

The Faculty is aware of the significance of a safe and encouraging work environment and devotes appropriate attention to working conditions, the health and well-being of employees in their workspaces and the resulting improvement of satisfaction at work, which the Faculty checks through annual surveys on employee satisfaction.

The FT Quality Assessment Committee monitors and promotes quality assurance in all areas of the Faculty’s functioning, and is actively involved in all evaluation processes of the Faculty, as well as in regular annual self-evaluations. The Committee’s key tasks include quality assessment, active highlighting of improvement opportunities and monitoring fulfilment of the plan of adopted measures aimed at raising the quality of work.

It also strives to regularly inform stakeholders and include all FT employees and students in efforts to raise the culture of quality at the Faculty. The Committee consists of representatives of all major interest groups, i.e. representatives of higher education teachers and associates, administrative and specialist staff, and students.