The two systems of short-cycle higher vocational colleges and higher education institutions generally function separately, unless the founders are private entities, in which case they tend to intertwine. As an example, there is a private educational institution in Slovenia which incorporates a faculty, vocational college, upper secondary school as well as departments for the education of adults and language learning. They all function under the same patronage. Other examples include private corporations, which connect companies, a vocational college, higher vocational college and a department for the education of adults. They may also carry out research.

Short-cycle higher education

Higher vocational colleges (sl) provide higher vocational education. Public colleges are founded by the state, while private colleges are founded by domestic or non-domestic legal entities or natural persons. Higher vocational colleges may either be independent institutions or organized units of larger educational centres encompassing upper secondary schools or inter-company education centres. The latter enables a closer connection with companies, providing future employment for graduates.

In the school year 2016/2017, there were 28 public and 20 private higher vocational colleges, and a call for enrolment in 31 different study programmes (Eurydice, 2017). 

Higher education

Higher education studies are organised by higher education institutions. The types of higher education institutions include universities, faculties, academies of arts and higher professional colleges. Member institutions of a university include faculties, academies of arts or even higher vocational colleges.

By law the higher education institutions are divided – according to their founder – into public (founded by the state) and private (founded by domestic or non-domestic legal entities or natural persons). All public and private higher education institutions must be accredited with the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (NAKVIS). This is a prerequisite that a higher education institution must meet in order to carry out its activities. In order for a higher education institution to issue formal degrees, the study programmes must be approved by the state, which is achieved through accreditation with the SQAA.

According to the relevant legislation, universities are autonomous, scientific, research oriented, artistic and educational higher education institutions. Their mission is to develop science, professionalism, and arts. Universities are multi-disciplinary institutions, composed of faculties, art academies and higher professional colleges. Through education, they equip their students with knowledge and provide them with competences for further education or employment. They must comply with the criteria for the provision of study programmes of all three cycles.

Faculties perform research and educational activities in fields of one or more related or interconnected scientific disciplines and take great care in their development. Faculties may be established when the requirements for at least two cycles of study (the first and second, or second and third cycle) are met.

Academies of art perform artistic and educational activities in the fields of one or more related or interconnected artistic disciplines and take great care in their development. Academies of art may be established when the requirements for at least two cycles of study (the first and second, or second and third cycle) are met.

Higher professional colleges perform educational activities of one or more related or interlinked trades or occupational fields and take great care in their development. Higher professional colleges may be established when they meet the requirements for at least the first cycle of study. Higher professional colleges may also perform research or artistic activities if this is specified in its charter and meets all the requirements. If the charter stipulates and the accreditation procedure concludes that the college has at its disposal adequate higher education teaching staff and meets the requirements for scientific research or arts, the college may also provide master’s study programmes; otherwise it may provide such programmes in cooperation with universities, faculties or art academies.

All higher education institutions may, in addition to degree programmes, also carry out non-degree supplementary study programmes of lifelong learning. Various forms of informal teaching may also be organized, for example: short courses, summer schools, training programmes, and the like. In such cases, collaboration is arranged with other partners from higher education or economy.

The 2008 and 2009 amendments to the Higher education Act (sl) introduced the possibility of establishing an international association of universities and laid down the requirements for transnational education.

An International association of universities headquartered in the Republic of Slovenia may be founded on the basis of a written agreement by at least one Slovenian university and one accredited university outside the Republic of Slovenia. Co-founders may include other universities or university networks and research organisations. Public Slovenian universities may establish an international university network upon the approval of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. An international association of universities headquartered in the Republic of Slovenia is eligible for the funding of its operation under a specific item of the state budget. If the association of universities provides study programmes, accredited in EU member states, these programmes are considered accredited in Slovenia. However, the programmes must be registered with the SQAA and entered into the register of higher education institutions with the competent ministry for higher education.

Transnational higher education in Slovenia may be executed under contracts between higher education institutions accredited in the Republic of Slovenia and accredited foreign higher education institutions. The higher education institutions accredited in the Republic of Slovenia may also carry out transnational higher education abroad.

The SQAA for higher education provides obligatory components of the contract to implement transnational higher education.