Report summary
The Faculty prepares a self-evaluation report on the functioning of the Faculty and the
implementation of study programmes, in accordance with the UM guidelines. The faculty
also prepares a self-evaluation report for the study programme "Logistics of Systems" at
the 3rd level. The expert group notes that the self-evaluation report of the study
programme should also include an action plan, on the basis of which the effectiveness of
the implementation of measures/activities to improve and update the study programme
could be monitored.
Lecturers regularly implement minor additions to the subjects in the study programme to
reflect the dynamic changes in the field of logistics activity, including updating of resources.
The faculty does not conduct student surveys during the 3rd level studies. In an interview
with the faculty leadership, the programme coordinator and the doctoral students, a group
of experts concluded that the faculty collects the data for the change of the study
programme in an informal way, but the collection of this data is not systematised. The
faculty needs to appropriately formalise the monitoring and collection of 3rd level students'
opinions, comments and suggestions regarding the implementation and content of the
study programme (quality loop). The faculty has several possibilities to collect data from
the students (questionnaires, focus groups or individual interviews with students). It is
useful to consider introducing a self-evaluation survey of study providers, where proposals
for changes and updates to the study programme could be directly identified. It is also
necessary to take an appropriate measure to inform students and external stakeholders
about the contents and measures of self-evaluation report.
The Faculty has established a system for collecting proposals for changes to the study
programme from external stakeholders through the Faculty Programme Council. The
Faculty Programme Council consists of representatives of the project partners and
employers. Minutes are kept at the meetings of the Programme Council. As the Programme
Council has only recently been established, the impact of the proposals to change the study
programme is not yet clear.
The 3rd degree programme "Logistics of Systems" focuses on students' independent work,
which is typical for 3rd degree programmes. Students carry out part of their independent
work in the laboratories of the faculty. The laboratories are appropriately adapted and
equipped for the type of study. As part of the orientation, students carry out various
activities (measurements) in the laboratories. In individual courses, students write and
publish original and transparent scientific articles based on research results. The study is
very individual due to the small number of students. In the interview with the subject
holders, the lack of tutors was highlighted, so the holders suggested reducing the number
of students enrolled.
The students confirmed in the interviews that the accredited hours of lectures and
consultations are indeed conducted in accordance with the curriculum. However, they
would like to see more contact hours in the compulsory courses, as students currently do
a lot of independent work. The faculty does not measure the workload of third level
students with independent work. It would be useful to set up a system to monitor the
workload of students with independent work and compare it with the defined credit points for each course. Each year, mentors and students write a report on their participation and
progress in their studies. The report is submitted to the coordinator of the doctoral
programme. The doctoral students describe the professors as professional, approachable
and responsive. The faculty monitors competences and learning goals based on the
students' scientific publications, but this is only possible in the 2nd and 3rd year, not in the
1st year. The expert group suggests that the faculty introduce a system for monitoring the
achievement of competences and learning goals in the 1st year.
The project office mainly involves students in ARRS projects. Students are also involved in
research in laboratories, or they carry out research with project partners from industry.
The students' research activities are also reflected in their publications in scientific research
publications. In interviews with a group of experts, the 3rd level students emphasised that
they needed to be better informed about the possibilities of participating in different
projects and research.
Based on the documentation provided and interviews with academic staff, it can be
concluded that the Faculty of Logistics at UM has a sufficient number of qualified lecturers
to run the 3rd level doctoral programme. In the period from 2017 to 2021, the Faculty
acquired and implemented seven research and development projects, six development and
research and international projects and two marketing projects. In the last five years, UM
FL acquired projects financed with public funds, funds from abroad or funds from the
business sector with a total value of 993,503.034 EUR. Projects whose leaders are also
holders of third-level study programmes at UM FL are taken into account.
In the interviews, non-teaching staff expressed high motivation for the work and confirmed
that they have guaranteed conditions for professional and personal development. The
University of Maribor prepares "Izpolopolni UM"trainings for staff. Employees receive a
monthly invitation and a training programme.
The Faculty has suitable premises and quality equipment for the implementation of its
mission, vision and goals. The faculty is financially stable. Students are enabled to progress
smoothly and complete their studies if they regularly fulfill their obligations. Before starting
their studies, students sign a special study and supervision agreement with the faculty,
which defines all the rights and obligations of both the student and the faculty. The Faculty
offers scholarships for doctoral studies, both for Slovenian and foreign students. In order
to facilitate the students' progress, it has also introduced a postponement of the payment
of tuition fees until the transfer of scholarship holder.
The expert group concludes that it is necessary to shorten the study period accordingly,
which was also agreed by the faculty leadership during the interviews. The faculty
estimates that the cause is inactive students who have already been asked to finish or
complete their studies. Also due to the experience with inactive students, the faculty has
conversations with students before enrolment in which they try to present to them the
complexity and burden of studying for a third degree.
Lecturers are guaranteed autonomy in teaching and research, which is in accordance with
the Code of Ethics of UM.
In accordance with the 7th standard of Article 12 of the criteria, the Faculty informs
stakeholders about its study programmes and activities through the website.
The selfevaluation report of the faculty is also published on the website, but not the self-evaluation
report of the study programme. As self-evaluation report is an extensive document, the
expert group suggests publishing the summary for the foreign partners in Slovenian and
English.