Report summary
FZAB has started the implementation the third level PhD program of Health Sciences in the
2017-2018 academic year. It is conducted part-time at the dislocated unit of Study Center
in Ljubljana. The study program is vertically and horizontally interconnected, so that the
content is horizontally interwoven and vertically upgraded. At the beginning of the study
program, students acquire theoretical knowledge for the transition from professional
practice to academia when they develop the topic of a PhD thesis and conduct research.
The study program is also guided by experts from foreign universities who provide students
with current content of the field covered by each subject. So far, 31 students are enrolled
in the study program, two of whom already have a fixed topic for their doctoral thesis. The
most important reason for the low number of advanced students was perceived by FZAB
in their unrealistic view of the complexity of studies and the unequal level of prior
knowledge of research methodology, which it has already addressed with appropriate
measures (interview, new methodological subject).
Students have access to the required literature located in the on-site library and to
international bibliographic databases. They are involved in research projects of the faculty
and have published 34 scientific papers since their matriculation. The faculty provides a
sufficient number of mentors who meet the conditions set out in the doctoral regulations.
The quality of work and satisfaction of all those involved in the implementation of the study
program is determined by the FZAB through a survey and the results are published in the
evaluation reports for each academic year. The study program is evaluated annually, with
minor changes that do not alter the written competencies. Full renewal of the program of
study will begin after five academic years, at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year,
and will include renewal of the curriculum, method of testing proficiency, and learning
outcomes deemed necessary based on the results of the evaluation reports.