Medijske umetnosti in prakse

The external evaluation of study program Digital Arts and Practices 2nd level from University of Nova Gorica (UNG) was carried out by a group of experts in accordance with the recommendations, criteria and criteria set by the National Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Quality in Higher Education. The evaluation was carried out in five standards: Internal quality assurance and enhancement of the study programme (standard 1 and 2), Changes and updates of the study programme (standard 3) and Delivery of the study programme (standard 4 and 5). Group of experts established that both study programmes meet all necessary requirement within all five standards. This means that group of experts found no partial or even major weaknesses or non-compliances. Nevertheless, the group of experts has identified several opportunities for improvement and pointed our several strengths. In identifying the strengths, we focused on the most evident strengths of study program and UNG, listing a total of 11, but there are certainly more. Many strengths of study program Digital Arts and Practices and school are direct consequence of strengths and excellence of UNG as a whole, where we first emphasize the fact that UNG is an excellent and reputable research and educational university both in Slovenia and internationally. Especially in the field of research, they achieve excellent results in terms of their size, and their structure of financial resources also shows excellence in obtaining funds for research work. UNG is an above-average faculty in Slovenian higher education area in terms of the number of foreign students and staff. They have a unique internal organization that enables good communication between members and greater flexibility in making and implementing decisions and carrying out activities. The ratio between the number of students and staff is favourable. Students are above average satisfied with the study process, the quality and responsiveness of the teaching staff and the system of practical training. The same applies to the library's infrastructure and services, with an open and freely accessible repository in particular. In terms of infrastructure, we additionally emphasize excellent ICT equipment for full online and hybrid learning and teaching. For the study program Digital Arts and Practices we additionally point out excellent contacts with the local and regional environment and many opportunities for students to present their work. Students of study program Digital Arts and Practices express great satisfaction with teaching staff 21 accessibility and their flexibility in the study program, where this is especially important and encouraging. Another strength is above average effort to promote school and study program. Regardless of the many strengths, we have highlighted 14 opportunities for improvement, which school can use for further development and quality of study program. These opportunities apply to virtually all assessment standards, where we especially point out possibilities to upgrade processes for monitoring and ensuring quality of both study programs. There is a gap between informal and formal approaches to quality assurance, where the preparation of the self-evaluation report does not follow the actual improvements in the quality of both study programs. There is also a need to increase information flow on the results of the self-evaluation report and to involve students even more intensively in the entire quality circle at the faculty. The group of experts also proposes certain improvements in the content of the study program: more theoretical knowledge of visual arts and basic artistic skills in various techniques, traditional media and traditional academic skills, inclusion of graphic design and poster design and, last but not least, knowledge of business and marketing skills to promote student artistic work. Regardless of the quality promotion of the study program, there are still some opportunities in terms of organizing an "open" art festival, more transparent website with the “best of…" award-winning projects, films and animations, newer media works and exploitation of promotion opportunities in Nova Gorica represents the European Capital of Culture 2025. At this point, the members of the group would like to thank all those who made sure that the five-day visit to UNG took place at a very high level: Nataša Kramar, Gregor Rebernik and Klemen Šubic - Nakvis experts, UNG management led by Rector prof. dr. Danilo Zavrtanik, the dean of School of Arts prof. dr. Boštjan Potokar and all other stakeholders for constructive cooperation in interviews.