Text about acceptance
The five-year 2nd cycle MA study programme Subject Teacher was upheld at the third regular meeting of the Senate of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Maribor, on 8 April 2015. The major subject Educational Chemistry was upheld by the Senate of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of the University of Maribor on 10 April 2015; the major subject Computer Science in Education was upheld by the Senate of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Maribor on 27 September 2013. The study programme was adopted by the Senate of the University of Maribor on 21 April 2015.
The Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education accredited the study programme during its 96th meeting on 17 December 2015 by Decision No. 6033-17/2015/10.
Advancement criteria of a study programme
A student advances to a higher study year if they collect at least 53 ECTS credits in the year in which they are enrolled, and if they collect all the ECTS credits from the previous study years.
Without having completed all 1st study year obligations, it is not possible to advanace to the 3rd study year under any conditions.
Without having completed all 2nd study year obligations, it is not possible to advanace to the 4th study year under any conditions.
Without having completed all 3rd study year obligations, it is not possible to advanace to the 5th study year under any conditions.
Conditions for repeating or extending a study year:
Repeating a study year or advancement to a higher study year under exceptional circumstances is stipulated by the Statute of the University of Maribor.
Study advancement options
Graduates of the study programme Subject Teacher can continue with 3rd level study programmes, in accordance with the conditions of the higher education institution offering the 3rd level study programme.
Employment possibilities
Graduates of the study program Subject Teacher will be employable as teachers of selected subject areas in primary and secondary schools. Given the basic program goals and the general and subject-specific competences of the study program, graduates will also be employable in a wide range of professional activities from the relevant fields, i.e., in workplaces that require knowledge of engineering and technology, science, mathematics, and communication and analytical skills. Qualifications obtained by completing this study program enable employability even outside Slovenia, especially within the European Union, in the following areas:
- Education institutions,
- Education units in organizations from various fields of related industries,
- Project-based work (organization of social events and processes),
- Research institutions,
- Public institutions,
- Various media organizations.
Graduates are able to perform tasks related to the planning and implementation of technical and educational activities, participate in consulting services and contribute to the popularization of contemporary forms of teaching and learning. Graduates learn to cooperate or independently work on innovation projects, and as organizers of projects in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering, computer sciences, culture, youth work, and volunteer work.
Graduates acquire a wide range of transferable skills, which highly increases their employment opportunities. From the point of view of the growing importance of workforce flexibility, the scope of employment opportunities is the best guarantee for a successful placement of graduates of this study program on the Slovenian labour market.
Additional information
The study program Subject Teacher involves two compulsory orientations, which the candidate selects upon enrolment in the program (Biology Education, Physics Education, Chemistry Education, Mathematics Education, Technology and Engineering Education, Computer Science Education), adding up to a total of 244 ECTS, and a compulsory general pedagogy module, which is worth 32 ECTS.
Assesment criteria
Examination and assessment of student learning outcomes is performed in accordance with the criteria and methods defined in the Rules on the Examination and Assessment of Knowledge at the University of Maribor: https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-center/akti/Dopolnitve2013/Pravilnik%20o%20preverjanju%20in%20ocenjevanju%20znanja%20na%20UM%20-%20NPB3,%20AVGUST%202019doc.pdf.
Knowledge examination and assessment methods at the University of Maribor are regulated by the Statute of the University of Maribor and the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (University of Maribor Journal, No. XXVII-6-2009); Amendments to the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (University of Maribor Journal, No. XXVIII-7-2010); Amendments to the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (University of Maribor Journal, No. XXX-2-2012); Amendments to the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (University of Maribor Journal, No. XXXII-5-2014); Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor – unofficial consolidated text (2015); Amendments to the Rules on Examinations and Grading of the University of Maribor, No. A4/2009-41AG (2019):
https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-center/akti/Dopolnitve2013/Pravilnik%20o%20preverjanju%20in%20ocenjevanju%20znanja%20na%20UM%20-%20NPB3,%20AVGUST%202019doc.pdf.
Forms and methods of assessment are defined in Article 5 of the Rules on Examinations and Grading. Criteria and methods for knowledge assessment of individual subjects are part of the Subject Specification, and are publicly available on the faculty’s website: https://www.fnm.um.si/index.php/predstavitev-tudija/podiplomski-tudijski-programi/.
Main study programme objectives
Basic programme goals of the study programme Subject Teacher:
- Basic expertise in at least two subject areas, which are important for education in this subject area,
- Subject-didactic knowledge of at least two selected subject areas of education, together with practical pre-service training,
- Basic expertise in pedagogical, psychological, philosophical and sociological sciences, which are important for education workers.
The basic study programme goals are upgraded in the fourth and fifth year to include basic expertise of contemporary content. In this way, students become trained in connecting and applying basic expertise and concepts in a wide variety of circumstances. Students build on the basic expertise by taking courses in subject didactics of more demanding and interrelated contents. One of the basic goals of this study programme is to train students in developing new methods of teaching and constructing demonstration and laboratory experiments, including contemporary learning environments. Based on self-reflection and the use of pedagogic methodology, students are able to evaluate the pedagogical effects of new methods and newly proposed teaching models and experiments. In addition, students develop leadership skills, organizational skills (for the organization of practical and fieldwork), the ability to collaborate as part of an interdisciplinary team, and the ability to establish a partnership relation with different groups. One of the important goals of this study programme is also the acquisition of basic expertise for further independent professional and research work in the field of subject didactics.
General competences of graduates, gained at a study programme
1. Ability to communicate, ability to participate in collaborative / teamwork.
2. Synthetic, analytical and creative thinking for problem solving.
3. Flexible application of knowledge in practice.
4. Autonomy, (self)-criticism, (self)-reflection, (self)-evaluation, and striving for quality.
5. General broadmindedness, ability to communicate with experts from other expert and scientific fields.
6. Initiative / ambition, continuous personal advancement and professional training.
7. Information literacy.
8. Time-management skills, planning skills, self-control of plan execution.
9. Communication in a foreign language.
10. Knowledge and understanding of social systems (especially processes in education).
11. Sensitivity / openness to people and social situations.
12. Knowledge and understanding of the basic characteristics of human development, and an awareness of the differences and needs of each individual.
13. Knowledge of educational concepts, their philosophical and historical foundations.
14. Knowledge and understanding of the institutional frameworks related to their work (requirements, legislation, documentation, legal aspects of education).
15. Use of information and communication technologies in education.
16. Understanding individual values, value systems and professional ethics.
17. Knowledge and understanding of, and orientation towards inclusive, non-discriminatory forms of work and multiculturalism.
18. Knowledge of the subject matter and methodology of the field.
19. Understanding and application of curriculum theories and general and didactic knowledge in the subject area.
20. Interdisciplinary content integration.
21. Use of special pedagogical knowledge for working with children with special needs.
22. Organizational skills for the pedagogical management of the class and / or group.
23. Ability to organize active and independent learning; training students for effective learning.
24. Ability to test and assess students' knowledge and achievements, and to provide feedback.
25. Communicating with experts from various fields of education.
26. Cooperation with parents.
27. Creating a comprehensive assessment of the needs of the individual or group, their strengths and weaknesses, taking into account the physical, social, and cultural environment factors.
Access requirements
The Subject Teacher study programme can be entered by anyone:
a) who has graduated from secondary school with a Matura examination (Secondary School Leaving examination),
b) who has completed the professional Matura exam in any of the four-year secondary school programmes and who has passed the exam for a subject which is part of the Matura exam; the chosen subject may not be a subject already taken as part of the the vocational Matura.
(c) who has completed any of the four-year secondary school programmes before 1 June 1995.
Selection criteria in the event of limited enrolment
In the case of restricted enrolment, the candidates referred to in Points a) and c) will be selected according to the following criteria:
- Grade point average of the Matura examination or final exam (60% of points)
- Grade point average in the third and fourth year of the secondary school (40% of points)
The candidates referred to in point b) will be selected according to the following criteria:
- Grade point average of the Vocational Matura examination (20%)
- Grade point average in the third and fourth year of the secondary school (20%)
- Grade point average in third- and fourth-year Mathematics (40%)
- Grade point average in the graduation subject (20%).
Transfer criteria between study programmes
Transition is possible from study programs from the fields of pedagogy, natural sciences, mathematics and technical sciences, and from study programs from non-pedagogical fields, natural sciences, mathematics and technical sciences, if:
- the candidate meets the general conditions for enrollment in this study program,
- at least half of the study obligations (ECTS credits) from the first study program can be recognized as compulsory subjects in this program,
- the fulfillment of the conditions for the transition is decided by the Commission for Student Affairs of FNM UM; in the decision, the Commission determines the year in which the candidate may enroll; if necessary, the Commission determines the differential exams which the candidate must pass in order to continue their studies.
Criteria for recognition of knowledge and skills, gained before the enrolment in the study programme
Students can obtain full recognition of the knowledge and skills acquired through various forms of formal education before enrolment, which the student demonstrates with relevant qualifications (certificates, degrees, diplomas and other documents).
The recognition process shall take into account the following criteria: the assessment of the achieved knowledge and skills must be based on the educational goals of the study program; the relevant skills must be properly documented and at an appropriate level of complexity; the acquired knowledge and skills are recognized regardless of where and when the student acquired them. The process of identification, verification and recognition of knowledge and skills entails the submission of an application, amendments to the application, consideration of the application at the competent authority of the member faculty, the issuing of a decision, and the procedure for the appeal of a candidate against the issued decision. The faculty recognises the knowledge and skills of the candidates if, in terms of their scope, content and complexity, these correspond fully or partially to the general or subject-specific competences determined by the study programme in which the candidates wish to enrol or are enrolled. Recognition of knowledge and skills is defined in the RULES ON THE RECOGNITION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN THE STUDY PROGRAMMES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR No. 012/2019/2:
https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-center/akti/GlavniDokumenti2013/Pravilnik%20o%20priznavanju%20znanj%20in%20spretnosti%20v%20%C5%A1tudijskih%20programih%20UM%20%C5%A1t.%20012-2019-2.pdf.
Criteria for completing the study
Candidates complete the study with an MA seminar paper (6 ECTS) and a final MA thesis (12 ECTS).
Students graduate once they have successfully completed all obligations required by the study program, and obtained at least 300 ECTS by completing obligations of the orientations selected at the time of enrolment.
