Postgraduate Study Programme Leading to Doktor Znanosti (PhD) Energy Technology (3nd degree Bologna Study Program) has been approved and confirmed by the Senate of the Faculty of Energy Technology, University of Maribor on 12ve November 2009, the Senate of the University of Maribor on 15th December 2009 and the Council of the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (SQAA) has consented on 16th February 2012.

The programme does not contain individual segments.

The criteria and methods of assessment are laid out in the syllabuses of the course units that are part of the accredit-ed study programme. Up to now, the course coordinators have focused on the following assessment methods in par-ticular: written exams, oral exams, projects, seminar pa-pers, active lecture work, defence/discussions, work re-ports and dissertation defence. When testing and assessing doctoral work, the emphasis is on the student’s ability to display knowledge and undertake independent research work under the supervision of teach-ing staff, and to critically evaluate the practical application of topics addressed during study. The University of Maribor’s testing and assessment meth-ods are set out in its Statutes and in the Rules on the testing and assessment of knowledge at the University of Maribor (no A4/2009-41 AG). It is published at (https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-cen-ter/akti/Dopolnitve2013/Pravilnik%20o%20preverjanju%20in%20ocenjevanju%20znanja%20na%20UM%20-%20NPB3,%20AVGUST%202019doc.pdf and https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-cen-ter/akti/Dopolnitve2013/Sprem.%20in%20dopol.%20Pravilni-ka%20o%20preverjanju%20in%20ocenjevanju%20znanja%20na%20UM.pdf). The Rules and the syllabuses set out the methods by which students are tested and assessed for each course unit. Continuous testing and assessment is encouraged because it provides students with a clearer idea of how their studies are progressing. The University of Maribor has adopted a uniform assessment scale to ensure that students’ achievements are judged on an equal and equitable basis. It is published at https://moja.um.si/student/Documents/Predlog%20ocenjevalne%20lestvice_oktober_2014.docx.

The aim of the doctoral (3rd cycle) programme “Energy Technology” is to educate top experts in the energy field with a broad scientific knowledge, which gives promising understanding of the developments and trends in the world, in-depth understanding of the theoretical and methodological concepts and the ability to independently develop new knowledge and solving the most challenging problems in testing, improving and detection new solutions in the field of energy. Trained professionals will also develop new knowledge also trained to manage the most demanding work systems and scientific research projects on a wide range of professional or scientific fields and the development of critical reflection.

Students will have acquired the following general competencies and abilities by the time they complete the Energy Technology doctoral programme: • an in-depth understanding of theoretical and methodological concepts; • an ability to make judgements capable of underpinning the adoption of decisions within energy systems and processes; • an ability to independently apply theoretical knowledge to solve energy system management problems in practice; • a mastery of research methods, procedures and processes in energy systems, processes and functions; • an ability to continuously develop critical and self-critical assessment in a focused manner when making decisions within the dynamics of energy systems and processes; • communication skills, particularly those that enable the student to communicate constantly and competently within the international energy sector; • an ability to work and create in an international environment, with an emphasis on the utilisation of all conventional and alternative energy sources; • a mastery of state-of-the-art technological methods, procedures and processes in energy processes; • an ability to demonstrate independence and self-confidence in research work, and to continuously develop critical and self-critical assessment in a focused manner when making decisions within the dynamics of energy systems and processes; • a capacity for ethical reflection and a deep commitment to professional ethics that will be evaluated in an international environment; • a collaborative spirit and the ability to work as part of a team; • an ability to lead large professional technical and research teams; • curiosity and a desire to engage in continuous training and study; • communication skills and expertise, in particular constant communication within the international environment; • a collaborative spirit and the ability to work as part of a team; • an ability to formulate independent expert opinions on the energy system functioning; • an understanding of and the ability to apply methods of critical analysis and the development of theories, and to apply them in the development of new knowledge and to address specific work-related problems; • an ability to engage in critical reflection; • an ability to work and create within an international environment; • an ability to act as mentor to younger colleagues at institutes, universities, companies, etc.; • an ability to use the available resources effectively: own creative and intellectual abilities, available intellectual capital (colleagues), and other tangible and intangible resources (money, equipment, space and time). Students will have acquired the following general competencies and abilities by the time they complete the Energy Technology doctoral programme: • an in-depth understanding of theoretical and methodological concepts; • an ability to make judgements capable of underpinning the adoption of decisions within energy systems and processes; • an ability to independently apply theoretical knowledge to solve energy system management problems in practice; • a mastery of research methods, procedures and processes in energy systems, processes and functions; • an ability to continuously develop critical and self-critical assessment in a focused manner when making decisions within the dynamics of energy systems and processes; • communication skills, particularly those that enable the student to communicate constantly and competently within the international energy sector; • an ability to work and create in an international environment, with an emphasis on the utilisation of all conventional and alternative energy sources; • a mastery of state-of-the-art technological methods, procedures and processes in energy processes; • an ability to demonstrate independence and self-confidence in research work, and to continuously develop critical and self-critical assessment in a focused manner when making decisions within the dynamics of energy systems and processes; • a capacity for ethical reflection and a deep commitment to professional ethics that will be evaluated in an international environment; • a collaborative spirit and the ability to work as part of a team; • an ability to lead large professional technical and research teams; • curiosity and a desire to engage in continuous training and study; • communication skills and expertise, in particular constant communication within the international environment; • a collaborative spirit and the ability to work as part of a team; • an ability to formulate independent expert opinions on the energy system functioning; • an understanding of and the ability to apply methods of critical analysis and the development of theories, and to apply them in the development of new knowledge and to address specific work-related problems; • an ability to engage in critical reflection; • an ability to work and create within an international environment; • an ability to act as mentor to younger colleagues at institutes, universities, companies, etc.; • an ability to use the available resources effectively: own creative and intellectual abilities; available intellectual capital (colleagues), and other tangible and intangible resources (money, equipment, space and time).

Students will have acquired the following subject-specific competencies and abilities by the time they complete the Energy Technology doctoral programme: - an ability to solve specific work-related problems in the field of energy systems technology and to do so in a rational way; - an ability to constantly address specific work processes through the application of the latest scientific methods and procedures; - an ability to understand new information and interpretations, and to insert them into the context of the fundamental discipline; - familiarity with and an understanding of the foundation and history of development of the fundamental discipline; - an understanding of the systemic approach; - an understanding of the basic structure of the fundamental discipline and of the links between sub-disciplines; - an ability to use information and communication technologies intensively and constantly within energy systems; - an ability to use information management systems intensively and constantly in their specific field of work within the energy system operation and management process; - independent and confident mastery of the fundamental knowledge; - familiarity with modern technological processes, operations, methodologies and organisation of work in their own specific working environment; - an ability to integrate knowledge from various fields and build it into specific applications in organisations, particularly those in the energy sector; - an ability to plan, lead and manage major investment projects in the development of energy systems (repair, expansion or construction of a power plant); - an ability to work with the environment in the preparation and implementation of capital investment work in the field of energy systems; - an ability to solve the most complex problems by testing and improving known solutions; - an ability to uncover new solutions to manage the most complex work systems and research projects in a broad professional or scientific research field; - knowledge for the determination of tasks, the study and modelling of internal processes and relations, and the optimisation of energy systems statuses; - familiarity with the insertion of new information and interpretations into the context of the fundamental discipline; - familiarity with and an understanding of the foundation and history of development of the fundamental discipline; - an understanding of the systemic approach and thus of the basic structure of the fundamental discipline and of the links between sub-disciplines; - an ability to use information and communication technologies and information management systems intensively and constantly within energy systems; - an in-depth understanding of theoretical and methodological concepts; - an ability to develop new knowledge independently; - an ability to resolve the most complex problems by testing and improving known solutions; - an ability to build and plan energy systems; - an ability to uncover new solutions to manage the most complex work systems and research projects in a broad professional or scientific research field.

Candidates who completed the following may apply for the 3rd-cycle (doctoral) study programme in Energy Technology: - A 2nd-cycle (master’s) study programme. - An undergraduate academic study programme adopted prior to 11 June 2004. - A specialisation following an undergraduate professional study programme adopted prior to 11 June 2004. Prior to enrolment, candidates shall pass the following courses corresponding to 45 ECTS credits under the 2nd-cycle (master’s) study programme in Energy Technology: Differential analysis, Nuclear Installation and Irradiation Facilities, Thermography and Control of Air-Conditioning Systems, Advanced Aero- and Hydro-Energy Technologies, Electric Power System Operation, High Voltage Systems in Energetics, Equipment and Diagnostics of Internal Combustion Engines, and Methods of Energy Resources Exploitation. - A study programme educating students for professions regulated by EU directives or another unified (long-cycle) master’s study programme corresponding to 300 ECTS credits.

If the number of applications exceeds the number of available positions, candidates shall be ranked according to: - grade point average excluding the thesis (80%) and - grade awarded for the thesis (20%). If the thesis is not required for completion of the study programme, only the grade point average shall be considered (100%).

In accordance with the Criteria for Transferring Between Study Programmes, candidates may transfer between existing higher education study programmes within the same cycle of study. In accordance with the Criteria for Transferring Between Study Programmes, candidates may enrol in the 3rd-cycle study programme in Energy Technology when they are transferring from 3rd-cycle study programmes or doctoral programmes adopted prior to 11 June 2004 in the field of energy technology and in related fields of mechanics, building and civil engineering, electricity, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemical technology, mechatronics, informatics, telecommunications, electroenergetics, mining and geotechnology, agriculture, or from other comparable study programmes. Candidates may transfer to the study programme provided they fulfil the following criteria: - criteria for the enrolment in the first year of the 3rd-cycle study programme in Energy Technology; - they are transferring from a study programme leading to the acquisition of comparable competences or learning outcomes; - at least half of the study obligations evaluated according to ECTS credit system of the previous study programme relating to compulsory courses of the new study programme are recognised. In accordance with the Criteria for Transferring Between Study Programmes, candidates may enrol in the second year of study if they have completed: - a master of science study programme adopted prior to 11 June 2004 – these candidates are awarded 60 ECTS credits; - a specialisation following an undergraduate academic study programme adopted prior to 11 June 2004 – these candidates are awarded 60 ECTS credits.

The knowledge and skills acquired prior to admission to the study programme may be recognised in accordance with the Rules on the recognition of knowledge and skills ac-quired in University of Maribor study programmes (https://www.um.si/univerza/dokumentni-cen-ter/akti/GlavniDokumenti2013/Pravilnik%20o%20priznavanju%20znanj%20in%20spretnosti%20v%20%C5%A1tudijskih%20programih%20UM%20%C5%A1t.%20012-2019-2.pdf).

To complete the programme, students must complete all course units envisaged by the study programme, i.e. at least 180 ECTS credits, to include the following prescribed elements: • freely chosen subjects; • individual research work I, II, III, IV, V (presentation upon completion at a suitable institute/department or publication in a journal/presentation at a conference); • an article in an academic/professional journal or the presentation of a paper at an academic/professional conference; • an academic article with a JCR impact factor (confirmation of acceptance for publication); • a doctoral dissertation. The doctoral dissertation must be an independent and original contribution to the scientific discipline in which the candidate wishes to obtain the title of doctor of science. The Rules on the procedure of registering for and defending doctoral dissertations at the University of Maribor set out details regarding the procedures of registration, approval of doctoral dissertation topics, selection of a supervisor, and the production, format, assessment and defence of doctoral dissertations.