Visokošolski strokovni študijski program 1. stopnje Predšolska vzgoja je bil potrjen na 8. redni seji Senata Pedagoške fakultete, dne 3. 10. 2007, na 12. redni seji Senata Univerze v Mariboru, dne 20. 5. 2008 in na 10. seji Senata za akreditacijo pri Svetu RS za visoko šolstvo, dne 23. 10. 2008. Ministrstvo za visoko šolstvo, znanost in tehnologijo RS je dne 9. 1. 2009 izdalo odločbo št. 60392-33/2008 o vpisu tega študijskega programa v razvid visokošolskih zavodov pod zaporedno številko 17.

Conditions for advancing to the 2nd year A student may advance to the 2nd year if they collect at least 48 ECTS by completing study obligations, of which they must complete: Elementary Science and Vocal-instrumental Practicum I and II. Conditions for advancing to the 3rd year A student may advance to the 3rd year if they pass all exams from the 1st year and collect at least 48 ECTS by passing exams from the 2nd year, of which they must pass Practical Training 5 and Elementary Art Pedagogical Practicum. Advancing to a higher year if conditions are not met A student may repeat a year once during their studies due to non-fulfilment of obligations set for advancing. A year may be repeated by a student who has fulfilled obligations in the year to be repeated, in the amount of at least 30 ECTS. A year may also be repeated by a student who has completed study obligations of the year to be repeated, to the extent of fewer than 30 ECTS, if they demonstrate justified reasons stipulated by the Statute of the University of Maribor. Repeating a year is approved by the Commission for Academic Affairs of the Senate of the Faculty of Education of the University of Maribor, based of the student’s application, in which they must prove the existence of substantiated reasons.

Graduates can continue their studies in the 2nd level study program of Preschool Education.

Employment of graduates is non-economy, as they are employable in kindergartens and primary schools, as educators, principals, pedagogical and professional counsellors.

Examination and assessment of students learning outcomes is carried out 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 The method of examining and assessing knowledge at the University of Maribor is regulated by the Statute of the University of Maribor and the Rules on the examination and assessment of knowledge at the University of Maribor, no. A4/2009-41 AG (UM Notices No. XXVII-6-2009); Amendments to the Rules on the examination and assessment of Knowledge at the University of Maribor no. A4/2009-41 AG, (Notices XXVIII-7-2010), Amendments to the Rules on the examination and assessment of knowledge at the University of Maribor no. A4/2009-41 AG, (Notices XXX-2-2012), Amendments to the Rules on the examination and assessment of knowledge at the University of Maribor no. A4/2009-41 AG, (Notices XXXII-5-2014), Rules on the examination and assessment of knowledge at UM – unofficial consolidated text (2015), Amendments to the Rules on the examination and assessment of knowledge at the University of Maribor no. A4/2009/41 AG (l. 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 examining knowledge are defined in Article 5 of the Rules. The criteria and methods of examining the knowledge of an individual subject are part of the Subject specification and are publicly available on the faculty’s website: https://www.fnm.um.si/index.php/shema/

The fundamental objectives of the Preschool Education program are to train students for quality work with preschool children and those in the first grade of nine-year primary school, to work with their parents and colleagues and other professionals in kindergarten, school and beyond. In the process of education, students get acquainted with different views and concepts of childhood and education, acquire the foundations of theoretical and practical knowledge in this field and test their knowledge and skills in individual areas of activity in everyday life and work of a kindergarten and the first grade of a nine-year primary school. Graduates of the program master skills of communicating with children and adults, know how to plan, implement and critically evaluate educational work. Elective courses enable students to receive more detailed and even more in-depth training in individual areas of activity for which they have a personal interest and abilities. An important goal of the proposed program is the acquisition of basic and transferable knowledge, which enables graduates in the process of lifelong learning to find resources and ways to acquire the knowledge and skills they need in everyday work.

Ability to analyse and synthesize and predict solutions and consequences. Ability to apply knowledge in practice. Development of critical and self-critical judgment. Communication and teamwork skills. Initiative in the process of lifelong learning. Sensitivity to the environment, cultural and national identity. Planning and implementation of activities. Understanding the individual, their values and value systems.

- Knowledge, critical evaluation and application of theories of childhood, development and learning in planning, implementation and evaluation of educational work. - Knowledge and autonomous implementation of the curriculum for preschool and the curriculum of the first grade of primary school. - Knowledge of all areas of activities in kindergarten and subjects in the 1st grade of primary school and their (interdisciplinary) integration in the learning process. - Efficient and flexible organization of space and time, choice of didactic and play aids, flexible scheduling of activities and transition between them. - Observing and monitoring the development of children and recognizing and taking into account individual needs and other differences between children (personality traits, abilities, capabilities, cognitive styles, family or socio-cultural environment…) in educational work. - Ensuring emotional security and recognizing and stimulating children’s curiosity, taking into account intrinsic motivation. - Promoting the independence of children and their interests in accordance with their stage of development and the promotion of research and active learning. - Effective communication with parents and colleagues and other professionals, as well as knowledge of teamwork and participation in the professional team of the kindergarten and school.

The following persons may be enrolled in the study program of Preschool Education: • passed the Matura exam, • passed the final exam or vocational matura in secondary school programs of preschool education or health education or nursing, • completed any four-year high school program before 1 June 1995.

If a decision is taken to restrict enrolment, candidates will be selected based on: - general success in matura, vocational matura or final examination: 60% points, - overall success in the 3rd and 4th year of secondary school: 40% points.

Transitions between study programs are possible in accordance with the Higher Education Act, Criteria for transitions between study programs and other regulations. Transition between study programs means termination of education in the first study program and then continuation of studies in the second study program. Transitions are possible between study programs of the same level and post-secondary study programs and study programs of the first level, which ensure the acquisition of comparable competencies upon completion of studies and between which at least half of the obligations under the European Transmission Credit System (hereinafter: ECTS) can be recognized from the first study program, which refers to the compulsory subjects of the second study program. Applications for transition of a student i.e. graduate, who must meet the conditions for enrolment in the proposed study program, are considered by the Commission for Academic Affairs PEF UM on the proposal of the Department of Preschool Education. Depending on the scope of recognized obligations from the first study program in the Republic of Slovenia or abroad, a student may enrol in the second or higher year of the first level higher education study program of Preschool Education. The following may be recognized in the transition: 1. comparable study obligations that a student has completed in the first study program; 2. informally obtained comparable knowledge, which a student can prove with relevant documents. A student may enrol in a higher year if enough of those credit points are recognized in the transition, which is a condition for enrolment in the higher year of the first level higher education study program of Preschool Education. The missing obligations a student has to fulfil if they want to graduate in a new study program are determined. A transition to the first level higher professional study program of Preschool Education is possible from: 1. 1st level higher professional study programs in the field of preschool education and relevant foreign study programs, which ensure the acquisition of comparable competencies upon completion of studies and can be recognized as compulsory subjects in this program for at least half of study obligations (ECTS credits) from the first study program and which meet the conditions for enrolment in this study program, the Commission for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Education of the University of Maribor, at the suggestion of the Department of Preschool Education, considers applications for enrolment in the relevant year and determines missing obligations to be completed if a student wishes to graduate in the new program. 2. 1st level university study programs in the field of social sciences and humanities (pedagogy, psychology) and relevant foreign university study programs, which ensure the acquisition of comparable competencies upon completion of studies and can be recognized as compulsory subjects in this program for at least half of study obligations (ECTS points) from the first study program and which meet the conditions for enrolment in this study program, the Commission for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Education of the University of Maribor, at the suggestion of the Department of Preschool Education, considers applications for enrolment in the relevant year and determines missing obligations to be completed, if a student wishes to graduate in a new program.

In the process of education at the 1st level, students can have knowledge and skills recognized, which were acquired before enrolment in various forms of formal education, which a student must prove with certificates and other documents. In the recognition process, the assessment of acquired knowledge and skills must be based on the educational competencies of the study program. Proven and well-documented competencies are recognized to candidates regardless of where and how they were obtained. The process of determining, verifying and recognizing knowledge and skills includes submitting an application, supplementing the application, examining the application at the competent authority, issuing a decision and the procedure for appealing against the issued decision. If, on the basis of the evidence provided, the competent authority determines that the knowledge and skills in content, scope and complexity fully or partially correspond to the competencies based on the educational objectives of the study program, it may recognize such knowledge. Recognition of knowledge and skills are defined in the RULES ON THE RECOGNITION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN THE STUDY PROGRAMS 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

The study is completed by completing all the obligations defined by the study program in the amount of 180 ECTS.