Positive external programme evaluations from the United Kingdom confirm the quality …

Academia Institute of Technology successfully underwent comprehensive external programme evaluations of all study programmes in May and June 2026, which also lead to the award of the British BTEC Higher National Diploma. The evaluations were conducted by external experts, namely External Examiners and Standards Verifiers from the United Kingdom for all international programmes at Academia.

The reviews took place remotely and on-site at Academia's location in Maribor, with individual evaluations lasting from one to three days or up to 12 hours of in-depth professional verification per pathway of each study programme. As part of the evaluations, a total of 72 samples of student work and assessment documentation were reviewed. The evaluators examined students' examination and project assignments, lecturers' assessment decisions, internal verifications, student handbooks, regulations, examination records, references and other evidence of lecturers' qualifications, learning resources and support systems.

The evaluations involved the school management, the principal, professional teams, lecturers, internal verifiers, administrative staff and students. The evaluators paid particular attention to whether the study learning outcomes and achievements were appropriately aligned with the requirements of the learning objectives of the British study programmes, whether the assessments were fair and properly documented, and whether students had access to appropriate support, facilities, equipment and feedback.

Among the examples of good practice at Academia, the external experts particularly highlighted:

• constructive feedback to students, as the lecturers' feedback was assessed as very good, detailed and focused on student progress;
• integration of study with the working environment, particularly through lecturers from practice, practical examples, project assignments and mandatory work placement;
• well-organised administration and quality system, including clear documentation, transparent records, functioning of assessment boards and effective internal verification;
• appropriately qualified lecturers and industry professionals, who bring current professional knowledge and practical experience into the study;
• high-quality student work, in which the external experts recognised an appropriate level of professionalism, analytical skills, practical application of knowledge and compliance with BTEC requirements;
• modern learning resources and supportive environment, including the use of Orbita, digital tools, specialised lecture rooms and laboratories, computer facilities, studios, software and tools for academic integrity such as Turnitin.

In the evaluations, students particularly praised the supportive attitude of lecturers, the practical nature of the study, the integration of theory with industry practice, regular feedback, access to equipment and the possibility of flexible work. The external experts emphasised that Academia's strong connection with employers and practical training significantly contributes to the development of professional competences, professional contacts and employability of graduates.

The positive evaluations confirm that Academia successfully integrates Slovenian short-cycle professional study with international British quality standards. This enables students to pursue practically oriented study, develop applicable competences and obtain the international BTEC Higher National Diploma.

Source: Academia (27. 6. 2026). Fotografije: arhiv Academie.

This English summary was produced automatically from the Slovenian article and is pending editorial review. Slovenska različica