WHO WE ARE ?
The Association of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges (Skupnost VSŠ) is the umbrella organization representing 48 Higher Vocational Colleges (HVCs) across Slovenia. These institutions provide EQF Level 5 qualifications, preparing learners with practical skills, applied knowledge, and professional competences aligned with the needs of the modern labour market. Our shared mission is to enhance vocational education, promote applied research, and strengthen innovation and collaboration at both national and international levels.
With nearly two decades of experience in coordinating national and international projects, the Association plays a key role in shaping policies and fostering excellence in professional higher education. Our unique educational model integrates around 40% of the curriculum through in-company Work-Based Learning (WBL), ensuring that learners gain hands-on experience guided by certified in-company mentors. Teaching staff are selected for their up-to-date industry expertise and strong pedagogical and andragogical competencies, providing learners with an optimal balance of theory and practice.
As a result, 97% of our graduates are employed soon after completing their studies and are widely recognized by employers for being job-ready. This success highlights the strong link between higher vocational education and the labour market. Our member colleges form a collaborative network offering more than 35 accredited study programmes, primarily at EQF Level 5, with several institutions also providing pathways that extend across the tertiary education spectrum. Both public and private colleges contribute to this ecosystem, enabling flexible, inclusive, and practice-oriented learning opportunities.
Since 2011, the Association has held the Erasmus Consortia Certificate for placements in Slovenia, supporting high-quality student and staff mobility and promoting the internationalization of HVCs. The recently extended Erasmus Consortia initiative, covering both study and placement mobility, has further enhanced institutional cooperation and awareness of the transformative impact of mobility on personal, professional, and organizational growth.
The Association actively participates in international networks and partnerships, including CHAIN4, EURASHE, the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA), and the European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (EfVET). Through these networks, we exchange good practices, co-develop innovation projects, and contribute to European discussions on skills, employability, and excellence in vocational education.
Our engagement in projects such as LCAMP (Learner-Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform) demonstrates our technological and strategic capacity. LCAMP supports the development of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in Advanced Manufacturing, focusing on digital and green transition skills, micro-credentials, flexible learning pathways, and collaboration with SMEs to drive innovation.
We are also committed to inclusivity and equal opportunities. The Association regularly organizes expert consultations on supporting learners with special needs and develops tailored resources to ensure equal participation of learners, mentors, and teachers in vocational education and training.
As a research and analytical hub for EQF Level 5 education, the Association bridges the gap between colleges and key stakeholders — including employers, policymakers, and quality assurance agencies. By organizing conferences, seminars, and professional development events, we promote continuous improvement, knowledge exchange, and innovation across the higher vocational education sector.
In addition to formal study programmes, our colleges provide customized training solutions for companies and individuals, addressing the growing need for upskilling and lifelong learning. With strong employer partnerships and 40% of curricula implemented in-company, our education system ensures a direct and sustainable connection between learning and work.
WHY WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT ?
Participation enables the direct involvement of 48 member institutions of the Association, covering almost the entire EQF level 5 student population in Slovenia. This ensures that the project will reach a wide community of practitioners, educators, and learners. Moreover, cooperation with recognised organisations from Czechia and Lithuania fosters internationalisation, knowledge exchange, and the transfer of good practices, which is particularly valuable for the Slovenian context. By participating, the Association contributes to the development of the European educational space while at the same time providing its members with access to new methodologies and support tools.
OUR ROLE IN THE PROJECT
The Association of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges takes on a key role in dissemination and sustainability of project results (WP5). It is responsible for preparing the dissemination and sustainability strategy, coordinating the project’s visual identity, developing communication materials, and organising activities to engage stakeholders in pilot courses. It will also co-organise the final international conference to ensure broad impact and visibility of results.
As the umbrella organisation representing nearly all higher vocational colleges in Slovenia, the Association will ensure that project results are transferred directly to educational institutions, lecturers, and stakeholders at the national level. It will also contribute to research and development activities (WP2 and WP3), especially in stakeholder mapping, methodological development, and the design of micro-credential standards. Furthermore, it will support testing and evaluation of pilot implementations (WP4), ensuring that results are tailored to national specificities and needs.
By coordinating dissemination, the Association ensures that the project’s outputs are recognised, adopted, and integrated into practice both in Slovenia and beyond. Its established network and long-standing experience in linking education with the labour market guarantee that innovative approaches will be effectively transferred into real learning environments, thus contributing to the sustainable development of higher vocational education.
OUR TEAM
Miha Zimšek (Secretary General) is experienced in entrepreneurship, project management and research. Prior to his employment at the Association, he was teaching assistant and researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Ljubljana), and adviser on European projects at the Faculty of Law (University of Maribor). He coordinated, managed and was a researcher in national and international projects concerning VET (“The changing nature and role of VET in Europe”), entrepreneurship (BLUES), civic education (trACES), work-based learning (WEXHE) and youth mobility, in which he focused on promoting the inclusion of entrepreneurial thinking, development of tools for improvement of entrepreneurial skills, young entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship. He was also research consultant for a partner of Slovenian Erasmus+ Youth in Action National Agency. Since 2016, he participated in and managed ten projects in the field of civic education and work-based learning. As such, he has experience in the organizational aspects and financial management of small and medium-scale projects.
Natalija Klepej Gržanič (Head of Development) is a researcher, project assistant and project manager with years of experience as consultant and analyst at Ministry of education, science and sport and as a researcher at Association of Slovene Higher Education Colleges. She is working under Erasmus+ programme (KA1, KA2, KA3) and several projects under European Social Found at School Centre Celje. She managed and coordinated 14 schools under MUNERA 3 project.
Vesna Novak holds PhD in the field of plant genetics from the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She has gained work experience in various areas. At the University of Maribor, in the Department for Research Activities and the Project Office for national and international projects, she was actively involved both financially and content-wise in various program schemes (Erasmus+, Interreg, Horizon Europe, CERV, NATO, EraNET, NOO, ARRS). She provided professional support to project leaders in project applications, as well as in planning and implementation. As a researcher at the faculty, she participated in international conferences and symposia. With her experience in writing, as a youth writer, she was responsible for the faculty’s online magazine, reviewed conference proceedings, and participated in organizing educational events and workshops. Due to her excellence and many years of experience in the educational and voluntary sector, she was selected as a member of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Promoting Volunteering, volunteer and non-governmental organizations.
Maja Tepeš Hudina is a researcher at the Secretariat of the Association of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges, focusing on quality assurance, lifelong career guidance, and coordinating tasks related to the annual work plan of the association. She holds a university degree in economics. Prior to joining the Association, she was employed as the Head of the Education Office at the International School for Social and Business Studies in Celje, where she was responsible for planning, organizing, and evaluating the educational process. She also played an active role in national and international accreditation procedures and participated in various projects related to tutoring, career counseling, and the internationalization of education.
