ID DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies Maribor ABOUT THE DOBA FACULTY DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies Maribor is an independent higher education institution established in December 2003 and is part of the DOBA business group. DOBA Faculty holds the honour of being the first and only higher education institution in South-Eastern Europe to receive the UNIQUe international certification for quality in e-learning which is awarded by the European Foundation for Quality in e- Learning. OUR VISION DOBA - A School That Goes Beyond. OUR MISSION With innovative programmes and approaches we change challenges into opportunities. KEY DATA School management Accredited Bachelor Programmes Dean: prof. dr. Rasto Ovin Director: prof. Jasna Dominko Baloh Director of Education: Irena Amič Ravnik International Study Centres Director: Polona Baloh Business Management is the first accredited bachelor programme in the field of business and administrative sciences in northeast Slovenia in accordance with the Bologna Declaration. It has two elective modules: Business and Law and Management and Informatics. Title: Bachelor of Economics Marketing covers principles, practices, and issues in three main areas: marketing, media and public relations. After completion of the programme, students are awarded 180 ECTS points. Title: Bachelor in Marketing Business Administration is a 180 ECTS programme that prepares graduates by giving them knowledge and skills to work in the field of international business management and office management. Title: Bachelor of Business Administration Organisation and Management of Social Services is an accredited bachelor programme in the field of organisation and management in organisations from the social sector. Title: Bachelor in Organisation and Management of Social Activities.
Management of Lifelong Education unites the professional fields of operation, management and education for organising, coordinating and managing programmes and institutions dealing with lifelong education. Title: Bachelor in Management of Lifelong Education Accredited Master s Programmes All programmes are characterised by a modular structure, elective subjects, the ECTS credit system, a European dimension of the programmes and are practice-oriented. The study mode is carried out in full-time, part-time or online distance study mode. The full and part-time study mode as well as online study/distance learning last three years. International Business Management is a 120 ECTS masters programme with key characteristics such as practice-oriented learning, global dimension and innovativeness. Its implementation is based on modern and innovative methods. Title: Master of Business Sciences. Organisation and Management of Social Services master s programme focuses on organisation of social activities in the local community and the organisation of non-profit and non-governmental organisations. Title: Master of Organisation and Management of Social Activities. Management of Lifelong Education master s programme focuses on managing educational programmes in companies and institutions dealing with lifelong education. Title: Master in Management of Lifelong Education All programmes are characterised by a modular structure, elective subjects, the ECTS credit system, a European dimension of the programmes and are practice-oriented. The study is carried out in full-time, part-time or fully online and lasts two years. The full-time and part-time studies are implemented as blended learning, whileonline learning is organised online in a virtual learning environment. Students 778 Number of staff Study centres 25 employees 121 teachers and researches tutors Slovenia: Ljubljana, Velenje, Koper, Radovljica, Novo mesto, Nova Gorica, Murska Sobota Serbia: Belgrade Croatia: Zagreb Kenya: Nairobi
Student profile Gender: 67% female, 33% male; Age: Internet access: 6,1% have access only at work, 51,9% only at home, 42% at work and at home; 73% of students pay study fees themselves, 27% study fees are paid by the companies where our students are employed Virtual learning environment Student satisfaction with the programme all students use virtual learning environment Blackboard 6,2 on a seven 1-7 scale, 7 being the highest rate Student success rate 85 % Student retention rate 85,4 % Graduates 2943 HISTORY 2015 Prof. Rasto Ovin became the new dean of the DOBA Faculty. 2014 The first master's online learning programme in English was implemented. 2013 UNIQUe international certification for quality in e-learning which is awarded by the European Foundation for Quality in e-learning. DOBA Faculty is celebrating its 10 th anniversary. 2012 At its 46th Session held on 12 February 2012, the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education adopted the decision to prolong the accreditation of the Business Management undergraduate higher professional study programme implemented by DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies Maribor for seven years. 2011 The Advisory Council for the Development of Distance Study/E-Study was set up. The Council is an expert and consulting body of the management of DOBA Faculty.
2010 2009 2008 The Council for HE accredited the Management of Lifelong Education bachelor and masters programmes. The Council for HE accredited the Organisation and Management of Social Activities bachelor and masters programmes. Council for HE granted the name change of College of Business Doba Maribor into DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies Maribor. Two new bachelor programmes for Marketing and Business Administration were accredited by the Council for HE RS. The first generation of distance students enrolled in the Business Management bachelor programme in Serbia. The first generation of master students enrolled in the International Business Management programme. In May 2008, the International Business Management master programme was accredited by the Council for HE. 2007 Council for HE granted the name change of College of Business Maribor into College of Business Doba Maribor. 2006 First virtual mobility students from abroad join the Business Management programme. Council for HE granted its consent to the proposed name change of the professional study programme from Business Assistant to Business Management as well as to the changing of the awarded title from Business Assistant to Bachelor of Economics. 2005 The first generation of students enrolled in the Business Assistant study programme. 2004 In December the Business Assistant programme was accredited by the Council for HE. 2003 In December the Council for HE issued a favourable opinion about the formation of the new college. 2002 The development of college Business Assistant programme began. STUDYING AT THE DOBA FACULTY Modern and practice-oriented programmes The programmes are modern and practice-oriented with a modular structure carrying European dimension. With a high number of elective subjects and modules the programmes address the individual needs of the students. Innovation and creativity The focus of the study process is on the active work of the students, while using innovative pedagogical approaches to stimulate their innovativeness and creativity. Students work individually, with peers and in larger groups to seek new opportunities for themselves and for the organisations they are employed in. Their activities and task are IT supported.
Tutoring Each student is assigned a personal tutor. These are higher education teachers and faculty assistants. Their task is to monitor whether the students are meeting their study requirements and to track their progress in the study, to provide counselling in relation to the study and to motivate them for a successful learning experience. IT support 24/7 access to information, content and services is supported by the internal portals, Moodle and Blackboard. Language learning is based on a modern interactive multimedia environment. Web 2.0 tools encourage active and collaborative learning. Integrated social software enables students to collaborate and network beyond the study process. Internet broadcast and virtual meetings supported by videoconferencing tools increase flexibility of the study process. High-quality teaching staff The teachers are acknowledged experts in their field with extensive practical references. Lectures of visiting domestic and foreign experts additionally enrich the study process providing the possibility of exchanging practical experiences. FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, LIBRARY AND STUDENT SUPPORT The facilities of the DOBA Faculty are modern and well-equipped, meeting European standards for the implementation of a quality educational process and the work of the teaching, expert and support staff. Distance students enrolled in the distance learning study mode in a virtual environment at the DOBA Faculty can use facilities in our study centres for the occasional face-to-face meetings. The DOBA Faculty Library is intended for students, teachers, junior and senior experts and employees. The library obtains various materials supporting their expert development and the school s scientific and research activity. It is also open to the public. Because the library is an active member in COBISS, information on library materials is available in the COBIB.SI shared bibliographic database. Primarily, the library covers the fields of business management, law, economy, other social sciences and foreign languages. In our own publishing house we have published 27 study books for our students in hard-copy and electronic format. Student support We have introduced several measures helping students progress in their studies: a system of holistic student support comprised of pedagogical, administrative and technical support in both traditional and online distance study mode, tutors monitoring the work of students, individual study plans for students in order to define their own objectives and to help plan execution of study requirements, support for students in the form of additional courses when deficits in their prior knowledge or difficulties with a particular subject are noticed; workshops on how to use information technology; additional meetings with teachers in cases of a more difficult subject matter, Independent Learning Centre with a lifelong learning point offering free use of computers, multimedia material, study literature and the Internet Centre for psychological, pedagogical, career and financial counselling. DISTANCE LEARNING Distance learning at DOBA can be categorised as supported online learning. It is based on dialogue and multilevel interaction of students with tutors, peers, learning materials and resources on the Internet. The support includes also occasional face-to-face meetings. The pedagogical approach is a blend of various approaches that enable
effective and efficient learning: constructivism and collaborative learning, problem-based and resource-based learning. Pedagogical approaches and new technologies as well as media are introduced, tested and evaluated within the frame of internal development projects. In this way, the e-learning model is following the latest trends in the field of e- learning and innovative learning. QUALITY ASSURANCE Quality of study process is a key concern in implementing study programmes at DOBA. Student performance and satisfaction, as well as the work of teachers and tutors, is carefully monitored and regularly evaluated. We ensure high-quality teaching staff and excellent conditions for study programmes execution, internal organisation and measures for ensuring quality, comparability of study achievements, follow-ups of graduates career paths, active cooperation and collaboration with business environment. The excellence of the study programmes at DOBA is reflected in an increasing number of online students and the high level of their success and satisfaction. DOBA Faculty is a member of: COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT Different R&D projects, conferences and expert meetings are the meeting point for cooperation and collaboration between DOBA and other HE institutions in Slovenia and abroad. The Faculty is also a holder of the Erasmus university charter for student and teacher mobility. The DOBA Faculty has concluded an agreement on academic cooperation with the Faculty of Management Koper (University of Primorska), the University of Nova Gorica, Gea College of Entrepreneurship and the School of Advanced Social Studies Nova Gorica. In March 2009, the Faculty became member of the Conference of Independent Higher Education Institutions. The cooperation of DOBA with the business environment is also defined in agreements with six important Slovenian companies. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION DOBA has signed several bilateral agreements on academic cooperation and mobility with several HE institutions in Slovenia and abroad. The University of Applied Sciences Oulu, Finland; European Center for Peace and Development, Serbia; International Business School, Vilnius University, Lithuania; NEWTON College, Czech Republic; Vilnius Law and Business College, Lithuania; The Open University Netherlands, the Netherlands; Maastricht School of Management, the Netherlands;
The University of Venice, Italy; Euro-Schulen Halle, Germany; CKM College of Business Economy, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management, Serbia; Higher School of Professional Business Studies, Serbia; Business Academy, Serbia. VIRTUAL MOBILITY At the DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Sciences Maribor we promote student mobility because we believe that the time spent at other institutions helps students to obtain knowledge and experience, useful for further education and later employment. As the only faculty in Slovenia we also offer virtual mobility. The objective of virtual mobility is to facilitate exchange of those students who, due to financial, social or professional reasons are not able to participate in actual student exchange. Virtual mobility was designed as a development project, the first of its kind in Slovenia. DOBA Faculty was involved in a 2-year project Ready for virtual mobility? with partners from the Netherlands, Finland and Czech Republic. Virtual mobility represents the development of innovative approaches towards student mobility and global communication. The exchange is conducted via the Internet in a virtual learning environment where international experience and competences from individual expert areas are gained by the students within the framework of multicultural and multinational groups, taking into account all the possibilities offered by global communication technology. VIRTUAL SUMMER SCHOOL During the summer, DOBA Faculty organises a virtual summer school with international participation. Students attend short seminars on current topics or involve in individual subjects that are parts of programs. After passing the necessary exams, students receive the certificate stating the gained ECTS points. Each year we organize an international week and offer interesting lectures and webinars for our students and teachers. In June 2011 there were over 250 participants from 16 different countries. Participation in the international week for foreign students is free of charge. Students and tutor meet in a virtual learning environment, where all resources, guidelines and forums are to be found. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The research and development work is carried out under the auspices of the registered research group at the Business Institute, which was established with the intent of bringing together business theory and practice and support research and development work of both teachers and students. An important objective in the field of research and development activities is to deepen and strengthen research and development work in various branches of social and business sciences, as well as in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, our focus lies on development of new programmes and innovative pedagogical approaches, where distance learning, virtual mobility and competence model play and important part. The director of the Business Institute is Boris Cizelj, PhD, dean of the DOBA Faculty. The development work is carried out within six centres, the E-Learning Centre, the Quality Centre, the Centre for Didactics, the Centre for Counselling, the Lifelong Learning Centre, the Centre for Business Languages and the Centre for Innovations, in the framework of which researchers and teachers are involved in research and development projects.
KEY ADVANTAGES The DOBA Faculty offers modern and practice-oriented bachelor and master programmes in a traditional and online distance study mode with a high number of elective courses and modules. Excellent study results, high success and retention rates, number of graduates, and an exclusive know-how in the field of pedagogical approaches is what makes our faculty one of the most ambitious faculties in Slovenia. Student-centeredness, individualisation of the learning process, holistic support system, the use of effective pedagogical approaches supported by new media and technologies as well as permanent innovations will remain the key elements of our orientation in the future.