Slovenia
The country is for the first time included in the Autonomy Scorecard in the 2016 update.
Recent developments:
- Promotions for senior administrative staff restricted since economic crisis
Organisational autonomy: medium high
The appointment and dismissal of the university executive head do not require external validation. Universities can decide on selection criteria and term of office. Universities must include external members on their boards but can select only some of them. Universities cannot freely decide on academic structures and cannot create for-profit legal entities.
Financial autonomy: medium low
Universities receive public funding via annual block grants for teaching activities and may reallocate funds internally across categories. While they may keep surpluses generated from public funding without restrictions, borrowing money and selling real estate require government approval. Universities may not charge fees to national and EU students at Bachelor and Master levels. The level of fees is set in cooperation with the State for international students at all levels and for all students at doctoral level.
Academic autonomy: medium low
Overall student numbers are negotiated with the government and student selection is centrally regulated at Bachelor and Master levels. New programmes must be accredited by the national agency. There are regulations regarding the language of instruction and a programme must be available in Slovenian before a university is able to deliver it in another language.
Staffing autonomy: medium low
Universities may only hire staff within the limits set by a government-approved annual Human Resources plan. University staff have civil servant status; their salaries are set externally and dismissals are regulated in accordance with civil service rules. There are restrictions on promotions for senior administrative staff.
Organisational weighted 65% unweighted 68%
100% Selection procedure for the executive head
The selection of the executive head is not validated by an external authority
100% Selection criteria for the executive head
The selection criteria for the executive head are not stated in the law
This applies to 9 other countries: Austria, Wallonia, Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
60% Dismissal of the executive head
Other restrictions
100% Term of office of the executive head
The length of the term of office is not stated in the law
This applies to 5 other countries: Denmark, Wallonia, The Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom
57% External members in university governing bodies
Universities cannot decide as they must include external members
This applies to 23 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
External members are partly appointed by the university and partly by an external authority
0% Capacity to decide on academic structures
Faculties/other academic structures are listed in the law
This applies to 3 other countries: Croatia, Luxembourg, Slovakia,
60% Capacity to create legal entities
Universities are only allowed to create not-for-profit legal entities
This applies to one other country: Switzerland
Financial weighted 57% unweighted 55%
60% Length of public funding cycle
One year
60% Type of public funding
Block grant is split into broad categories and there are no or limited possibilities to move funds between these
80% Ability to borrow money
Universities can borrow money with the approval of an external authority
This applies to 4 other countries: Croatia, France, Luxembourg, Spain
100% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept without restrictions
This applies to 15 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
60% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings with the approval of an external authority
This applies to 5 other countries: Croatia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level
There are no tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level
There are no tuition fees
60% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to one other country: Switzerland
60% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to 4 other countries: Denmark, Finland, Poland, Switzerland
60% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to 4 other countries: Denmark, Finland, Poland, Switzerland
60% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to 3 other countries: Hungary, Poland, Switzerland
Staffing weighted 44% unweighted 42%
83% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 17 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Other restrictions
83% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Other restrictions
0% Salaries for senior academic staff
Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff
0% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff
0% Dismissal of senior academic staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
0% Dismissal of senior administrative staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
100% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 11 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
71% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff
Academic weighted 44% unweighted 41%
60% Overall student numbers
Universities negotiate with an external authority
This applies to 10 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Finland, Hesse, Iceland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain
0% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admissions are entirely regulated by an external authority
60% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are co-regulated by an external authority and universities
0% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
0% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
0% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
100% Termination of degree programmes
Universities can terminate degree programmes independently
This applies to 25 other countries: Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
83% Language of instruction at Bachelor level
Universities can choose the language of instruction only if the programme is also offered in the national language
This applies to one other country: Wallonia
83% Language of instruction at Master's level
Universities can choose the language of instruction only if the programme is also offered in the national language
This applies to one other country: Wallonia
0% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms
Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms
0% Selection of quality assurance providers
Universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency
100% Capacity to design content of degree programmes
Universities can freely design the content of degree programmes and courses (other than for the regulated professions)
This applies to 25 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom