Doctoral Study Programme - 3^rd Cycle Quality Management

① Fundamental Objectives >>

② Curriculum >>

③ Entry requirements >>

④ General Competences >>

⑤ Subject-Specific Competencies >>

⑥ Course content >>

① Fundamental Objectives of the Third Cycle PhD Degree

The PhD programme provides students with an in-depth understanding of theoretical and methodological concepts as well as skills to independently develop new knowledge and solve demanding problems in testing and improving existing explanations and discovering new solutions to manage the most demanding work systems and scientific research projects within a broad professional and academic field and the development of critical reflection. A compulsory component of these programmes is also original or applied research tasks.

The fundamental aim of the postgraduate doctoral degree third cycle study programme in Quality Management is to ensure to the doctoral student the continuous self-transcendence and identification of paradigm shifts and the ability to design contemporary innovative concepts and approaches intended for the improvement of quality of life of individuals, organizations, and communities. During the study process, students can select among different fields of research. Based on the elective course and the topic of their thesis, students can currently gain the doctoral title in the field of Quality Management, Development Management, Tourism Management, Information and Communication Technologies Management, European Studies and Military Studies.

As part of the doctoral studies, PhD students use their previously acquired knowledge and competencies to gain a more in-depth and contemporary knowledge on the fundamental building blocks of an integrated balance of sustainable development (networks, cyclical, solar energy, partnerships, diversity, dynamic balance ...).

The postgraduate doctoral study in Quality Management is designed to educate PhD students for research work mainly in scientific research and teaching activities, as well as research and professional work in the commercial and non-commercial sectors and public administration.

According to the learning outcomes, the study program is classified into 10^th level of the Slovenian Qualifications Framework (SQF), 8^th level of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the 3^rd level of the Qualifications Frameworks in the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA). 

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② Curriculum

In January 2020, the updated curriculum of the Third Cycle PhD Degree in Quality Management was adopted, which will be implemented from the academic year 2020/2021 and will apply to newly enrolled students.

Existing students who make regular progress will be able to complete the study program according to the old curriculum, but may choose to complete the study according to the new curriculum. In this case, they will receive a notice from the Students Affairs Office about the obligations they have to complete in order to complete their studies under the new curriculum.

The rest of the students will complete the study program according to a new curriculum.

The programme lasts three years and is divided into six semesters. It is awarded with 180 ECTS. The first semester is designed to provide a theoretical and methodological depth of prior knowledge that provides an opportunity to introduce doctoral studies. The second semester is designed to prepare the doctoral dissertation (thesis) proposal. The third and fourth semesters are devoted to individual work of the doctoral dissertation with the assistanceof a mentor and a possible co-mentor. In the fifth semester, a seminar is provided for the preparation of the dissertation, in which doctoral students present a draft of their dissertation and receive guidance for further editions. In the sixth semester the doctoral dissertation is completed.

Year One
No.	Type	Learning units	ECTS
1st Semester
1	A	Research Methodology 3	15
2	C	Elective course - theoretical	15
2nd Semester
3	A	Seminar for Dissertation Proposal	15
4	A	Individual Work on the Dissertation Proposal	15
Year Two
No.	Type	Learning units	ECTS
1	A	Individual Work on the Dissertation 1	55
2	A	Seminar for Dissertation 1	5
Year Three
No.	Typep	Learning units	ECTS
1	A	Seminar for Dissertation 2	10
2	A	Individual Work on the Dissertation 2	50
Electives
No.	Type	Learning units	ECTS
1	C	New Paradigms of Organization Theories	15
2	C	New Paradigms of Innovation and Excellence	15
3	C	New Paradigms of Sustainable Development	15

A - compulsory course
C - elective course
IW - individual work

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③ Entry requirements

The first year of the Master's degree programme in Quality Management is open to

 

• who has completed a second-level study program (according to the Bologna system) and achieved a total of at least 300 ECTS credit points (according to the Bologna system) at the first and second level or in a single master's study;
• who has completed the current (old, i.e. before the Bologna system) undergraduate study program to obtain a university education;
• who has completed a second-level study program (according to the Bologna system) and previously completed a previous higher education professional program (before the Bologna system), whereby he had to complete a total of at least five years of study.
• who has completed previous specialization programs, who have previously completed a professional higher education program. They must complete additional study obligations totaling 30 credits per ECTS, which include the following subjects: Sustainable global marketing; Strategies and Processes of the Organization; Innovation and Creativity; Leadership and Organizational Culture; Contemporary Approaches to Quality and Excellence.

 

Anyone who has completed an equivalent education abroad also meets the conditions for enrollment.

The faculty may restrict enrollment if the number of applications significantly exceeds the number of places advertised. In the case of enrollment restrictions, candidates will be selected based on the average grade of the master's study without the grade of the master's thesis (or the average grade of the last two years of study in the case of a single master's study) and based on the grade of the master's thesis. Each of the mentioned two criteria has equal weight. If the master's study did not include a master's thesis or it was not evaluated, the average grade of the master's study is considered as the only criteria.

The following transitions to the Quality Management doctoral study program are possible:

 

• from third level study programs
• for graduates t. i. non-Bologna study programs, the transitions of which are regulated in the transition provision of ZViS-E (Article 16).

 

Graduates of current (old, i.e. before the Bologna system) study programs for obtaining a Master of Science or specialization after completing the study program for obtaining a university education are recognized in the doctoral study program of the third level in accordance with the 3rd indent of Article 16 of the ZViS-E in the scope 60 credits according to ECTS. On this basis, they enroll directly in the second year, and must submit the disposition of their doctoral dissertation by the end of the first semester of this year. Graduates who enroll directly in the 2nd year of the 3rd-level doctoral study program Quality Management may be assigned additional obligations in the form of differential exams upon enrollment based on the dean's decision, and for the 1st year, the KT difference that they are not obtained by completing the differential exams may be recognized exams. Applications for transitions between programs are considered individually according to the procedure established by the statute of the faculty.

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④ General Competences

Students in the third cycle PhD Degree programme in Quality Management will acquire the following general competencies:

1. The ability to identify a given research problem, its analysis and possible explanations/solutions.
2. The ability to recognize paradigm shifts and to design contemporary innovative concepts and approaches designed to improve the quality of life of individuals, organizations, and communities.
3. The ability to apply and use standard methods, procedures and processes of research to the field of quality and excellence.
4. Ability to use theoretical knowledge in practice.
5. Autonomy in one’s own professional research work.
6. Commitment to professional ethics.

⑤ Subject-Specific Competencies

Students in the third cycle PhD Degree programme in Quality Management will acquire and grasp the following subject-specific competencies:

1. Ability to design and implement original scientific answers to problems and opportunities in the area of quality and excellence.
2. The ability of solving original and concrete research problems in various areas of quality and excellence, and its related disciplines.
3. The development of new skills and abilities in a specific area of research and/or  in the area of quality and excellence and related disciplines.
4. Ability to develop new methods of empirical research quality and excellence and its related disciplines (econometric modelling, decision theory, empirical marketing research).
5. The ability to present obtained scientific research results in the form of publications in international scientific journals.

⑤ Course content

Research Methodology 3
Lecturer: doc. dr. Franc Brcar

• Triangulation: basic concepts, understanding and methods of triangulation.
• in the analysis of quality queuing theory.
• Quantitative methods, qualitative methods.
• Statistical methods.
• Linear and nonlinear optimization.
• Fuzzy logic, fuzzy systems, fuzzy reasoning, applications.
• Computer tools.
• Other possible applications.
• Analysis and interpretation.
• Presentation of research results through research reports, monographs and scientific or other professional articles at conferences and academic journals.
• Values and ethics in research. Legal protection of authorship.

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Seminar for Dissertation Proposal
Lecturer: prof. Dr (PhD, ZDA) Annmarie Gorenc Zoran, izr. prof. Dr (EdD, VB) Tatjana Dragovič

• Instructions for doctoral studies
• Selecting the research interest area and topic of the doctoral dissertation in the context of understanding the laws of academic research
• Selection of research concepts and strategies
• Development of theoretical basis of research and literature review
• Defining the research question, hypotheses or thesis statement
• Defining scientific contribution in relation to the dissertation topic and proposal.
• Designing and writing academic articles.
• Designing and writing the doctoral proposal and doctoral dissertation
• Ethics in research

The course is to assist students in preparing their doctoral dissertation and is focused on the processes of preparing the proposal. The proposal is primarily individual and autonomous work, namely because it requires extensive collection and evaluation of literature. The doctoral student must have the fundamental knowledge to prepare an advanced theoretical and research study and within the context of this course will upgrade with what is required for the preparation of the dissertation proposal

At the conclusion they will present their dissertation proposals to their peers in class. Before the dissertation proposal presentation, they have to have their dissertation topic approved. Students have the opportunity to provide peer feedback and receive suggestions from the committee and from the course instructor. Based on this feedback, the student then consults with his/her mentor and prepares the final version of the dissertation proposal.

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Individual Work on the Dissertation 1
Lecturer: mentor

• Development of the research
• Development of the research question
• Development of the hypotheses
• Development of the methodology
• Definition of the scientific relevance of the topic
• Preparation of the dissertation proposal

• The seminar’s goal is the final preparation of the doctoral dissertation and obtaining proposals for its improvement. It contains a presentation and defense of the draft doctoral dissertation and a collegial review of the draft doctoral dissertations of other doctoral students of FOS.
• Candidate can participate in the first seminar for dissertation, when her/his mentor confirms the introduction, literature review, and methods sections. First seminar for dissertation shall take place in the beginning of the fifth semester. The candidate presents and defends her/his draft in front of the dissertation proposal evaluation committee.
• Participation at the seminar for dissertation of other doctoral students of FOS or active participation at the conference (doctoral students have to participate in three seminars for dissertation of other doctoral students (in second in/or third year), one seminar can be replaced by active participation in the scientific conference).

• The seminar’s goal is the final preparation of the doctoral dissertation and obtaining proposals for its improvement. It contains a presentation and defense of the draft doctoral dissertation and a collegial review of the draft doctoral dissertations of other doctoral students of FOS.
• Candidate can participate in the second seminar for dissertation when she/he has a positive grade from the first seminar, and when the mentor confirms chapters ”Results”, “Discussion” and ”Conclusion”. Second seminar for dissertation shall take place by the beginning of the fifth semester. The candidate presents and defends her/his completed drafts in front of the dissertation proposal evaluation committee.
• Participation at the seminar for dissertation of other doctoral students of FOS or active participation at the conference (doctoral students in their second and third year have to participate in three seminars for dissertation of other doctoral students (in second in/or third year), one seminar can be replaced by active participation in the scientific conference).

 

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