Valuational Overhaul of Regulation and Assessing and Maintaining Education Quality in Slovenia

The aim of this article is to present practices for regulating elementary and secondary education from an international perspective. It presents processes needed to introduce a system of external evaluation and takes account of the danger that if not carefully thought out, external evaluation can adhere to procedure to too great an extent, to the detriment of actual improvements in education. An external evaluation model that could be implemented in the Slovenian education system is then proposed. The proposed model stresses schools’ accountability to the public, the dissemination of effective practices, and the delivery of relevant information to those in charge of national school policy. The model upgrades existing mechanisms for assessing and maintaining quality and links them with a legislation proposal to form a coherent whole

The Reflexive Properties of Corporate Governance Codes: The Reception of the 'Comply or Explain' Approach in Slovenia

The Slovenian Corporate Governance Code for Public Joint-Stock Companies was adopted in March 2004. Using a systems-theoretical approach, we examine the extent to which the implementation of the Code has resulted in the kinds of 'reflexive' learning processes which the 'comply or explain' approach aims to bring about. The adoption of the Code has already had an impact on the wider legal system, triggering certain changes in the body of core company law, and assisting the process of adjustment to EU-level norms. On the whole, companies' implementation strategies are strikingly similar both in terms of the contents of deviations as well as in the type of disclosure and explanations for deviations. At the same time, the quality of disclosures is low, with effective comply-or-explain declarations representing only a small minority of disclosures. On this basis, the Code has been more effective, to date, in legitimating Slovenia's adjustment to transnational norms and standards, than in stimulating institutional learning.corporate governance, comply or explain, disclosure, reflexive law, EU law, transplants, Slovenia

Decentralisation, Privatisation and Changes in the Financing of Education in Slovenia: Greater Opportunities for Citizens?

This paper has been conducted to explore the major issues and problems in higher education regarding the decentralisation, privatization, accreditation and public financing processes in Slovenia. There is significant political pressure supporting the idea that if Slovenia has regions they should be as busy as possible. The real danger is that the introduction of small regions and 7-10 universities will only strengthen centralisation. Slovenian public expenditure on education has generally been relatively high. However, in recent years the proportion of annual GDP spent on higher education has decreased. There is a need for student protection and regulation. For many public and private universities, however, accreditation is mainly seen as an opportunity to strengthen their image by demonstrating their quality

Introducing New Methods Of Leadership And Fund Management In Public Sector: The Case Of Slovenia

A key factor in efficient operations of public sector units, is not only the establishment of autonomous organisations, but also the promotion of autonomy, professional and financial responsibility as well as supervision in all organisational units in the public sector. It would be normal to expect the direct role of the state to become less important and greater initiative be left to organisational units. With methodical monitoring of public needs, constant evaluation of services, expert management and increasing equal access of citizens to services, the public sector operations could be made more efficient

Transition Countries And New Public Management: The Case Of Slovenia

Globalisation impacts on a country and its administration with a series of economical, technological, cultural and ecological processes. The modern state is seen as a »modest« state. The state must provide the necessary direction without hindering other activities in society. The shift from public administration to new public management involves a shift in the basic design co-ordinates of public sector organisation.  Changes in the operating of public administration require new management policies. Abolishing administrative obstacles confronted by enterprises will reduce their operating costs. An efficient and well-organised public sector is in the interest of the economy. Reorganisation of state administration operations involves setting two important goals in the strategy of reform: greater productivity and better quality of service.  Operating indicators are necessary for internal and external reasons for assessing the past and planning the future.  New rules on public sector operations require a preliminary definition of operational standards, which determine the extent, quality and accessibility of services, measure results and establish mechanisms impacting on both the users and payers of services

The Reduction Of Administrative Burdens And Its Impact On The Competitiveness Of Business

This paper focuses on the reduction of administrative burdens in Slovenia and how these actions can influence the competitiveness of business. The aim of the paper is to study and analyse the current situation in the field of Slovenian regulations and the disadvantages of the regulations for businesses, to study the possibilities for reducing administrative burdens in Slovenia and to analyse the influence of cross-border cooperation on the reduction of administrative burdens. The paper first describes the regulations and their impact on the competitiveness of business using the data from different international studies that include business environment and competitiveness and by using the results of the research carried out in Slovenia on defining the most burdensome areas of legislation. The paper continues by discussing the reduction of administrative burdens, where the Programme for the Elimination of Administrative Barriers and the Reduction of Administrative Burdens by 25% by 2012 is introduced. The third part of the paper describes the possible connection between the reduction of administrative burdens and cross-border cooperation by introducing the results of a cross-national empirical survey of the current situation and future potentials of cross-border cooperation in the Alps-Adriatic region. At the end, the paper gives some conclusions on the reduction of administrative burdens and the resulting impact on business competitiveness in Slovenia

Učbeniki in znanje učencev

In Slovenia, textbooks are an integral part of the curriculum. Nationally certified textbooks guarantee both teachers and students that they provide all of the necessary knowledge in each subject. There are many available certified textbooks for each subject and teachers must decide which will be the source of instruction for their students. Our research question is whether groups of students who use different textbooks as their mandatory learning resource differ in their knowledge and their attitudes towards learning. We linked existing data from several sources and explored the scope of the use of different textbooks for mathematics and science subjects in primary schools. Data on student knowledge measured independently by National Assessments (and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study were used, and differences in knowledge and attitudes to learning between students who are taught using different textbooks were explored. Although the study has considerable limitations due to missing data, the results of the analyses indicate some profound differences in knowledge and attitudes between groups of students using different textbooks. These findings could serve as a guide for teachers when choosing the optimal available textbook for their students and, even more so, as support for improving the criteria in the national system of validation of textbooks in the future. The link between the use of textbooks and student learning outcomes also highlights the need to systematically collect information on the use of textbooks among students and follow the effects on achievement in order to improve the quality of future textbooks. (DIPF/Orig.

Mjere štednje u javnom sektoru u Sloveniji i drugim odabranim europskim zemljama

The global financial and economic crisis has placed a heavy burden on the public finances of EU Member States, including Slovenia. The current priority of each country is to ensure the sustainability of public finances. In 2012,the majority of EU countries still officially had an excessive deficit, i.e. one that exceeded the permitted level of 3 per cent of GDP. In most EU countries, measures to consolidate public finances are aimed at reducing government expenditure, and mainly include changes to the organisation of the public sector, social security and pension schemes. Most countries have had to face public sector wage reductions, combining wage cuts and wage freezes with employment reductions and other changes to employment conditions. The aim of the paper is to outline and compare the current state of public finances in the selected EU countries – Slovenia, the Netherlands, France and Italy – and to outline and compare the austerity measures in these countries’ public sectors, particularly as they affect civil servants. The comparison gives an insight into the similarities and differences of the austerity measures in the selected countries as a first step to stabilization of economic situation. The negative consequences of the adopted austerity measures have to be taken into consideration, too. The need for measures, which would be a sufficient condition for economic growth, recovery, and unemployment reduction, is also indicated in the paper.Globalna financijska i ekonomska kriza iznimno je opteretila javne financije država članica EU, uključujući i Sloveniju. Trenutačni prioritet svake zemlje jest osigurati održivost javnih financija. Većina zemalja članica EU je 2012. godine službeno još uvijek imala prekomjerni deficit odnosno deficit im je prelazio dozvoljenu razinu od 3% BDP-a. Mjere za konsolidaciju javnih financija usmjerene su na smanjivanje javne potrošnje te uglavnom uključuju promjene u organizaciji javnoga sektora, socijalne sigurnosti i načinima umirovljenja. Države članice morale su se suočiti sa smanjivanjem plaća u javnom sektoru, kombinirajući smanjivanje i zamrzavanje plaća sa smanjenjem zapošljavanja te drugim promjenama uvjeta zapošljavanja. Cilj rada je prikazati i usporediti sadašnje stanja javnih financija u odabranim državama članicama EU – Sloveniji, Nizozemskoj, Francuskoj i Italiji – te prikazati i usporediti mjere štednje u javim sektorima navedenih zemalja, posebno one koje se tiču javnih službenika. Usporedba daje uvid u sličnosti i razlike mjera štednje koje primjenjuju odabrane zemlje kao prvi korak prema stabilizaciji gospodarskog stanja. Negativne posljedice usvojenih mjera štednje također se moraju uzeti u obzir. U radu se navodi i potreba za mjerama koje bi potaknule gospodarski oporavak i rast te smanjile nezaposlenost

Fiscal Instability in Slovenia during the Economic Crisis

The changed macroeconomic conditions brought about by the global financial and economic crisis are posing an increasing challenge to economic policymakers to achieve the objectives of the planned consolidation. The fiscal situation in Slovenia, as in other EU Member States, remains tight; the current priority is therefore to ensure the sustainability of public finances and to create conditions for stable economic growth. Slovenia faces the challenge of reducing the public finance defi cit below 3% of GDP in 2013. If it does so, it will fulfil its commitment to bring its excessive defi cit under control and re-establish opportunities for fi nancing on international markets. Long-term sustainability of public finances and stable economic growth will be ensured by economic policy measures, structural measures and institutional adjustments. If the economy is to function successfully, appropriate management frameworks are required in which the government plays a key role. Long-term economic success can be achieved with high-quality government institutions. The objective of this paper is to show the current state of public fi nances and to outline the features of the austerity measures being conducted in Slovenia. The need to balance public finances in order to ensure a stable and sustainable macroeconomic environment and meet the requirements of the EU, has led to amendments to legislation in Slovenia that are radically affecting the size and structure of public expenditure. On the other hand, Slovenia is also adopting measures to promote economic activity

Private And Public Sector Innovation And The Importance Of Cross-Sector Collaboration

Innovation plays a very important role in the private sector in terms of competitiveness, and is the key to success for private businesses, helping to cut costs, improve products and open new markets. Nowadays, innovation is gaining in importance in the public sector as well, as it can improve the quality of service delivery as well as reduce costs. Innovation is an important driver of economic progress and competitiveness in all economies.Collaboration between public and private entities creates better and more effective public and private services and products. Collaboration enables the participants to exchange and share knowledge, experiences, know-how and expertise. Collaboration helps to bring a broader set of skills and talents and a more responsive work culture into public sector organisations, along with innovative thinking and creativity; it also helps private companies to innovate more effectively and to achieve their concrete goals in a more efficient way.The objective of this paper is to outline the differences and similarities between private and public sector innovation in terms of definition, driving factors, barriers and measurement; the paper also aims to examine the importance of cross-sector collaboration for private and public sector innovation, and demonstrate that collaboration can improve innovation