Slovenia: Higher VET Act aligned with 2025 Higher education Act

Background

The Higher Education Act of 2025, a new law for higher education after 30 years of amendments, introduced provisions that aim to improve the quality of Slovenian higher education institutions and their financial stability and independence.

The 2025 law increased funding for higher education to up to 1.5% of GDP, including investments in infrastructure. It also introduced micro-credentials as a new form of education to support individuals’ adaptability to rapid labour market changes. These are aimed primarily at enabling graduates to upgrade or supplement their knowledge, particularly in response to continuous demand for new skills.

Amendments to Higher VET Act

The amendment to the Higher vocational education Act (ZVSI C) responds to ongoing higher education reforms. Key measures include a new micro-credential system, defining micro-credentials as official certificates confirming learning outcomes achieved through short education or training programmes, assessed using the European credit transfer and accumulation system (ECTS). These programmes develop specific knowledge, skills and competences aligned with social, cultural, personal and labour market needs and must follow defined quality assurance standards.

Another key change is the introduction of joint study programmes and transnational education, enabling colleges to better integrate into international networks. Higher VET joint study programmes are run by Slovenian schools together with other Slovenian or foreign institutions, in line with national legislation. Completing such a programme awards a joint diploma listing all participating institutions, with content and format agreed between them. This also aligns the Higher VET system with the 2025 Higher Education Act.

International cooperation, as described in the Higher vocational education Act, is also strengthened by enabling foreign nationals to enrol in regular study places where bilateral agreements exist, particularly with countries of the Western Balkans. This measure is expected to reinforce regional partnerships and further enhance the international appeal of Slovenian higher vocational education.

The amendment also ensures that students who withdraw by 15 October do not lose their academic year and broadens conditions for re-enrolment, including parenthood, serious illness and other justified circumstances. These measures aim to increase fairness and flexibility within the VET system.

Finally, the reform introduces changes to the organisation and management of Higher VET schools. All teaching staff will become members of the Lecturers’ Assembly, while lecturers will continue to decide on appointments. Lecturer appointments are now regulated at both institutional level and by the national Accreditation Commission.

Implications for the Slovenian Higher education system

Slovenia’s new Higher Education Act lays the foundation for a more modern, accessible, and high-quality higher education system, extending its scope to lifelong learning pathways through micro-credentials. By balancing regulations with this framework, the amendment to the Higher Vocational Education Act (ZVSI) strengthens links between higher education and Higher VET. It marks an important step in modernising Slovenia’s VET system, strengthening institutional governance and responsiveness, and widening opportunities for students.

Read more:

• 557. Zakon o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o višjem strokovnem izobraževanju (ZVSI-C), stran 1519.[ 557 [Act amending and supplementing the Higher Professional Education Act (ZVSI-C), page 1519.]
• Zakon o višjem strokovnem izobraževanju [Higher VET Act]
• Zakon o visokem šolstvu. [Higher Education Act]
• Po 30 letih potrjen nov Zakon o visokem šolstvu [After 30 years new Higher Education Act confirmed]
• Sprejeta novela zakona o višjem strokovnem izobraževanju [Adopted Amendment to the Higher Vocational Education Act]