Environmental protection and municipal services

Short-cycle Higher Vocational College is part of the Educational Centre Novo mesto and it is a distinctive and recognized educational institution. It focuses on the excellence of studies and on the quality of professional and research work. This has been an important factor for the development of the local economy and the service sector in the regional and in the global space for more than 20 years. Vocational college works closely with employers: our main goal is to provide high quality education by establishing solid partnerships with the companies that participate in carrying out practical training and help put theory into practice.  Such partnerships are comparable to the European standards of good practice and are particularly welcome in the field of vocational education which is to train students for practical needs. Planning, developing and modernizing study programs is based on the needs of the labor market, thus ensuring the modernity of the study, and high employability of graduates. Together with well-experienced lecturers and training experts our objective is to adapt the educational programme to the needs of the labour market and the economy in Slovenia.

Environmental protection and communal services focuses on a field of expertise that develops very rapidly. Therefore, our study program offers basic science, economic legislative content and communication skills. The target is aimed at controlling objects, devices and systems for providing the basic material conditions of living and working. The compulsory part of the program focuses on subjects such as drinking water, wastewater, waste and recycling, spatial planning, energy and environmental rehabilitation plans. The development of the profession and a varieties of optional contents provide an attractive and dynamic study process, where classic lectures are improved by laboratory training,  field training exercises and field trips. Field-trips complement and upgrade the acquired skills. They represent also an opportunity for intergenerational cooperation: students socialize with other students, they exchange opinions and information.

Form and duration of the study

Full-time studies

They last two years and students get awarded by 120 credits (ECTS). The courses are organized on weekdays. The academic year involves 34 weeks of educational work, of which 24 weeks of education at school and 10 weeks of work placement in companies or in inter-company education centers.

Part-time studies

These studies are custom-made to meet the needs of adult students ; they last two and a half years and students get awarded by 120 ECTS credits. The courses are carried out twice or three times a week in the afternoon using a system of successive subjects (max. two subjects in parallel.)

Benefits of taking our courses

Courses designed to provide students with the practical skills required to pursue a career

Study programs are based on professional standards and  designed and developed with the co-operation of  local employers.

The study focused on gaining  practical competences

40 % of the study programme is carried out in enterprises as a work placement.

Excellent employment prospects for our graduates

Designing and updating study programmes are in accordance with the requirements of the labor market, which enables our graduates to have high chances of employement.

Excellent and experienced teaching staff

Not only  lecturers and tutors who are employed full-time at Higher vocational college but also lecturers with professional experience, employed in industry and service sector are assigned to  deliver lectures and tutorials.

Providing practical and useful in-depth knowledge

In all of our programmes, the diploma work is focused on problem solving and real-life situations  prospective employees are expected  to tackle in enterprises.

Excellent facilities and encouraging study environment offering a tutorial system.

A tutor/lecturer provides students with different  skills needed to successfully finish the studies and to pursue a career.

Custom-made short courses to meet specific needs of incoming students/freshmen

In September short courses are delivered in order to revise certain contents to enable students to easily follow the courses.

The study/courses  supported by e-classrooms encouraging mobility of students in EU projects 

We encourage student mobility to accomplish their work placement abroad.

Convocation the college encourages the  transfer of knowledge and experience of all the generations of graduates.

Thanks to the cooperation with employers, the College is able to provide work-based training and to respond to the requirements of industry.

Employment prospects

• design, construction, removal, operation and maintenance of environmental supply systems (water supply, sewerage, waste management, wastewater treatment plants),
• inspection and maintenance of surfaces (public transport, quiet areas, green and other surfaces),
• spatial planning and urban design,
• housing, land policy, building sites, services and commercial zones,
• public procurements, competitions and similar procedures,
• public services and environmental protection,
• manufacture of machinery and equipment for environmental protection (devices or components for water supply, drainage and waste water, noise protection, waste management)
• specialized companies to handle all types of waste,
• environmental monitoring,
• services to environmental protection (in companies),
• professional services of public administration and local government concerning environmental aspects,
• rational use of energy, inspection and maintenance of the flue and ventilation equipment.