Wood Innovation for Sustainability

General information

Name of the programme: Wood Innovation for Sustainability
Type of programme: higher education professional, 1st Bologna cycle
Degree awarded: "diplomirani inženir lesarstva (VS)" equiv. to Bachelor of Applied Science in Wood Engineering
Duration: 3 years (6 semesters)
ECTS credits: 180
Mode of study: full time
Language of study: Slovene, English
Location of study: Izola, Koper (partly)

Programme coordinatortop

Prof. Andreja Kutnar, PhD

For information regarding application, enrolment and other administrative procedures please contact Student Services.

About the programmetop

The study programme Wood Innovation for Sustainability is designed as a response to the current needs of the wood industry in Slovenia and Europe, promoting the development of modern competencies, digital skills, and sustainable approaches.

The program is structured into six thematic modules:

• Basic Knowledge (mathematics, chemistry, statistics, engineering mechanics, English);
• Basic Professional Subjects (wood properties, engineered wood products, advanced manufacturing, ergonomics, wood modification technologies);
• Digital Skills (computer practicum, digital prototypes for wood product design, data analytics, artificial intelligence);
• Business and Economic Skills and Sustainability (project management, business communication, sustainability assessment, entrepreneurship);
• Wooden Built Environments (timber construction systems, design aligned with the principles of the New European Bauhaus);
• Practical Training and Mobility Window – a mandatory international experience in cooperation with universities and companies from Austria, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and the USA, as well as internships with leading Slovenian companies in the wood-processing value chain.

The study programme is based on interdisciplinarity and innovative teaching methods (project-based work, case studies, collaborative learning), enabling students to tackle complex challenges in the wood industry. The mobility window strengthens international cooperation and aligns with the strategic objectives of Slovenian and European higher education.

With this new study programme, the University of Primorska contributes to the development of professionals for the green transition, digitalization, and sustainable growth, in line with European policies and a policy document, WoodPoP – A Wood-based Circular Bioeconomy for a Sustainable Europe.

Educational and professional goalstop

The fundamental goal of the study programme is to meet the need for systematic investment in the development of top-notch personnel, which is necessary for a breakthrough in the wood processing industry, by providing interdisciplinary education and training and increasing the attractiveness of the industry for the highest quality personnel.

The goal of the study programme is to educate experts who will be able to integrate the acquired knowledge in an interdisciplinary manner and thus plan and implement the competitive use of wood products. Graduates will be capable of independent and critical thinking, which will be based on expertise and responsible behavior.

With their knowledge and consideration of the properties of wood, graduates will be able to recognize challenges and develop innovative solutions in the wood processing industry, while at the same time ensuring sustainable development. They will acquire professional knowledge for organizing work in the wood processing industry, deciding on the suitability of technologies and consulting, and at the same time develop a responsible attitude towards the use of wood products in connection with society, nature and the wider environment.

Course structuretop

During their studies, students must complete a total of 22 courses (19 compulsory and 3 elective), pass the internship (24 ECTS-credits) and the mobility window (24 ECTS-credits) and prepare a final seminar.

All study obligations are assigned ECTS-credits. One ECTS-credit encompasses 30 hours of student work.

Short descriptions of courses are available HERE.

 Legend:
 L = lecture, SE = seminar, T = tutorial, LW = lab work
 ECTS = ECTS-credits

Within the internal elective courses of the 2nd and 3rd year students have to choose 3 elective courses (each 6 ECTS-credits), that are placed in the field of business and economic skills:

• 2nd year: Business Communications (6 ECTS, 30 L and 30 SE),
• 2nd year: Project Management (6 ECTS, 30 L and 30 LW),
• 3rd year: Basics of Entrepreneurship and Marketing (6 ECTS, 45 L and 30 T).

Instead of these courses students can choose external elective courses in the field of communications, project management and entrepreneurship and marketing within the framework of accredited study programs of higher education institutions in Slovenia or abroad.

For assistance and guidance regarding elective courses, students may contact the study programme coordinator.

Mobility windowtop

Within the mobility window (24 ECTS-credits) in the 3rd year of study (in the 2nd semester) students carry out selected study obligations at a foreign partner institution.

Students have the following possibilities:

• choose to complete courses at Saarland University in Germany or Oregon State University in the USA,
• choose to complete courses (student mobility for the purpose of study) based on a signed learning agreement at a partner university. The partner university and the University of Primorska must have a signed agreement for the Erasmus+ mobility,
• choose practical training at one of the 10 foreign institutions (Holzforschung Austria; BOKU University, Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Materials, Austria; HS Timber Group, Austria; IBO - Austrian Institute for Building and Ecology, Austria; European Panel Federation, Belgium; Bauhaus der Erde gGmbH (Bauhaus Earth), Germany; Raimund Beck Nageltechnik GmbH, Austria; Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH (Wood KPLUS), Austria; RothoBlass SRL, Italy; Fraunhofer – Institute for Wood Research, Germany) who work in the field of wood use and sustainable construction.

Practical training in working environmentstop

In their 2nd and 3rd year of study, students must undertake practical training (in the toral of 24 ECTS-credits:

• a 8,5-weeks-long (340 hours) practical training in the 2nd year of study (12 ECTS-credits),
• a 8,5-weeks-long (340 hours) practical training in the 3rd year of study (12 ECTS-credits).

At the beginning of the academic year, after an initial meeting with the study programme coordinator, students choose the organization in which they would like to undertake their practical training. Students should contact their preferred organization and arrange the practical training themselves.

Students should contact the coordinator of the practical training if they need assistance in choosing the organization for practical training.

Before the beginning of the practical training students should know all procedures defined in the INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS ABOUT THE PRACTICAL TRAINING (only in Slovene).

All procedures goes through ŠIS, also all form are available in ŠIS. The key steps in the procedure are listed below:

• student submits the application for the training; it is mandatory to attach the Statement of the institution for accepting the student for practical training;
• the coordinator of the practical training at the Faculty decides about the application;
• after the approval, the student prints 3 copies of the traineeship cooperation agreement and submits them at Student Services; he/she saves all other forms as he/she will need them during the training;
• student begins with the training only after the approval of the application and the agreement is signed;
• at the end of the training student submits a report; all mandatory forms that need to be attached are listed in the Instructions;
• the coordinator of the practical training at the Faculty decides about the report;
• after the approval of the report, the student is invited to complete a survey about the training.

If a student needs the Student traineeship cooperation agreement in English (due to the practical training abroad), he/she must inform the Student Services as soon as he/she is informed that his/her application for practical training has been approved by coordinator.

Admission requirementstop

Admission to the first year of study shall be granted to applicants having:

• successfully completed any four-year secondary-school programme; or
• passed the matura examination (splošna matura); or            
• passed the vocational matura examination (poklicna matura).

In the case of enrolment limitations, applicants shall be selected on the basis of:

• overall matura, vocational matura or final examination results: 60 %,
• overall results in the 3rd and 4th year of secondary school: 40 %.

Admission may also be gained by an applicant having completed a comparable study abroad. Prior to enrolment, the applicant must apply for the recognition of completed education.

Continuation of studies according to the transfer criteriatop

Transfers between study programmes are possible on the basis of the Higher Education Act, Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes and in accordance with other regulations of this field.

The transition between study programmes is the enrolment in the higher year of the study programme, in case of leaving the education at the initial study programme and continuing the study process at another study program of the same degree. The transition takes into account the comparability of the study programmes and the completed study obligations of the candidate in the initial study program.

Access to year 2 or year 3 of the study programme of Wood Innovation for Sustainability on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is granted to candidates of a related first-cycle study programme or a pre-Bologna reform undergraduate study programme, provided that the following conditions have been met:

• the candidate fulfils the requirements for admission to the study programme of Wood Innovation for Sustainability
• the completion of the initial study programme which the candidate is transferring from ensures the acquisition of comparable competencies as those envisaged by the study programme of Wood Innovation for Sustainability
• other conditions have also been met, in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes (a comparable course structure, course requirements completed)

Individual applications for transfer shall be considered by the relevant UP FAMNIT committee. Apart from comparability between both fields of study, the committee shall also consider the comparability between the study programmes, in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes.

Enrolment on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is also open to candidates of a related study programme abroad who have been, in the process of recognition of their studies abroad, legally granted the right to continue their educational training in the study programme of Wood Innovation for Sustainability.

In case of enrolment restrictions, applicants shall be selected on the basis of the average grade obtained during the study programme they are transferring from.

Advancement requirementstop

For enrolment in the next study year it is necessary to collect at least 42 ECTS-credits from courses and exams in the current study year, and to fulfil all the study obligations (60 ECTS-credits) for the previous study year.

In exceptional cases, the academic committee of the Faculty may permit students who have not fulfilled all their academic requirements for the current and/or previous year to enrol in the next year of study. The student must submit a formal written request to the Committee for Study and Student Affairs at the faculty. Advancement to the next year may be approved if there are justifiable reasons for not completing all academic requirements.

Students may repeat a year only once during their study period.

Students shall be deemed to have completed their studies when they fulfil all the prescribed study requirements to a total of 180 ECTS-credits. Students must obtain a positive assessment for the Final Seminar completed within the framework of the Seminar.

Graduate competencestop

General competences

• Digital competences: use of digital technologies in their work in the wood processing industry as well as for communication, collaboration and professional development.
• Sustainability competences: evaluation of sustainability, understanding circular economy, support for justice, promotion of nature, systems thinking, critical thinking, problem formulation, literacy for the future, adaptability, collective action, individual initiative.
• Communication and relationships: autonomy, (self)criticism, (self)reflexivity, creativity, developing a positive group atmosphere and good relations, knowledge and use of appropriate strategies to promote behavior, where zero tolerance for violence is clearly evident, where conflicts are resolved through mediation and the integrity of all participants in the process is protected, awareness of the ethical dimensions of one's actions and taking them into account.
• Professional development competences: critical thinking, analysis and evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of one's professional work and planning one's own professional development; improving the quality of one's work through self-evaluation and further education and training; critical evaluation of the consistency between theoretical principles and starting points and their implementation in practice.
• Organizational and leadership skills: successful planning and time management; mastering organizational and administrative tasks related to planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the work process; ability to work in a team and solve problems effectively; establishing a suitable work environment by using various work methods and strategies that stimulate mental activity.
• Intercultural competences: for personal fulfillment and development, active citizenship, social inclusion and employment, cooperation with the work and social environment (with and in society).

Subject-specific competences

• Expert knowledge of wood structure at the microscopic and macroscopic levels.
• Expert knowledge of wood bonding and production processes of various engineered wood products.
• Skills and knowledge of advanced wood processing technologies.
• Understanding the characteristics and operation of various wood-based construction systems.
• Basic skills in analyzing internal forces and moments in wooden beams and frames.
• Expert knowledge of wood modification technologies.
• Basic skills and knowledge of experimental data collection and analysis.
• Mastering basic methods of mathematical analysis, matrix and probability calculus.
• Basic skills in using statistical analysis methods.
• Basic knowledge in the field of chemistry - the basics of quantitative consideration of the properties and structure of substances and chemical processes, including the structure and electronic configuration of an atom, the type of chemical bonds, chemical reactions, chemical equilibrium and energy changes in chemical reactions.
• Skills and knowledge required to use data for informed business decision-making.
• Knowledge of business communication strategies and ability to use various communication technologies.
• Basic knowledge of business plans, business management and basic marketing concepts.
• Ability to use advanced digital tools and software to design sustainable wood products.
• Ability to incorporate sustainable design principles into the design of wood products.
• Expertise in digital prototyping techniques.
• Knowledge of design principles, including collaborative, generative and iterative processes in digital design.
• Understanding of digital modelling techniques to improve the design, efficiency, sustainability and profitability of wood products.
• Skills and knowledge required to design ergonomic furniture and to critically assess proposed ergonomic solutions.
• Ability to develop project ideas in the field of wood sector.
• Ability to use a sustainability assessment tool and understand policies related to sustainability.
• Understanding the values and working principles of the New European Bauhaus.
• Ability to evaluate projects with the compass of the New European Bauhaus.
• Distinguishing between individual professional and scientific terms from the field of wood science and technology in English.

Graduate employment opportunitiestop

Graduates can continue their studies in master’s programs (second Bologna cycle) or enter the workforce.

With the knowledge acquired, they will be able to work independently or collaboratively:

• as professional and technical associates in the wood-processing industry and construction sector – timber structures and building construction;
• as technical associates in research and development activities within companies or research institutions;
• as independent entrepreneurs, manufacturers, or consultants.

As professional and technical associates in administrative bodies (ministries, inspection services, various agencies, municipal administrations).