The three-year study programme includes six sections, namely basic knowledge subjects, basic subjects of the profession, digital skills for wood handling, business and economic skills and sustainability, wooden built environments and practical training and mobility window. The latter is intended to gain experience in an international environment, provides students with a structured international experience and represents an important part of European efforts to increase quality cross-border mobility.

The mandatory mobility window, which UP has included in the curriculum of the new study programme, will contribute to the achievement of the strategic goals of both Slovenian and European higher education. The Resolution on the National Higher Education Programme until 2030 (ReNPVŠ30) and the Strategy for the Internationalisation of Higher Education and Science in Slovenia until 2030 define the increase in the quality and scope of international student mobility, the active inclusion of Slovenian institutions in the European area and internationalisation at home. The EU Strategy for Higher Education (EHEA) and the Council of the European Union Recommendation on student mobility further promote cross-border cooperation, knowledge exchange and access to educational and research opportunities across Europe.

The mobility window will be implemented in cooperation with 12 foreign universities and companies from Austria, Belgium, Italy, Germany and the USA. This will enable students to experience partner universities and companies abroad, learn about different educational systems, work and cultural environments, and the UP strengthens the international orientation and quality of education. Students will also undergo practical training at 12 Slovenian companies that are leaders in the wood processing chain.

When preparing the study program, the university pursued the principle of interdisciplinarity, as it identified the need to connect knowledge from different disciplines to solve complex issues in the wood industry. Through innovative teaching methods, such as brainstorming, case studies, collaborative learning, discussions, group research, problem-based learning or project work, which make courses more attractive, they prepare students to solve challenges in the industry after graduation.

The programme includes 22 courses (126 ECTS), practical training in a work environment (24 ECTS), a mobility window (24 ECTS) and a final seminar (6 ECTS). More specifically, it includes the following sets and subjects:

• Basic knowledge subjects (36 ECTS), which include subjects in the field of mathematics, English, chemistry, engineering mechanics, statistics and experimental methods.
• Basic professional subjects (33 ECTS), namely Practicum on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood Practicum, Engineered Wood Products, Advanced Manufacturing, Performance Modelling of Wood Products, Ergonomics in Wood Furniture Design and Wood Modification Technologies.
• Digital skills for woodworking (21 ECTS), which includes the subjects Computer Practicum, Digital Prototypes in Wood Product Design, Data Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
• Business and Economic Skills and Sustainability (24 ECTS), namely Business Communications, Project Management, Sustainability Assessment and Basics of Entrepreneurship and Marketing.
• Wooden Built Environments (12 ECTS), including the courses Timber Building Systems and Building Design driven by New European Bauhaus.
• Practical training (24 ECTS), which is carried out in the fourth and fifth semester as part of the two courses Practical Training in Work Environments I and II, but can also be carried out in the framework of the "Mobility Window".

With the new study programme, UP strengthens the development of modern competences, encourages international cooperation and the acquisition of the necessary knowledge in the field of woodworking, which plays a key role in sustainable development in Slovenia and in the wider European area.

The study programme has been prepared taking into account the guidelines defined in the Policy Document 2024 of the European Policy Platform on Wood, WoodPoP "A Wood-Based Circular Bioeconomy for a Sustainable Europe", within the framework of the GDI UP project – Green, Digital and Inclusive University of Primorska, co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project was implemented in accordance with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the development area Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, component Strengthening competencies, in particular digital competencies and those required by the new professions and the green transition (C3 K5), for the investment measure Investment F. Implementation of pilot projects, the results of which will serve as a basis for the preparation of a roadmap for the reform of higher education for a green and resilient transition to a Society 5.0: project Pilot Projects for the Reform of Higher Education for a Green and Resilient Transition.

Supplement

List of international partner institutions for the implementation of the Mobility Window:

• Saarland University, Germany
• Oregon State University, USA
• Holzforschung Austria, 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, ustria
• Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH (Wood KPLUS), Austria
• RothoBlass SRL, Italy
• Fraunhofer – Institute for Wood Research, Germany

The list of Slovenian companies or organizations within which students will carry out practical training:

• Alfa natura planje inženiring d.o.o.
• ALPLES, d.d.
• iQwood, wooden construction, d.o.o.
• Jelovica hiše d.o.o.
• Ledinek d.o.o.
• LUMAR IG d.o.o.
• M Sora, trade and production, d.d.
• SCM Adria d.o.o.
• Silent d.o.o.
• CBD construction and business design d.o.o.
• Gonzaga-pro d.o.o.
• Marles hiše Maribor d.o.o.