The
Polytechnic of Požega performs five professional studies (Commerce, Accounting,
Administration, Food Technology, and Viticulture-Oenology-Pomology) and one
specialist professional graduate study (Commerce). A major emphasis is placed on practical
training in performance of the professional studies.
Practical
training of students attending the professional study of
Viticulture-Oenology-Pomology is organised within an own teaching facility (5.5
hectares of perennial vineyards, winemaking premises and equipment, wine
cellar, wine laboratory, wine tasting hall). This study programme is deficient in
terms of lack of own facilities needed to perform practical training in the
field of pomology. The specified deficit is being addressed
through purchase of 2.3 hectares of land and planting of a perennial orchard. The
Polytechnic plans to complement the orchard with fruit processing (processing
and drying facilities) and food storage facilities, representing high quality
bases for performance of the practical training of the students of Food
Technology. Students attending other professional studies undergo practical training
within business entities with which the Polytechnic has cooperation agreements
in place (270 cooperation agreements in force).
Sixteen
mentors (teachers) are tasked with monitoring of the professional training in
all the study programmes. The mentors make arrangements for performance
of the professional training at the Polytechnic-owned facilities and within the
businesses with which the Polytechnic of Požega has concluded cooperation
agreements, monitor and supervise student activities and review practical
training reports and logs.
In
order to satisfy a part of needs of the economy regarding short-term
professional education programmes, the Polytechnic established three adult
education programmes: Project Cycle Management, Computer Operator and
Winegrower/Cellar Master. Besides the above, the Polytechnic performs a
beekeeping adult education programme in cooperation with Marko Marulić
Polytechnic of Knin, within The Bee Incubator project funded by the EU.
Currently,
the Polytechnic has 51 full-time employees, including 29 employees holding
teaching ranks – assistants (1), lecturers (4), senior lecturers (20), and
college professors (3) in corresponding professional fields. Since its
establishment in 1998, the Polytechnic has made efforts to develop its own
teaching staff through financing of postgraduate studies, which resulted in
young and highly educated professionals, prepared to rapidly adjust to changes
within the framework of science and higher education as well as in terms of
cooperation with businesses in the area. At this time, the institution
employs 10 PhDs fellows, 7 masters of science, and 12 teachers has enrolled
into doctoral programmes.
Total
surface area of the Polytechnic of Požega intended for teaching (lecture halls,
laboratories, wine cellar) amounts to 1072 m2. Comparing
the above area size to the total number of enrolled students, currently
numbering 1530, indicates an average of 0.70 m2 of usable area per
student. If sports grounds are added to the figure, the total surface area
intended for teaching amounts to 1.64 m2 per student. The above
points to a conclusion that the Polytechnic complies with the standards requirements
of the Ordinance on accreditation contents and conditions for issuing of
accreditations for performance of higher education activities, performance of
study programmes and reaccreditation of higher education institutions. The above
averages do not include areas for performance of practical training used by the
Department of Agriculture, consisting of 5.5 hectares of perennial vineyards
owned by the Polytechnic.