DIGI-STEM PUŠ

IPS has been awarded the Digi-STEM project (Digital Transformation for Responsible and Inclusive STEM Higher Education) under the public call Problem-Based Learning of Students in the Work Environment: Economy, Non-Economic, and Non-Profit Sectors in the Local/Regional Environment 2024–2027 (PUŠ in the Work Environment 2024–2027, 2nd opening), co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. The purpose of the public call is to provide students with practical experience, knowledge, and competencies in a work environment during their studies, and to promote strengthened collaboration, networking, and knowledge transfer between higher education institutions and the work environment (including economic, non-economic, and non-profit sectors at local and regional levels).

Within this operation, IPS is implementing two projects in collaboration with partners TEMIDA and MIITR.

Project A: Career e-Advisor for Professors for Modern Teaching Methods and Student-Centered Teaching
This project addresses the lack of structured development of pedagogical competencies, limited use of modern teaching methods, and inconsistent collection of high-quality student feedback. Its aim is to develop and pilot the upgraded PUŠ II digital application, which will enable higher education teachers to monitor the development of their pedagogical competencies, receive personalized guidance, and integrate student feedback, while also providing support to institutional leadership. The project includes an analysis of existing practices, surveys among teachers and students, a participatory micro-workshop to co-design functionalities, the development of self-assessment tools, upgrading the application with progress visualization and recommendations, and a pilot implementation at IPS, ensuring a practical, transferable, and long-term solution for enhancing the quality of higher education.

Project B: Strengthening Digital Financial Literacy among STEM Students for Sustainable Professional and Personal Development
This project addresses the low level of digital financial competencies, previously identified as a weak competency in the Proact-STEM project. Its goal is to develop and pilot targeted hybrid training that enables students to acquire skills in personal budget planning, safe use of online banking and apps, understanding digital payments, loans, and investment products, and critically evaluating online resources. Activities include analysis of study programs using AI, a diagnostic quiz and mini-survey, development of practical case studies, delivery of a hybrid workshop, monitoring competency development through the PUŠ Proact-STEM app, and a reflective learning diary, providing practical, interactive, and measurable learning in digital financial literacy.