This master’s thesis addresses the institutionalization of political science in Slovenia within the context of a post-socialist state and compares it to the development of the discipline at selected foreign universities ranked highly on the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities. The research focuses on the competencies political science students acquire in undergraduate and master’s programs, and compares them on the basis of learning outcomes, curricula, and stated program objectives. The aim of the study was to identify which competencies the programs share, where key differences lie, and what may be lacking in the Slovenian programs when compared with their foreign counterparts. Methodologically, the thesis is grounded in comparative document analysis, with competencies systematically categorized into three groups: generic, subject-specific, and research-oriented subject-specific. The findings show that all the universities analyzed place strong emphasis on generic competencies (especially at the undergraduate level), while the differences are more evident in subject-specific and research- related skills. At foreign universities, research abilities, methodological training, and critical evaluation of knowledge are deeply integrated into the curriculum, whereas in Slovenia these elements are articulated less clearly. Moreover, foreign programs develop a broader range of competencies tied to internationalization, strategic thinking, and interdisciplinary approaches, while Slovenian programs remain more general in scope. Overall, the results confirm that Slovenian programs provide a solid foundation, but would benefit from a clearer definition of research competencies, a stronger focus on global content, and more structured articulation of learning outcomes.
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