Secretariat

Secretary General

Miha Zimšek is experienced in entrepreneurship, project management and research. Prior to his employment at the Association, he was teaching assistant and researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Ljubljana), and adviser on European projects at the Faculty of Law (University of Maribor). He coordinated, managed and was a researcher in national and international projects concerning VET (“The changing nature and role of VET in Europe”), entrepreneurship (BLUES), civic education (trACES), work-based learning (WEXHE) and youth mobility, in which he focused on promoting the inclusion of entrepreneurial thinking, development of tools for improvement of entrepreneurial skills, young entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship. He was also research consultant for a partner of Slovenian Erasmus+ Youth in Action National Agency. Since 2016, he participated and managed ten projects in the field of civic education and work-based learning. As such, he has experience in the organizational aspects and financial management of small and medium-scale projects.

Head of Development

Natalija Klepej Gržanič is employed at the Association of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges as the Head of Development, overseeing the area of international cooperation, managing Erasmus+ (KA2) projects, participating in external evaluations of projects, conducting various analyses, and collaborating in working and expert groups. She is also responsible for the development of lifelong career orientation. Additionally, she manages the Higher Education Application Service.

Before joining the Association of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges, she gained experience as a consultant and analyst at the Ministry of Education and Sport. At the School Centre Celje, she was involved in project applications and implementations under the Erasmus+ program (KA1, KA2, KA3), as well as several projects funded by the European Social Fund. She successfully applied for mobility accreditation and the Jean Monnet project. She led and coordinated the work of 14 schools within the MUNERA 3 project.

Researcher

Nejc Gajšek is employed as a researcher at the Secretariat of the Secretariat of the Association of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges. He gained his higher education experience as a professional associate in the Student Affairs Office at the Faculty of Applied Social Studies in Nova Gorica, where he was awarded recognition for his contribution to improving quality in the faculty’s professional work. As an assistant, he was also part of the project team for the Global-Act project (Jean Monnet Module “EU as a Global Actor in a Fragmented and Traumatized World”). As a project specialist, he participated in the Erasmus+ program at the Celje Youth Centre. In addition to his experience in the aforementioned fields, he has strengthened his competencies in management and tourism. For his academic excellence and other efforts in the local community, he was awarded the Crystal Coat of Arms of Celje in 2024, presented by the City Municipality of Celje.

Researcher

Maja Tepeš Hudina is employed as a researcher at the Secretariat of the Association of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges, covering the areas of quality, lifelong career orientation, and tasks related to the annual work plan of the community. She holds a degree in Economics. Prior to joining the Association HVC, she worked for several years as the Head of the Education Office at the International Faculty of Social and Business Studies in Celje, where she was involved in the planning, organization, and evaluation of the educational process. She actively participated in national and international accreditation procedures. She also collaborated on various projects, engaged in tutoring, career counseling, and the internationalization of education.

Dr. Vesna Novak holds a Ph.D. in Plant Genetics from the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She has gained professional experience in various fields. At the University of Maribor, she was actively involved in the research department and the project office for national and international projects, contributing financially and substantively to various program schemes (Erasmus+, Interreg, Horizon Europe, CERV, NATO, EraNET, NOO, ARRS). She provided expert support to project leaders in project applications as well as in planning and implementation. As a researcher at the faculty, she participated in international conferences and symposiums. Having experience as a writer, she is also a youth author and took care of the faculty’s online magazine, reviewed conference proceedings, and contributed to the organization of educational programs and workshops. Due to her excellence and long-standing experience in the educational-volunteer sector, she was selected as a member of the Council of the Republic of Slovenia for the Promotion of Volunteering, Voluntary and Non-Governmental Organizations.