NATIONAL EDUCATION INSTITUTE OF SLOVENIA

Systemic structure of the school research field comprises preschool education, elementary school education, secondary school education, and partly also the adult education aimed at the acquisition of the pre-university education. The National Education Institute, which is one of the most important and highly competent and responsible organisations for planning and development of pre-university education, covers part of the above field in accordance with its organisational and personnel structure. The National Education Institute has a Research and Development Unit which focuses on the applied research, especially on the developmental aspects. The Unit is primarily focused on the development of 'models of best practices' which evolve in partnerships with teachers and schools. In addition to encouraging bottom-up initiative, such collaborative processes encourage professional growth of all the involved, and contribute to the development of schools as learning organisations. Making sure that the links between research and practice flow in both directions, we have developed numerous innovative practices at the level of school and at the level of school system; the proposed changes are always first piloted and evaluated for their advantages and disadvantages before they are implemented accordingly. The innovative practices are being developed by means of project work and development tasks which are always carried out in collaboration with schools and practitioners. In accordance with the field of interest and the goals deriving from them, The National Education Institute conducts research within the following research areas: 1. Gathering data about the development of education system and processes at home and abroad 2. Methodology for planning systems and processes within the systemic structures, i.e. educational programmes, syllabi, standards of knowledge at different levels of education, computer assisted learning technology, teaching materials and technology, teacher training programmes for renewed school, new organisational forms, etc.) 3. Development of subject-specific areas at different levels of pre-university education (content and special didactics) 4. Methodology for implementation of change in the educational system 5. Methodology for gathering data and evaluation of the constituent parts of the educational system.