• The program’s entire Learning Outcome is officially recognized by the Ofqual UK Government’s awarding body OTHM. It’s accredited with 120 UK credits (equivalent to 60 ECTS credits), along with a Total Qualification Time (TQT) of 1200 hours and 600 Guided Learning Hours (GLH). Upon successful completion, graduates are awarded the esteemed OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.
• The OTHM Level 7 diplomas on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) are at the same level as master’s degrees.

The program’s outcomes align with and fulfill the occupational standards expected of Senior Leaders (ST0480) in the United Kingdom.

Upon successfully completing the program, students are awarded the prestigious Senior Leader Certification from the Senior Leader Bureau.

Senior Leader Occupation Standards:

• A Senior Leader is a leader who has senior management responsibility.
• Senior Leaders play a crucial role across a spectrum of organizations, spanning from small to large, operating within the public, private, or third sectors. This includes a wide array of industries such as health, finance, engineering, manufacturing, business and professional services, education, retail, leisure, technology, and construction. They are a fundamental component of any business model where workforce management and leadership are essential.
• The overarching purpose of this occupation is to provide decisive, comprehensive, and strategic leadership and guidance within their area of responsibility within an organization. This typically involves establishing, overseeing, and evaluating the accomplishment of core objectives aligned with the strategic goals set by their organization’s Board (or equivalent). In smaller organizations, they may also actively contribute to the execution and attainment of these strategic objectives.
• Senior Leaders exert influence at higher organizational levels, including the Board (or equivalent), shaping the culture and approach within their designated area. They operate in diverse work environments, be it an office, onsite, or remotely, showcasing significant flexibility and adaptability to cater to organizational needs. Daily responsibilities involve interacting with internal stakeholders such as their team members, other senior leaders or managers, support services (e.g., finance, marketing, HR), and project groups. In larger organizations, they may be part of a specialized, broader team.
• Depending on the organizational size, a Senior Leader might bear the responsibility of reporting results pertaining to their area of responsibility to the Board, trustees, shareholders, executive team, or other senior management within the organization. Externally, Senior Leaders serve as ambassadors for their organization, maintaining extensive networks involving customers or clients, supply chains, and statutory/regulatory bodies.
• In this occupation, employees are accountable for:

1. 1. Setting direction, vision, governance, and providing a clear sense of purpose for their area of responsibility.
   2. Offering clear and inclusive leadership.
   3. Identifying long-term opportunities and risks by utilizing data from both internal intelligence sources and external influences.
   4. Cultivating sustainable, ethical, innovative, and supportive cultures that optimize human potential and facilitate results delivery.
   5. Managing resources, which may encompass budgets, personnel, assets, and facilities.
   6. Staying abreast of innovation and advocating for its adoption.
   7. Adapting to and leading agile transformation in response to and in tandem with changes in the business landscape.
   8. Promoting sustainable business practices.
   9. Navigating and overseeing crisis situations effectively.

The program’s entire Learning Outcome is officially recognized by the VERN’ University. It’s accredited with 90 ECTS credits, along with a Total Qualification Time (TQT) of 1800 hours and 900 Guided Learning Hours (GLH). Upon successful completion, graduates are awarded the Master of Business Administration (MBA) of VERN’ University.

Accreditations and Licenses

• VERN’ is a private higher education institution with public recognition, focusing on professional higher and lifelong education and development in entrepreneurial economy, tourism, business informatics, business finance, media, communications, and applied arts. The fulfillment of the necessary legal and regulatory conditions for conducting this activity has been affirmed by relevant decisions and resolutions of competent institutions:
  • Decision on registration from the Commercial Court in Zagreb
  • Decision on enrollment in the Register of Higher Education Institutions by the Ministry of Education and Culture
• All study programs at VERN’ are conducted in compliance with the respective national permissions.
• VERN’ undergoes regular reaccreditation and periodic external independent quality assessments by the Agency for Science and Higher Education.
• In the academic year 2010/2011, VERN’ was granted the Erasmus extended university (Erasmus Mundus) charter for participation in international academic exchange, as per the decision of the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual Policy, and Culture of the European Union (Brussels).

Quality Standards

• VERN’Qual adheres to and is assessed according to ISO 9001:2015 standards and the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
• The quality management system was initially implemented and certified in accordance with the international standard ISO 9001:2000 on July 30, 2004. It was recertified in 2010 based on the revised ISO 9001:2008 standard and is routinely monitored by an authorized certification body. Following a certification audit of the integrated quality system by the international certification company SGS in January 2015, VERN’ was once again granted international certification for successful quality management according to the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. In May 2018, VERN’ Polytechnic reaffirmed the success of its VERN’Qual quality system, receiving the ISO 9001:2015 certificate, aligning with the international quality management standard of the same name.
• In 2011, preparations commenced for the establishment of a quality assurance system in line with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area. In 2013, the Committee for External Quality Evaluation, organized by the Agency for Science and Higher Education, conducted an external quality evaluation of VERN’. Subsequently, in 2014, VERN’ was awarded the international ESG Certificate (Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area) for an effective, well-developed, and functional quality assurance system in education, aligned with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area. With this certificate, valid for five years, the Agency for Science and Higher Education affirmed that the quality assurance system at VERN’ complies with the standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area.
• The regulations governing VERN’Qual include the Rulebook on the Quality System at VERN’ Polytechnic, the Quality Manual, and other relevant documents (regulations, procedures, work instructions), accessible through VERN’ EduNeta.

Awards and Recognitions

• The curriculum of VERN’s inaugural study in Entrepreneurship Economics, forming the foundation of all subsequent studies, underwent an independent international evaluation by the Finnish University of Vaasa as early as 2000.
• In 2009, VERN’ was granted membership in the prestigious international organization, the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), comprising over 700 members from the education, business, public services, and consulting sectors in 80 countries.
• As the first academic Superbrand, VERN’ has consistently received awards from Superbrands Croatia since 2010 (2009, 2010, 2011).
• In the independent QUDAL quality survey (QUality meDAL), the largest segment of Croatian citizens identified VERN as the highest quality private higher education institution in Croatia.
• In January 2013, VERN’ received the “Dr. Branko Lovrec” award for respecting students’ religious freedom.
• In March 2013, VERN’s Vice Dean for Studies, M.Sc. sc. Višnja Grozdanić, was honored with an award for promoting social entrepreneurship, acknowledging VERN’ students’ years-long focus on the significance and advantages of this form of entrepreneurship.
• In July 2014, VERN’ was honored with the international ESG Certificate (Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area) for an efficient, well-developed, and functionally organized quality assurance system in education, in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area.

• The program’s entire Learning Outcome is officially recognized by the Swiss Institute of Management and Innovation (SIMI Swiss). It’s accredited with 90 ECTS credits, along with a Total Qualification Time (TQT) of 1800 hours and 900 Guided Learning Hours (GLH). Upon successful completion, graduates are awarded the Master of Sciences in Organization Management (MSOM) of SIMI Swiss.
• SIMI Swiss holds the distinction of being the inaugural higher education provider in Zug, Switzerland. It has achieved accreditation at both the institutional and programmatic levels, underscoring its commitment to academic quality and standards.
• SIMI holds accreditation from ASIC (Accreditation for International Schools, Colleges, & Universities), a recognized accreditation body based in the UK, with the prestigious status of being a Premier Institution. ASIC operates as an independent accreditation body approved by the government, focusing on accrediting a wide array of educational institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, training organizations, as well as online and distance education providers. This accreditation is applicable both within the UK and internationally. Notably, ASIC’s accreditation is officially acknowledged by the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI), a division of the Home Office. Furthermore, ASIC holds membership in the CHEA International Quality Group in the USA. In essence, SIMI’s accreditation by ASIC signifies its commitment to maintaining high academic standards and underscores its recognition as a premier educational institution.
• SIMI’s accreditations encompass a range of quality assurance frameworks and national competency certifications. The management systems at SIMI align with the European Quality Assurance Framework for Vocational Education and Training (EQAVET), as well as the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area, as issued by HEAD – Higher Education Accreditation Division.
• Moreover, the programs offered at SIMI undergo accreditation through the UK national competency and occupation standards, ensuring their adherence to rigorous standards. The learning outcomes achieved by students are duly recognized and mapped to the UK national occupational standards.
• Additionally, SIMI proudly holds membership in the Swiss Federation of SVEB, affirming its commitment to providing high-quality adult learning in Switzerland.