SASS

What SASS does

SASS (School of Advanced Social Studies), operating legally as Fakulteta za uporabne družbene študije (FUDŠ), is a private higher education institution founded around 2005 and headquartered in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, with a secondary study location in Ljubljana. The institution delivers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programmes organized into three schools: the School of Management (Social Management BAA/BA; Intercultural Management MA), the School of Media and Communication (Media and Journalism BAA/MA; Strategic Communication MA), and the School of Psychosocial Support and Counselling (Psychosocial Support BAA; Psychosocial Counselling MA; Psychosocial Counselling in Sport MA; Psychotherapeutic Propedeutics), plus two doctoral programmes (Sociology and Psychosocial Studies; Strategic Communication and Management). Continuing education is delivered through the FUDŠ Akademija and an emerging micro-credentials (mikrodokazila) line.

The institution runs on a tuition-based revenue model, with the Study+ Support premium package adding subscription-based hybrid delivery (live Zoom participation, year-round video archive) targeted at working adults and career changers. Operational technology is built on commodity infrastructure: Moodle as the learning management system (moodle.fuds.si), a Web Office / Spletni referat for student affairs (vis.fuds.si), Google Universal Analytics for web tracking, and Zoom for live remote participation. The Družboslovni raziskovalni center (DRC) coordinates applied research through two internal institutes (IUDŠ and NIPPS) and supports active participation in 30+ Erasmus+ and Interreg projects across Europe and beyond.

Customer acquisition is event-driven, relying on information days (Informativni dnevi), personal consultations, and digital channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, TikTok). The Career Centre, Alumni Club, Student Council, tutoring system, and psychosocial counselling service support the student lifecycle. International reach is extended through Erasmus+ KA131 agreements with approximately 25 European universities, KA171 partner-country agreements with institutions in Lebanon, the Philippines, Belarus, Palestine, and Russia, plus CEEPUS participation. The institution reports 92% student satisfaction and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025.

Name

SASS

Legal name

Fakulteta za uporabne družbene študije

Website

https://fuds.si

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SASS (Fakulteta za uporabne družbene študije) is a private Slovenian higher education institution founded in 2005, headquartered in Nova Gorica with a Ljubljana location, offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programmes in management, media and journalism, and psychosocial counselling, serving working adults, career changers, and international students through hybrid delivery and Erasmus+ mobility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nova Gorica

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrolment Fees: SASS generates primary revenue from student tuition across undergraduate (BAA/BA), master's (MA), and doctoral (PhD) programmes, as well as short-term academy programmes (SASS Academy). Fee-based services also include the Study+ Support premium package, individual consultations, differential exams, and room rental.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SASS is a private higher education institution offering undergraduate (BAA/BA), master's (MA), and doctoral (PhD) degree programmes organized into three schools: School of Management, School of Media and Communication, and School of Psychosocial Support and Counselling. Programmes are delivered on-site in Nova Gorica and Ljubljana and remotely via the Study+ Support hybrid model combining live Zoom lectures with a year-round video archive. The institution also offers continuing education through the SASS Academy, micro-credentials, the annual Global Social Nexus international conference, and student/staff mobility under Erasmus+.

Product overview

SASS (School of Advanced Social Studies / Fakulteta za uporabne družbene študije) is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programmes organized into three schools: School of Management, School of Media and Communication, and School of Psychosocial Support and Counselling. The institution provides face-to-face and hybrid study options through its Study+ Support package, professional development through SASS Academy programmes, and international mobility through Erasmus+ partnerships. The Global Social Nexus annual conference serves as the flagship academic event for interdisciplinary dialogue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Study+ Support: Premium package offering flexible hybrid study model with live Zoom lectures, video archive access, and priority organizational support
• FUDŠ Akademija
• Global Social Nexus
• Družboslovni raziskovalni center (DRC)

Products and services

• Social Management (BAA)

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% student satisfaction with the execution of the study process
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kodolányi János University of Applied Sciences, BudapestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026SASS student completed an Erasmus+ study mobility here (February 2026). Studied Intercultural Communication, Marketing, Tourism, and International Cooperation. Partner institution for the Global Social Nexus conference collaboration.
• Middle East Technical University (METU), AnkaraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Host institution for SASS staff member Ana Mohorč at the 9th International Staff Week on 'Digital Bridges in International Education: Advancing Erasmus+ through Digitalization and Erasmus Without Papers – BIP' (June 2025). Over 70 participants from 30+ countries.
• Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2025Host institution for SASS doctoral student Mitko Slaninkoski's Blended Intensive Programme on 'Cyber Security Strategy in the Era of AI' (May 2025). Linked to doctoral thesis on digitalization and public administration in Macedonia.
• Alanya University, TurkeyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Host institution for SASS staff member Elisa Mujkić at the Erasmus+ Staff Week on 'Artificial Intelligence in Erasmus+ Implementation' (May 2025). Focused on Erasmus+ project implementation, digital tools, and AI in international mobility.
• Central European University, BudapestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA131 partner institution. Political science field of study collaboration.
• Freie Universitat BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA131 partner institution. Social Science (2nd cycle) collaboration.
• University Babes-Bolyai, Cluj-NapocaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA131 partner institution. Social sciences collaboration, Romania.
• Universita degli Studi di Bari Aldo MorominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA131 partner institution. Social sciences and Psychology field collaboration.
• University of TriesteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA131 partner institution. Social sciences collaboration, Italy.
• Kodolányi János University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA131 partner institution. Fields include Journalism and Information, Pedagogical Sciences, International Relations, History, Philosophy, Sociology and cultural studies. A SASS student completed a study mobility at this university in Budapest.
• Fachhochschule WestkusteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA131 partner institution. International tourism management and intercultural management.
• ISMA University (not found in KA131 list)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in KA131 partner table under additional entries including Savonia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), SWPS University (Poland), Universidad de la Laguna (Spain), University of Liege (Belgium), Vilnius Kooperacijos Kolegija (Lithuania), University of Presov (Slovakia), and others.
• Universidade Aberta, LisbonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for SASS doctoral student Marijana Mitrović's Erasmus+ short-term doctoral mobility in April 2026. Focused on comparison of educational systems of Portugal and Croatia.
• American University of Beirut (AUB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA107 partner institution (2015-2017). FUDŠ conducted 5 mobilities to Lebanon and 3 from Lebanon, plus 2 student mobilities from Lebanon to Slovenia. AUB, founded 1866, is one of the most prestigious universities in the Middle East.
• Lebanese American University (LAU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA107 partner institution (2017-2019 and 2020-2023). Conducted reciprocal staff and student mobilities between Slovenia and Lebanon. Also hosted the 5th international education week on LAU campuses in Beirut and Byblos.
• University of the Philippines DilimanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA107 partner institution (2019-2022). Mobility exchanges between Slovenia and the Philippines.
• Belarusian State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA107 partner institution (2020-2023). Staff and student mobility between Slovenia and Belarus.
• Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA107 partner institution (2018-2021). Staff and student mobility between Slovenia and Russia.
• Gaza UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ KA107 partner institution (2019-2022). Staff and student mobility between Slovenia and Palestine.
• Enki, Red Orbit (publishing/consulting partners)minorOthersLogos of Enki and Red Orbit appear in the website footer alongside SASS's own branding, suggesting editorial or publishing collaboration. No further detail available.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• ISM University of Management and Economics: Lithuanian private university offering undergraduate and master's programs in management, economics, and social sciences. Comparable private higher education institution operating in a similarly-sized Baltic/Adriatic market with overlapping applied social science programs and international student recruitment focus.
• IEDC Bled School of Management: Slovenian premium private business school offering MBA and executive education programs. While positioned at a higher price point and focused on management, IEDC shares the same Slovenian private higher education market and similar target student profile of career-advancing professionals.

Direct peers

• University of Primorska: Slovenian public university based in Koper, with faculties in management, education, and humanities. Operates in the same western Slovenian region as SASS and offers overlapping programs in social management and applied social sciences, representing the closest regional public competitor.
• GEA College: Slovenian private higher education institution focused on business, economics, and entrepreneurship. Closest private-sector peer to SASS in terms of business model, scale, and market positioning, offering applied undergraduate and master's programs to working adults in Slovenia.
• DOBA Business School: Slovenian private business school in Maribor offering applied undergraduate and master's programs in management, marketing, and social sciences with flexible delivery. A direct private-sector peer targeting similar working-adult student segments with practice-oriented pedagogy.
• Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana (FDV): The leading public faculty of social sciences in Slovenia, offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs in sociology, political science, journalism, and social work. As the dominant public-sector counterpart to SASS, FDV competes for the same domestic student pool across overlapping disciplines but with the advantage of near-zero tuition.

Broad incumbents

• Central European University (CEU): International private university with strong programs in social sciences, political science, and humanities. While operating at a much larger scale and more global scope, CEU serves as a regional benchmark for private higher education in applied social sciences and competes for international student mobility flows in Central Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Fuds_Sass
• Facebookfacebook.com/fakultetazauporabnedruzbenestudije
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school-of-advanced-social-studies-in-nova-gorica-sass-
• Instagraminstagram.com/fuds_fakulteta/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@fuds_sass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SASS