Jessica Harkness joined 12 of her course mates from the University of the West of Scotland for the unique trip in March.

They were visiting University of Maribor in the hope of generating an exchange project in the future — and were also given an eye-opening tour of the city’s Ig Prison.

Jessica, 21, told the Post: “This prison was not what I was expecting. I thought we’d get to walk along a corridor and maybe peep through at the prisoners, but we got the opposite.

“The girls maintain the prison themselves and had recently finished converting a building into a library. They had done all the flooring, building and labour on their own. They also keep the gardens around the prison.

“The girls showed us their work and welcomed us into their rooms where they sleep. One woman was busy dying another’s hair when we were shown into one. It was so interesting, they all seemed content and happy with their routines.” Jessica, who stayed in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana, revealed she was apprehensive about going inside as she approached the old building.

The students were left surprised when none of them were searched upon entering the facility.

The prison was not enclosed by a wall or fence and, according to a Slovene news outlet, “escape attempts can be counted on one hand”.

It holds all sorts of criminals, most of which are those convicted of robberies and theft. However, it also houses attempted murderers, murders and those convicted of sexual and drug offences.

Some are in the open regime, some closed and some in between.

Jessica was intrigued to learn how many of the women prisoners have a working life outside. They are released to work in normal jobs — then return to jail.

The surprised student said there was a relaxed and calm atmosphere inside the facility, which holds up to 86 women.

The girls are allowed phone calls every day and at least three visits every week.

The most memorable moment for the Old Kilpatrick student was when she heard about a fashion show the inmates had run.

“One of the girls brought out pictures and showed us how they had all saved up and made different handbags,” said Jessica. “It was all for a fashion show they ran, and she was so proud to show us what they had made. They had saved up and put it all together and organised it themselves.” Jessica says the Scottish prison system is very different but thinks it is adopting various tactics similar to those used in the Slovene detention centre.

She said: “Prisoners in Scotland are getting more opportunities to get into education, and to learn and get work while in prison. That’s something I find very, very positive.

“I don’t know what I’m going to be doing after university. I do love this course, though. Working in the prison service is something I’m interested in but I’ve not made any decisions yet — exams and passing is my first priority.”