Visit from the University of Essex

As part of the Slovenia–United Kingdom bilateral project led by Dr Ksenija Perković from the Institute for Social Studies at ZRS Koper, we hosted three researchers from the University of Essex last week (25–29 May): Professor Shoba Arun, with whom ZRS Koper previously collaborated on the MiCREATE project; Professor Thankom Arun, Dean of Essex Business School; and Professor Reza Majdzadeh, whose work focuses on the social and health-related dimensions of contemporary society.

During their visit, we presented the research activities of ZRS Koper and explored opportunities for future cooperation in international research projects. In addition to the Institute for Social Studies, the guests visited several other institutes within ZRS Koper, including the Institute for Kinesiology Research, the Institute for Linguistic Studies, the Institute for Behavioural Economics, and the Mediterranean Institute for Environmental Studies. Particular emphasis was placed on interdisciplinary collaboration across the fields of social sciences, health, environmental and behavioural studies, as well as on innovative methodological approaches.

An important part of the visit was also a meeting with the Director of ZRS Koper, Professor Rado Pišot, during which both parties expressed a mutual interest in establishing long-term cooperation and in signing a future Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ZRS Koper and the University of Essex. The visit therefore represents an important step towards the further internationalisation of the research environment and the strengthening of cooperation between Slovenian and British research institutions.