en
Slovenščina
Italiano
Znanstveno-raziskovalno središče Koper (ZRS Koper) and University of Nova Gorica, which signed an agreement on long-term cooperation in pedagogical and scientific research at the end of March, defined specific areas of collaboration at yesterday’s meeting at the Centre for Humanities of ZRS Koper.
ZRS Koper brings together ten institutes and eleven infrastructure units, while the University of Nova Gorica includes six faculties, the Academy of Arts, and eleven centres, laboratories, or organizational units. This means the two institutions are comparable in size and both operate in the Primorska region.
“In line with our development strategy until 2030, which we recently adopted, we are developing the Mediterranean Hub of Wisdom and seeking niche and bold opportunities through which we aim to leave a mark on the environment in which we operate,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Rado Pišot, Director of ZRS Koper. According to him, the agreement with the University of Nova Gorica confirms the long-standing successful cooperation between the institutions and represents a commitment to further strengthening collaboration in various fields. “I am confident that we will successfully develop joint projects and enhance cooperation both in research and teaching, especially within postgraduate and doctoral programs,” he added.
“Our belief is that the Slovenian higher education and research space is very fragmented, so institutions need to connect with each other. The need for cooperation is also evident at the broader European level, where networks of European universities are emerging, enabling them to act as a counterbalance to large American and Asian higher education institutions. This is a prerequisite for ensuring top-quality education,” said Prof. Dr. Boštjan Golob, Rector of the University of Nova Gorica.
Along with the rector, representatives of the University of Nova Gorica visiting ZRS Koper included Prof. Dr. Matjaž Valant (Vice-Rector for Sustainable Development and Technologies and Head of the Materials Research Laboratory), Prof. Dr. Imre Cikajlo (Dean of the School of Engineering and Management and member of the Centre for Information Technologies and Applied Mathematics), Assist. Prof. Dr. Jan Reščič (from the Wine Research Centre), Prof. Dr. Griša Močnik (Head of the Centre for Atmospheric Research), and Prof. Dr. Artur Stepanov (Head of the Centre for Cognitive Modeling of Language).
The core of the new partnership between ZRS Koper and the University of Nova Gorica is the development of joint research activities and the enhancement of study programs. This opens up opportunities for creating new study programs, joint supervision of doctoral students, and involving researchers in the teaching process.
The cooperation will focus on several thematic areas where the competencies of both institutions complement each other. These include linguistics, philosophy and other humanities, environmental and historical sciences, research in viticulture, winemaking and olive growing, as well as other fields that combine social sciences and natural sciences. This interdisciplinarity enables innovative approaches and greater relevance of research in the broader social context.
An important part of the partnership will also be joint participation in national and international projects, contributing to greater visibility of Slovenian knowledge in the global arena.