SMUL conference, 7 October 2024
THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE UNIVERSITY IN SOCIETY: COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION
Date: Monday, 7 October 2024 at 8.30 am CET
Registration: HERE
Location: Academy of Music UL, Kongresni trg 1, Ljubljana
Photo: Miran Kambič
Why is it necessary to talk about the value of knowledge and the University in society?
Rapid technological development and the ability to communicate globally are features of today's everyday life. The almost universal access to information and technology also raises the idea that the classical acquisition and care of knowledge and the institutions associated with it may be overwhelming or even unnecessary.
We would like to dedicate this conference to an open discussion on the importance and value of knowledge and the University in today's society, as well as on possible changes or improvements, their benefits and the new responsibilities that modern times bring with them. The international community is confronted with this question, and approaches vary from one society to another. SMUL can contribute to a particularly broad discussion of approaches by bringing together members from abroad and at home. The morning part of the conference will be devoted to this topic. We have invited three prominent guests to reflect on the importance of knowledge, recognition and behaviour, each from their own perspective, and in their own field of expertise:
- Dr. Manja Klemenčič, Associate Senior Lecturer on Sociology and General Education at Harvard University
- Dr. Dimitri Krainc, Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University
- Dr. Günter Wagner, Evolutionary Biologist at Yale University and the University of Vienna
How to encourage the return of Slovenian experts from abroad?
There is a lot of discussion about attracting successful Slovenian experts to return to Slovenia. We would like to focus on this topic, the advantages and challenges of working abroad, the possibilities for returning to Slovenia and, above all, the question of how to ensure that successful experts can continue their work after their return to Slovenia.
The roundtable discussion will bring together individuals with experience of repatriation from abroad, Slovenian scientists and other experts working abroad who wish to return to their home country, experts with experience of establishing a systemic arrangement for repatriation of experts, and representatives of institutions whose cooperation is necessary to facilitate the repatriation process.
Round table speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Rector of the University of Rijeka
- Prof. Dr. Veronika Fikfak, professor of international law and human rights at University College London
- Prof. Dr. Marina Lukšič Hacin, Head of the Institute for Slovenian Emigration and Migration
- Prof. Dr. Uroš Seljak, Professor of Astronomy and Physics at the University of California, Berkeley
- Assist. Prof. Dr. David Modic, Researcher at the Faculty of Computer Science and Informatics at UL, formerly at the University of Cambridge, where he researched online scams and psychological mechanisms of information security
- Prof. Dr. Boštjan Markoli, Vice-Rector of the University of Ljubljana for Quality and Internationalisation
- and other experts from Slovenia and abroad
The round table will be moderated by Mag. Nataša Briški.
Meeting point
The conference will focus in particular on postdoctoral students and early career researchers to encourage them to return to their home country and/or to continue their collaboration with it. To this end, we will organise a meeting point where students and researchers can discuss their research and artistic work.
We also want the conference to contribute to the establishment of partnerships, joint project applications, reciprocity of hosting and exchanges of students and staff, exchange of good practices and encourage SMUL members to return to their home countries.
Event attendance
The SMUL conference will be open and accessible to a wider audience. If you wish to attend the event please register HERE (limited number of participants: 200).
The programme of the confernce will be announced at a later date.