UMC Ljubljana becomes an associate member of the University of Ljubljana

UL and UMC Ljubljana already cooperate in the fields of education, research and health expertise. By formalising their cooperation the two institutions will enhance and strengthen their existing cooperation, above all in the areas of research and educational activities in medicine, healthcare, pharmacy and other fields taught at the University of Ljubljana.

The agreement, which will for the first time in independent Slovenia link together the two leading institutions in the field of outstanding and developmental medicine in Slovenia, will bring with it numerous benefits, explained the UL Rector, Prof. Dr Gregor Majdič, at the press conference on the signing of the agreement. “We will be able to address HR needs more easily, since the majority of those teaching clinical subjects are already employed at both institutions, thereby ensuring the best education for our students. We will improve cooperation in research, which will undoubtedly lead to even more ground-breaking achievements in healthcare that will benefit Slovenian patients. Together we will resolve strategic issues of developing the medical profession in Slovenia and we will ensure that Slovenian patients who need the most demanding procedures will continue to receive the very best care.”

Over the past year, representatives of UMC Ljubljana and UL have jointly visited some of the top European university hospitals, such as the university medical centres in Leuven, Vienna and Berlin, which are comparable to UMC Ljubljana. “Throughout Europe the university hospitals are a part of the universities or they have a close formal association, since all the activities of the university hospitals are closely interwoven with the research and educational work of the universities. Indeed only close cooperation can ensure the sustainable and transparent development of high-quality scientific, research and educational activity of the university hospital and the University,” explained the UMC Ljubljana General Manager, Asst. Prof. Dr Marko Jug.

“Today’s signing of the agreement making UMC Ljubljana an associate member of UL, is a first but extremely important step towards closer ties between UMC Ljubljana and UL. Associate membership offers both partners the scope to continue seeking out synergies and constructive work for the benefit of social development and prosperity, while at the same time significantly boosting the scientific and research weight and importance of the two institutions in the European context. The University Medical Centre has up until the present carried the title, or I might joke, the surname, of “University" in its name, and now we can say gladly and proudly that UMC Ljubljana is finally once again part of the family to which it has always belonged informally,” said Asst. Prof. Jug on the signing of the agreement.

Coordination of the cooperation and activities of UMC Ljubljana as an associate member institution of the University of Ljubljana will be conducted on the behalf of the University of Ljubljana by the UL Faculty of Medicine (UL MF). “Associate membership of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana signals a major step forward that will improve cooperation in the field of clinical teaching and research between the two institutions. In this way we are establishing foundations of academic quality and linking together healthcare and higher education,” underlined the Dean of UL MF, Prof. Dr Igor Švab.

The agreement will also enhance cooperation between UMC Ljubljana and other UL faculties. “There is also highly important cooperation with the Faculty of Health Sciences, which provides education for healthcare professionals, radiological engineers and others, and UMC Ljubljana already enjoys cooperation with other faculties, such as the Biotechnical Faculty, the Faculty of Pharmacy and even the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and now moving forward this cooperation will be even easier and more effective,” added Prof. Majdič.