Slovenian universities join the UNI-SI (Festival of Slovenian Universities) project

With the aim of presenting the university sector as a whole, and the offerings of each institution separately, the festival, which will take place every January (before the information days), offers young people the chance to gain a comprehensive insight into study opportunities at the following universities in Slovenia: the University of Ljubljana (UL), the University of Maribor (UM), the University of Primorska (UP), the University of Nova Gorica (UNG), the University of Novo Mesto (UNM), Nova Univerza (NU), the Alma Mater Europaea University (UAMEU) and the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI). 

Based on their experiences in the field, the members of the Slovenian Rectors’ Conference concluded that a more up-to-date approach was required, one that took advantage of the excellent levels of integration between and maturity of the Slovenian academic sphere, to provide students with the right guidance. This approach has been made possible through the use of internal knowledge and expertise, the hard work of staff at admissions, communications and career advice offices, and close collaboration with university student councils with their thorough understanding of young people’s needs.

The project is a reflection of the breadth of the Slovenian academic environment and, being the first and so far only opportunity for universities to show what they have to offer, can ease young people’s entry into higher education. The festival is currently designed to present opportunities for first- and second-cycle studies, although the aim is to expand it in the future to include doctoral study opportunities in Slovenia and to translate the festival materials into English, thus enabling universities to raise their profile abroad and encourage international students and (subsequently) researchers to consider coming to Slovenia. The festival is also supported by the relevant ministry, which has welcomed it as evidence of strong and close cooperation within the Slovenian university sector as a whole. 

One particular feature of the festival is the presentation of study programmes by general area in way that is more familiar to young people and closer to their daily lives: social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, engineering and technology, medicine and health, biotechnology and art. This makes it easier for future students to find their way around and choose a course that best reflects their interests, goals and wishes. Each area of study will have its own colour, making it easier for visitors to find their way around the festival and locate information presented there (as well as online and on social media). 

The festival is being coordinated by the University of Primorska, as the chair of the Rector’s Conference, in collaboration with the University of Nova Gorica (deputy chair).

“In accordance with the current National Higher Education Programme, Slovenian universities are committing themselves to putting in place a more responsive, flexible and attractive higher education system that meets the needs of the economy, the non-business world and society as a whole. One important step towards achieving these objectives is efficient and modern communications with future students, which is why the Rectors’ Conference, in close collaboration with the students councils at all universities, has decided to set up the UNI-SI festival – an innovative platform that presents the study opportunities offered by Slovenian universities in a fresh and accessible way. We would like to bring the academic world closer to young people, and encourage them to make careful and ambitious higher education decisions,” said University of Primorska’s rector Prof. Dr Klavdija Kutnar. 

Prof. Dr Gregor Majdič, University of Ljubljana rector: “I am delighted to see public and private universities coming together in this way to find common ground in the way we communicate with our future students. I believe that the festival will do a great job in presenting our study programmes to them, helping them to make the right choice and leading to the further development of the country.”

‘The University of Maribor will also be one of the organisers of and exhibitors at the festival,’ said University of Maribor rector Prof. Dr Zdravko Kačič. “All our 17 faculties will be at the festival, along with the student accommodation service and the university library. The university’s specialist services, such as the careers centre and the university higher education admissions and information centre, will also be on hand to provide advice. The universities will provide school pupils, their parents and anyone else with an interest in the sector with a wide-ranging festival programme that provides details of study programmes, student life, research achievements and the various activities undertaken at the faculties. University of Maribor faculties will offer dynamic and modern presentations of their study programmes and a wide range of exhibits. We are confident of being able to offer visitors a set of interesting, instructive and entertaining events at our festival stands.”

Prof. Dr Boštjan Golob, rector of the University of Nova Gorica, which acts as the vice-chair of the Rectors’ Conference: “This new festival is a fantastic opportunity to present the whole range of study programmes available to future students in Slovenia. All universities will come together to present the study programmes we are able to offer to Slovenian students as well as those who might come from abroad.”

Representatives from all eight universities were present at the conference, with statements also coming from UAMEU rector Prof. Dr Ludvik Toplak: “The festival is an excellent opportunity for Slovenian universities to pool their resources and potentials to meet the ever-greater and more urgent challenges facing the world,” and Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI) rector Prof. Dr Rado Bohinc: “This will be the first time the Slovenian university or higher education sector has come together to provide an overarching view of itself and of the study possibilities in Slovenia. At EMUNI, we particularly welcome the decisive aims set out to make the presentation of the Slovenian university system available to international students and international markets.”