Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the operation of Nova Gorica Polytechnic

On Saturday, 22 October 2005, Nova Gorica Polytechnic marked the tenth anniversary of its existence at the Slovene National Theatre in Nova Gorica. The celebration was also intended to honour the most deserving persons who have contributed to the recognition and growth of Nova Gorica Polytechnic since its foundation and to this very day.

At the celebration the Golden Plate was received by Mr. Črtomir Špacapan, who was the Mayor of the Municipality of Nova Gorica during the most intensive formation of the Polytechnic.

The Senate of Nova Gorica Polytechnic awarded the title »Professor Emeritus« to Prof. Dr. Stojan Plesničar and Prof. Dr. Sidney A. Katz.

The honorary doctorate was received from the hands of Acad. Prof. Dr. Boštjan Žekš, Provost of Polytechnic, by Prof. Dr. Paul J. Crutzen, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995.

In the opening address the Provost of Polytechnic Prof. Dr. Boštjan Žekš emphasised that Polytechnic has, in a very short time for a research institution, developed from a very small graduate school in the field of the environment to a still small institution with all the elements of a small university. In that time Polytechnic has managed to recruit individuals in its midst who wish to achieve something. It has managed to preserve the course of development outlined at the start, which is based on smallness, international openness, relative quality of programmes, and on the appeal of the programmes to a broader and narrower environment.

The official speaker was Janez Janša, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia. In his official speech he emphasised that »today, when Slovenia is on the verge of reform and we strive to create an open and creative society, which should in all aspects show international competitive abilities and qualities, this anniversary is that much more important.

The Prime Minister believes that the independent institution of higher education, Polytechnic in Nova Gorica, is one of the bright examples of economy and knowledge working hand in hand. "Our common goal is to create such conditions in our state that everyone who is capable of it can achieve the desired education, regardless of social differences and other circumstances, with which they can ensure employment and competitiveness in the world, where it is becoming ever more intense. It is therefore necessary for the entire school system to respond to the needs of society, especially of the economy," continued the Prime Minister.

He expressed a belief that our Slovene system of higher education must achieve better quality and become more competitive in a domestic and international environment, and that for that reason we need more universities and institutions of higher education at home as well. Institutions such as the Polytechnic, which will bring decentralisation, competitiveness, and consequently an offer of terciary education of better quality, which is a prerequisite for increasing the number of quality graduates to a level comparable to that of the countries of the European Union.

According to the Prime Minister, with the economic and social reforms we are discussing, we are trying to place the economy, and the knowledge adapted to it, slightly in the forefront. Without economic development and economic growth, one cannot build solid foundations of prosperity. We are advocating a two-way flow of knowledge, particularly in the fields and branches that could grant Slovenia a higher added value and a new breakthrough in development.

"By giving support to Polytechnic and its expansion to other scientific fields, particularly to the humanities, the Republic of Slovenia is not building a stronghold of Slovenehood, but is including itself in the multiculturalism of a broader area, which has been a fundamental characteristic of this region for centuries. If a decade ago the keen and far-sighted individuals had not founded this institution of higher education, it would have to be founded now because of our equal integration into the European area," said the Prime Minister, Janez Janša.«.