Opening ceremony of the 2023/2024 academic year
The main academy for the start of the 28th academic year at the University of Nova Gorica was held on 12 October 2023 at the Lanthieri Mansion in Vipava.
We were also honoured by the presence of the Former President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor and Ministerof Digital Transformation, Dr. Emilija Stojmenova Duh.
The attendees were addressed by the Rector of the University of Nova Gorica, Prof. Dr. Boštjan Golob: “Another year has passed and we are starting a new academic year. Like every year at all universities, we are starting this year with enthusiasm, with new or renewed programmes, with new freshers, who I hope are eager to learn, with new students, and with new notes under our arms as we enter the lecture halls. We are aware that higher education is not a sprint, but a marathon. That is why we start the year at a bearable pace, determined to ensure that when crossing the finish line, all students in our programmes have the knowledge and competencies they need for a successful professional career. Or in the words of the Honorary Doctor of the University of Nova Gorica, the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami: “One foot in front of the other. Repeat as often as necessary to finish.”
Today, the University’s teaching activities are carried out within six schools, including the School of Arts. To date, 275 doctors of science, 529 masters and 1,046 bachelors have graduated from the University of Nova Gorica. Research activities take place in six centres and four laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art research facilities. We are involved in small and large international projects and collaborate with institutions of the highest repute. International students make up 60% of the student body and come from 47 countries, both from Europe and other continents.
“The University of Nova Gorica is a small, some often use the term “boutique”, university. We try to use our small size, “boutiqueness” if you like, to make the relationship between the teachers and students in our programmes as direct as possible. We try to keep the doors of our teachers and teaching assistants open to our students’ questions, problems and ideas. This is not easy, as all of us working in education and science are faced with an increasing amount of work that is not directly related to teaching and research. This is particularly true for our university, as we need to have everything that the big ones have. I am grateful to my colleagues for all these efforts. Thanks to their efforts, University of Nova Gorica can boast, among other things, the Order of Merit for the exceptional development and outstanding achievements that has enriched the Slovenian higher education landscape. This honor was bestowed upon University of Nova Gorica by the former President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor, on the occasion of its twentieth anniversary. Through the efforts of University of Nova Gorica's staff, the university contributes a small but significant piece to the mosaic of Slovenian higher education and scientific research. It is thanks to them that Universityofnovagorica contributes a small but significant piece to the mosaic of Slovenian higher education and scientific research. The quality of Slovenian higher education and scientific research, normalized for the size of the country in terms of personnel and financial resources, is indeed impressive on a global scale,” Prof. Dr. Golob pointed out in his address.
The University of Nova Gorica is continuously upgrading and supplementing its study programmes. Starting from this academic year, the University is introducing the master’s course track in Histories and Cultures of Crossborder Spaces, which will be offered for the first time in the 2023/24 academic year as a part of the renewed master’s degree programme in Humanities Studies. We are also working on novelties to be offered at other schools.
“Just as the University of Nova Gorica is boutique in Slovenia, Slovenia is boutique in the world. Just as elsewhere in Slovenia, the University of Nova Gorica cultivates imagination and strives for the realisation of our ideas. We do not see our small size as a handicap holding us back. On the contrary. We know that every piece of the mosaic contributes to its splendour. At the University of Nova Gorica, we pride ourselves on the quality of what we do, and are not afraid to use our imagination for further development. I am convinced that these values can also be found in all of today’s laureates. Please allow me to congratulate all of you and to express my hopes that we will continue walking together on the path of development of our university for times to come,” concluded the Rector of the University of Nova Gorica.
As part of the opening ceremony of the new academic year, two honorary degrees of the University of Nova Gorica were conferred. The Rector of the University of Nova Gorica, Prof. Dr. Boštjan Golob, awarded the title of honorary doctor of the University of Nova Gorica – Doctor Honoris Causa – to the founder of the world-famous company for the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft and an ardent supporter of research in the field of alternative propulsion systems for aircraft, Mr. Ivo Boscarol, for his outstanding scientific and professional achievements in the field of aviation and entrepreneurship in Slovenia, and for his contribution to the preservation of the environment. For his significant contribution to the development of artistic activity and for his exemplary work as a teacher and mentor, the University of Nova Gorica awarded the title of Professor Emeritus of the University of Nova Gorica to the internationally and nationally acclaimed industrial designer, Prof. Oskar Kogoj.
We also awarded twelve graduates. The alumnus primus award was given to graduates who graduated as the first of their generation of enrolled students, namely Ibrahim Mujezinović, Stefan Subotić, Amina Uglješa, Mojca Drevenšek, Lucijan Danijel Zgonik, Manuel Persoglia, Taja Petrič, Vinka Kovačević, Lara Vončina, Brankica Apostolova, Urban Hlade, Ivana Milivojević, Matija Gregorič and Una Savić, with the alumnus optimus award going to the graduates who achieved the highest average study grade in the individual academic year, namely Matevž Gros, Amina Uglješa, Mojca Drevenšek, Lucijan Danijel Zgonik, Manuel Persoglia, Martina Larma, Ivana Milivojević and Miha Reja.
Congratulations to all laureates!
Andreja Leban, Public Relations
