University of Maribor, Slovenia
With its nineteen member institutions, the university is turning into a central development institution attracting talented students from all over the world and providing a development context where excellence is at home at all levels.
The management is aware that close ties between the university as a central educational and research institution and its local environment and the industry are of the utmost importance. For this reason, various activities aimed at integrating knowledge and R&D with the industry are being implemented in order to initiate concrete projects contributing to new jobs and new products with high added value. The University of Maribor is thus bringing together knowledge, research findings and the industry. The central project in this area is called IOT – Innovative Open Technologies. The information portal Vzhodna.si will serve as an entry point also in other development projects.
These are only a few examples indicating the direction of future development of the University of Maribor. However, various impressive accomplishments can already be celebrated. The development of the first Slovene nanosatellite going into space, the success of the students participating in the Student Formula project, permanent high scores in the Imagine Cup international student competition for innovativeness, technological solutions and development, the prestigious Reimagine Education award for the Demola project where students work on concrete solutions to problems found in companies – placing the University of Maribor alongside the most prestigious universities – are only a few examples of UM’s most notable achievements.
The University of Maribor is developing new fields, testing new teaching and learning methods and constantly searching for new methods of cooperation with its environment. Various international awards prove that the university is on the right track. This year, UM was ranked among the best global universities and earned the highest score among Slovene universities on Times Higher Education World University Rankings examining how universities fulfil their primary mission in different areas. In 2014, UM also received an award for the well-being of foreign students at HE institutions.
In Slovenia and abroad, UM is recognised as a university providing students with an excellent learning experience and producing top graduates. Now it is time for you to become a part of this creative and development-oriented story.
by Jasna Potocnik Topler