Slovenia to launch fourth public university

Novo Mesto in the southeast of the country will become home to a new public university, Slovenia's fourth, by the end of the year to help drive the economic development of the Dolenjska region.

There are currently eight higher education institutions in Novo Mesto, including four that are part of the private University of Novo Mesto, with approximately 2,000 students. They will now join forces with Rudolfovo, a public research institute, to form Slovenia's fourth public university, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

A letter of intent to do so was signed on 10 June by the higher education institutions along with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the Novo Mesto municipality.

"We know that this is an economically strong region, and after years of efforts it deserves to get a united public university," said Higher Education Minister Igor Papič, calling the step a historic moment.

Marjan Blažič, the rector of the existing University of Novo Mesto, said the owners realised years ago that "it makes sense to donate the university to the state."

The municipality already has land set aside for a new university campus, while local companies, including juggernauts such as the Renault-owned car maker Revoz and pharma company Krka, are hoping to get a steady inflow of highly qualified staff.

The new university will offer a broad range of study programmes covering engineering, social sciences, health, information technology and management.

The next step is accreditation of the new university, whereupon the government will formally adopt its articles of association.

All the existing study programmes are already accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

Slovenia's other public universities are based in Ljubljana, Maribor and Koper.