On 12 November 2024, the Rectors’ Conference of the Republic of Slovenia (RCRS), chaired by University of Primorska in the current mandate, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia (MoEI) organised the 11th Knowledge Platform Consultation “What does the European Diploma bring?”.

The aim of the consultation was to present the idea of a European Diploma, which was introduced by the European Strategy for Universities and further defined by the European Commission in 2024.

After the opening greetings by the State Secretary Dr Jure Gašparič and the Rector Prof. Dr Klavdija Kutnar, President of the Rectors’ Conference of the Republic of Slovenia the participants listened to the presentation of the European Diploma Roadmap and the results of the pilot projects by Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Head of the Higher Education Unit at the European Commission and Prof. Dr Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Rector of the University of Rijeka (UNIRI).

Then, the panellists presented their views and opinions on the topic “What opportunities and challenges does the European Diploma bring?”. With moderator Urška Zupanc: Vanessa Debiais-Sainton (European Commission), Dr. Klavdija Kutnar (RKRS and UP), Dr. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija (UNIRI), Duša Marjetič (MVZI) and Andrej Pirjevec (student representative).

This was followed by two workshops: the European Diploma and Quality (moderated by Prof. Dr. Gregor Majdič, Rector of the University of Ljubljana (UL) and the European Diploma – Implementation (moderated by Prof. Dr. Zdravko Kačič, Rector of the University of Maribor (UM), in which participants prepared concrete proposals for both topics related to the European Diploma, and presented their findings to each other before the final summary by the IGCU.

The Knowledge Platform is an initiative of the IGCMI to establish a more sustainable framework for keeping stakeholders regularly informed about current European initiatives, as well as for collaboration, co-design and exchange of views in the fields of higher education, research and innovation.