On Monday, March 9, 2026, the University of Primorska (UP) welcomed the German Ambassador, Her Excellency Sylvia Groneick, accompanied by embassy staff members Eva Grešak (Culture Department) and Mirjam Smrdelj (Public Relations). She was received at UP by Rector prof. dr. Klavdija Kutnar, Senior Advisor to the Rector Aleš Oven and Žiga Leban from the UP International Office. The meeting was also attended by Prof. Dr. Nejc Šarabon, Dean of UP FVZ, Assoc. Prof. Mike Burnard (UP FAMNIT, UP IAM), Assistant Dr. Jochen Pascal Gollin (UP FAMNIT) and an Erasmus+ student from Germany who is currently studying at UP FM.

The meeting was dedicated to presenting the University of Primorska and its cooperation with German institutions in both research and academic fields, as well as identifying opportunities for further collaboration, particularly in the fields of healthcare and wood science. The meeting was also intended to further promote UP students who wish to participate in mobility programs in Germany. Representatives of UP also presented the European university alliance Transform4Europe, which now operates as an association registered through Saarland University in Germany, along with other collaborations with German academic institutions. They highlighted joint scientific publications, as well as data on mobility programmes and German nationals who study, work, or have obtained their doctoral degrees at UP. In addition, several important research projects connecting partners from Slovenia and Germany were presented. Currently, nine such projects are underway. Special emphasis was placed on the New European Bauhaus Academy Alliance, as it closely relates to the areas of expressed interest for future cooperation.

The ambassador made several suggestions and proposed possible ways of cooperation. At the conclusion of her visit, she signed the UP Blue Book (Book of Memories).

Image: UP

Image: UP

Image: UP