University of Primorska Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies
-->
SI | EN

news - Archive

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Thursday, 30 May 2024 10th Computers in Scientific Discoveries conference

Between 28 and 30 May 2024, the "Computers in Scientific Discoveries (CSD10)" conference took place at the University of Leuven in Belgium, bringing together researchers from the fields of mathematics, computer science, chemistry, and graph theory the 10th edition of this conference.

This year's conference relied on mathematical chemistry and graph theory. Prof. Dr. Tomaž Pisanski and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nino Bašić from the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies at UP FAMNIT shared their best practices as keynote speakers.

The lectures also included a section dedicated to the 75th birthday of Prof. Dr. Pisanski, a distinguished researcher in discrete and computational mathematics, and a long-time supporter of CSD. During the conference, Dr. Pisanski presented a lecture titled "Drawing graphs with geometric symmetry."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bašić contributed with his lecture titled "Nut graphs and their symmetry".

Prof. dr. Klavdija Kutnar, Rector of UP, was a member of the CSD10 Scientific Committee.

At the 10th meeting, participants continued the deliberate multidisciplinary focus of these conferences, provided space for collaboration and continuation of the results of previous meetings, and expanded the range of topics covered.

The CSD conferences have demonstrated the existence of an enthusiastic community of researchers on several continents who are active in the fields of chemistry, computer science, and discrete mathematics. The series of CSD workshops and conferences began at Rutgers University with a workshop on discrete mathematical chemistry in 1998 in New Brunswick, USA. Eight years later, the sixth conference was held in Portorož and co-organized by UP IAM, UP FAMNIT, UP FTŠ - Turistica, IMFM - Institute of Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics and UL FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. At CSD6 we were visited by scientist and lecturer Prof. Dr. Sir Harold Kroto, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996, together with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley. A year later, the prestigious laureate was awarded the UP Honorary Doctorate for 2013.

The next edition of the conference (CSD11), will take place in Slovenia in 2026, in organization of UP. For he next event, a special section will be dedicated to Prof. Dr. Patrick William Fowler, as he will celebrate his 70th birthday at the beginning of May 2026.

Thursday, 30 May 2024 UP, UL, and UM have enabled psychology students to present their research work

Today, the Psychological Master's Conference 2024 is taking place at UP FAMNIT.

The event is organized by the Department of Psychology at UP, in collaboration with the Departments of Psychology at UL and UM, as well as the National Committee for awarding the EuroPsy certificate.

Through this collaboration, universities have offered psychology students the opportunity to present their research work as they complete their studies. The organizers' goal is to encourage discussion and collaboration among psychology students from different universities. The conference provides an excellent opportunity for colleagues to share their work, network, and learn from each other.

At the beginning of the event, the heads of the Psychology Departments from the respective universities greeted the attendees: Assist. Prof. Tina Podlogar (UP), Prof. Eva Boštjančič (UL), and Assoc. Prof. Bojan Musil (UM). Prof. Anja Podlesek also addressed the participants, presenting the European certificate in psychology EuroPsy and supervised practices, as well as the SUPER PSIHOLOG (SUPER PSYCHOLOGIST) system.

The conference features various presentation formats, including the presentation of the disposition of master's theses, presentation of master's thesis results, and presentation of research work within the doctoral program. Students have between 10 and 15 minutes for each presentation. By the end of the program, there will be a total of 55 presentations divided into 11 thematic groups:

  • Interpersonal relationships, partnership, personality traits, and distress,
  • Peer violence and conflicts in the workplace,
  • Lifestyle in the modern world,
  • Cognitive psychology and neuropsychology,
  • Sexual health,
  • Work and organizational psychology,
  • Media, sleep, work, and rest,
  • Mental health and experiencing music,
  • Reproduction and family,
  • Counseling work, pedagogical approaches, and learning,
  • Humans in nature and modern society.

We wish all students great success in their further research endeavors!

Tuesday, 28 May 2024 T4EU WEEK AT THE UP ENDED

The University of Primorska, in cooperation with the University of Trieste, organised the first T4EU Week (Transform4Europe Week: Beyond Borders), in the new series of European University Transform4Europe Weeks, from 20 to 24 May 2024.

On the first day, 20 May, the World Bee Day proposed by Slovenia, UP and UNITS welcomed the participants with special gifts - Slovenian honey prepared by UP, produced by our employees, and UNITS coffee. In this way, they showed the special nature of the surroundings with their cuisine and presented the guests with sustainable gifts.

The first part of the programme then took place in Trieste from 19 to 22 May, followed by a visit to UP, Koper and Izola from Wednesday 22 to 24 May. The programme was divided into break-out sessions dealing with the importance of entrepreneurial skills and the environmental, digital and social transition.

The first part of the programme then took place in Trieste from 19 to 22 May, followed by a visit to UP, Koper and Izola from Wednesday 22 to 24 May. The programme was divided into break-out sessions dealing with the importance of entrepreneurial skills and the environmental, digital and social transition.

  • Buildings Design driven by New European Bauhaus
  • Heritage beyond Borders for Societal Transformation: Interpretation and Education
  • Exploring Methods for Multicultural Social Science Research in the Contemporary Era
  • Environmental Genomics
  • Symmetry in Graphs
  • Suicide without Borders
  • Digital Marketing and Consumers Behaviour
  • Collaborative Innovation and Design of Solutions in Tourism

several events aimed at the general public took place. In this context, particularly in the context of the Research section: Open Science, Fair Data and Creative Commons, Pecha Kucha and Bridging Communities: Dialogue and Action for Inclusive Futures. Of particular importance was the satellite conference of the Rectors' Conference of the RS on Friday on the Internationalisation of higher education and the role of European universities in this process.

The T4EU week is also a great opportunity for networking and making new contacts among the participants. This was evident at the dinners and lunches as well as during the SportUP activities on the beaches of Koper, the social activities organised by ESN Primorska, a morning literary walk, a healthy breakfast and other activities.

On the occasion of the T4EU week, the InnoRenew CoE research institute also installed special benches on the terrace next to the Rectorate - the wood for them was sourced from known locations in Slovenian forests, and the design and production was done entirely in cooperation with the institute and UP maintenance staff. The Institute has also prepared a special baton that will accompany the weeks across Europe, as each university will hang a leaflet on the wooden tree and pass it on after the organised week. We look forward to continuing to go beyond borders and extend our strong European commitment to partners who want to change the environment for a better future.

            

      

   

   

  

Tuesday, 28 May 2024 Doc. Dr. Katja Adam Receives Finalist Certificate for the Prometheus of Science Award for 2023

The Slovenian Science Foundation (SZF) awarded Doc. Dr. Katja Adam, a researcher and lecturer from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT, the Finalist Certificate for the Prometheus of Science Award for 2023 at yesterday's ceremony in Ljubljana.

Dr. Adam has been dedicated to researching and understanding the issues related to mosquitoes and their role as current and potential disease vectors for over fifteen years. In recent years, she has led several market projects at the Department of Biodiversity, including "Control of Tiger Mosquitoes in the Municipality of Nova Gorica," "Control of Tiger Mosquitoes in the Municipalities of Slovenian Istria," the COST project AIM - Aedes Invasive Mosquitoes (CA17108), and the CRP project "Control of Vectors of Vector-borne Pathogens in Slovenia." Her research has contributed to a deeper understanding of the life cycle, habitats, and factors influencing the reproduction and spread of mosquitoes. Her work has significant implications for developing effective mosquito control strategies, which is crucial from a public health perspective. As an expert on mosquitoes, she has represented Slovenia at numerous national and international conferences, mostly organized by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization.

With the knowledge gained from her research, she has played an important role in preparing national preparedness plans for the occurrence of vector-borne diseases (Zika, chikungunya, dengue, West Nile virus).

Her work as an entomologist at the University of Primorska has also stood out in recent years due to her continuous dissemination of key information about mosquitoes to the general public. Her approach has succeeded in bringing science closer to the wider public without losing scientific precision. Her ability to convey scientific concepts in an understandable way has significantly contributed to raising awareness about the dangers associated with mosquitoes and promoting prevention in the fight against the diseases they transmit.

We are also pleased to announce that the CZ UP Aquarium Piran received the Prometheus of Science Award for Excellence in Communication for 2023. The award was received by the Aquarium's employees - the professional director, Dr Manja Rogelja, and the Aquarium's employees, Aljoša Gračner and Gorazd Lazar, who daily take care not only of the operation of the Aquarium itself, but also of the welfare of the animals that have their home in the Aquarium or visit it only for a short time, as well as the quality and regular implementation of research and promotional projects.Dr Manja Rogelja and Dr Gorazd Lazar are the most important people in the field of scientific research.

We sincerely congratulate all the award recipients!

Tuesday, 21 May 2024 Discovering Hidden Order in the Chaos: Video of the fifth lecture of Famnits' excursion into the mathematical universe 2023/24 is now available

The fifth lecture of Famnits' excursion into the mathematical universe 2023/24, titled "Discovering Hidden Order in the Chaos" was conducted by Alejandra Ramos Rivera, UP in IMFM.  The lecture took place live and via video conference link on Zoom.  

             

Have you ever wondered if there is a method to what appears to be randomness? Join us on a journey into the fascinating world where order is created out of what appears to be chaos. During this talk, the lectuter explored how patterns unexpectedly appear in seemingly unrelated things. From everyday situations to puzzles that baffle mathematicians, they show surprising cases where structure arises naturally. During talk they considered questions such as:  how large must the set of numbers, points or objects be in order to find a pattern? Can we always find a highly regular pattern? They looked at some examples and open problems in different areas of mathematics that people are interested in nowadays. 

Alejandra Ramos Rivera completed her undergraduate studies in applied mathematics at the Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City (2012) and pursued a master's degree in mathematical sciences at the Mathematical Institute of UNAM (2014), where she worked in the field of abstract polytopes. She obtained her PhD in mathematics in 2019 at the Andrej Marušič Institute of the University of Primorska. She is currently employed at the University of Primorska and at the Institute of Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics in Ljubljana. Her research interest lies in the application of algebraic tools for studying symmetry in discrete objects and related areas. 

Thursday, 16 May 2024 The successful conclusion of the 27-hour coding marathon: Famnit Hackathon 3.0

The Google Developer Student Club at the University of Primorska once again gathered programming and coding enthusiasts for the third year in a row at the Famnit Hackathon 3. 0. 

    

Beetwen 11 and 12 May 2024, the coding marathon brought together 47 passionate participants in 12 teams, which had been either formed on their own or at the Hackathon Team Building event before the Hackathon. 

Throughout the 27-hour event, participants demonstrated their creativity and teamwork skills where they showed their ability to solve challenges from one of the four introduced issues. There were represented 4 main categories: 

A) Fraud Detection and Prevention Solutions: Design algorithms to detect fraudulent activities in financial transactions and prevent unauthorized access. 
B) Cryptocurrency Payment Integration: Enable seamless cryptocurrency payments for online purchases. 
C) Invent an innovative / flexible / adapted format for delivering information / content online 
D) Smart Assistants 

The best teams received generous prisez from spospors in the total amount of 1500 €, where first place won 750 €, the second 500 €, and the third-place 300€. 

Other teams also showed great effort and produced amazing solutions, moreover, some of them were also invited to further meetings with sponsors to discuss possible internships. 

We would like to thank all the companies and organizations that have shown interest in networking with our students: Outbrain, Dinit, Epilog and HICUP lab. Some of their representatives have taken on mentoring roles during the competition and formed the jury team for the final project evaluation. 

Google Developer Student Clubs are groups of undergraduate or master's students at individual universities in the international environment working in the field of Google technology. 

GDSC Primorska provides developers with a learning environment and in its circle invites students of all undergraduate and master's programs who strive to upgrade their knowledge and skills in the field of modern technology. Learning takes place in the form of interactive workshops and seminars, in which lecturers also participate, and members are equipped with their extensive knowledge and good practices. 

Club members are also happy to accept ideas and suggestions to better the community. You can contact them at gdsc.primorska@gmail.com. 

We also invite you to visit GDSC Primorska Facebook and Instagram profiles. 

 

 

Thursday, 16 May 2024 BEYOND BORDERS: T4EU WEEK AT UP

he University of Primorska, in cooperation with the University of Trieste, is organizing a T4EU Week (Transfor4Europe Week: Beyond Borders), from 20 to 24 May 2024. The main goal of the event is networking, exchange of views, experiences, knowledge and cooperation between students and staff from all 11 partner universities.

The first part of the T4EU Week program will take place in Trieste from 19 to 22 May and will then move to Koper, UP, from Wednesday 22 to 24 May. Bringing together the two border universities that are members of the T4EU alliance in a joint week-long program will offer a diverse range of events that will take place every day from morning to late evening.

The program is divided into streams, which address the importance of entrepreneurial skills and environmental, digital and social change. It is tailored to students at all levels as well as researchers and other staff. Lectures for T4EU higher education students follow a hybrid BIP (Blended Intensive Program) scheme that includes some online and 20 face-to-face classroom hours. Participants have the opportunity to earn 3 ICT after the lectures.

Events open to the general public include: Open Science, Fair Data and Creative Commons (22 May, 14.30-17.00 | ZOOM or live UP Brolo B7) and Bridging Communities: Dialogue and Action for Inclusive Futures (23 May, 14.00-16.00 | ZOOM | UP FM P1). You are invited to join them, live or online.

You can find out more about the programme HERE.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER AT T4EU WEEK!

UP invites you to get to know the background of the T4EU Week and JOIN US as a volunteer at the event

We need help for the events that will take place between Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 May 2024 in Koper / in different UP faculties, namely:

  • sports and social activities (see direct programme - link below)
  • preparation of the venue for the event (especially on Wednesday (Socerb - 11:30 - 13:30) ) and Friday (Muzejski trg - 16:00 - 18:00)
  • accompanying the groups to the locations (Wednesday to the ŠOUP (13.30-15.00)) / Thursday to the DŠD Koper for lunch (13.00-14.00)
  • registration of participants on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning
  • other as needed

Direct link to the T4EU Week programme in Canva: https://rb.gy/7dhoui

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

Warmly welcome! 

Thursday, 16 May 2024 FIRST ALUMNI BIOCAMP GATHERED ALUMNI STUDENTS AND NATURE ENTHUSIASTS

During the weekend of May 17th to 19th, 2024, alumni students of the Biodiversity, Conservation Biology, and Nature Conservation program reunited once again at the ALUMNI BIOLOGICAL CAMP. Throughout the two-day program, they reminisced about their student years and engaged in various activities offered by the camp.

 

The camp took place in the area of Rakov Škocjan, not far from the intermittent Cerknica Lake, the largest in Europe, which, offers countless opportunities for observing various plant and animal species.

As part of the camp, participants had access to five different thematic groups led by experienced experts in their fields, based on individual interests and shared knowledge about birds, amphibians, reptiles, pollinators, and butterflies.

   

After the field day, the picnic took place in a relaxed atmosphere. The following day, participants embarked on a group hike to Slivnica organized by Luka Kejžar (ŠportUP), providing additional bonding in nature.

This kind of event is multipurpose, as acknowledged by the co-organizers, Martin Senič and Nina Lončarević from the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT: "Undoubtedly, such a camp offers an additional opportunity for intergenerational networking among graduates and lecturers, forging new acquaintances, reminiscing, and exchanging experiences among participants. It also opens up additional opportunities for potential future professional, scientific, or other collaborations among participants who might not otherwise have (re)connected. Such events are invaluable as they strengthen relationships among individuals with similar interests, both personally and professionally."

     

Aja Bončina, an alumni of Conservation Biology and Nature Conservation at UP FAMNIT, saw the event as an excellent opportunity for reunion in a relaxed environment: "The Alumni Biological Camp is an exceptional experience. Here, former biologists of different generations come together and enjoy a pleasant atmosphere. We visit various terrains located in beautiful locations. In addition, we organize various activities, cook delicious meals, and record all observed species that we monitor."

The first alumni camp was attended by 30 participants, and due to positive feedback, organizers plan to repeat such camps in the future: "We are satisfied with the camp's execution. The seeds are planted, and for the first such specific event, the participation is more than satisfactory. Considering the positive response of the participants after the event itself, it seems that we will repeat the event soon."

The camp was organized by the Department of Biodiversity with the support of the Alumni UP, aimed at graduates of the Biodiversity, Conservation Biology, and Nature Conservation programs.

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

 

  

  

  

Wednesday, 15 May 2024 DISCOVER THE POWER OF CYBER DEFENSE

When? 29th May 2024 from 12 to 15 pm

Where? UP FAMNIT, Glagoljaška 8, Koper (VP3 lecture room)

Applications: HERE. Application deadline - 25th May 2024.

More: HERE!

       

You are invited to an expert consultation with a plenary lecture and a round table, where, together with recognized experts, we will learn about key aspects of cybersecurity, including understanding cyberattacks and identifying fraud. At the round table, we will also discuss the critical and safe use of information technology at work, in free time, and in communication. Experts will present examples of simple approaches to cyber self-protection. Welcome!

Round table participants:

  • Janez Mekinc, PhD, Moderator
  • Blaž Markelj, PhD, Head of the Cybersecurity Department at FVV
  • Aljoša Špeh, Head of the Computer Crime Investigation Department at the Koper Police Administration 
  • Boštjan Špehonja, Ethical Hacker
  • Boris Turk, Mastercard 

        

Wednesday, 15 May 2024 Invitation to the defense of the Master’s Thesis - Maša Hvala (Biopsychology, 2nd cycle)

On Tuesday, 21 May 2024, at 15:30 in the classroom Famnit-MP1, Maša Hvala, a student of the master's study program Biopsychology, 2nd cycle, will present her Master's Thesis entitled Experiencing pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period during coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

You are all kindly invited!

Wednesday, 15 May 2024 Open Phd Position - Complex Network Analysis

The University of Primorska (UP) is a medium-sized, internationally engaged university with 5,745 students, of whom 1,122 (or 19.5%) come from 39 foreign countries. It has 730 staff. The UP has 480 researchers and higher education teachers, of whom 59 (or 12.3%) come from abroad. The UP hosts more than 200 international researchers every year and enrols 190 PhD students.

UP carries out 79 study programmes in all three cycles, 16 of which are also held in the English language. In addition, the UP organises from 5 to 10 international summer schools on various topics every year as well as over 10 international scientific conferences, including at least a major conference, as it has done for several consecutive years, with more than 1,000 participants and under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia.

The Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT) is a member of the University of Primorska and was founded in 2006. A total of 1.035 students are enrolled in study programmes for the 2023/24 academic year, of which 768 were in undergraduate programmes, 215 in master's programmes, and 52 are enrolled in doctoral programmes. 

The research group of Assistant Professor Aleksandar Tošić is currently looking for a Doctoral researcher (PhD candidate) in Computer Science in collaboration with Innorenew CoE. The expected start date is 1st October 2024.

Your role

The successful applicant will be employed at the Andrej Marušič Institute, a PhD candidate at UP FAMNIT's Computer Science programme, and a member of the Information Processing group at InnoRenew CoE. The proposed PhD position will be a continuation of research on the topic of network analysis done by Dr. Aleksandar Tošić, and Dr. Niki Hrovatin. The unique collaboration with InnoRenew CoE is an opportunity to shape a fruitfully interdisciplinary research with other research groups. The candidates role is to identify, understand and finally model problems in other domains as graphs/network. Commonly such graphs are large and require careful considerations in terms of storage as well as computation. Parallel and Distributed computing plays a significant role in solving such problems in practice. The candidate will design software solutions that make use of the University's High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster to solve these problems, analyze and learn from the networks observed.

Your Mission

  • Research on the existing results on different techniques of graph encoding/storage, and network analysis algorithms
  • Disseminate results through scientific publications and talks at conferences
  • Obtain a PhD in Computer Science
  • Support for teaching of up to 4h per week
  • Work on ongoing and future research and industrial projects

What we expect from you

Master-degree in Computer Science or Applied Mathematics.

  • Programming skills are required. Ideally, candidates should be experienced in one or more of the following programming languages: Java, C++, Rust, Kotlin, typescript, and R.
  • Knowledge on data structures and algorithms is required. Candidates should be able to identify the ideal graph representation and algorithms for performing specific analysis on graph data.
  • Proven interest in interdisciplinary research, graph theory and network analysis.
  • Commitment, team spirit, a critical mind, and motivation are skills that are more than welcome.
  • Language: English is a must, Slovenian would be an asset.
  • Fulfill the requirements for doctoral students at the University of Primorska.
  • For more details, see: https://www.famnit.upr.si/en/education/doctoral/computer-science/#heading5
  • Planned research work

Analysis of Large Transactional Data:

Decentralized networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum are in essence an immutable record of transactions, or, in the context of smart contracts, as logs of state transitions. Due to their vast user base and applications, the transactional data of these networks hold important insights for business anlytics, market trends, consumer behavior as well as offering a detailed perspective on the networks' operational dynamics. However, these data are typically an untapped asset due to the vastness and difficulties in processing.

Our goal is to develop new methods and approaches to extract relevant information by applying graph theory concepts and using high-performance computing infrastructure. For context, we include a link to recent research that will be further investigated and built upon during the candidate's study period.

Analysis of mycelial networks:

Mycelial fungi grow as indeterminate adaptive networks that have to forage for scarce resources in an unpredictable environment. Development of contrast-independent network extraction algorithms has dramatically improved our ability to characterise these dynamic macroscopic networks and promises to bridge the gap between experiments in realistic experimental microcosms and graph-theoretic network analysis, greatly facilitating quantitative description of their complex behaviour. The research efforts can be split into designing algorithms for network reconstruction from microscopy images, and analysis of obtained networks in order to understand the intricate relationships between growth and the environment.

Collaboration networks:

In science, collaboration is an important aspect in knowledge transfer and co-creation. Collaborations are mainly observed through co-authoring scientific publications. The underlying network of collaborations has been studied extensively. However, these networks are less often enriched with other data sources i.e. funding, affiliations, title, etc. In an effort to observe interesting patterns, identify anomalies, potential threats and success stories, a collaboration network was built and enriched with other data sources. Analysis of these large networks may offer new insights into the effectiveness of existing research funding models. Additionally, discrete event simulation can be built by observing collaboration networks in order to test and validated different approaches to a sustainable and fruitful funding model for science.

How to apply

  • The applicants should send:
  • Curriculum vitae (including short descriptions of all prior educations, qualifications, and research or work experiences)
  • Motivation letter for this doctoral position (maximum one A4 page)
  • Github/Gitlab link
  • List of publications (if applicable)

to this email address: vanessa.pobega@famnit.upr.si. In the title (subject) of your email please write: PhD Complex Network Analysis. All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than 15th of June 2024.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the research topic, please contact Assistant Professor Aleksandar Tosić at the email address: aleksandar.tosic@upr.si.

The University of Primorska reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

Tuesday, 14 May 2024 Slovenian mathematician awarded Order for Exceptional Merits by the President of the Republic of Slovenia

Prof. Bojan Mohar, a Slovenian mathematician specializing in graph theory, has been awarded the Order of Exceptional Merits for outstanding scientific achievements in both Slovenian and international contexts, as well as for his significant contribution to Slovenia's recognition in global scientific circles. The decree of the award is published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia. The recognitions were awarded by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, at a ceremony held at the presidential palace commemorating the 20th anniversary of Slovenia's membership in the EU and NATO alliance.

Dr. Mohar currently serves as the head of the Research Chair in Graph Theory at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and as the leader of the ERC Synergy Grant KARST project at FMF UL.

The awardee also collaborates successfully with the Department of Mathematics at UP FAMNIT, including his membership in the Board of Advisors of the international mathematical journal Ars Mathematica Contemporanea (AMC), which is published by UP in collaboration with professional societies.

We sincerely congratulate Prof. Bojan Mohar on this outstanding achievement!


Foto: Bor Slana/STA

Thursday, 9 May 2024 The Department of Information Sciences and Technologies UP FAMNIT participated at the partners meeting of the FTDCHE/Sollertia project in Hasselt, Belgium

On April 23, the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies UP FAMNIT was part of the intermediate meeting of the Erasmus+ KA220 FTDCHE/Sollertia project (Promotion of Transversal Digital Competences in Higher Education), which took place in Hasselt, Belgium.  

   
                                                                              Project partners 

The event was hosted by the Centre of Expertise in Education and Development located in the Diepenbeek Campus of the University of Leuven-Limburg (UCLL) in Hasselt, capital of the Flemish region of Limburg. This research centre studies the practice and exchange of knowledge on new discoveries about learning and development, educational vision, policy and innovation.

With the additional participation of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest (Romania), the University of Primorska (Slovenia) and the University of Applied Sciences of Šiauliai (Lithuania), the attendees have planned the completion of the teaching materials of the pilot course on Digital Competences that will soon be launched online. This course is aimed at students and graduates of Higher Education from any discipline and addresses the acquisition of the most in-demand digital skills in today’s job market.

Currently, the materials already developed by this consortium of experts can be consulted free of charge on the Sollertia virtual platform without the need for registration. With the aim of promoting cohesion between partner countries, all content will be available in Spanish, Dutch, Romanian, Lithuanian and Slovenian, as well as in English, as an additional language to facilitate dissemination.

Finally, partners agreed to hold the next Transnational Project Meeting in Šiauliai, Lithuania, in September 2024 under the auspices of the University of Applied Sciences of Šiauliai (SVAKO).

Wednesday, 8 May 2024 Successfully acquired new research project at UP FAMNIT: KRAS4US - OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRESERVING THE BIODIVERSITY AND IDENTITY OF THE KARST

Interreg VI-A Italia-Slovenia 2021-2027

KRAS4US - OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRESERVING THE BIODIVERSITY AND IDENTITY OF THE KARST, LEAD ORGANIZATION, UP FAMNIT, UP LEAD: Assist. Prof. Sara Zupan from the Department of Biodiversity. 

The Kras4us project is primarily addressing the challenges consistent with the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the EU climate change strategies, which place emphasis on active protection and conservation of a high level of biodiversity in the unique and highly threatened Karst region. The overall goal of the Kras4us project is to conserve and restore biodiversity in the transboundary Kras region, through the implementation of cross-border pilot actions and activities related to monitoring the status of bioindicator and umbrella species. The project will focus on species that are indicative of the conservation status of Karst habitats and biodiversity. Within the first work package (WP1), we will implement three pilot actions to support our green infrastructure objectives. Green infrastructure such as dry grasslands, ponds and dry-stone walls will be highlighted not only in terms of their importance for biodiversity conservation, but also as an outstanding cultural heritage, the visibility of which is part of the Karst identity. In the second work package (WP2), we will examine the status of biodiversity in areas affected by fire and identify areas where the status of populations of indicator species is favourable and what is the impact of different management practices after fires in the Karst. Monitoring of the selected indicator species will be carried out for the first time on lesser-known and monitored endangered species. The final strategic role of the Kras4us project will be complemented by pilot actions and studies in the third work package (WP3), which will test the potential for circular economies through the utilization of biomass from karst areas, including fire-affected sites, areas of overgrown grasslands, and wood from invasive alien species.

The aim of the project is to achieve new strategies to enable sustainable development in the area, which on one hand will allow local users (especially primary operators such as agriculture and forestry) to use biomass as energy, and on the other hand will also allow the development and conservation of biodiversity, as the circular economy will be developed with knowledge and respect for nature conservation. Cross-border cooperation will allow sharing of common monitoring approaches and measures to protect similar transboundary habitats in the Karst. The definition and development of circular economies using biomass as energy will be applied for the first time in the transboundary area of the Karst.

Wednesday, 8 May 2024 Science and fun for UP students at PRIMATIJADA 2024

28 students from UP FAMNIT have participated at Primatijada, an international sports-science event that has been gathering students from natural and mathematical sciences faculties from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia for almost half a century. Our students have presented their scientific work and won two prizes in the informatics field.

This year’s Primatijada was organized in Trebinje (Bosnia and Herzegovina), from 28 April to 2 May, gathering over 730 students of natural and mathematical sciences from the entire region. 28 students from UP FAMNIT have participated at the event and 19 of them have presented and defended scientific papers in the following fields: mathematics, informatics and biology. Our students won two prizes in the informatics field: 2nd place for Zhivko Stoimchev with the paper »Comparing Distributed vs Centralized applications using Blockchain technology with practical implementation« and 3rd place for Andrej Natev with the paper »Hit Song Prediction Using Machine Learning and Spotify Data«.

In addition to mathematics, informatics and biology, the fields of chemistry, physics and geography were also represented through the scientific part of the event. Students has the opportunity to master the skills of presenting and writing scientific papers, with the help of mentors at their faculties. The commission consisted of three professors/experts in the field of natural/mathematical sciences. Top three rated papers in twelve disciplines were announced by the commission.

Besides presenting scientific papers, students had the opportunity to join competitions in different sports disciplines: futsal, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis and chess. Besides competitive disciplines, there were also sports aimed at socializing and getting to know students from the region (darts, swimming, beach volleyball).

»I am really happy to see the number of our students at Primatijada more than double in comparison to last year. I think everyone had fun, which was most important and they will want to participate again next year,« said Pavel Jolakoski, student of the undergraduate study programme Computer Science and a member of UP FAMNIT Student Council.

Primatijada 2024 was once again a great place for networking, learning, and exchanging ideas, setting high standards for future events.

 

Monday, 6 May 2024 UP Career Fair 2024 - get to know potential employers and the labor market

Also this year, the University of Primorska is organizing the UP Career Fair 2024, which will take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in the UP FAMNIT multi-purpose space (entrance from the Museum Square in Koper.)

19 employers and organizations will present themselves at the UP Career Fair 2024. All participants have the opportunity to speak with their representatives and obtain information about vacant positions and the conditions for their occupation. Participants will also find out what personnel the companies will need in the following years, with what skills and competencies.

In order to make meetings with employers easier, the EMPLOYMENT CAFÉ is organized in the framework in which employers present their activities, staffing needs and opportunities for participation in the form of study practice, internships, employment opportunities, participation in projects and employment opportunities. In the application, you can select any number of employers you want to talk to.

Applications to the Employment Cafe make it easier and more efficient to organize interviews with selected employers. REGISTER FOR THE EVENT.

As part of the fair, we will also organize a seminar on Employment opportunities in Europe from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Snatori's meeting room in the foyer of the Rectorate of the University, during which Mateja Grajzer, a EURES consultant, will present to us where and how you can find work in European countries.

Brief presenatation of the companies

Adecco HR d. o. o.

Adecco H.R. HR Consulting d.o.o. is part of the large international group Adecco Group AG, the world's leading service management company in the field of recruitment and human resources management.

With a wide network of local branches all over Slovenia, with technological solutions, with the constant upgrading of new services in their offer, taking into account their invaluable long-term experience also in the international field and with a quick response, they ensure the selection of the most suitable candidates for all types of work.

Au Pair Slovenia

The Au Pair program in America offers a unique opportunity for girls and boys up to the age of 26.5 to spend a year in America, where they live with a chosen family, help with child care, and at the same time get an education and explore a new culture. It is an extremely rich experience that enables personal growth, acquisition of new skills and cross-cultural understanding, and weekly payment of $215 (approx. $11,000 per year).

Association for Culture and Education PiNA

Founded in 1998, PiNA has been promoting socially responsible practices and strengthening the culture of dialogue for more than twenty years. Since its foundation, PiNA has opened a space for meeting, informing, exchanging, connecting and cooperating in the field of social challenges. Initially as the first internet cafe in Slovenia in 1998, and until 2016 as a multimedia and youth centre, a member of the network of EUROPE DIRECT Slovenia points, as a meeting point for non-governmental organizations of the coastal-karst region, and from 2022 as a contact point for the Citizens, Equality, Rights and values (CERV) and an organization working in the public interest in the field of culture, youth and international development cooperation.

At the fair, information will be offered about opportunities for young people in the EU and the possibility of doing an internship or volunteering at PiNA.

Youth network No Excuse Slovenia

Youth network No Excuse Slovenia is a national youth organization in the public interest with a unique value system, active involvement in solving social problems and a long-standing practice of excellence in the field of implementation of competency models for young people, which are integrated holistically in the interdisciplinary "No Excuse Method". It focuses on the field of health and the environment.

The organization operates on two levels:

  • develops the personal competencies of young people and their potential and
  • transfers the necessary knowledge, experience and skills through the implementation of effective, long-term programs aimed at reducing health inequalities, increasing health and environmental literacy and promoting active citizenship.

They also work with several different work groups, from children to young people and educational workers and in different environments.

Young people will be presented with the opportunity to participate in preventive work, project management and implementation and preparation of educational programs or activities.

Škocjan Caves, Slovenia

The Škocjan Caves are the first monument in Slovenia and on the classical Karst, entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This places them in a place of honour among the natural monuments of the world. They are included in the list of globally important wetlands of the Ramsar Convention, as the first underground wetlands in the world. Together with the underground course of the river Reka, they are one of the longest Karst underground wetlands in Europe. The Škocjan caves are part of the MAB program. Man and the Biosphere (MAB) is a UNESCO intergovernmental research program that establishes a global network of biosphere reserves where biological diversity is preserved and sustainable development is promoted.

There are only 19 areas in the world that are simultaneously on the World Heritage List, on the Ramsar List of Internationally Important Wetlands and in the MAB program. Among them is the Škocjan Cave Park.

The administrator of the Škocjan Caves Regional Park is a public institution. The main activities of the institution are:

  • monitoring of natural and cultural heritage,
  • monitoring the situation and analyzing natural values,
  • participation in international projects, presentations and expert research of the park,
  • maintenance, restoration and protection of natural and cultural heritage,
  • taking care of professional presentation of the park and organization of training and
  • guiding visitors around the protected area.

The Škocjan Caves Public Service Agency, Slovenia will, among other things, present at the fair the conditions for filling the position of "project associate", which belongs to the Professional Service.

Epilog, d.o.o.

Are you breathing for hi-tech? Are you a polyglot in the programming world? Do you like to learn and see new opportunities in challenges? After completing your studies, are you looking for a job in a company that solves real-world challenges and also offers international opportunities?

Epilog d.o.o. opens the door for you where your passion for technology becomes a way of life. They have been writing their story since 1990. Since then, they have been developing and implementing the most demanding software solutions to support logistics processes. Or more simply: they connect people, machines and things into a single system.

They always behave professionally towards customers, friendly and cooperative towards colleagues. They are programmers, developers, system analysts, architects, electrical engineers, etc. At first glance, they are different, but they are united by one interest - and that is that they like to gain new knowledge, but they prefer to share it and teach each other something new. And this is regardless of whether they are sitting in an office in Ljubljana or Koper.

Epilog d.o.o. is looking for young professionals who are passionate about quality solutions and have an eye for detail. Those who are open to new knowledge in the field of quality, are ready to test their analytical skills and collaborate with developers in the creation of superior solutions - we suggest getting to know each other, because the QA job may be just for you.

Ljudska univerza - Adult education centre of Koper

The Adult Education Centre of Koper is the largest educational and counselling centre for adults in the Coastal-Karst region. Adults can complete primary and secondary education at the Adult Education Centre of Koper, attend numerous courses and workshops, seek career or education advice, and receive support for independent learning. Companies that cooperate with the Adult education centre of Koper get an attentive interlocutor who ensures quality training for employees, tailored to the needs of the client. In our 60 years of existence, they have touched almost every family on the Coast; in 2020 alone, every fourth resident of coastal municipalities received training or sought advice from us.

Their courses can be attended by individuals, but they also run them for completed groups at the request of companies and other institutions. You can acquire or improve your language and digital skills and take a step forward for your personal growth. They are also authorized to conduct foreign language and Slovenian exams.

They obtain a lot of funds for our work through national and European projects, which is why they also offer quite a few free programs. You can also get free career advice or self-study mentoring.

The quality of their work and programs is evidenced not only by many satisfied program participants but also by the national quality certificate in adult education - the POKI sign (We offer adults quality education), which they proudly wear.

The employees of the Adult Education Centre of Koper will present to you the possibilities of employment as teachers of: Slovenian, computer science, ICT, bookkeeping, chemistry, Italian, Spanish and in the Learning for Life Success program.

Postojna Cave d.d.

The company Postojna Cave d.d. cultivates and develops a rich tradition of managing tours and events, which dates back to the 1920s, when the cave was arranged for tourist visits. The company consists of several units, namely Postojnska jama with its associated hotel and catering business, Predjama Castle, Hotel Cerkna and the unique Villa Planinka in Jezersko.

You will be presented with employment needs in the professions: waiter, waiter's assistant, sommelier, cave tour guide, chef and chef's assistant.

SLOAM, Agency for Youth (Program Social Impact Award)

The Social Impact Award supports young entrepreneurs in the early stages of development who develop and implement innovative business solutions to solve social challenges. The program helps young people learn about the field of social entrepreneurship and take the first steps towards creating a social enterprise. Since 2009, they have jointly encouraged young social entrepreneurs in more than 25 countries.

The Admiral Group Slovenia

The Admiral Slovenia group combines top services in the fields of gaming, hotel management, catering and entertainment. The Admiral brand in Slovenia is represented by the umbrella company Novo investicije d.o.o., with its headquarters in Trzin. Today, Admiral Slovenija boasts 10 gaming lounges, 3 hotels and 4 restaurants in various locations across Slovenia (Ljubljana center, Ljubljana BTC, Lesce, Grosuplje, Maribor, Ptuj, Nova Gorica, Portorož, Kozina, Škofije). In addition to constant investment in the appearance of their locations, they also pay special attention to investments in the professional development of the skills of more than 300 employees. The Admiral group brings together top services in the fields of gaming, hospitality, catering and entertainment.

You will be presented with tenders for the jobs of a cook and a waiter in a restaurant.

Employment Service of Slovenia, Koper Regional Office

The Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ) is one of the key institutions in the labor market. It has 12 regional services with employment offices all over Slovenia, 11 career centers and 12 offices for employers.

They provide services in the areas of employment counselling and placement, the EURES network, lifelong career guidance, implementation of active employment policy programs, implementation of unemployment insurance, employment and work of foreigners, and preparation of analytical materials and information on the labor market.

On average, employers publish approximately 1,000 vacancies per month in practically all activities at the Employment Service of Slovenia, the Koper Regional Office. In the first three months of 2024, the greatest needs were in the areas of health and social care, transport and storage, hospitality, construction, education, manufacturing, trade, public administration …

Dinit d.o.o.

Dinit's core business is processing card transactions. They are a young but daring company, which in the 15 years since its foundation has grown into a team with more than 100 employees, a presence in many Western European markets and a strong strategic position within the global card scheme Diners Club International. Together with their partners, they develop innovative information solutions that are modern, easy to integrate and cost-effective.

Dirnit employees will present you with job vacancies: .NET Application Developer, Java Application Developer, and IT Project Manager.

GoOpti d.o.o.

GoOpti is an international company/platform that deals with road passenger transportation. Their offer includes various types of transport, including low-cost group transports to airports and cities, private transports for business users and tailor-made transports, which are organized according to the wishes and needs of passengers.

The company employs young people in various positions and at the fair will present jobs for customer support contact center agent (m/f), implementation of assistance and call center activities for their passengers, logistician in the support center  (m/f), Implementation assistance and call center activities for passengers and drivers scheduling passengers, drivers and vehicles to ensure timely and safe transportation and Marketing and Business Analyst.

University of Primorska

The University of Primorska will also present itself at the fair, and its HR representatives will explain a little more about the current vacancies and present what the needs for personnel will be in the following years.