FestUM 2026: Quality. Significance. Responsibility.

Karolina Bucka Kustec is Head of the Researchers Support Office at the University of Maribor Rectorate and a certified Hatha and Vinyasa yoga instructor. As part of the morning accompanying programme, she will guide participants through a gentle yoga session for a calm and mindful start to the day — through breath, movement, and a pleasant awakening of the body. Comfortable clothing is recommended. If you were unable to register for the on-site event in time, you are warmly invited to join via live stream.

Within the DFP SRA framework, six UM programme cores are currently active at the University of Maribor. They conduct research within the following priority areas: data science and artificial intelligence in biomedicine; materials and technologies; heritage science and climate change; promotion of fundamental research in mathematics and natural sciences; promotion of research in the field of space and data-driven understanding of the Earth; and promotion of research in the social sciences, with an emphasis on the interdisciplinary integration of economic and business sciences, tourism, logistics, organisational sciences, and security studies.

The open-air concert in the atrium of the UM Rectorate, taking place on 10 June at 5 pm, will bring together students of the Music Education programme at the Faculty of Education, University of Maribor. Under the mentorship of composer and conductor Assoc. Prof. Tadeja Vulc, they will guide the audience through their musical creations. The soundscape created by these young artists will intertwine with the world of puppets by visual artist Prof. Sabina Šinko, presented as part of this year’s UMetnost exhibition.

This short fiction film explores the dynamics of teenage relationships. It follows Sofija as she navigates the challenges of everyday life, while her brother Jakob dismisses her struggles as exaggeration. An unexpected event forces them to work together and gradually better understand one another — perhaps the person who irritates us the most can also become our greatest ally. The film was produced as part of the practicum within the Media Communications study programme at UM FERI, where students gain hands-on experience in film production.

The aim of the research project, which brings together the National and University Library (NUK), the University of Ljubljana and the University of Maribor Library, is to support a sustainable transition towards open, equitable and financially sustainable scholarly communication that treats knowledge as a public good and strengthens the accessibility of research results. Among other topics, the project analyses the costs and practices of scientific publishing, the impact of research assessment, and examples of good European practice. Irena Eiselt, PhD, is Assistant Director of the National and University Library of Slovenia (NUK).

Herman Strøm is Open Science Coordinator at the University of South-Eastern Norway, and affiliated member of the Open Science team at Universities Norway. He contributes to the coordination of the Norwegian National Forum for Open Science and the NOR-CAM network/CoARA National Chapter. He also served as secretary for the national working group that developed the Norwegian NOR-CAM framework for responsible assessment and recognition in academic careers.

Núria Benitez Monforte has over 20 years of experience in research management across Catalan research institutions, including ICO, FBG-UB, and ICN2. She has held leadership roles in SOMMa, EARMA, and the Barcelona Declaration initiative, and contributed to drafting Spain’s National Open Science Strategy (ENCA). Currently, she serves as Strategic Area and Open Science Officer at the CERCA Institution.

Lindsay Dowling is Open Research Support Unit Lead at the Technological University Dublin, working across the institution and wider HEI sector to advance responsible and open research practices at practical and strategic levels. Lindsay co-authored the first Irish CoARA Action Plan and supports other Irish HEIs to deliver their CoARA commitments. Through initiatives such as EARMA, and Sónraí, Lindsay works to support systemic change toward more transparent and responsible practices.

Tea Romih, PhD, is a former researcher and currently a data steward at the Central Technical Library of the University of Ljubljana. She is the author of the DiRROS Data website and coordinated the SPOZNAJ project (2023–2026), which supported the introduction of open science practices in Slovenian public research organisations. Following the project’s completion, she will continue contributing to the development of the Slovenian national network of data experts and their professional training.
Photo by Gašper Lešnik

The SPOZNAJ project exhibition presents open science to the wider public in an accessible and visually engaging way, demonstrating how open access to scientific knowledge fosters innovation, strengthens trust in science, and supports more informed societal decision-making. The exhibition showcases selected Slovenian open science infrastructures, activities, tools, and projects, while emphasising that science is not something distant, but an integral part of everyday life that influences many areas of society.

The UMetnost exhibition creates a space for the intersection of art, research, and education, and this year highlights the creativity of Prof. Sabina Šinko and Assoc. Prof. Tadeja Vulc from the UM Faculty of Education. The selected works illuminate their diverse and multilayered artistic opus through the interplay of puppet theatre performance art and musical creation. The exhibition is displayed in the atrium of the UM Rectorate.