Innovation support environment
According to its vision, the University of Maribor is an institution which will become a globally recognized innovation ecosystem, inspiring the creativity of both employees and students.
In line with its Strategy, in the period from 2021 to 2030, the University of Maribor will become, as to the cooperation with its environment in development and innovation, the central local and regional hub of stakeholders in the knowledge and technology transfer process. It will offer quality services to all stakeholders, placing emphasis on its strategic priority areas. Its hub network will open a way for its stakeholders to reach the international innovation market.
Current environment for innovation support constitute:
University incubator Tovarna podjemov
The University incubator Tovarna podjemov (in Engl.: Venture Factory) is an important element of the UM innovation ecosystem focused on promoting and supporting the entrepreneurial engagement of students, researchers and professors of the University of Maribor as well as other innovative individuals. The University of Maribor is traditionally integrated and successfully transferring knowledge and technologies into the economic and social environment.
The Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office
The Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office provides UM researchers and students overall assistance in the protection and commercialisation of their expert knowledge, technologies and ideas. In cooperation with other University offices, the activity of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office significantly contributes to fulfilling the mission of the University of Maribor, i.e. to contribute to the development of society, tackling global challenges and economic progress in the region and wider environment.
An active co-design of the innovation ecosystem of Eastern Slovenia cohesion region in accordance with the Slovenian Development Strategy 2030 will only be possible with the establishment of INNOVUM aimed at providing an effective central infrastructural support for research, science and innovation processes as well as the technological transfer of knowledge into the environment.
However, as an educational institution, the University of Maribor must put the care for promoting and applying innovative approaches in teaching and modern learning environments as well as establishing conditions for a student oriented pedagogical process at the heart of its activities in the context of transferring knowledge and key competences. In addition to research performance, the University of Maribor is deeply committed to pedagogical excellence.
Modern learning environments and innovative teaching
In the framework of several pedagogically oriented projects (e.g. Didakt.UM, INOVUP), and by promoting the integration of the pedagogical community under the auspices of the UM Pedagogical Network, the University of Maribor has accelerated the quality improvement in the field of pedagogical activity for UM excellence in education. Among the core activities for the development of didactic skills for quality teaching are trainings of employees in the field of higher education didactics with special emphasis on teaching students in various circumstances. This way, we follow strategic guidelines and objectives defined in fundamental European and national documents regarding higher education. We fulfil our key mission of preparing new generations for local and global challenges of the society of the future. To effectively tackle these challenges, we are also paying particular attention to the green and digital transition through education which presents an important catalyst for success in this field.
Office for Development and Support in Education and Study
At the University of Maribor, the expert office of the UM Department for Education and Study is devoting significant attention to the development of educational activities and providing, with its activities and educational events, comprehensive support to UM teaching staff in the field of didactic use of information communication technology (ICT) and introduction of modern approaches into the pedagogical process. The expert office is preparing guidelines and useful didactic material, targeted trainings, events dedicated to the exchange of experience and good practices as well as offering support to the higher education teaching staff. It was established as a support office within the Didakt.UM project (2017–2020). After its completion, it builds on and makes an important contribution to the professional pedagogical development of staff through its commitment to sustainability. The expert office is also coordinating the activities of the pedagogical community UM Pedagogical Network in which new opportunities are created for the exchange of knowledge and the transfer of experience of teaching staff through which the University of Maribor encourages the creation of a stimulating environment with the best possibilities for teaching. Developing pedagogical competences and digital skills for using ICT as well as introducing modern pedagogical approaches enables an effective knowledge transfer and supports the development of key competences of young people.
