RS award for achievements in higher education also presented at the UP

date: 23.10.2026

category: News

Among the recipients of awards for outstanding achievements in higher education is Assoc. Prof. Dr Maja Mezgec, a member of the academic staff at the University of Primorska Faculty of Education (UP PEF), who received an award for outstanding achievements in education relating to national communities and minorities.

In October, when we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, the Republic of Slovenia’s Awards Committee presents the country’s highest state awards in the field of education. This year, the award recipients were welcomed on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at Brdo pri Kranju, where the 60th anniversary award ceremony took place.

The awards recognise outstanding achievements that make a significant contribution to the development of educational practice and theory and to the quality of education; strengthen the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in education; promote the positive educational influence of schools; and foster more humane relationships within the school environment.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Maja Mezgec thus joins 22 colleagues from the faculty who have received these awards since 2005.

Justification for the award

Dr. Maja Mezgec is an Associate Professor of Andragogy at the Faculty of Education of the University of Primorska and one of the leading researchers in the fields of lifelong learning, education in multilingual environments, and the schooling of the Slovenian national community in Italy. Her academic career has bridged the Slovenian and Italian educational spaces, as she pursued her studies in both Trieste and Ljubljana and has consistently focused her research on issues of language, identity, and education in border regions.

She made a significant contribution early in her career through her doctoral dissertation on functional literacy in Slovenian among members of the Slovenian minority in Italy. This research represents one of the few in-depth empirical studies of literacy competencies in a minority language and has substantially enhanced understanding of the educational needs of the Slovenian community in Italy. Its findings continue to provide important scientific and practical value for the development of education and the teaching of the Slovenian language in minority settings.

Throughout her research career, Dr. Mezgec has devoted particular attention to education in multilingual environments, minority-language education, and the integration of the Slovenian and Italian educational systems. Her work has played an important role in advancing research on topics that had long received limited attention within the Slovenian academic community. Her studies have contributed to a better understanding of the challenges faced by members of the Slovenian minority in accessing education and participating fully in society.

One of her most notable contributions is her research on cross-border students and pupils. She was among the first scholars to provide a scientific definition of this phenomenon as a distinct category, different from traditional international student mobility. In doing so, she highlighted the specific challenges faced by young people who pursue their education in a neighbouring country, particularly regarding the recognition of academic degrees and professional qualifications after graduation.

In addition to her research achievements, Dr. Mezgec has played an important role in the development of higher education. As Head of the Department of Educational Sciences, a member of the Faculty Senate, and a participant in several academic committees, she actively contributes to the development of study programmes and the broader academic environment. At the same time, she has fostered intensive cooperation with the University of Trieste, promoting stronger links between Slovenian and Italian higher education institutions in the field of teacher education, thereby enhancing both the quality and international dimension of study programmes.

Her impact extends well beyond academia. Through expert reports prepared for the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, support materials for cross-border students, public engagement through the media, and service in professional bodies, she has made a valuable contribution to educational policy development and to supporting the Slovenian community in Italy. Her extensive bibliography, numerous scientific publications, and long-standing professional engagement demonstrate her significant contribution to the advancement of andragogy, the study of cross-border education, and the strengthening of educational ties between Slovenia and Italy.