Novo Mesto, July 3, 2026 – With its entry into the court register on July 1, 2026, the public University of Novo Mesto officially came into existence. This is a significant milestone for higher education in southeastern Slovenia, opening a new chapter in the development of higher education, research, and collaboration with the business community and the local environment.

Today, July 3, 2026, the first session of the interim senate of the public University of Novo Mesto was held, during which Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nevenka Kregar Velikonja was elected president of the interim senate. The members of the Senate also elected five of the nine members of the Management Board and adopted the Statute, the founding document of the new university, which must still be approved by the university’s Management Board at its meeting next week. In doing so, the members of the Senate laid the legal and organizational foundations for the University of Novo Mesto to begin operating.

The acting rector of the University of Novo Mesto, Prof. Dr. Janez Povh, emphasized that the establishment of the public University of Novo Mesto is the result of many years of effort, professional work, and dedication on the part of numerous individuals, for which he sincerely thanked them. The university was established through the merger of all higher education institutions in Novo Mesto, which is a major achievement, as 7 out of 9 higher education institutions will have to be formally dissolved or restructured, while the new public university will establish 6 out of 8 faculties anew.

Such a demanding project can only be carried out thanks to the exceptional support of the wider community, especially the Municipality of Novo mesto and the Chamber of Commerce of Dolenjska and Bela Krajina.

In the coming weeks, the University will take on all employees of the private higher education institutions that have joined the University, adopt its statute, establish six new faculties, conclude funding agreements with the relevant ministry, set up the Rector’s Office, define new research programs, and begin strategic planning for new study programs.

With these steps, the University of Novo Mesto is entering the next, operational phase of its development, which will be crucial for its long-term stability, academic growth, and integration into the Slovenian higher education landscape.