On Wednesday, 30 September 2026, the renovated Narodni dom in Novo mesto will host the ceremonial inauguration of Prof. Dr. Matej Makarovič, the first Rector of the new public University of Novo mesto.
Makarovič has been closely connected with the University of Novo mesto and the Faculty of Information Studies (FIS) for many years. As the long-serving Dean of FIS, he has played an important role in the faculty’s development. Following his election as the first Rector of the public University of Novo mesto, he will now lead the new university.
The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. with the ceremonial arrival of the newly elected Rector. The inauguration will be attended by representatives of Slovenian universities and higher education institutions, the state, the Municipality of Novo mesto, as well as numerous guests from the business community and the wider academic sphere.
The guests will be addressed by Prof. Dr. Janez Povh, Acting Rector of the University of Novo mesto, who led the key steps in establishing the public university through to the election of its first Rector, and by Dr. Borut Rončević, Minister of Education, Science and Youth.
An Important Moment for the Faculty of Information Studies
The inauguration of the first Rector of the public University of Novo mesto is also an important moment for the Faculty of Information Studies (FIS), one of the university’s member institutions. The inauguration also marks an important transition for Prof. Dr. Matej Makarovič, who is taking on a new role at the university after many years of serving as Dean of FIS.
At FIS, we would like to express our gratitude to Prof. Dr. Makarovič for his long-standing work, dedication and important contribution to the development of the faculty, and wish him every success as he begins this new chapter and takes on the role of Rector of the University of Novo mesto.
Inauguration at the Renovated Narodni dom
The ceremony will take place at the renovated Narodni dom in Novo mesto, which will reopen its doors just one day before the inauguration. The building was commissioned by the Novo mesto Reading Society in 1873 and opened two years later as the first Narodni dom in Slovenia.
From its beginnings, the Narodni dom has been a place of culture, education, social life and public discourse. Today, in its renovated form, it takes on a new role as the seat of the public University of Novo mesto, continuing its tradition as a place dedicated to knowledge, connection, discussion and the creation of new ideas.
The ceremonial inauguration of the first Rector of the University of Novo mesto will take place on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Narodni dom in Novo mesto.
