Human Resource Development at the University of Maribor – An Encouraging Working Environment

Šime Ivanjko, Professor Emeritus of the University of Maribor, completed his entire legal education as a working student – starting at the School of Law in Maribor (first cycle), followed by the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana (second cycle and PhD), the Faculty of Law in Zagreb (Master’s degree), and the Faculty of Law in Hamburg (specialization in insurance). He was employed at Zavarovalnica Maribor and in the business sector (from 1962). From 1970 onward, he was employed at the School of Law and later the Faculty of Law, as well as at the School of Economics and Commerce in Maribor. For several years, he was a private higher education teacher. He taught economic subjects not only in Slovenia but also in Rijeka and Zadar. He served three terms as Director or Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, and one term as Vice-Rector. The University of Maribor awarded him the title of Professor Emeritus. The Association of Lawyers of Slovenia honored him with a lifetime achievement award. He received state decorations from both the Republic of Croatia and Austria. He is also the co-founder and president of the Slovenian Academy of Legal Sciences and a member of the Croatian Academy of Legal Sciences. He is active in business consulting and publishing. He served multiple terms as President of the Association of Insurance Companies of Yugoslavia. He is the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia. He is also a co-author of numerous legal drafts. Since his retirement in 2012, he has been active in social media and is the author of several published books. He currently leads the Centre for Professors Emeriti and Retired Higher Education Teachers of the University of Maribor. He was also a signatory of the founding act of the University of Maribor (September 18, 1975).

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: sime.ivanjko@um.si

Rajko Knez is a Full Professor of Law and has been connected with the University of Maribor since his student days. He holds the title of Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law. From 2007 to 2011, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Maribor. He is currently a judge at the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: rajko.knez@us-rs.si

Dunja Legat holds a Master’s degree in Library Science and is a Junior Library Councillor. Since 2021, she has been the Director of the University of Maribor Library (UKM). She has been part of the UKM team since 1996, initially working as an editor of the university bibliography, later in the field of processing periodical publications, and since 2015 as the Assistant Director of UKM. She has actively contributed to the development of many library activities, such as the implementation of personal bibliographies in the COBISS system and the revision of the typology of documents/works for managing researchers’ bibliographies. She also played a key role in the creation of the Digital Library of the University of Maribor, its management, and the development of its services. She initiated the development of library support services in the field of open science, served for many years as the Chair of the UKM Quality Committee, and has been actively involved in drafting strategic documents for the library, the university, and at the national level. She is also the Head of the University of Maribor Press and the university’s representative in the National Council for Library Services at the Ministry of Culture.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: dunja.legat@um.si

Assist. Prof. dr. Mojca Tancer Verboten (PhD), is an expert and researcher in the fields of labor and social law as well as higher education. She is a member of the Expert Council for addressing professional issues related to the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act and a member of the Council of the Center of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Materials Technology. As a member of the working group of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, she contributed to drafting the proposal for the Higher Education Act. At the Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, she teaches courses in Social Security, Labor and Social Law, and at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, she teaches Ethics and Legal Aspects. She is one of the co-authors of the commentary on the Employment Relationships Act (3rd, updated and amended edition) and the Civil Servants Act. She is currently serving her third term as Secretary General of the University of Maribor.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: mojca.tancer@um.si