The primary purpose of the project is to improve the quality and efficiency of teaching and to learn in higher education and to empower individuals and institutions in higher education to actively respond to the challenges of preparing students for work and life in the 21st century in cooperation with other stakeholders and by exchanging good practices.

"The project is co-financed by the Norwegian financial mechanism Norway Grants. The managing authority on the Slovenian side is the Government Service of the Republic of Slovenia for Development and European Cohesion Policy. The main idea of ​​Norway Grants is a green, competitive and inclusive Europe. Among the key goals are the reduction of economic and social differences in the economic area and the strengthening of bilateral relations between European countries," said the project manager at Alma Mater Polonca Pangrčič. She added that the knowledge and practices discovered and developed through collaboration and mutual learning in the project would be an integral part of the new didactic tools and support sources. They are designed to create, maintain and further strengthen institutional cooperation and active learning, and adopt modernized approaches to learning and competence development in higher education.

Participating partners in the project are the Educational Research Institute, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, the Student Organization of Slovenia, and Kristiania University College from Norway.

"Educational Research Institute, which is a central research institution in the field of education, will contribute its knowledge and experience from the point of view of knowledge and conceptualization. As well as the transfer of global competencies, active citizenship, language use in education and a developed model for observing pedagogical practice, which we designed specifically for this project," emphasized Janja Žmavc.

The Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia is also aware of linking education and the economy. "We think it is essential that pupils and students come to companies qualified after their education. Projects of this type also allow for a great contribution in the field of economy, which is why we gladly accepted the cooperation," said Petra Sternad.

The project is also crucial for students. "Among other things, we at ŠOS are responsible for taking care of quality in higher education. We are confident that as part of the project, we will achieve the set goals, implement them in education in Slovenia and improve the space for students and professors," said the president of the Student Organization of Slovenia, Alen Brkič.

The event was joined by Matej Mertik, who presented the results and practices of the two-year project on higher education in the future of the Hybrid Lab Network. "The world is changing very quickly with the development of technology, and it is also necessary to adapt to this in education. The project addressed approaches to equipping the future workforce with an interdisciplinary understanding that encompasses the creative thinking, innovative skills, and collaboration needed to underpin future experimental teaching/learning methodologies. It was intended to stimulate reflection processes and real action on what higher education should be for the future, addressed by four cultures – arts, science, technology, humanities – and three sectors – academic, research and social," he summarized Mertik.

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