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Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology

Minister

	Gregor Golobič

Gregor Golobič

Gregor Golobič was born on 20 January 1964 in Novo mesto, where he also finished primary and grammar schools. In 1983 he began studying Slavic studies and philosophy at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana, but changed to philosophy when a new programme was offered. In the 1980s he contributed to and edited the Novo mesto youth magazine Valj, was the editor for social issues at Radio Student between 1986 and 1988 and a columnist of the Mladina magazine.

At the end of 1988 he left university and went to work for the Socialist Youth League of Slovenia with the mission to transform it into a liberal party. At elections in 1990 he was elected Deputy of the Socio-Political Chamber of the then Assembly, which voted for the country’s independence. When Dr Janez Drnovšek took over the leadership in March 1992, he became Secretary-General of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia. He resigned in June 2001 and returned to university to graduate in the next year with a thesis entitled 'When Philosophers Go Silent – the Case of Cratylus'.

From June 2003 he worked as business director in the high-tech firm Ultra. On 6 October 2007 he became leader of the party ZARES – new politics. In the October 2008 elections to the National Assembly he was elected an MP and then Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology on 21 November 2008.

State Secretary

	József Györkös

Dr József Györkös

József Györkös is a Doctor of Technical Sciences and a Full Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor. He teaches courses on information and communications technology and media communications.

He also participated in projects of the EU’s Research Framework Programmes as a researcher and auditor.

In the period 2000-2004, during the previous government’s term of office, he held the function of state secretary at the Ministry of the Information Society.

Organisation

Minister:

Gregor Golobič

Phone: +386 1 478 47 08

fax: +386 1 478 47 23

e-mail: gregor.golobic[@]gov.si

State Secretary:

Dr József Györkös

Phone: +386 1 478 46 21

fax: +386 1 478 47 24

e-mail: jozsef.gyorkos[@]gov.si

Minister's Office

Head of the Office:

Tina Hrastnik

Phone: +386 1/478 47 08

fax: +386 1 /478 47 23

e-mail: tina.hrastnik[@]gov.si

Secretary-General:

Mirko Stopar, MSc

Phone: +386 1 478 46 55

fax: +386 1 478 47 29

e-mail: mirko.stopar[@]gov.si

Public Relations:

Nataša Gerkeš

Phone: +386 1 478 46 85

fax: +386 1 478 47 23

e-mail: gov.sinatasa.gerkes[@]gov.sinatasa.gerkes@gov.si pr.mvzt[@]gov.si,

Directorates

Science Directorate

Director-General:

Dr Jana Kolar

Phone: +386 1 478 46 00, fax: +386 1 478 47 24

e-mail: gp.mvzt[@]gov.si

Higher Education Directorate

Director-General:

Majda Širok, MSc

Phone: +386 1 478 46 22, fax: +386 1 478 47 24

e-mail: gp.mvzt[@]gov.si

Technology Directorate

Director-General:

Dr Aleš Mihelič

Phone: +386 1 478 47 43, fax: +386 1 478 46 65

e-mail: gp.mvzt[@]gov.si

Information Society Directorate

Director-General:

Nikolaj Simič

Phone: +386 1 478 46 62, fax: +386 1 478 46 65

e-mail: gp.mvzt[@]gov.si

Investment Directorate

Director-General:

Mitja Valič

phone: 01 478 4600

fax: 01 478 4719

e-mail: gp.mvzt[@]gov.si

Main Areas of Activity

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology performs tasks in the areas of higher education, research, technology, metrology, and promoting the information society in areas that do not fall within the responsibilities of other ministries, and the coordination of work in the area of the information society.

The Science and Higher Education Directorate performs tasks in the area of higher professional and university education and research activity. The Department for Higher Education performs tasks ensuring the planning, orientation and financing of the activities of higher education, student halls of residence and higher education libraries. It formulates the basis and aims of higher education policy; analyses the fulfilment of specific objectives; draws up the National Higher Education Programme, monitors it and evaluates its effects; drafts laws and other documents; grants its consent to calls for enrolment and arrangement of study programmes; determines, implements and analyses the integrated financing of higher education institutions; analyses the socio-economic issues of students; and performs professional tasks related to incorporation into the EU higher education sphere. At the same time, it cooperates in designing the IT system for higher education, analyses and monitors the implementation of financing, and deals in the second instance with complaints for Ad futura and student halls of residence.

The Department of Science formulates the professional basis for adopting political documents in the area of research policy. It drafts laws and implements regulations in the area of research activity. It establishes and enhances the system of comprehensive analyses and monitoring of the situation and development in research, develops new tools for attaining research policy goals, and plans the required financial resources for research.

The Technology Directorate performs tasks in the area of technological development and innovation. In this it pursues four fundamental guidelines: horizontal initiatives for research and development projects for business sector, including also innovation in service sector; technological programmes in narrow technological fields; research and development infrastructure and development of postgraduate personnel in business sector; and the involvement of the economy in the international research and development sphere.

The Information Society Directorate works for the accelerated, coordinated and effective development of the information society, based on knowledge and lifelong learning, and which in practice is evident in the transfer of knowledge, IT and communications technology and content to educational and research institutions, public administration bodies and local government, the economy and civil society. In its work, the Directorate cooperates with various organisations, including in the areas of legislation, security and privacy in the electronic world, education, monitoring development indicators for the information society, promoting the development and localisation of software based on open codes, holding scientific and expert meetings, carrying out projects to reduce the digital gap and so on.

The Ministry’s fundamental areas of responsibility in the area of international cooperation cover bilateral and multilateral scientific and technological cooperation: representing Slovenia and cooperation in European Commission committees; active cooperation of the Ministry in projects of the 5th, 6th and 7th EU framework programmes and Slovenia’s activities in the scientific and research area in South Eastern Europe. Working under the aegis of the Ministry is the Office for UNESCO, which performs tasks related to the cooperation of the RS with UNESCO, the fulfilment of UNESCO objectives in Slovenia, and cooperation with national commissions and the bodies of other countries and with non-governmental organisations.

Bodies Affiliated to the Ministry

Metrology Institute of the RS (MIRS)

Grudnovo nabrežje 17, 1000 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 244 27 00

fax: +386 1 244 27 14

e-mail: mirs[@]gov.si

Internet: www.mirs.si 

Acting Director: Dr Tanasko Tasić

Phone: +386 1 244 27 19

fax: +386 1 244 27 14

e-mail: tanasko.tasic[@]gov.si

The Metrology Institute of the RS (MIRS) as a national institution is responsible for establishing and managing the national metrology system of the RS, including the system for precious metal products, and activities related to the Business Excellence Prize of the RS. It presents these systems in appropriate international organisations and develops them in an internationally comparable and recognizable way.

The stated activities and systems reflect a technically high quality infrastructure, which modern countries in particular badly need, and which is essential for successful scientific, technological and economic development, as well as for the successful and equal inclusion of Slovenia in European as well as broader international integrations. It is therefore vital to develop the aforementioned infrastructure, at least in all the key areas of Slovenia’s needs.

MIRS builds up and maintains the system of the Business Excellence Prize of the RS and performs the necessary technical and administrative tasks for the needs of the programme.

The Business Excellence Prize of the RS is the highest national award in the framework of the National Quality Programme of the RS in the field of product and service quality, as well as business performance quality, which is the result of the development of knowledge and innovation.

Inspectorate for Electronic Communications, Electronic Signature and Post

Kotnikova 28, 1508 Ljubljana

Phone: +386 1 308 32 92

telefaks: +386 1 308 32 98

Internet: http://www.iekepp.gov.si/en/ 

Chief Inspector: Peter Mraz

e-mail: peter.mraz[@]gov.si

The Slovenian Inspectorate for Electronic Communications, Electronic Signature and Post is an independently functioning body within the Ministry of the Economy, and directly oversees implementation of laws and implementing regulations in the area of electronic communications and the postal service. Here its competence in the area of electronic communications and postal services is complemented by the competence exercised in overseeing these two areas by authorised persons from Slovenia's Agency for Post and Electronic Communications (APEK). The Inspectorate also performs inspection assignments in accordance with the law regulating e-commerce and

electronic signatures.