Friday, 10 April 2026 The Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT Hosts Associate Professor Onur Candan from Ordu University
As part of the ERASMUS+ programme, the Department of Biodiversity at UP FAMNIT will host Associate Professor Onur Candan from 13 to 17 April 2026.
Dr. Candan is an ecologist specializing in herpetology. He obtained his PhD in Biology (Zoology) from Hacettepe University (Ankara, Turkey), where he also earned the title of Associate Professor in Ecology. He currently works as an Associate Professor at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, within the Division of General Biology, at Ordu University.
For more than two decades, Dr. Candan has been involved in numerous research projects in the fields of biodiversity and nature conservation across Turkey, with a particular focus on sea turtles, amphibians, and reptiles. He is also a member of the National Scientific Committee for Sea Turtles in Turkey.
Dr. Candan teaches a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses, including conservation biology, environmental impact assessment, herpetology, animal tracking and handling techniques, vertebrate field studies, and population monitoring. His teaching is enriched by extensive hands-on experience in wildlife conservation, rehabilitation, and telemetry. With a strong commitment to students’ academic development, he supervises numerous Master’s and PhD theses, particularly in the field of sea turtle biology.
Within the study programmes Conservation Biology and Nature Conservation, Dr. Candan will deliver the following lectures:
- Amphibians and reptiles of Turkey
Monday, 13 April 2026, 13:00–15:00
UP Livade Campus – Izola, Zoology Laboratory - Studying herpetofauna on land and in sea: Methods, implications for conservation and lessons learned
Wednesday, 15 April 2026, 10:30–12:30
UP Livade Campus – Izola, FAMNIT 3 Lecture Room - Sea turtles in the Mediterranean: Biology and conservation perspectives in a changing world
Thursday, 16 April 2026, 15:30–17:30
UP Livade Campus – Izola, FAMNIT 3 Lecture Room
The lectures are open to all UP FAMNIT students, staff, and the general public.
You are warmly invited!
Thursday, 9 April 2026 Visit from the University of Malta Strengthens Cooperation and Exchange of Good Practices at UP FAMNIT
The University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies (UP FAMNIT), hosted two representatives from its partner institution, the University of Malta, within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme. UP FAMNIT has an established collaboration with the University of Malta, including ongoing student exchange activities.
The faculty was visited by Marvic Cuschieri, Senior Manager at the Faculty of Science, and Marion Cachia, Administrative Specialist at the Department of Mathematics.
The main purpose of the visit was the exchange of good practices in administrative processes and support for study programmes. Particular attention was given to admission procedures, timetable planning, organisation of examination periods, assessment processes, and the promotion of study programmes and alumni activities.
During their stay, the guests met with staff from the Student Services Office and the Communications Office, where they engaged in constructive discussions and shared experiences related to the organisation of study processes and faculty support services.
They also visited the Admissions Office of the University of Primorska and the University Library, where they met with professional staff and gained detailed insight into admission procedures and the services provided by the university. The programme further included a tour of the University of Primorska’s research infrastructure. The guests visited the Livade 1.0 campus in Izola and InnoRenew CoE, where they were introduced to research activities and interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of sustainable materials and the environment.
The visit represents an important opportunity to strengthen further cooperation between the University of Primorska and the University of Malta, foster the exchange of experiences, and develop new opportunities for collaboration within the Erasmus+ programme.
Thursday, 9 April 2026 UP FAMNIT hosted high school students in Izola
On Wednesday, April 9, 2026, UP FAMNIT in Izola welcomed three high school students from Gymnasium Sežana and (škofijska) Gymnasium Vipava. The visit was part of the Institute for Youth Policy’s “Job Shadowing” programme, now in its eighth year. Our faculty participated and put together an engaging programme for the students.
Assist. Prof. Sara Zupan led the event, organising the reception and giving both the opening and closing talks. Assist. Kevin Rečnik showed the students around the campus. At first, the students learned about the faculty, its study programmes, how the study system works, and what the work process is like. Afterwards, they toured the facilities, met staff members, learned about their roles, and heard about their educational and career journeys.
Assist. Prof. Matjaž Hladnik and Assist. Prof. Alenka Baruca Arbeiter from the Department of Applied Natural Sciences, as well as Assist. Prof. Sara Zupan and Assist. prof. Katja Adam from the Department of Biodiversity participated in the event. They also hosted the students during practical sessions in the courses Introduction to Microbiology and Animal Physiology.
The students were also introduced to the work of a laboratory technician, a position often intended for students as their first opportunity to work in our facilities and become familiar with colleagues and the work process. Finally, student Lina Kramberger presented student project work, such as the Allelotox project, which also provides students with their first steps into their future careers in scientific research.
Tuesday, 7 April 2026 ALUMNI UP WEEK 2026
13.–17. APRIL 2026
The UP Alumni Club’s favorite week is here again! UP Alumni Week will take place fromb April 13 to April 17, 2026. Our main event, MeetUP, will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, in the UP FAMNIT hall (Glagoljaška 8, Koper). Starting at 5:00 PM, we will present the UP Alumni Club Awards and Recognitions for 2025.
You are cordially invited to join us for the main event and all other activities organised across the University of Primorska and its faculties.
We look forward to meeting you during a week filled with knowledge. Join us!
MONDAY, 13. APRIL 2026:
Hearing Loss and the Basics of Sign Language
Speaker: Matjaž Juhart (Zveza gluhih in naglušnih Slovenije)
When? 13. 4. 2026, 15.00-16.00
Where? UP FHŠ (Titov trg 5, Koper), Room: Burja 3
Language: Slovenian
Description: In this presentation, participants will learn about the specific characteristics of people with hearing loss, including the deaf, hard-of-hearing, individuals with cochlear implants, people with tinnitus, and those with deaf-blindness. They will be introduced to the basics of sign language and ways of communicating with a deaf person and individuals with hearing loss. Due to the development of technology and a changed lifestyle, hearing loss/impairment and tinnitus are becoming an increasingly common phenomenon among young people, as well as during professional life and with age. In light of the content, we will also touch upon the foundations of relationships, communication, and the challenges faced by people with hearing loss.
Alumni UP Pub Quiz
Host: viš. pred. Matija Jenko
When? 13. 4. 2026, 18.30-21.30 (arrival of teams from 18.00 onwards)
Where? Center mladih Koper - Koper Youth Center (Gregorčičeva ulica 4, Koper)
Language: Slovenian
Registration is mandatory up to and including April 13, 2026, until 10:00 AM, or until spots are filled: HERE.
Description: Welcome to the first ALUMNI UP PUB QUIZ! All alumni and employees of the University of Primorska are invited to compete. Gather a team of three or four members and show how much knowledge is hidden within you. Diverse sets of questions from various fields await you – from general knowledge to more specific topics, where everyone will find their opportunity to shine. Who will prove to have the most knowledge (and perhaps the best nerves)? Who will earn the title of the best team of the evening?
Come, test your knowledge, and spend an evening in great company.
TUESDAY, 14. APRIL 2026:
From Graduate to Director of the Območna obrtno-podjetniška zbornica Logatec: The Career Path of Dejan Šraml
Moderator: prof. dr. Mitja Ruzzier
Guest: Dejan Šraml
When? 14. 4. 2026, 16.00-17.00
Where? Zoom
Language: Slovenian
Description: Dejan Šraml first graduated from the UP Faculty of Management (UP FM) in 2007 and later completed his master’s degree in 2012. His first employment was at UP FM, where he headed the Public Relations office. He then continued his career path in the entrepreneurial support environment and became the director of the Logatec Regional Chamber of Craft and Small Business. Between 2021 and 2023, he also served as the President of the UP FM Alumni Club, where he connected faculty graduates and encouraged cooperation between the academic and business environments. His career is closely linked to the promotion of entrepreneurship, networking, and the development of the local economy, focusing primarily on advising artisans and entrepreneurs and representing their interests. At the event, he will present his career path from graduate to director and share experiences, challenges, and opportunities from the world of entrepreneurship with the participants.
From Piran to the End of the World: From the Punta Lighthouse to the Cape Finisterre Lighthouse
Speakers and travellers: Valter Suban and Rok Sorta
When? 14. 4. 2026, 18.30-20.00
Where? UP FTŠ – Turistica (Obala 11a, Portorož), 3rd floor, library
Language: Slovenian
Description: This time, as part of our travel lecture series from Piran, we will head to the end of the world – Cape Finisterre in Spain. Valter Suban and Rok Sorta, who set off last April from Piran on a more than month‑long cycling journey, will take us along the 2,934‑kilometre route. Their path led them through the diverse landscapes of Italy and France to the far northwest of Spain, where they followed the famous pilgrimage route, El Camino. Cape Finisterre (Cabo Finisterre) lies on the western coast of Galicia and has been stirring the imagination of travellers for centuries. In Roman times, it was believed that this was where the world simply “ended.” Today, that feeling still lingers – dramatic cliffs, the imposing lighthouse, and the endless view of the Atlantic create a scene that truly makes you feel as if you are standing at the edge of the world.
Registration: at the link HERE
WEDNESDAY, 15. APRIL 2026:
CAREER DAY: Tourism Beyond Traditional Frameworks
When? 15. 4. 2026, 9.00-13.00
Where? UP FTŠ – Turistica (Obala 11a, Portorož)
Description: The UP FTŠ Turistica Career Day is dedicated to exploring modern career paths in tourism, connecting with professionals from practice, and gaining concrete knowledge for entering the labour market. Get to know various career paths in tourism that extend into the fields of creative industries, event organization, digital marketing, and destination development. Dress code: dress as if you were going to a job interview.
UPgrade - Fair of Postgraduate Study Programmes of the University of Primorska
When? 15. 4. 2026, 11.00-15.00
Where? Muzejski trg, Koper
Description: The fair is intended for everyone considering continuing their studies at the postgraduate level at the University of Primorska. You can choose between continuing your studies in a field you have already chosen at the undergraduate level or deciding on a different field of study to expand your knowledge and skills. Tutors, professors, postgraduate students, staff from the student office, and the career center will be present at the fair and available for all information regarding 2nd and 3rd cycle studies. Take the opportunity for a personal conversation with representatives of individual study programs and receive first-hand information..
Biology Evening: "A Fight Between Two Fires" - The Story of the False Ringlet Butterfly
Moderator: assist. Martin Senič
Guest: doc. dr. Sara Zupan
When? 15. 4. 2026, 19.00-20.00
Where? Zoom
Language: Slovenian and Italian
Description: The False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus) is one of the most endangered butterfly species in Slovenia, closely tied to open meadow habitats. In Slovenian Istria, it primarily faces overgrowth due to the abandonment of traditional land use, while populations in the Karst were further affected by extensive fires in 2022. The lecture will present the demography and movement of part of the population along the upper reaches of the Dragonja River and the role of vegetation in shaping its habitat. Special emphasis will be placed on comparing habitats in the Dragonja Valley and the Karst after the fires, where conditions for the species have changed significantly. The results show distinct gender differences in demography and movement, as well as limited dispersal ability in a landscape characterized by meadow overgrowth. This highlights the crucial role of active management and ensuring habitat connectivity for the long-term conservation of the species.
THURSDAY, 16. 4. 2026:
UP Alumni Talks: How our alumni shape the world
When? 16. 4. 2026, 17.00-20.00
Where? Bife Museum (Muzejski trg 6, Koper)
Language: Slovenian
Description: Join us for a relaxed conversation with alumni of the University of Primorska who work in diverse fields and come from various faculties. Together, we will explore their career paths, personal experiences, challenges, and opportunities that followed their studies. The event offers inspiration, insight into a wide range of professional stories, and an opportunity for an open dialogue with successful graduates. After the moderated talk, you are invited to stay for refreshments and a chance to chat with our guests.
Our guests will be:
- Jernej Šček (UP FHŠ) – a Triestine-Slovenian philosopher, publicist, essayist, and translator who researches the humanities and teaches philosophy and history
- Klavdija Žnidarič (UP FTŠ – Turistica) – project and festival manager and program lead at Auditorium Portorož, where she co-creates cultural and event content
- Andreja Grobiša (UP Famnit) – General Secretary of the Slovenian Rural Youth Association, active in the field of development and empowerment of rural youth
- Miha Klanjšček (UP PEF) – a primary school teacher and author of the manual "11 Pillars of Upbringing," active in the field of modern pedagogical approaches
FVZ Evening, Connecting Science with Everyday Life: Nutrition – Between Science, Opinions, and Myths
Moderator: assist. Tanja Črešnovar
Guest: izr. prof. dr. Nina Mohorko
When? 16. 4. 2026, 19.00-20.00
Where? University Library of the University of Primorska (Trubarjeva ulica 1, Koper)
Language: Slovenian
Description: Information about nutrition is accessible at every step today, but often superficial, misleading, or inadequately interpreted. In this conversation, we want to shed light on how to distinguish credible scientific results from myths, how to recognize quality research, and why it is important that scientific knowledge does not remain limited only to academic circles. The interlocutor will share the latest scientific findings with us in areas that often stir public and professional debate:
- the impact of nutrition on brain function,
- time-restricted eating,
- the ketogenic diet,
- the impact of microbiota on metabolic health
- and approaches within alternative dietary regimes.
We will also touch upon the question of the future of nutrition science
FRIDAY, 17. 4. 2026:
UP Alumni Talks: MeetUP - Stories of Excellence
When? 17. 4. 2026, 17.00-20.00
Where? UP Famnit Hall (Glagoljaška 8, Koper)
Language: Slovenian
Description: The UP Alumni Club MeetUP is a formal gathering of University of Primorska alumni, representing the highlight of UP Alumni Week. At the event, awards and recognitions will be presented to individuals who, through their actions, strengthen the alumni community, support the development of Alumni UP, and spread the good name of the university at home and abroad. The event offers an opportunity for socializing, intergenerational exchange of experiences, personal growth, and the creation of new, inspiring collaborations and community strengthening, all accompanied by live music and catering provided by UP graduates.
Registration: at the link HERE
MeetUP After Party
When? 17. 4. 2026, from 20.00
Where? Bife Museum (Muzejski trg 6, Koper)
Description: After the official part of the MeetUp, you are kindly invited to join us for an informal gathering in a relaxed atmosphere.znakovnega jezika
