13th Knowledge Platform Conference: Higher Education is About People

On Monday, 1. September 2025, the University of Maribor hosted the 13th Knowledge Platform Conference – Higher Education Is About People. The event brought together around 80 participants, including two representatives of SQAA. It was organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation in cooperation with the Slovenian Rectors’ Conference and the University of Maribor. The discussions of the 13th conference were especially focused on academic and professional staff, who are key actors in shaping the higher education environment.

Following the opening address, the audience was presented with the Council of the EU Recommendation on attractive and sustainable careers in higher education, including the implementation of these recommendations at both the systemic and institutional levels, as well as insights from a European perspective.

The introductory programme was followed by parallel workshops in the format of a world café. In a collegial and constructive atmosphere, participants identified key obstacles, incentives, and solutions to support higher education staff. One of the workshops was dedicated specifically to professional support staff. The workshops generated interesting and innovative ideas, which are summarized at the following link: https://www.gov.si/novice/2025-09-03-13-posvet-platforme-znanja-visoko-solstvo-smo-ljudje/

The afternoon session featured a roundtable discussion focusing on the rejuvenation of staff and support for early-career professionals, the role of mobility in staff development, the evaluation of teaching, working conditions, and the contribution of the student voice to enhancing the quality of teaching. The Deputy Director of SQAA, Klemen Šubic, also participated in the roundtable. The panel discussion highlighted the main challenges and opportunities for the future of academic and professional staff.