University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Maribor (UM) is a comprehensive educational and research organization striving for academic excellence and the expansion of knowledge through basic and applied research. With over 1100 researchers and teaching staff, UoM collaborates with economic partners, civil society, public administration and other institutions and thus supports research and art with focus on well-being and development of the society. In its 2013-2018 Research and Development Strategy based on smart specialization, UoM focuses on the priority area of Horizon 2020 “Societal challenges – Health, demographic changes and well-being”.
The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) was established by the Slovenian Parliament in 1993 as a university college. Within a few years it became the first higher education institution in Slovenia, offering postgraduate study programmes in nursing and health sciences. The faculty is also a pioneer in integration of simulations in the teaching and learning process as in the year 2005 they were the first in this part of Europe to establish a Simulation Centre.
The Faculty is actively involved in the international educational and research arena, and participates, as a coordinator or partner, in many European projects. Through the provision of undergraduate and postgraduate study programmes, the Faculty introduces the latest technology, innovation, creativity and interactivity for the achievement of student competences and the main goal, which is – a holistic patient care. We are offering four (one undergraduate and three postgraduate) study programmes: undergraduate programme in Nursing Care, postgraduate programmes in Nursing Care, Bioinformatics and Management in Health and Social Organizations as well as the first PhD study programme Nursing Care in Slovenia.
University of Maribor Faculty of Health Sciences implements educational and scientific research work in the field of nursing and health sciences. The development and implementation of study programmes is interacting with the implementation of scientific research work and practice. It educates graduates who distinguish by excellent knowledge, ability to reflect, humanity, respect, dignity and responsibility towards patients, team membership, professional performance based on theoretical, scientific and critical thinking.
Institute for Nursing Care is the first Institute for Nursing in Slovenia and was established at the Majda Pajnkihar initiative in 1996 for conducting interdisciplinary research in nursing and in related disciplines. The primary goal of the Institute is to recognize health care as a science discipline and profession. http://www.fzv.um.si/en/udine-c-network.
Staff profiles of UDINE-C members
Prof Majda Pajnkihar, PhD
A Founding Member of UDINE-C Group
Majda Pajnkihar is a Professor, Dean of University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences and Head of the Nursing Institute. She is the first in Slovenia with a PhD in the field of nursing and holds the authorship for an issued textbook for nursing in Slovenian language. As a visiting professor she gives lectures in a number of foreign universities. Prof Majda Pajnkihar, PhD is in many ways a pioneer in the development of nursing in Slovenia, that is why her work was recognized with various awards.
Assoc Prof Gregor Štiglic, PhD
Gregor is the Vice Dean for Research of University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences. Over the years he significantly contributed to the development of health informatics in the local and wider area. His research interests encompass machine learning techniques with application to bioinformatics and healthcare. Data-mining research and projects, he is involved, in put the University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences on the world map of research institutions. He also worked as a visiting professor at Temple University and Stanford.
Sr Lect Klavdija Čuček Trifkovič, PhD
Klavdija is the Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education of University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences. Her research interests are related to the field of quality and satisfaction with life and mental disorders. Her main research interest is focused on the problems in the psychiatric field, such as alcoholism, depression, and the quality of life. Also, an important area of her professional and research interest is supervision. She was a visiting professor at Western Sydney University, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Sr Lect Barbara Donik, MSc
Barbara's research interests are surgical nursing and communication. From 2010 onwards she is the vice-president of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Technicians Association Maribor. She is also the president of the Commission for tutoring to help students in their studies and coordinates the Alumni activities of the faculty.
Assist Prof Jadranka Stričević, PhD
Jadranka is active in the field of paediatric nursing. She has a great research interest in ergonomics, especially among public health care employees, therefore was project coordinator of many projects. She was a visiting professor at Singidunum University, Faculty of Health, Legal and Business studies in Valjevo, Serbia.
Assist Prof Mateja Lorber, PhD
Mateja’s research interest are based on research in nursing, gerontological nursing and managing chronic diseases. She is a member of the Slovenian nursing journal editorial board and works as a coordinator of students volunteers at the faculty. She was a visiting professor at Western Sydney University, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Assist Prof Dominika Vrbnjak, PhD
Dominika participates in scientific and research projects and disseminate achieved results through scientific papers and professional articles. Her research work was published in many international journals. Her research interests encompass caring for patients and quality and safety of nursing care. She worked as a visiting teaching assistant at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek and was a visiting PhD Student at Waterford Institute of Technology.
Aleksandra Lovrenčič, BSc
Administrational and organizational support for the UM FHS UDINE-C Group member Aleksandra is an Assistant in General and Administrative Affairs Office and is enrolled to master study programme Management in Health and Social Organisation. Her work consists of organizing international and domestic conferences, congresses, summer schools and other events. She also works on faculties’ publications, public procurement and various national and international projects.
