The Slovenian cabinet has appointed a special project group to lay the groundwork for the creation of a University of the Mediterranean in Slovenia. Officials believe such a university can promote dialogue between the cultures.
At its session on Thursday, the cabinet appointed members of the 11-member group that will be tasked with drawing up the blueprints and garnering international support for the planned university. The group is headed by Dusan Lesjak of the Education Ministry, while its vice-chair is opposition lawmaker Marko Pavliha. Pavliha has labelled the initiative an "excellent opportunity for Slovenia". He said that this was an international project of great national significance and pointed to the fact that it enjoys bipartisan support in Slovenia. In his opinion, the Mediterranean is a crossroads of European, Muslim and other cultures, meaning that the university can become an important tool for inter-cultural exchange. The institution should focus foremost on research and be involved in European and global projects, said Pavliha, who is also an expert in international law. He believes that the institution will cater for post-graduate students, mostly diplomats and public servants.