Slovenia’s National Assembly has unanimously approved the establishment of a new public university in Novo Mesto, marking the country’s fourth state-funded higher education institution. The university is expected to open in the 2026–27 academic year, following decades of efforts to bring a public institution to the capital of the Dolenjska region.
Dolenjska is one of Slovenia’s strongest economic areas, home to leading automotive, pharmaceutical, and engineering companies that require highly skilled workers.
The initiative to establish the university originated from the local community, civil society, and representatives of academia and business, who argued that a public institution would further strengthen regional development and create new opportunities for young people.
The new university will bring together several existing higher education institutions in Novo Mesto and collaborate closely with the Rudolfovo Science and Technology Centre, which will join as an associate member. Headquartered at the renovated Narodni Dom cultural centre, the university also plans to build a new campus on the eastern outskirts of the city. Slovenia’s other public universities are located in Ljubljana, Maribor, and Koper.
