One of the basic missions of the university is the development and creation of new knowledge and translate that knowledge from the research setting into real-world applications. This is rendered possible only through active engagement of teachers in internationally comparable research. The beginnings of the research date back to the time of the former two-year College of Health Professionals when individual teachers worked in conjunction with other research groups within the University of Ljubljana. The development of professional higher education programmes dictated new demands in the field of research and eventually the Research Institute of the College of Health Studies was established in September 1998. Prof. France Sevšek was appointed as the first head of the Institute.
The research work is organised within the Research Institute of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Besides in-depth monodisciplinary research of each programme, a great deal of interdisciplinary research is also conducted, linking different health care disciplines. Among the research projects implemented so far are the applicative studies in the field of holistic care of the elderly, their lifestyles, the assessment methods of their abilities, prevention of falls, etc. The research will be expanded also to the field of biomechanics, ergonomics, development of assessment tests, electric stimulation, the effects of physical activity on the function of the neuro-muscular system, health ecology and control, global approach to food quality and food safety issues, data analysis, digital image processing, biomedical simulation and the analysis of nonlinear complex systems. The development of the current health educational methods will also be our primary concern.
The Research Institute of the Faculty of Health Sciences supports the faculty staff to participate in public competitions for the financing of the scientific research and consequently, a gradual transition of the research activities under the direction of the Faculty of Health Sciences. We expect a gradual improvement of the research working conditions with modern laboratory equipment and appliances. We will also consider greater opportunities for students' participation in the research in the selected areas. The students will thus be granted new possibilities for quality diploma theses. Our vision is also to engage distinguished research scientists from other fields.
Special emphasis will be laid on the increased internationalization of research and collaboration with different foreign research institutions. We will strive to achieve internationally comparable research excellence so that we will be able to jointly participate in international competitions.
Further responsibility of the Research Institute of the Faculty of Health Sciences is the knowledge translation – knowledge creation and application which builds on continuing education and continuing professional development. Along with the academic research, the faculty staff conducts also applicative research. The practice of transfer and the dissemination of the research findings into practice will be encouraged through active participation at research symposiums and professional development seminars at home and abroad and by writing professional articles. The Institute will provide for professional publications within financial and legal limitations. It will organise the international exchange of domestic and foreign experts and ensure counselling and peer-review. Greater scope and higher quality of research work will be reflected also in a higher quality of the educational process. The research findings will be incorporated in the study curricula and presented to students during lectures, seminars and student research.
Head of the Research institute is Asst. Prof. Gregor Gomišček, Vice Dean for Research
