Research activities at the UP FHS are fully integrated with those of Science and Research Centre of Koper, another institution incorporated in the University of Primorska. 

Science and Research Centre of Koper holds excellent credentials. Furthermore, it can provide an important professional platform underpinning all curricula, via a network of research groups, supported by a well-organised research infrastructure. The latter also promotes the establishment of collaborative research projects with the purpose of further enriching the contents of the curricula, strengthening links with local businesses and establishing the Faculty as a player on the regional, national, European and international level.

Poroject title: HERITAGE LIVE - Living, lived, revived cultural heritage

Project of training in the field of recognition, preservation and presentation of cultural heritage of the Slovenian-Croatian cross-border area.


Program: Operational Progemme IPA Slovenia – Croatia 2007-2013.
Duration: October 2009 – March 2012
Number fo the project: SI-HR-1-1-008


Lead partner: University of Primorska, Faculty of Humanities Koper, Slovenia
Partners:
- Municipality of Koper, Slovenia
- Municipality of Piran, Slovenia
- Municipality of Izola, Slovenia
- Archival association of Slovenia
- University iof Zagreb, Croatia
- Municipality of Umag, Croatia
- Municipality of Buje, Croatia
- Municipality of Lanišće, Croatia
- Archival association of Croatia
- University of Primorska, Science-Research Centre Koper, Slovenia

Main activities/results of the project:
Study on the authenticity of events in the cultural heritage in Istria and on the certification system of traditional events; a manual and the organization of workshops for organizers of traditional events.
A new joint study program of the 3rd level and a module of the 2nd level entitled “Heritage management with the support of information tools”.

The project realizes the specific cross-border objectives of the programme, since it creates the conditions for a better use of cultural assets for a sustainable development of the cross-border area, it supports local actors who are rebuilding the cultural and social ties in the border region, it provides co-operation in the fields of culture services between civil organizations, municipalities, and educational organizations, and it provides a strong support to common cultural heritage of the border area and joint efforts to identify, preserve, restore and portray the common cultural heritage of the region. The project facilitatates a common cultural and social space in the Slovenian-Croatian border region.
Specific cross-borders objectives of the project:
- To support the preservation and revitalization of cultural heritage and thus strengthen the identity;
- To strengthen and develop the knowledge and capacities for heritage preservation, revitalization and presentation;
- To develop the synergetic effects of the joint promotion of common cultural heritage;
- To strengthen intercultural exchanges, the mobility of experts and artists, and cross-border cooperation;
- To support the inclusion of cultural heritage among the assets for the development of the cross-border area.

The added value of the project is in a higher rate of integrating common material and non-material cultural heritage into the tourist offer, in new tourist products and in the promotion of the entire cross-border area as a tourist destination in new forms and with an improved offer and a better use of natural and cultural resources, which will ensure new sources of income for the rural areas.
There will also be a possibility for the local population to participate in cultural and tourist activities, for the results of the project present a platform for independent and creative activity of town residents in the field of valorization of traditional and authentic elements of cultural heritage in the cross-border area. This will be achieved through knowledge transfer and through harmonization of different cultural aspects.
Knowledge exchange between experts on both sides of the border and a closer cooperation between cultural, tourist, scientific, educational and administrative institutions will help establish a closer cross-border connection into a joint tourist area. Ensuring sustainability of the project results and continuous staff training in higher education programmes will help improve the programmes on the level of professional and applied knowledge.

The Head of the project is prof. dr. Aleksander Panjek, the coordinator of the project is Jasna Zorko.