The Institute for Intercultural Studies (IIS) UP FHŠ was established in 2008 as a re- search group of the faculty. The research areas correspond with the fields of study programs in humanities and social sciences at the UP FHŠ. Therefore, the IIS is a mul- tidisciplinary research institute, that carries out research and projects in the fields of history, geography, anthropology, ethnology, linguistics, literary sciences, and me- dia. The emphasis is on the study of the Adriatic, Alpine and Karst areas and inter- disciplinarity.

At the IIS we strive to develop research activities within the UP FHŠ and to this end, we support the strengthening of fundamental research work as well as applied re- search in the belief that the transfer of knowledge to practice in the present time is crucial for humanities. IIS activities also include research and application project work related to education.

The IIS aims at providing a research-friendly and stimulating environment and en- suring favourable conditions for research work for younger researchers at doctoral and postdoctoral levels. At the IIS we especially nurture the transfer of research re- sults into the study process and the involvement of higher education colleagues and students in research work.

MORE ABOUT THE INSTITUTE

By extending the membership to all FH UP employees having a research code through the IIS research group and to others working with the FH (who are not members of another Institute), today IIS counts more than 40 members.

As a leading partner and partner organisation, the IIS has been participating in sev- eral national and international projects. We list only those currently underway. As the leading partner, the IIS is working on a history project on the topic of integrated peasant economics, led by Dr Aleksander Panjek and under the same leadership on the anthropological project with the researcher Dr Marija Mojca Terčelj on the 100th birthday of the Slovene anthropologist Branislava Sušnik (CRP). Partner national and international projects include Worlds of Related Coercions and Work (COST) histo- ry, Dr Aleksander Panjek, on Postimperial Transitions (ARRS), Dr Petra Kavrečič; and Migration Control (ARRS); in the field of anthropology, ethnology Interreg project Myth Park, Dr Katja Hrobat Virloget, Dr Neža Čebron Lipovec and CRP pro- ject on barriers to decent living in Roma settlements, Dr Alenka Janko Spreizer, on the analysis of materials of old Believers, Dr Katja Hrobat Virloget; on bilingualism in Nationally Mixed Areas (SRA), Dr Nives Zudič Antonič, Dr Anja Zorman; in the field of geography on environmental change and water resources, Dr Gregor Kovačič, Dr Valentina Brečko Grubar, in the field of literature and social change, Dr Christopher Jacek Kozak. Research results are published in domestic and for- eign journals and monographs. Among other things, one of the members, Dr Alen- ka Janko Spreizer received the Excellent in Science Award (SRA, 2018) for a co-au- thored book in Springer Nature.

The Department of Media Studies commenced work in 2008 when the first students of BA degree programme of Media Studies were enrolled to study whereas the MA programme in Communication and Media has been taught in the Department since 2011. Teaching and research in the

WE LEFT TRACES

Members of IIS were coordinated the first cross-border cooperation project, Her- itage Live and the Living Landscape project later on. The results of the Heritage Live project were included in the tourist offer of northern Istria, while the Living Land- scape project contributed significantly to raising awareness among the general pub- lic about the values and development potentials of the Karst cultural landscape, helped to establish partnerships for the preservation of the karst drywall and laid the foundation for a new successful project of innovative heritage tourism, the Myth Park.

STUDENTS AS RESEARCHERS

Members of IIS regularly include students in the project research work. In the Liv- ing Landscape project, students conducted research work on mythical traditions in Gropada. The Heritage live project explored traditional events in Istria, mainly the folk celebrations called šagra, from the heritage presentation point of view. Stu- dents are regularly informed about the ongoing project results in the course of the study process.