During the BIOSHIELD piloting phase, University North and the University of Maribor organised two joint activities that brought Croatian and Slovenian students together to learn, exchange experiences and explore practical responses to climate change.
On 3 March 2026, University North students participating in BIOSHIELD visited their peers at the University of Maribor. At the start of the piloting phase, the students shared their experiences of taking part in the project and were introduced to the BIOSHIELD curriculum. They also visited the University of Maribor Botanical Garden and the university’s Meranovo wine estate.
The exchange continued on 5 May 2026, when students from the University of Maribor visited University North. Together with Croatian students, they attended lectures on phytoremediation and the use of GIS imaging in environmental protection and climate change mitigation. The group also visited the Herešin composting facility, the Podravka food production plant and the Food Museum. At University North, the students took part in planting the food forest.
These visits gave students the opportunity to connect classroom learning with examples from research, industry and the local environment. They also strengthened cooperation between the two universities and showed how joint learning can help students develop ideas for a more sustainable future.