The University of Maribor is the first Slovene university that achieved the award in 2010 and successfully passed the external evaluation as early as 2014. The European Commission verifies the eligibility of the granted recognition with periodical visits of selected assessors. The University of Maribor is among 445 institutions in Europe that have already achieved and retained the HR Excellence in Research award.

On this occasion, vice-rector for Quality, Human Resources and Legal Affairs, prof. dr. Janja Hojnik, said:

˝The European Commission assessors have evaluated our achievements so far and existing activities in the field of human resources, especially in relation to researchers, as impressive. They commended the adoption of all necessary documents for the implementation of the European Charter and Code of Conduct for Researchers during the mandate of the previous Rector as well as the activities of the current leadership towards changing the legislation which is preventing us from a more open international activity. The assessors commended the activities in the field of a family and ageing friendly university. They also commended the Rector's decision to assign a special vice-rector position for human resources.

From conversations with researchers from all four career stages they have learned that younger researchers are satisfied with the relationship of their supervisors and with their co-workers, the older ones with their autonomy and research freedom, however, some of them have the feeling that when it comes to habilitations research work is more emphasised than teaching. The main recommendations to be included in their report will relate to the need of introducing comprehensive preparations of assistants and assistant professors for taking part in the teaching process, so the quality of lectures will not depend only on the natural talent of an individual as well as to the necessity of a quick introduction of international vacancy notices at all faculties and more activities reflecting our genuine aspirations to win the best researchers.

For a considerable amount of work in preparing the action plan, supporting the work of the Human Resources Committee as well as reporting to the European Commission and carrying out the visit I would like to thank mag. Brigita Krsnik Horvat, who, as an assessor in the “HR Excellence in Research" network, planned the visit very well, making our work easier."

In that context, present and future scientific and expert works may be linked with it in areas such as the protection of individuals’ rights in relation to the administration including administrative procedures, judicial control over the operations of the administration and informal protection of individuals’ rights in relation to the administration; the area of internal relations within the public administration system including the issues of people in the public administration and organisational issues of the administration; and the area of public administration institutions and functions including the organisational and operational issues of the state administration, local self-government and public services or activities of general interest. Hence, a series of papers can be expected on the basis of this work that will deal with the mentioned issues. This paper will bring them together in a systematic whole. This book, therefore, provides a system framework for the future study of public administration and offers new system bases for the further development of administrative science.

The book is available at ww.lex-localis.press (Open Access).