Irma Potočnik Slavič holds PhD in Geography and is an Associate Professor for Human and Regional Geography at the Department of Geography (Faculty of Arts, Universtiy of Ljubljana, Slovenia), she is the current Head of the department. Her pedagogical and research focus are rural areas, their neo-endogenous and sustainable development. She was a visiting lecturer at several EU universities: University of Saarbruecken (Germany, 2010), University of Liege (Belgium, 2011), University of Olomouc (Czech Republic, 2013), University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2014), University of Tartu (Estonia, 2015), University of Applied Sciences South Westphalia (Soest, Germany, 2018). She has several organizatorial references: as co-organizer of international conferences (Zadar, 2014; Maribor, 2009; Medana, 2012; Ljubljana, 2001); organizer of scientific sessions at the international conferences (Wageningen, 2012; AAG in New York, 2012), etc. She was awarded with DAAD Research Grant (Bayreuth-Germany, 2002), Canadian Embassy Grant – Faculty Enrichment Programme (Toronto-Canada, 2006), Prešeren´s Faculty Award for student´s diploma work (Ljubljana, 1995); prize for the PhD thesis at the Committee of the Region's Theses Competition 2009 on “Local and Regional Authorities in the European Union” (2009); Award for Excellent Pedagogical Work provided by Student´s Council at the Faculty of Arts (2010), awards of the Association of Slovene Geographers (2005, 2009). She has editorial experiences (DELA- scientific magazine, 2016-), has been a member of the government´s advisory commissions, and member of Slovenian Rural Network (2018-).
