Our strategic focus on the advancement of scientific research is integrated in the Strategy of the Faculty of Law in Rijeka for 2021-2025. Within this framework, the development of research and professional activities is identified as one of the three core components of the Faculty’s mid-term and long-term vision. The Strategy places particular emphasis on the pursuit of research excellence, the upholding of academic integrity, and the enhancement of social relevance and constructive engagement.
The strategic objective of our scientific research is to expand both the scope and quality of published scholarly papers, while bolstering OA initiatives in alignment with the Faculty’s and the University of Rijeka’s previously established commitments. We are dedicated to securing project funding, particularly through competitive EU and national programs, and enhancing doctoral education and research. Therefore, greater emphasis is placed on early-career researchers, thereby ensuring their long-term professional development, fostering increased scientific productivity, and facilitating their active engagement in the international research community.
In our research, we closely follow and contribute to contemporary developments in academia and align with the standards of the European Research Area. In 2017, the Faculty Council adopted the Recommendations for Publishing Scientific Papers, and in 2019, the Senate of the University of Rijeka endorsed the Declaration on European Open Science. That same year, the Faculty developed a practical Guide for Publishing Papers in the European Research Area for its researchers, addressing the challenges faced by authors in selecting appropriate publications. The guide covers critical aspects such as journal quality indicators and the importance of international visibility. Since 2020, the Guide has been available in print, published by the Faculty of Law in Rijeka, with financial support from the European Commission through the activities of the European Documentation Centre (EDC) Rijeka. In 2023, with continued support from EDC Rijeka, the Faculty published a follow-up Guide for Publishing Papers in the European Research Area: Open Access, which seeks to further inform researchers on matters related to publishing in OA. This edition informs researchers of the differences in publishing models, methods of storage and related copyright issues.
The dynamic research and professional activities at the Faculty are evident through the many scientific and professional conferences and events organised by the Faculty and its academic staff, often in collaboration with partners from both the public and private sectors. We are actively involved in a wide array of international and national research projects, with research endeavours taking place within several of the Faculty’s institutes and the Doctoral Study Program. Since 2019, the Faculty has honoured its most distinguished researchers with awards in two categories: the Award for Scientific Excellence and the Award for the Best Scientific Paper Published in an International Journal. In addition, the Faculty’s academic staff participates in various professional projects and other activities to which they may contribute with their expertise. This includes extensive cooperation with institutions and individuals from the judiciary, public administration, and the private sector. Moreover, certain faculty members are actively engaged in initiatives that benefit both the local and broader societal community.
The Faculty takes pride in its unique courses in comparative law: Introduzione allo studio del diritto italiano (Introduction to the Study of Italian Law) and Einführung in das deutsche Recht (Introduction to German Law). The Faculty also hosts many scientific and professional speakers through its programme for incoming researchers, as well as the Rijeka Lectures in Comparative Law.