Projects

PROJECTS

1. International Research Project "SECURITY&TOURISM"
Co-financed by the European Commission and implemented by the European Forum for Urban Security (Efus) in partnership with the cities of Alba, Brașov, Brussels, Barcelona, Rome, Munich, and Saint Denis, as well as the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV). As a scientific expert, I participated in local auditing and field observations, assisting cities in designing local "security and tourism" strategies with three main goals:

• Raising tourist awareness of risk prevention and local customs

• Improving tourist reception and support in case of trouble

• Promoting peaceful coexistence between tourists and residents

Published results:

• Security and Tourism: Concerted Local Policies. Link to monograph

• Mekinc, J., Mawby, R. C., Trnavčevič, A. (2017). Security and tourism in European cities – the multiple case study. Lex Localis, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 359-385. DOI:10.4335/15.3.359-385(2017)

2. International Project "SUPERVISION IN SOCIAL WORK" (2006–2008)
Implemented by the University of Gothenburg in cooperation with the Faculties of Philosophy at the Universities of Banja Luka and Sarajevo. This project developed a Master's program in "Supervision in Social Work," completed by 60 graduates in 2008, enabling national social sector reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina aligned with European standards.

3. International Project "Sales Management and Trade Relations" (2020-1-ES01-KA203-082116)
Conducted within the EU ERASMUS+ KA2 program (S.MaR.T.), coordinated by the University Rovira i Virgili (Spain). The project aimed to analyze commercial performance in agri-food SMEs based on results, revenue, and margins. Students participated in diagnosing how businesses address the challenges of global agricultural markets and suggested new ideas for better product positioning.

Published results:

• Trnavčevič, A., Brezovec, A., Mekinc, J. (2021). Analysis for the International Sales Management Profile. PDF link

4. Targeted Research Project V5-1725
"Identification of Employee Competencies for the Long-Term Competitiveness of Slovenian Tourism and Development of Educational Program Proposals." In cooperation with the Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, 226 tourism employees were surveyed. Key future competencies included hospitality, working with people, stakeholder collaboration, and emotional intelligence. Digital literacy was rated lower, reflecting expectations of tourism as a human-centered industry.

Published results:

• Mekinc, J., Gorenak, M., Ladkin, A., Turnšek, M. (2022). Educational and Training Imperatives for Future Tourism Competencies: The Case of Slovenia. Human Systems Management.

5. Project: Green and Resilient Transition for a Safe and Successful Society (NextGenerationEU)
Led by the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor. A preliminary study titled Cybersecurity in Slovenian Hotels involved interviews with hotel IT security professionals to assess current systems, policies, preparedness, and vulnerabilities.

6. Project: "Analysis of Hotel Cybersecurity – How to Assure Protection?" (ZIP-FMTU-015-11-2022)
Conducted by the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka. This quantitative survey among hotel employees in Istria identified risks related to inadequate cybersecurity behavior. Key findings emphasized training and a strong security culture as essential safeguards.

7. Project: "Developing a Culture of Quality and Excellence at the University of Primorska"
This initiative included two studies:

• Analysis of Study Programs at the Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, using triangulation among alumni, employers, and educators to evaluate program quality and recommend improvements.

• Study on Employment and Employability of Turistica Graduates, which surveyed graduates on employment characteristics, relevance of acquired knowledge, and additional needed skills. The findings informed curriculum development, accreditation, and renewal processes.

Published results:

• Mekinc, J., Sedmak, G., Mušič, K., Ivankovič, G. (2015). Analysis of Study Programs at the Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica. In: Hozjan, D. (Ed.), Developing Quality at the University of Primorska.

• Sedmak, G., Mekinc, J., Mušič, K. (2015). Study on Study Programs at Turistica.

• Mekinc, J., Mušič, K., Sedmak, G. (2015). Study on Employment and Employability of Turistica Graduates. University of Primorska.