The Mathematics Competition for Vegova Awards was held at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana (FME UL), on 19 March 2026. Twenty-five students took part in the competition, with eight receiving bronze Vegova awards for their achievements.
Nejc Amon, a first-year master’s student, qualified for the national competition, which took place on 18 April 2026 at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana. Competing against 40 students from the Universities of Ljubljana, Maribor and Primorska, he achieved an excellent 14th place and received a silver Vegova award.
The successful competitors were welcomed by the Dean of FME UL, Prof. Dr. Jernej Klemenc, who presented them with awards and symbolic faculty gifts. On the occasion, he emphasised:
“The achievements of our students in mathematics competitions, including this year’s Vegova competition, reflect the high level of knowledge, perseverance and analytical thinking that are essential for successful engineering work. I sincerely congratulate all award recipients and wish them continued success in the future.”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Darja Rupnik Poklukar, who organises the competition together with Tch. Asst. Dr. Helena Zakrajšek and actively encourages students to participate, highlighted the strong performance of FME UL students: “Our students continue to demonstrate that they can compete on equal footing with the very best. This year, our representative once again achieved an outstanding result at the national competition, where students from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics traditionally dominate.” She added that mathematical knowledge, together with the ability to think quickly and analytically, forms the foundation of mechanical engineering, as engineers are constantly faced with solving complex challenges that require logical reasoning and pattern recognition. She also stressed the importance of motivating students, strengthening their confidence, and encouraging curiosity and thinking beyond established frameworks.
The International Mathematical Kangaroo competition is one of the largest mathematics competitions in the world and plays an important role in promoting interest in mathematics among young people.
Congratulations to all award recipients. We are proud of their achievements and look forward to their future successes.
