The establishment of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula at the beginning of 21st century is an important part of the restructuring of the Croatian system of higher education.

The foundation of the University of Pula takes into consideration the historical and cultural assumptions of location and development of Istria in past centuries.

Two prominent Istrian intellectuals, Mijo Mirković and Tone Peruško, gave the decisive impulse of forming that point of view.

Mijo Mirković suggested the establishment of an Adriatic University which would have consisted of faculties with seats in the major cities on the coast.

The opening of the two higher education institutions in Istria at the beginning of the 1960s was logical consequence derived from the envisaged future of the area.