From Slovenia to New Zealand: ASEF Junior Fellow 2025 Polona Zabret Problematizes Modern Slavery
Polona Zabret on her research visit at the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.
Polona Zabret, a 2025 ASEF Fellow, is a master’s student in Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen. She recently completed her research visit, during which she spent 10 weeks in New Zealand.
Under the mentorship of Associate Professor Matevž Rašković from the Auckland University of Technology, she focused on researching issues of modern slavery within global value chains, with a particular emphasis on the fishing industry in the Pacific. She also looked into the research methodologies employed by researchers of diverse social and cultural identities from Auckland University of Technology – individuals who conduct their work in heterogeneous socio-cultural environments that are often fraught with tensions.
Her research involved delving into the theoretical and conceptual understanding of how structures such as global value chains operate, are governed, and analyzed; identifying the roles and impacts of stakeholders involved in these chains; applying theoretical and analytical approaches such as social cognitive theory and the process model; and gaining in-depth insights into the concept of modern slavery, its presence in the Pacific fishing industry, and the vulnerabilities of the system and certain stakeholders involved. Through qualitative research in the form of interviews, she also explored the identities, ideas, knowledge, experiences, and present research methodologies of Pacific and Māori researchers.
Driven by her deep curiosity and desire to engage with both topics more thoroughly, Polona will continue her research (both qualitatively and analytically) in both areas after returning from New Zealand. These topics require long-term study, and together with her mentor, she aims to eventually publish the findings in the form of academic articles.
During her research visit, Polona also took the opportunity to explore Auckland’s galleries and museums; take trips to nearby New Zealand islands, where she often went on hikes; visit the capital city of Wellington and its landmarks; make a stop in Queenstown and cruise among the fjords of the South Island; visit Hobbiton; attend events at Auckland’s writers’ festival; and enjoy a lively Pacific music concert.
Polona warmly thanks her mentor, Associate Professor Matevž Rašković, for his generous support, and ASEF for making this invaluable experience possible and contributing to her overall personal and academic growth.
Photos: personal archive and Matevž Rašković
Read more about Research Abroad Fellowship here. Follow us for updates, the date for our next call for applications will be announced shortly.
