13 June 2023 – The Financial Mechanism Office organized a two-day communication workshop for the National focal points of beneficiary countries. Fund Operators of the Active citizens funds and the two regional funds, and embassy representatives also participated in the event.
The workshop was highlighted by Philip Weiss, a TEDx speaker and founder of the ZN agency, who delivered a lecture to the participants on the power of artificial intelligence as a communication tool. In his presentation, he shed light on how artificial intelligence can change the way we communicate, opening up new possibilities and enhancing our achievements in communication efforts.
The Financial Mechanisms Office introduced the long-awaited #OurStories campaign, which will kick off in September. The campaign aims to captivate the audience with compelling narratives and demonstrate the significant impact of the EEA and Norway Grants. For the campaign, interviews were conducted with 70 individuals and visits were made to 16 countries. The campaign and the grants will also be presented at an exhibition in the European Parliament in September.
During the workshop, participants shared some of the best practices in communication. They presented inspiring examples of storytelling about the impact of the EEA and Norway Grants. The Regional funds presented the idea of an online magazine that combines the Fund for Regional Cooperation and the Fund for Youth Employment, showcasing a range of projects implemented within these funds. The Fund Oprators of the Active Citizens Fund from Slovakia and Greece showcased the process of creating video spots for projects implemented by non-governmental organizations. The Greek National Contact Point presented the Water Matters campaign, while the Polish National Contact Point showcased their approach to storytelling through online articles featuring people involved in the projects.
8 June 2023 – On Monday, 5 June 2023, Faculty of Humanities Koper hosted a press conference for the project HERITAGE SCHOOL FOR NEW GENERATIONS where project partners presented the project and the project activity that took place on the same day at the Archaeological Park in the Simonov zaliv bay.
Barbara Možina, the coordinator of the project promoter, the Association of Historic Cities of Slovenia, underlined that the main objective of the project is to promote the inclusion of cultural heritage topics in lessons and activity days by developing new practices of teaching, didactic tools, and transferring experiences and good practices from the Norwegian teaching system. The project, supported by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, focuses on developing and testing new practices of teaching in cooperation with the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska, School Centre Škofja Loka, Secondary School of Woodworking, Primary School Ivan Grohar, Municipality of Škofja Loka and the Norwegian organisation MAGMA Geopark AS.
The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska, Prof. Dr. Irena Lazar, underlined that professionally developed content in the field of cultural heritage, such as guidebooks, teaching aids, teaching preparations and guidelines, is significant for the planning of activity days. It is also a good incentive for primary school teachers to include more cultural heritage content into primary school teaching.
Assistant Professor Dr. Zrinka Mileusnić, the coordinator of the project partner Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska, presented the activities of the Activity Day for the pupils of the Primary School Ivan Grohar in Škofja Loka, who participated in the Cultural Day programme in the Archaeological Park in the Simonov zaliv bay. The students of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska, mentored by Assistant Professor Dr. Zrinka Mileusnić and the professional staff of the Archaeological Park, prepared a comprehensive educational programme with a tour of the park, the Roman mosaics and the remains of the residential part of a Roman villa, as well as a guided experience of the interactive interpretation centre and a workshop on the Roman script. The interpretation centre in the park, the conservation and presentation of the villa’s remains and the harbour, and the inclusion of the park into the cultural and tourist offer are a result of project AS, supported by the EEA Financial Mechanism in the previous period 2009-2014.
The aim of the programme was to offer pupils an interactive and dynamic form of learning, in addition to classical forms of learning, namely through innovative teaching methods, which are part of the project’s new teaching practice. The aim of comparing the two teaching methods is to establish a scientifically validated comparison of various teaching methods for the same cultural heritage content, not only based on the impression of the pupils and teachers but also through neurological testing of the pupils during the learning experience.
Psychologist and neuroscientist Andrea Bariselli participated in developing the new teaching practice. He and his team tested the pupils with the so-called portable EEG devices. The devices record the electrical activity produced by the brain. The main purpose of the testing is to measure the cognitive response in the perception and processing of stimuli by using techniques specific to applied neuroscience to investigate the experiences of a group of pupils during different teaching methods. The gathered data is used to observe changes in levels of cognitive load, attention, engagement and perceived well-being during planned activities.
The project coordinator at the Primary School Ivan Grohar in Škofja Loka, art teacher Petra Primc Marko, said “On Monday, 5 June 2023, seventy 5th grade pupils visited the Archaeological Park in the Simonov zaliv bay, as part of their outdoor learning trip. The interesting programme also offered neuro-testing for the project Heritage School for New Generations. Almost all pupils were involved in the testing; the project is now well-known in the school and parents are also well-acquainted with it. We are all very proud to be part of this. The neuro-testing is in its second stage, and the activity day has been completed; now we have to wait for the results. The project also aims to set up a didactic corner in cooperation with the School Centre, the Department of Woodworking. To this end, part of the school will be given a new look and purpose, full of cultural heritage. We expect its completion at the beginning of the next school year. The corner will be called Pod Homanovo lipo.”
At the end of the press conference, Nataša Ülen, the coordinator of the project partner Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, who is developing content to support teachers in teaching about cultural heritage, said “The project aims to bring cultural heritage closer to teachers and, indirectly, also to pupils. Cultural heritage is rapidly disappearing in the area, having to adapt to new and foreign trends and its immediate surroundings are being transformed beyond recognition. Traditional skills and old knowledge, and with it, a variety of traditional professions, are forgotten. The very identity of our area is gradually being lost. In April, as part of the project, we carried out testing with Mr. Bariseli in the classrooms of the Primary School Ivan Grohar. To summarise, the project’s first results revealed an extremely positive effect on the learning process compared to traditional teaching in the classroom.
The project aims to provide teachers with as much professional support as possible, which is why the project’s first task was to carry out detailed analyses of the curricula for individual subjects. By analysing the existing compulsory content, we looked for cultural heritage terms that c be introduced or interpreted to pupils while at the same time establishing as many links between various curricula as possible. By linking the subjects, teachers can give a more concise, multi-level explanation while also gaining some time for other subjects. Pupils were given a chance to experience new concepts more vividly, resulting in a more in-depth knowledge consolidation. The Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia also prepares teacher’s guidebooks for individual 3-year periods, with open learning and training sessions to follow in the coming months.”
8 June 2023 – The Financial Mechanisms Office published the 2022 Status Report. This report highlights Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway’s contributions to a green, competitive and inclusive Europe by the end of 2022.
Europe is facing formidable challenges. Russia’s unjustified aggression against Ukraine is not only an attack on Ukraine, but an attack on our common values of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, and rules-based international order. Ukraine’s neighbouring countries, many of which are EEA and Norway Grants Beneficiary States, are contending with challenges related to a massive influx of refugees and the consequences this entails. To alleviate the situation, some of the EEA and Norway Grants funds were used to provide help to Ukrainian refugees in the Beneficiary States. By the end of 2022, more than EUR 13 million had been committed to projects and initiatives to this end.
The overall aim of the EEA and Norway Grants is to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe. Support under the Grants scheme is intended to safeguard the fundamental values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. Today, the EEA and Norway Grants are the largest single source of funding for civil society organisations working to promote these values in the Beneficiary States. This funding is more essential than ever in light of the shrinking civic space and increasing pressure on democracy and the rule of law seen in various countries in Europe over the past years.
By maintaining a strong focus on bilateral partnerships, the Grants also help to build competence and capacity, create networks, develop business ideas, and expand market shares. Some of these results are presented in this Status Report. The report provides an overview of activities carried out under the EEA and Norway Grants up to the end of 2022. It highlights the benefits of our collaborative efforts and provides insight into how Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are working together to promote a greener, more competitive, and more inclusive Europe.
At the end of 2022, all 97 programmes were under implementation, and contracts for more than 6,000 projects had been signed within the framework of the Grants’ total allocation of EUR 2.8 billion. In total 1,056 companies had received support and 3,976 jobs had been created. More than EUR 210 million had been distributed to civil society organisations, and 40% of all projects had a donor partner. With programme implementation running until 2024, we are confident that we will be seeing many more results in the time ahead.
Europe faces significant challenges from climate change, environmental degradation, and insufficient sustainable energy. The European Green Deal aims to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, requiring systemic transformations and substantial investments. The EEA and Norway Grants fund projects that promote a greener Europe, ensuring compliance with EU environmental standards, fast-tracking clean energy technology, and promoting energy-efficient solutions. €421.1 million is allocated for the Green Europe for 15 programmes and 672 projects being impelmented in 12 beneficiary states. 43% of the projects involve donor project partner.
Europe is accelerating its green transition amidst the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and new challenges like price increases and supply chain disruptions. The EEA and Norway Grants support private enterprises, research institutions, and higher education to foster sustainable growth and competitiveness. The Grants contribute to EU’s sustainable growth goals by bridging funding gaps and building research and innovation capacity in the Beneficiary States. €830.9 million is allocated for the Comptetitive Europe for 38 programmes and 1,807 projects being impelmented in 14 beneficiary states. 63% of the projects involve donor project partner.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has significantly impacted lives and exacerbated existing inequalities in Europe, highlighting the need for a more inclusive society. The EEA and Norway Grants are committed to fostering inclusivity, with over €1 billion provided to projects in priority sectors such as social inclusion, culture, civil society, and justice. These initiatives build capacity and accountability of institutions and help empower vulnerable groups. Despite not being an emergency support mechanism, the Grants have quickly channelled €13 million to address the refugee crisis caused by the war, supporting civil society organisations in Beneficiary States. €1,061.3 million is allocated for the Inclusive Europe for 58 programmes and 3,526 projects being impelmented in 14 beneficiary states.27% of the projects involve donor project partner.
In these uncertain times, it is important to continue to strengthen European values. The EEA and Norway Grants are one of the means that Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway are using to address this. Donor states look forward to continuing close cooperation with all the Beneficiary States in the year to come.
7 June 2023 – The Prometheus project, supported by the Norway Grants has established an online platform where employees can find strategies for achieving a harmonious work-life balance. Training programmes and digital resources enable individuals to balance effectively their work and private life. Project partners promote an inclusive organisational culture and raise awareness about the importance of work-life balance and gender equality in companies.
In the frame of the Prometheus project, the project partners address work-life balance after the Covid-19 epidemic by encouraging companies and organisations to base their organisational structures on gender equality. During the Covid-19 epidemic, the inequalities between women and men in the labour market became more pronounced, particularly affecting women and their opportunities to pursue and develop their careers.
The project’s main objective is to empower working women and men through tested measures that improve work-life balance in remote work and work at the workplace, tailored to the different levels of jobs in each organisation involved in the consortium. Thus, the project also indirectly aims to implement an individualistic, tailor-made educational approach based on positive psychology, which contributes to building a respectful, gender-equal and diversity-based organisational culture.
The online platform PROMETHEUS provides information on work-life balance to employees on the one hand and to management in organisations on the other, namely by identifying the starting point of each individual, with a set of actions to encourage progress, and with training modules.
The PROMETHEUS project is co-developed by the American Chamber of Commerce, which acts as the project promoter, and the project partners IPES – Institute for the Study of Gender Equality Maribor, Merkur Trade, Riko, Industrial, Construction Engineering and Leasing, University of Maribor, Knauf Insulation, Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, A1 Slovenia, AMZS and the Norwegian Automotive Foundation.
5 June 2023 – On World Environment Day, StudioKroG project partners presented good practices in environmental conservation and sustainable development at a press conference that took place in used shipping containers. It has become clear that taking care of our planet is crucial, as we face many challenges that demand immediate action. That is why, on World Environment Day, the Circular Economy Studio project (StudioKroG) was presented to help create a more sustainable and responsible future.
World Environment Day is the day we focus on renewable energy for a sustainable future. The shift to renewable energy sources is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources and move towards a more sustainable future. World Environment Day promotes and highlights the importance of using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and other inexhaustible sources that have a lower environmental impact than fossil fuels. The project Circular Economy Studio stands for all the abovementioned (Slovenske Konjice, Reuse Centre). On this day, the partners of the studioKroG project, supported by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, presented the latest approaches that set new standards in sustainable architecture, design, and construction in line with circular economy principles.
Circular Economy Studio is an innovative concept based on circular economy principles. Circular economy is an approach that aims to limit the consumption of natural resources, reduce waste, and promote recycling and reuse. This approach is based on the idea that products, materials and resources can be used in endless cycles, reducing the negative environmental impact. The Circular Economy Studio project is designed to become a model of sustainable development and circular economy for other local communities. The project aims to create a comprehensive environmental and economic system to promote waste reduction, reuse, and recycling and stimulate local employment and economic growth. The project has developed an innovative infrastructure that provides a better understanding of circular economy and promotes local production and reuse of materials. The aim is to achieve full reuse of resources and minimise waste.
Dr Klavdija Rižnar from the Scientific Research Centre Bistra Ptuj, the project promoter, presented the project, its objectives and the changing paradigm where circular economy represents a shift from the traditional linear model (production, use, disposal) to a model that emphasises resource renewability and the conservation of materials in a circle. For circular economy to work, we need to change how we think and act and rethink the entire life cycle of products.
Mag Bojan Pirš, Director of OKP Rogaška Slatina, which is a partner in the project and is actively involved in the project offering four shipping containers of the OKP collection centre, where the Reuse Centre also operates, stressed that the company, as a public service provider, plays an important role in the overall system of circular resource management, especially in terms of reducing waste and in ensuring efficient use of resources. Indeed, a key principle of circular economy is waste reduction and resource efficiency, which reduces the need for energy use. Rather than ending up as waste, materials need to be kept in the cycle of use. Therefore, their proper source separation and diversion into the use of material streams, as illustrated by the StudioKroG concept, needs to be established.
Polona Kukovec Lakota from the Ormož Development and Research Centre outlined the importance of education and awareness-raising in circular resource use. Education and awareness-raising for individuals and organisations plays a key role in circular economy. We must focus on understanding the concept of circular economy, promoting sustainable lifestyles, and raising awareness about the relevance of waste reduction and resource efficiency.
Dr Marinka Vovk from the Reuse Centre, an investment partner in the StudioKroG project, presented practical examples of circular resource use in two completely refurbished (used) shipping containers, which demonstrate reuse waste design and industrial symbiosis, which in practice can be observed in the design of products made from waste. This is a good demonstration of the reuse potential, where we use only what already exists. The solar panels installed on the container, which no longer looks like a container, are the first example of reusing such waste under the industrial symbiosis system with Zeos Ltd. The project, thus, also contributes to renewable energies, which are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Vovk presented the multiplicative use of refurbished shipping containers, allowing the creation of sustainable and attractive spaces without the use of virgin materials and the development of green jobs in Slovenia.
StudioKroG is a leader in transforming containers into unique living units, offices, cafes, tourist info points, and other functional spaces for different target groups. The commitment to sustainability and the visionary approach include using renewable materials, energy-efficient solutions, and preserving the natural environment, which is also the hope of World Environment Day for the whole planet.
26 May 2023 – As part of a three-month dynamic group commuting pilot project, more than 100 inhabitants of the municipalities located between Kranj and Ljubljana got into a van every day and travelled to and from their workplaces located in the area of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana and BTC area in a sustainable way. As many as three quarters of users would continue to choose this mode of commuting, mainly because, unlike using their own car, such mode of transportation does not cause any worry or stress. They would be willing to pay around EUR 70 per month, which is less than half of the estimated actual cost per person. The remaining amount would need to be co-financed. The Jožef Stefan Institute estimates that this mode of transportation would bring 37% to 70% emission reduction, which is a strong motivation for participation.
Organised van transportation, where employees chose the time of departure and return, ran for three months, i.e. in February, March and April 2023, and was completely free of charge. The project was designed and fully supported by the SmartMOVE – Smart Solutions for Sustainable Mobility project which received EEA Financial Mechanism support. “Eight organisations are cooperating to find concrete solutions to improve mobility management in locations with high traffic, especially in order to mitigate the consequences of traffic load,” said Klemen Gostič, representative of the Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region, RRA LUR, which acts as the project lead partner. He underlined that “more than 220,000 jobs are located in Ljubljana, which is more than a quarter of all jobs in Slovenia. This is why more than 120,000 people commute daily to Ljubljana. Ljubljana and its surroundings is the most heavily trafficked area in Slovenia, with motorised private traffic generating the largest carbon footprint. According to 2021 data, this accounts for 80% of all daily journeys at national level”.
“The group commuting pilot project is one of the main project elements, alongside the development of mobility plans for selected companies, and we are pleased that it was carried out by an experienced partner GoOpti, who coordinated the transport perfectly. The thorough data processing carried out by the Knowledge Technologies Department and the Environmental Sciences Department at the Jožef Stefan Institute also gives us a very good understanding of the effects of this type of transport on reducing emissions”, Gostič added.
The largest employer in the country, the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, also joined the SmartMOVE project with 8,500 employees. BTC d.d. for the BTC City shopping centre area and IKEA Slovenija d.o.o. also joined the project. Based on an analysis of the travel habits of employees in these areas, the municipalities of Kranj, Kamnik, Domžale, Radomlje, Komenda, Mengeš and Trzin were selected to participate in the pilot transport project. GoOpti received 573 applications for the shuttle service via the “Gremo skupaj” website, set up specifically for the project. 131 users were selected to use the shuttle service between one and five times a week.
The analysis of the user satisfaction surveys showed that the dynamic shuttle, which adapts to demand, was the most popular with passengers who mostly make the same journeys with their own vehicle (73%). Passengers value the hassle-free nature of this mode of transport, its reliability, proximity to stations, convenience and the fact that they do not have to deal with finding a parking space. “We also included shift-workers as the pilot project needs to test as many scenarios as possible. This is one of the reasons why the average occupancy rate is relatively low (34%), however, the figures are positive as we have managed to reduce CO2 emissions by 37%, which could be improved by a further 20% if we used electric vehicles, and NOx and PM emissions by up to 70%”, summarises Marko Guček, CEO of GoOpti.
Prof. Dr. Marko Bohanec from the Knowledge Technologies Department at the Jožef Stefan Institute explained that the calculations are based on various scenarios and journeys and take into account factors such as the age of the vehicles that the analysed passengers would otherwise use, the type of fuel, the length of their journey, etc. The route Komenda – University Medical Centre gave the best results. “A higher average occupancy rate, such as on the Kamnik – Radomlje – Domžale – Ljubljana route, would certainly mean a significant reduction in commuting emissions,” explained Marko Guček, CEO of GoOpti, adding that the Domžale route could easily be expected to reach the desired 75% occupancy rate at peak times.
“We believe that a dynamic shuttle is possible in the long term, but it requires close cooperation of the public transport companies, co-travel, businesses and users. The government should consider whether this transport modality and possible alternatives could be functionally integrated into a mobility management strategy and, on this basis, to redesign the co-financing model. On the other hand, employers could also contribute by redirect their investment in parking towards various forms of sustainable mobility for their employees. Municipalities as well as everyone involved in the model, could also play a role,” Guček concluded. He added that they would like to work more closely with public transport companies in the future: “We would like to test dynamic group transport from home to the public transport station and back.” They also see a future in opening up the app for co-travel, which would allow them to make use of the free seats of vehicles already on the road daily.
Klemen Gostič from RRA LUR invited companies to start addressing sustainable mobility of their employees more intensively. To this end, the SmartMOVE: Smart Solutions for Sustainable Mobility project is planning free training sessions for companies that will take place in autumn 2023, both to raise awareness among management about possible measures and to motivate employees to change their travel habits. Applications are already open at www.smart-move.si.
23 May – On Friday, 19 May 2023, in the framework of the JeloviZA project, the Jelovica area was reforested with the objective of restoring the damaged forest. The forests of Jelovica have been severely damaged in the past by windstorms, snowstorms and ice storms, and later by bark beetles. To successfully restore the burnt areas and ensure that the forest is diverse and resilient, 24,000 native and species-diverse seedlings of larch, mountain maple, red pine, beech and fir will be planted on a 10-hectare area by the end of the month.
The objective of the activities, implemented in the frame of the JeloviZA project, is to increase the resilience of forests to weather events and other impacts of climate change. Gašper Kleč, Director of the Sora Development Agency, presented the objective and the main activities of the JeloviZA project. He stressed that we should prevent Jelovica from becoming the next Pokljuka; we should enhance sustainable development and establish a species-diverse forest more resilient to climate change. Mr Kleč thanked all project partners and stakeholders working together in the area.
The partners of the two-year project, CIPRA Slovenia, Institute for Nature Conservation, Slovenian Forest Service, Municipality of Železniki, CIPRA International and the Sora Development Agency are, together with the stakeholders, committed to preserving the area for future generations and to developing it in a sustainable and nature-friendly manner. The project financed the installation of counters to count traffic and the number of visitors, inventory of species such as the wild grouse, hazel grouse and the three-toed woodpecker, evaluation of ecosystem services, restoration of nesting boxes for Ural owls, and the co-design of a Management Model that will form the basis for the sustainable development of the area.
Gregor Danev, Director of the Slovenian Forest Service, who was also actively involved in the tree planting at Jelovica, stressed the importance of artificial planting and the care that the owners will take over the next four years to raise and care for the seedlings, which are key to the success of the restoration. He also welcomed new approaches, such as protecting seedlings from browsing with wooden fencing, allowing smooth passage for forest hens such as the wild grouse and hazel grouse. For many species, the wire fences used in the past are not suitable.
Dr Irena Mrak from the Slovenian Forest Service, Bled Branch Office, added that the project will also monitor the comparison of natural and artificial restoration, which will significantly contribute to guiding the future restoration of Jelovica.
Matija Benedičič, Forest Economy Bled, said that the forest is naturally regenerating well, and by planting trees, we help make this regeneration even more successful. “We are mostly planting larch and mountain maple, some red pine, and a smaller percentage of beech and fir.”
16 May 2023 – In the framework of the TALENT LAB project, final year students from several schools of the Pomurje region presented the results of their several months’ work on how to address concrete challenges, which the Pomurje companies face, by thus also enhancing their skills. The event, which took place at the premises of the School of Economics Murska Sobota, was attended by the Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek and the Norwegian Ambassador Trine Skymoen.
The demonstration event brought together final year students of the School of Economics Murska Sobota, Bilingual Secondary School Lendava, Biotechnical School Rakičan, Secondary School for Catering and Tourism Radenci, and students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Maribor. Young talents gave a creative presentation of the results of their work over the past months, during which they worked with their mentors to find solutions to specific challenges faced by companies in the Pomurje region. The jury selected the best examples.
Minister Jevšek congratulated all the young people involved in the project by underlining the relevance of cooperation between local and educational institutions and the economic sector: “Such cooperation is very important for the further development of the region and for giving young people the opportunity to find jobs and careers here in Pomurje,” said Minister Jevšek. He stressed that youth unemployment is most pronounced in Eastern Slovenia, especially in the Pomurje region: “Young people are continuing to leave the region, as they don’t return after completing their studies in Ljubljana or Maribor. Slovenia’s goal is to enhance harmonious regional development, which is why the downward trends need to be reversed,” he added.
In her address, the Norwegian Ambassador Trine Skymoen stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation at all levels – national, local and individual. She underlined that young people are the driving force of development, especially when working together with the local environment. Damjan Anželj, Mayor of the Urban Municipality of Murska Sobota, said that the cooperation of educational institutions and young people with the business environment has a positive impact on job creation and on young people deciding not to leave the region.
Marko Močnik, Director of the Pomurje Technology Park, acting as the project promoter for the TALENT LAB project, presented the reasons and further measures for strengthening the supportive environment and increasing the employment potential in the Pomurje region. He underlined the importance of investing in research and development, which is crucial in the current low unemployment period.
The event was also attended by the principals of the participating secondary schools, representatives of companies and mentors and coordinators from partner organisations.
The project TALENT LAB – Increasing Employment Potentials in the Pomurje Region focuses on increasing the employment potential of young people in the Pomurje region by strengthening the skills of young people and the capacity of the support environment. It establishes mentoring schemes and focuses on developing practical solutions to real economic challenges. The project is co-financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism under the programme Education, Scholarships, Apprenticeship and Youth Entrepreneurship.
12 May 2023 – One of the two overall goals of the EEA and Norway Grants is to strengthen bilateral relations between the Donors and the Beneficiary States. Bilateral cooperation at the project level is in full swing in Slovenia. Study visits offer an excellent opportunity for project partners to learn about good practices and share valuable experience. Several Slovenian project partners visited Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway and welcomed donor project partners to Slovenia in the past months. Thus, for example Slovenian and Norwegian project partners learned about new methods of outdoor learning as part of the SCHOOL21 project. In the scope of the SALOMON project, which brings together two Slovenian institutions and the Norwegian partner of Nord University, the partners took part in the official opening of the bicycle parking facility and electric vehicle charging stationin front of the Novo mesto General Hospital.
KIPSI: Visits of partner schools and conference Digital and Innovative
As part of the KIPSI project, Slovenian project partners hosted partners from Norway and Iceland on a three-day study visit between 17 and 21 April 2023. Project partners visited the Celje School Centre and the Koper Secondary Technical School. Partner schools showcased the demo versions of e-materials and shared what it was like to have students participating in the creation of e-materials. They also visited the Novo mesto School Centre where they discussed blended learning in practice. To learn more about the study visit, please click here.
Use of digital technologies in the classroom at the Celje School Centre. Author: Nejc Matjašec, student of Novo mesto School Centre.
A conference Digital and Innovative was held as part of the study visit. Partners from Slovenia, Norway and Iceland presented to the Slovenian public the possibilities of introducing blended learning in the learning process and didactic-pedagogical approaches that are being tested through combining traditional face-to-face teaching in classroom-based settings with online learning. Visitors were able to try out for themselves what the video and digital resources developed in the scope of the project are like. You can find more about the conference here.
The students of the Novo mesto School Centre, Nejc Matjašec and Tomaž Stupar took photos at the events and filmed the events respectively. You are welcome to have a look at the photo gallery and video recordings.
TALENT LAB: Measures, incentives and initiatives taken by Norway to prevent brain drain
Project partners from Slovenia (Pomurje Technology Park, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Maribor, School of Economics Murska Sobota, Bilingual Secondary School Lendava, Biotechnological School Rakičan, Secondary School for Catering and Tourism Radenci) visited the Trondheim-based Norwegian partner, University of Science and Technology between 18 and 21 April 2023 in the scope of the TALENT LAB project.
The aim of the study visit was to share good practices with the relevant educational, supportive and administrative institutions given that Norway, more specifically Trøndelag region, also faces the challenge of rural-to-urban migration of qualified young people. Norwegian project partner presented interesting measures, incentives and initiatives that have been designed to encourage young people to remain in the region, connect them with local economy and mitigate or prevent brain drain. The latter has been a critical issue for years in the Pomurje region.
Trata 2.1: Good practices of sustainable mobility from Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein
Partners of the Trata 2.1 project visited Liechtenstein and the Austrian region of Vorarlberg at the end of March to learn about good practices the country and the companies are rolling out to encourage a shift in employees’ travel habits and promote use of sustainable modes of travel. During the two-day visit, local companies and organisations, energy institute as well as local and national authorities presented a number of initiatives that are being implemented particularly at the organisational level to promote sustainable mobility among employees and local population. The decision to support walking, cycling, using public transport or car sharing and car pooling is dictated by the care for the health of both people and the planet, significant cost savings for the employees and the companies alike and reduced environmental impact of transportation.
To learn more about good practices, please click here (in Slovenian).
Participants in the study visit to Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein in the scope of the project Trata 2.1. Author: Samo Kham
digi.komp: Norwegian partners carry out the first round of workshops
Slovenian project partners hosted a delegation from Norway between 21 and 23 March 2023 as part of the digi.komp project. Norwegian project partner Piksel together with three lecturers carried out the first round of workshops. In this context, Norwegian partners learned more about the relevant Slovenian institutions and the way they work and shared knowledge about new approaches and methods of teaching with Slovenian partners.
To end the study visit, project partners visited the Cukrarna Gallery and saw the exhibition Konsekvence – Fragments of a Possible Ecosystem. The visit to the gallery was a perfect opportunity for Norwegian partners to learn more about Slovenian projects that are similar to their educational, artistic and technological activities.
As part of the IMRO project, Project Promoter Slovenian Hospice Society and project partner Society for Cultural Relations SPES paid a seven-day visit to Norway in the first half of March 2023. The host, Norwegian partner Bjerkaker LearningLab, made excellent arrangements and prepared a study visit programme that was packed with insightful visits to Norwegian organisations that are active in the areas relevant for the development of activities in the scope of the project.
In this context, the participants paid a visit to the non-profit organisation Fransiskus Hjelpen that provides home-based palliative care services, Diakonhjemmet Sykehus General Hospital, non-profit organisation Oslo Sanitetsforening that runs various women support and empowerment programmes, centre for activities Aktivitetshuset Prindsen that offers a range of services to people with mental health issues, the housing and community centre for senior citizens Forsmannsenteret and non-governmental organisation based on voluntary work that encourages creative leisure activities Sandefjord Vikingparken. The study visit allowed Slovenian project partners and organisations from Norway to share valuable knowledge, good practices and experience and inspired them with new ideas.
Five Slovenian partners of the NoviIKroG project visited the Bodø-based Norwegian project partner Nord University in March 2023. Slovenian delegation met with the representatives of Norwegian scientific and research institutions, public sector, NGOs and economy that showcased many good practices and trends in circular economy. Slovenian delegation consisted of the representatives of Urban municipality Novo mesto, Development Centre Novo mesto, Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto, Public Utility Company Novo mesto and Knof social enterprise.
To learn more about the study visit, please click here (in Slovenian).
Partners of the Think XR project, in cooperation with a multidisciplinary working group, organised a study visit to Norway between 6 and 8 March 2023. They met with experts at the Trondheim-based Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) who acquainted them with the novelties and the projects under development. The Norwegian partner took the participants through development labs, explaining how work is done in labs and classrooms. Thus, Slovenian project partners saw first-hand how the teaching process, the work with students and the work on projects are carried out at NTNU. On Gløshaugen and Dragvoll campuses, the hosts presented the didactic and pedagogical approaches they employ and explained how augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) technologies are being used in this process. They outlined the work and progress done in XR projects and showed the Slovenian project partners the labs and the equipment used for work with XR technologies. The participants also got to know how contents are being developed and how academia, researchers and companies that are rolling out XR technology in their processes are involved in the work of NTNU.
The study visit was an excellent opportunity for Slovenian partners to meet with various representatives and stakeholders of Norwegian XR community that shared their views on introducing educational modules for technologies of the future in Norway.
28 April 2023 – Contrary to Pink Floyd’s cheeky statement, the value of education in our fast-paced, ever-upgrading digital world is more significant than ever. Buckle up as we debunk this catchy myth with pre-defined project BlendVET – an EEA Grants project in Slovenia shaping the future of vocational training and bringing the benefits of blended learning well beyond the classroom walls.
The BlendVET project, a collaborative initiative funded by the EEA Grants in Slovenia, seeks to revolutionize vocational education and training (VET) through the adoption of blended learning methodologies. The project brings together partners from across Europe, including educational institutions and organisations in Norway, Iceland and Slovenia focused on promoting excellence in VET.
Blended learning is an educational approach that combines traditional face-to-face teaching methods with digital technologies such as online learning platforms, virtual classrooms, and e-learning materials. “Blended learning, also known as hybrid learning, is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with traditional place-based classroom methods,” says Jonny Kurt Pettersen from the Viken Higher Vocational College in Norway, one of the many partners in this project.
The BlendVET project promotes the use of blended learning approaches in the Slovenian VET system to improve its quality and effectiveness and to make it more accessible to a wider range of learners.
“This project opens up new opportunities for Slovenian schools. It primarily includes enthusiasts who like to experiment with digital technology in the classroom. But it’s not about technology; it’s about the quality of education. We all want to improve education and the life of students, teachers, parents, and the society as a whole.” Mag. Janez Damjan, Director of the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training (Project Promoter of the BlendVET project).
The project is being implemented by a consortium of partners, including the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training, Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana, Upper-secondary VET school Trbovlje, School center Novo mesto, School center Celje, Upper-secondary VET school Koper, Norwegian Østfold University College, Åssiden Upper Secondary School and Viken Higher Vocational College and Icelandic University of Akureyri and Akureyri comprehensive college. The project is funded by the EEA Grants, which have allocated € 1.6 million to support its implementation.
“The project is exciting and has several objectives. One of the most important is to strengthen teachers’ competence in the use of technology and digital didactics in teaching.” Ana Laura Sieder, International coordinator at the Åssiden Upper Secondary School.
“The reason why I want to be part of this project is because I am passionate about online pedagogy and teaching online, and I see this as a unique opportunity to apply this in my profession.” Jenny Ellingsen-Suri, VET-teacher taking part in the BlendVET project.
With a strong commitment to improving the quality of vocational education and training, the BlendVET project holds the potential to significantly impact the future of VET across Europe, equipping learners with the essential skills and competencies required for success in the rapidly evolving job market. The project is also expected to have a positive impact on the wider economy, by supporting the development of a skilled and competent workforce that is better equipped to meet the needs of the labour market.
Overall, the BlendVET project is an inspiring initiative that is helping to drive innovation and excellence in vocational education and training in Slovenia, by bringing together future-driven partners from Iceland, Norway and Slovenia.
Find out more about the BlendVET project here and the EEA and Norway Grants education programme in Slovenia here. And read more about the EEA and Norway Grants education programmes here.
