20 March 2024 – Yesterday the digi.comp project held its final conference at the Cultural Institution Delavski dom Trbovlje. The digi.comp project, co-financed by the Norway Grants, brought together experts, institutions and enthusiasts committed to making digital knowledge more accessible and usable in wider society.
The project Raising Digital Competences »digi.comp« in the field of education, culture and arts connects Slovenian partners from Zasavje – the Adult Education Centre of Zasavje, the Cultural Institution Delavski dom Trbovlje, the Library of Tone Seliškar Trbovlje and Norwegian partner Piksel Produksjoner. The project’s objective is to develop new teaching and learning practices for work and life in the field of digital competence and to exchange knowledge and good practices between Slovenian and Norwegian partners.
The results of several months of work were presented at the closing conference, where a large audience was addressed by distinguished speakers, including the Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development, dr. Aleksander Jevšek, the Mayor of Municipality Trbovlje, mag. Zoran Poznič, and the Director of the Adult Education Centre of Zasavje, Polona Trebušak.
Ms. Polona Trebušak took the opportunity to thank all the project partners and others who had contributed to the project’s achievements and said “For the Adult Education Centre of Zasavje and both partners this is the first project funded by the Norway Grants, and it has brought us a lot of new, a lot of good things, but also some stress and above all it has facilitated an important development and progress of our institution”. She concluded her speech with a statement directed towards the future: “Every end is a new beginning, and I believe that all the knowledge and achievements will live on in all the project partners. Adult Education Centre of Zasavje, the Cultural Institution Delavski dom Trbovlje, and the Library of Tone Seliškar Trbovlje are on an important mission. Through our activities, we provide accessibility and conditions for the involvement of all adult population and all generations in quality lifelong learning, increasing the basic skills of the population (such as reading, numeracy, problem-solving, communication, etc.).”
Mayor of Trbovlje mag. Zoran Poznič in his speech thanked all those who participated in the digi.comp project and stressed that the project’s activities are of great importance to the local community and society. He particularly emphasised the need for digital literacy in the 21st century.
The keynote speeches were concluded by the Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development, dr. Aleksander Jevšek stated “With the project Raising Digital Competences, we have enabled many individuals to acquire the knowledge and skills that are nowadays essential in the digital world. According to the latest research, the level of digital literacy in Slovenia is on the rise. Data shows that the percentage of people who feel comfortable using basic digital tools and services has increased by 15% in the last three years.”
The audience also had the opportunity to listen to a robot named Eva, which addressed practical approaches to gaining digital skills. The digi.comp project leader Matej Uduč demonstrated the use of digital tools and approaches to develop new training programmes.
The digi.comp project is co-created by the project promoter Adult Education Centre of Zasavje and project partners the Cultural Institution Delavski dom Trbovlje, The Library of Tone Seliškar Trbovlje, and Piksel Produksjoner.
20 March 2024 – Last week, the Green Penguin project hosted a thematic conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The conference, organised by Iskraemeco as a project promoter and project partners Municipality of Kranj, Municipality of Ljubljana, DOVES – FEE Slovenia and FEE Norway, impressed participants with its innovative approaches to experiential learning.
The project’s main result is the Green Penguin platform which offers a wide range of interactive learning materials that introduce students to topics such as climate change, energy saving and sustainable lifestyles in a fun and engaging way. Representatives from Hinko Smrekar Elementary School and Jože Moškrič Elementary School shared their experiences with using the Green Penguin platform. Students are excited about the interactive learning approach and happy to participate in various activities, such as quizzes, creating board games from recycled materials, and a clothing exchange. During the conference, teachers praised the platform as it allows them to integrate digital technologies into teaching in an innovative way and encourages students to become active citizens.
To conclude, a representative from the Municipality of Ljubljana presented the project Ljubljana on the path to carbon neutrality. She emphasised the importance of cooperation at the city, state, and individual levels, as well as the inclusion and awareness of sustainable practices.
The Green Penguin conference confirmed that the Green Penguin platform is a valuable tool for experiential learning about sustainability. Participants were impressed by the innovative approaches and expressed their belief that the platform can significantly contribute to educating young people for a better future.
The project is co-financed by the Norway Grants and the corresponding Slovenian contribution under the programme Education, Scholarships, Apprenticeship and Youth Entrepreneurship.
13 March 2024 – The BlendVET project was initiated amid the unpredictable COVID situation to enhance the digital and pedagogical competencies of teachers for blended learning in vocational and professional schools. Project partners emphasise that digitalisation offers not only challenges but also significant opportunities that we must learn to leverage. Digital competencies are particularly crucial for the society.
At the closing public event of the BlendVET project Aleksandar Sladojević, Acting Director of the Institute of the RS for Vocational Education and Training, who was responsible for the project management, said “The extensive digitalisation presents numerous opportunities. It poses a positive challenge to the economy, society, and the education system. Vocational education must play a pivotal role in fostering a solid, sustainable, and prosperous society, alongside an efficient economy. We appreciate the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism and the experience of foreign partners, as well as the initiative of the Ministry of Education to take up the challenge of blended learning.”
“Two-thirds of young people are enrolled in vocational and technical education, making its development paramount. After successfully overcoming the challenge of distance education during the pandemic, now is the time to share knowledge to bolster vocational training’s resilience and contribute to the economy and society’s journey towards sustainability,” added Director General of the The Upper Secondary, Short-Cycle Higher Vocational and Adult Education Directorate at the Ministry of Education, Branka Hrast Debeljak, MSc.
The greatest value lies not in the tools but in the knowledge gained
The implementation of the unique BlendVET project was made possible by the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development through the EEA Grants.
Jadranka Plut, Head of the Financial Mechanisms Sector at the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, noted “The BlendVET project addresses two critical challenges: the insufficient digital skills among teachers and students. These competencies are becoming crucial for flexible learning models, which are increasingly important for lifelong learning. On the other hand, we would like to point out that, although modern tools are useful, the knowledge we acquire is our greatest asset.”
The BlendVET project is primarily aimed at developing and introducing pedagogical approaches where digital technology supports student learning, rather than solely introducing digital technology.
Technology influences our behaviour
“Technology significantly impacts and alters our society, influencing our behaviour. We are transitioning our data to the cloud without necessarily knowing its location, and young people are less inclined towards the security of permanent jobs. Hence, it’s crucial to understand that introducing new technologies into the classroom requires careful consideration,” stated Doc. Andrej Flogie, PhD, from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Maribor.
As emphasised during the BlendVET final conference, responsibility rests with all stakeholders. Merely providing infrastructure, resources, and qualified teachers is insufficient; the transition must be complementary, encompassing all of society. Failing to undertake this transformation together would result in merely replacing technology and tools, which alone do not bring added value and change to society.
More details are available on the web page BlendVET.
The BlendVET project is co-created by the project promoter, the Institute of the RS for Vocational Education and Training, with project partners the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Upper-secondary VET school Trbovlje, School centre Novo mesto, School centre Celje, Upper-secondary VET School Koper, Østfold University College (NOR), Åssiden upper secondary school (NOR), Viken Higher Vocational College (NOR), University of Akureyri (ISL), and Akureyri comprehensive college (ISL).
11 March 2024 – A symposium entitled Gold Nanoparticles Synthesised in Zlatarna Celje and Their Possible Applications took place on Friday, 8 March 2024, within the framework of the LFIA-REC project, supported by the Norway Grants.
The LFIA-REC project is developing recycling options for plastics and nano-gold, which are components of rapid antigen tests (COVID-19).
Setting the stage, the CEO of Zlatarna Celje, Bojan Albreht, shared with the audience insights into the collaborative development of gold nanoparticles, which, owing to their chemical and optical properties, boast a vast spectrum of applications.
The guest speaker, Assoc. Prof. Sergej Tomić, PhD from the Institute for Applied Nuclear Energy at the University of Belgrade, delved into groundbreaking research on the correlation between gold nanoparticle size and immunological response. Extensive studies have revealed how immunological responses vary depending on the size of the gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles exhibit remarkable physicochemical properties, holding potential in theragnostic approaches to cancer and immunological diseases. The findings underscored the pivotal role of gold nanoparticles, highlighting promise in tailored therapies based on size specifications.
Representing the project promoter, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor, Jelen Žiga, MSc explained the intricate process of synthesizing gold nanoparticles through ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. As an intriguing observation, he noted that smaller gold nanoparticles appear red, while larger ones exhibit a purple hue. Expanding on the discussion, Assist. Prof. Peter Majerič, PhD presented the potential applications of gold nanoparticles in electronics and other industries. Due to their excellent electrical conductivity, gold nanoparticles offer various potential applications in electronics, additionally, they are also useful in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, healthcare, and technology development.
The project team leader, Prof. Rebeka Rudolf, PhD from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor, revealed research exploring the melting temperatures of gold nanoparticles. Unlike ordinary gold, gold nanoparticles exhibit distinct physicochemical properties, including significantly lower melting points – often tens or even hundreds of degrees lower. Experimental studies were conducted to determine the melting point of gold nanoparticles synthesized via ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and lyophilization, which were then compared with those of conventional gold.
Danica Popović Antić, DMD, PhD from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Belgrade, introduced the beneficial properties of gold nanoparticles for enhancing dentures, emphasising their antibacterial characteristics. Matej Zadravec, PhD from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor elaborated on the advantages of dry gold nanoparticles obtained through lyophilisation.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Martin Rakuša, MD. from the University Medical Centre Maribor, discussed the utilisation of gold nanoparticles in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. Emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis for successful treatment, he highlighted the potential of gold nanoparticles in detecting proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a condition affecting 1 in 9 individuals over 65 years of age.
The synthesis of gold nanoparticles from various waste materials was presented by guest speaker Assoc. Prof. Srećko Stopić, PhD from the Institute IME Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling at RWTH Aachen University. He highlighted the substantial potential of electronic and other waste products for the recycling and recovery of gold nanoparticles.
In conclusion, the symposium provided a comprehensive overview of the remarkable properties and diverse applications of gold nanoparticles, marking a significant milestone in advancing research and innovation in this emerging field.
In addition to the project promoter the University of Maribor, other participating entities include Plastika Skaza, the Faculty of Polymer Technology, the Institute of Metals and Technology, Zlatarna Celje, the University Medical Centre Maribor and Surovina, the Waste Processing Company.
7 March 2024 – The closing event of the project Development of a Comprehensive Approach for Enhancing Work-life Balance of Professional and Private Life in Rural Areas, Based on the Establishment of Multi-Stakeholder Regional Systems and Local Partnerships TERAconcluded with a panel discussion on 7 March 2024. Hosted at the House of the European Union in Ljubljana and supported by the Norway Grants in Slovenia, the event featured both a press conference and a panel discussion focused on “Gender Equality in Rural Areas”.
The event commenced at 10:00 with a press conference where TERA project partners showcased a presentation video introducing all participating entities. The video highlighted the project’s efforts in empowering rural communities, addressing challenges, and balancing work and personal life. It also outlined the project’s activities, starting with a national survey on gender equality in rural regions. This survey identified key obstacles hindering rural residents from achieving a work-life balance and worsening gender inequality. Notable factors contributing to gender disparity included traditional gender roles, women’s economic dependence on their partners, indifference to violence, and inadequate public infrastructure in rural areas.
As part of the project’s initiatives, two multi-stakeholder local committees were formed, one in the Pomurje region and another in the Posavje region, featuring representatives from various public institutions and organisations. These committees aimed to implement developmental measures to enhance work-life balance opportunities for rural employees. More details about these measures can be found here.
A pivotal aspect of the project was its education and awareness-raising programme, conducted in the field and crafted based on research findings and consultations with stakeholders. This programme involved workshops covering six distinct themes: gender roles, gender-based violence, work-life balance, intergenerational coexistence, and farmer rights and social security. These workshops were interactive, featuring expert lectures followed by group discussions to devise solutions to pertinent challenges. Furthermore, mentors provided ongoing support to selected participants, aiding them in navigating project-related obstacles.
After the video presentation, Tadej Pirc, PhD from the Development Centre Murska Sobota emphasised the project’s integrated approach and interdisciplinary collaboration. Ana Pavlič from the Gender Equality Research Institute Maribor (IPES) elaborated on the survey findings, which encompassed insights from 707 rural residents, underlining the imperative to address gender equality issues beyond legal frameworks. You can find detailed results of the survey here. Anja Kastelic, representing the Slovenian Rural Youth Association, underscored the necessity of amplifying rural voices and addressing disparities in social insurance and access to information among rural populations.
At 11:00, the second part of the event commenced with a panel discussion focusing on “Gender Equality in Rural Areas“. Tadej Pirc, PhD delivered the opening speech, expressing gratitude to the project partners and all stakeholders for their contributions to the project’s implementation. Afterwards he introduced the project, highlighting its diverse approaches and its comprehensive perspective on the issues. He emphasised the pivotal role of gender equality in achieving work-life balance and advocated for a proactive approach to identifying and addressing inequalities, particularly to empower vulnerable groups.
Afterwards, Her Excellency Trina Skymoen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, addressed the audience. She underscored the importance of equal opportunities for men and women to participate in society and stressed the significance of women’s involvement across all sectors. Ambassador Skymoen noted the gradual improvement in gender equality in both Norway and Slovenia, attributing it not only to economic factors but also to the active implementation of gender equality policies, particularly by Norwegian women since 1970.
Jadranka Plut, representing the Programme Operator of the Education, Scholarships, Apprenticeship and Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, warmly welcomed the attendees of the closing event. She highlighted the Norwegian Financial Mechanism as a crucial instrument for fostering cooperation and enhancing relations between Norway and Slovenia. She emphasised the importance of researches and projects like TERA in providing valuable insights that inform policy decisions and systemic regulations in the realm of gender equality.
The national panel discussion, “Gender Equality in Rural Areas”, moderated by Nataša Briški, featured notable attendees including Helena Valas from the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Tina Kosi from the Ministry of Education, Roman Žveglič from the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia, Urša Skube from the Slovenian Rural Youth Association, and Ana Pavlič from the Gender Equality Research Institute Maribor (IPES).
The discussion was initiated by project partners, emphasising the distinctive challenges encountered by rural communities and underscoring the imperative need to address inequality in all settings. Helena Valas delved deeper into the lack of active childcare facilities in remote rural areas, worsening the struggle for work-life balance, a burden mostly carried by women.
The representative of the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, Andreja Budimir, pointed out at the panel discussion that such projects are crucial for identifying the challenges and problems in rural areas, as they allow to shed light on the issues.
During the open discussion, speakers underscored the prevalence of violence against women globally, with femicide witnessing a worrying increase in Slovenia. They emphasised the need for improved communication, nurturing relationships, and creating a safe space for sharing opinions. The project partners highlighted the unexpected responses from workshop participants, revealing a prevalent belief that rural individuals perceive limited influence in shaping systemic solutions and processes.
The central question raised was how to move the TERA project forward. The project partners unanimously agreed that their work had only just begun. They envisioned their initiatives evolving into strategic orientations, public legislation, and advocacy efforts that would incorporate a gender perspective into the discourse on rural areas. Recognizing the invaluable insights from those directly affected, they stressed the need for broader participation and consensus to address the multifaceted issues at hand.
The project promoter of the project TERA is the Development Centre Murska Sobota, the project is also co-created by the Regional Development Agency Posavje, the Gender Equality Research Insitute Maribor (IPES), the Slovenian Rural Youth Association, the Centre for the Development of Sustainable Society, and the Norwegian partner, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.
4 March 2024 – On Monday, 4th March, the Municipality of Škofja Loka launched a four-week awareness-rising campaign on sustainable mobility titled “Commute Together”, as part of the Trata 2.1 Project. This campaign targets employees in the Industrial Zone Trata to encouraging them to shift towards sustainable commuting practices.
The Trata 2.1 project, co-financed by the EEA Grants under the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Programme, seeks to motivate employees in the Industrial zone Trata to adopt sustainable commuting habits. The objective is to increase the number of employees opting for sustainable modes of transportation during their daily commute.
According to sustainable mobility experts, individuals residing within a 2 km radius of their workplace are encouraged to walk. For distances up to 5 km, the use of a bicycle is recommended, while for longer distances exceeding 5 km, experts suggest using an electric bicycle or public transport. If commuting from a more distant location where public transport is inconvenient due to transfers or schedules, carpooling offers a sustainable alternative.
Employees can easily arrange shared transportation with colleagues to get to work or use the Prevozi.org app, where they can mark their starting point and destination. As part of the »Commute Together« campaign, employees who carpool to the Industrial zone Trata will be eligible for entry into a prize draw involving both drivers and passengers.
In addition to the project promoter Municipality of Škofja Loka, other participating entities include the Sora Development Agency, the Institute for Spatial Policies, CIPRA Slovenia, the Society for the Protection of the Alps, Knauf Insulation, SIBO Group, Packaging Development and Production, LTH Castings, and CIPRA International.
1 March 2024 – Researchers within the EMPOWER FOR 21 project have prepared a special guide titled “Life Transitions” for students starting their studies, available in the Slovenian language.
It is the first guide of its kind in the Slovenian higher education sector, providing information on topics such as time management, relationships, sexuality, addictions, etc. Students will also find descriptions of the most common challenges and hardships typical of this period and ideas on how to deal with them effectively.
The guide is based on the English version developed by Canadian psychology experts. On the basis of a peer review, it has been adapted to the cultural characteristics by experts of the project promoter University Medical Centre Maribor (UMC Maribor) and project partners University of Maribor, Faculty of Medicine (UM FM) and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), namely Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hojka Gregorič Kumperščak, MD, PhD, Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (UM MF), Nina Vučinič, M.Sc. in Psychology, Sara Plakolm Erlač, Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (UMC Maribor) and Prof. Norbert Skokauskas, MD, PhD, Expert in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (NTNU).
EMPOWER FOR 21 project is part of the programme Education, Scholarships, Apprenticeship and Youth Entrepreneurship and is funded by the Norway Grants and the corresponding Slovenian contribution. It focuses on training teachers in communication, leadership, mental health and teaching critical thinking to better prepare them to teach professionals in higher education and also at work.
21 February 2024 – A Handbook on Youth Empowerment and Social Activation[i] has been developed as part of the project Activating Youth by Encouraging Them to Form Meaningful Connections, Take an Active Role in Their Local Communities and Empowering Them for a Violence-free Life (TRIALOG).
Supported by the Norway Grants, this project addresses pressing issues worsened by the Covid-19 Pandemic among young people in the Podravje region, focusing on social inequality from a youth perspective.
The overall aim of the TRIALOG project is to enhance young people’s soft skills, and foster self-confidence and mutual respect, enabling their active engagement in broader society. Simultaneously, it seeks to strengthen the skills and knowledge of youth workers in mentoring or advisory roles and advocate for appropriate systemic solutions at the national level.
The project’s focus is the empowerment of young people to combat peer violence, along with providing training for youth workers and generating useful resources for youth workers, as well as teachers, educators, parents, and all those involved in the youth field.
The Handbook on Youth Empowerment and Social Activation
The Handbook on Youth Empowerment and Social Activation begins by introducing the Collection of educational content TRIALOG, which addresses issues such as violence, mental health, positive communication, and relaxation techniques for managing stressful situations. Subsequently, it presents an overview of the new interactive online platform TRIALOG, designed to facilitate positive dialogue and aid young people in overcoming challenges related to peer violence and mental health. The platform assists in identifying various forms of violence and provides practical guidance on how to deal with violence. Additionally, it features examples of good practices from various associations, institutions, organisations, and institutes from Slovenia and abroad. These examples provide readers with insights into their projects, key achievements, methodologies, as well as the challenges and solutions encountered. Furthermore, the handbook describes effective approaches to working with young people and shares experiences of conducting workshops for secondary education students. These workshops aim to motivate young individuals to integrate relaxation techniques, positive communication, and stress management into their daily lives.
Thus, the handbook serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals working in the youth work sector, providing practical tools, exemplary good practices, and effective methodologies derived from local and international projects.
Besides the project promotor, the Gender Equality Research Institute Maribor (IPES), the TRIALOG project is a collaborative effort involving the Municipality of Ptuj, the University of Adult Education Ormož, the Centre of Free Time Activities Ptuj, the Youth Council of the Municipality of Ptuj, and Avisensa, the Institute for psychology, counselling, and education.
[i] The Handbook on Youth Empowerment and Social Activation is available only in Slovene language.
30 January 2024 – As part of the project Development of Innovative Support Environment (Career Centre Posavje), supported by the Norway Grants, the Municipality of Krško has acquired new premises of the Career Centre Posavje. The newly acquired premises are intended for promoting youth employment and enhancing youth competencies for better job prospects.
On 30 January 2024, Nataša Šerbec, Director of the Regional Development Agency Posavje, officially opened the new premises of the Career Center Posavje. Janez Kerin, Mayor of the Municipality of Krško, and Vlasta Stojak, representative of the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, also attended the opening. The ministry representative emphasised the work of the Regional Development Agency of Posavje, especially as an excellent partner for establishing a unified and digitally supported environment for youth employment. At the opening ceremony, Slovenian project partners, as well as the Norwegian partner and other stakeholders in the region, were present.
The objective of the Career Centre Posavje project is to establish a digital support environment that connects young people in the region, employers, local youth, and educational organisations. This initiative aims to strengthen the employment potential of young people in the Posavje region. As part of the project, career counsellors were trained, an online platform containing information on labour market opportunities was developed, and a comprehensive database of employers and job seekers was set up.
In addition to the Regional Development Agency Posavje, the project partners include the Municipality of Krško, the Centre for Youth and Sport Krško, the Institute of Adult Education Krško, the Regional Chamber of Craft and Small Business Krško, and Collective Innovation AS (NOR).
The BlendVET project develops school strategies for the introduction of blended learning, provides training for teachers and designs and develops practical solutions for e-learning.
Here you can watch a video of the project:
The project promter of The BlendVET project is The Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Traning, and the project partners are the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Trbovlje Technical and Vocational Secondary School, Novo mesto School Centre, Celje School Centre, Koper Technical Secondary School, Østfold University College (NOR), Åssiden Upper Secondary School (NOR), Viken Higher Vocational College (NOR), University of Akureyri (ISL), and Akureyri Comprehensive College (ISL).
