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.