International co-operation in education
Recently, at least three basic reasons have been identified in Slovenia in support of the expansion and promotion of international co-operation in the field of education. The first two reasons are internal and closely interrelated: firstly, the creation of an independent Slovenian state and, secondly, the conceptual and legislative changes throughout the education system, which have taken place in the last few years. The third, external, reason is the new geopolitical structure of Europe and certain processes which have existed in Europe for almost the entire post-war period and have intensified in the last decade.
These processes provide the basis for strategic shifts in the philosophy of international co-operation which has been marked by a shift from the individual to inter- institutional co-operation and from bilateral to multilateral co-operation in Europe and elsewhere in the last decade. This shift has begun to dissolve the national borders in education and has helped to build a new "international educational area", which, however, must not gravitate towards harmonisation or standardisation, but must follow the synergetic lines from bottom up, which means that comparability rests primarily on the quality of co-operation.
Slovenia has successfully adapted to these trends and joined all forms of international co-operation in education: bilateral, regional, and multilateral co-operation at the individual, institutional, and governmental levels.
Slovenia has placed special significance on co-operation with the neighbouring countries, on the education of "Slovenians abroad", that is, members of the Slovenian national minority in the neighbouring countries, Slovenian emigrants, and migrant workers.
Since 1992, more than 30 international bilateral agreements have been signed by Slovenia on education, culture, and science, more than 20 programmes and some protocols. These documents pave the way for an easier and more efficient co-operation of Slovenia with the greater part of European and some non-European countries at all levels and in all areas of education. In particular, the various forms of direct links and exchanges, from secondary school students, university students to teachers, professors, and experts have been encouraged.
At the regional level, which is becoming an indispensable and complementary part of bilateral as well as multilateral co-operation, school links and exchanges should be singled out, in particular CEEPUS, a successful Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies, promoting academic mobility, which Slovenia joined at its very inception (1995).
Besides, Slovenia actively participated in the Tempus programme. At the end of 1997, most Slovenian higher education institutions were included in the programme, participating in 65 projects. 417 grants were awarded to Slovenian students for their studies at universities and other institutions in the European Union Member States, and some small-scale exchange programmes for young researchers and some complementary activities were funded. More precisely, Slovenian institutions participated in 3 complementary measures projects and 21 Joint European Projects in 1997. In April 1999, the programme was extended for the third time, until the year 2006 (Tempus III). Nevertheless, as a result of being granted the status of an EU candidate country, Slovenia can no longer benefit from the Tempus programme. It is, however, eligible to participate fully in the Community programmes such as Socrates and Leonardo. Slovenia is also very active in the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, in particular in the Task Force Education and Youth - Enhanced Graz Process. Combining its experience in educational reform and the knowledge of the region, it is able to provide assistance to reforms of other school systems for the purposes of establishing stability and democracy.
Currently, special emphasis in the field of education is placed on multilateral co-operation, transcending the two other forms of co-operation, in particular by adopting the basic goals consisting of building the above mentioned synergies, enhancing comparability and creating a common educational area.
Since 1992, Slovenia has been active in education projects initiated by the Council of Europe: Education for Democratic Citizenship, Learning and Teaching about the History of Europe in the 20th century, Modern Languages, Learning and Teaching in the Communication Society, Educational Strategies for Social Cohesion and Democratic Security, Education of Roma/Gypsies, in-service training programmes for educational staff, school links and exchanges, and the competition "Europe at School".
Slovenia has also actively participated in UNESCO programmes which have a broader, more basic, and global scope providing for lifelong learning and "education for all". In Slovenia, the Associated Schools Project Network (ASP) is active. The network includes 29 institutions: 1 pre-school institution, 18 elementary schools, 9 secondary schools, and 1 dormitory. Schools take part in international projects and every year a one-week international meeting is held in Piran. A brochure has been published by UNESCO and sent to all the countries.
A significant step towards intensifying international co-operation was made by joining the European Union programmes. The current period signifies for Slovenia a transition from what is named "assistance" programmes, which the European Union had previously intended for the Central and East European countries, to co-operation on a more equal footing in three major programmes, SOCRATES for the field of education, LEONARDO for the field of vocational and technical training, and Youth. In 1999, Slovenia joined the first generation of programmes and in 2000 the second generation. All three programmes are very diverse and multi-layered and encompass the political and strategic levels and the level of teachers and pupils, which is considered as particularly important.
The basic philosophy, which has recently so unequivocally imposed co-operation in the field of education, vocational and technical training, and youth in Europe, is founded on the recognition that education and training are one of the basic issues of European economic, social, and cultural development. Two basic goals have encouraged greater co-operation in education, vocational and technical training, and youth: the integration processes and the need for quality and comparability of education and training of the workforce and citizens ready to engage in active European citizenship.
Schools are expected to fulfil two aims: to encourage the confidence of young people in their regional and national identity and at the same time develop their awareness of belonging to a broader, open European community, and to transmit their knowledge and skills to enhance Europe.s competitiveness in the world market.
Slovenia realises that this is a process and that synergies in education will be set up primarily thanks to enhanced international co-operation, developed through networking, joint programmes and projects and will be based on common databases and on the mobility of pupils, students, and teachers. The quality of this co-operation is a requirement for achieving comparability of knowledge, skills, and values, which in turn provides the basis for successful linking and participation in the broader development process.
It is estimated that in the next few years important changes in academic mobility in Slovenia (mobility of students and professors) will take place and that international co-operation in vocational and technical education and training will be stepped up. The key areas on which comparability in Europe will be built and which will consequently change and enrich the national educational development are: lifelong learning, new information and communication technologies, education for democratic citizenship, foreign language learning . together with the provision of quality in education.
Different forms of international co-operation are offered by the Ministry of Education and Sport and by the Centre for Mobility and European Education and Training Programmes (Center za mobilnost in evropske programe izobraževanja in usposabljanja - CMEPIUS) , the National Education Institute (Zavod Republike Slovenije za šolstvo), the Centre for Vocational Education and Training (Center za poklicno izobraževanje), the Slovenian Adult Education Centre (Andragoški center Slovenije) and other public institutions in the field of education. The Educational Research Institute (Pedagoški inštitut) also actively participates in international research projects.
International co-operation in the sport field
The area of multilateral activities of Slovenia covers cooperation with the following international governmental as well as non-governmental sports organisations: Working Community of the Alps and Adria, The Council of Europe (CoE), European Union (EU), UNECSO, International Olympic Committee (IOC), European Olympic Committees (EOC), European Sports Conference (ESC), European Non Governmental Sports Organisations (ENGSO), etc.
Working community of the Alps and Adria - working group for sport
Slovenia was had the honour to chair the Working group for sport (WGS) in the period from 1998 to 2001. The Working group for sport deals primarily with questions of sport in the 17 regions coming from 6 different countries - Austria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Hungary Switzerland and Slovenia. One of the most important tasks of the Working group is to organise alternatively every 2 years the Summer Youth Games of Alpes and Adria and Winter Youth Games of Alps and Adria.
Slovenia will be the host of the next Summer Youth Games, which shall be held on the Slovenian Coast organised by the municipalities of Piran, Izola and Koper from 24-27 June 2002.
Council of Europe
Slovenia became a full member of the Council of Europe on the 14th of May 1993. However, it started to participate in the work of the Committee for the Development of Sport (CDDS) already a year before that, i.e. in 1992. The CDDS, who is despite being an intergovernmental organisation, composed also from the representatives of non-governmental sports organisations in the national delegations to the CDDS, has its main responsibilities in the area of activities outlined by the following basic documents:
- European Convention on Spectator violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in Particular at Football Matches (1985)
- European Convention on Doping in Sport (1989)
- European Sports Charter (1992)
- European Manifesto in Young people and Sport (1995)
CDDS of the CoE organises also formal and informal meetings of European ministers responsible for sport, who discuss the most up-to-date questions related to sport and take appropriate decisions or recommendations.
A very important activity of CDDS represents the so called SPRINT (Sports Reform, Innovation and Training) programme which is entirely dedicated to new-coming countries which are in transition period and need assistance in sports developing their sports system through legislation, financing, management, sports facilities etc.
European Union
Cooperation with Sports Department of the Directorate for Education and Culture was established after the EU mentioned sport for the first time in the Final Declaration of the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997, and it has become intensified after the Nice Declaration of December 2002. The main areas of cooperation are: harmonisation with the EU legislation, recognition of diplomas, fight against doping, economic significance sport, TV rights, etc. European Commission organises each year a EU Sports Forum held in October or November where governmental as well as non governmental sports organisations participate. EU declared the year 2003 as the Year of Sport for Disabled and the year 2004 as the Year of Education through Sport.
European sports conference
Was established about 30 or more years ago in order to break the "Iron Curtain" and introduce some kind of cooperation between East and West at least in the area of sport. Representatives of non-governmental as well as governmental sports organisations of Europe meet every two years. Last ESC Conference was organised in June 2001 in Tallinn - Estonia on the subject of voluntary leadership in sport, on the occasion of the Year of the Volunteers. Next conference is to be held in Dubrovnik in 2003 with the title "To make sports attractive for all".
ENGSO - European non-governemental sports organisation
As a counterpart to the governmental sports organisations in Europe the ENGSO was established in early 60's. It is composed of representatives coming either form National sports Confederations or National Olympic Committees. One of the main objectives of the organisation is the insertion of sport in the European Treaty. Besides that it gives priority to sport of children and young people.
Bilateral cooperation
In the area of bilateral cooperation the principal objective of Slovenia is to have good relationships and cooperation with the neighbouring countries i.e. Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Italy. The cooperation is carried out through mutually signed protocols on cooperation in sport and it covers the following items: exchange of information, mutual support in the international organisations, assistance in the accession to EU, joint participation in certain projects and research works, exchange of scientists and experts and exchange of specialisation in sport.
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