Publish Date: 08.12.2017
Category: News from the University
Today, as the University of Ljubljana Week is coming to an end, we awarded the first ever scholarships of the University Foundation of ing. Lenarčič Milan at the University of Ljubljana. The scholarships for high-achieving students of the University of Ljubljana were awarded by the Rector of the University of Ljubljana, prof. dr. Igor Papič, and the Chairman of the Board of the University Foundation of ing. Lenarčič Milan, Dino Bauk.
The Rector of the University of Ljubljana, prof. dr. Igor Papič, stressed that by conferring the scholarships he would particularly like to thank and encourage the recipients to keep asserting themselves in obtaining new knowledge and sharing that knowledge with their peers. “The virtue of the university and academic community of students lies in the best possible implementation of its study programmes and assimilation of the knowledge and competences offered by those programmes. Another virtue is in surpassing the requirements and expectations derived from the study programmes. The result should be personal growth, which is reflected in a responsible attitude to work, people and environment.”
The Chairman of the Board of the University Foundation of ing. Lenarčič Milan, Dino Bauk, stressed the meaning of a democratic society, education and solidarity, and also briefly introduced the University Foundation and the UDESIN institute, the project of the University Foundation of ing. Lenarčič Milan, which facilitates the inter-sectoral and intergenerational dialogue on socially-economic topics. “The University Foundation of ing. Lenarčič Milan was established on the basis of a will that was drawn up by ing. Lenarčič on 3 October 1943 and contains two basic premises: the first one is the founding and continuance of the UDESIN institute, which will be the spiritual centre of the Slovenian democratic and social life, including the school for the education of speakers, or which will fulfil the demands of the founder expressed in the will in other ways, while the other premise is to grant scholarships to high-achieving Slovenian students of the University of Ljubljana, in accordance with the will expressed by the founder.”
The Milan Lenarčič scholarships were granted for a period of one year, with the possibility of applying in subsequent study years. This year, 32 students of the University of Ljubljana applied for the scholarship. The applications were assessed by the university committee, chaired by prof. dr. Smiljana Komar, who had this to say about the selection of scholarship recipients: “We suggested to the Board of the Institution to distribute all the funds available for the 2017/2018 study year, which is EUR 60,000. The amount of an individual grant received by ten students is EUR 6,000. Two recipients are enrolled into a doctoral programme, the other eight are master’s degree students. The scholarships are intended to cover the costs of studies, articles in professional and scientific publications, participation at student seminars and meetings, and other student activities related to the studies, as well as to cover life expenses.”
Finally, Rok Smrdelj from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana expressed his thanks on behalf of the recipients, adding that he does not perceive the scholarships only as a prize, honour and a form of support, but also as one of the mechanisms of providing equal opportunities. “Nowadays, students seem to be divided between those who can fully dedicate themselves to their studies and extra-curricular activities, and those who cannot do so because they have to spend a portion of their time working for a living. And if we add tuition fees into this, the situation can quickly deteriorate. In such a situation, scholarships can mitigate class inequality and enable even the best socially underprivileged students to develop their potential.”
Recipients of scholarships of the University Foundation of ing. Lenarčič Milan for the 2017/2018 study year:
TAJDA KLOBUČAR, Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana
ESTER PREMATE, Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana
PETER MIKLAVČIČ, Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana
NINA VIDIC, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering of the University of Ljubljana
ŽIGA KRAJNIK, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Ljubljana
MIJA BON, Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana
ROK SMRDELJ, Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana
URŠKA SMOLIČ, Faculty of Education of the University of Ljubljana
KATJA STARE, Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana
MARTINA MEDVED, Faculty of Theology of the University of Ljubljana
Photos by Foto studio NORA.