Responsibility to society is included in everyday work through various projects and events, thus realising the mission of the University of Ljubljana. In 2016, we organised a meeting of the members of the University of Ljubljana Global Alumni and Associates Network (SMUL), which was established as one of the activities to raise the quality of study programmes and strengthen international cooperation and reputation of the University of Ljubljana, and successfully continued activities relating to the Slovenian Innovation Hub (SIZ-EGIZ), the fundamental goal of which is to contribute to the development of a knowledge-based economy and to raise our international competitiveness.
The Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, collected used paper for a humanitarian action by the Slovenian Friends of Youth Association to help children with behavioural and emotional problems. The funds raised in the action were spent for children’s holidays at the seaside. We also helped collect toys, clothes and school supplies for children from socially deprived families. With this gesture, we continued the successful story of raising funds for marginal social groups when we started the campaign to raise humanitarian aid for refugees last year.
The Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana, has carried out a project to work with Romani people, addicts, people with mental health problems and children with problems in adolescence for several years. We are active in the areas of homelessness, elderly people in need of assistance, and women and children who have survived violence. We dealt intensively with refugees who are being accommodated in Slovenia, primarily with their integration in society and the schooling of children. Faculty students do practical training at some 100 different non-governmental organisations across Slovenia.
The Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, continued to conduct annual measurements of motor functions and physical properties on a population of primary school and secondary school students, which show the condition and changes in children and youth in Slovenia. The data is of extreme importance as it contributes to changes in nutrition and physical exercise.
At the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, we cooperated with students in several activities to raise awareness of healthy aspects of life and health protection. Among other things, student volunteers cooperated with the Slovenian Red Cross in the implementation of preventive workshops to the topic of first aid at primary schools in Ljubljana, and cooperated and offered assistance to persons with spinal cord defects in setting them up and moving on a monoski, and using a ski lift.
