Responsibility to the society is included in everyday activities through various projects and events, thus realising the mission of the University of Ljubljana. In 2015, we organised the founding meeting of 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 the international cooperation and reputation of the University. We put into action the Slovenian Innovation Hub, the basic objective of which is to contribute to the development of a knowledge-based economy and raise our international competitiveness. In 2015, our humanitarian activities were largely related to the European migrant crisis.
The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana supported several humanitarian actions organised by student clubs or other interest groupings. In December, we collected school supplies and books, and donated the funds collected in the sale of cards and pastry to the Draw a smile on children’s faces action, organised by the Kameleon Slovenija Society. We also organised the traditional charity concert and donated the proceeds to the Red Noses charity organisation.
In the Laboratory of Robotics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, a physically impaired Faculty student participates in Team Avalanchewithin the scope of the international Cybathlon competition. The team is creating a prototype of a wheelchair powered by an electric motor in order to enable physically impaired persons to overcome obstacles in the urban environment, including walking up and down the stairs.
Since the end of September 2015, the Department of Slovenian Studies was reopened at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, after 23 years and the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, reopened the Slovenian Language Department, which was terminated years ago by the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Slovenian Language Department in Sarajevo is vital for strengthening academic relations, joint projects, cooperation in culture and economy as well as for the Slovenian community living there.
The Faculty of Administration, University of Ljubljana, for the first time held the event Administration goes in the right direction in cooperation with the Student Organisation and Student Council. The event was organised to develop ideas to improve the operations of public administration.
During intensive migrant flows, the Slovenian Red Cross and regional coordinators invited the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, to participate in treatment of migrants/refugees at holding centres. Faculty staff and students included in activities at holding centres. In parallel, the Faculty held a campaign to collect second-hand clothes and shoes.
The Faculty of Medicine also prepared a scientific conference to the topic of Migrations and healthcare in cooperation with the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. The meeting was intended for an exchange of knowledge and experience in the medical treatment of refugees and migrants in Slovenia and for the presentation of good practices. Furthermore, a high-profile humanitarian campaign entitled Collecting aid for refugees was carried out at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana. Employees and students collected blankets, clothes, shoes, food, hygienic and cosmetic products and toys.
The Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana, has established a Legal Clinic for Refugees and Foreigners. Its purpose is to raise awareness among the expert public on the refugee issue and foreigners` rights, as well as to accelerate the education of law students and increase their interest in these special fields of law.
