Slovenia is a small country situated at the crossroads of Central Europe bordering Italy, the Adriatic Sea, Croatia, Hungary and Austria. This beautiful country boasts a wide range of geographical features. High mountains, including ranges of the Alps, are found in the north, while wide plateaus make up most of the terrain in the southeast. In the south and southwest there are extensive networks of limestone caves, while the Adriatic coastline stretches between Slovenia’s borders with Italy and Croatia. This geographical diversity contributes to Slovenia’s varied climate, which ranges from Mediterranean on the western coast, to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east.
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Ljubljana
Photo: J. Skok (www.slovenia.info) |
On June 25, 1991, Slovenia proclaimed its independence from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and in the spring of 2004 Slovenia became a member of both NATO and the European Union. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable and vibrant democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation into a modern state. With its transitioning economy and population of approximately two million, Slovenia is a model of economic success and stability for its neighbors in the former Yugoslavia.
Fulbright grantees in Slovenia have lectured and pursued research projects at universities in Ljubljana, Maribor and Primorska in a variety of fields including business, economics, law, political science, and communications and journalism, as well as the arts, science and technology.
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Škocjan Caves Park
Photo: B. Kladnik (www.slovenia.info) |
A grantee in political science to the University of Ljubljana in 2003-04 reports, “The semester was a rich and rewarding experience for me…I learned much about the history and politics in the new democracies in Southeastern Europe and about the EU integration process. This experience will definitely enrich my courses and benefit my students back in the U.S. In addition, I developed several new important professional relationships. I have plans to conduct future collaborative research with two colleagues…”
A grantee in mathematics to the University of Ljubljana in 2003-04 writes, “The Fulbright experience was excellent. The research collaboration will lead to long-term continued collaboration. The teaching gave me new ideas for a similar course in the U.S.”
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Piran
Photo: B. Bajželj (www.slovenia.info) |
Grantees to Slovenia enjoy the physical beauty of the country, the opportunities for engaging in outdoor sports and attending cultural events, and the warmth and friendliness of the people. They find their teaching is enriched by the Fulbright experience and they often return home with ideas for new courses. Many establish long-term collaborations with Slovenian colleagues.
A grantee in economics to the University of Maribor in 2004-05 writes, “Slovenia is a wonderful, beautiful country with plenty to see and do. There are opportunities for mountain climbing and hiking in the Alps and other areas, cycling, running, rowing and skiing…The major cities and even small towns have museums, historical points of interest, and music and theatre…We made several good friends, were invited for dinners and attended cultural events with colleagues.”
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Lake Bled
Photo: J. Skok (www.slovenia.info) |
A grantee in law to the University of Ljubljana in 2004-05 describes his experience as follows: “My wife and I found Slovenia to be a wonderful country to explore with our family. We found people quite friendly and helpful, and most, especially those under 30, speak English (many fluently)…One of the striking differences about Slovenia is the slower pace of life there. While people take their jobs seriously, professionals generally don’t work at the frenetic pace they do in the in the U.S…The Slovenes also make time for building and nurturing relationships, often over coffee or a glass of wine or an unhurried lunch…I am working hard to incorporate some of this spirit—the spontaneous generosity, the priority on nurturing relationships, the emphasis on spending time in the mountains and with nature—into my personal and professional life here in the U.S. In that respect, my experience in Slovenia will have had a transformative role in my life.”
This Web page is designed to help Americans learn more about Slovenia and what it has to offer Fulbright participants. The following links provide general information about many aspects of Slovenian life and culture, as well as specialized materials on politics, economics, media and law. The education section provides direct links to potential host institutions for U.S. scholars.
U.S. Dept. of state Country Page for Slovenia
www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3407.htm
Library of Congress – Portals to the World
http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/european/slovenia/si.html
“Twenty-five Lectures on Modern Balkan History –The Balkans in the Age of Nationalism” by Steven W. Sowards, Mississippi State University
www.lib.msu.edu/sowards/balkan
The Government of Slovenia Homepage
http://www.sigov.si/
Bank of Slovenia
http://www.bsi.si/en/
Transitions Online
www.tol.cz
Slovenian News
http://www.einnews.com/slovenia/
Southeast European Times
http://www.setimes.com/
Slovenia Tourist Board
www.slovenia.info/?home=0
Lonely Planet Guide
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/
slovenia?a=facts
National Tourist Association
http://www.ntz-nta.si/
University of Maribor
www.uni-mb.si/
University of Ljubljana
www.uni-lj.si/
University of Primorska, Koper
www.upr.si/en/
U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana
www.usembassy.si
Embassy of Slovenia in the U.S.
http://washington.embassy.si/index.php?id=51&L=1
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