Courses, Grants and Scholarships
In Slovenia
There are a number of courses available for the study of Slovenian. The majority are in Ljubljana. The Centre for Slovenian as a Second/Foreign Language at the Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana University offers one-year and half-year, as well as short summer and winter courses of Slovenian, afternoon courses and personal tuition.
The Ministry for Education, Science and Sport and the University of Ljubljana provide scholarships to enrol in Slovenian secondary schools and university courses. Scholarships are also available for the descendants of Slovenian emigrants who are not citizens of Slovenia.
For more information on costs, availability of scholarships and other details, view the web site.
There is also an attractive summer course in Koper. For up-to-date and detailed information on courses and available scholarships, view the web site of Znanstveno in raziskovalno sredisce republike Slovenije, Koper.
In USA and Europe
There are a number of university courses and programs in USA and
in Europe outside Slovenia, focusing on linguistic and literature
studies and commonly offered as a study option. For more information
view the website.
Annual grants are available from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Slovenia, Office for Slovenes Abroad. Information is available from
the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs or the Australian Embassy
of Slovenia.
Links between Australia and Slovenia
There is considerable exchange between Slovenia and Australia, although Slovenia has not been quite discovered by the tourist population. As a small immigrant group they have established themselves well in Australia. Active in ethnic councils, radio and cultural events, they have made their presence felt. Slovenian artists, such as the expressionist painter Stanislav Rapotec and sculptor Ron Gomboc have made their mark in Australian society. There have been at least two federal parliamentarians and several recipients of the Order of Australia honours.
Over the years there have been many links between Australia and Slovenia. Slovenian imports number Sloveniales, Elan, Gorenje, Delamaris, and Kolinska. Slovenian scientists have been invited to lecture at Australian universities and Australian artists, poets, singers and bands have performed at festivals in all the major Australian cities.
There have been a number of art exhibitions, notably the Contemporary Slovenian Graphic Design in Sydney and Shakespeare in theatres of central Europe between the two wars 1918-1938 at Multicultural Festival in Canberra.
The work of artist Matej Andraz Vogrincic was one of the high points of the Adelaide Festival; similarly the much translated Slovenian poet Tomaz Salamun at a previous festival. The conceptual artist Marko Peljhan has performed in a multinational production in 2000. Successful Slovenian electronic music producing team Recycled Loops featuring Dj Umek and Dj Valentino Kanzyani has toured major Australian cities for 2 times, drawing large audiences and winning public acclaim.
In 2001 the Australian retailing giant Harvey Norman established a major base in Slovenia to serve as foundation for his plans to expand into central and eastern Europe.
