Project WORLD FESTIVAL OF SLOVENE LITERATURE ON FILM (1-5 December 2008)
"Language is our homeland, which we can always take with us," wrote Slovene writer Lojze Kovačič. In this time of cybernetics and virtuality, in which integration and globalisation processes shape our language and literature, his statement is especially relevant.
The Centre for Slovene as a Second/Foreign Language at the Department of Slovene Studies at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana is aware of the importance of study programmes in Slovene abroad of which it has been in charge for a number of years. Within the framework of its programme Slovene at Foreign Universities (STU in Slovene) it "transports the homeland" outside the borders of Slovenia by managing and connecting the activities of all the lectorships and maintaining contact with teachers and foreign universities with study programmes in Slovene. Through various projects, our teachers wish to bring Slovene closer to their students and teach the general public about the Slovene culture. The STU programme oversees permanent teacher education, prepares and revises teaching materials, establishes contacts between university departments of Slovene, diplomatic missions and other institutions abroad.
In the context of the European Union, transferring between universities and student and teacher exchanges are carried out above all by the Socrates/Erasmus and CEEPUS programmes. The student mobility offered by the Bologna Process provides possibilities for students to become better acquainted with Slovenia and grow fond of it, which makes their studying of the Slovene language a more fulfilling experience.
Alojzija Zupan Sosič, Associate Professor
Head of the Slovene at Foreign Universities Programme
