8. 12. 2025 | North Macedonia - Nursing and Midwifery, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance
Tomorrow, 9 December, the project Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education and Establishing the System for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the Republic of North Macedonia will conclude with a final workshop and closing event in Skopje. The gathering will bring together representatives of the Ministries of Health and Education, higher education institutions, and professional nursing and midwifery associations to review progress over the past two years and outline next steps to sustain reforms.
The concluding workshop will focus on two core pillars of the project:
• Operationalising the regulatory framework for nursing and midwifery professions, including institutional responsibilities, future processes, and sustainability requirements.
• Implementing the reformed undergraduate curricula in higher education institutions, bringing together decision-makers to discuss practical steps for roll-out and alignment with EU standards.
These discussions build on extensive work carried out throughout 2024–2025, including the analysis of existing study programmes, the development of proposed national curricula, technical workshops on regulation, and training sessions dedicated to strengthening nursing roles in primary care.
Joining the concluding event from the Slovenian side are Slovenian experts from the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia (Zbornica – Zveza) and the Angela Boškin Faculty of Health Care, as well as representatives of the Slovenian Embassy in Skopje.
The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia [through the International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Programme] and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, with technical support from the WHO Office in North Macedonia.
4. 12. 2025 | EUTI, Peace and security, PR
On 3 and 4 December 2025, Jable Castle hosted participants from across Europe for the first training delivered under the European Union Training Initiative. Organised by the Centre for European Perspective, the course focused on the Foundations of Project Management in Civilian Crisis Management and brought together both pre-mission personnel and experts already deployed in the field.
Over two intensive days, participants explored how project management directly contributes to mission success. The training opened with an introduction to the project mindset and the specific ecosystem of civilian missions, helping participants distinguish between projects and routine operations. They worked through the full project lifecycle, learned how to define project success using SMART objectives, and gained practical tools for setting clear goals and scope.
A strong focus was placed on planning and implementation. Sessions covered how to structure project tasks, allocate resources and budgets, manage timelines, identify and mitigate risks, and monitor progress through effective reporting. Horizontal principles, including human rights, gender equality and the Women, Peace and Security agenda, were also integrated into the project framework, alongside the use of the Logical Framework approach.
The heart of the training was the hands-on capstone exercise. Working in groups on a mission-based scenario, participants developed their own project charter, which they refined, presented and discussed together. Through this practical work, they strengthened key skills such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and decision-making under pressure.
The final sessions focused on best practices and real-life application in mission environments. Participants reflected on common challenges, learned how to motivate teams and stakeholders, and created individual plans for applying newly acquired project management skills in their next deployment.
With highly engaged and motivated participants, the training days passed quickly. Participants left Jable Castle equipped with a strong foundation in project management and a practical toolkit they can immediately use in civilian crisis management missions.
4. 12. 2025 | Nacionalno varnostno mislišče, PR
Povzetek okrogle mize »Slovenija v svetu prelomnic: od inovacij do varnosti«
Slovenija ima odlično priložnost, da svojo odpornost gradi na domačem znanju, povezovanju podjetij, vlaganjih v visoke tehnologije in krepitvi lokalnih okolij. Varnost danes ni več ločena od gospodarstva – je njegov rezultat.
To je bilo ključno sporočilo razprave, ki je potekala v v Trbovljah 4. 12. 2025. Govorci so izpostavili, da se globalno okolje spreminja hitreje, kot smo bili navajeni, »ne iz meseca v mesec, ampak iz sestanka v sestanek«. Svet pa se vrača k logiki moči, kjer vojaška in ekonomska dominanca ponovno oblikujeta odnose med državami, »Evropa pa pri veliki mizi pogosto sedi ob strani«
V tem kontekstu gospodarstvo ni le del države, ki ustvarja delovna mesta in rast. Je temelj strateške odpornosti – od energetske varnosti, industrijskih zmogljivosti, tehnološkega razvoja in inovacij, do zaupanja v domači kapital, solastništvo in sposobnosti hitrega prilagajanja.
Razprava je pokazala, da se odpornost ne gradi samo na ravni države, temveč skozi povezovanje med podjetji, institucijami, lokalnimi skupnostmi in zavezništvi, ki omogočajo pretok znanja, tehnologij in priložnosti.
Govorci
🔸 Matjaž Han, minister za gospodarstvo, turizem in šport
🔸 Boštjan Pavlin, državni sekretar na Ministrstvu za obrambo
🔸 dr. Jure Knez, soustanovitelj in predsednik Dewesoft
🔸 Moderatorka: Sonja Šmuc, Dewesoft
Glavna sporočila razprave
Svet se nahaja v obdobju ekonomske in geopolitične nestabilnosti
V tem okolju je stabilno gospodarstvo ena ključnih oblik strateške moči. Slovenija mora razumeti, da mir in predvidljivost nista več dana samoumevno, temveč rezultat aktivne politike in vlaganj.
Evropa izgublja strateški vpliv – kar ima posledice za podjetja
Slovenija je odvisna od odločitev, ki jih sprejemata politična in gospodarska teža velesil. Če Evropa ne sedi »za veliko mizo«, so podjetja prva, ki občutijo negotovost, volatilnost in izgubo konkurenčnosti
Majhna gospodarstva lahko izrazito povečajo svoj uspeh s povezovanjem in specializacijo
Slovenija je premajhna, da bi bila samozadostna: potrebno je aktivno povezovanje znotraj države kot tudi v EU ter usmerjanje k nišnim sektorjem, kjer lahko pokaže moč znanja.
Podjetja potrebujejo stabilno okolje in dolgoročno miselnost
Za trajnostno rast so pomembni domači kapital in strateško načrtovanje. Solastništvo, kot dokazuje Dewesoft, je odlična praksa, ki kaže, da podjetja, ki ostajajo v slovenski lasti in vlagajo v razvoj, ustvarjajo odpornost gospodarstva in države.
Tehnologije odpirajo nove priložnosti za Slovenijo
Razvoj vesoljskih in drugih visokotehnoloških industrij kaže, da lahko Slovenija s povezovanjem in znanjem dosega globalno relevantnost – tudi na področjih z obrambnimi aplikacijami.
2. 12. 2025 | POTC, PR
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS COURSE (CPoC), NAIROBI, KENYA – POTC APPLICATION LINK
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
The Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course (CPOC) will be conducted in cooperation between the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC), the British Peace Support Team – Africa (BPST – A) and the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), Kenya. The training activity will take place at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya from Monday, 02 to Friday, 13 February 2026 (10 working days).
The aim of the Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course is to equip participants with relevant knowledge and skills to effectively assess, plan, and implement Protection of Civilians (POC) activities in United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) peace operations. It is premised on the fact that the current Peace Support/Keeping Operation (PSO/PKO) setting has become increasingly dynamic and complex with civilians bearing the greatest brunt. It is hoped that this course will enhance participants’ understanding of POC intricacies and frameworks and, consequently, contribute to the operational effectiveness of African Standby Forces.
Eligible candidates should be the ranks of Major to Lieutenant Colonel for the Military, ASP to SSP for the Police and their Civilian Equivalent. The Protection of Civilians Course will be conducted in English. Participants must be fluent in English, both written and spoken. Equal representation of both genders is encouraged, and female candidates are highly recommended for consideration. Applications are done at the link: POTC APPLICATION LINK (deadline: 9 January 2026). In case of any issues, please contact:
All costs related to attending the Protection of Civilians Course (travel, accommodation and full board) will be covered by the organising institutions.
For more information, please refer to the Joining Instructions.
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1. 12. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine
Over the past two weeks, Slovenska Bistrica hosted representatives of Zarichne Municipality as part of a mentorship visit within the Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine programme. The visit was organised by the Centre for European Perspective under the auspices of Bridges of Trust.
The mentorship programme enabled the Ukrainian delegation to gain first-hand insight into best practices of Slovenian local governance, public services, and local economic development. The focus was on practical solutions and transferable approaches that can support the preparation and implementation of development projects in Zarichne Municipality.
During their stay, the delegation visited several institutions and companies in Slovenska Bistrica:
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Komunala Slovenska Bistrica – presentations on digitalisation of public services, sustainable utility management, and innovative approaches to citizen engagement;
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Impol d.o.o. – an overview of modern aluminium production, advanced manufacturing processes, and the role of industry in local economic resilience;
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Slovenska Bistrica Agricultural Cooperative – insights into cooperative organisation, support mechanisms for local farmers, and strengthening local food systems;
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Dom dr. Jožeta Potrča Poljčane – examples of good practices in social care, senior inclusion, and community-based services.
These visits were complemented by in-depth discussions with practitioners, allowing participants to reflect on how similar models could be adapted to the Ukrainian local context.
In addition to field visits, the programme included targeted workshops on project planning, funding opportunities, and implementation strategies. Through guided sessions, participants developed concrete ideas for future cooperation between Slovenska Bistrica and Zarichne, with an emphasis on sustainable local development and post-war recovery needs.
The mentorship visit concluded with the formal signing of a cooperation agreement by the mayors Bohdan Kvachuk (Zarichne) and Dr Ivan Žagar (Slovenska Bistrica). The agreement confirms a shared commitment to continued knowledge exchange, joint initiatives, and long-term municipal partnership, marking an important step toward stronger international cooperation at the local level.
The activities were supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia within the framework of Slovenian Aid, and implemented in cooperation with U-LEAD with Europe.
