From Critical Thinking to Completion Certificates: ASEF Enters its Sixth Year of Tutorial Programme with New Goals and a Commitment to Sustainable Development

Ljubljana, October 9, 2025 – Last night, the ASEF Tutorial Programme Introductory Meeting took place in the hall of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU). The event marked the official start of the ASEF Tutorial Programme for the 2025/2026 generation by the American Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF), and included the ceremonial presentation of Completion Certificates to scholarship recipients from the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 generations who successfully completed their tutorial work.

The meeting was held in the presence of and featured addresses by important guests. The attendees were welcomed by Her Excellency, Ms. Victoria Harrison, the British Ambassador to Slovenia, and Dr. Rok Sekirnik, Director of the ASEF Institute. The event, which brought together the new generation of scholarship recipients, tutors, and graduates, underscored the central importance of the Tutorial Programme to ASEF’s vision of fostering the intellectual and personal growth of individuals.

The Core of the Programme: Values, Vision, and Global Challenges

The concept and vision of ASEF were presented by the Institute’s Director, Dr. Rok Sekirnik. The tutorial system is a unique teaching approach that takes place in small groups, where tutors guide up to three scholarship recipients throughout the year. The primary activity involves essays, through which the participants develop critical thinking and which serve as the basis for publication in the programme’s proceedings.

The fundamental values of the programme were presented in a video address by Dr. Jože Rožanec, Director of the ASEF Tutorial Programme. He emphasized that the programme is based on three core values of the ASEF community: academic excellence, character building (the development of individuals who can ethically lead the community), and service to others, with a special focus on the most vulnerable members of society.

The programme is closely linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), encouraging scholarship recipients to contribute their own solutions to global challenges.

2025/2026 Theme: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

This year’s overarching theme is centered on the Ninth UN Sustainable Development Goal – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

Dr. Rožanec stressed that the theme focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. It is of exceptional importance to Slovenia, as new waves of industrialization determine the country’s competitiveness and opportunities for global progress.

In the spirit of interdisciplinary cooperation – a hallmark of ASEF – tutorial groups will address the theme from various angles, ranging from Computer Science (AI, process optimization) and Chemistry/Physics (sustainable industrial processes) to Medicine (ergonomics, occupational medicine) and Social Sciences (the impact of industrialization on society, transport, and language).

Tutorial Groups 2025/2026

Exceptional experts have stepped into the role of tutors for the new programme year, guiding a new generation of fellowship recipients divided into five groups:

Biochemistry and Chemistry: Tutor Dr. Alen Krajnc. Scholarship recipients: Teja Pelko, Maša Karčovnik, Martin Jazbec.
Computer Science: Tutor Prof. Dr. Ivan Bratko. Scholarship recipients: Gal Gantar, Mark Žnidar, Valter Hudovernik.
Physics and Engineering: Tutor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sašo Grozdanov. Scholarship recipients: Tomaž Jurkovič, Nikiša Plešec, Luka Jože Pušlar.
Medicine: Tutor Prof. Dr. Janez Žibert. Scholarship recipients: Duška Stopar, Zara Bunc, Tina Košuta.
Social Sciences: Tutor Prof. Dr. Tomaž Deželan. Scholarship recipients: Hana Podjed, Polona Zabret, Tara Miler, Marko Fišer.

Ceremonial Presentation of Completion Certificates to Previous Generations

A festive part of the meeting was the presentation of ASEF Completion Certificates to scholarship recipients who successfully finished the Tutorial Programme and research in the 2023/2024 generations (proceedings Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence) and 2024/2025 (proceedings Sustainable Food Systems: An Interdisciplinary View on Challenges and Potential Solutions).

2023/2024 Generation:

Computer Science (Mentor: Prof. Dr. Ivan Bratko): Frenk Dragar, Leon Samotorčan, Tim Vidmar.
Biology and Medicine (Mentor: Ana Ramovš, M.D.): Lara Snoj, Ines Žabkar, Katja Hrovat, Luka Petravić.
Biochemistry and Chemistry (Mentor: Prof. Dr. Zdenko Časar): Žana Brilej, Simona Gričar, Tina Logonder.

2024/2025 Generation:

Biochemistry and Chemistry (Mentor: Dr. Alen Krajnc): Jernej Birk, Veronika Bračič, Lena Kogoj, Zala Perko, Gregor Puhar, Miha Rožič.
Physics and Engineering (Mentor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sašo Grozdanov): Domen Škerlep, Črt Rozman.
Law and Social Sciences (Mentor: Assoc. Prof. Petra Weingerl): Ema Odra Raščan, Matej Igličar.
Computer Science (Mentor: Prof. Dr. Ivan Bratko): Adrian Mladenić Grobelnik, Martin Jurkovič.
Environmental Protection and Tourism (Mentor: Prof. Dr. Miha Humar): Lana Nastja Anžur, Jaka Godejša, Živa Alif.

The Completion Certificates were presented by Dr. Rok Sekirnik and the present mentors, who acknowledged their participants’ year-long work.

All attendees wished the generations successful collaboration and great achievements on their continued academic paths.