Dr. Dejan Valentinčič Presented for ASEF Junior Fellows

ASEF has prepared a special online training about Slovenes around the world for ASEF Junior Fellows from Slovenia. It was performed by dr. Dejan Valentinčič, State Secretary at the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenes Abroad, Assistant Professor of Constitutional Law and Human Rights at the Faculty of State and European Studies of the New University (FDŠ), Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of Applied Social Studies (FUDŠ) and Head of the research group at the ASEF Institute.

At the beginning of his education, Dr. Valentinčič pointed out that about 500,000 Slovenes and persons of Slovene descent live outside Slovenia. In doing so, however, a distinction must be made between borderland and emigration. Slovenes abroad are members of the autochthonous Slovene minority in neighboring countries. In connection with emigration, we are talking about Slovenes around the world.

ASEF Junior Fellows got acquainted with the three waves of emigration of Slovenes and learned more about the historical context of Slovene emigration to the USA, Argentina and Australia. During the presentation, they learned about both community and individual aspects of preserving and consolidating Slovenian identity around the world, which will significantly help them understand the context of ASEF Junior Fellows living abroad with Slovenian background, which ASEF allows them to visit Slovenia, and the importance in general. preservation of Slovenian identity, language and culture abroad.