Program and projects
Research of Cultural Formations – research programme
RKF - Research of Cultural Formations is a research program funded by the Slovenian Research Agency for the period 2004–2027 (ARIS https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/en/project/17681). The main objective of the program is interdisciplinary research on cultural formations related to arts, media and politics, with a tendency to outline the contemporaneity in post-transition situation.
Cultural formation in its broad sense means internally coherent whole of social relations based on a specified production mode, while in its narrow sense it means concrete integration of a set of cultural practices. Research of cultural formations is a program that enables researchers with different scientific backgrounds to interdisciplinary approach the research on cultural formations: a comparative (comparison of different formations) or relational (e.g. in relation to the social context), synchronic (at the same time) or diachronic (through time). The program is conceptualized largely with reference to the current social situation; therefore, the central focus is on the research of art, media and political culture in the posttransitional circumstances. Every year, national and international conferences and symposia are being organized with relevant topics, and with a substantial production of scientific papers, articles and books.
The Institute of Civilisation and Culture (ICK) carries out the program in partnership with Alma Mater Europaea, the Faculty of Humanities and AMEU – European Centre, Maribor.
Sustainable mobility
Mobility is one of the biggest environmental challenges we face. Humans use and apparently need an endless network of transportation means and systems to uphold their lives, societies, and economies.
Sustainable mobility of all types, vehicles and purposes requires a change in mindset, where transport in passenger cars and trucks gives way to various modes of public transport. It is about a shift in the perception of oneself and one's own means of transport as personal freedom, about the concept of public and private and much more. Andrej Brglez and his team strive for mobility solutions to promote safer transport that is more sustainable, inclusive, competitive and universal. They aim to protect the environment and the quality of life, but at the same time they try to address some other important goals: inclusion, responsibility, solidarity.
In 2024, the TV show Avtomobilnost marks ten years of its steady presence, and since then many innovations have been introduced – a podcast, a radio show, a video platform and a news channel. Andrej Brglez, as the main author and mentor, Is a welcome guest at various most relevant expert meetings, conferences and shows.
Sustaintability in sports
Sport has an undeniable, almost magical impact on society, connecting people and inspiring greatness. As the world faces increasing environmental threats, the sports industry must take the most active stance in promoting sustainability and introducing solutions – it is sport that goes citius, altius, fortius. Everybody else follows.
The green transition is not a natural phenomenon. It is a human creation, an invention that aims to prove humanity is capable of successfully overcoming the most devastating crises in a peaceful and life-protecting way.
Therefore - and following the Olympic motto: It is important to take part. Sport can be the most influential vehicle to reach all who still hesitate to participate. In the year of the Paris2024 Olympiad, Alja Brglez is a President of the Sustainability Committee within the National Olympic Committee Slovenia - with her team she is working on exciting projects to provide solutions for sustainable mobility and infrastructure, and effective waste and event management in sport.
Preventive healthcare
Human health is a social value and it is in the interest of all countries to care for it in a state and an international dimension. Health is a public good that is enjoying undisputed support and concern both on the EU and national levels. However, human health is first and foremost a very personal issue, and a matter of individual, personal responsibility.
ICK is paying particular interest to how the main principle of sustainability (not to do today what will spoil tomorrow of the future generations) can be successfully implemented in the fields of health, healthcare and health prevention. Health prevention is a tool that builds the health security of societies, but a personal care for health prevention is just the most natural application of sustainability principle: not to do today what will spoil your tomorrow.
In 2024, ICK established cooperation with the Implementation Committee European Preventive Care, based in Brussels. The Institute is acting on behalf of this European coalition of individuals and institutions whose goal is to make a breakthrough in the approach to health protection. ICK is having an advisory and organizational role in the implementation of the Program in Slovenia, and helps working to establish a network of offices in all EU-27 member states, with a central office in Slovenia.
The Program consists of two independent projects: the Life-Master Project and the Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Centres Project. ICK will be dealing with the first one, as well as running – with the support of selected universities from 27 countries of the European Union – the Roundtable for Preventive Healthcare initiative.
