MARIBOR 2012 Hosts Conference on Social Responsibility

As part of its celebrations as the European Capital of Culture for 2012, Maribor is welcoming speakers from around the world, including leading academics, scientists, entreprenuers, experts and culture workers, to participate in this year’s 7th edition of the International Institute for the Development of Social Responsibility (IRDO) Conference.

The theme for this year’s three-day conference is Social responsibility and current challenges 2012: Innovation of culture toward more social responsibility – The way out of socio-cultural crisis, and will see a total of 52 lectures given by 68 leading authorities from 14 nations, including Slovenia, Russia, Poland, USA and Germany.

Among the attendees on the first day (March 8) of the conference was Franc Hocevar, adviser to the President of the Slovenia on Health and Social Care and Humanitarian Issues, Tomaz Kancler, vice mayor of Maribor, Slavko Pregl, Director of the Slovenian Book Agency, Dr. Darij Krajcic, Director of the Institue of Slovenia for Nature Conservation and Dr. Matjaz Mulej, head of the conference’s Program Committee. Also present was Natasa Kos, assistant program director for International Cooperation, Maribor 2012, and Dr. Timi Ecimovic, representing the SEM Institute for Climate Change.

Speaking on behalf of Slovenian President Dr. Danilo Turk, Franc Hocevar made an opening speech on the importance of the connection between culture and social responsibility:

“In times of crisis, which is reflected in many areas of our lives, our concern for our culture is extremely important. Values such as health care, family, art, science, economy, environment, society and nation; these all form our culture, establish our views and influence our behavior. Culture reflects our attitude towards life, our attitude towards Slovenia and towards the rest of the world.”

“We live in a time filled with changes. I`m pleased that the title of the 7th International Conference on Social responsibility and Current Challenges 2012 is ‘Innovation of culture toward more social responsibility – The way out of socio-cultural crisis’”.

“I believe that with presentation of different possibilities of development in many areas and with changing the existing paths the best options for overcoming the crisis will be found.”

The first day of plenary lectures saw Mia Mise of the Institution Maribor present an outlline of the project ‘MARIBOR 2012’, while Dr. Ecimovic gave a presentation of the World Thinker’s Panel on the Sustainable Future of Humanity, and Dr. Danijel Rebolj, spoke about the sustainable and social responsibilities of the University of Maribor.

Lectures will continue to be held today (March 8) and tomorrow (March 9), in which various leading academics will explore the many aspects of social and cultural responsibility . Authors are giving presentations in a variety of fields, including:

• Contemporary Sciences and Culture in terms of Social Responsibility
• Economy and culture of social responsibility
• Socialization of culture and social responsibility
• Law and social responsibility, Culture/art in practice in terms of social responsibility
• Development of individual, organization, and society culture policies supportive of social responsibility
• Social entrepreneurship as a socially responsible innovation of entrepreneurship

The conference will wrap up on Saturday, March 10 with a literary workshop staged by Pia Jenic from the Institue Senzorium, titled The Generosity Experience, 3rd Challenge, Lalabajke: Jean Giono: The Man Who Planted Trees, as well as a presentation of conclusions reached from the four day’s of events by a number of leading scholars.

In keeping with the the conference’s spirit of social responsibility, students, the unemployed and retirees can all enjoy free access to the program of events.