9
The Flow of Communication
The purpose of meetings is
facilitating communication
.
Through meetings we build interpersonal bridges and
establish a
flow of knowledge and ideas
, which at the
end lead to progress and success. But for achieving this
goal, “plain” meetings are not enough, as it is crucial
where and how they actually happen. Through the
millennia, certain spaces were established as
natural
meeting points
, both for their position and the energy
they have.
Ljubljana is one of them
.
The proof to this are the
over six thousand years
of
population on the territory that was the crossroads of
routes connecting Europe through the trade of bronze,
iron and amber and where Slavic, Germanic, Latin and
other cultures would come together.
What makes Ljubljana so unique is not just the fact
that it was shaped by all of these historic influences,
but it also possesses something natural and intangible,
which is impossible to describe and can only be felt. A
fusion of energy flows enable people to relax and open
themselves to communication.
The Flow of Passion
The flow of passion is crucial for breaking the barriers.
It is the
vital element of invention
and an invisible
thread that binds people who want to communicate
one with another regardless of their origin. Passion is
the source of love towards what one does.
Passion, as a vital part of Ljubljana
, can be seen at
every footstep. This is not only reflected in the passion
of the residents towards their city, but also via the
inspiration this city has given to so many artists. They
are still remembered through their masterpieces -
statues, busts and plaques to be found all around.
Practically all statues in Ljubljana are dedicated to
poets, writers, painters, musicians and scientists.
Even the main downtown square is dedicated to the
greatest Slovenian poet – France Prešeren.
His passion was the source of the most expressive
sonnets written in our language. His deep yearning for
Julija Primic, his only true love, is immortalised in their
enlaced gaze flowing from statue to statue, across the
square.
The Flow of Life
Water, as a source of life, is strongly connected to
the foundation of Ljubljana. Over the centuries, the
city has prospered due to the Ljubljanica River – the
cradle of human population in the Ljubljana basin. This
area is one of the few pile dwellers settlements in the
Alpine region listed together as
UNESCO heritage site
,
bringing their number in Slovenia to three.
The flow of the river around the Castle Hill shaped the
medieval city into a compact centre and provided natural
protection as well as a vital transport artery. Today the
Ljubljanica, also referred to as the
River of seven names
,
brings a fluid contrast to the Old Town built on its banks,
with ancient façades mirroring in the green water.
Before reaching the city, the Ljubljanica flows through
the Ljubljana Marsh, a natural park protected by
EU’s
Natura 2000
project as a wetland habitat of
international importance for the preservation and
conservation of wildlife. Nature flows into the city with
the river, which is therefore a popular spot for people
to unwind from the everyday stress and relax in its
green surroundings.
The Flow of Knowledge
To connect and exchange ideas
, people need to open
their minds to each other in the desire to grow and
perfect the existing. This is the essence leading to the
flow of knowledge
that is developed trough learning
and education.
Ljubljana, as the capital of Slovenia, is the centre
of higher education and research of the country.
The Ljubljana University has about
60,000 students
of
graduate and post-graduate programmes and a wide
array of scientific and research institutes. The most
recognized include
Jožef Stefan Institute
, the
UNESCO
International Centre for Chemical Studies
and the
Technology Park Ljubljana
– providing space to an
incubator program for young entrepreneurs bridging
innovation and implementation.
Ljubljana is among the leading Central and Eastern
European capitals in innovation, research and
development according to the Roland Berger survey.
Most citizens are fluent in at least one foreign
language, English being the most widely spoken.
The locals are also known for their willingness to help
and share their knowledge with foreigners looking for
insiders’ tips.
The Flow