ORON , Institute for Information, Research, Organising and Planning

Editor-in-Chief: Janez Sterle
Proposer: VITRA Centre for Balanced Development, Cerknica, Bojan Žnidaršič

ORON, Institute for Information, Research, Organising and Planning is a fine example of how the medium of television can be used to disseminate a very broad range of educational content and thereby motivate viewers towards lifelong learning.

From its beginnings in 1998, in addition to regional information, the Institute has regularly produced substantively enhanced broadcasts aimed at various target viewer groups. Residents of the rural villages and hamlets of the Notranjska region regularly watch general educational broadcasts concerning social sciences, natural sciences, health, social welfare, family, law, environmental protection, managing energy, the natural heritage, culture and art, sport and recreation, religious events in Notranjska and more. In the preparation and actual broadcasting of programmes, citizens themselves can also participate (they set questions and provide initiatives relating to the proposed content). This makes the viewers even more active and the effects of the broadcasts are of course better. They also invite non-governmental organisations, state institutions, companies, regional and local communities, experts and interested civil society circles to prepare broadcasts (these are recorded on professional studio equipment, which enables high-quality transmission and an educational effect).

The producers of the educational programmes at the ORON institute are aware of the importance of spreading knowledge, so for a number of years they have also included in their programming content related to the Lifelong Learning Week. They also share the fruits of their work unselfishly with other institutions and regional television stations. This in turn leads to exchanges between them and at the same time to an expansion of knowledge elsewhere in Slovenia. At the same time awareness is spread about the importance of lifelong learning for personal and social, and especially nature-friendly development, which at the same time encourages faster progress of the less developed Notranjska-Karst region.