Together with the Department of Asian Studies at the Faculty of Arts (University of Ljubljana) and the East Asia Resource Library (EARL), the Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Ljubljana), co-organised the EARL Day. The event took place at the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Ljubljana on 19 December 2019 as part of the the Official Programme of the 100th Anniversary of the University of Ljubljana. It had three aims:
1 – to appraise the book written by scholars with expertise from various fields related to East Asia;
2 – to reflect on the past and present state of the art in the field of East Asian studies in Slovenia; and
3 – to elaborate on the role of the EARL in the future endeavours of the University of Ljubljana to position itself internationally as one of the hubs in which knowledge about East Asia is generated.
A series of lectures and round table panel discussions were held throughout the day, whereby experts from different fields debated various EARL-related issues relevant to business, humanities and social sciences. While reflecting on the beginnings of research of East Asia in Slovenia, the speakers also touched upon the future prospects of the latter in the changing world – particularly acknowledging the drastic changes in international society, increased business opportunities for Slovene business abroad, and advancements in technology, which are likely to reshape the society. Opening speeches were given by Professor Igor Papič, the Rector of the University of Ljubljana, Professor Monika Kalin Golob, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Professor Roman Kuhar, Dean of the Faculty of Arts. At the event, the book titled ‘Processes and Relations in East Asia’, co-authored by EARL members (including several CIR members) was presented. The pioneers of East Asian Studies in Slovenia who contributed to the book, presented different topics the book covers, related to the themes covered in the round table panel discussions earlier in the day.
