INSTITUTE FOR ETHICS (Institute for Studies Ethics and Values) is a young institution, which was established in 2013 at the initiative of Prof Jože Trontelj. The Institute was co-‐founded also by the Slovene Academy of Sciences and Arts and was headed – until his sudden and very premature death – by Prof Dr Jože Trontelj.
Institute’s main task is to support re-‐introduction of education in ethical values in the Slovenian school system. The basic aim of the Institute is the promotion of the competencies to build the culture of knowledge, values and ethics, especially in the education from the preschool to the university level.
We started our work in the belief that the most important tasks of the present time will be the formation of a global society of values, knowledge and welfare as the only possible form of a stable society of the future. Such society can only be built on a basis of well-‐functioning ethical standards and impartial knowledge in all venues of public life. Ethical values must be embraced personally by the large majority of members of the society. This can only happen if children and adolescents receive appropriate education in ethics and virtues. Schools have traditionally fulfilled this role with great dedication and responsibility throughout the history of civilization. However, our dynamic time is presenting new challenges, which have to be addressed with additional efforts and in new ways.
Prof Dr Janek Musek, Prof Dr Jože Trontelj, Mr Marijan Musek, co-‐founders of the Institute for Ethics
On 4th September 2013 we hosted a Conference entitled ”Ethics and Values in Education”, which was attended by more than 400 principals of kindergartens and schools from all over Slovenia. It was a high level event, directly supported by our President of the Republic Mr Borut Pahor, who also addressed the participants with a speech.
There has been a remarkable positive response first of all to the initiative to introduce more ethics education to schools, which seems to have come at a right time, and then to the actual content of the Conference.
Prof Dr Jože Trontelj and President of The Republic of Slovenia Mr Borut Pahor
Prof Dr Janek Musek, Mr Marijan Musek, Prof Dr Jože Trontelj,
Prof Dr Elmar Doppelfeld, Prof Dr David Carr
At the Conference was presented a long-‐term project of fostering ethics education at our schools, starting from the pre-‐primary level. We prepared training programs for teachers and educators, including recommended activities for children and pupils. We are aiming at need to strengthen motivation for responsible behavior in respect of morals and virtues.
Introductory training of teachers and educators, November 2013
Introductory training of teachers and educators, Prof Dr Jože Trontelj and Mrs Božena Bratuž, President of the Slovenian community kindergartens, Principal of Kindergarten Ptuj, November 2013
“Knowledge without borders”, 26th December 2013
Together with Prof Dr Trontelj we were supporting young Slovenian students, researchers and alumni all around the world at their efforts to establish their own association for networking of knowledge for better society. At our initiative President of The Republic of Slovenia hosted in Presidential Palace a reception on The National Day of Independence and Unity. Unfortunately Prof Dr Trontelj was no longer with us. But his thoughts has generously and sensitively shared his wife Mrs Tatjana Trontelj.
Mrs Tatjana Trontelj, Speech at inaugural meeting of Association of young Slovenian citizens who are studying or researching abroad.
Reception of the President of the Republic
We are well aware of Prof Dr Trontelj’s cordial wish to continue with the planned work of the Institute, especially regarding the projects aimed at more intense integration of values and ethics into education and the dialogue between generations and within society in general. The Institute continues to work in close cooperation with Prof Dr Jože Trontelj’s closest co-‐workers, including his wife, Mrs Tatjana Trontelj, Prof Dr Janek Musek, co-‐founder of the Institute, and Mr Tone Žakelj, his co-‐worker and long-‐time close friend from the Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology and the Republic of Slovenia Medical Ethics Committee.
Mrs Tatjana Trontelj, Welcome speech at 2nd training of teachers and educators, February 2014
Academician Prof Dr Jože Trontelj, our co-‐founder and president, is no longer among us. We've lost a man who in one person embodied the world's major scientific breakthroughs and human greatness, the highest intellectual range and noble kindness, diligence and unwavering dedication to family, professional excellence and breadth of wisdom, the highest professional, vocational, social functions and a lot of personal modesty, cosmopolitanism and patriotism, commitment to superior professional ethics, medical ethics and bioethics and implementation of ethical, moral and value the ideals of personal life. Members and associates of Institute for ethics are gratefull and honored of his presence and support. As guardian angel he was someone who embodied the scientific erudition, ethics and the highest values on the path of truth and goodness. And although the sudden and untimely death broke away our great mentor and also a friend, his work will allow us the continuation of our mission and our vision, projects that have been outlined along with it. In the spirit he will remain with us and that throughout the indispensability of his departure, nothing can prevent it. His memory and a great example compel us and fills us with feelings of deep gratitude.