APOLLO Project: Partner Meeting and Review of Future Activities in Tübingen

The APOLLO project, implemented under the Interreg Alpine Space Programme, continues to make progress with its planned activities and strengthen cooperation among project partners from across the Alpine region.

Demographic changes have a significant impact on local communities, labour markets and regional development. Through the APOLLO project, partners are exploring new approaches to improving employee well-being and work-life balance, thereby contributing to more attractive and higher-quality living and working conditions in Alpine regions.

A distinctive feature of the project is its emphasis on territorial cooperation and networking. By establishing and strengthening networks, the project promotes collaboration among different stakeholders and creates synergies that can enhance community well-being and stimulate economic development in individual regions.

Partner Meeting in Tübingen

In September, APOLLO project partners met in Tübingen, Germany, to review the work carried out so far, present implemented pilot activities, and discuss the results achieved and the next steps of the project.

During the meeting, partners presented their pilot actions, shared experiences from their implementation, and discussed the results and challenges encountered in addressing demographic changes and related issues in the fields of employment and local development.

Particular attention was also given to upcoming project activities. Partners presented their plans for the coming period and coordinated the next steps in developing and testing approaches that can contribute to improving the quality of life and work in regions facing demographic challenges.

The meeting was also attended by Adina Schmid, Project Officer of the Interreg Alpine Space Programme, who followed the partners' presentations and familiarised herself with the progress achieved so far. Her participation provided a valuable opportunity to exchange information on the activities implemented and the project's future direction.

UNM FOŠ as Part of an International Partnership

The University of Novo mesto, Faculty of Organizational Studies (UNM FOS), is one of the partners involved in the APOLLO project, contributing to the implementation of project activities and the exchange of knowledge and expertise with other partners.

For UNM FOS, participation in the project offers an opportunity to combine research and professional expertise with the experience of partners from other European regions. At the same time, the project provides a platform for discussing issues that are also relevant to Slovenia, particularly labour market changes, new forms of work organisation, the attractiveness of local environments for employees, and ways in which organisations and communities can respond to demographic trends.

International cooperation enables partners to compare different approaches and practices and jointly explore solutions that can contribute to more resilient and attractive local environments.

Tübingen's Connection to Slovenian Cultural History

In addition to its professional activities, the partner meeting provided an opportunity to discover Tübingen's rich historical and cultural heritage. The partners visited the historic town centre and stopped at Primož Trubar Street, named after the prominent Slovenian Protestant reformer and pioneer of the Slovenian literary language.

Tübingen holds a special place in Slovenian cultural history. It was here that Primož Trubar published the first two books in the Slovenian language in 1550, Catechismus and Abecedarium. These publications marked a major milestone in the development of the Slovenian literary language and written culture.

The visit to Primož Trubar Street was therefore also an interesting opportunity to introduce international project partners to an important part of Slovenia's cultural heritage. Alongside professional cooperation, the meeting offered a chance to explore the historical ties between Slovenia and Tübingen.

Looking Ahead

The September meeting marked an important step in the continued implementation of the APOLLO project. Partners reviewed the results achieved so far, shared experiences from their pilot activities and coordinated their future work.

In the coming period, the project will continue to focus on exploring and testing approaches that can help address the challenges of depopulation. APOLLO thus continues its mission of bringing European partners together to jointly develop new responses to demographic changes, which are shaping the future of many regions across the Alpine area.