Masters of the Digital Future
Banka Slovenije is once again organising MASTERS OF THE DIGITAL FUTURE debate project during the 2025/26 school year, under the patronage of Governor Primož Dolenc and President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, in cooperation with Pro et contra, Slovenia’s national debating organisation.
The debate project is aimed at students in secondary school or the last three years of primary school.
This year, the young participants will focus to the euro in the digital age. They will discuss the possible introduction of a digital euro and the impact on cash transactions, advanced payment methods, and the importance of financial and digital literacy for a safe future for all. They will also be able to address the issue of sustainability, and the environmental footprint of the financial system.
The project is aimed at teachers and young people who want to learn about debate methodology and competitions of this kind, and at those who are already familiar with it. Contests will be held in separate groups based on the level of knowledge on debate methodology.
Project programme
Saturday, 27 September 2025: Debate seminar for new and experienced mentors – presentation of the debate methodology
Friday, 7 November 2025: Open Doors Day and launch of the debate project – fun educational programme for students at Banka Slovenije
2025/26 school year: debating workshops at primary and secondary schools – held in agreement with the debate mentors
January 2026: Debate tournaments – primary and secondary school debate tournaments and selection of winners
Thursday, 21 May 2026, and Friday, 22 May 2026: International debate tournament and finale – conclusion of project
Winner’s prize: a two-day trip to Zagreb and a visit to the Croatian National Bank.
After the end of the debate project all the finalists will meet President Pirc Musar at the Presidential Palace
Registrations for the seminar for debate mentors, for the open day and for the debate workshops at schools can be made here.
For other information, please contact [email protected].
Project in previous years
International Debate Finals
The debate finals will feature the two strongest secondary‑school debate teams selected among teams from seven European countries – Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Montenegro, Slovakia, and Slovenia – who will have debated each other the day before.
The event will be attended by the project’s honorary patron, the President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Nataša Pirc Musar, who will also hold a public discussion with the finalists.
In the afternoon, we also invite you to attend a roundtable on financial literacy, at which the governors of the participating central banks will share their views and the activities of their central banks in this area.
Programme
9:30-10:00 Registration of Participants
10:00-10:30 Welcome Addresses by Dr Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, and Dr Primož Dolenc, Governor of Banka Slovenije
10:30-11:15 Final Debate on the Debate Motion "This House Supports the Introduction of the Digital Euro."
11:15-11:30 Public Discussion between the President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Nataša Pirc Musar and the Finalists
11:30-12:00 Announcement of the Winning Team, Awards Presentation and Conclusion of the First Part
12:00-13:30 Lunch at Banka Slovenije
13:30-15:00 Governors’ Roundtable: From Financial Literacy to Financial Stability
15:00-15:50 Socializing
You are cordially invited to join us. Please register at [email protected].
Invitation to Banka Slovenije and Ministry of Finance open day
In cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, Banka Slovenije held an open day to mark the official launch of its financial literacy projects in the current school year. To open the event, around 400 visiting children listened to speeches by Acting Governor Primož Dolenc and Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič. They both highlighted the importance of projects of this kind, and drew their young audience’s attention to the benefits and potential pitfalls brought by the modern digital world.
