Masters of the Digital Future

For the second year in a row, Banka Slovenije is, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar, organising the debate project MASTERS OF THE DIGITAL FUTURE, which is held in cooperation with the debate organisation Pro et contra – Institute for culture of dialogue.

It is aimed at older primary school students and at the secondary school students.

In terms of topic, we continue with digitalisation – this time in relation to online fraud (in banking). The debaters have the opportunity to discuss the pitfalls of false information and how to protect themselves from it, the right to privacy and the protection of personal data, and to which extent is it the responsibility of an individual. They discuss how to furtherly protect vulnerable groups and the excessive internet use.

The project is aimed at educators and young people who wanted to learn about debating methodology as well as those already familiar with it. The competition is again held in separate categories depending on the level of debaters’ competence.

Project programme

• 20 and 21 September 2024: Debate seminar for new and experienced mentors – presentation of the debate methodology and presentation of financial topics discussed in the project

• 4 October 2024: Open Doors Day and launch of the debate project – an educational programme for students at Banka Slovenije

• School year 2024/25: Debate and finance workshops in schools – implementation of debate and finance workshops in schools in agreement with debate mentors

• 18 and 25 January 2025: Debate tournaments – primary and secondary school debate tournaments and selection of finalists

• 15 May 2025: Final debate and project conclusion – active participation of the President of the Republic of Slovenia and the Acting Governor of Banka Slovenije and winners’ announcement

Prize for the winners: a trip to the Geldmuseum (Money Museum) in Vienna.

After the final debate, the President of the Republic of Slovenia will welcome the finalists at the Presidential Palace.

For other information, please contact [email protected].

More information about the debate project in the school year 2023/2024 is available here.

At the Masters of the Digital Future Debate Seminar, debate mentors could participate in a lecture on the role and functioning of Banka Slovenije, which was followed by lectures on payments and payment systems and price stability. On the following day, debate experts from Pro et Contra, Institute for culture of dialogue, also delivered a lecture and workshops on debate theory and methodology, giving participants an insight into the skills of argumentation that they will be able to pass on to their students during the course of the project.

Banka Slovenije and the Ministry of Finance organised an Open Doors Day to officially launch two financial literacy projects. Under the patronage of the Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič, we organised the financial literacy project for primary school students named Bodi FIN, and we are continuing with the debate project Masters of the Digital Future under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar.

At the Open Doors Day, the Governor of Banka Slovenije Boštjan Vasle and the Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič addressed the students and mentors. In his address, the Governor spoke about the dangers of money management, stressed the importance of financial literacy and said, "Financial security online is a skill, it is a special ability, it is something that will stay with you throughout your lives. Managing your own income early is a good basis for making the right financial decisions in adulthood."

In the second part of the event, the participants – we hosted 400 of them – got a closer look at a wide range of financial topics through an educational and entertaining programme.