International Conference
International Conference on Bullying and Violence Prevention
Join us on 21 May 2025 in Ljubljana (Slovenia) for the International Conference on the Prevention of Bullying and Peer Violence, under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Nataša Pirc Musar.
This event will bring together esteemed experts from around the globe to share their insights and strategies for creating safer school environments. The head of the conference is assoc. prof. dr. Veronika Tašner from the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana.
Our distinguished speakers include representatives from our project partners and members of our international advisory board.
This event will bring together esteemed experts from around the globe to share their insights and strategies for creating safer school environments. The head of the conference is assoc. prof. dr. Veronika Tašner from the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana.
Our distinguished speakers include representatives from our project partners and members of our international advisory board.
International conference
'Systemic approach to preventing bullying and peer violence in schools'
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Cankarjev dom (CD Club), Prešernova cesta 10, 1000 Ljubljana
Cankarjev dom (CD Club), Prešernova cesta 10, 1000 Ljubljana
09:30 - 10:00
Registration of participants
10:00 - 12:00
Welcome address and introductory insight into peer violence
Dr. Veronika Tašner, Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana:
Conference opening
The President of the Republic of Slovenia dr. Nataša Pirc Musar:
video address
Introductory speeches:
dr. Zdravko Kačič, Rector of University of Maribor
prof. dr. Gregor Dolinar, Vice-rector of University of Ljubljana
dr. Igor Bernik, Dean of Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor
dr. Karmen Pižorn, Dean of Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana
M. Sc. Katarina Milković, Director of the Education and Teacher Training Agency, Republic of Croatia
dr. Alenka Flander, Director of CMEPIUS
dr. Aleš Bučar Ručman, Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor:
Presentation of With Knowledge against Bullying project
dr. Stuart Henry, San Diego State University (USA):
Preventing school violence by engaging the interplay of its ecological dimensions
Dr. Maria Sapouna, University of the West of Scotland (GB):
What schools can do to prevent and reduce prejudice-based bullying
dr. Dziuginta Baraldsnes, University of Stavanger (Norway):
The role of parents in school bullying prevention and intervention
Dr. Veronika Nagy, Utrecht University (The Netherlands) and Marko Puschner, Safe.si, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana:
Challenging Cyberbullying – Exploring Digital Ecologies and Prevention Approaches
12:00 - 12:45
Lunch
12:45 - 14:45
Bullying and Peer violence: an insight into the problem from the perspective of foreign experts
dr. Virginia Soldino, University of Valencia (Spain):
Peer-on-peer sexual abuse in the school context - behaviors in the online context
Dr. Hiromichi Katou, University of Hokkaido (Japan):
School Bullying in Japan: current situation and preventive/interventive measures
Alma Rovis Brandić, Education and Teacher Training Agency (Croatia):
Bullying prevention and intervention in Croatia: existing approach with a plan of an upgrade with the “With Knowledge against Bullying” project
Margit Schmitbauer, The Quality Agency, The Institute for School Quality and Educational Research (Germany):
Preventing peer violence and ensuring quality in school environment: German/Bavarian perspective
Jeanette Berga, Milan Obradovic, BID Sofielund, Malmö (Sweden):
Violence prevention at the local level: case study of City of Malmö, Sweden
Mette Bøe Lyngstad, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Art (Norway) in dr. Dziuginta Baraldsnes, University of Stavanger (Norway):
The use of drama for bullying prevention.
Discussion
14:45 - 15:00
Coffee break
15:00 - 17:00
Insight into the state of peer violence in Slovenia
Mag. Mojca Mihelič, Association of Head Teachers and Assistant Head teachers of Slovenia:
Schools are too often left to their own devices when identifying and responding to bullying and peer violence
Dr. Aleš Bučar Ručman, Dr. Vanja Erčulj, Dr. Veronika Tašner, Dr. Simon Slokan (Slovenia):
Preliminary results of the national study on bullying in Slovenia (2025)
Dr. Simon Slokan, Education Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia:
Findings of the Education Inspectorate of the RS related to bullying and peer violence
Tatjana Milavec, Association of centres for social work (Slovenia):
The role of social work centres in bullying and peer violence: from prevention to co-creation of solutions
Aljaž Sedej, Slovenian Judo Federation:
The role of sport in preventing bullying and peer violence
Discussion
The conference will be open to teachers, school counsellors, and school leaderships from Slovenia and Croatia. It will also be live-streamed.
