The Faculty of Environmental Protection invites you to participate in a training program to become a specialist in the sustainable spatial planning of renewable energy sources (RES), which will take place as part of the SAŠA Academy for a Just Transition. Organized by the SAŠA Development Agency, the Academy offers training and expert support to individuals, communities, and businesses in the SAŠA region. The Just Transition Centre, part of the Academy, is fully funded by technical assistance from the Just Transition Fund.

The SAŠA Just Transition Academy is designed to spread new knowledge, promote the development of new industries, and create quality jobs. It helps adapt to changes in the region’s energy and economic structure and promotes a sustainable and more resilient future.

What do you gain?

The training provides specific knowledge for the legally compliant and sustainable integration of RES into the environment. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants receive a certificate as an “Expert in the sustainable integration of RES into the environment”. The programme is designed to train experts who will be able to:

• Prepare the basis for a preliminary environmental impact assessment;

• Conduct impact assessments and prepare reports;

• Design projects for placing objects in space.

Who is the training intended for?

The training is intended for first-cycle graduates in the fields of civil engineering, geodesy, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, environmental protection, law, and related sciences. Graduates of higher education with at least three years of work experience in the field of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency may also apply. Preference will be given to candidates from the SAŠA region or those who plan to develop their business in the region.

When?

1. Date: September 22, 2026 (11:00 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.)
2. Date: September 23, 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
3. Date: September 24, 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.)

Where?

Faculty of Environmental Protection (Trg mladosti 7, 3320 Velenje); Large lecture hall, 1st floor

Scope of the programme:

The training programme will consist of three sessions comprising theoretical and practical work. The length of each session will vary, but the training will comprise a total of 20 training hours.

Content of the programme:

1. Module: Fundamentals of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources
2. Module: Construction and Land-Use Legislation and Site Planning
3. Module: EU Policy, EU Funding, and Project Management
4. Module: Environmental Interventions and Environmental Impact Assessments (Slovenian legislation, “climate proofing,” and DNSH principles)

Lecturers:

Prof. Dr. Željko Vukelič
is an associate professor at the Faculty of Environmental Protection and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at the University of Ljubljana, where he teaches in the Department of Geotechnology, Mining, and the Environment. He teaches courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, including: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, Geothermal Energy, Energy Policy, Geothermal Energy Utilization, Exploration Drilling, and Machinery and Equipment in Geotechnology. At the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FVO), he teaches the courses Rational Use of Energy, Energy Resources and the Environment, and Energy-Efficient Construction. He is the author and co-author of more than 100 scientific and professional articles and several textbooks. He has successfully carried out more than 20 projects, studies, and investment programs in the mining industry. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Mining, Geotechnology, and the Environment. He serves as president of the Mining and Geotechnology Section and the Education Commission of the Chamber of Engineers of Slovenia (IZS), and is a member of numerous international organizations.

Urška Ošljak, B.A. in Economics
She is the head of development at CresCo, a development opportunities company, d. o. o., secretary general of TERIS, and a project specialist at the University of Maribor, where she teaches project management for development projects and programs. Her lectures are based on 19 years of practical experience in successfully securing European funds and various forms of financing for public and private sector operations.

Prof. Dr. Peter Meža
He is an expert in product and project management with 25 years of experience in international corporations (Hisense, Danfoss, Landis & Gyr) and more than 20 years of work in the fields of education, consulting, and research. He is the author of numerous professional and scientific articles, a member of ZPM, IPMA, and ICEC, and an active lecturer and reviewer. His key competencies include product management, project management, strategic planning, and change management. He chairs sessions at scientific conferences and serves as a reviewer for scientific journals. At the Faculty of Environmental Protection, he teaches the course “Project Planning and Management.”

Ana Kočar, M.A. in Business Administration
For more than 25 years, she has been actively involved in the field of land-use planning, where she has participated in the preparation and management of procedures for the adoption of municipal land-use plans in numerous municipalities, including Litija, Mozirje, Slovenske Konjice, Solčava, Šmartno ob Paki, Velenje, Vitanje, and Zreče. Her work is based on extensive practical experience with municipal spatial plans, detailed spatial plans, environmental reports, and the preparation of technical documentation for spatial planning documents. She also places special emphasis on the use of geographic information systems in spatial planning. She is employed as the head of the intermunicipal environmental protection service at the Joint Municipal Administration of the SAŠA Region.

Assoc. Prof. Tanja Tajnik, Ph.D.
She is an associate professor in the field of environmental protection and a recognized expert and consultant on sustainable development. Her research and teaching focus includes environmental technologies, the circular economy, resource management, and advanced technologies for CO₂ capture and utilization. In industrial practice, she specializes in carbon footprint calculations and the preparation of LCA analyses (life cycle assessments of products and services). As the director of Eco-vajb d.o.o. and a project manager, she successfully bridges the gap between academia and industry, helping companies implement sustainable business models and eco-innovations.

Senior Lecturer Klemen Kotnik
He is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Environmental Protection and teaches the courses “Environmental Impact Assessment” and “Environmental Communication” in the undergraduate program. He also provides informal education to elementary, middle, and high school students as well as college students, and serves as a mentor to undergraduate students. In addition, he gives guest lectures on demography and ecology and leads workshops at research camps for gifted high school students. For several years, he served as a project manager, lecturer, and researcher in the fields of environment and society at the former ERICo Institute for Ecological Research in Velenje, where he was also assistant head of the “Environmental Studies and Education” and head of the “Ecological and Environmental Research” department.

Applications

Sign up here: REGISTRATION FORM

Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. We will accept registrations until all spots are filled. Cancellations are accepted up to seven days before the start of the training.