ABSTRACT
Human-centred study circles in fact, as opposed to technology-centred networks, were originally developed and thereby institutionalized in Sweden - culturally, politically and educationally. Sweden today has ten national educational associations, which promote, organize and conduct study circles with government subsidies. A leading example is the Worker's Educational Association (ABF), the largest study circle association, which is focused on blue-collar industrial unions, consumer cooperatives and the Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP). In recent years, moreover, the aim of study circles in Slovenia has changed from an initial emphasis on democratization in Slovenia to their more recent focus on local community development. A series of study circles, in cooperation with the Slovenian Institute for Adult education, was instrumental for Solcavsko's most recent development, towards a fully-fledged integral development model, drawing on nature and culture, technology and economy, but with a primary focus on nature- and heritage-based tourism.
