The Slovene GEA College For Entrepreneurship Where The New Europe Is Being Built

The newest EU member state, Slovenia, located in the heart of Europe, enjoyed an impressive 6.1 per cent economic growth during 2004. This growth was the result of extensive and efficient reform programs. Both entrepreneurship and internationalization will make the difference in the countries of New Europe. Dramatic changes will require people equipped with knowledge and good understanding of how business is being done in other countries in Europe and around the world.

The Slovene Gea College, located in the coastal Adriatic town of Piran, is the forerunner with the first international bachelor program in Slovenia and in the In addition to courses it offers also networking all over Europe. Gea is a place where East meets the West and where the New Europe is being built. During 2005/2006 GEA College starts its second edition of International Bachelor Study of Entrepreneurship. The program, aimed in stimulating the growth of small business, aims also to develop a new entrepreneurial culture. During 2006/2007 a reduced tuition fee will be offered.

GEA College of Entrepreneurship sees its mission to research and develop of new entrepreneurship culture and become the leading training and educational institution in the region. Apart form offering innovative programs, it has formed strategic alliances with industrial and service companies.

GEA offers accredited programs, a choice of theoretical and applied study courses, work in small groups, to be able to experience individual and interactive teaching experience in full. Students are encouraged to participate in discussions, seminars and case studies. Lasting three years (six semesters), an additional semester is offered for the preparation of bachelor's thesis. All courses are ECTS certified, and earned degree is an accredited Bachelor degree in Economics Entrepreneurship). Local and international experts of repute teach at GEA. Students are offered the possibility within the networking to cooperate with other universities on research projects.

GEA maintains links with the following international universities and schools:
Babson College, Boston, USA
Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
EA - VEST, Esbjerg, Denmark
JIBS, International Business School, Jöenköping, Sweden
SSES, Stockholm School of Economics, School of Entrepreneurship, Sweden
HELIA, Helsinki Business Polytechnic, Finland
Lahti Business Polytechnic, Lahti, Finland
University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
IPAC, Institut des Professions des Affaires et du Commerce, Annecy, France
University of Udine, Faculty of Economics, Udine, Italy
Universitá Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milano, Italy
University of Economics, Vienna, Austria
Donau - Universität Krems, Krems, Austria
University of Applied Sciences Giessen - Friedberg, Faculty of Economics, Engineering and Production Technology, Friedberg, Germany
University of Bristol, Bristol, Great Britain
Dundee College, Dundee, Scotland, Great Britain
Universitá di Foggia, Foggia, Italy
University of Pecs, Faculty of Business and Economics, Pecs, Hungary
SAA, Scuola D’Amministarzione Aziendale, Universitá degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy

GEA LOCATION
The school is situated in Piran, in one of the most beautiful buildings of this coastal town, the Palace Trevisini. Piran, a coastal town and municipal center, located in the far north-western tip of Istria peninsula, in North West Adriatic. The town of Piran, has grown as a result of fertile land which supplies the town with agricultural produce, such as vegetable, wine and olives. The rich and extensive saltpans, and the good fishing facilities are provided by the waters of the Adriatic. They are indirectly expressed in the fabric of the town and in its past. The narrow streets and stone houses leaning on each other, offer a typical Mediterranean atmosphere.
Average summer temperature is 21,5 °C, during winter temperature 4 °C.

HOW TO GET THERE
The Adriatic coastal town of Piran is a good hour drive from Ljubljana, the Slovene capital, an hour drive from Trieste (Italy) and about two hours drive from Zagreb (Croatia) and 2 hours from Venice.
By plane:
to Slovene airport at Brnik (Ljubljana) or Tieste, (Italy), and by bus or train to the coastal town of Piran.
By car
Munich-Trieste-Koper, Vienna-Ljubljana-Koper or Venice-Trieste-Koper highway to Piran.
By train
to Koper or Trieste (Italy).

ABOUT SLOVENIA
Slovenia is tucked into a mountainous corner between Austria, Italy, Hungary and Adriatic sea. Everything in Slovenia seems in abundance, the majestic Alps with their glacial valleys, rivers, and lakes, plenty of forests, mysterious karst, caves, the warm Adriatic sea. Slovenia lays along the foothills of the eastern end of the chain of Alps, at the very tip of the most northerly Mediterranean bay, open towards Hungary – and the south. It is a natural hub of European routes and melting of the Alpine, Panonian, Dinaric and Mediterranean worlds. A largely mountainous country, almost half of it covered with forests. Cultivated areas with pastures, fields, vineyards and orchards amount over 43 percent.

GEO STRATEGIC POSITION
Slovenia enjoys an extremely favorable geo-strategic position. It has enjoyed steady and sustained economic development, a growth mostly stimulated by foreign demand. Over 60 percent of Slovenia GDP is generated by the services sector during 2002, and manufacturing which is still of major importance. As an export oriented economy it increases its international trade both in terms of quantity and value. Its main trading partners are Germany, followed by Italy, Croatia, Austria, France, Russia and United Kingdom

SLOVENIA IN BRIEF
Republic of Slovenia, independent state since 1991 and EU member state
Area: 20.256 km2
Population 1.990.000
Capital: Ljubjana 261.826 inhabitants
Major towns: Maribor, Kranj, Velenje, Novo mesto
Major port: Koper and free trade zone 4.743.000 m2
Average rate of GDP growth 4.1 percent