The organisation, whose establishment coincided with the announcement of the independence referendum results 25 years ago, received the honour at the culmination of a day of events hosted by President Borut Pahor to celebrate the national holiday.

Accepting the state decoration, SSK president Boris Pleskovič hailed the symbolic meaning of the decision to honour the organisation as an inspiration to all 2.5 million Slovenians living in Slovenia and around the world to work hard to make Slovenia better.

"This is very important given that an increasing number of Slovenians head to study abroad, where they obtain important know-how and priceless experience. Our wish is for as many as possible to return to Slovenia and help build our common future," said Pleskovič.

The award ceremony was held as Pahor received a group of Slovenian students from abroad.

Pleskovič assessed that such meetings with Slovenian students abroad showed that the homeland valued Slovenians living and studying abroad and wanted to see them return eventually.

On Saturday Slovenia celebrated Independence and Unity Day, remembering 25 years to the day, when the results on the referendum in which 88.5% of all eligible voters backed independence were announced.