Four institutions joined forces to organize the summer school: the University of Primorska, St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia, University of Saarland, which are partners of the European Transform4Europe University, and the University of Rijeka. The summer school was attended by almost 20 students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Croatia and Austria.
The content of the summer school was also closely linked to the theme of ICOM 2024, the International Museum Day, which focuses on the role of museums as centers of education and research. Through lectures, workshops and fieldwork, students gained valuable experience and enhanced their knowledge of contemporary museum practices. Distinguished lecturers from various institutions presented a wide range of topics, from new theoretical approaches to practical examples from heritage practice.
In addition to the academic programme, the summer school also had a practical component in the form of fieldwork. Participants visited Gradišče near Divača, Famlje and Naklo, where they had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the heritage of these places and to explore the possibilities of their management through the prism of living laboratories. This direct contact with the heritage enabled the students to put their theoretical knowledge into practice, which is an important step towards developing integrated approaches in the field of heritage and museology.
Participants expressed their enthusiasm for the knowledge they had acquired and the positive experiences they had gained during both the virtual and practical work. The organizers stressed that the feedback was very positive, which encourages them to plan already for the next edition of the summer school, which will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, in September 2025. The aim remains clear: to pursue innovative and inclusive approaches to heritage and to promote cooperation between European research and educational institutions.
