Networking of the young generation of researchers at UP

For a few days, the University of Primorska was a hub for researchers from various disciplines who were brought together by the question of what role heritage plays in today’s rapidly changing world, where we are witnessing constant changes in climate, society, and politics.

Between September 4 and 5, numerous doctoral students and young researchers gathered in Koper at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska for a networking event organised by the Transform4Europe university alliance, where they exchanged their experiences, working methods and, in mutual dialogue, explored ideas for future cooperation. Organised and led by Assist. Prof. Dr Neža Čebron Lipovec, Prof. Dr Daniela Koleva from the University of Sofia, Prof. Dr Irena Lazar, and Assoc. Prof. Dr Zrinka Mileusnić sought synergies in interactive workshops that encouraged lively and active participation and discussion.

The first day of the event was particularly colourful, as the networking event coincided with the T4EU science café on the topic of critical heritage. Critical heritage studies today are primarily devoted to the analysis of discursive practices of defining and using heritage, which they understand as the constant reflection and redefinition of cultural values by various factors. Doc. Dr Neža Čebron Lipovec from UP FHŠ, together with Prof. Dr Daniela Koleva, a guest from the University of Sofia, led an interesting discussion on views of heritage in the post-socialist era. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr Irena Lazar, UNESCO Chair at UP, who guided the debate with questions about what kind of critical heritage the speakers deal with in their research and what impact the rapidly changing world has on heritage and its role in the modern world.