Prerequisits:

There are no specific prerequisites. Basic knowledge of human geography, social science and humanities theories, and research methods is recommended.

Content (Syllabus outline):

• understanding of heritage in contemporary society,
• the principles and objectives of the protection of heritage,
• heritage in cultural landscape as a synergy between security and development,
• importance and protection of tangible and intangible heritage in the landscape,
• planning of heritage interpretation,
• eco-museum as an example of heritage network,
• interpretative infrastructure indoors and outdoors,
• interpretative tools,
• development of interpretative content.

Temeljni literatura in viri / Readings:

• Wetterberg, O., Fredholm, S., Palmsköld, A., Persson, M. 2024. Handbook of Best Practice ‘Heritage Interpretation: a look from Europe’. Tehic.
• Protecting Our Heritage and Fostering Creativity 2025. Medmrežje: www.unesco.org/en/culture (22. 2025)
• Howard, P. 2003: Heritage: management, interpretation, identity. London & New York.
• Risk, P. 1995: Interpretation and Emotion: Making Heritage Live. Faculty publications Texas.
• Tilden, F. 1957: Interpreting our Heritage. North Carolina.
• Vezali, N., Popović, J. 2025. European Heritage Hub. Educational Study Kit. European Heritage Hub.
• Slack, S. 2020. Interpreting Heritage. A Guide to Planning and Practice.
• Wetterberg, O., Fredholm, S., Palmsköld, A., Persson, M. 2024. Handbook of Best Practice ‘Heritage Interpretation: a look from Europe’. Tehic.
• Protecting Our Heritage and Fostering Creativity 2025. Medmrežje: www.unesco.org/en/culture (22. 2025)
• Howard, P. 2003: Heritage: management, interpretation, identity. London & New York.
• Risk, P. 1995: Interpretation and Emotion: Making Heritage Live. Faculty publications Texas.
• Tilden, F. 1957: Interpreting our Heritage. North Carolina.
• Vezali, N., Popović, J. 2025. European Heritage Hub. Educational Study Kit. European Heritage Hub.
• Slack, S. 2020. Interpreting Heritage. A Guide to Planning and Practice.
• Staiff, R. 2014. Re-imagining Heritage Interpretation. Enchanting the Past-Future. Routledge.

Objectives and competences:

The main aim of the course is to present the challenges of researching heritage interpretation. Special emphasis will be on understanding the changing relationship to the heritage.

Student will gain profound knowledge and management skills in working with the heritage interpretation. Student obtains theoretical and practical knowledges on heritage interpretation.

The students will receive following skills:

• knowledge about the perception development of evaluation and heritage protection,
• to distinguish the methods and concepts of heritage interpretation,
• capability to individually valuate heritage with different interpetative tolls,
• competency to define the most efficient methodological approach.

Intended learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding:

• understanding of the heritage importance,
• the knowledge of the contemporary approaches,
• a comprehensive evaluation of the heritage interpreation,
• the practical knowledge of critical identification, evaluation and design of the heritage interpretation,
• assessment of individual research plan in the field of the course,
• carry out a research from the field of the course.

Learning and teaching methods:

Types of learning/teaching:

• Frontal teaching
• Work in smaller groups or pair work
• Independent students work

Teaching methods:

• Explanation
• Conversation/discussion/debate
• Work with texts
• Case studies
• Roleplay
• Field work (e.g. company visits)

Assessment:

• Long written assignments (60 %)
• Presentations (10 %)
• Final examination (written/oral) (30 %)

Lecturer’s references

• Smrekar, A. (avtor, vodja projekta), Žnidaršič, R., Breg Valjavec, M., Polajnar Horvat, K., Volk Bahun, M. Obnovitev in ohranjanje mokrotnih habitatov na območju Ljubljanskega barja – PoLJUBA : priprava interpretacijskih gradiv za projekt PoLJUBA : tematska pot Pot med jelšami : interpretacija. Ljubljana: Geografski inštitut Antona Melika Znanstvenoraziskovalnega centra Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti, 2021. 8 str.
• Ratković Aydemir, D. L., Jagić Boljat, I., Draženović, M. (avtor, ur.), Klarić Vujović, I., Kuka, M., Polajnar Horvat, K., Smrekar, A. (avtor, ur.). Priročnik za interpretacijo dediščine. 1. izd. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC, 2020. 98, 98 str.
• Breg Valjavec, M., Smrekar, A., Zorn, M. Interpretation model of karst geoheritage in Dinaric Karst. V: Jary, Z. (ur.), Widawski, K. (ur.). Geotrends. Wrocław: Instytut Geografii Rozwoju Regionalnego Universytetu Wrocławskiego. cop. 2017, str. 5. http://www.geogr.uni.wroc.pl/data/files/konferencje/lib-geotrends_2017.pdf.
• Smrekar, A., Šmid Hribar, M., Tiran, J. The environmental interpretation in the protected area in Slovenia. V: Changes, challenges, responsibility. Kraków: [s. n.]. 2014. http://www.igu2014.org/programme_detailed/pdf/C12_16_G2/Smrekar_The_environmental.pdf.
• Smrekar, A., Šmid Hribar, M., Tiran, J. Interpretacija okolja: teren in, ali sodobne tehnologije = Interpretation of the environment: fieldwork and, or modern technologies. V: KREUH, Nives (ur.), Štrukelj, A. (ur.), Lesjak Reichenberg, M. (ur.). Zbornik povzetkov prispevkov, Mednarodna konferenca Splet izobraževanja in raziskovanja z IKT – SIRikt 2014, Kranjska Gora, 28.-30. maj 2014. Ljubljana: Zavod RS za šolstvo. 2014, str. 266. http://www.zrss.si/pdf/Zbornik-SIRIKT2014.pdf.