FT together for a sustainable future
The students and staff of the FT UM, with the support of the local community, planted the first 5 trees of the future park on Maistrova Street in Brežice last Friday. The activity was carried out as part of our now traditional Mix & Mingle events, which are aimed at connecting all students of the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Maribor.
On Friday, March 22, 2024, we held two intertwined events. At the Youth Center Brežice, we gathered more than twenty employers from the tourism sector as part of a career fair. The fair was very well attended, as on the same day, our Mix & Mingle day took place at the same location, where all students from the faculty in Brežice and Ljubljana gather twice a year in one place. Additionally, we invited other young people from the surrounding area to the fair, making the atmosphere even livelier.
Throughout the morning, students attended lectures or participated in workshops organized by the Career Center of the University of Maribor on the topic of employment and work in tourism. Simultaneously, they had the opportunity to meet their future employers at the fair, discuss internships, or even potential employment opportunities.
As is customary on every Mix & Mingle day, a special social activity took place after the lectures, focusing on climate responsibility and the faculty community's contribution to a cleaner and greener environment. This time, in Brežice on Maistrova Street, we planted the first five trees of the future park according to the plan designed by the Brežice Local Community. This activity was initiated by the Faculty and coordinated with the Municipality of Brežice, the Local Community of Brežice, residents of nearby blocks, a project design office, and the municipal tourism institute ZPTM. The action represents an example of coordinated efforts of local stakeholders for the common good and is more than symbolic. Representatives of the local community and the municipality also participated, and the event attracted interest from several citizens.
The trees were planted collectively by different generations, communities, and cultures. We planted them with the awareness that plants will require attention, care, and nurturing for a long time to grow into healthy, leafy trees with strong roots that green the landscape, cool it in the summer, and provide pleasant shelter. Similarly, communities and individuals, including students, grow connectivity and resilience through collaboration (and planting), forming a strong chain that contributes to greater societal resilience. Through their studies (and such career activities), students plant and diligently cultivate their careers, personalities, and futures.
During the Mix & Mingle day, students typically compete in teams for prizes and the Faculty of Tourism's rotating trophy, but this time, we decided to forego competitiveness. In fostering sustainable relationships, both within the Faculty and in the broader community, we encouraged (even more) cooperation, collegiality, tolerance, and social responsibility. The reward lies in healthy and strong relationships and a high quality of life within our communities.