A new scientific monograph, created within the Erasmus+ project IN-COMM GUIDE
The new scientific monograph, produced within the framework of the Erasmus+ project IN-COMM GUIDE, has been published by the University of Maribor Press.
The Erasmus+ project "ACTIVE AND INCLUSIVE TEACHING OF LITERACY AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH" (abbreviated as IN-COMM GUIDE) team proudly announces that on December 31, 2023 our project concluded. Upon the completion of the project, a scientific monograph with the same title as the project has been published by the University of Maribor Publishing House.
The monograph Active and Inclusive Teaching of Literacy and Communication Skills for Enhanced Employment and Sustainable Economic Growth is available for free download on the website of the University of Maribor Press at the following link:
The monograph focuses on the teaching of communication with innovative didactic methods, emphasizing inclusion, intercultural communication, and awareness of non-verbal communication. It is interdisciplinary, combining and intertwining areas of education in the tertiary sector, tourism, business, linguistics, literature, didactics, and health.
The new issue of the student magazine Oporturist is out. Explore the interesting content offered in the 4th edition, including an interview with the new dean, information about field exercises, projects, virtual reality, and more.
The magazine can be found at the following link: 4_oporturist_2023.pdf (um.si)
Congratulations to the Student Council for preparing the content, and we look forward to the next issue.
The best time of the year is approaching. A time when we remember the past and look forward to the future. A time when the wishes of happiness and health travel from heart to heart. May your dreams and expectations come true in 2024.
We would like to inform you that the Faculty of Tourism will be closed from Saturday, December 23, 2023, until and including Tuesday, January 2, 2024, due to holidays and collective leave. Thank you for your understanding.
Faculty of Tourism University of Maribor
Yesterday, FT UM celebrated its 14th anniversary of existence. On this day, awards and recognitions were bestowed upon the outstanding students, graduates, and educators of the past academic year. The recipients of this year's awards for the best students in the academic year 2022/23 are:
- Saša Črpič, Stanislava Kolesnikova, and Klara Otič, students of the professional study programme Contemporary Tourism Practices;
- Vedad Abdagić and Dimitar Jovanovski, students of the university study programme Tourism: Collaboration and Development;
- Patricija Zorič, student of master study programme Tourism Destinations and Experiences.
The recipient of this year's Green Compass, awarded to the best graduate of 2022, is Lara Praznik.
The best pedagouge in the academic year 2022/23, as assessed by students and the FT UM Student Council, is Assist. Dr. Jerneja Šavrič.
Addressing the audience for the first time on the faculty day was the newly elected dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus. She expressed pride in numerous achievements, collaboration with the community, outstanding award-winning students, student satisfaction with studies at the faculty, above-average ratings for teaching, and the dedicated work of all staff members.
The event, hosted by Lecturer Hana Kuhar and Associate Professor Dr. Tomi Špindler, was complemented by the singing of student Sanjana Naushad and a video overview of the events and achievements of the past academic year, which were indeed numerous. Thus, at the Faculty of Tourism, we are slowly concluding the year with satisfaction and looking forward to the challenges that the coming year will bring.
Dear students,
University of Maribor Faculty of tourism has again been invited by our partners Lapland University of Applied Sciences to a BIP – Blended Intensity Program. It is a new type of mobility promoted by European Union. Content of this year’s BIP will be related to Inclusion in Cultural Experiences, so if you are interested in these topics, keep on reading.
What is it about?
In the first phase of the project, we will be involved in the on-line activities - in January and March 2024, a series of lectures and presentations will be given to you. This way we can gain the knowledge we need for the second stage of the project.
In the second phase of the project, we will travel to Finland, in Rovaniemi, where we will participate in an intensive week of mobility. This mobility is intended for students to relate to other students from partner faculties. Three institutions are joining forces, the host institution (Lapland University of Applied Sciences - Finland) two guest institutions, in this case, these will also be the Universitat de Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain) and the University of Maribor - Faculty of Tourism (Slovenia).
In the third phase of the project, after the end of the mobility to Finland, we will carry out an evaluation of the project, in which you will also a part of.
Where and when?
Phase 1: Online activities / workshops / lectures – January – March 2024 – will be recorded so you can watch it multiple times
Phase 2: Mobility to Finland – Rovaniemi – March 18th to March 23rd, 2024
Phase 3: Evaluation of the project – March – April 2024
How much will this cost me? Participating in the project will cost you some of your time, and you will also need some clothes for Finland, but at the end of March it is realistic to expect completely normal winter temperatures, as we see every year in Slovenia as well. The project will cover your travel and accommodation costs in Rovaniemi. We will include some meal, some of which will have to be covered from our own resources. Please read carefully the part about students with fewer opportunities, as foreign students you are automatically getting higher financing on travel costs.
Conditions for participation?
- Student status.
- High motivation to participate in project based on the content description above.
- Fluent speaking and writing in English language.
- Ability to fulfil visa requirement conditions for Finland.
How many students are going?
Believe it or not, we cannot say this at the moment, namely the total number of participants is clear, so we can ensure that there are at least 8 places and a maximum of 10 places available for FT UM, depending on the applications also from partners in Spain.
How and where do I apply?
You submit your application via e-mail to prof. Mitja Gorenak at: mitja.gorenak@um.si
Deadline: November 28th, 2023, by 12.00
Application content – what do you have to send in:
- A letter where you provide us with the basic information about you (name, last name, student number, program, year of studies).
- Motivational letter where you explain to us why you are the best choice of student to participate in this project.
Overview of applications and results: Applications that arrive on time will be reviewed in the first week of December, by asist. Tjaša Alegro and prof. dr. Mitja Gorenak, who are organizing the implementation of the mobility, based on the quality of the content of the application and motivation letter, candidates will also be selected and invited to participate in the project in the same month.
For more information, please e-mail prof. dr. Mitja Gorenak – mitja.gorenak@um.si
I am looking forward to your applications.
Mitja Gorenak
Applications must be submitted on the form enclosed to this Decision (Form 1), together with all other required enclosures, and in a single copy, to the FT UM secretary's office by Friday, 10 November 2023, at 10 am in a sealed envelope labelled "FT student tutor application – do not open".
The applicants must submit the following:
– A completed and signed application form;
– A certificate of enrolment for the 2023/2024 academic year.Late applications will be rejected.
On Thursday, October 12, Brežice had an international flair as the lecture halls, and later the streets of Brežice were taken over by students from the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Maribor, coming from various countries around the world. The Faculty organized the so-called traditional "Mix & Mingle Day," where all the students of the Faculty come together first during classes and then during afternoon social gatherings. This includes those who study at the dislocated unit campus in Ljubljana on English programmes and those studying at the main campus in Brežice. This year's event was dedicated to World Food Day.
Brežice students of the Faculty of Tourism were hosts for a day as their colleagues from the English programs at the Ljubljana campus visited them. The common theme of this Mix & Mingle Day was World Food Day.
In the morning, topics related to gastronomy, reducing food waste in tourism, minimizing plastic usage, our ecological footprint, and other related issues were discussed within the framework of lectures. The same theme continued in the afternoon through team competitions in which students had fun while getting to know local food and beverage providers. All attendees symbolically expressed their awareness of the seriousness of the crisis in the food processing industry and beyond during lunch, which was meatless for everyone on that day.
In a relaxed atmosphere in the courtyard of the Faculty of Tourism, the 4th international event for students of the Faculty of Tourism, known as the "Autumn Mix & Mingle Day," concluded successfully. Its primary purpose is to promote unity, collaboration, and intercultural dialogue.
On Tuesday, October 3rd, at 11 a.m., the new dean of the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Maribor, Assoc Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus was inaugurated. Event took place in the Knight's Hall of the Posavje Museum in Brežice. The elected dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus received the dean's insignia from the rector of the University of Maribor, Prof. Dr. Zdravko Kačič, marking the official transition of leadership at the Faculty. The dean had already assumed her role in July.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus is now the third dean of the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Maribor, succeeding Dr. Božidar Veljković and Prof. Dr Boštjan Brumen, who led the Faculty for two terms starting in 2015.
The event commenced with a welcoming address from the rector of the University of Maribor, Prof. Dr. Zdravko Kačič, who emphasized the significance of tourism and tourism research, mainly due to its interdisciplinary nature. The Mayor of the Municipality of Brežice, Mr. Ivan Molan, also welcomed the attendees, underscoring the importance of the Faculty of Tourism for the local community. Former dean Prof. Dr. Boštjan Brumen addressed the guests before passing the baton to his successor.
Following the inauguration, which involved the rector transferring the academic insignia to the newly elected dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus addressed the gathered audience. In her speech, she highlighted the numerous achievements of the Faculty, which is less than 15 years old, and the meaningfulness of its integration into the community. She expressed gratitude to all colleagues, students, and her family.
The Faculty of Tourism has become a successful educational and research institution in a relatively short time, achieving top research results in the field of tourism in Slovenia and establishing an international community comprising students from at least 10 countries. With the help of visiting students, lecturers, and research partners, the Faculty has built a strong and vibrant network from Japan to the USA and Finland to New Zealand. In the last four years alone, our researchers have secured 30 European, national, and market projects with a total value of over 2 million euros. We believe that these achievements validate the decision to establish an independent faculty in the field of tourism within the University of Maribor. While science and knowledge are global and critically evaluated, their work is still locally embedded. The town of Brežice has offered the Faculty hospitality and invaluable support, without which our operations would not be possible.
The event was hosted by Assist. Prof. Dr. Tomi Špindler, with musical performances by Alja and Gregor Deželan. The academic hymn "Gaudeamus Igitur" was performed by the Mixed Youth Choir of Gimnazija Brežice, conducted by choir director Simona Strnad Rožman, at the beginning of the event.
We wish the newly elected dean success and wise leadership at the Faculty of Tourism in the next four years.
About Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marjetka Rangus:
Dr. Marjetka Rangus graduated in 2006 and obtained her doctorate in political science in 2011 at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, where she worked as a young researcher and assistant. She has been employed at the Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, since its inception in 2011, serving as a university teacher since 2015. At that time, she was entrusted with the position of Vice Dean for Educational Activities, which she successfully held until her election and appointment as the dean of the Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, in July 2023. She has participated in various bodies and commissions of the Faculty and the University of Maribor. On the 10th anniversary of the Faculty of Tourism, she received recognition for her significant contribution to the faculty's initial steps, growth, and development. In the field of tourism, her research focuses on tourism theory, various sociological aspects of tourism, sustainability in tourism, and culinary tourism.
Today, we celebrate World Tourism Day, which this year highlights the need for green investments. Slovenia is already recognized in Europe as one of the most sustainable destinations in the world, and Minister Matjaž Han has announced that the industry will continue its green transformation.
In Brežice, where our faculty is located, a special day in honor of tourism took place yesterday, with several events occurring at Ban's Homestead. Among other things, stakeholders discussed the Brežice Destination Strategy, which we are preparing at the Faculty. Today, you can take a guided tour of the city center in Brežice, known as the "Path of Love," organized by the local tourism organization, ZPTM (Visit Brežice).
At the Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, we have tourism on our minds every day. We will be discussing the challenges of personnel in tourism and the necessary competencies for working in tourism at the upcoming Strategic Council of the Faculty of Tourism on October 5th.
Photo: UM Student Challenge: 'Comprehensive Presentation of Brežice City Landmarks'