PROGRAMMES

On-site programme: 23–29 August 2026
Virtual component: 20 and 31 August 2026
Organisation: Faculty of Tourism
Venue: Brežice
ECTS: 3

Dive into a unique blend of literary, film, and wine tourism at the Summer School of Good Stories, taking place 23–29 August 2026 at the University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism in Brežice.

 This is not just a summer school — it is an immersive cultural experience.
You’ll study storytelling, film, travel writing, and wine culture right in the heart of a charming local community, where a vibrant film festival, open‑air concerts, and the height of summer energy unfold all around you.

Explore castles, meet filmmakers, taste local wines, walk literary trails, and create your own tourism stories — all while enjoying the lively pulse of Brežice in August.

Students receive 79 EUR per day + travel expenses according to the Erasmus scheme.

Apply now and be part of a summer you’ll never forget.
We look forward to welcoming you to Brežice!

📩 CONTACT EMAILS FOR MORE INFORMATION:
tomi.spindler@um.si & jasna.potocnik1@um.si

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20 May 2026

The instructions for application are available in this document.

SUMMER SCHOOL TIMETABLE

Introduction – Thursday, 20 August 2026 – Virtual Activity Only

Virtual meeting with participants
09:00–13:00 Virtual presentation of the Summer School and its objectives; online introduction of participants

Day 1 – Sunday, 23 August 2026

Welcome and introduction to the Summer School

• 15:00–16:00 Participant registration and welcome pack
• 16:00–16:30 Opening addresses (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism; organisers of the European Film Festival; Municipality of Brežice; journalists), media invited
• 16:30–17:30 Lecture: “Tourism as Narrative: The Power of Story in Interpreting Place, or When Literature, Film and Wine Meet”
  (Prof. Dr Jasna Potočnik Topler)
• 17:30–18:30 Virtual lecture: Travel Writing and Storytelling – Introduction and Guidelines for the First Assignment
  (Dr Charlie Mansfield)
• 18:30 Reception
• 20:00–22:00 Visit to Brežice Castle (guided tour and assignment within the travel writing module, Posavje Museum Brežice)

Day 2 – Monday, 24 August 2026

Literary Tourism and Stories of Place

• 09:00–10:30 Lecture: “Literary Tourism: From Writers to Literary Trails”
  (Prof. Dr Jasna Potočnik Topler, FT UM & Jordi Arcos Pumarola, CETT-UB, Barcelona School of Tourism, TULE)
• 10:30–12:00 Workshop with doctoral student and President of the Association of Regional Tourist Guides of Slovenia, Mateja Kregar Gliha:
  “Place as Character – Creating a Literary Story for Tourism Interpretation”
• 12:00–14:00 Virtual session with tourist guides (Thailand, Moldova, Slovenia, Greece, Bahrain)
• 14:30–17:00 Field visit: “A Literary Walk through Brežice” (in cooperation with Brežice Library)
• 18:00–20:00 Virtual lecture
  (Prof. Dr Ivona Jovanović & Prof. Dr Andriela Vitić-Ćetković, University of Montenegro, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management)
• 20:00–21:00 Visit to a wine cellar and wine tasting
  (Assist. Prof. Dr Vita Petek)

Day 3 – Tuesday, 25 August 2026

Film Tourism and Visual Storytelling

• 09:00–10:30 Lecture: “Film Tourism: Places, Stories and Destination Perception”
  (Assoc. Prof. Dr Maja Turnšek, FT UM)
• 10:30–12:00 Virtual session: VR, contemporary technologies and guiding (ARGOS)
• 12:00–14:00 Workshop: “From Scene to Destination – How Film Creates a Tourism Product”
  (Assoc. Prof. Dr Krešimir Dabo, University of Zadar)
• 15:00–17:00 Heritage in Tourism
  (Assist. Prof. Dr Anja Mlakar, University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism)
• 20:00–23:00 Film screening and discussion evening with filmmakers

Day 4 – Wednesday, 26 August 2026

Wine Tourism and the Culture of Tasting

• 09:00–10:30 Lecture: “Wine and Story: Interpreting Wine Heritage in Tourism”
  (Assist. Prof. Dr Vita Petek, University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism)
• 10:30–12:30 Sensory storytelling workshop:
  “How to Taste Wine and Tell Stories About It”
  (Assistant Tjaša Alegro, University of Maribor)
• 13:00–15:00 Virtual session
  (Rita Baleiro, University of Algarve, CiTUR TULE Lab)
• 15:00–18:00 Visit to a local winery (wine tasting and discussion with the winemaker)
• 20:00–23:00 Film screening

Day 5 – Thursday, 27 August 2026

Travel Writing and Experience Creation

• 09:00–10:00 Discussion with filmmakers from the European Film Festival
• 10:15–12:00 Travel writing workshop:
  “How to Write the Journey – How to Tell the Story of a Place”
  (creative writing, video recording) – Jasna, Vita, Tjaša, Hana
• 12:00–13:30 Creative group work – preparation of mini projects
  (literary/film/wine itinerary) – Jasna, Vita, Tjaša, Hana
• 15:00–17:00 Mentoring sessions and presentation of project concepts
• 20:00–23:00 Screening of a selected film and discussion on cinematic representations of place

Day 6 – Friday, 28 August 2025

Conclusion and Presentation of Results

• 09:00–12:00 Group work on itineraries
• 12:00–13:30 Lunch
• 13:30–16:00 Group project presentations:
  “Good Stories as a Tourism Product”
  Media invited – press conference and refreshments
• 16:30–18:00 Final discussion:
  “Connecting Art and Tourism: Challenges and Opportunities”
• 18:00–24:00 Closing festival events

Day 7 – Saturday, 29 August

• 10:00 Group photograph and certificate award ceremony
• 12:00 Departure

Monday, 31 August – Online Evaluation of the Summer School- Virtual Activity Only

• 09:00–12:00  Watching the podcasts from the Summer School
• 12:00 – 16:00 Summer School evaluation (students present their impressions)

Summer School Programme Committee:
Dr Jasna Potočnik Topler (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism),
Dr Marjetka Rangus, Dean (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism),
Dr Vita Petek (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism),
Tjaša Alegro (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism),
Dr Maja Turnšek (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism),
Dr Anja Mlakar (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism),
Dr Tomi Špindler (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism),
Hana Kuhar (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism),
Katja Kokot (University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism)

International Guest Lecturers:
Dr Charlie Mansfield (Travel Writers Online),
Dr Krešimir Dabo (University of Zadar),
Dr Jordi Arcos-Pumarola (CETT Barcelona),
Dr Rita Baleiro (University of the Algarve),
Dr Andriela Vitić-Ćetković,
Dr Ivona Jovanović (University of Montenegro)

Local Guest Lecturers from Practice:
Mateja Kregar Gliha (Association of Regional Tourist Guides ARGOS),
Alenka Černelič Krošelj (Posavje Museum Brežice),
Jerneja Smole (European Film Festival),
Mojca Florjanič (Municipality of Brežice)

Summer School Organising Committee:
University of Maribor, Faculty of Tourism

The programme is organised as an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme. Students are entitled to an Erasmus+ scholarship for participation in the programme. You can find more information here.