HeritageGame Conference Created New Opportunities for International Academic Collaboration

The international Heritage Game Conference 2026, hosted by Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University, provided an important platform for disseminating project results and establishing new academic partnerships beyond the HeritageGame consortium. 

Over the course of three days, the conference welcomed researchers, educators, heritage specialists, and technology experts from numerous countries. Alongside project partners from Portugal, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czechia, and Türkiye, the event attracted academics and practitioners who are not directly involved in the HeritageGame project but share a common interest in cultural heritage, digital interpretation, tourism, and gamification.

Participants presented a wide range of research topics, including augmented reality applications, digital twins, artificial intelligence, educational games, cultural tourism, community engagement, and innovative approaches to sustainable heritage management. These discussions created opportunities for the exchange of ideas and the development of future research collaborations.

For representatives of the University of South Bohemia, the conference offered a valuable opportunity to introduce the HeritageGame methodology to a broader international audience and to build contacts with scholars working in related fields. Numerous discussions during conference sessions, networking events, and the accompanying walking seminar revealed strong potential for future cooperation in research, teaching, student mobility, and project development.

The event clearly demonstrated one of the key ambitions of HeritageGame: extending project outcomes beyond the partnership itself and fostering dialogue between researchers, educators, cultural institutions, and local communities. By bringing together experts from different disciplines and countries, the conference contributed to the wider transferability and sustainability of project results. 

The connections established in Adana are expected to support future academic cooperation and inspire new initiatives focused on heritage interpretation, gamification, and community-based approaches to cultural heritage preservation.