Geography Department Staff Presented HeritageGame Project at an International Conference in Adana

Academic staff from the Department of Geography at the Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia, actively participated in the international Heritage Game Conference 2026: Gamification as a Catalyst for Sustainable Cultural Heritage Practices, held from 15 to 17 September 2026 at Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University in Türkiye. The conference brought together researchers, heritage professionals, educators, and digital innovators interested in the use of gamification for the interpretation and promotion of cultural heritage. 

The University of South Bohemia was represented by Vojtěch Blažek, Petra Karvánková, and Jiří Rypl, who delivered a keynote presentation entitled“Gaming the Lost Villages: Eco-Cultural Heritage in the Czech Borderlands.” The presentation showcased ongoing work within the HeritageGame project and highlighted innovative approaches to engaging communities with cultural heritage through digital storytelling and gamification. 

The conference programme featured contributions from researchers across Europe and beyond, covering topics such as digital heritage, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, sustainable tourism, and community-based heritage management. The event provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss current trends in heritage interpretation and public engagement. 

Following the conference, participants joined a field-based walking seminar focused on cultural and historical heritage in the regions of Adana, Tarsus, and Mersin. The programme enabled participants to explore significant heritage sites while discussing their educational and interpretive potential within gamified learning environments.

In addition to members of the Department of Geography, the delegation from the University of South Bohemia also included representatives of the KreativEU Alliance: Radka Závodská, Bohumil Jiroušek, Lucie Jeroušková, and Hana Sehadová. Their participation contributed to discussions on future international cooperation in heritage education, sustainability, and community engagement.

The conference and accompanying seminar strengthened the international visibility of the HeritageGame project and provided valuable inspiration for future research, teaching activities, and collaborative initiatives.