The Department of Culture and Tourism presented the CoolTour LAB project - a creative space at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zenica

CoolTour LAB, a new educational and cultural space created through a student initiative and joint engagement of professors, assistants and students of the Department of Culture and Tourism, was officially presented at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zenica.

Through the implementation of this project, a standard university classroom has been transformed into a modern, open and inspiring space intended for teaching, research work and the organization of public cultural events – promotions, exhibitions, talks, screenings and public lectures. According to the students who initiated and wrote the project, Indira Agić, Zuhdija Karić and Ajna Ganić, CoolTour LAB is conceived as a meeting place for knowledge, creativity and togetherness, but also as a space open to the local community.

The program was opened by the head of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Professor Hazim Begagić, and the dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Professor Alica Arnaut. The attendees were also addressed by Enisa Karić, a member of the board of directors of the Zenica Local Foundation, who emphasized the importance of investing in projects that contribute to better quality work and study. The Director of the Zenica-Doboj Canton Tourist Board noted the importance of the Culture and Tourism study program for the future development of the culture and tourism sector in the Zenica-Doboj Canton, and announced the continuation of cooperation between this institution and the Department of Culture and Tourism.

The realization of the project was achieved with the support of the Zenica Local Foundation and partners from the local community: the Tourist Board of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, the company ALMY Zenica and the Bosnian National Theater Zenica. Their support made it possible for an ordinary classroom to become a space for meeting, learning, creativity and public dialogue. The Faculty of Philosophy and the Department of Culture and Tourism presented appropriate certificates of thanks to the present partners of the project, and special certificates of thanks were also presented to them by the students of the first year of the new study program Culture and Tourism.

CoolTour LAB is not just a new space at the Faculty of Philosophy - it is a message that students can be active agents of change when given the opportunity and shown trust.

The presentation of CoolTour LAB was also an opportunity to present the new study program Culture and Tourism, which is designed as an interdisciplinary response to the needs of the contemporary cultural and tourism sector, with special emphasis on the local context and connecting the academic community with the city.