For six heritage destinations across Southern Africa, this means going beyond presenting facts to visitors. It means asking deeper questions: 

What should visitors understand? 

Whose voices should they hear? 

How can communities participate? 

And how can stories contribute to conservation, education and sustainable tourism?

These questions were at the centre of a regional training on interpretation and storytelling held from 27 to 31 July 2026 at Matobo Hills, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, which brought together participants from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

Supported by the European Union and implemented by UNESCO through the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture: Promoting Culture and Heritage-based Sustainable Tourism in Southern Africa project, the training was delivered in collaboration with Interpret Europe and technical support from the African World Heritage Fund.

Moving from planning to visitor experience

The training marked an important step in the project’s journey from planning towards implementation. Across the six participating sites, Tsodilo Hills World Heirtage Site, Matsanjeni North, Morija Cultural Precinct, Twyfelfontein / Ui-//aes World Heritage Site, ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site and Matobo Hills World Heritage Sites, work is underway to strengthen how heritage is managed, interpreted and connected to sustainable tourism development.

Interpretation is a critical part of this process. Rather than producing interpretation frameworks that remain as planning documents, the project aims to translate them into experiences that visitors can see, hear and participate in, including guided experiences, heritage trails, exhibitions, community storytelling and appropriate digital interpretation.

Through the Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) training course, participants explored practical methods for identifying the significance of heritage, understanding different audiences, developing meaningful themes and connecting tangible places with the stories, memories and values associated with them.

The learning extended beyond the training room, with practical exercises encouraging participants to consider how interpretive principles can be applied in real heritage settings.

The training challenged us to think beyond simply giving visitors information about our sites. Good interpretation is about creating a connection, helping visitors understand why a place matters, whose stories it carries and what they should take away from the experience. 

Corera Links, Socio-Economic Transformation Officer – ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site, South Africa. 

Putting people and multiple voices at the centre

At the heart of effective interpretation is people. Heritage sites hold different histories, memories, meanings and perspectives. The objective is, therefore, not to develop one standard story across the six destinations, but to equip each site team to develop an interpretation framework grounded in its own heritage values, communities and visitor context.

Community participation will be particularly important as this work moves forward. Local communities are not only beneficiaries of heritage tourism. They are knowledge holders, custodians and storytellers whose perspectives can help shape how places are understood and presented.

Bringing these voices into interpretation can also create opportunities for local guides, creatives, cultural practitioners, entrepreneurs, women and young people to participate more meaningfully in the visitor economy.

As local guides, we are not only showing visitors places; we are sharing stories that come from our communities and our lived experiences. It is important that local people are involved in deciding how those stories are told, so that visitors hear the voices of the people connected to the heritage. 

Sipho Khoza, Local Community Guide – Matsanjeni North, Eswatini

This reflects a broader shift towards interpretation that is inclusive and multivocal, recognising that heritage can carry different meanings for different people and that these perspectives are part of what makes a place significant.

Learning by doing

The training was designed not simply to introduce interpretation theory, but to prepare participants for the work that follows.

Through facilitated sessions, group exercises, practical activities and reflection, participants considered how interpretation can provoke curiosity, encourage participation, create deeper meaning and ultimately strengthen stewardship of heritage.

One question captured this approach throughout the training: What story should every visitor remember after leaving your heritage site?

The question moves interpretation beyond signs, information panels and guided commentary. It asks site teams to think about the lasting connection between the visitor and the place, and what understanding that comes from emotion or curiosity a visitor should carry with them afterwards.

Interpretation is not simply about providing more information. It is about creating meaningful connections between people and heritage. When visitors are encouraged to think, participate and discover meaning for themselves, interpretation can contribute to a deeper appreciation of a place and its values.

Michal Medek, Interpret Europe trainer

From training to site-level action

The conclusion of the regional training is, therefore, a beginning rather than an end. Participants will take the knowledge and methods developed during the programme back to their respective sites, where the next stage will involve working with site teams, communities and other stakeholders to develop site-specific interpretation and storytelling frameworks.

These frameworks will help identify the stories each site wants to communicate, the audiences it seeks to reach, whose perspectives need to be represented, and the most appropriate ways of turning those narratives into visitor experiences.

This site-level process is particularly important because the six destinations are very different. Tsodilo Hills WHS, Matsanjeni North, Morija Cultural Precinct, Twyfelfontein / Ui-//aes WHS ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape WHS and Matobo Hills WHS each have distinct histories, landscapes, communities, heritage values and tourism contexts.

Their interpretation should reflect those differences.

This training is not an end in itself. What matters now is how the learning is taken back to each of the six sites and translated into interpretation and storytelling frameworks developed with communities and other stakeholders. Ultimately, we want to see those frameworks move from paper into real visitor experiences that strengthen people’s connection with heritage while creating opportunities for communities. 

Rodney Bunhiko, Project Coordinator – UNESCO

Turning stories into sustainable futures

The ambition extends beyond improving how stories are told. Strong interpretation can contribute to more meaningful visitor experiences, diversified tourism products, opportunities for local livelihoods and greater understanding of why heritage needs to be protected.

For the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture project, this connects interpretation directly to the wider objective of developing sustainable culture and heritage-based tourism across Southern Africa.

The measure of success will, therefore, not be the completion of the training itself, or even the production of six interpretation frameworks. It will be seen in what happens afterwards: whether guides are better equipped to engage visitors; whether communities have stronger voices in how their heritage is presented; whether new experiences and opportunities emerge around heritage; and whether visitors leave with a deeper understanding of the places and people they have encountered.

The training provided the participating site teams with a common foundation. The next step is to turn that learning into locally grounded interpretation frameworks and those frameworks into experiences that connect people with heritage. Because ultimately, the most powerful heritage stories are not simply the ones that are told. They are the ones people understand, feel connected to and carry with them long after they leave.

Rodney Bunhiko is a culture and heritage professional the Project Coordinator for the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA). He has coordinated significant cultural initiatives, including restoration and storytelling development projects at the Great Zimbabwe National Monument and regional heritage preservation programmes. 

Rodney can be contacted at: r.bunhiko@unesco.org 

In the last issue of the Interpret Europe newsletter, we wrote an extensive article about IE’s involvement in an Erasmus+ project called Liberation Route, Europe’s Youth Ambassadors Network – all about creating the storytellers of the future to deal with difficult or sensitive heritage.

Now we’re bringing a short update about an opportunity to get involved. If you are no longer youthful, please help to spread the word and share this news with any colleagues who have contacts with youth organisations.

The first cycle of our online training sessions starts in November. The exact dates are 26 November, 3 December, and 10 December 2026, from 17.00 to 19.00 CET. 

The three sessions form a cycle, and participants should attend all three. 

Participation is free. Details of how to apply can be found here: https://www.lre-youth.eu/sign-up-online-training-series/

The sessions encourage participation, (self)reflection, research of your own environment, observation of the patterns that create different narratives, and creating digital stories. We will explore what war stories mean today, how to tell them effectively and how they can strengthen engagement, leadership and citizenship. The training will introduce techniques for sharing the stories and fostering understanding. The value-based heritage interpretation theory is an underlying pillar of these sessions. 

If you can’t make it this time, stay tuned. We will organise at least two more cycles. This cycle is reserved for young adults, people over 18. However, one of the next cycles could be for high school students. We would love to hear from you. Would you (or someone you know) like to join as a whole class? Is English a problem for you or your students? We may also be able to organise them in different languages and for particular age groups. 

Over the next two years, the project will build a European network of storytellers and interpreters for difficult-heritage, centred on World War 2. ​Together, we will create new tales that connect heritage with contemporary democratic values – and leave a digital footprint for the future. ​

More information:

LRE Youth Ambassadors website: https://www.lre-youth.eu/ 

LRE Youth Ambassadors Network application form: https://www.lre-youth.eu/sign-up-youth-ambassadors/ 

LRE Youth Ambassadors on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lre_youth/ 

Iva Silla and Samia Zitouni are Interpret Europe certified interpretive trainers from Croatia. They are working with experts from Studio Globo to develop a set of interactive and reflective online sessions for the LRE Youth Ambassadors project. Contact Iva at iva@questoftales.com, and Samia at samiaztn@gmail.com.

2025 has been a landmark year for Interpret Europe’s newest training offer: the Module on Live Interpretation (MLI). The MLI invites participants to quite literally step into character — to explore heritage through first-person, costumed storytelling grounded in the interpretive triangle and value-based methodology.

After a training course that took place in Rochester, UK, in March, and a successful spring session at Trakošćan Castle in Croatia, the momentum carried into summer with a dedicated MLI Trainer Upgrade Programme held in Vrsar, Croatia, on 29 June 2025.

The Vrsar upgrade offered a unique setting: coastal views, a 17th-century backdrop, and a circle of committed IE trainers coming together to explore, reflect, and co-create the future of live interpretation. Led by Iva Silla (Croatia), the training followed a compact one-day format, structured around the real content of the MLI course.

The programme included:

• Individual presentations 
• Peer-led exercises 
• Collaborative sessions 
• A final round of reflection, where future trainers shared their intentions and formed a working group dedicated to further MLI development

The upgrade for trainers provided the new MLI trainers with a solid foundation to lead the programme independently. Interpret Europe now has five trainers in live interpretation: Bojana Čibej from Slovenia, Vasilka Dimitrovska from North Macedonia, Michal Medak from the Czech Republic, Iva Silla and Ivana Zrilić from Croatia. Contact them to arrange the inspiring training that will bring your heritage site to life. 

What makes the MLI unique?

Over the course of two days, the MLI leads participants through a full journey: from embodying a character, to crafting interpretive scenes, to performing in costume. Rooted in Interpret Europe’s values-based methodology, the programme blends play, critical thinking, empathy, and dramaturgy.

In the Vrsar session, the imagined world of the 1600s came to life. One group channelled the voices of sailors’ wives waiting on the shore. The other focused on the town’s enduring stonemasonry heritage. The resulting scenes were not only engaging and authentic but deeply emotional — a testament to the potential of live interpretation to reveal hidden stories and human connections

Looking ahead

The team of MLI trainers formed in Vrsar is already working together to strengthen the module and encourage its integration into heritage institutions across Europe. With more sessions planned in 2026, and a growing interest from museums and cultural sites, the MLI is poised to become one of the most experiential and transformative offers in Interpret Europe’s training portfolio.

Whether you’re a guide, an educator, a curator, or an actor — if you believe that heritage comes to life through human connection, the MLI might be your next professional step.

Vasilka Dimitrovska is an active Interpret Europe trainer. She is also the Creative Director of HAEMUS – Center for Scientific Research and Promotion of Culture, and the founder of the educational interpretive programmes Storytelling Skopje and Storytelling Macedonia, which bring heritage to life through innovative, experience-based approaches. Contact her at dimitrovska@haemus.org.mk.

Iva Silla is an experience designer and an interpretive performer, owner of Secret Zagreb tours and activities. She is an active Interpret Europe trainer and has been involved in the development of the MLI training. Contact her at iva@questoftales.com.

To cite this article: Dimitrovska, Vasilka & Silla, Iva (2025) ‘Dress up for interpretation’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2025, p. 12.
Available online: Newsletter autumn 2025

This September, the first Interpret Europe course in Kosovo was held in Gračanica, about 2km from the ancient city. Seventeen of us from all over Kosovo gathered to take part in the IE Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) course. The first day of the course started by presenting ourselves to the group through a timeline of our lives. It made us reflect on our own lives but at the same time we started to think about the life that flourished in Ulpiana. 

The roots of Ulpiana go back to prehistory, with traces of life from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages. However, the city’s true transformation came after the Roman conquest at the end of the 1st century AD when the settlement grew into a thriving Roman city. Inspired by this history we began working on the interpretation plan. Our first challenge was to identify the phenomena and create specific themes for them. Each theme needed to combine facts with meaning while still being catchy, and that became our second challenge. We had to think outside of the box and get creative with our stories and what we wanted to achieve. 

Divided into three groups, we worked both individually and together. Each day, we learned something new about interpretation, discussing the universal values of each phenomenon and how to turn them into meaningful experiences. At the end of the day, we came back to our groups to share what we had learned and, piece by piece, our interpretation plans began to take shape.  

On the last day of the course, each group presented their ideas for an interpretation plan for Ulpiana. We then evaluated each other’s presentation and gave feedback and suggestions. Through theoretical lectures and practical activities this training became a meaningful experience where we gained knowledge and connected with each other.

Gresa Kelmendi is an architect working at CHwB Kosova (https://chwbkosova.org/) . In her free time she likes to crochet, drink tea and watch anime. You can contact her at: gresakelmendi38@gmail.com. 

To cite this article: Kelmendi, Gresa (2025) ‘Have you heard of Ulpiana, the ancient city in Kosovo?’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2025, p. 11. Available online: Newsletter autumn 2025

The Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course held at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia, and organised by the Center for Cultural Heritage, brought together university teachers engaged in the field of cultural heritage. It was an intensive and demanding programme, but one that proved to be deeply rewarding and transformative.

Over the course of several days, we were challenged not only intellectually but also physically. Rain or shine, we worked tirelessly towards a shared goal: to create a single interpretive panel that would embody the principles we had been learning. The process was not always easy, but it was precisely the persistence and effort that made the experience so valuable.

What stood out most was the fresh perspective we gained on heritage phenomena. Instead of looking at heritage through a traditional academic lens, we were encouraged to step into the shoes of our future visitors and users. This shift in perspective, placing the audience at the heart of interpretation, was eye-opening. It reminded us that heritage is not only about objects, sites, or history, but about the meaningful stories we can craft to connect people with them.

Storytelling was at the centre of the course, teaching us how to weave narratives that bring cultural phenomena to life. We practiced interpreting within contexts that highlight meaning rather than just facts. Working in pairs and groups fostered a strong sense of collaboration and mutual support. Peer reviews of our work provided invaluable feedback, sparking new ideas and motivating us to refine our approaches.

At the end of the course, the interpretive panel we produced was more than just a sign, it was a testament to teamwork, resilience, and the new knowledge we had gained. For many of us, it symbolised the transition from thinking about heritage as a subject to be studied to experiencing heritage as a story.

The Osijek course not only equipped us with practical skills but also renewed our inspiration for teaching and professional practice. It reminded us that interpretation is not simply about transferring knowledge, but about creating connections that make heritage relevant, engaging, and alive.

Many heartfelt thanks to the wonderful professional IE trainers for their immense enthusiasm, dedication, passion, and love for heritage interpretation, which they successfully passed on to us during this truly intensive and commendable course. Their ability to balance rigorous expectations with encouragement and joy made a lasting impression. You succeeded in awakening our poetic soul, so much so that even today, verses about certain phenomena still linger in our minds. The memories will stay with us forever, as will the invaluable knowledge you managed to implant in us in such a short time. There was plenty of work, laughter, but also unique shared moments born from the beautiful heritage we interpreted together. 

To anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge of heritage, we can wholeheartedly recommend this course, as it will open up new perspectives and perhaps even awaken a hidden talent within you, just as it did for us.

Lana Skender is an assistant professor at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia. You can get in touch with her at lanaskndr@gmail.com. 

Marta Borić is an assistant professor at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia. You can get in touch with her at marta.boric5@gmail.com.

To cite this article: Skender, Lana & Borić Cvenić, Marta (2025) ‘Inspiring journey into heritage interpretation’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2025, p. 10.
Available online: Newsletter autumn 2025

I was born and raised in the mountains of South Pindos, in Evrytania. I have been working for more than two decades in education, specialising in environmental and cultural education in primary and secondary schools. I perceive forests, rivers, and mountain communities as unified living spaces, where cultural heritage unites people, strengthens communities, and inspires actions for a shared sustainable future.

One of the most interesting and challenging aspects of my work in terms of communication is the ecological and cultural interpretation of both the university’s research fields and, more broadly, the mountain ranges and the activities they support, such as livestock farming, agroforestry, and small-scale traditional activities such as logging, hunting, and gathering herbs, fruits, and mushrooms.

With this background and motivation to strengthen my communication skills, I participated in the Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course held in Zagori from August 25-29, 2025. The course was hosted in the old Girls’ School of Kato Pedina (built in 1902).

During the training, we worked in the field and in the classroom, individually and in groups, practicing the use of interpretation principles as a means of transforming visitors’ experience of a place into something personally meaningful, while also cultivating their critical thinking and allowing them to make connections to universal values, such as respect and sustainability. We were given various opportunities to experiment with different types of writing (haiku, interpretive signs, audiovisual interpretation, etc.) with the ultimate goal of being able to design interpretive signs for specific elements of the natural and cultural heritage of each place we know well.

As our trainer aptly stated: “We learn how to bring words to life in order to present the nature and culture of our region through texts. In this way, Zagori becomes a link to the past and an inspiration for the future.”

I congratulate and thank the organisers and the bodies that supported them, both for the excellent training we received on the interpretation of the natural and cultural environment, and for daring to do so in mountain communities that are not at the centre of tourist traffic. The communities of Kato Pedina and Koukouli Zagori supported our educational experience holistically with the authenticity and breadth of their thematic fields.

As a new member of the Interpret Europe community, I feel that I share common ideals and communication tools in the service of the natural and cultural heritage of the Mediterranean and the whole world! After graduation, we are not just colleagues, but partners and friends, continuing our creative collaboration.

Vasiliki has studied educational science, forestry and ecology. As a researcher at the Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management at the Agricultural University of Athens in Karpenisi, she  supports research projects on the resilience of forest and agroforest ecosystems, focusing on old growth forests, dendrochronology and forest soil science (https://agroforestry.dasologia.gr/). Vasiliki can be contacted at: vaslappa@aua.gr. 

To cite this article: Lappa, Vasiliki P. (2025) ‘An educational experience that motivates and unites’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2025, p. 9.
Available online: Newsletter autumn 2025

In March 2025 an Interpret Europe course took place in the city of Ioannina, in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece. It was part of IE’s Learning Landscape initiative (LLI) which, in Greece, is implemented through the project ‘Learning Aspects of the Zagori Cultural Lanscape’, under the coordination of the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA). The Zagori region has a cultural landscape which offers a multi-layered learning experience due to its traditional architecture, cultural history and natural ecosystems. 

The workshop combined a theoretical and practical part which took place in Its Kale, an inner fortress of the old town of Ioanina city.

Τhe course brought together an extraordinary mosaic of participants of different occupations and education, such as biologists, mountain summits, architects-conservators of art, nature pedagogues, cultural heritage consultants, librarians, hoteliers, geographers, physical education teachers, ecotuners, cultural ecologists, environmental education specialists, theatre educators-outdoor pedagogues, historians- archaeologists, National Parks curators and tour guides. Under the excellent guidance of the trainer, these people created original interpretation plans and presented them in front of an audience with whom the participants had a fertile discussion. The workshop was completed with a visit to Tristeno village of Zagori, where the group discussed with villagers about the difficulties to highlight the local heritage due to the local depopulation. 

Over six inspiring days, we had the opportunity to connect with others and exchange  approaches and strategies on authenticity, sustainability and collaboration. Also, we had the experience of using modern methodologies to sense the spirit of a place, decode difficult or controversial meanings of intangible heritage and especially how to cope with different opinions or emotions of people.

It is well known that connecting the present with the future comes with hidden challenges and responsibilities. This connection often demands dynamic decisions on a personal and a local level. A landscape isn’t just a backdrop to people’s lives. It influences us and guides how we perceive history and how we create an authentic identity. Also, it relates nature to people. This  dynamic workshop gave us practical tools to confront these challenges and find applicable solutions. 

Personally, I had an inspiring and exciting journey. I experienced how to “see beyond the view”, and find out emotions, memories, or even hidden conflicts, that a landscape always carries. I have to say, the diversity of participants was a pleasant surprise for me, due to the interesting and unexpected dialogues it created within the group. Finally, this workshop helped me a lot to think ‘out of the box’ and dare to follow my visions on interpreting cultural heritage.

Olga Kostoula is a biologist from Greece, specialised in diagnostic mycology with teaching and research experience on environmentally friendly bioapplications. In her free time, she loves to read and write books about natural and cultural heritage. You can contact her at: olkostul@hotmail.com.

To cite this article: Kostoula, Olga (2025)  ‘Kostoula: Beyond the Zagori cultural landscape view’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2025, pg.11.
Available online: Newsletter summer 2025 

Nestled in the heart of Slovenia, Kočevsko is a region defined by vast forests, rich biodiversity, and cultural depth. With over 90% of its landscape covered in forest, it stands as one of the most pristine, secluded, and ecologically important areas in the country. Beyond its natural wonders, Kočevsko holds a long history of traditions, and stories waiting to be discovered. This unique blend of wilderness and heritage offers a powerful foundation for storytelling—especially when paired with thoughtful interpretation that brings meaning, context, and emotional connection to the surface.

In early 2025, Kočevsko hosted a series of heritage interpretation workshops, bringing together local professionals to explore new ways of presenting the region’s heritage. Supported by the HealthyForestRegions project (Interreg Central Europe) and led by Interpret Europe certified trainers, the programme focused on guiding, writing, and planning.

The Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) course launched the series in January. It introduced structured methods for analysing heritage sites, sites, identifying the potential for meaningful connections, and designing inclusive, sustainable visitor experiences. Emphasising long-term thinking and stakeholder involvement, the course set a strong foundation.

Participant Nevenka Klun reflected: “I recently attended the planner training, and it was both engaging and educational. The seminar offered deep insights into planning for cultural and natural heritage. Balancing the needs of visitors, stakeholders, and heritage itself can be challenging—but when done right, it benefits everyone. Since Kočevsko is so forested, we must present this natural heritage in a way that informs and captivates, turning the experience into something truly memorable.”

Next came the Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course. This module focused on turning factual content into emotionally engaging narratives. Through exercises, peer feedback, and thematic reflection, participants learned to tailor texts that can reach diverse audiences.

For some, it was a chance to build on earlier experience. As Dr. Petra Draškovič Pelc noted:
“I was glad to build on my previous writer and planner training. This approach offers a clear structure for reaching guests more deeply—inviting them to reflect and adding that ‘something extra’. The trainers turned complex ideas into something both practical and inspiring.”

The final workshop was the Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course. Held outdoors over five days, it brought interpretation theory into practice. Participants delivered interpretive talks, used sensory engagement, and learned how to prompt reflection—even in unpredictable weather.

Janez Konečnik, an experienced local guide, said: “When I was first invited, I thought—why do I need this? I already know how to guide. But the training changed my perspective. Even with decades of experience, I left with fresh insights and a better understanding of how differently people perceive the same thing.”

Offered free of charge, the workshops not only improved individual skills but also strengthened community bonds. Participants described the experience as transformative—both personally and professionally.

Together, these trainings helped form a new network of interpreters—ready to tell Kočevsko’s stories in ways that speak to both heart and mind.

Nadija Kolmanič is a cultural anthropologist and public relations advisor at the Institute for Tourism and Culture Kočevje, Slovenia (www.kocevsko.com). She works on developing content and strategies for local tourism promotion and manages communication across various platforms. You can reach her at nadija.kolmanic@kocevsko.com. 

To cite this article: Kolmanič, Nadija (2025)  ‘Shaping stories of nature and heritage‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2025, pg.10.
Available online: Newsletter summer 2025

A mentor is an experienced advisor fostering personal and professional growth of a mentee. The term originates from Greek mythology: Mentor was the name of a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus was abroad for 20 years, in the Trojan War and on the Odyssey, Mentor advised his son Telemachus. 

Mentoring of IE course participants doesn’t last as long as that, but IE trainers need to be good mentors for two reasons:

• IE seeks to encourage and enable people to interpret more on their own in order to grow people’s mindfulness through heritage. Consequently, IE trainers when acting as mentors should encourage and enable interpreters to facilitate this process.
• IE recently extended its training portfolio from teaching about interpretive services and plans to supporting the co-creation of interpretive strategies for entire regions. IE trainers as mentors play a critical role in this.  

The key output of IE’s certification courses are homework assignments in which participants transfer the newly acquired knowledge and skills to their own areas. But besides this output the process plays an increasingly important role.

On the one hand, it includes the experiences participants can take away for their personal growth. On the other hand, it grows the participants’ competences for their career development, not only regarding exchange with guests (e.g. in encouraging and facilitating dialogue in interpretive walks) but also with local stakeholders (e.g. in negotiating narratives when co-creating interpretive plans).

So far, the time available for the IE Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) course was too short to pay tribute to this increased demand. But since the course has now grown into a full 40-hour course, we can also include mentoring as a session.

We don’t start from scratch. A critical prerequisite is that, although IE trainers usually don’t have a permanent working relationship with their participants (e.g. they are not their superiors), due to the exclusively face-to-face courses, they first experience their mentees personally. This extends over five days in formal and casual settings, alone and in collaboration with others, in successes and failures, under time pressure and in exam situations. Our trainers also teach peer reviewing throughout all our courses. From the very beginning, participants are encouraged to provide feedback and to critically examine their work results together without flattery. This is only possible when the exchange is based on trust, fairness, and goodwill; qualities we systematically foster through our methodology. After introducing the IE Certified Interpretive Planner (CIP) course, we also started to run post-course online meetings to discuss the state of the individual homework assignments, looking for a balance between individual mentoring and group mentoring.

So, what needs to go into the CIT course that is not already good practice? At our recent summer school we collected hints from our trainers on what knowledge and skills are needed, what values we should foster and what practical points and potential pitfalls need to be taken into account. Based on the topics our trainers brought together, we are now discussing what we need to research further, what should go into a dedicated session on mentoring, and how we can more organically integrate the subject in the trainer course, from where it will hopefully trickle down into all IE training events and beyond.

We now have six months to develop this. The new elements will then be introduced to our trainer candidates in the CIT course in February and shared with our active trainers at the next summer school.

Thorsten Ludwig (MSc Interpretation) first studied archaeology and worked in a national park until 1993, when he founded Bildungswerk interpretation. Together with Valya Stergioti, he has been training all IE trainers since 2016. Within the IE Training Team, he took responsibility for the CIT course.

To cite this article:  Ludwig, Thorsten (2025)  ‘Mentoring becomes part of our trainer training‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 2-2025, pg.9.
Available online: Newsletter summer 2025

Do you want to become a Certified Interpretive Trainer?
To be eligible to take part in the  training course, you must:

• hold a certification in any IE course by the start of the CIT course,
• have prior experience in adult learning, and
• be active in a  field relevant to the course or module you wish to deliver (e.g. guiding, writing, planning).

Yet becoming an IE trainer is much more than meeting formal requirements.

It means becoming part of a strong and inspiring community of over 30 trainers who deliver IE courses across Europe in their own languages. It also means acting as an ambassador for heritage interpretation, actively shaping IE’s training programme and growing through collaboration, mentoring and shared challenges.

The IE CIT course is just  the starting point. The real journey begins once the course ends.

Course format
The IE CIT course will last five days on-site and will be preceded by four mandatory online sessions in the months leading up to the course. These online meetings are designed to build connections, exchange approaches, and prepare for the on-site training.
After the IE CIT course, participants will have the opportunity to join three-day upgrade sessions to become trainers for specific IE courses (CIG, CIW, CIP). These will take place throughout 2026, depending on demand.

How to apply
Places are limited so if you would like to join the CIT course, please make sure you submit your complete application by 9 September 2025.

Your application should include the following:

• a motivational letter explaining why you wish to become an IE trainer,
• proof of your previous experience 
• a selected part of the homework (translated into English if necessary) which you submitted for your IE course to secure certification
• a completed pre-course questionnaire

Please ensure that all required documents are submitted in a single email by the deadline to Valya Stergioti: vster@outlook.com

Course fee
Following IE’s fairer fee system, the cost for the CIT course is as follows:

An additional fee of €470 will be charged to cover accommodation, shuttle service, full board catering, and museum entrance fees.

This amount includes:

• 6 nights of accommodation (from the evening of 1 February to the morning of 7 February 2026)
• Full board catering (from dinner on 1 February to breakfast on 7 February), including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and coffee breaks
• Entrance fees for all scheduled museum visits

Please note that course upgrades to be organised later in 2026 are not included in this fee.

A first selection of participants will be announced by 30 September. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to read IE’s training policy and confirm their interest before the final list of participants is concluded. Once the list is finalised, selected participants will receive a pro forma invoice with payment details.

For any questions, feel free to contact us:

Andrijana Milisavljević (logistical information): andrijana.milisavljevic@interpret-europe.net
Valya Stergioti (content-related information): vster@outlook.com

The venue– Jugendherberge Frankfurt
The upcoming IE CIT  course will take place in the centre of Frankfurt, Germany, at the Jugendherberge Frankfurt – Haus der Jugend. This urban youth hostel overlooks the Main River and is just a few steps away from many of the city’s cultural institutions and venues, Most importantly, it offers a stimulating setting where we can connect the course content with the reality of urban heritage, participation, and community life.

All participants will stay in twin rooms with private bathrooms, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided throughout the training.
Thanks to its central location, the course venue allows us to integrate on-site exploration into the course programme. Participants will join curated study visits and engage in discussions on location, from museum galleries to public spaces, directly linked to core IE CIT themes:

• the four qualities of interpretation (heritage, participation, meanings & values, stewardship),
• sustainability,
• conflict and dialogue,
• co-creation and
• local engagement.

Whether we are reflecting on inclusive narratives in a museum exhibition, exploring participatory tools along the riverbank, or sharing professional experiences over dinner, Frankfurt will become part of the learning process.

Feel free to find out more about our venue: https://www.jugendherberge-frankfurt.de/

Want to know more?
We are organising an online event for all those interested in applying to the IE CIT course.

Date: 2 September 2025
Time: 15:00–16:00 CEST

This will be an open Q&A session with the trainers. The session will be recorded. If you are unable to attend live, you can request the recording at: andrijana.milisavljevic@interpret-europe.net

CIT 2025/2026 – Timeline

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you at this next step of your interpretive journey.

The CIT course is supported by a four-year network grant that is part of the European Union Creative Europe programme.

*Photo Credits: Michal Medek, CIT course 2023 in Arnoga, Italy.