AEPJ Participates in the 13th Cultural Routes Training Academy in Pécs (Hungary) and Osijek (Croatia)
From 2 to 5 June 2026, the AEPJ took part in the 13th edition of the Cultural Routes Training Academy of the Council of Europe. Held across Pécs (Hungary) and Osijek (Croatia), the event brought together participants representing certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, under the theme “Shaping Confidence and Diversity.”
The Training Academy, jointly organised by the European Institute of Cultural Routes and the Roman Emperors and Danube Wine Route, in close cooperation with Zsolnay Heritage Management Nonprofit Ltd. and the Tourism Board of Osijek-Baranja County, served once again as a key platform for capacity building, strategic dialogue, and cross-route exchange.
Victor Sorenssen, Director of AEPJ, and Marc Francesch, Coordinator of the European Routes of Jewish Heritage, represented the AEPJ during this four-day event. Their active participation highlighted the AEPJ’s commitment to collaboration across the network of cultural routes.
Victor Sorenssen led the Cooperation Working Group during the participant-led sessions on network and routes development, contributing his expertise to advance joint strategies and shared frameworks among Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. Marc Francesch actively participated in the working group on the role of the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies within the framework of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, contributing to the definition of a set of premises aimed at reinforcing the network’s impact within the cultural routes community.
Beyond the formal sessions, the Training Academy proved to be an excellent opportunity for networking and cooperation. The AEPJ team engaged in productive conversations with routes already involved in joint European projects and explored new collaborations with several others. These exchanges will undoubtedly strengthen the AEPJ’s work on heritage interpretation, digital innovation, and shared European memory.
This year’s Training Academy has reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among routes, with the AEPJ continuing to play a key role in building bridges across cultures and geographies through Jewish heritage.
