Post by Miroslav Roncak

It was a real privilege to accept the invitation and speak as a lecturer at the prestigious HSLU – Lucerne School of Business – International within the new course International Tourism Development. My goal was clear: bring real-world insights into the classroom. Drawing from my long-term experience in international projects, I focused on practical aspects of International Development Cooperation — because theory only truly matters when it works in practice. I introduced, among others, the project “Tourism Diversification Strategy in Khorezm and South Karakalpakstan” in Uzbekistan, which was funded by UN Tourism and the EBRD. And what followed exceeded all expectations. The students didn’t just listen — they challenged, questioned, and explored a wide range of topics related to international cooperation. What truly stood out was the incredibly lively discussion around the role of individual stakeholders in international projects and the constant search for a delicate balance between maximizing tourism revenues and preserving cultural heritage and identity. This is exactly where theory meets reality — and where future leaders are formed. I was genuinely impressed and proud of the HSLU students for their energy, curiosity, and level of engagement throughout the session. Beyond the classroom, I had the pleasure of meeting inspiring international experts Fabian Weber Florian Eggli Timo Ohnmacht Andreas Liebrich, Anna Para and our conversations quickly moved from ideas to concrete opportunities. We discussed how Faculty of International Relations /Prague University of Economics and Business/ and HSLU – Lucerne School of Business – International can deepen cooperation not only through joint international projects and research articles, but also through initiatives such as summer schools, BIPs, staff mobility, and broader academic exchange. One of the outcomes I am especially excited about is the upcoming Czech-Swiss project “Smartly under Lysá hora: Data-driven Sustainable Tourism”, in which both universities will collaborate with partners from practice, including Beskydhost Vít Březina and Griffin Ranger GmbH. My time at HSLU – Lucerne School of Business – International confirmed one thing very clearly — the Institute for Tourism and Mobility is an outstanding place where future international tourism experts are truly shaped. It was a great honor to contribute, even just a little, to the education of future leaders in this field. Special thanks to Fabian Weber and the International Office for the invitation and the great hospitality 👍 Dear colleagues — it was a great pleasure! #Tourism #InternationalCooperation #InternationalProjects #SustainableDevelopment #HSLU #Education #Collaboration #FutureLeaders #TourismDevelopment #SustainableTourism #UNWTO #Teaching #ERBD #Diversification #Innovation #TravelIndustry #Tourismexpert #ToR