New Perspectives in Science Education

Cultural memory and traditional beliefs constitute an important component of intangible cultural heritage, reflecting the historical experience, collective representations, and cultural identity of local communities. Their study provides opportunities for developing interdisciplinary approaches to higher education, integrating historical research, ethnology, cultural anthropology, and digital technologies.

The paper examines the educational potential of research materials collected within the project "Interdisciplinary Study of Beliefs and Representations of Supernatural and Mythical Forces Preserved in the Cultural Memory of Northwestern Bulgaria and Their Transmission over Time", funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund (Project No. KP-06-N75/4). The research draws upon archival documents, ethnographic sources, fieldwork materials, oral narratives, and digital resources documenting traditional beliefs and representations of supernatural and mythical beings.

The methodological approach combines historical and comparative analysis with the interpretation of ethnographic evidence and the assessment of its applicability in university education. Particular attention is paid to the transmission of traditional knowledge between generations, the transformation of cultural representations, and the educational value of documenting and interpreting intangible cultural heritage.

Based on these research resources, the paper proposes an interdisciplinary educational model integrating source criticism, field research methods, comparative cultural analysis, and digital documentation into university programmes related to cultural heritage. The model is designed to support the development of students' analytical, methodological, and research competencies while encouraging critical engagement with traditional knowledge and cultural diversity.

The paper argues that research-based educational resources can strengthen the relationship between academic knowledge, cultural heritage preservation, and higher education. The proposed approach offers a framework for incorporating regional cultural traditions into contemporary university education without separating them from their historical and social contexts.

Keywords: cultural memory; traditional beliefs; intangible cultural heritage; interdisciplinary education; higher education; research-based learning.

References:

UNESCO. (2003). Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention

University of Library Studies and Information Technologies. (2026). Supernatural and Mythical: Research Project KP-06-N75/4. https://mitichno.unibit.bg/