Turistica Students Among the TOP 10 Finalists at the Prestigious EMCup Competition

The theme of this year's 17th edition of the competition was "Well-Being: A Business Imperative." Students Žan Seušek, Tija Gantar, Lana Kaštrun, and Asja Krašna began their preparations for the competition months in advance under the mentorship of assistant Tadej Rogelja, M.A., and Miha Bratec, M.A. They faced numerous tasks, which they presented multiple times during the competition days. Their performances and innovative ideas were evaluated by a jury consisting of 62 judges—representatives of hotel chains.

We would like to express our gratitude to the University of Primorska and the GDI project for enabling our students to travel and participate in the competition, as well as to the EMCup organization for their excellent care of our team. The students return from the competition enriched with new connections and internship and job offers from international hotel chains, while the mentors return with a reinforced belief that Turistica can compete on equal footing with the most prestigious names in the European higher education tourism sector — despite our significantly lower budgets.

For the students who took part in EMCup, this was an unforgettable and extremely valuable experience, full of challenges, learning, and priceless connections. Each of them gained new knowledge, pushed the limits of their abilities, and discovered the importance of teamwork, adaptability, and confidence. Here, they share their thoughts and reflections on this unique opportunity.

Žan: "The EMCup competition challenged me on multiple levels. Every challenge was an opportunity for improvement and learning new skills that will be useful in the future. The preparations were both educational and demanding, but they allowed me to expand my knowledge and connect with different people. One of the biggest challenges for me was handling sudden changes and quickly adapting to unexpected situations. Even though we prepared extensively, surprises still came up—like unexpected jury comments or questions. Above all, this competition gave me a deeper understanding of the importance of teamwork and trust, even in the most stressful situations."

Tija: "EMCup was a crazy and unforgettable experience. So many amazing people in one place, an incredible atmosphere, and a team that faced challenges together—this made the competition truly special. The biggest challenge for me was the final pitch. We had very little time to prepare, present our idea, and convince the ‘dragons.’ The adrenaline was at its peak, but that pressure pushed us to give our best. Beyond the competition itself, EMCup will stay in my memory because of the new friendships, inspiring conversations, and the feeling of being part of something big. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything!"

Lana: "EMCup was an incredible experience for which I am very grateful. The entire process, from preparation to the competition itself, was fascinating, intense, creative, and educational. It was a fantastic opportunity to broaden my perspective on the field I want to pursue and to connect with employers from the world’s leading hotel chains. We met like-minded competitors, supported each other, and created an energetic atmosphere. Reaching the TOP 10 was a confirmation that our hard work paid off and motivated me to continue my education and participate in similar events. The biggest challenge for me was stepping onto the stage in front of 150 people and strict jurors. But once I was up there, I calmed down completely and overcame my fear. This experience gave me the confidence to realize I am capable of more than I ever thought."

Asja: "The EMCup competition is an experience I will never forget. My biggest challenge was definitely stepping out of my comfort zone. Even though I am quite a social person, I found it difficult to approach new people, introduce myself, and talk about my ideas. However, I decided to face my fear and proved to myself how easy it actually is. Through this, I also realized how valuable networking is, as it opens important opportunities and builds new connections. Another challenge for me was overcoming my fear of industry experts. It seemed intimidating to present our ideas to them, but I soon realized that they are just people, too—they are there to support us and even learn from us. I would also mention that this competition gave me a new perspective on the business world, and it even inspired me to one day be on the jury’s side of such a competition."

The project is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project is implemented in accordance with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) under the development area Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, component Strengthening competencies, in particular digital competencies and those required by the new professions and the green transition (C3 K5), for the investment measure Investment F. Implementation of pilot projects, the results of whichwill serve as a basis for the preparation of a roadmap for the reform of higher education for a green and resilient transition to a Society 5.0: project Pilot Projects for the Reform of Higher Education for a Green and Resilient Transition.