Quality of Life in a Changing World: Collection of Abstracts

Authors

Peter Kumer (ed.)
University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5923-9823
Danijel Davidović (ed.)
University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3515-6139
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18690/um.ff.4.2025

Keywords:

quality of life, space, well-being, inclusivity, sustainability

Synopsis

What defines quality of life? Is it health and the absence of illness? Strong relationships with friends and family? Spirituality and faith? A peaceful, prosperous country with a robust welfare system? Or perhaps the environments we inhabit: well-designed homes, green and blue infrastructure, a circular economy, and unpolluted surroundings? Quality of life is a complex, multifaceted concept that cannot be confined to a single definition. Addressing it holistically calls for a multidisciplinary approach. This summer school focuses on the spatial dimensions of quality of life. Scholars from across Europe and the USA have gathered to explore key themes, including: equality and inclusivity, urban and rural well-being, healthy digital environments, planning liveable environments, sense of place, technolohy and climate action. These themes reflect the changing realities of our world—urban and rural transformations, demographic shifts, digital evolution, and climate change. Each contribution in this collection offers unique insights into how space and place shape our experiences and aspirations for a better life. In a world of constant change, the quality of life is not a static ideal—but a moving target, shaped by where we are, how we live, and what we value. This volume invites you to reflect, rethink, and reimagine the spaces where life unfolds.

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Author Biographies

Peter Kumer (ed.), University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts

Dr. Peter Kumer is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maribor. His work as a critical human geographer focuses on the spatiotemporal negotiation of human-environment interactions. He employs qualitative research methods to delve into social, environmental, and behavioural aspects. He develops and teaches human geography courses at all academic levels and edits an open-access geography journal Revija za geografijo/Journal for Geography. Dr. Kumer’s scholarly contributions are recognized in various peer-reviewed journals. Holding a MSc (2013) and PhD (2017) from Ljubljana University, his career includes roles as a Research Assistant (Geographical Institute, Science and Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana), Senior Advisor (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, 2019-2020) and Undersecretary (Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, 2020-2022) with a policy expertise on green transition issues (sustainable cities and communities, green hydrogen economy, circular economy and deposit-return scheme, sustainable forest management, bioeconomy). He served as a liaison for EU Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities, before joining the University of Maribor.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: peter.kumer@um.si

Danijel Davidović (ed.), University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts

Danijel Davidovič is an assistant at the Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, and an external collaborator at the Department of Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Maribor, where he conducts various seminar and field exercises. At the Department of Geography, he also serves as the departmental tutor, Erasmus coordinator, and departmental promoter. In addition, he is employed as a professional associate at the International Centre for Ecoremediation of the University of Maribor, where, since 2019, he has participated in 12 international projects in the field of environmental education and in the preparation of expert materials for municipalities and companies.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: danijel.davidovic@um.si

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Published

June 12, 2025

Categories

Copyright (c) 2025 University of Maribor, University Press

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Details about this monograph

THEMA Subject Codes (93)

R

ISBN-13 (15)

978-961-286-007-7

COBISS.SI ID (00)

239156227

Date of first publication (11)

2025-06-12

How to Cite

Kumer, P., & Davidović, D. (Eds.). (2025). Quality of Life in a Changing World: Collection of Abstracts. University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.ff.4.2025