18.06.2026
The paper “Stamp-Based Gamification for Enhancing Museum Engagement and Informal Learning” by Prof. Neviana Krasteva, DSc, Assist. Prof. Teodor Daskalov, and Dr. Aleksey Potebnia from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” has been accepted for presentation at The Future of Education 2026 International Conference, which takes place in June 2026 in Florence, Italy.
The conference is organized by the international educational network Pixel and, for sixteen consecutive years, has brought together scholars, university professors, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to discuss innovation in education, digital transformation, lifelong learning, and emerging approaches to teaching and learning. The event is recognized as one of the established international forums in the field of education, and accepted papers are published in a peer-reviewed proceedings volume with ISBN, ISSN, and DOI identifiers and are submitted for indexing in major international academic databases.
The study presents the development and pilot implementation of an innovative museum gamification model based on a stamp-passport system, designed to enhance visitor engagement, stimulate informal learning, and foster long-term interest in cultural heritage. Developed within university courses in marketing and cultural management, the project combines a physical stamp collection system with a digital QR-code version, enabling both on-site and remote participation.
The concept draws on international best practices, including the popular Japanese “stamp rally” model, as well as contemporary research on museum gamification. Through interactive tasks, game-based reward mechanisms, and personalized exploration routes, the model seeks to transform visitors from passive observers into active participants in the discovery and interpretation of cultural content.
The pilot project involved several Bulgarian museums, including the National Museum of History, the National Art Gallery, the Museum of the History of Sofia, the Technical Museum “Old Sofia”, the Ethnographic Museum, Muzeiko, and the Museum of Anthropology at Sofia University. As part of the initiative, students worked as experience designers, developing thematic stations, inquiry-based educational challenges, visual materials, digital prototypes, and visitor feedback instruments.
The results of the pilot tests indicate increased time spent in museum exhibitions, higher visitor satisfaction, and improved retention of cultural and scientific information. The study also demonstrates the potential of collaboration between universities and cultural institutions in creating new forms of educational engagement and societal impact.
The paper proposes a practical model that can be adapted by museums internationally as an accessible and scalable solution for attracting younger audiences, promoting learning through experience, and encouraging repeat visits. At the same time, the research raises a broader question about the future role of cultural institutions in the digital age—not only how they preserve knowledge, but also how they create opportunities for active participation in experiencing and interpreting it.
On 18 June 2026, Teodor Daskalov, a doctoral student, will present the findings in person in Florence, at the conference venue of the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo Congress Centre, before an international audience of researchers and practitioners in education and cultural management. The presentation offers an important opportunity to showcase Bulgarian experience in gamification, cultural heritage, and informal education within the global discussion on the role of cultural institutions in the knowledge society.
The project demonstrates that the future of museums depends not merely on the adoption of new technologies, but on their capacity to create meaningful human experiences. Through initiatives such as this, the museum emerges not simply as a place for preserving the past, but as a dynamic environment where cultural heritage becomes a catalyst for curiosity, participation, and collaborative knowledge creation. In this sense, the study offers not only a practical tool for enhancing visitor engagement, but also a vision of a new relationship between universities, cultural institutions, and society.