Maria Theresa Gymnasiums’ Graduates Network

We are building on the Empress Maria Theresa Gymnasiums Network –  10 gymnasiums founded by the Empress Maria Theresa. The network was established at the Novo mesto Academy at the European Year of Cultural Heritage on May 25, 2018. We kindly invite the gymnasiums management to assist the graduates of their  gymnasium to eCollaborate in the establishment of Maria Theresa Gymnasiums’ Graduates Network initiated on 11.o2.2026.

Content

Gymnasium Novo mesto Graduates

Purpose

Rationale for establishing the eMonument

Empress Maria Theresa 10 Gymnasiums

eTechnology Provision

Links

Gymnasium Novo mesto Graduates

In Novo mesto, Slovenia, the Gymnasium graduates established a Graduates’ Board to celebrate the 280th anniversary of the founding of the gymnasium in Novo mesto (August 8, 1746). Our contribution is a creation of eMonument to Novo mesto Gymnasium Graduates:

Founding Charter of the Novo mesto Grammar School. Empress Maria Theresa, Vienna, August 8th, 1746.

Proceedings of the Novo mesto Gymnasium (in Slovene language) with lists of graduates by year

Published in the Digital Library of Slovenia – dLib

225 let novomeške gimnazije 1746-1971. Urednik Milan Dodič. Absolventi novomeške gimnazije. Gimnazija Novo mesto. Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije – dLib, strani, str. 397-472.

250 let Gimnazije Novo mesto 1974-1996. Absolventi in maturanti novomeške gimnazije. Pripravili Milan Dodič do leta 1971, Marjeta Valentinčič, Nuša Rustja, Terezija Štern in Agna Škof od 1972 do 1996. Gimnazija Novo mesto. Odgovorna urednica Natalija Petakovič. Digitalna knjižnica Sloveni je – dLib, strani 231-330.

260 let Gimnazije Novo mesto : utrip šole 1996-2006. Urednici Natalija Petakovič in Nuša Rustja. Dijaki četrtih letnikov. Anica Kastelec. Gimnazija Novo mesto. Digitalna knjižnica Sloveni je – dLib, strani 168-190.

270 let Gimnazije Novo mesto : utrip šole 2006-2016. Urednica Nuša Rustja. Dijaki četrtih letnikov. Mojca Lukšič, Erna Šegula. Gimnazija Novo mesto. Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije – dLib, strani 259-284.

Organizations Collaborating with the Board

Franciscan Monastery Novo mesto. Father Niko Žvokelj, Guardian, Frančiškan z rastočo knjigo, Niko.Zvokelj@RKC.si

Library Miran Jarc Novo mesto. Luka Blažič, Director, Luka.Blazic@KMJ.si

Digital Library of Slovenia – dLib, National and University Library – NUK Ljubljana. Mag. Zoran Krstulović ,  Assistant Principal for Professional Work Management, Zoran.Krstulovic@NUK.Uni-Lj.si. Janez Žumer, Digital Content Department, Janez.Zumer@NUK.Uni-Lj.si

Dolenjska Museum Novo mesto. Blaž Štangelj, Content, Blaz.Stangelj@DolenjskiMuzej.si. Katarina Dajčman, Curator, Department of Art History (website), Katarina.Dajcman@DolenjskiMuzej.si

Studio Vrtinec, Video Production Novo mesto. Primož Kastelic, Producer, Founder and Director, Primoz@Studio-Vrtinec.si

Purpose

The graduates of the gymnasiums will participate in the celebration of the 280th anniversary of their gymnasium. We are happy to welcome the eCollaboration of the graduates to learn from each other and share best practices.

The graduates and teachers of these 10 gymnasiums are united by the fact that the schools were founded by Empress Maria Theresa, a wise and far-sighted lady. The graduates express their gratitude to her with their eMonument.

The rationale for establishing the eMonument

More information in one place. Instead of a short caption, visitors can access articles, biographies, photos, videos, archives, etc. The eMonument becomes a starting point for research.

A living and upgradable memory. Online links enable continuous content addition (new articles, research, testimonies). Memory is not “fixed” but develops.

A multi-layered story. Various sources can be connected – official records, personal stories, media articles. This gives us a broader and more balanced picture.

Accessibility for everyone. People from anywhere in the world can access the content. This is especially important for the diaspora or internationally important personalities/events.

Educational value. Pupils, students or researchers can quickly access verified sources and in-depth material.

Interactivity. The possibility of adding comments, memories, photos or even virtual tours – visitors become co-creators of memory.

You are welcome to contact Jože Gričar, Website Editor, Joze.Gricar@UM.si.

Empress Maria Theresa 10 Gymnasiums

Under Maria Theresa (r. 1740–1780), public gymnasiums weren’t placed randomly — they were part of a broader reform agenda, especially after the education reform of 1774 (Allgemeine Schulordnung). The goal wasn’t just education for education’s sake — it was state-building. Here are the main criteria that shaped where gymnasiums were established: Gymasiums Maria Theresa Selecting criteria for location of public gymnasiums . ChatGPT 16.o2.2026.

1746 – Gymnasium Novo mesto Slovenia

1749 – Theresianum Academy Wien, Austria

1753 – Mathematics and Nautical Sciences in Trieste, Italy

1766 – Gymnasium Karlovac, Croatia

1766 – Gymnasium Vinkovci, Croatia

1772 –  Saint Norbert of the Premonstratensian Order Gymnasium Szombathely, Hungary

1776 – Gymnasium Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia

1777 – Royal College Maria Theresa, Herve, Belgium

1780 – Public Franziskanergymnasium Bolzano, Italy

1781 – Stiftsgymnasium Melk, Austria

eTechnology Provision

The idea of ​​the Maria Theresa Gymnasiums’ Graduates Network is based on the opportunities of using modern eTechnologies to connect all generations of the gymnasium graduates as a contribution to the preservation, development and transmission dissemination of cultural heritage. On the websites, the gymnasium graduates are posting their photos, texts and videos, as well as their contributions in the decades after graduation. The websites are linked to form Gymnasium Graduates’ eMonument. By linking websites, the graduates can connect with the graduates from other schools in the country and in the region of the countries. For example, 10 gymnasiums founded by the Empress Maria Therea.

We invite companies that provide eTechnology for developing websites and establishing eMonuments to join these efforts. We especially invite digital libraries of countries, which with their experience and available e-technology can help like no other.

Links to such organizations are posted on this website:

Graduates Studio Vrtinec Saving Memories 14.02.2026.
Graduates Cooperation of the Digital Library of Slovenia Zoran Krstulović 15.01.2026.

Links

Gymnasiums Importance of public gymnasiums for compulsory primary education in 1774. ChatGPT 14.02.2026.

Gymnasiums Importance of eCollaboration of Gymnasiums’ Graduates in eRegion ChatGPT 12.02.2026

dLib Digital libraries can support development and use of eMonuments ChatGPT 09.01.2026.

Relevance of external website interlinking to an association of retired professors ChatGPT 12.12.2025.

Secondary schools and universities do not collect data on achievements of their graduates ChatGPT 15.11.2025.

Teaching the Empire: Education and State Loyalty in Late Habsburg Austria Dr. Scott O. Moore, Assistant Professor of History, Eastern Connecticut State University. West LaFayette, IN: Purdue University Press, 2020.

Johann Ignaz von Felbiger (6 January 1724 – 17 May 1788), General Commissioner of Education for the Austrian and Bohemian lands of the empire, pedagogical writer, and Canon Regular. Wikipedia.

Maria Theresa and her reforms. The World of Habsburgs.