The Digital Repository «Digitalsee» as a Model of a Project-Oriented Approach to the Study of the History of Central and Southeastern Europe

Abstract

The article examines the digital repository Digitalsee as an innovative model of a project-based approach to researching the history of Central and South-Eastern Europe. The digital research project was developed with the aim of integrating academic, educational, and civic initiatives focused on the preservation, reflection, and interpretation of the region’s historical heritage amid the ongoing digital transformation of the humanities. At the core of the initiative lies the concept of an open scientific infrastructure designed to foster interdisciplinary interaction among historians, archivists, IT specialists, and educators. Particular attention is devoted to the methodological foundations of project-oriented research, which combine scholarly expertise with practices typical of the digital humanities—such as database construction, visualization of historical processes, and the development of interactive maps.

The study demonstrates that Digitalsee functions not only as a repository of digitized historical sources but also as a collaborative platform that facilitates co-creation and critical engagement with historical case studies. This collaborative framework enhances the participants’ ability to develop and apply digital literacy, critical analysis, and interpretive skills to historical data. Through the implementation of a series of educational and research initiatives within the repository, the potential of the Digitalsee model for modernizing historical education, popularizing cultural heritage, and deepening cross-border academic cooperation is clearly revealed.

The project also contributes to the expansion of open science practices and the establishment of new forms of scholarly communication. By integrating digital tools into historical research and teaching, Digitalsee supports the transition toward more inclusive, accessible, and transparent knowledge production. Moreover, it exemplifies how digital repositories can serve as dynamic spaces for the creation and dissemination of historical knowledge that transcends national and disciplinary boundaries. The article argues that Digitalsee represents an effective instrument for developing the competencies of the twenty-first-century historian, capable of navigating both traditional archival materials and complex digital environments. In this sense, the repository contributes to the rethinking of research strategies in line with emerging European educational standards and promotes the evolution of history as a digitally informed discipline. The repository can serve as a robust model for integrating digital humanities methodologies into historical education and research.