Roundtable discussion between the University Department of Sociology and the Nexus Club

On Monday, May 5, 2025, the University Department of Sociology and the Nexus Sociology Student Club organized a roundtable discussion entitled On the Experiences of Employed CUC Sociologists in Education. The event brought together numerous departmental teachers, students, doctoral candidates, and sociology alumni.
 

The audience was addressed by Prof. Gordan Črpić, Vice-Rector for Organization and Business and the first Head of the Sociology Department, who announced the start of two new university graduate study programs starting next academic year – a single-subject and a double-subject teacher education program in sociology. He emphasized that the new programs will combine theoretical knowledge in sociology with pedagogical competencies, thus providing future teachers with a strong professional foundation and quality preparation for work in diverse educational contexts.
 

The initiator of the event, Assoc. Prof. Ivana Brstilo Lovrić, Head of the University Department of Sociology, emphasized that sociology teachers play a key role in a modern society that is rapidly changing. She placed particular emphasis on the challenges and opportunities brought by the development of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that teachers today are expected to encourage critical thinking, connect and problematize social processes, and guide students in understanding new social dynamics.
 

The central part of the roundtable consisted of presentations by guests – graduate sociologists who have gained their professional experience in various segments of the education system.
 

Martina Čoko, a university master's degree in sociology, is employed as a teacher at the Gornjogradska Gymnasium. Maja Golubić, also a university master's degree, teaches at the Archbishop's Classical Gymnasium with public rights. Valentina Petrović is employed as an assistant in primary school teaching, while Dr. sc. Maja Odorjan Novak works at the Lug Education Center in Samobor. Ana Košić, a university master's degree in sociology, is currently working as an educational rehabilitator at the Center for Education, Training and Rehabilitation.

The guests shared personal experiences and recommendations related to professional development, with an emphasis on the challenges of employment, the importance of acquiring pedagogical competencies, and the need to adapt to constant changes in the education system. They emphasized that the sociology study at HKS thoroughly prepared them for the demands of teaching, empowering them to develop and apply key competencies in everyday practice. During their studies, they acquired skills such as critical thinking, an interdisciplinary approach, organizational efficiency, and adaptability, which enable them to deliver quality teaching and encourage these same abilities in students. Thanks to this knowledge and approaches, they can creatively shape teaching, further motivate students, and encourage them to actively participate in the educational process.

The round table was led by Niko Marić, a university undergraduate sociology student, and his fellow student Darija Glavašević acted as moderator. You can see some of the atmosphere from the event in the attached photo gallery.