CUC Celebrated Erasmus Day 2025 with the Participation of the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes

On Thursday, 16 October 2025, the Catholic University of Croatia joined the international celebration of Erasmus Days – an annual event held worldwide every October to promote the Erasmus+ programme, encourage mobility, and strengthen international cooperation in education.

This year’s celebration at CUC was special as, for the first time, the event was attended by representatives of the Agency for Mobility and European Union Programmes (AMPEU), led by director Ms. Antonija Gladović, M.Th., head of the Department for Higher Education – Programme Countries, Mr. Tomislav Fresl, and senior advisor in the Communications Department, Ms. Ivana Sokač Troha.

The programme began with a welcome address by Prof. Jasna Ćurković Nimac, Ph.D., Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, who emphasised:

“Erasmus is one of the most important programmes in European education. It represents a modern educational concept that offers a tangible opportunity for personal and professional growth, knowledge exchange, and connection with the European academic community. I am delighted to see so many of us gathered here today, as it confirms how significant mobility and international cooperation are – for both students and teachers.”

In the first part of the event, Ms. Antonija Gladović, M.Th., Director of AMPEU, gave a presentation on the development of the Erasmus+ programme – from its beginnings to its current role as one of the most important educational instruments of the European Union. She highlighted the importance of the active participation of both academic staff and students in mobility programmes and commended CUC for its continued efforts to promote mobility and for the excellent results achieved so far.

During the event, Vice-Rector Jasna Ćurković Nimac, university Erasmus coordinator Assoc. Prof. Zoran Turza, Ph.D., and Head of the Office for International Cooperation and Mobility Programmes, Anamarija Čulo Bačarka, held a working meeting with AMPEU representatives. They discussed future collaboration within the Erasmus+ and CEEPUS programmes, the importance of EU alliances for the University, and preparations for the upcoming International Day – an event dedicated to informing and motivating CUC staff to participate in international cooperation and mobility activities.

The programme continued with a panel discussion in which CUC academic staff shared their Erasmus+ experiences. Participants included Assoc. Prof. Zoran Turza, Ph.D., from the University Centre for Theology; Senior Assistant Karla Žagi, Ph.D.; and Assistant Paula Zujić, M.Soc., from the University Department of Sociology. They reflected on the professional and personal benefits of their mobility experiences, as well as the motivations and challenges they faced while working at foreign institutions.

Between panels, Asst. Prof. Marija Sertić, Ph.D., from the University Centre for Theology, delivered a lecture titled “Dignity and Virtues,” emphasising how international experiences not only expand knowledge but also shape one’s character, values, and sense of social responsibility.

During the student panel, Erasmus+ participants Antonio Treppo, Ema Dumančić, Mila Nevenka Fofić, and Iva Marić shared their experiences, and the event concluded with an entertaining Erasmus+ quiz.

The Office for International Cooperation and Mobility Programmes at CUC continuously encourages students and academic staff to engage in Erasmus+ and other forms of international exchange. The mobility rate continues to rise each year, and in the winter semester of the 2025/2026 academic year, CUC welcomed its highest number of incoming students to date.

Currently, CUC hosts students from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Slovakia, and Turkey – a testament to the University’s academic quality and the dedication of the entire team involved in implementing mobility programmes.