Successful First International Day Held at the Catholic University of Croatia

On Wednesday, 26 November 2025, the Catholic University of Croatia held its first-ever International Day, an event dedicated to promoting international cooperation, mobility, and project opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students.

The program opened with welcome remarks by Prof. Željko Tanjić, Ph.D., Rector of the Catholic University of Croatia, and Prof. Jasna Ćurković Nimac, Ph.D., Vice-Rector for International Cooperation.

“We continuously work on strengthening international cooperation and mobility programmes. As we receive an increasing number of invitations and inquiries from colleagues wishing to participate in various mobility programmes and international project partnerships, we wanted to offer them, in one place, as much information as possible on the available opportunities, forms and modalities of cooperation,” said Vice-Rector Ćurković Nimac.

During the first part of the programme, participants attended a series of presentations on key European and international opportunities in mobility and project collaboration.

Antonija Gladović, Director of the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU), presented the opportunities offered by Erasmus+ and CEEPUS, highlighting the importance of international exchange for developing the competencies of students and staff.

Staša Skenžić, Head of the Directorate for Coordination of European Affairs and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, outlined available bilateral programmes designed to support joint research activities with international partners.

Through these bilateral programmes, the Ministry supports two-year international research projects in Albania, Austria, France, India, Israel, China, Hungary, North Macedonia, Germany, the USA, and Slovenia. Approximately 250 bilateral research projects across all scientific fields are currently underway, with the majority in natural, biomedical, technical, and biotechnical sciences.

Zorana Barišić, National Contact Point Coordinator for Horizon Europe, presented two major European mechanisms:

Horizon Europe, the EU’s largest research and innovation funding programme, and

COST, a programme that supports networking and collaboration among researchers through thematic international networks.

Nikolas Djukić from the University of Regensburg presented scholarship opportunities offered by BAYHOST (Bavarian Academic Centre for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe), emphasizing support for study and research stays in Bavaria.

Additionally, Violeta Vidaček from the Faculty of Organization and Informatics presented COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) — a model that enables students to engage in international collaboration in teaching through digital tools, without the need for physical mobility.

In the second part of the programme, a panel discussion was held, moderated by Prof. Hrvoje Štefančić, Ph.D. Panelists Gladović, Djukić, and Skenžić answered questions from the audience and provided deeper insights into the full range of opportunities for international cooperation and research activities.

The first International Day confirmed the strategic commitment of the Catholic University of Croatia to strengthening its international visibility and building connections with partner institutions throughout Europe and the world. By engaging in relevant mobility programmes, research networks, and international projects, the University continues to expand its academic capacity, offering students and researchers access to global knowledge, resources, and experiences that enrich the teaching and research excellence of the institution.