Today, the Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, hosted a meeting with visiting professors from the United Kingdom: Professor Barry J. Gibson from the University of Sheffield and Professor Christian Morgner from the University of Portsmouth, who are currently visiting the Faculty as part of the institutional DIGI-HR research project. The meeting provided an opportunity to present research interests, exchange experiences and discuss prospects for future international collaboration, internationalisation and the development of new teaching and research projects.
Alongside the guests, attendees included Vice-Dean for Teaching and Students Assistant Professor Vanja Kopilaš, PhD; Vice-Dean for International Cooperation Assistant Professor Antonija Ordulj, PhD; Head of the Department of Sociology Professor Irena Cajner Mraović, PhD; project leader Assistant Professor Erik Brezovec, PhD; and research team member Assistant Professor Ana Marija Dunaj, PhD.
Project leader Assistant Professor Brezovec explained that the visit by Professors Gibson and Morgner was organised within the DIGI-HR project, which, alongside its research dimension, creates opportunities to strengthen international collaboration and exchange experience, and potentially to conclude institutional agreements with the visitors' universities. He emphasised that such collaboration could lead to new English-language modules, the involvement of foreign professors in teaching and greater international visibility for the Faculty of Croatian Studies.
During the meeting, Professor Christian Morgner presented his research interests in digital culture and social innovation, emphasising that internationalisation cannot be accelerated but requires long-term planning, administrative preparation and a strategic approach. He particularly highlighted that, when choosing where to study, students consider not only the quality of the programme and degree but also the wider living experience — the city's safety, accommodation options and social life.
Professor Barry Gibson presented his work in medical sociology and public health, noting that he has taught the sociology of health and contributed to international academic programmes for more than twenty years. He drew particular attention to the challenges of integrating migrant students into higher education and to Croatia's demographic challenges, which further increase the need to attract international students.
Professor Irena Cajner Mraović emphasised that the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Croatian Studies is Croatia's smallest sociology department in terms of teaching staff, yet achieves exceptional results, and its undergraduate sociology programme is among the most sought-after in Croatia.
Organising summer schools was highlighted as one possible way to increase the Faculty's international visibility, for example through programmes combining Croatian language learning, introductions to local culture and interdisciplinary academic content, while drawing on Croatia's comparative advantages such as its climate, proximity to the Adriatic and safe living environment.
Vice-Dean Ordulj presented the Faculty's international activities, noting that it currently has 22 Erasmus agreements, with sociology accounting for the largest share of mobility. Vice-Dean Kopilaš thanked the Department of Sociology for its continuing contribution to the Faculty's development.
After the meeting, Professor Christian Morgner delivered a lecture to sociology students entitled ‘Generative AI as Question Laboratory: From Answers to Questions’. Professor Barry J. Gibson will deliver his lecture, ‘Time-Tripping from the Academy to the Icon’, on Thursday, 7 May.