The FOI International Days 2024 programme began on Wednesday, May 15, with an Information Day on the Horizon Europe programme, organized by the Vice-dean for Science, Projects and International Cooperation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Martina Tomičić Furjan and the Center for International Projects, in collaboration with the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU) and the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education. This Information Day gathered teachers and professional staff from higher education institutions, as well as other interested (existing and potential) users of the Horizon Europe programme.
In the afternoon, we welcomed foreign guests to UNIZG FOI. After an introductory presentation about the Faculty, guests had the opportunity to explore the city of Varaždin with a tour guide. Dr. Damir Vučić, a teacher of physical and health education at FOI, organized an informal gathering for guests with the Croatian national football team coach, Zlatko Dalić.
The evening included a social event with a Pub Quiz.
The main day of the event was Thursday, May 16, 2024. After a welcome and introductory address by the Dean, Full Prof. Marina Klačmer Čalopa, and the Vice-Rector for International and Interinstitutional Cooperation at the University of Zagreb, Full Prof. Jurica Pavičić, the Vice-dean for Science, Projects, and International Cooperation, Assoc. Prof. Martina Tomičić Furjan, briefly presented the Faculty's international and project cooperation.
The main part of the programme included three invited lectures. Full Prof. Jurica Pavičić, Vice-Rector for International and Interinstitutional Cooperation at the University of Zagreb, discussed the importance of internationalization and academic partnerships for university development, using the example of the UNIC network. The University of Zagreb joined the European University of Post-Industrial Cities (UNIC) in 2020, which brings together eight European universities dedicated to mobility and inclusiveness for social impact. Marco van Hout, Creative Director and Co-Founder of the Digital Society School at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, spoke on "Transformation by Design: Shaping Partnerships and Global Learning Communities," and Dr. Christopher McGrew, Director of the Global Center at Indiana State University in the USA, talked about the importance of international and transatlantic cooperation for American universities, presenting the history and results of the collaboration between ISU and the University of Zagreb.
Following the invited lectures, there was an interesting panel discussion titled “Empowering Sustainable Partnerships and Friendships through Internationalization.” The panel discussion was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Martina Tomičić Furjan, Vice-dean for Science, Projects, and International Cooperation at FOI, and the panelists were Prof. Dr. Jeanette Miller, Deputy Director of the Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Pennsylvania State University from the USA, Susan Loubet, Director of International Relations at ESIEA in France, Prof. Dr. Aruna Chandrasekaran from Scott College of Business at Indiana State University from the USA, Margit Varga, Head of the International Cooperation Office at the Faculty of Economics at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) from the Netherlands, and Full. Prof. Vjeran Strahonja from the Faculty of Organization and Informatics.
At the end of the program, representatives from partner institutions - Prof. Dr. Jeanette Miller from Pennsylvania State University, USA, Prof. Dr. Alta van der Merwe, Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and Prof. Dr. Barbara Sprick from Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany - presented their universities and faculties with an emphasis on international cooperation and opportunities for international students and teachers.
Evening was reserved for networking events. Guest students from the USA, Slovakia and Austria, along with FOI students and incoming students from France and Germany, spent a fun time together in the student club. The event was enhanced by the members of the Voća Cultural and Artistic Society, invited by Dr. Damir Vučić.
On Friday, a workshop for students titled "Mini Entrepreneurial Challenge" and individual meetings of international guests with researchers from FOI's laboratories were held. During the workshop led by Prof. Dr. Jeanette Miller from Penn State and Assoc. Prof. Kristina Detelj, students from the USA, Slovakia, Austria, France and FOI worked in multidisciplinary groups to develop business ideas using artificial intelligence tools, which they later presented.
Several other events took place on the sidelines of the FOI International Days 2024: a "Writing Teaching Cases" workshop for teaching staff led by Prof. Miller from Penn State, organized by the FOI Entrepreneurship Laboratory, and two invited lectures within courses – Dr. Chris McGrew, Director of the Global Center at Indiana State University, gave a lecture titled "Diversity and Power Relationships in a State University" within the International Environment Negotiation course and Prof. Dr. Cory Campbell from Indiana State University gave a lecture titled "Robotics Process Automation (RPA): Opportunities and Challenges for Business" within the Managerial Accounting and Human Resources and Career Development courses.
Visitors could also learn more about FOI's projects at the project oasis prepared by the staff of the Center for International Projects, Laura Strupar and Karlo Nadoveza.
The goal of the FOI International Days, continuously organized by the Faculty of Organization and Informatics since 2007, is networking and exchanging experiences and ideas related to international cooperation and internationalization, as well as promoting the international activities of the Faculty of Organization and Informatics and its partner foreign universities. FOI is actively working on the internationalization of the institution and is open to establishing partnerships with higher education institutions worldwide for student and staff exchanges, research and project collaboration.
We thank all participants and visitors of FOI International Days 2024!
A big thank you to everyone actively involved in organizing this year's FOI International Days, especially Full Prof. Violeta Vidaček-Hainš, Assoc. Prof. Kristina Detelj, Dr. Damir Vučić, Karlo Nadoveza, M.Ec., and other colleagues who took this opportunity to network and arrange new cooperation initiatives, as well as students involved in the organization.
See you next year, at FOI International Days 2025!
Day 1 - May 15, 2024
Day 2 - May 16, 2024
Day 3 - May 17, 2024
