This year’s University School gathered thirty-six students from fourteen European and overseas countries – besides the daily classes the participants also have an opportunity to take part in a rich culture programme and excursions to the Plitvice Lakes and the Hrvatsko Zagorje region. This traditional programme of the CHF and the University of Zagreb is targeted to young people of Croatian extraction and all other students who wish to learn about Croatia and learn or perfect their Croatian.
The University School of Croatian Language & Culture was formally opened at the hall of the Rectorate of the University of Zagreb. This year’s University School gathered thirty-six students from fourteen European and overseas countries (Croatia, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Hungary, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Brazil, Canada and the USA). As in previous years the University School will also be attended by six students on scholarships from partner universities: The Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Kiev, Ukraine), the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (Ukraine), the Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia) and the Filip Kaušić Institute (Austria).
The participants were welcomed at the gala opening ceremony on the 29th of June by the Rector of the University of Zagreb professor Damir Boras DSc, the director of the Croatian Heritage Foundation Marin Knezović MSc, the head of the Office for International Relations of the University of Zagreb Branka Roščić DPhil and the director of the University School of Croatian Language & Culture professor Zrinka Jelaska DSc. The opening programme also included the now traditional introductory lecture by Božo Skoko DSc on Croatia’s identity, image and promotion.
The actual University School programme kicked off on Saturday at the Croatian Heritage Foundation headquarters with a meet & greet session for the organisers, teachers and students, the distribution of schedules and materials, interviews and knowledge tests and a short introduction to Croatian grammar. The meeting of the students and their professors took place in a very relaxed and cheery setting thanks to the always excellent preparation and implementation of activities led by CHF associate Sara Milavec. The following day saw the students on a tour of the historic and cultural core of Zagreb in the company and expert guidance of art historians Daniela Premerla DSc and Marko Špikić DSc.
The University School of Croatian Language & Culture is a traditional programme of the Croatian Heritage Foundation and the University of Zagreb targeted to young people of Croatian extraction and all other students who wish to learn about Croatia, acquire or broaden their knowledge of our country and learn or perfect their Croatian. The school runs through to the 24th of July – besides the daily classes the participants also have an opportunity to take part in a rich culture programme and excursions to the Plitvice Lakes and the Hrvatsko Zagorje region.
Text by: Lada Kanajet Šimić
