Projects

Name of the project: Professional Development of Youth Workers: learning, researching, communicating values and theories influencing practice with diverse groups

Short name: PD4D

Lead partner: Tallinn University, Talinn, Estonia

Partners:

• University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
• Sojuz za mladinska rabota Skopje, Skopje, North Macedonia
• National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland
• Victoria University Australia, Foorscray, Australia

Total budget: 400 000 €

Fund/programme: Erasmus+ program

Project duration: 1.9.2024. – 28.2.2027.

Description:

The overall objective of this project is to enhance the professionalism of youth workers in addressing the needs of diverse youth groups. The project encourages collaboration between educators and practitioners, facilitates the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical application, empowers youth workers to develop innovative approaches and activities, and promotes evidence-based youth work practices, thereby strengthening the quality and visibility of youth work.

Joint research, learning, analysis and discussion will be carried out, involving educators and youth workers. Youth workers will be supported in creating innovative activities and approaches tailored to diverse youth groups. Youth workers will be supported in researching and communicating their practice. Partner organisations will develop guidelines and methodologies for teaching youth work and diversity, as well as for researching and communicating this, based on cooperation and joint efforts.

The project will produce a report on the comparison of youth work programmes, identifying core values ​​and theoretical frameworks, with a focus on working with diverse youth groups. This includes a literature review and teaching materials. Guidelines and methodology for teaching youth work and diversity will be created, through collaboration between educators and practitioners. Likewise, guidelines and methodology for developing, researching and communicating youth work with diverse groups of young people will be created.

Name of the project: Peace School

Name of the initiative:“On the Paths of Gorski Kotar Peacemakers”: Preserving the Peace Heritage of Gorski Kotar and Revitalizing the Activities of the School of Peace in Gorski Kotar

Lead partner: Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Rijeka

Partners: 

• Primorsko-goranska county
• Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) Croatia
• Center for Peace Studies

Funding source: currently non-existent (previous activities financed from different sources or carried out pro bono)

Project duration: 21. 09.2022. –

Project description

The Peace School project is part of a broader initiative to preserve the peace heritage of Gorski Kotar, the only region in Croatia where peace and cooperation between ethnic Croats and ethnic Serbs was preserved during the 1990s. One of the key activities of this initiative is the revitalization of the Peace School, which was launched in Mrkopalj in 1994 by peace activist Franjo Starčević.

The vision of the modern Peace School is a society in which all members know how and why to cooperate constructively in peace, and violence is not an acceptable option. The goals of the modern Peace School are: a) preserving the experiences of the initial Peace School, its important social role, and the archives and memories of its founder Franjo Starčević; b) creating opportunities for acquiring and exchanging knowledge and experiences in the field of peace, tolerance and non-violent conflict resolution; c) promoting Gorski Kotar as a region of multiethnic cooperation and peace; d) contributing to the social and economic development of Gorski Kotar; e) contributing to building and preserving peace in Croatia and in the world.

From 2022 to 2024, this project carried out a series of workshops for high school students from Croatia (Rijeka, Moravice) and Serbia (Užice), workshops on reading and writing anti-war poetry, and a summer activist school for youth. In September 2024, the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Peace School in Mrkopalj was marked, with a memorial walk and a gathering of former participants and lecturers.

Name of the project: School and community

Short name: SiC

Lead partner: Institute for Social Research in Zagreb

Partners: 

• University of Rijeka, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies 
• First Croatian Gymnasium in Rijeka
• Center for the Culture of Dialogue

Funding: Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, University of Rijeka

Project duration: 1.1.2022. –

Project description

The School and Community project is being implemented in collaboration with the University of Rijeka, the First Rijeka Croatian Gymnasium, the Center for the Culture of Dialogue and the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb. School and Community (SiC) is an optional subject of civic education in secondary schools, designed with the aim of changing the perspective on civic education by bringing the school closer to the community and the community closer to the school. The subject is an innovative and unique educational experience, and is linked and complemented by the cross-curricular topic of civic education as well as the outcomes in the curricula of subjects from the social and humanistic field of teaching and learning. SiC is based on the premise that in order to achieve personal and social well-being in students, it is necessary to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes about the importance of community connections and active individual action. Accordingly, students select, research, gain experience and propose solutions to certain phenomena and problems in the community that students independently identify from various thematic areas.

As part of SiC, a proposal for a curriculum for civic education in secondary schools has been developed. Activities implemented as part of the project include: training secondary school teachers to implement the subject, introducing and monitoring the implementation of the SiC in secondary schools, continuous mentoring support for teachers who implement the subject, and improving the existing SiC curriculum proposal with new knowledge and materials.

Document „SiC – Proposal for a curriculum for civic education in secondary schools

The Public Policy Colloquium project is aimed at strengthening the capacities of the University of Rijeka, and in particular the University Institute for the Future, in the field of public policy. Although the University currently does not have a study program dedicated to public policy, a number of scientists working within the institution are active in individual sectoral policies. This project aims to create a platform for mutual cooperation and exchange of knowledge, as well as to encourage reflection on the introduction of a new study program in the field of public policy.

The project’s objectives include:

development of the institutional and scientific capacities of the University Institute in the field of political science, especially public policy,

conducting research in the field of public policy methodology,

strengthening cooperation among scientists involved in public policy,

encouraging dialogue between the academic community and the wider public,

dissemination of research findings to students and all interested stakeholders.

One of the key activities within the project is the launch of the micro-qualification “Public Policy Analysis”, which will enable students and professionals to acquire specific knowledge and skills in this important area.

The project is being implemented within the framework of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, in collaboration with political scientists from Croatia and abroad.

Project team members:

• dr. Marko Kovačić, Assoc. Prof. (University of Rijeka)
• dr. Ana Petek, Prof. (University of Rijeka / University of Zagreb)
• dr. Marjeta Šinko, Assist. Prof. (University of Rijeka / University of Zagreb)

Name of the project: UNIRI Peace Talks

Lead partner: Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, UNIRI

Partners: Center for Advanced Studies, UNIRI

Duration: 1 seminar quarterly, starting from March, 2026

Budget: No budget at the moment

Project description: In order to encourage the dissemination and exchange of knowledge about the latest scientific and practical achievements in the fields of peace and conflict transformation, the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) will organize 3-4 online seminars for academics and the general public annually. The seminars will present new relevant publications in these fields, as well as significant practical works and projects. The seminars will last an average of 90 minutes, and the working language will be English. Participation in the seminars will be free of charge for all participants, with prior registration conducted by the CPCS. Numerous existing academic and civil society partners will be involved in the dissemination of calls for online seminars to ensure the participation of a wide range of scholars and practitioners active in the fields of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. In organizing the seminars, the CPCS will use the acquired experience and knowledge of the Center for Advanced Studies, University of Rijeka.

Project Title: The impact of the “Next Generation EU” instrument on changes in Croatian public policies

Lead Partner: University of Rijeka

Funding Source: European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)

Total budget: 75.000,00 EUR

Project Duration: 1.10.2025. – 30.9.2029.

Project Description:
The project analyses the impact of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) on the formulation and content of national public policies in Croatia, focusing on the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).

The research objectives are:

1. To analyse how the content of Croatia’s NRRP was designed (objectives, instruments, actors).
2. To examine how the planned reforms and investments are being implemented, and which actors and factors are involved.
3. To explore what kinds of changes in the content and design of national policies the RRF has triggered compared to the previous state.

The methodology is based on qualitative document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. The project contributes to the academic literature on the Europeanisation of public policies and provides evidence-based insights for policymakers, especially in the context of green and digital transitions.

Financed by European Union – NextGenerationEU

Name of the project: No More Divided Societies: Strengthening Youth-Led Inter-Ethnic Solidarities

Short name: NM:S

Lead partner: Youth initiative for Human Rights

Partners:

• Youth initiative for Human Rights Serbia
• Urban Gorillas, Nicosia, Cyprus
• University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

Total budget: 250 000 €

Fund/programme: Erasmus+ program

Project duration: 1.9.2025. – 31.12.2027.

Description: This project aims to connect key actors overcoming ethnic barriers through peer learning, knowledge exchange, and crossborder cooperation. It will build a sustainable network linking youth-led grassroots initiatives and academia to develop strategies for inter-ethnic cooperation. The project will also develop practical tools and policy recommendations as well as educate and empower youth to develop and lead effective conflict transformation and initiatives which foster inter-ethnic cooperation.

Project title:
Technomanagers: The Pre-Capitalism Capitalists – Yugoslav Elites at the Edge of Worlds (TECHNOELITE)

Lead partner:
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CSMK), University of Rijeka

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Tena Prelec

Source of funding:
Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)

Total budget:
EUR 36,719.73

Project duration:
1 October 2025 – 30 September 2028

Project description:
The TECHNOELITE project examines the category of Yugoslav “technomanagers” – experts from the socialist period, particularly in the fields of foreign trade and energy, who operated in a grey zone between socialist and capitalist systems. This positionality – often combined with significant international experience pre-transition – enabled many of these actors to accumulate social, cultural, and economic capital (Bourdieu), which they were subsequently able to transfer and convert into new forms of influence during the transition and post-transition periods. As a heterogeneous, fascinating, and highly influential group, their activities cannot be reduced to simple normative judgments, but instead require an analysis of knowledge, skills, networks, and power relations within a specific historical context.

The project traces their career trajectories, analyses variations in outcomes, and explores which factors enabled elite continuity and where and why ruptures occurred. The main planned outputs are a scholarly monograph and a short documentary film, alongside public presentations and wider dissemination of the findings. The project is interdisciplinary, drawing on political science, international relations, political economy, history, and sociology, and builds on the Principal Investigator’s previous research, including the monograph Indulging Kleptocracy (Oxford University Press, 2025).

Project title: Engaging Young People and Citizens in Shaping Policies for a Reformed Europe

Project short title: EUINSPIRE

Researcher: dr. Mario Žuliček, PhD

Project leader: dr. Tena Prelec, Assist. Prof.

Lead partner: University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Partners:
University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
University of Rijeka, Croatia
IPM Institute for Political Management, Slovenia
University of Belgrade – Faculty of Political Science, Serbia
University of Zagreb – Faculty of Political Science, Croatia
Institute for Gender Equality Studies Maribor, Slovenia
Public Institution University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro

Total budget: €418,310.00

Fund/Programme: CERV Programme

Project duration: 1 February 2026 – 31 January 2028

Project description:
The EUINSPIRE project seeks to address the democratic disengagement of youth in the Western Balkans, by promoting youth participation in the EU integration process and fostering long-term civic resilience. With a multi-level, intersectional approach, the project focuses on two primary objectives: (1) enhancing youth engagement in EU policy discussions through inclusive and cocreated learning interventions, and (2) empowering educators and youth workers to foster democratic values and active citizenship.
The project will engage youth by offering immersive experiences such as Model EU simulations, regional conference, and a digital platform for co-creating EU policy recommendations. These interventions are designed to develop critical competencies in political literacy, public speaking, and collaboration, while addressing structural barriers to participation. At the same time, EUINSPIRE equips educators with the tools and methodologies needed to integrate EU-related topics into their teaching practices, promoting participatory, gender-sensitive pedagogies. Through a training curriculum and the development of peer-learning networks, the project aims to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration between educational institutions, civil society, and governance bodies. The project also addresses the need for greater youth inclusion in policy-making processes by providing spaces for youth to directly engage with policymakers, creating sustainable networks and platforms that will continue to promote EU integration and youth empowerment. EUINSPIRE strives to build a long-lasting impact, with spillover potential across the EU and its candidate countries.
Through this multifaceted approach, the project contributes to creating more inclusive, participatory, and resilient democratic systems across the Western Balkans, fostering a deeper sense of EU identity and active citizenship among young people.

Project title:
Green Transition and Environmental Justice in the European Periphery: Asymmetries and Contestation in the Western Balkans

Short name: ENVIJUST-WB

Principal Investigator: dr. Barbara Frey, PhD

Project leader: dr. Tena Prelec, Assist. Prof.

Host institution: University of Rijeka, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies

Total budget: 187,631.76 €

Funding source: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (Horizon Europe)

Project duration: 1.5.2026 – 30.4.2028

Project description

The ENVIJUST-WB project examines the political economy of the green transition in the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on environmental justice, governance, and the role of external actors. The project is based on the premise that the green transition is not only a technical and environmental process, but also a deeply political transformation that produces new asymmetries between regions, actors, and social groups.

The research focuses on how European Union policies, investment flows, and regulatory frameworks are translated into national contexts in the Western Balkans, and how these processes affect governance structures, local communities, and patterns of inequality. Particular attention is given to large-scale projects in sectors such as mining and energy, which are often justified in the context of the green transition but may generate social and environmental tensions.

Methodologically, the project combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. It includes semi-structured interviews with policymakers, business actors, civil society organisations, and international stakeholders, as well as comparative case studies of selected projects in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. In addition, the project incorporates descriptive statistical analysis of key sectors to assess their economic and social impact.

The project aims to contribute to academic debates on the political economy of the green transition and environmental justice, while also providing evidence-based insights for policymakers. By focusing on the European periphery, it highlights the broader implications of the green transition for regional inequalities, governance practices, and EU integration processes.

Name of the project: The Power of the Local

Lead partner: Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Rijeka

Funding source: Norvegian Embassy in Croatia

Project duration: One-time event – September 22, 2025.

Project description

An interdisciplinary international conference bringing together scholars and activists will be a unique opportunity to address these issues from multiple perspectives. The conference will be organized by the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies of the University of Rijeka on September 22, 2025 in a hybrid format (live and online). Given the importance of the transgenerational transmission of positive memory and the criticality of the perspectives of new generations, the participation of young people will be encouraged.