The Department of Arts was established in October 2012 after the division of the Department of Humanities into the Department of Philology and the Department of Arts. In the academic year of 2018/2019, the conditions for the organization of the Department of Arts were obtained with two departments: the Department of Musical Arts and the Department of Fine Arts.
The mission of the Department of Arts is to promote excellence in artistic, educational and scientific work in the fields of music, fine arts, drama and puppet arts, as well as music, fine arts, drama and puppet pedagogy. The aim of the Department is to increase the level of quality and intensity of artistic, scientific and professional work of teachers and students by initiating quality artistic and scientific projects and scientific and professional meetings with the greatest possible involvement of students, to offer the highest quality curricula and high quality of higher education in the field of arts in undergraduate and graduate studies of the Faculty of Education, expand the number of quality elective courses in the fields of music, fine arts, drama and puppetry, increase student involvement in project and extracurricular activities in various artistic fields, develop cooperation with other higher education institutions to ensure student mobility and teachers and train future teachers and educators for quality professional and creative work in educational institutions.
Within the Department of Arts, the idea was developed to encourage students of teacher and pre-school education to express themselves in various arts as much as possible and to publicly present their own works in the fields of music, drama, puppetry and fine arts. The result was the founding of the Academic Choir (2008) under the guidance of Asst. Prof. Vesna Svalina, PhD, creative working group Dje.V.E. (2008) under the guidance of Asst. Prof. Jelena Kovačević. M.A., and the EKTe Art Festival – art through education (2015) under the guidance of Professor Mira Perić. For the last ten years, students have regularly organized art workshops, art exhibitions and short music programs on for the Faculty Days, and also organized charity Christmas concerts during Christmas time.
Today, the Department employs eight teachers, four of them of artistic-teaching titles, one of scientific-educational title, two of teaching titles and one associate professor. The class is held by two more associate professors – one assistant and one lecturer. Teachers in the artistic and teaching professions are prominent artists in the field of fine arts and drama. Teachers who conduct music and music-pedagogical courses are primarily engaged in scientific research activities in the field of music pedagogy. All teachers regularly participate in scientific and professional meetings and in activities popularizing the science and the arts.
Head of Department:
Mira Perić, Full Professor with tenure in Art
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Name and surname |
Mira Perić |
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Title |
Full Professor with tenure in Art |
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Office Nr. |
27 |
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Research interests |
The art of drama, drama-in-education (DIE) and puppetry in education |
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Born 1/5/1961 in Tomašanci near Đakovo, Croatia. Graduated acting in 1984 at Academy of Dramatic Art at University of Zagreb. Played more than hundred important theatre roles and gained a status of principal drama artist. Besides acting, she also directs and writes drama. In 2013 she directed her own drama text Hana and Hana at Croatian National Theatre in Osijek. She played in TV dramas, soap operas, and was included in educational TV programme. In 2013 she celebrated 30 years of acting and got an award from Croatian Association of Actors for contribution to Croatian theatre and theatre arts. Since 1992 she teaches at Faculty of Education. She teaches Drama Education, Drama games, Puppetry, Puppetry games. She published a number of professional and scientific works. She is the author of a handbook Drama plays for preschool kids (2009), two poetry collections Cross-fade of theatre beauty (2009) and Ego Twilight (2012), four dramas in a book Women in Parts (2012), dramatization of Nazor's White deer (2012), monodrama Lioness's Revenge (2011), Reaching acting maturity(2018.).She is the head of Arts Department. She is a conductor of many projects, drama and puppetry workshops. She is a member of many theatre committees. She holds a number of letters of thanks, awards and honours (in 2009 she got a public honur Golden plaque „The City of Osijek Stamp“ for special achievements in theatre culture and education)... |
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List of publications (link to CROSBI) |
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Members of Department:
Goran Kujundžić, Full Professor, Ph.D. in Art
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First and last name |
Goran Kujundžić |
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Profession |
Full Professor, Ph.D. in Art |
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gkujundzic@foozos.hr ; kujundzic.likovnakultura@gmail.com |
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Office number |
35 |
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Research interests |
Visual Arts, Methodology of Visual Culture |
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Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) |
Goran Kujundžić, born in Subotica in 1976, graduated in 2003 with a degree in graphic arts from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Zagreb. In 2014, he earned a PhD in Arts from the postgraduate doctoral study program in painting at the same academy. Before starting his work at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, he was employed as a visual arts teacher in primary school, as well as a teacher of professional subjects at the Secondary School of Applied Arts and Design. He is currently employed at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences as a full professor. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Croatia and abroad. He has also illustrated several children's books by authors from Osijek. |
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List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
Jelena Kovačević, Associate Professor, Ph.D. in Art
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First and last name |
Jelena Kovačević |
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Profession |
Associate Professor, Ph.D. in Art |
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Office number |
59 |
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Research interests |
methodology of art education, art, art therapy |
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Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) |
Jelena Kovačević was born in Osijek in 1982, where she completed her primary and secondary education. In 2005, she graduated in graphic arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. In 2009, she earned a master's degree in graphic arts from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana. In 2020, she obtained a PhD in painting from the postgraduate doctoral program at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 2021 she specialized in art therapy through the Postgraduate Specialist Study of Creative Therapies at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine. She is an associate professor at the Faculty of Education in Osijek. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions and is the author of the popular science monograph "Art and Well-being: Artistic Creativity in the Service of Mental Health" (2023). |
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List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
Lidija Nikolić, Associate Professor, Ph.D.
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First and last name |
Lidija Nikolić, Ph.D. |
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Profession |
Associate Professor |
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Office number |
60 |
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Research interests |
Her research focuses on music pedagogy and the psychology of music, particularly in the field of higher education in music for future primary school teachers and preschool educators. |
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Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) |
Lidija Nikolić graduated with a degree in Music Culture Education from the Faculty of Education at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek in 1996. In 2016, she defended her doctoral dissertation in the university postgraduate program Science of Musical Arts - Music Pedagogy Module at the Faculty of Music, University of Arts in Belgrade. Since 1996, she has been teaching music courses for future primary school teachers and preschool educators at the Faculty of Education, now the Faculty of Education and Educational Sciences at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, where she holds the academic title of Associate Professor. The courses she has taught or currently teaches include Playing an Instrument, Choir, Singing and Playing, Music Theory, Music Culture, Music Pedagogy Methodology, Music Listening, Music Culture with Pedagogy Methodology, Children's Music Creativity, Music with Practicum, Music in the Integrated Curriculum, and Understanding the Language of Music. She is the author of positively reviewed and adopted curricula for mandatory music courses in the teacher education program (1998, 2003, and 2005) and the preschool education program (2002 and 2005). She regularly presents her research at international scientific conferences in the field of music pedagogy and publishes scientific papers in Croatia and abroad. |
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List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
CroRIS – Lidija Nikolić (https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/searchByContext/2/33967 ) |
Vesna Svalina, Associate professor. Ph.D.
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First and last name |
Vesna Svalina, Ph.D. |
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Profession |
Associate Professor |
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Office number |
52 |
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Research interests |
Music education in primary and secondary schools, musical giftedness, creativity in music education, music therapy and inclusive education, application of technology in music education, development of personal and social skills through music, listening to music as a teaching area |
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Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) |
Vesna Svalina, PhD (1968) is an associate professor in the field of music education and head of the Subdepartment of Musical Arts at the Faculty of Education (FOOZOS), at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. She graduated from the Faculty of Education (now FFOS) in Osijek in 1991, earned her Master's degree in Music Pedagogy from the Music Academy in Zagreb in 2009, and completed her doctorate in Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, in 2013. Dr. Svalina has published her scientific work in journals and conference proceedings, both nationally and internationally. She is the author of two books in the field of music pedagogy, has published over forty scientific papers, and has participated in numerous national and international scientific conferences (Cambridge – UK; Paris – France; Rostock – Germany; Cetinje – Montenegro; Ljubljana, Ruše – Slovenia; Beograd, Kragujevac – Serbia; Dubrovnik, Osijek, Pula, Split, Zadar, Zagreb – Croatia). She has led research projects and collaborated on a bilateral project focusing on musical and artistic giftedness. She has actively contributed to the organization of international conferences, including the 6th International Symposium of Music Pedagogues (Osijek, 2019, Faculty of Education) and the First International Conference Creative Approaches to Learning and Teaching - CALT (Osijek, 2023, Faculty of Education). Additionally, she is a member of the editorial boards of several international journals. From 2015 to 2018, she served as the executive editor of the journal Life and School, and since 2021, she has been a member of the editorial boards of the journals SN Social Sciences, International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Journal for the Interdisciplinary Art and Education. In addition to her scientific work, she has achieved notable success in artistic activities with choirs, performing in Croatia and abroad (Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Switzerland). She has received numerous national and international awards, including special recognition for the best performance of a mandatory composition and her exceptional conduct. |
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List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
Personal website: www.vesna-svalina.net |
Marko Šošić, Associate Professor, Ph.D. in Art
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First and last name |
Marko Šošić, Ph.D. in Art |
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Profession |
Associate Professor |
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Office number |
35 |
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Research interests |
Art education, Children’s art and the community, Children’s art exhibitions |
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Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) |
Marko Šošić graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Široki Brijeg, University of Mostar, in 2001. In 2015, he obtained his PhD at the Postgraduate Painting Program at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb with the thesis "Dream – Painting the Dream through Direct Observation."
Since 2001, he has been continuously involved in teaching, first as a teacher of specialized art subjects at the Technical School in Vinkovci, then as a teacher of Graphic Design and Drawing and Painting at the School of Applied Arts and Design in Osijek, where he also worked as a mentor on numerous student projects and as the head of the Art Education Commission, a long-term member of the State Art Competition Commission (LIK). In 2012, he was promoted to the title of mentor professor.
Since 2015, he has been employed at the Faculty of Education, where he teaches courses in Visual Arts, Visual Arts in Integrated Curriculum, Visual Art Techniques and Plastic Arts, Visual Communication and Design, Protection and Communication of Art Heritage in Kindergarten, and Children's Art and the Community. In 2023, he was promoted to the title of Associate Professor.
He is a mentor on numerous student workshops, exhibitions, and projects such as AEXPO (International Exhibition of Art Works by Faculty of Education Instructors) and AEXPO futura (International Exhibition of Art Works by Faculty of Education Students). He is the author of the university textbook “Visual arts and fine arts techniques”(2019). He has also worked as a graphic editor for numerous print and online publications for the Faculty of Education.
He has held twenty-four solo exhibitions and participated in more than forty group exhibitions both in Croatia and abroad. In his artistic work, he explores the oneiric spaces of dreams and the human body as symbols of specific psychological states. He expresses himself through the traditional medium of easel painting, blending contemporary pop culture motifs and experimental materials with traditional and established techniques.
Since 2017, he has led the Art Workshop at the Saint Ana Children's Home in Vinkovci. |
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List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
Blanka Gigić Karl, Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
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Name and surname |
Blanka Gigić Karl Ph.D. |
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Title |
Associate Professor |
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Office Nr. |
10 |
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Research interests |
cultural management, branding in culture, music therapy, art pedagogy |
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Graduated from the Academy of Music in Pula in 1993 and obtained the title of mag.mus. In 1993, she completed a one-year study program of music therapy at the Academy of Music in Zagreb and the Clinic for Neurology, Psychiatry, Alcoholism and Other Addictions, Vinogradska 29, Zagreb. In 1994, she went to Stuttgart, Germany, where, along with improving the German language at the Benedict Schule, she applied to work in a day psychiatric clinic in Ludwigsburg with qualifications in music therapy. After returning to Croatia in 1997, in addition to working at the Grammar school, she improved her skills in the field of music by attending seminars and music workshops by Klaus Juergen Etzold (Germany, Hannover) "Croatia cantat" in cooperation with the German Music Council (Deutscher Musikrat). In 1999 and 2000, she attended and participated in the seminars and workshops of Richard Frostic, director of the Islington Music Center in London, "Music for all-composing in the classroom". In the academic year 2007/2008 she teaches "Music Methodology" at the Evangelical Faculty. In March 2008, in Opatija, under the auspices of the Education Agency, she improved her skills through music workshops on dance, movement, folk dances and work with children with developmental disabilities. In the period from January to August 2009, she attended the choral workshops of prof. Branko Starc, where she perfects herself in the areas of affective imposition of the voice: psychotechnics and physiotechnics of singing, vocal stylistics, speech of music: expressive analysis of compositions, voice science. In 2012, she graduated from the specialist study of the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, majoring in "Organization and Management" with the final thesis "The Influence of Music on Consumer Behavior". In the academic year 2014/15 she enrolled in the post-graduate university study of Cultural Studies, major: Management in Culture, Art and Education at the Doctoral School of J. J. Strossmayer University in Osijek. She has been teaching for 26 years, working in various schools, from elementary school to art academy. In 2006, she participated in the national piano duo competition as a mentor to two students from the Varaždin Music School and won the third prize. In 2007, at the regional competition in Varaždin, as a mentor, she won III. prize in the first category, piano discipline. Since April 2018, she has been working as a lecturer at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek. She received her doctorate in September 2020, with the topic "Strategic activities in the branding of the city's cultural identity", and she received the title of assistant professor in March 2024. From July 1, 2024, she is employed at FOOZOS with 50% of the working time. She is the leader of many projects and the executive producer of the series “Dreamers of Croatia” |
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List of publications (link to CROSBI) |
Ana Popović, Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
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First and last name |
Ana Popović, Ph.D. |
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Profession |
Assistant Professor |
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apopovic@foozos.hr |
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Office number |
59 |
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Research interests |
Science of Art, Educational Sciences |
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Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) |
Ana Popović was born in Zagreb in 1984. She graduated from the III Gymnasium in Osijek, the Franjo Kuhač Music School in Osijek (specialization: Music Theorist), and the Vatroslav Lisinski Music School in Zagreb (specialization: Trombonist). She earned her degree in musicology at the Academy of Music in Zagreb.
Since completing her studies, she has primarily worked as a teacher of various music subjects in primary, secondary, and music schools, teaching music history, musical forms, solfeggio, harmony, choir, piano, musical art, and music culture. Since 2017, she has been employed at the Faculty of Education in Osijek, where she teaches various music courses in the integrated undergraduate and graduate university Teacher Education program. She also teaches in the regular and part-time University undergraduate and graduate programs in Early and Preschool Education.
In 2022, she earned her doctorate at the interdisciplinary postgraduate university program in Cultural Studies, specializing in Culture, Art, and Literature in the European Context, at the Doctoral School of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek. Her dissertation, titled The Musical Landscape of Osijek and the Region, was supervised by Prof. Dr. Laura Šakaja.
She regularly publishes scientific, professional, and popular works, as well as music critiques, and performs actively as a trombonist in various ensembles (orchestra, big band). She frequently participates in numerous scientific and professional conferences. She is a member of the Croatian Musicological Society and is also engaged in adult education. |
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List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
Ana Čolaković, Assistant
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First and last name |
Ana Čolaković |
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Profession |
Assistant |
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Office number |
35 |
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Research interests |
Fine arts, sculpture, painting, arrangement, and scenographic design |
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Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) |
Ana Čolaković was born in Vinkovci, Croatia in 1993. In 2017, she graduated in sculpture under the mentorship of Full Professor Nikola Vučković at the Academy of Fine Arts, Široki Brijeg, University of Mostar, earning the title of master of sculpture and art education teacher.
From graduation until 2024, she intermittently worked at the School of Applied Arts and Design in Osijek, substituting in professional subjects, including drawing and painting, as well as sculptural and set design. Under her mentorship, fourteen students successfully completed their secondary education.
She is the author of three permanently installed public sculptures (located in Široki Brijeg, Vienna, and Posušje), has held six solo exhibitions, participated in numerous group exhibitions, and led art workshops. Notably, she has had a longstanding collaboration with the Community Service Center "St. Ana" in Vinkovci.
Since 2016, she has been a member of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists in Zagreb. In 2022, she assumed the role of president of the association SKICA, through which she promotes the visibility of women artists by organizing projects such as the juried exhibition ONE SU TU (They Are Here).
In 2024, she began working as an Assistant at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. She leads practical classes in the subjects of Visual Arts (taught by Associate Professor Dr. Art Jelena Kovačević), Visual Communication and Design (taught by Associate Professor Dr. Art Marko Šošić), Integrated Preschool Curriculum III, and Visual Arts in the Integrated Curriculum (taught by Professor Dr. Art Goran Kujundžić). |
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List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
CroRIS – Ana Čolaković |
Gordana Ercegovac-Jagnjić, Senior Lecturer
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Name and surname |
Gordana Ercegovac-Jagnjić |
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Vocation |
Senior Lecturer |
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Number of offices |
60 |
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Research interests |
Music and music pedagogy |
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1989. graduated from the Music Culture 1995. graduated from the Croatian Language and Literature studies 1989th to1991st a high school professor in Osijek 1989 employed at the Pedagogical Faculty, which grew into today's Faculty of Educational and Educational Sciences in Osijek Courses: Theory of music Music culture Music with Practice Music in Integrated Curriculum Integrated Preschool Curriculum III |
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List of publications (link to CROSBI) |