Sub-Department of Musical Arts was established in November 2018 as a unit within the Department of Arts at the Faculty of Education, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek.
Teaching is carried out within the integrated undergraduate and graduate university Teacher Education program, as well as in the full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate university program in Early and Preschool Education. The curriculum includes courses in the fields of music, music pedagogy, and teaching methodology.
In addition to teaching activities, members of the Sub-Department are actively engaged in scientific research, professional work, and artistic practice. They publish scientific and professional papers, participate in national and international conferences and symposia, are involved in organizing scientific and professional events, and contribute to the popularization of science and the arts through various public programs and events.
The Sub-Department is also involved in projects funded from various national and international sources. Among projects co-financed by the European Union, within the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (NextGenerationEU), the following stand out:
- ReDiP – From Reinterpretation to Retrodigitalization of School Manuals in the Croatian Language from the Mid-19th to the Early Decades of the 20th Century
- KUL-PRO – Enhancing the Culture and Quality of the Education System in the Context of Professional Development of Preschool and Primary School Teachers
- Contemporary Approaches to the Local Heritage of Slavonia and Srijem: History, Language, Culture, and the Educational System
Within bilateral international cooperation, a notable project is Giftedness in the Arts – Analysis of the Situation among Primary School Students from the Perspective of Visual and Musical Giftedness, co-financed by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia. Among projects funded by Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, the project Listening to Music as a Component of the Music Education Curriculum is particularly noteworthy.
An important aspect of the Chair’s activities is the organization of scientific conferences. Notably, the Sixth International Symposium of Music Pedagogues was held in 2019 at the Faculty of Education, as well as the international conference CALT – Creative Approaches to Learning and Teaching, held in 2023 and again in 2026. Both editions of the CALT conference gathered more than 200 participants and confirmed its international character through the number of participating countries: authors from 17 countries took part in the first conference, and from 12 countries in the second. As part of both conferences, a Student Forum is also held—a program segment intended for undergraduate and graduate students to present ideas, projects, and research related to creativity in education.
The activities of the Sub-Department are focused on developing the musical competencies of future teachers and preschool educators, as well as on connecting artistic, educational, and scientific fields within the contemporary educational context.
Sixth International Symposium of Music Pedagogues
First International Conference CALT: Creative Approaches to Learning and Teaching
Second International Conference CALT: Creative Approaches to Learning and Teaching
Head of the sub-department
Vesna Svalina, Associate professor. Ph.D.
First and last name | Vesna Svalina, Ph.D. |
Profession | Associate Professor |
Office number | 52 |
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 |
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. |
List of publications (link to CroRIS) | Personal website: www.vesna-svalina.net |
Members of the sub-department
Lidija Nikolić, Associate Professor, Ph.D.
First and last name | Lidija Nikolić, Ph.D. |
Profession | Associate Professor |
Office number | 60 |
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. |
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. |
List of publications (link to CroRIS) | CroRIS – Lidija Nikolić (https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/searchByContext/2/33967 ) |
Blanka Gigić Karl, Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
Name and surname | Blanka Gigić Karl Ph.D. |
Title | Associate Professor |
Office Nr. | 10 |
Research interests | cultural management, branding in culture, music therapy, art pedagogy |
| 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” |
List of publications (link to CROSBI) |
Mia Mucić, Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
First and last name | Mia Mucić, PhD, Assist. Prof. |
Profession | Assistant Professor |
mmucic@foozos.hr | |
Office number | 57 |
Research interests | music pedagogy, psychology of music, interdisciplinarity in music education |
Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) | Mia Mucić was born on 17 November 1985 in Vinkovci, where she completed her primary education and music school, as well as secondary school (grammar school). She graduated from the Academy of Arts in Osijek in 2008, earning the degree of Professor of Music Education. She obtained her PhD from the Faculty of Education in Osijek in 2025. She worked in primary and secondary schools, where she advanced to the title of senior teacher. She served as Head of the County Professional Council of Music Education Teachers of Vukovar-Srijem County (2022–2026) and Brod-Posavina County (2022–2024). From 2020 to 2022, she was a member of the Ministry of Science and Education working group for e-learning. She participated in the e-Schools project (2023), “Comprehensive Informatisation of School Operations and Teaching Processes Aimed at Creating Digitally Mature Schools for the 21st Century” (CARNET, 2023). She coordinated two Erasmus+ projects and actively participated in professional training abroad. She received the Award of the Ministry of Science and Education for the most successful education professionals in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Since 2026, she has been employed at the Faculty of Education, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. She is the author of several scientific papers and a co-author of a book in the field of music pedagogy. Her research interests focus on music pedagogy and the psychology of music. |
List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
Ana Popović, Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
First and last name | Ana Popović, Ph.D. |
Profession | Assistant Professor |
apopovic@foozos.hr | |
Office number | 59 |
Research interests | Science of Art, Educational Sciences |
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. |
List of publications (link to CroRIS) |
Gordana Ercegovac-Jagnjić, Senior Lecturer
Name and surname | Gordana Ercegovac-Jagnjić |
Vocation | Senior Lecturer |
Number of offices | 60 |
Research interests | Music and music pedagogy |
| 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 |
List of publications (link to CROSBI) |
Dunja Keža, Assistant
First and last name | Dunja Keža, univ. mag. mus. |
Profession | Assistant |
Office number | 60 |
Research interests | music pedagogy, interdisciplinarity of arts and education, performance practice |
Curriculum vitae (up to 300 words) | Dunja Keža was born in 1999 in Osijek, where she completed her primary and secondary education at the Franjo Kuhač Music School. She earned her Master’s degree in Music Pedagogy from the Academy of Arts and Culture at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek in 2023. During her studies, she received the Dean’s Award for outstanding achievement in the field of music, as well as scholarships for excellence and gifted students awarded by Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, the City of Osijek, and Osijek-Baranja County. She has actively participated in numerous projects organised by the Academy of Arts and Culture and has taken part in national and international competitions in piano and choral performance. Through her involvement in artistic workshops and concerts, she has become a member of several artistic associations. Her research work in the field of educational sciences is developed through active participation in national and international conferences, involvement in the organisation of academic events, and editorial work on books of abstracts. After completing her studies, she began her professional career at the Franjo Kuhač Music School in Osijek. In the 2024/2025 academic year, she enrolled in the doctoral programme Educational Sciences and Perspectives on Education at the Faculty of Education, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. In 2025, she was employed as an Assistant at the Department of Music, Faculty of Education, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. |
List of publications (link to CroRIS) | https://www.croris.hr/osobe/profil/51023 |