Chapter 15: Active Learning And Critical Thinking: A Higher Education Professional Development Program in Croatia

Croatia, a country of 4.4 million people located in Southeast Europe, has a long-standing commitment to education. “In the last decade, substantial re-forms and improvements have been made in the Croatian education sector. The new Croatian National Educational Standards and the National Curriculum Framework are replacing out-of-date educational programs and teaching methods, resulting in a move away from teaching factual knowledge toward encouraging problem-solving and project-oriented classroom activities” (World Bank—Croatia Partnership, 2012). Approximately 99% of adult Croatians are literate (World Bank—Croatia Partnership, 2012). Primary and secondary education is free.

The University of Zagreb, established in 1669, is the oldest continuously operating university in South Eastern Europe (Croatian Higher Education System, 2010). The higher education system in Croatia today consists of seven public universities and twelve public polytechnics. Additionally, there are three private universities and four private polytechnics (Croatian Higher Education System, 2010). In early preparation forjoining the EU (scheduled to take place in July 2013), Croatiajoined the European higher education efforts and became signatory to the Bologna process in 2001. This commitment resulted in broad reforms of higher education with special concern for the quality of learning and teaching, introducing development of competence- based curricula and promoting student-centered approaches to teaching.