[ Press Release ]

A workshop was held and two case studies were presented for teachers, mentors of students who participated in the National Competition for Vocational School Students - WorldSkills Croatia 2023

As part of WorldSkills Croatia 2023 training, a workshop was held and two case studies from the DIGI4Teach Handbook were presented: Designing a Logo for a Practice Firm & Analysis of Credit Indebtedness. 

Participants had the opportunity to learn how to use various digital tools when preparing and applying these two cases from the field of marketing and finance. The workshop was aimed to teachers/mentors of students who have participated in the National Competition for Vocational School Students - WorldSkills Croatia 2023 in the discipline of Entrepreneurship, Secretarial business and Sales skills.

The practical workshop was held by the case authors Blankica Odak and Sanja Dömötörffy who are project members of the DIGI4Teach consortium and economic subject teachers at the "School of Economics, Trade and Hospitality" in Samobor.

DIGI4Teach project was presented at the FEB Odyssey conference 2023

As part of sharing examples of good practice, local DIGI4Teach Project Manager Saša Ranđelović, PhD from the Faculty of Economics and Business - University of Belgrade presented DIGI4Teach project activities as well as our outputs at the FEB Zagreb 14th International Odyssey Conference on Economics and Business. The conference brings together researchers and practitioners to present their research and discuss recent challenges in business and economics. The conference was held from May 10-13, 2023 in Poreč.  

Informing students from the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Economics and Business about DIGI4Teach project activities and results

Project Manager Nikolina Dečman, PhD as part of the Erasmus+ exchange of teaching staff, visited the Department of Accounting and Business Finance at the Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Belgrade. She gave lectures in the Financial Accounting course on the topic of "Pre-closing entries and compilation of basic financial statements" and attended the lectures in the Specialized Accounting, Financial Accounting and Analysis of Financial Statements courses. During the meetings with the students, she briefly informed them about the activities and results of the Erasmus+ DIGI4Teach project.

A problem-oriented case study CESIM Hospitality was presented 

at the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Economics and Business 

DIGI4Teach Handbook was presented at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Belgrade. Special attention was given to the problem-oriented case study entitled "CESIM Hospitality – Digital Tool for Hotel & Restaurant Management" from the field of finance. Participants had the opportunity to learn how to use an interactive game CESIM Hospitality which creates a learning environment that improves participants' management competencies.

The presentation was held by the case author professor Žaklina Stojanović, PhD who is a project member of the DIGI4Teach consortium and dean at the Faculty of Economics and Business - University of Belgrade. 

DIGI4Teach project activities and outputs have been disseminated at the inter-departmental gathering of accounting departments of economic faculties from Croatia and the region 

Mateja Brozović, PhD and Marina Ercegović, PhD from the University of Zagreb - Faculty of Economics and Business, presented the DIGI4Teach project at the 1st gathering of accounting departments organized by the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business. The topic of the interdepartmental gathering which gathered more than 40 participants was „Challenges of teaching accounting”. Therefore, the main objectives of the DIGI4Teach project regarding the challenges of teaching accounting disciplines in the era of digitalization were presented to the meeting participants. Moreover, members of different accounting departments were informed about all the activities that were held during the project with an emphasis on the field of accounting, results of a survey regarding the usage of digital tools in teaching, such as the main outputs of the project in the form of scientific papers and a handbook. It was pointed out that in the handbook there are three case studies from the accounting field that can be used in classrooms.

In addition to the organizer, the Department of Accounting of the University of Zagreb - Faculty of Economics and Business, the gathering was attended by representatives of 10 faculties of economics from Croatia and the region (the Faculty of Economics and Tourism "Dr Mijo Mirković" - Pula, the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management - Opatija, the Faculty of Economics and Business - Rijeka, the Faculty of Economics - Osijek, the Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism – Split, the Department of Economics and Business Economics of the University of Dubrovnik, the Faculty of Economics and Business in Maribor, the Faculty of Economics in Subotica, the Faculty of Economics in Bihać and the Faculty of Economics of the University of Mostar).

Sharing of examples of good practice among teachers of the economics group of subjects at the Samobor School of Economics, Trade and Hospitality

As part of sharing examples of good practice, teacher Blankica Odak held a workshop on the application of digital tools for teachers in teaching the economic group of subjects.

The workshop was held at the "School of Economics, Trade and Hospitality" in Samobor, and the participants were interested teachers who teach economic subjects.

Dissemination of DIGI4Teach project activities and outputs among students of Cracow University of Economics (Poland)

On April 27, 2023, Agnieszka Głodowska, PhD associate professor and team member of the DIGI4Teach project from the Cracow University of Economics discussed the project with her students. First, the project activities and then outputs were presented. Second, the issued Newsletter and published Handbook were popularized.

Their conclusion is that the presented effects of the project, especially case studies, can be great didactic material for students in preparation for courses/exams and credits.

Briefing the Dean and Vice President for Digitalization of the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences on DIGI4Teach outputs

Professor Gunther Meeh-Bunse, PhD, German local Project Manager of the Erasmus+ co-funded DIGI4Teach project was received on April 27, 2023, by professor Ingmar Ickerott, PhD and Henning Rassi in order to disseminate project achievements. Professor Ickerott is Vice President for Digitalization of Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and Dean of the Faculty for Management, Culture and Technology, which is home to the DIGI4Teach project. Mr Rassi is in the position of Head of Faculty Management and due to an executed Erasmus+ funded staff visit to the University of Zagreb he is familiar with the University of Zagreb’s Faculty for Economics and Business administration. Besides digitalization, the main object of the discussions was the successful combination of vocational schools as well as higher education institutions in research and the possible impact on collaboration within the two educational forms.

DIGI4Teach approaches and findings: Dissemination in EU ERASMUS+ Blended Intensive Program online phase

Encouraging digitalization in its participating educational institutions is one of the three main objectives of the EU ERASMUS+ funded research project DIGI4Teach. 

This objective is in line with the objectives of the European Union’s innovative Blended Intensive Programmes in Higher education (BIP). This short-term intensive program promotes innovative ways of learning. A compulsory virtual component is included in order to facilitate “collaborative on line learning exchange and teamwork”.


As early adopters, two of the DIGI4Teach Partners: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics & Business https://www.efzg.unizg.hr/en (EFZG) as well as Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences at Lingen https://www.hs-osnabrueck.de/wir/fakultaeten/mkt/ (HS OS) on April 24, 2024 started their second BIP with the first virtual component. 


Over 20 international students (from Croatia, Germany, Portugal, South Korea and Mexico) plus faculty and staff from the two DIGI4Teach partners as well from Oporto Global University attended the first virtual component. 


Professor Meeh-Bunse of HS OS, under the hosting of EFZG professors Mamić Sačer and Pavić, outlined to the students the approaches, findings and main outputs of the DIGI4Teach project. Professor Meeh-Bunse especially emphasised that DIGI4Teach is a remarkable example how teachers as well as students are benefiting from universities’ research and projects. 

Dissemination of DIGI4Teach project activities at Parthenope University of Naples (Italy)

Between 17-21 of April 2023, a DIGI4Teach member from the Cracow University of Economics visited Parthenope University of Naples and disseminated DIGI4Teach project activities.

 The objectives of the project and its effects were presented. We also shared our experiences from participating in international projects and digitalizing the teaching/learning of university courses. 

Dissemination of the most important DIGI4Teach outputs in Daruvar School of Economics and Tourism 

The DIGI4Teach team visited the Daruvar School of Economics and Tourism to disseminate project activities and results. 

Nikolina Dečman, associate professor and a project manager from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business presented project activities and outputs with special emphasis on the published Handbook at the school's teachers' council held on Monday, April 17, 2023. 

The DIGI4Teach Handbook is one of the most important results of our project, which is aimed primarily at the exchange of good practices among secondary and higher education teachers in the era of digitalization. Part A contains an analysis of the most important descriptive research results conducted within the DIGI4Teach Erasmus+ project regarding the use of digital technology in teaching economic disciplines in partner countries. Part B contains twelve case studies from different areas of economics and business (accounting, finance, marketing, tourism and trade) that were prepared using various digital tools and they can be freely used in classes or other forms of education.

 

Romana Rusek, a teacher from the First School of Economics Zagreb explained to the teachers how to create a digital escape room task for students applicable in economic subjects, while Zorica Hrgovčić, also a teacher from the First School of Economics Zagreb, presented the application of various digital tools in the subject Practical Company.


Additionally, on the second day of the visit to the school, on April 18, 2023, a workshop was held with third-grade students of their school within the subject Production and Trade Accounting. An escape room workshop was held where 4 groups of students solved individual case study tasks that were prepared for the needs of the DIGI4Teach project. The students were delighted with this way of working and adopting learning outcomes through gamification, which enriched and further connected both teachers and students.

Report on dissemination at the Inter-County Expert Council in Secondary School Ban Josip Jelačić in Zaprešić

 

At the Inter-County Expert Council of economics teachers in March 2023 at the "Secondary School Ban Josip Jelačic" in Zaprešić, professor Blankica Odak from Samobor Economics, Trade and Hospitality School presented the project activities. The task that the students had to complete was presented in detail, and the experiences of student participation in solving the case study, which was held with students from the Third School of Economics in Zagreb and the Samobor School of Economics, Trade and Hospitality, were presented and described. The case study was solved with students as part of the Train the Trainers workshop, which was held in November 2022 as part of the Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA C5) at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb.

Dissemination of the DIGI4Teach Erasmus + project at the panel meeting “Digital competencies, artificial intelligence and innovations - the basis of the development of the economy and the knowledge society”

An expert meeting „Digital competencies, artificial intelligence and innovations – the basis of development of the economy and the knowledge society“ was held in Dubrava Library, on March 31, 2023.

The panel on „Economy and Society in the Context of Artificial Intelligence“ was followed by some examples of good practices. The Third School of Economics shared an example of good practice through the dissemination of the Erasmus+ DIGI4Teach project „Challenges and practices of teaching economic disciplines in era of digitalization.“

The meeting was organized by the association Zelena and Plava Dubrava.

More information available at: http://www.ss-treca-ekonomska-zg.skole.hr/projekti/erasmus_/digi4teach?news_hk=6338&news_id=630&mshow=2282#mod_news 

Dissemination of DIGI4Teach project activities in Secondary School Ivan Švear in Ivanić Grad

On March 29, 2023, DIGI4Teach members from the Third School of Economics visited "Secondary School Ivan Švear in Ivanić Grad" and disseminate DIGI4Teach project activities.

After a short presentation, a round table was held on the topic „Advantages and disadvantages of digitalization in teaching", as well as solving case study assignments using various digital tools.

More information available at: http://www.ss-isvear-ivanic-grad.skole.hr/?news_hk=1&news_id=1729&mshow=290#mod_news & http://www.ss-treca-ekonomska-zg.skole.hr/projekti/erasmus_/digi4teach?news_hk=6338&news_id=624&mshow=2282#mod_news 

Video guidelines on how to use different digital tools in case study development


Watch the video guidelines on how to use different digital tools in case study development on the official YouTube channel of the DIGI4Teach project.


For more videos, please see here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkYOheJuwzXFz-tKuMRvqEg


Presentation of the DIGI4Teach project "Challenges and practices of teaching economic disciplines in the era of digitization" at the MŽSV of Sisak - Moslavina County, Karlovac County, Bjelovar - Bilogora County and the City of Zagreb for the educational subsector of trade

On February 23, 2023, the teacher of the economic group of subjects from Second School of Economics Zagreb, Ondina Čižmek Vujnović and Ivana Brnada participated as lecturers at the Inter-County Expert Council of Sisak - Moslavina County, Karlovac County, Bjelovar - Bilogora County and the City of Zagreb for the education sector of economics, trade and business administration - subsector trade. Teacher Ivana Brnada stated the importance of the European project DIGI4TEACH "Challenges and practices of teaching economic disciplines in the era of digitalization" for the development of digital competencies of teachers of the economic group of subjects.

More information available at:  http://ss-druga-ekonomska-zg.skole.hr/projekti/digi4teach?news_hk=6151&news_id=872&mshow=1952#mod_news 


Presentation of the DIGI4Teach project "Challenges and practices of teaching economic disciplines in the era of digitization" at Zabok High School

On February 14, 2023, the teachers of the economic group of subjects from Second School of Economics Zagreb, Ondina Čižmek Vujnović and Ivana Virovac Bilandžija visited the Zabok High School. During their visit, they presented the realized activities and achieved results of the European strategic partnership project of exchange of good practices DIGI4TEACH "Challenges and practices of teaching economic disciplines in the era of digitalization" at a meeting of teachers of the economic group of subjects.

More information available at:  http://ss-druga-ekonomska-zg.skole.hr/projekti/digi4teach?news_hk=6151&news_id=873&mshow=1952#mod_news  


Presentation of the DIGI4Teach project at the County Expert Council of Teachers of the Economic Group of Subjects from Dubrovnik-Neretva County

As part of the DIGI4Teach project, the teachers of the First School of Economics, Romana Rusek and Zorica Hrgovčić, visited the School of Economics and Trade in Dubrovnik on November 16, 2022. At the County Expert Council (Dubrovnik-Neretva County), they presented the DIGI4Teach project activities and held two workshops on the application of digital tools in teaching subjects in the field of economics.

Virtual walk through the performed training activities (LTTAs) for our teachers 

Look at the compilation of the achieved mobilities within the DIGI4Teach project prepared by the Prva ekonomska škola on the occasion of the celebration of Erasmus Days: https://app.emaze.com/@ALORTQQWL/erasmuswhererasmus#/1


Take a walk through the overview of lectures and digital skills training activities organized for our teachers by partners from Germany, Poland and Serbia! Soon we will all meet again in Zagreb...

Project presentation at the 16th Lifelong Learning Week - Let's develop vocational skills 

As part of the celebration of the 16th Lifelong Learning Week, one of the project partners, the First School of Economics in Zagreb, presented the DIGI4Teach project. The project activities held so far, as well as what is currently being done within the project, are presented.

The Lifelong Learning Week is organized by the Agency for Vocational Education and Training, which continuously implements activities aimed at promoting lifelong learning. This activity is carried out with the aim of acquainting the public and interested stakeholders with the projects implemented in secondary vocational schools with an emphasis on their activities and goals.

Description of education:  Expert meeting for vocational teachers in the Economy and Trade sector, subsector Economy



Name of meeting and target group: Expert meeting for teachers of vocational courses in the Economy and Trade sector, economy subsector, "Strengthening teacher competences"

Venue: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, hall 14

Date and time: August 31st, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Organizer of the expert meeting: Vedrana Šimunić Rod, Agency for Vocational Education and Training (Agencija za strukovno obrazovanje i obrazovanje odraslih)





Lecture information

Topic: Application of digital tools in the accounting education system

Lecturers: Associate Professor Nikolina Dečman, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher Marina Ercegović, PhD, Assistant Professor Mateja Brozović, PhD, Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb

Learning outcomes:


Why it is important to encourage the use of digital tools in the education of our students and how teachers can easily apply them was discussed at the Expert Meeting for teachers of vocational subjects in the Economy and Trade sector in the organizations of the Agency for Vocational Education and Training. The Expert Meeting was held on August 31, 2022 at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb.

Members of the project team of the Erasmus+ DIGI4Teach project held a lecture on the topic "Application of digital tools in the accounting education system". Project Manager Nikolina Dečman, PhD informed the participants of the Meeting about the activities that have been carried out so far and the expected results of the DIGI4Teach project.  Project members, Marina Ercegović, PhD and Mateja Brozović, PhD presented the results of a survey conducted among high school students and professors regarding attitudes about the use of digital tools in teaching. After that, they presented practical examples of the use of digital tools in accounting classes.

We thank all participants for their valuable feedback and comments and look forward to the future cooperation!

Dissemination of the DIGI4Teach project activities at the Poznań University of Economics and Business

DIGI4Teach project members were hosted at the Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poznań, Poland from June 22nd to 24th. The purpose of visit was to disseminate the DIGI4Teach project activities to colleagues from the Poznań University of Economics and Business with whom researchers and professors from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business cooperating for a while and performing two scientific projects currently, one co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme - Teaching Sustainability in Higher Education in the Field of Economics and Management (SUSTA) and the other funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange - Central European Network for Sustainable and Innovative Economy (CENETSIE).

Two project members from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, and one project member from the Third School of Economics Zagreb visited the Poznań University of Economics and Business and presented the project to researchers interested in various topics related to the sustainability. Participants shared their experiences but also discussed challenges in teaching economic disciplines, adapting to online education, and possibilities to introduce and use more digital tools in courses related to the economic disciplines (with an emphasis on statistics, accounting, economic principles, and trade). 

Participants also discussed the education system structure and organization in Poland and Croatia in both secondary schools and faculties/universities. Given that the DIGI4Teach project has a goal to share experiences in teaching economic disciplines in the digital era at the secondary and tertiary levels of education, participants also discussed possibilities of future joint projects as a possible continuation of this one, based on this project's results, and also by connecting and gathering secondary schools and faculties/universities. 

** The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Participation in the national Thematic meeting of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps beneficiaries

DIGI4Teach Project Manager, Associate Professor Nikolina Dečman, PhD and a member of the project team Ana Rep, PhD participated on June 7, 2022 in the virtual annual Thematic Meeting of users of the Erasmus+ program and the European Solidarity Corps, organized by the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes. The theme of the meeting was "How to successfully communicate your projects". Meeting goal was to inspire and empower participants and organizations for better and more efficient communication about projects financed under the Erasmus+ program and the European Solidarity Corps. The Project Manager used the opportunity to introduce the meeting participants to the DIGI4Teach project and invited them to actively follow the project's official website and social networks in order to be informed in a timely manner about the activities and possibilities of using the project results.

Description of education: County Expert Council, subsector of Economics, City of Zagreb

Target group: members of the County Expert Council, subsector of Economics, City of Zagreb

Venue: online, Zoom application

Time of the event: December 18, 2021 from 9.00 to 15.00

Organizer and leader of the expert conference: Romana Rusek, teacher at the First School of Economics in Zagreb

Lecture information

Topic: The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on digitalization of the education system and improvement of teacher competencies 

Lecturer: Nikolina Dečman, PhD, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb

Learning outcomes:

- analyze the current situation and teaching challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis

- critically evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of using digital technologies in the educational process

- get acquainted with the key goals and expected results of the ERASMUS+ project DIGI4Teach

 

On Saturday, December 18, 2021, fifty teachers of the economic group of subjects gathered at the County Expert Council meeting organized by the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and our dear member of the DIGI4Teach team - professor Romana Rusek. As a part of the expert meeting, Project Manager of the DIGI4Teach project, associate professor Nikolina Dečman presented the current topic of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on digitalization of the education system and improvement of teaching competencies. After getting acquainted with the topic and content of the lecture, the key theses of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the education system in the Republic of Croatia were presented. Furthermore, the current situation was analyzed and all the teaching challenges we have encountered due to the transition to e-learning during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis were presented. The benefits and disadvantages of using digital technologies in the educational process were also critically assessed. Moreover, participants were introduced to current project activities and invited to actively collaborate and complete a questionnaire on their own digital competencies, perspectives and experiences of using digital tools in teaching, advantages and disadvantages of e-learning and other important issues for teaching in the digital age.

** The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.