Blue project.

“Blue Project – Contribution to the Development of Socially Beneficial Learning Programs at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb” is the name of a project implemented by the Argonauta association in partnership with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb and the Marine Education Center in Pula. The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund and implemented under the Operational Program “Effective Human Resources” 2014-2020 of the European Social Fund and the Call for Proposals “Supporting the Partnerships of Civil Society Organizations and Higher Education Institutions for the Implementation of Programs of Social Beneficial Learning”.

At the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb (VFSZ), students do not have the opportunity to systematically and continuously apply the knowledge acquired during their studies by engaging in socially useful projects, which is the reason for the students’ insufficient contribution to sustainable community development, and the potential to build their positive attitudes and behaviours through active participation in society is underutilized.

The purpose of the project is to solve the problem of lack of opportunities for inclusion of VFSZ students in socially useful projects in cooperation with civil society organizations and thus contribute to the development of civic engagement of students.

One of the causes of the identified problem is the lack of quality and sustainable DKU program, which would provide opportunities for the systematic and active involvement of students in CSOs and use the potential represented by the synergistic involvement of teachers and students of higher education institutions and CSOs in solving specific problems of the local community. By researching the needs of students, employees and volunteers of CSOs and the population of local communities, based on the work of partner organizations so far, the project defined the topic of a socially beneficial project in which students will have the opportunity to be involved – the conservation of the marine environment.

Therefore, the DKU program will also be implemented in undergraduate veterinary medicine courses that teach methods of monitoring populations and treatment of protected marine animals. The collaboration of VFSZ with CSOs will provide a whole new approach to learning from what students are accustomed to, and thus encourage their active and purposeful participation in the life of the local community through their professional contribution.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

1. Development of socially beneficial learning programs at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb

In the first activity, students and professors will be educated about DKU, and with the cooperation of CSO professors and employees in the development of student mentoring programs, the gradual introduction of the DKU program and the organization of an educational centre at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb, the civic engagement of VFZG students will increase.

2. Pilot implementation of socially beneficial learning programs at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb

Students will be introduced to the work of CSOs (the Argonaut Association and the Marine Education Center Pula), the economic and demographic structure of the local population, and will be allowed to plan and implement socially useful projects in which they can use the skills and knowledge acquired at the faculty.

3. Evaluation of pilot programs of socially useful learning and dissemination of results

The DKU programs developed will be evaluated and the development of a quality and sustainable partnership will be developed through the development of a manual and evaluation report on the implementation of the DKU at VSFZ.

4. Publicity and visibility

Promoting the project to the public and the media throughout the project.

5. Project management and administration

Project management and administration activities will be implemented throughout the life of the project.

GOALS: 1) Increase the number of civically active students by preparing and implementing the DKU program at VFSZ through the cooperation of the higher education institution with civil society organizations. 2) Develop a sustainable long-term partnership between the VFSZ, the Argonaut Association, and the MOC Pula through support to students in the development of socially useful projects in the areas of population monitoring and protection of marine animals.

USERS: Students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb; Members of civil society organizations; Teachers and employees of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb.

PARTNERS: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb; Marine Education Center Pula.

DONORS: European Union - European Social Fund State Budget of the Republic of Croatia

DURATION: The project lasts 18 months (25.04.2018 - 25.10.2019.)

BUDGET: 1.004.727,31 Kn