The First International Summer School at the University of Kragujevac

The Summer School was organized within the framework of the CEEPUS network HUMANISTA (HUMANISTA: Exploring the Intersection of Technology, Language, and Society), coordinated by dr Ivana Krsmanović, Professor of Applied Studies, and dr Lena Tica, Assistant Professor, both members of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Čačak and English language lecturers. The HUMANISTA academic network brings together 18 higher education institutions from 13 European countries and was established with the objective of exploring and strengthening the relationship between technology and society, based on the belief that technological innovation reaches its full potential only when it serves people, their needs, values, and well-being.

HUM-STEM 2026 represented the first major joint activity of the partner institutions within the HUMANISTA network.

The Summer School welcomed 35 students from eight European countries (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Serbia). Taking into account the students' countries of origin, participants represented 15 different countries.

The opening ceremony was attended by Professor Dejana Zlatanović, PhD, Full Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Vice-Rector for Education at the University of Kragujevac, who emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary education and student mobility as key drivers of quality enhancement in higher education. On behalf of the host institution, the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Čačak, participants were welcomed by Professor Miloš Papić, PhD, Vice-Dean for Education, while Milica Spasojević, administrative coordinator for the CEEPUS and Erasmus+ programmes at the University of Kragujevac, introduced participants to the University's history and  anniversary celebration and its international cooperation activities.

During the intensive six-day programme, students had the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in the fields of communication between the humanities and STEM disciplines, critical thinking, intercultural communication and English language, psychological resilience, and sustainable development. Through lectures and interactive workshops delivered by academic staff from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Čačak (Dr Ivana Krsmanović, Dr Lena Tica, Dr Milena Damnjanović, Dr Milica Stojković, Dr Vesna Petrović, Dr Đorđe Damnjanović, Andrijana Gaborović, and Katarina Karić), together with seven guest lecturers from Greece, Malta, Poland, Austria, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates, participants acquired new knowledge while exchanging ideas and experiences in an interdisciplinary and intercultural environment that fostered collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

On the final day of the programme, participants presented the results of their teamwork to fellow students and mentors, while the best student team received awards for the most innovative project idea. In addition to the academic programme, participants enjoyed a rich cultural and sports programme, providing them with the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Čačak and the Republic of Serbia.

Participants emphasized that the Summer School fully exceeded their expectations:

"The entire HUM-STEM Summer School was an exceptional experience that successfully connected technology with human-centred thinking. I was particularly impressed by the diversity of the lectures—from psychological resilience to design thinking—which allowed me to gain a great deal of new knowledge. The workshops were especially inspiring because of the people; they gave me the opportunity to collaborate closely with outstanding students from across the Balkans and many other parts of the world. Outside the classroom, we had the chance to discover Serbian culture, enjoy traditional cuisine, local music, and visit the landmarks of Čačak. Working together with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds completely changed my perspective on teamwork and communication. This experience not only strengthened my academic knowledge but also brought me new friendships and an entirely new perspective on the future of innovation."

— Kalina Drgaś, student at the Pomeranian Medical University, Poland.

The Summer School programme and the biographies of all lecturers are available on the official Summer School website.