Scholarship Students’ Day of the Ministry of Demography and Immigration at the Faculty Of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split
At the Centre for Croatian Studies Abroad of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split, Croatian language and culture are studied by numerous participants, among them 55 scholarship students who are descendants of Croatian families from various parts of the world, mostly from South America. Their study of the Croatian language is subsidised by the Ministry of Demography and Immigration. With the aim of fostering mutual connection and welcoming the scholarship recipients, the Scholarship Students’ Day was held on 1 December. To strengthen interculturality and integration, Croatian students were also included in the programme. The day began with a gathering at the Peristyle, in the heart of the old town. Participants were divided into mixed groups and embarked on the Split Fun Scavenger Hunt, an interactive workshop that guided them, through riddles and clues, to both well-known and lesser-known locations and stories from Split’s cultural heritage. Upon completing the workshop, during which the scholarship students proved to be remarkably well-informed and true enthusiasts of Croatian culture and history, they had lunch together in a traditional Split tavern. While enjoying Dalmatian specialities in a relaxed atmosphere, they exchanged impressions and further strengthened their connections. After lunch, they returned to the Faculty building, where they were addressed by County Deputy Prefect Stipe Čogelja, Vice-Rector Prof. Nikša Jajac, PhD, on behalf of the Dean, Prof. Dr. Ina Reić Ercegovac, Associate Prof. Dr. Vedran Barbarić, Vice Dean for Finance and Business, and the Head of the Center, Dr. Josipa Korljan Bešlić. In their addresses, they expressed satisfaction with the students’ arrival in the homeland of their ancestors and emphasised their hope that some of them would choose to build their future personal and professional lives in Croatia. Participants then attended an engaging lecture entitled “Klapa and Neoklapa – Cultural Heritage and Nation Branding”, delivered by Assistant Professor Eni Buljubašić, PhD. The gathering concluded in a creative and relaxed atmosphere with an art workshop led by academic painters, and each participant took home their own painting of Split’s Riva as a memento of the day.
