Original scientific paper

Civil Society In University Courses

Gojko Bežovan ; full professor at the Chair of Social Policy, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb
Jasminka Ledi ć ; (full professor at the Department of Pedagogy, Faculty of Phi - losophy, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Sini ša Zrinščak ; full professor at the Chair of Social Policy, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb

Abstract

The paper presents the results of an empirical research on the courses and research related to civil society at Croatian high education institutions. In the fist part, the paper deals with the development of courses and research at Western European universities where the interest in researching and teaching civil ociety
has increased since the end of the 1980s. In the past twenty years, international comparative research has stimulated greater academic interest in civil society at the global level. In post-socialist, transitional, countries of Central and Eastern Europe, research and university courses appeared at the beginning of the 1990s, with support of international donors. Civil society subjects were introduced at social sciences, humanities and arts, but independent university studies of civil society were established as well. Civil society curricula have a distinctive influence on the sustainable development of civil society. Research and courses at Croatian high education institutions were launched in the mid 1990s with international support. The development in Croatia has been rather fragmented and much slower than in Central Europe. Survey results related to research and courses on civil society at Croatian high education have revealed that this topic is most frequently present in BA courses, less so in MA courses and it is only marginal in PhD courses. Some post-graduate specialist studies have considerable amount of civil society themes, while others are being profiled in that direction entirely. Relatively few research efforts deal with civil society only. An increased interest of students in the topics related to civil society and increased number of courses is to be expected at Croatian high education institutions. This
can contribute to sustainable development of civil society and to strengthening its position as a legitimate shareholder in contemporary social processes.

Keywords

civil society – Croatia; university programmes; research of civil society

Hrčak ID:

132536

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/132536

Publication date:

5.4.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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