Assoc. Prof. Sonja Alimović presented the results of the Atollo project, currently in its final phase of implementation, at the roundtable “ Artificial Intelligence and Modern Science: New Opportunities for the Digitalisation of the Research Process in Special Pedagogy ”, held on 7 April 2026 and organised by the Department of Special Pedagogy, Abai Kazakh National University, via a webinar titled “ Digital Technology in Special Education and Research: What Have We Learned from Its Implementation in Practice? ”

On Friday, 17 April 2026 , the Laboratory for Prevention Research (UNIZG ERF) , in cooperation with the S chool of Graphics, Design and Media Production , held the final event of the project “ Digital Platform for Secondary School Teachers on Adolescent Risk Behaviours ”. The event brought together school support staff, primary and secondary school teachers, and presented a digital platform for the prevention of adolescent risk behaviours. The project was funded under the Erasmus+ programme (KA220-SCH – Cooperation Partnerships in School Education).

The international scientific conference Bi-SLI 2026 (Bilingualism and Specific Language Impairment / Developmental Language Disorder) will take place on April 23 and 24, 2026 , at the Borongaj University Campus in Zagreb ( Zagreb hall ) . The conference is dedicated to research on bilingualism and developmental language disorder. More information about the conference is available on the official  BiSLI Zagreb 2026  website. The Bi-SLI conference is part of a long-standing international initiative that brings together researchers and practitioners interested in language development in multilingual contexts, with the aim of improving diagnosis and intervention in work with children with developmental language disorder. More than 60 participants from across Europe and around the world are expected to attend, including researchers and experts in the fields of language development, psycholinguistics, speech and language therapy, psychology, linguistics, and related disciplines. The conference program will include keynote lectures, oral presentations, posters, and thematic discussions focused on the development and application of diagnostic and research tools in multilingual contexts. The central focus of the conference will be on understanding the language development of bilingual and multilingual children with developmental language disorder (DLD), as well as on developing reliable methods for distinguishing language difficulties from language differences in multilingual environments. The conference will feature distinguished invited speakers: Cécile De Cat (University of Leeds) Nataša Pantić (University of Edinburgh) Ana Werkmann Horvat (University of Osijek) Sharon Armon-Lotem (Bar-Ilan University) Their presentations will address topics such as the assessment of language difficulties in multilingual settings, educational policies for diverse learners, semantic and pragmatic processing in bilingualism, and the development and application of LITMUS tools. By organizing this conference, the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Zagreb further confirms its active role in the international scientific community and its contribution to the advancement of research and practice in the fields of speech and language therapy and language sciences.

The University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the internationally recognized ISO 9001:2015 certificate for its quality management system. This certification confirms that the Faculty systematically and responsibly manages its processes while continuously enhancing the quality of all its activities – from teaching and research to professional and administrative work. ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized standard that provides a framework for effective quality management, with a strong focus on excellence, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. Its implementation ensures that processes are planned, monitored, and improved in a structured and transparent way. For the Faculty, this certificate represents more than a formal recognition – it reflects our commitment to students, users, and partners, and confirms that quality is a core value embedded in everything we do. It also inspires us to further develop, innovate, and raise standards in higher education and research.

We are proud to announce that Associate Professor Sanja Šimleša, PhD ,  has received the prestigious “Ramiro Bujas” Award , presented by the Croatian Psychological Association. The “Ramiro Bujas” Award is one of the highest honors in the field of psychology in Croatia, recognizing individuals for their outstanding contributions to the development of psychological science and its impact on society. This recognition highlights Associate Professor Šimleša’s significant scientific, professional, and societal contributions, as well as her continued dedication to advancing psychology and promoting its relevance in addressing contemporary challenges. Her achievement represents an important acknowledgment of excellence within the international academic and professional community and further strengthens the global visibility of the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb. We warmly congratulate Associate Professor Sanja Šimleša on this remarkable accomplishment.

Assistant Professor Ana Matić , the recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Visiting Scholar Grant in 2024 , continues her work within the Fulbright program. At the assembly of the Croatian Association of Fulbright and Hubert H. Humphrey Scholars (abbreviated, the Association of Croatian Fulbrighters) held on March 26, 2026, she was unanimously elected Vice President of the Association . This association is a network of former Fulbright scholars in Croatia that includes more than 300 members, and its goal is to empower new applicants and establish and strengthen cooperation among members by organizing various activities such as conferences, workshops, and lectures.

University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences - The Prevention Research Laboratory (PrevLab) , Department of Behavioural Disorders is participating in the implementation of the ERASMUS+ project entitled Higher Education Institutions for Prevention Science and Quality of Life Enhancement  (HIPE project ). The project coordinator is Eötvös Loránd University , Budapest, and the project is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme (KA220-HED – Cooperation partnerships in higher education). Six partner organizations from European Union countries are participating in the project. The project started in December 2025 and will run until November 2028, and the first meeting was held in Budapest on 12 and 13 January 2026. The HIPE project aims to strengthen the skills and competencies of current and future prevention professionals while connecting education, research, and practice in prevention science. It seeks to improve the quality of life of young people and reinforce the role of higher education in addressing societal challenges. To achieve this, the project will develop a European competence framework for prevention practice, create a modular and multidisciplinary curriculum using evidence-based approaches and innovative pedagogical methods, pilot-test the curriculum with students and professionals, and establish micro-credentials and lifelong learning programmes accessible across Europe

Senior Teaching and Research Assistant Dora Knežević, PhD , at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, has received the Annual Award for Young Scientists and Artists for 2025 , granted by the Society of University Teachers and Other Scientists in Zagreb. The award was granted for her scientific paper “Phonological and Speech Motor Abilities in Children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech” in the field of social sciences, specifically speech and language pathology. This year, 27 candidates applied for the award, and following expert reviews, the selection committee chose ten laureates whose work represents a significant contribution to scientific and artistic excellence. We congratulate Dr. Dora Knežević on this important recognition of her scientific work and her contribution to the development of speech and language pathology!

On the occasion of the National Day of Educational Rehabilitation Specialists , held on 2 March 2026 , a professional program dedicated to current challenges and innovations in the field of educational rehabilitation was organized. As part of the program, Assoc. Prof. Ana Katušić, PhD , from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences , presented the work of the Early Motor Behaviour Research Lab (LIRaMP) through the lecture “First Movements, First Insights – Continuity of Research and Early Assessment in the Work of the Early Motor Behaviour Research Lab.”

We are proud to announce the 1st Regional Conference   “PREVREG – Building the Foundations of PREVention Science in the REGion” , which will take place on  June 10–11, 2026 , in Zagreb. We invite all interested participants to submit their abstracts for poster presentations . The deadline for abstract submission is 10 April 2026 . More detailed information on abstract submission is available at the following link: Participation .

University of Zagreb Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation Sciences Competition for the Enrollment into Postgraduate Study Speech, language and hearing disorders Admission requirements: completion of appropriate university graduate or integrated undergraduate and graduate study (with at least 300 ECTS credits, or, if completed before the introduction of the Bologna system, four years of graduate study) in the field of speech-language pathology as well as graduate studies in other scientific fields with which speech-language pathology has an interdisciplinary relationship or an appropriate university specialist study a grade point average in undergraduate, graduate, or integrated undergraduate and graduate studies higher than 4.0 (on a grading scale from 1 to 5) or higher than 8,5 (on a grading scale from 5 to 10) knowledge of the English language. Application is to be made via an online form . Academic title awarded upon completion of studies: Doctor of Science in Social Sciences, in the field of speech-language pathology (dr. sc. socio.). Documents required for application: Copy of diploma or graduation certificate Diploma Supplement or copy of grades for undergraduate and graduate / integrated undergraduate and graduate studies, including grade point average Certificate of academic recognition of foreign higher education qualifications (for applicants who have completed relevant university studies abroad) -  Academic recognition of foreign higher education qualifications CV (in Europass format) Motivational letter stating a interest in scientific research and a proposal of the potential mentor/supervisor (maximum 2 pages of text) Evidence of previous scientific activities (e.g. active participation in conferences, published abstracts and papers, etc.) – a summarized PDF file of all activities At least two recommendations from university teachers Certificate of citizenship Birth certificate with PIN (Personal Identification Number) Proof of payment of the admission procedure fee (information on the Faculty website – 50 Euros) to the Faculty's IBAN: HR8723600001101355137 (Zagrebačka banka d.d.) Payment description: Application – doctoral study PJGiS 2026, Name and surname Model: 00 Reference to the recipient's number: OIB OF THE APPLICANT Admission procedure: The first round of selection is based on a review of submitted documentation in order to select applicants who meet the formal and legal requirements for the second level of selection. The second round of selection is an interview with applicants and an English language proficiency test that will be conducted in the first half of July. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered. Number of places: 12 Tuition fee: €1,460 per six months; €2,920 per year Application deadline: Three months from the date of the competition announcement, via online form Enquiries by email: referada.poslijediplomski@erf.unizg.hr or by phone: +385 1 2457 558

Bruna Bašić, univ.mag.rehab.educ. et mag.cin. , project assistant on the  “Early Behavioural Markers for Developmental Alterations in Visuospatial Processing and Visual-Motor Integration in Preterm Infants (Pre-VISOR)” , participated in the  basic course on the assessment of spontaneous movements (General Movements Assessment – GMA) , held in  Bucharest from February 11 to 14, 2026 , under the guidance of  Natascia Bertoncelli from the University Hospital of Modena .

The 3rd conference “And How Are You?” was held on 19th of January, 2026. in Zagreb. Conference was held for professionals in the field of mental health, parents, educators, employees in the corporate and public sectors, as well as young people and students. Prof. Martina Lotar Rihtarić, PhD , and Assist. Prof. Sabina Mandić, PhD , from the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences participated in the conference.

A communication board has been installed in front of Health Centre – East . The board is designed to support children and individuals who are unable to communicate verbally or who find speaking difficult, as well as anyone who may have challenges understanding spoken language.

This year's IP Light International Programme for SLT students “Models and systems of service delivery" was held again in Croatia, in sunny Zadar (November 2-7) . The program was attended by students and teachers from Croatia (University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation), which is also the host of the program, as well as from the Netherlands (HAN University of Applied Sciences and Hogeschool Rotterdam), Belgium (Artevelde University College Ghent), Spain (Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports in Barcelona) and Slovenia (University of Ljubljana). Croatia and the ERF were represented by 11 graduate students of Speech Therapy accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Marina Milković, Assoc. Prof. Ana Matić Škorić and senior assistant Dora Knežević.

With the aim of strengthening collaboration and expressing gratitude for the mentors’ valuable contribution to the education of future educational rehabilitation specialists, the 1st Mentor Day at the Rehabilitation / Educational Rehabilitation study program was held on November 7, 2025.

At the University of Deusto , Bilbao, Spain, on 4th and 5th of November 2025, as part of the UNIC working conference Unlocking Transformational Value , Prof. Lelia Kiš-Glavaš and Assistant Svea Kučinić , held a workshop entitled Shaping the Future of Superdiversity: Strategies for Inclusive and Adaptive Universities .

The 7th Congress of Croatian Speech Therapists "Speech Therapy Perspectives: Knowledge Exchange and Innovation" was held in Opatija, from 16th to 19th October 2025, organized by the Croatian Speech-Therapy Society , the University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences and the University of Rijeka - Speech Therapy Study Program .

Prof. Lelia Kiš-Glavaš , together with Martin Bogdan , presented the publication How to Establish a Network of Ambassadors for Inclusion and Diversity  as the part of the training Getting to know the SALTO Resources  held in Zagreb on 7th and 8th of October 2025.

Sabina Mandić and Sanja Radić Bursać participated in the Brain Labyrinth Conference , held on September 17, 2025 , in Zagreb's Kaptol Boutique Cinema , organized by the In Vida and Tportal  with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia .

The mobility of university staff is a very important aspect of the internationalization of higher education. The Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation encourages the outgoing mobility of teaching and non-teaching staff for the purpose of advanced training or teaching at foreign institutions.

From August 24 to September 7, 2025, ERF students visited Indiana State University and participated in classes in the field of criminology and social pedagogy . Second-year students of the Social Pedagogy graduate program participated in a study visit and teaching activities in Indiana (USA), where they got to know various institutions and programs relevant to the future professional work of social pedagogues. A total of nine students participated in the visit, accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Dalibor Doležal .

As part of the Fullbright U.S. Scholar program, from February to July 2025, Professor Arif Akgul from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, USA, stayed at the Department of Criminology of the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation. Since 2005, the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation and Indiana State University have successfully cooperated in teaching and research, which was confirmed by the signing of a bilateral university agreement that has been active for 20 years without interruption.

In the academic year 2024/2025, ERF participated for the first time as a partner in the Erasmus+ activity BIP – Blended Intensive program . The Blended Intensive Program (BIP) is a short, intensive program (5-30 days) of a flexible format in which innovative ways of learning and teaching are applied, which include a virtual and physical component.

Sanja Radić Bursać participated in the conference "Digital Challenges - Real Consequences" which was held on June 4, 2025 at the Academia Hotel in Zagreb , organized by the Croatian Chamber of Social Pedagogues , the Center for Missing and Abused Children and the Center for a Safer Internet, and with the support of the County Expert Council for Preventive Programs of the City of Zagreb and sponsored by A1 Croatia.

Prof. Lelia Kiš-Glavaš gave an interview for radio show Siguretica on Student Radio at the University of Dubrovnik in which she discussed the obstacles that students with disabilities face during their studies, the forms of support provided to them, with particular emphasis on support for students with mental health difficulties and the need for psychological assistance. She also addressed inclusion and peer support, ways to improve support for students with disabilities, fear of stigma, teachers’ perceptions of students with disabilities, and teacher education on this subject. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of inter-institutional cooperation and the position of the Republic of Croatia regarding inclusivity in higher education compared to other European countries. The interview is available at Mixcloud profile of the Radio .

The International Scientific and Professional Symposium marking World Voice Day   held on 11th of April 2025 at Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences , brought together national and international experts from the fields of speech-language pathology, phoniatrics, otorhinolaryngology, and related disciplines with the aim of exchanging contemporary scientific knowledge and clinical experience related to voice, voice disorders, and their rehabilitation.

The Office for Projects and International Cooperation invite ERF employees interested in going on mobility to a lecture to be held on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 11:30 AM in room P6.

Symposium Contemporary Trends in Audiovestibulology will be held in Zagreb on 7th of March 2025, organized by the Clinic for Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases and Head and Neck Surgery of the University Hospital Center Zagreb and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zagreb .

On the occasion of International Cochlear Implant Day , a panel discussion entitled “Contemporary Cochlear Implantation – Challenges and Their Possible Solutions” was held at the University of Zagreb , organized by the Department of Hearing Impairments at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences .

On February 17, 2025, the University of Zagreb announced the Erasmus+ Call for student mobility for the academic year 2025/2026. The Office for Projects and International Cooperation and the Center for Student Support and Career Development invite all students interested in going on an Erasmus+ study stay to an information lecture on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 12:30 in the Plitvice Hall.

The Office for Projects and International Cooperation is organizing an ONLINE informative lecture on the Erasmus+ call for short mobility of doctoral candidates.

Prof. Lelia Kiš-Glavaš gave an interview on peer support for students with disabilities and the implementation of the university elective course Peer Support for Students with Disabilities at the University of Zagreb, where she is the lecturer and one of the facilitators. She highlighted the positive outcomes of peer support for developing social-emotional skills and its beneficial effects on the academic lives of both recipients and providers of peer support. She outlined the course’s goals, topics, learning outcomes, implementation models, and the results of student evaluations.