A team of teachers and students from our Faculty took part in the international Collaborative Lab (CoLab), held in Cuenca at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in Spain, one of the partner universities of the COLOURS Alliance.
Our Faculty was represented by Assistant Professor Nikola Raguž-Lučić, PhD, Tea Omanović Kolarić, PhD, Marija Hefer, PhD, Kristina Duspara, Suzana Blažanović, Vice Tomičić, and Lovro Pejaković.
This year’s CoLab brought together more than 50 participants from several European countries, including teachers, researchers, students, and community stakeholders. Over the course of the three-day programme, participants worked on youth mental health and the role of healthy lifestyle habits in coping with stress, anxiety, and other challenges young people are increasingly facing today.
Alongside the hosts from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, the programme included representatives of COLOURS Alliance universities: Paderborn University from Germany, Le Mans University from France, Kristianstad University from Sweden, and Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, as well as participants from Ukraine.
The programme took place at the Centre for Social and Health Studies (CESS). The first day featured expert lectures, the sharing of different experiences, and discussions on how universities can respond more actively to young people’s needs. The second day focused on creative workshops and intensive teamwork to develop project ideas. On that occasion, the international team led by Tea Omanović Kolarić, PhD, won the award for Best Project Idea, an achievement that is also a special recognition for our Faculty.
The final day of the meeting focused on future cooperation, networking among participants, and planning joint activities. In addition to the working part of the programme, participants also had the opportunity to discover Cuenca, a city known for its rich history, distinctive architecture, and authentic Spanish atmosphere.
Participation in the CoLab brought our Faculty new experiences, contacts, and ideas for future projects. Working in an international setting with colleagues from across Europe, our teachers and students contributed to a topic that increasingly shapes the everyday lives of young people — mental health and the habits that can help them cope with today’s challenges.
