At the Campus of the University of Dubrovnik on 13 February 2026, the workshop “Cultural Awareness” was held, dedicated to strengthening intercultural competences and fostering the successful integration of international students into the academic and social community.
The workshop was led by the Vice-Rector for Quality, Ethics and Strategic Development of the University of Dubrovnik, Prof. Katija Vojvodić, PhD, who, through open dialogue and an interactive approach, encouraged students to exchange their experiences of living and studying in a new cultural environment. Special emphasis was placed on understanding the stages of cultural adaptation, developing cultural intelligence, and the importance of conscious and empathetic communication in multicultural settings.
Through examples from their everyday lives, participants discussed the challenges of culture shock, recognizing stereotypes, and building mutual trust, gaining valuable tools for navigating an international environment more successfully.
As part of the programme, an interactive workshop titled “Studying abroad, struggling within” was also held, led by Jelena Bupić, Head of the Office for Inclusivity and Psychological Support. The session focused on the importance of mental health, with particular emphasis on the challenges faced by international students. Through active participation, students discussed difficulties such as depression, anxiety, identity conflict, loneliness, and academic pressure, as well as ways to recognize and cope with them. Participants received practical advice on maintaining mental well-being while studying abroad and were additionally encouraged to seek free psychological counselling at the Office for Inclusivity and Psychological Support of the University of Dubrovnik if they felt the need for support.
The “Cultural Awareness” workshop once again confirmed the University of Dubrovnik’s commitment to creating a supportive, open, and inclusive academic environment in which diversity is recognized as a value and mutual understanding as the foundation of successful education and personal development.
