Representatives of the Catholic University of Croatia and the Pontifical University Ateneo Regina Apostolorum Discuss New Forms of Cooperation

On Monday, 27 April 2026, the Catholic University of Croatia hosted Prof. David Koonce, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, and Dr Mauro Bombardieri from the Department for Institutional Development of the Pontifical University Ateneo Regina Apostolorum. The visit took place in the context of strengthening international academic cooperation and the exchange of experiences between the two institutions.

During their stay, the guests met with the Vice-Rector for Quality, Identity and Mission, Prof. Ante Crnčević, PhD, and the Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Prof. Jasna Ćurković Nimac, PhD. Discussions focused on opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in the areas of student and staff mobility, as well as the development of joint academic initiatives and programmes.

In the second part of the meeting, Assist. Prof. Miriam Mary Brgles, PhD, from the University Department of Sociology joined the discussion and presented her experience of academic training at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. She emphasized the importance of international exchange for professional and scientific development, as well as the distinctive academic and research environment of pontifical universities. It was highlighted that cooperation with such institutions brings added value through an interdisciplinary approach, strong integration into international academic networks, and the promotion of dialogue between science, culture, and faith.

As part of the visit, Prof. Koonce and Dr Bombardieri also met with the Rector, Prof. Željko Tanjić, PhD, and Prof. Hrvoje Štefančić, PhD, from the Faculty of Engineering, where additional possibilities for strengthening institutional cooperation were explored.

This visit represents an important step in enhancing the international openness of the Catholic University of Croatia and confirms its commitment to actively developing new forms of collaboration, particularly with pontifical universities.