Previous conferences

• International scientific conference 20th Mate Demarin Days
• International scientific conference 19th Mate Demarin Days
• International scientific conference 18th Mate Demarin Days
• International scientific conference 16th Mate Demarin Days

The main theme of this year's conference is

Tradition and Modernity in Education – The Timeless Encounter

With this topic, we seek to explore how tradition and modernity jointly shape educational practices and values.

In today's society, the question of what "tradition" means and how to preserve identity without stopping development is increasingly being raised. At the same time, it is equally crucial to consider how to introduce modernity and how much of it is enough – in response to the challenges that are yet to come. In education, these concepts are not seen in opposition, but in a constant interrelationship. Their timeless encounter shapes values that transcend generational and cultural differences and become the basis for shaping the future in a thoughtful way.

It is important to emphasize that the concept of tradition in the educational sense does not mean merely inherited customs or static patterns of behaviour, but a dynamic set of values, knowledge and practices that shape the research identity of the individual and the community and create a sense of continuity. Modernity, on the other hand, does not imply only technological innovations and social changes, but also new epistemological paradigms, openness to a plurality of perspectives and constant re-examination of existing educational models. In this context, we speak of a timeless encounter because tradition and modernity do not operate in time-separated spheres but constantly complement and challenge each other. This sends a clear message: education is not only an instrument for the transfer of knowledge, but also a space for argumentative dialogue between the past, present and future. In this process, teachers, educators and researchers become key mediators – guardians of identity, but also innovators who ensure that education remains relevant in an ever-changing society.

Tradition in education – based on values such as responsibility, respect and togetherness – cannot be reduced to mere nostalgia or static heritage. It is an active resource, a guideline and a corrective in a time marked by accelerated technological changes, artificial intelligence, new forms of social communication and the redefinition of the roles of teachers and educators. Modernity, on the other hand, brings innovations, plurality of perspectives, individualized approaches and critical thinking, but without anchoring in inherited pedagogical experiences, it is difficult to assess their long-term value. It is at this point that key questions of moral values arise – how to preserve responsibility, ethics and interpersonal trust in the digital age – and social challenges such as gender equality in education, especially in the STEM field, where tradition often still reproduces patterns of exclusion. One of the fundamental challenges of today's society is the preservation of nature and the promotion of sustainability. The traditional connection between man and nature, expressed through respect for cycles, modesty and togetherness, can be a valuable challenge at a time when modern technologies and global development threaten the balance of ecosystems. Education thus becomes a key place where awareness of responsible attitude towards the environment is built, and a culture of sustainability is developed.

The educational process must therefore remain open to transformation, but at the same time rooted in proven educational settings. This is the only way in which a dynamic balance between the past, present and future can be established. Like in a permanent dialogue, tradition enables the thoughtful acceptance of innovations, while modernity provokes tradition to question and renew its relevance. This is a key prerequisite for shaping an education that not only meets the needs of today's society but also anticipates those that are yet to come.

In this sense, the challenge and responsibility of contemporary pedagogues, researchers and practitioners is to recognize tradition as a vital element in building the future, and modernity as an opportunity to reinterpret it. It is precisely in this relationship between preservation and transformation that space is created for true innovation in education.

Therefore, the conference will cover the following subtopics:

1. Interdisciplinary approach to tradition and modernity
2. Guardians of identity and a bridge to modernity
3. Tradition and innovation in the educational environment – from the blackboard to artificial intelligence
4. Moral values and contemporary challenges
5. The teacher of the future – how to remain faithful to the pedagogical tradition
6. Challenges and perspectives of the role of the educator
7. Compositional heritage in a musicological and performance perspective
8. Gender equality in the STEM field
9. Workshop for PhD students: Research in Education

The official languages ​​of the conference are English and Croatian.

The conference will be held live and virtually.

Participant registration and abstract submission are carried out via the form available on the Conference website. Each author can participate with a maximum of 2 (two) papers.

Publication:

Selected original scientific papers, according to the judgment of the review committee, will be published in the scientific journal Journal of Elementary Education, https://journals.um.si/index.php/education, indexed in the databases Scopus, DOAJ, ERIH PLUS, EBSCOhostweb, DKUM, dLib.si, UlrichsWeb, IBZ, COBISS.  Other accepted papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings, and accepted abstracts in the digital Book of Abstracts.

The complete scientific paper should be sent to fooz-mdemarin@unipu.hr, accompanied by a certificate confirming that the paper has been proofread in English.
By accepting the categorized paper for publication in the journal or conference proceedings, the author agrees that the same paper will not be published elsewhere.

Important dates:

Organizing Committee:

Full professor dr. Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin, associate professor dr. Marina Diković, associate professor dr. Sandra Kadum, assistant professor dr. Irena Kiss, dr. Branka Antunović

Full professor dr. Blaženka Filipan-Žignić, full professor dr. Marko Badrić, associate professor dr. mr. art. Tamara Jurkić Sviben, full professor dr. Milena Ivanuš-Grmek, assistant professor dr. Anita Gergorić 

Programme Committee:

Full professor dr. Senad Bećirović (Austria), full professor dr. Iva Blažević (Croatia), full professor dr.  Irine Darchia (Georgia), associate professor dr. Nataša Dolenc (Slovenia), full professor dr. Matjaž Duh (Slovenia), associate professor dr. Martina Kolar Billege (Croatia), full professor dr. Siniša Kušić (Croatia), associate professor dr. Goran Lapat (Croatia), associate professor dr. Lorena Lazarić (Croatia), associate professor dr. Darko Lončarić (Croatia), full professor dr. Vida Manfreda Kolar (Slovenia), full professor dr. Sanja Maričić (Serbia), full professor dr. Antonio Marzano (Italia), full professor dr. Jasmina Milenković (Serbiaa), full professor dr. Lejla Osmić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), associate professor dr. Vilko Petrić (Croatia), full professor dr. Mirjana Radetić-Paić (Croatia), full professor dr. Sanela Rustempašić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), associate professor dr. Marina Semiz, (Serbia), full professor dr. Biljana Sladoje Bošnjak (Bosnia and Herzegovina), full professor dr. Biljana Šćepanović (Montenegro), full professor dr. Medina Vantić-Tanjić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), associate professor dr. Vilmos Vass (Hungary), associate professor dr. Adrijana Višnjić Jevtić (Croatia)