The interdisciplinary summer school Horizons of Growth, focused on developing students’ personal and soft skills, was held at the ‘Lipa’ motel in Štrpce from June 8 to 15, 2025.

The program gathered 14 participants, including three alumni, and was organized as part of the regular activities of the Erasmus+ project AL4LIFE.

The school was officially opened on June 8, with welcoming remarks from Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Kostić Tmušić and Prof. Dr. Dragana Stanojević. They presented the goals and significance of the project and introduced the agenda, which was fully implemented in the days that followed.

The program included a series of engaging lectures and hands-on workshops:

June 9 (Monday):

  • Lecture: Emotional and Social Intelligence – Prof. Dr. Dragana Stanojević

  • Workshop: Understanding and Preventing Domestic Violence – led by alumna Jovana Gerić

June 10 (Tuesday):

  • Lecture: Current Challenges in Upbringing and Primary Education – Prof. Dr. Zvezdan Arsić

  • Workshop: Motivation in Learning – led by alumnus Vojsilav Stevanović

June 11 (Wednesday):

  • Continued lecture on higher education – Prof. Dr. Zvezdan Arsić

  • Workshop: Motivation in the Workplace – led by alumnus Vojsilav Stevanović

June 12 (Thursday):

  • Lecture: The Culture of Language in Public Discourse – Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Kostić Tmušić

  • Workshop: In Search of Happiness – Practical Steps to a Happier Life – led by alumna Jovana Gerić

June 13 (Friday):

  • Lecture: Media Language – Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Kostić Tmušić

  • Workshop: Spelling and Social Media – led by alumna Dr. Jelena Jevtić

June 14 (Saturday):

  • Debate: The Pros and Cons of Online and Hybrid Learning – moderated by alumna Dr. Jelena Jevtić

In addition to the academic program, the summer school featured a rich extracurricular schedule. Participants visited a humanitarian bazaar and an exhibition of children’s artwork, where they joined alumni and professors in supporting a fundraising effort for a family in financial difficulty. They also took part in the cultural event ,,Izbor Kosovke devojke, visited the village of Sušiće, and met with workers involved in building the Church of St. Panteleimon.

On the final day, Sunday, participants shared their reflections and impressions. Students emphasized how important this experience was for their academic and personal development, while the organizers highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in contemporary education.