Nada Švob-Đokić
Culture and Communication Department
Ph.D. Literary Studies, University of Zagreb

Qualifications and Skills

Most of my professional work has been research and academic work. I am interested and specialized in the following areas:

• global and national development, transformation and transition;
• development and transitional policies and strategies;
• international relations;
• cultural development (including multiculturality, intercultural communication and management of cultural differences), scientific and cultural co-operation.

The regions that I have studied are Sub-Saharan Africa (late l960's to early 1980's) and Central, Eastern, South Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean (1980's to the present). My bibliography includes about 300 published articles, studies, monographs, research reports, and books.

My recent research is particularly devoted to transition processes in the post-socialist countries and their cultural aspects (e.g., The Process of Transition to New Identities: Past Values and Present Difficulties, 1996; Cultural Identity in the Perspective of Transformation and Democracy, 1997; The Multicultural Mosaic of Croatia, 1997, etc.).

I worked on the European Cultural Policies project (sponsored by the Council of Europe) as a member of the Croatian research team. I am presently coordinating the project on Redefining Cultural Identities: The Multicultural Contexts of the Central European and Mediterranean Regions, supported by the Royaumont group from Bruxelles.

I have been continuously involved in project design and management of research projects and programs either as the leader or the member of a research team. Part of my experience includes consultative work for UNDP, UNESCO, INSTRAW, and other international organizations.

My professional activities have also included teaching and training. I lectured at the university postgraduate courses (e.g. on the systems of international co-operation), and international courses (e.g., on Redefining Cultural Identities, Inter-University Center, Dubrovnik 2000.). I have been a panelist or discussant in numerous seminars and international conferences.

An important part of my professional work has been devoted to the establishment, development and supervision of international co-operative networks. I organized the establishment of the ISDRI - International Network of Development Research Institutes, which functioned from l983 to l991, and was connected to the Research and Information System of Developing Countries - RIS, New Delhi. I was also actively involved in the establishment of CULTURELINK - Network of Networks for Research and Co-operation in Cultural Development, supported by the Council of Europe and UNESCO.

I have prepared and edited about thirty titles of different research and professional reports in Croatian, English and French, as well as the proceedings of the meetings and conferences (e.g. The Cultural Identity of Central Europe, Zagreb, 1997.).

Employment and Work History

• Africa Research Institute, University of Zagreb, 1968-1975; Assistant and Research Fellow.
  Duties: research, preparation of M.A. Thesis, assistance in publishing projects, organization of seminars and conferences.
• Institute for Developing Countries, University of Zagreb, 1975-1988; Senior Scientific Associate; Head, Department for Science, Technology and International Programs.
  Duties: research, lecturing, co-ordination of projects and programs, preparation of Ph.D. and own works and publications.
• Institute for Development and International Relations, University of Zagreb, (presently Institute for International Relations) 1989 - up to the present; Scientific Adviser, Director of the Institute (1989-1994).
  Duties: research, conferences and lectures, editing of books and publications; promotion of the Institute, public relations.

Education

• High School Diploma, 1964, Second Grammar School, Zagreb (general education)
• B.A. in English and French Language and Literature, 1968, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb (English and French Languages and Literatures)
• M.A. in African Literature, 197O, University of Zagreb (Postgraduate Course in African Literature)
• Ph.D. in Literary Studies, 1979, University of Zagreb (Doctoral Research in the development of African literatures)
• Languages: English, French, Russian, Croatian.

 

Contact:
IMO, Ul. Lj. F. Vukotinovića 2, P.O. Box 303, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; tel.: +385-1-4826522; fax: +385-1-4828361; e-mail: nada@irmo.hr