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Poljička cesta 35, Split, Croatia

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Center for Transdisciplinary Promotion of Sustainable Development OdRaST

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Poljička cesta 35
21 000 Split

Head of the Center

Asst. Prof.  Ivana Restović, Ph.D.
irestovic@ffst.hr 

 

Center members:

Assoc. Prof. Bruno Curko, Ph.D.
bcurko@ffst.hr

Assoc. Prof. Ivanka Buzov, Ph.D.
ibuzov@ffst.hr

Assoc. Prof. Marita Brčić Kuljiš, Ph.D.
mbrcic@ffst.hr

Asst. Prof. Mila Bulic, Ph.D.
mbulic@ffst.hr

 Tamara Ljubičić,
Head of the department for international cooperation and public relations
ljubicic@ffst.hr 

 

ABOUT THE CENTER OdRaST

The green transition is one of the strategic priorities of the EU in the coming period, and sustainability is one of the key development principles. In order to contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals, to implement the knowledge and develop the need for life in the only possible acceptable way, the idea of ​​establishing the Center for Transdisciplinary Promotion of Sustainable Development - OdRaST was born.

The OdRaST Center will promote the global sustainable development goals by connecting its three fundamental components: society, the environment and the economy, encouraging processes of awareness, reflection and efforts aimed at modern economic and social development in a protected environment.

 

TASKS OF THE CENTER OdRaST

The basic task of the OdRaST Center is to enable the promotion and realization of sustainable development goals not only through education, but also through the implementation of various activities of lifelong and socially useful learning, a transdisciplinary approach research, innovative and original projects, high-quality interactive forums among students and teachers of the Faculty , including employees of the University of Split. Special attention will be given to cooperation with local and wider community stakeholders, as well as experts of various profiles at the national and international level, with an emphasis on international cooperation with related centers and/or other institutions and faculties, which creates a basis for intellectual exchange and accumulation of contributions from different actors, disciplines, activities and institutions that see a certain problem from their own perspectives.

The establishment of the Center OdRaST is in line with the goals of the Development Strategy of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split 2021-2025. and with the Strategy of the University of Split 2021-2025.

 

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The aspiration of modern society is to live in prosperity with economic development, respecting the needs of all people and preserving the environment, in other words to live in a sustainable way. The concept of sustainable development can be interpreted in different ways depending on the viewing perspective, therefore there are numerous definitions of sustainable development in literature and everyday speech. However, each definition has in common the term balance, which refers to "satisfying the needs of the present generation, without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to satisfy their needs."

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Ciljevi održivog razvoja

 

 


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06.08.2026

Scientific Publication: OdRaST Centre Members Conducted Research on AI in Education and Published Key Results

The prestigious international scientific journal Sustainability has published an original research paper titled:

„AI-Driven Resource Optimization in Science Education: Assessing Pre-Service Teachers’ Readiness for Sustainable Teaching Practices and Environmental Literacy”

This research is a direct result of scientific and research activities conducted within the Centre for Transdisciplinary Promotion of Sustainable Development (OdRaST) at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split. The paper provides a significant contribution to Green-Science education by analyzing the application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in optimizing material and energy resources within science education.

The focus of the study is directed toward the critical question of pre-service teachers' and educators' readiness to integrate advanced digital technologies to promote environmental literacy and implement sustainable teaching practices, which forms the core institutional mission of the OdRaST Centre itself.

Key Results and Analytical Insights

The research, conducted within the framework of the OdRaST Centre's platform, delivers a detailed comparative analysis of digital and environmental competencies across a sample of pre-service teachers and educators, revealing distinct patterns of readiness:

  • Creative Openness and Methodological Needs: Pre-service early childhood educators demonstrate high enthusiasm for utilizing AI tools for the didactic visualization of environmental topics. However, the study identifies a need to further strengthen baseline scientific concepts to ensure the conceptual accuracy of digitally generated content.

  • Practical Applicability and Resource Efficiency: Pre-service primary school teachers exhibit the highest level of practical readiness to integrate AI assistance into the creation of interdisciplinary lesson plans. They identify AI as a direct tool for resource optimization, specifically through reducing paper consumption and streamlining the planning of project activities.

  • Predictive Models and Critical Awareness: Pre-service subject-specific science teachers (Biology and Chemistry) demonstrate an advanced understanding of predictive AI models for simulating laboratory procedures, thereby minimizing chemical consumption and waste generation. This group also recorded the highest level of critical awareness regarding the energy footprint of the technology itself.

Contribution and Curricular Recommendations

The scientific contribution of this paper directly supports the objectives of the OdRaST Centre in defining guidelines for the modernization of higher education curricula. The authors emphasize that digital literacy alone does not guarantee sustainable behavior; rather, study programs must systematically link AI modules with science education methodologies and environmental protection. This integration is essential for future teachers to successfully bridge the gap between theoretical awareness and practical action in the classroom.

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