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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 Paper Published on Sustainable Dietary Habits of Future Educators

Members of the OdRaST Center conducted a study on the sustainable dietary habits and health of Teacher Education students, publishing an original scientific paper in the international scientific journal Sustainability, titled:

"Health and Sustainable Consumption Among Pre-Service Teachers: A Multidimensional Evaluation Using the SHED Index—A Case Study from Croatia"

The study addresses an important methodological challenge within Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by analyzing the intersection of nutritional diet quality, personal health, and environmental sustainability. The focus of the paper is on evaluating the dietary habits and environmental literacy of pre-service teachers in the Republic of Croatia using the multidimensional SHED (Sustainable Healthy Diet) Index. This marks its first application in the Republic of Croatia, setting new standards for the evaluation of sustainable diets in the domestic academic sector.

Key Findings and Analytical Insights
The paper provides a detailed empirical insight into the behaviors and attitudes of future educators and teachers, with an emphasis on specific patterns within the higher education context:

  • Synergy of Health and Environmental Motivation: The results demonstrate a strong correlation between health-focused individual motivation and the adoption of pro-environmental dietary habits. Personal well-being was identified as the primary driver of sustainable choices.
  • Behavioral Challenges (Knowledge-Action Gap): Despite high theoretical awareness of environmental issues, structural and cultural barriers limiting daily sustainable choices, such as food waste management or water consumption, were identified in practice.
  • Comparative Value: By using the SHED Index, a regional benchmarking framework was established. This allows for more precise monitoring of sustainable lifestyles and dietary habits of the future pillars of educational processes in the region.

Contribution and Curricular Recommendations
The scientific contribution of this paper lies in providing precise guidelines for integrating sustainable development, health, and ecology into university curricula for pre-service teacher education. The authors emphasize that bridging the gap between environmental awareness and concrete action is essential for shaping a new generation of teachers who will bring these values into school classrooms.

Useful Links:
📄 Full Paper (Open Access): Read the paper on the Sustainability journal website (DOI: 10.3390/su18157780)

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