undergraduate

• Basics of Pedagogy (120192) - Lecturer in charge
• Integrated Curriculum of Early and Preschool Education 3 (120219) - Lecturer in charge
• Integrated Curriculum of Early and Preschool Education 4 (204140) - Lecturer in charge
• Pedagogical Concepts and Approaches in Early and Preschool Education (120212) - Lecturer in charge
• Research in Educational Practice 2 (120209) - Lecturer in charge
• Research in Educational Practice 3 (120217) - Lecturer in charge
• Research in Educational Practice 4 (120223) - Lecturer in charge
• Research in Educational Practice 5 (120227) - Lecturer in charge

graduate

• Traditional games and toys (180343) - Lecturer in charge

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Branimir Mendeš was born in Split, Croatia, where he currently lives and works. He graduated from the University of Split in 1999, obtained his Master's degree from the University of Zagreb in 2008, and earned his PhD from the University of Zagreb in 2015.

Since 2009, he has been permanently employed at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split. During his academic career in higher education, he progressed through various academic ranks, from teaching assistant and associate positions to the rank of Associate Professor (external teaching assistant, 2003; lecturer, 2009; senior lecturer, 2012; assistant professor, 2017; associate professor, 2022).

He served as Head of the Department of Preschool Education for two terms (2010/11–2013/14) and later as Head of the Department of Early and Preschool Education for two consecutive terms (2021/22–2023/24 and 2024/25–2026/27). He is also the coordinator of the part-time graduate study programme in Early and Preschool Education and Care, as well as several lifelong learning programmes.

For many years, he has also worked as a contractual lecturer at the Arts Academy in Split. Prior to joining the higher education sector, he worked in various educational institutions and social welfare institutions, including community service centres.

He is actively involved in both academic and professional activities and has authored and co-authored several books.

Mendeš, B. Krstičević, L. (2025). Pedagoški pristupi dječjoj igri u institucijskom kontekstu // Od tradicionalnih pogleda prema suvremenim pristupa u ranom i predškolskom odgoju i obrazovanju. Split: Filozofski fakultet.

Dobrota, S., Krnić, M. i Mendeš, B. (2025). Glazba u suvremenom dječjem vrtiću. Split: Filozofski fakultet.

Mendeš, B.  i Pokrivka, V. (2024). Scenska lutka i igra u dječjem vrtiću // Pedagogijski temelji i odgojno-obrazovna praksa. Zagreb: Alfa

Mendeš, B. (2020). Prema suvremenom dječem vrtiću // Pedagoška kretanja i promjene u sustavu ranog i predškolskog odgoja u Hrvatskoj. Zagreb: Hrvatska sveučilišna naklada.

Mendeš, B., Goran, Lj. i Marić, Lj. (2020). Dijete u svijetu igre // Teorijska polazišta i odgojno-obrazovna praksa. Zagreb: Golden marketing – Tehnička knjiga.

Mendeš, B. (2018). Profesionalno obrazovanje odgojitelja predškolske djece // Od jednogodišnjeg tečaja do sveučilišnog studija. Zagreb: Golden marketing – Tehnička knjiga.

https://savez-dnd.hr/

• Pedagogical trends and changes in institutional early childhood and preschool education and care
• Curriculum for early childhood and preschool education and care (theoretical frameworks and models; language and communication, artistic, and inquiry-based orientations)
• Play of young and preschool-aged children in institutional settings (the child's right to play, the benefits of play, toys and play materials)
• Professional development of preschool teachers during initial teacher education
• Topics from the recent history of national pedagogy

• Recognition Award of the Croatian Centre for Drama Education (2022)

Note: The award was presented for editing and publishing Zvjezdana Ladika’s book Children’s Dramatic and Theatrical Creativity: Studies, Articles, and Discussions (2022). According to the Award Committee, the editor made a valuable contribution to the study of the history of drama education and to the understanding of contemporary drama education practices in Croatia.