The First COLOURS Annual Conference: Meet the Speakers!

Suncica Oberman Peterka is a full professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Osijek, with over two decades of expertise in entrepreneurship and strategic management. As vice dean, she leads international cooperation and environmental projects. She heads the interdisciplinary doctoral program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. A founder of two alumni associations, she actively participates in global and local conferences, focusing on entrepreneurial education, SME innovation, and leadership. She has been part of the GEM research team for Croatia since 2002, contributing to entrepreneurship development and policy research.

Anamarija Delic, associate professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Osijek, specializes in entrepreneurial financing and opportunity identification. Since 2002, she has led numerous EU-funded projects and serves as head of the lifelong learning program for EU project management. She coordinates the Legal and Economic Clinic and mentors student teams on environmental issues. Active in several entrepreneurship-focused organizations, she has published over 40 papers on SME capital structure and entrepreneurial support institutions.

In the workshop: „𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴?“, professors Oberman Peterka and Delić will answer some crucial questions on how to start a successful entrepreneurial project, and how to write a successful business plan?

Join 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙎 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 and learn why entrepreneurship education is crucial for all students, and how universities can inspire innovation by teaching creativity, risk-taking, and problem-solving skills.

𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘫𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰, a Ph.D. graduate in Chemistry from the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, is a Professor of Organic Chemistry since 2003. After a postdoctoral stay at CNRS in Toulouse, she returned to UCLM, where she was awarded the “Ibn Wafid de Toledo” Prize in 2005. Her research focuses on dendrimer chemistry, with interests in photoluminescence, catalysis, biomedical applications, and graphene-based hydrogels.

In the workshop 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 we will explore the impact of advanced materials on technology, healthcare, and sustainability, and how they shape Education 4.0. We will learn how internationalization, project-based learning, and soft skills development are crucial for future educational frameworks and discover the relevance to COLOURS smart specialization strategies, focusing on IT and digitalization, health innovation, and green transitions. This workshop prepares participants for a rapidly evolving world, fostering collaboration and adaptability for regional growth, so don’t miss the chance to be the part of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙎 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 in Osijek.

Sandrine Labory, Associate Professor of Economics at the Università degli Studi di Ferrara, specializes in industrial economics and policy. With an MSc from University College London and a Ph.D. from the European University Institute, her research spans national and regional industrial policies, innovation, and structural changes. She has contributed to projects for the European Commission and OECD. Professor Labory emphasizes the importance of education and training in industrial policy. Author of over 100 publications, her books include Industrial Policy after the Crisis and Industrial Policy for the Manufacturing Revolution.

The workshop 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦-𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: 𝘊𝘖𝘓𝘖𝘜𝘙𝘚 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺 will explore how the COLOURS Open Education Strategy supports Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies. We will learn how challenge-based education fosters practical, interdisciplinary learning and problem-solving with quadruple helix stakeholders. This approach drives the triple transition and enhances universities’ regional impact. Student representatives and Prof. Slavica Singer, UNESCO Chair of Entrepreneurship Education, will discuss the strategy’s significance for future education.

Many exciting things are waiting if you join 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙎 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 in Osijek.

Fredrika Braw MSc, innovation strategist with a background as a HR manager/consultant manager in the private sector and as the director of the Näktergalen mentoring program. Coach and leader in innovation, group and team development, coordinating the university’s innovation efforts in education implementation of the innovation training “Imagine”. She is a CoSpace Officer and proud employee of Kristianstad University for 13 years.

Her workshop 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 will explore collaborative approaches to changing consumer behaviour in the food chain. By engaging stakeholders, we will identify innovative strategies to encourage healthier purchasing decisions and promote well-being. Join us on 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙎 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 to tackle this pressing issue and drive positive change in food consumption habits.

𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘭é𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 recently earned her master’s degree in Human and Social Sciences, majoring in Sociology and Anthropology, from the University of Tours in 2023. During her academic journey, she specialized in gender issues and the inclusion of people with disabilities, producing two impactful dissertations: one on the professionalization of doulas, and the other on the social integration of individuals with Down’s syndrome.

At university, Coline actively worked to improve student life, particularly during the pandemic, by supporting isolated students and advocating for the inclusion of those with disabilities.

In May 2024, Coline joined the Le Mans Université as a project manager in the Gender Equality Mission. She is also involved in two key initiatives: the European NEXUS project and COLOURS, where she serves as the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) officer.

Coline will be joined by 𝘓𝘢ï𝘭𝘪 𝘋𝘰𝘳, a lecturer in English literature at LMU and Head of the English Studies Department. Laïli is deeply involved in promoting gender equality, inclusion of students with disabilities, and supporting students from migrant backgrounds. She also teaches an undergraduate course on discrimination awareness.

Together, in the workshop 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘍𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺, they will showcase the power of intersectoral collaboration in advancing gender equality and well-being at universities through partnerships with local organizations.

Meet our last speaker 𝘙𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘦𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘶 from Paderborn University. An electrical engineering student with a passion for hands-on work, originally from Turkey, left his knife-making workshop behind when he moved to Germany. Missing the creative process, he brought his sewing machine to his dorm and began sewing more. And the rest is history.

In this hands-on workshop 𝘚𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘖𝘓𝘖𝘜𝘙𝘚, we’ll promote sustainability and fight consumerism through simple hand-sewing techniques. Participants will learn to repair and upcycle, starting with creating a personalized passport cover adorned with a “COLOURS” patch. Join us on 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙎 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 in reducing waste and embracing the Green Transition!