University of Zagreb

Faculty of Kinesiology

UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB, FACULTY OF KINESIOLOGY

The University of Zagreb is the oldest university in Croatia (established in 1669) and among the older universities in Europe. Since 1874 more than 200,000 students have graduated from the University of Zagreb, more than 18,000 candidates have been awarded their Master’s degrees and more than 8,000 their Doctoral degrees.

The University of Zagreb consists nowadays of the Rector’s Offices, 29 faculties, three academies of arts, University centre of Croatian Studies, the University Computing Centre (SRCE), University Student Centre in Zagreb and Varaždin and of the International Centre of Croatian Universities, located in Istria, and the Postgraduate Centre in Dubrovnik. Teaching and research activity of the University of Zagreb cover the fields of natural sciences, engineering, biomedicine, biotechnology, social sciences, humanities, arts and theology. The Faculty of Kinesiology (established as the High School of Physical Culture in 1959; in 1973 established as the Faculty of Physical Culture/Education) was incorporated into the University of Zagreb in 1967.

  

 

Introduction to the Faculty of Kinesiology 


As the oldest educational and scientific institution in the field of kinesiology in the Republic of Croatia, and
alongside the Faculty of Kinesiology of the University of Split and the undergraduate study of Kinesiology at the Faculty of Education of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, the Faculty of Kinesiology of the University of Zagreb has a long tradition of education and research work, but also a responsibility in promoting kinesiology as a science, quality of class performance and supporting Croatian sport, sports recreation and Physical and Health Education. Through a strong social role, the Faculty of Kinesiology is often the organizer or conceptual initiator of actions that promote physical activity, movement and health. Through the work of its teaching staff, it has helped launch other kinesiology faculties in the Republic of Croatia and some in the region.

Vision
As the leading higher education institution in kinesiology in the region, the Faculty of Kinesiology at the
University of Zagreb aims to become integrated and competitive in the European higher education and research area and to create new and improve existing knowledge transfer systems in all fields of applied kinesiology.


Mission
The Faculty of Kinesiology of the University of Zagreb is a leading higher education institution in the field of
kinesiology in the region educating staff in all areas of applied kinesiology based on the latest scientific and
professional knowledge. The Faculty of Kinesiology bases its work on high academic and ethical values,
knowledge based on research and expertise, and optimal infrastructure conditions. The Faculty of Kinesiology contributes significantly to the promotion of sports, physical recreation, physical and health education of pupils and students, as well as the quality of active life and health of Croatian citizens.
Strategic goals are aimed at quality advancement of the teaching process, ensuring the conditions for creative scientific research work aimed at creating new and deepening existing knowledge in all fields of general and applied kinesiology, and better positioning of the Faculty in the international academic community.

This is part ofthe document Strategy of the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb 2014-2020 which you can see here (Croatian version) and here (English version).

 


History of Faculty & DEVELOPMENT OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR KINESIOLOGISTS IN CROATIA 

 

The beginnings of education for kinesiologists in Croatia

 
  • The early beginnings of educating personnel for the needs of sport and physical education in Croatia are associated with the introduction of physical education (which was then known as gymnastics) as an obligatory course consisting of two classes per week in plebeian (elementary) schools, civil (higher elementary) schools and in teacher-training schools in the Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia in 1874.
  • A systematic education for new teachers and training for existing teachers for the needs of performing physical education classes in Croatian elementary schools were organized from July 1875 in teacher-training schools in Zagreb – with Miroslav (Friedrich) Singer and Marija Fabković as lecturers.
  • After Miroslav (Friedrich) Singer died in 1876, Czech Franjo (František) Hochman came to Zagreb in 1877 and continued the activities of educating and training professional personnel.
  • The two-year Course for gymnastics teachers in Zagreb from 1894 to 1896 – the first higher education course in the field of kinesiology in Croatia – with Franjo Bučar as the leader of the course.
Course for gymnastics teachers, Zagreb 1894-1896 – classes in the hall Course for gymnastics teachers, Zagreb 1894-1896 - classes in the open

 

 

Course for gymnastics teachers, Zagreb 1894-1896 – skiing classes Course for gymnastics teachers, Zagreb 1894-1896 – cricket classes
  • In 1896 the first class organization of kinesiologists in Croatia was founded – the Society of gymnastics teachers of Croatia and Slavonia - with Franjo Bučar as the president.
  • In 1908 physical education classes also become obligatory in secondary schools in Croatia consisting of one class per week; as from 1909 two classes per week were performed.
  • In the period between 1920 and 1941 physical education classes in higher elementary schools and in secondary schools in Croatia were conducted by members of the Sokol movement as they were the only qualified individuals in the field of kinesiology at the time – there was no education system for qualified personnel.
Franjo Bučar 1866-1946
  • In 1941 the High School for Physical Education in Zagreb started with its activities – a month later its work was brought to an end due to the beginning of the World War II in Croatia.
  • In 1945 the Higher Physical Education School was established in Zagreb which worked until 1948 – the first college for educating personnel for the needs of performing physical education classes in Croatia.
  • In 1947 the Secondary School for Physical Culture was established in Zagreb which worked until 1952.
  • As from 1948 physical education personnel were also educated at the Higher School of Pedagogics in Zagreb in a two-subject study; in 1951 the study for physical education teachers became a one-subject (two-year) study; upon the establishment of teacher-training colleges in 1961 the realization of such studies also continued in other regional centres (Osijek, Pakrac, Čakovec, Split, Šibenik, Rijeka and Karlovac); as from 1977 students no longer enrolled the physical education specialisation at the Pedagogical Academy.
  • In 1952 the Institute for Physical Culture was established in Zagreb for the purpose of „education and training of qualified personnel, professional and scientific research, as well as for publication activities and the expansion of both theoretical and practical realizations in various areas of physical education“ – with Miro Mihovilović as the first head of the Institute.                                         

High School of Physical Culture in Zagreb

  • In July 1959 the Parliament of the People's Republic of Croatia passed the Law on the High School of Physical Culture in Zagreb (Narodne novine no. 30-1959) which provided a legal basis for its establishment and the required prerequisites for the beginning of its work as an educational and research institution. Associate professor Miloje Gabrijelić was appointed as the first head (dean) of the High School of Physical Culture in Zagreb.
  • On November 3rd, 1959 an opening ceremony, which took place at the Institute for Physical Culture on Kačićeva Street, marked the beginning of academic instruction at the High School of Physical Culture in Zagreb; the Institute for Physical Culture stopped working in December 1959.
Competitive gymnastics classes at the High School of Physical Culture on 23 Kačićeva street aesthetic gymnastics classes at the High School of Physical Culture on 23 Kačićeva street
  • On November 14, 1961 the foundations were laid for the construction of new buildings of the High School of Physical Culture on a location north of the Sports Park ASD Mladost, south of Horvaćanska Road and west of the Student residence hall "Stjepan Radić", with a total surface of some 36 acres.
  • In the academic year 1965/66, for the first time classes were organized at the first degree level for coaches and recreation organizers – a part-time study with an associate degree level for senior sports coaches.
  • In September 1967 the Council of the High School of Physical Culture made the decision on renaming the Research Institute of Physical Culture to the Institute of Kinesiology – the first use of the term kinesiology in the name of an institution in Croatia.
  • On October 31, 1967 the Council of the University of Zagreb made the decision on incorporating the High School of Physical Culture in Zagreb into the University of Zagreb.
   
  • In the academic year 1970/71 the curricula were produced, applications were invited, students were enrolled and classes were conducted in the first semester of the postgraduate study for scientific training in kinesiology, which was organized and carried out by the High School of Physical Culture – this was the first ever postgraduate study in the scientific field of kinesiology in Croatia.
  • In the academic year 1971/72, as part of the Institute of Kinesiology, the Computer Centre was established and an IBM 1130 was taken on lease. This made the High School of Physical Culture the second institution inside the University of Zagreb which established a Computer Centre.
  • By the end of 1971 the Institute of Kinesiology at the High School of Physical Culture, University of Zagreb initiated the publication of the scientific journal Kinesiology – with professor Vladimir Horvat, PhD as the main editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Kinesiology.
  • In the academic year 1971/72 an initiative was started which aimed at renaming the High School of Physical Culture. The proposal on renaming the school the Faculty of Kinesiology was adopted on all levels of decision making at the High School of Physical Culture, so that such a proposal was passed over to the University of Zagreb.
     

Faculty of Physical Education, University of Zagreb

 
  • At the beginning of the academic year 1973/74 the High School of Physical Culture, University of Zagreb, based on the decision made by the Parliament of the Federal Republic Croatia, started working as the Faculty of Physical Education, University of Zagreb. The request of the  High School of Physical Culture, which was submitted in the academic year 1971/72, demanding the school to be renamed Faculty of Kinesiology was not adopted by the Parliament of the Federal Republic Croatia.
  • In the academic year 1973/74 classes also began at the part-time study in Split.
  • In the academic year 1977/78 significant changes were made in the curricula – they resulted from the decision on organizing three basic specializations in the study: physical education teacher, graduate recreation organizer and graduate coach.
  • In the academic year 1981/82 a new curriculum took effect for educating experts of a unique profile – physical education teacher with a specialization in individual fields of applied kinesiology – this established the basic conception of the study of kinesiology which has been maintained until today.
  • In the academic year 1981/82 the construction of the Faculty's building was completed, which started back in 1961, when the large sports games hall became functional (45x29 m). From that moment on, the Faculty of Physical Education had 11.433 m2 of space at its disposal.
  • The first generation of students at the specialist postgraduate study was enrolled in the academic year 1988/89 – the first specialist postgraduate study of kinesiology in Croatia.
a plaque in the memory of all Croatian soldiers who lost their life in battle, who were students at the Faculty of Physical Education
  • In 1991 employees of the Faculty of Physical Education, University of Zagreb professor Branimir Kuleš, PhD and professor Josip Marić, PhD organized a „volunteer unit for special assignments of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia“, later on called the MIG, which for the most part consisted of students from the Faculty of Physical Education together with a number of students from other faculties of the University of Zagreb. The commanding officer of the special unit MIG was professor Branimir Kuleš, PhD. This was the only military unit made up of students from the University of Zagreb. In 1992 the members of the special unit MIG either joined the active service of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia or they continued with their study. A small number of members of the special unit MIG joined the reserve forces of the Special police unit. Nine students from the Faculty of Physical Education, University of Zagreb lost their lives during the Croatian War of Independence.
  • In September 1997 the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Physical Education, University of Zagreb made the decision to initiate a procedure of renaming it the Faculty of Kinesiology.

Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb

  • At the session which took place on January 16, 2001 the Senate of the University of Zagreb reached the decision by which the Faculty of Physical Education was renamed the Faculty of Kinesiology. Immediately after, the Faculty followed the legal procedure required for changing its name. On September 25, 2001 the Commercial Court in Zagreb issued a formal decision on registering the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb in the records of the Commercial Court, which formally and legally concluded the procedure by which the Faculty of Physical Education was renamed the Faculty of Kinesiology.
  • In the academic year 2001/02 the scientific postgraduate study programme for acquiring a Master of Science degree was initiated at the Faculty of Kinesiology in keeping with the standards of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
  • The final modifications in the curriculum of the full-time study were carried out during the academic year 2004/05. Based on the permission letter from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, issued on June 2nd, 2005, the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb started conducting classes according to the new undergraduate (3 years), graduate (2 years) and postgraduate (3 years) curricula, which were prepared in accordance with the Bologna declaration and the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb – theoretical classes

Arranged by:

Asst. Prof. Zrinko Čustonja, PhD