The Institute for the Development of Education advocates a system of higher education that ensures equal educational opportunities, adheres to the principle of quality assurance, promotes international cooperation, supports lifelong learning and meets both the needs of individual and society.

IDE is based in Zagreb (Croatia) and since its launch in 1999, it has succeeded in consolidating its position as the leading Croatian NGO in the field of higher education. In addition to working at the national level in Croatia, IDE works at the European level through its participation in Bologna Follow-up Group, Advisory Committee on the Social Dimension of the Bologna Process (2019-2021; 2010-2012), the European Commission’s Network of Experts on Social Dimension of Education and Training (NESET) (2019-2021; 2013-2014), the European Commission’s European Expert Network on Economics of Education (EENEE) (2016-), the OECD’s Higher Education Forum (2017).

Why we are participating in the project

One of our core values is ensuring equal opportunities, fighting discrimination and support to disadvantaged social groups as the basis for increasing social inclusion and the development of the society as a whole. We believe it is crucial to tackle these issues with our colleagues and different professionals around the world – this is the only way we can question current patterns in higher education.

Our role in the project

We will be working on producing Guidelines and Strategic Framework for use by different groups of stakeholders with our colleagues from Malmo University. Our main wish is to contribute with the Croatian perspective when it comes to building new partnerships and future policies.

Our Team

Thomas Fernell

Thomas Fernell

Higher Education Policy Expert

Thomas has 15 years of experience in the field of HE policy, including over 10 years on policy analysis/development in an international context. Thomas has worked as an expert on a range national projects related to fostering more socially responsive and inclusive higher education policies. At the European level, he was appointed as member of the Bologna Follow-Up Group (Working Group for the Social Dimension) and the EC’s Network of Experts on the Social Aspects of Education (NESET).

Ana Skledar Matijević

Ana Skledar Matijević

Higher Education Project Manager

Ana Skledar Matijević, Ph.D. is a former professor at a Croatian HEI with 20 years of teaching experience. She is also a textbook author and has rich experience in HEI management and policy implementation as she has served as Interim Dean and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in several terms of office. She is also a certified e-Learning Course Designer.
She has been with the Institute for the Development of Education since 2019 and has used her higher education and big project management experience, as well as policy development expertise in her work on IDE’s projects focusing on the social dimension, community engagement of higher education and service learning implementation. She has authored and co-authored several reports and articles on these topics.