The role of educational institutions in the development of volunteering in Croatia

Abstract

Many of the upbringing values of volunteerism confirm the requirements for its implementation at all levels of the educational system in Croatia. It is extremely important that volunteer work is well thought out, planned, organized and conducted in accordance with legal requirements, ethical principles and upbringing goals. Based on an analysis of legal provisions and practice, thepaper shows all the different ways for educational institutions to encourage and develop a culture of volunteerism. In doing so, the role of universities is particularly significant, which is in this paper confirmed by the analysis of the most commonly used models on foreign universities. Based on that, this paper also provides conclusions and recommendations to the Croatian universities. In Croatia, volunteer infrastructure in the domain of civil society is underdeveloped, and the lack of resources does not conduct ongoing training of volunteer management. Universities, for example, Centres for Teacher Education, Department for Continuing Education, offices and student career counselling, can conduct training of volunteers and of the organizers of volunteer activities and be responsible for professional training of existing staff that are expected to implement volunteer programs in their institutions, associations and organizations. Long-term considered the best results would be achieved by inclusion of these facilities in the curricula of education for educators, teachers, professional services staff, social workers, nurses and all the others who would encounter volunteers and organization of volunteer activities in their future work.