Project manager: Prof dr Violeta Vidaček Hainš
Member of the project team dr.sc. Damir Vučić
Partners:
- University of Cincinnati: Director McNair Program Dr. Cheri Westmorelamd, Charity Winburn, Assoc. prof. Whitney Westrich from Lindner College of Business.
- UC Clermont College: Dean Jeffrey C. Bauer, PhD; Prof. dr. sc. Victoria S. Appatova and Nancy Reveal, program manager
- Indiana State University: Izv. Prof. Chad R. Witkemper and Izv. Prof. Craig Morehead (Sport Management) and prof. Lisa Ann Wunderlich Phillips, Ph.D.
FOI team: FOI Management Board Dean Prof. Marina Klačmer Čalopa, Ph.D., Vice-Dean Prof. Martina Tomčić Furjan, Ph.D. , the Head of the FOI International Relations Office, Izabela Oletić Tušek and Željka Pitner, International Relations Office, University of Zagreb.
The 14th Student Research Symposium on Intercultural Learning hed been organized each second year in USA and Craotia since 2010.
The aim is to bring students and mentors together in international research teams, promote Croatian and American cultures, and encourage participation in sports and volunteering.
1st Day, August 30, 2026, Sunday – Cincinnati: Arrival
At 4:00 a.m., Prof. Dr. Violeta Vidaček Hainš, Niko Rastija, Dino Plodinec, and Mihaela Sedlar gathered at Dr. Franjo Tuđman Airport, and at 6:00 a.m. we departed from Zagreb for Amsterdam. In Amsterdam, we were welcomed by rainy weather and a race against time to catch our first flight to Detroit. After successfully boarding the plane, we had a long but very pleasant flight of almost eight hours. Pillows and blankets were provided on board to make the journey more comfortable, while the attentive cabin crew served us drinks and food throughout the flight. Upon arriving in Detroit, we made our way at a relaxed pace to our final flight to Cincinnati. After a very short flight of approximately 50 minutes, we landed in sunny Cincinnati, where we were warmly welcomed by Dr. Cheri Westmoreland, Director of the McNair Program, and Dr. Damir Vučić. Together, we headed to our accommodation, where we were welcomed by Charity Winburn, the assistant to the Director of the McNair Program. She showed us our accommodation for the next few days. We also received welcome gifts from the University of Cincinnati.
2nd Day, August 31, 2026, Monday – Cincinnati Zoo & Krohn Conservatory
Our second day in Cincinnati began with a classic American breakfast and a short walk around campus. Afterwards, we headed to the zoo with Dr. Cheri Westmoreland and Charity Winburn. While exploring the zoo, we met many students from the University of Cincinnati and exchanged our experiences of studying and living in a different culture. In the afternoon, we spent time at the Krohn Conservatory, where we enjoyed the beautiful nature and variety of plants. We ended the day with dinner on campus and some time socializing at Starbucks.
3rd Day, September 1, 2026, Tuesday – Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati
Tuesday morning began with breakfast on campus, after which we headed to a short meeting with Associate Professor Whitney Westrich. There, we met Hunter, a student who had previously participated in the symposium in Varaždin and who is now an assistant to Associate Professor Westrich. We also learned more about the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, a federally funded program that helps high-achieving undergraduate students prepare for graduate studies and doctoral programs. The lectures were opened by Prof. Dr. Violeta Vidaček Hainš, the coordinator of the student symposium, which has been held continuously once a year either in the United States or at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics (FOI) in Croatia since 2010, alongside ongoing virtual collaboration between the two institutions. The presentation entitled “American and Croatian Students in Cross-Cultural Communication: Experiences and Perspectives”, which focused on intercultural exchange and learning, sparked interest among both University of Cincinnati and FOI students. Prof. Dr. Whitney Westrich, who is actively involved in the COIL project in collaboration with FOI, then gave a lecture on business ideas and marketing. After the lecture, we attended student poster sessions and presentations covering a variety of topics. A total of nine research projects were presented by University of Cincinnati students, along with two presentations by FOI students. Dino Plodinec presented his research entitled “The Impact of Physical Activity on the Mental Health of University Students,” followed by Mihaela Sedlar’s presentation “New Media and Intercultural Communication in Networked Society.” The afternoon continued with an engaging presentation by Dr. Damir Vučić, Senior Lecturer, entitled “Sport and Recreation Programs at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics.” After the presentation, we participated in a workshop featuring traditional Croatian dances, followed by an entertaining game led by Charity Winburn, with many University of Cincinnati students and Dr. Cheri Westmoreland joining in. We ended the day at the stadium, watching a baseball game and enjoying an authentic American fan atmosphere together with University of Cincinnati student Elisabeth Anne Bush. In 2025, Elisabeth participated in the COIL collaboration between the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business and FOI, through which she visited Croatia and spent time at our faculty.
4th Day, September 2, 2026, Wednesday – Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati
Wednesday began, as every day, with a delicious breakfast, followed by 11 student presentations led by Dr. Cheri Westmoreland and Charity Winburn, Assistant to the Director of the McNair Program. One of the presentations was delivered by FOI student Niko Rastija, entitled “In-depth Analysis of the Impact of Physical Activity on Student Mental Health.” We spent the rest of the day exploring the University of Cincinnati campus, guided by UC student Leah Grace. After an enjoyable tour and time spent socializing, we headed to Findlay Market, where we had the opportunity to experience an American-style market offering meat, spices, sweets, cheeses, and many other local products. We ended the day with dinner at Skyline, a restaurant known for its secret chili sauce recipe, followed by a visit to the popular Gaters dessert shop.
5th Day, September 3, 2026, Thursday – Cincinnati: Clermont College
The day began with a drive to Clermont College, where we met Prof. Dr. Victoria Appatova, who, with the support of the Dean, Dr. Jeffrey Bauer, organized our visit.The following two hours were dedicated to student presentations, followed by a pleasant conversation and discussion about the research presented, with many Clermont students and professors joining us. After a short lunch break, we enjoyed learning and performing traditional Croatian dances led by Dr. Damir Vučić. We also took part in a short panel discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Victoria Appatova. Some of the questions included: Which course or subject from the campus would you use during a zombie apocalypse? and Share a funny experience from a lecture or presentation. Before heading home, we took a short tour of the entire campus. We ended the day with a delicious dinner at the University of Cincinnati student dining hall.
6th Day, September 4, 2026, Friday, Chicago
On Friday, the day started early in the morning at 7:30 with an early breakfast and we headed to the Cincinnati airport to pick up our rental car for our trip to Chicago. After we took care of the paperwork and picked up the vehicle, we set off on a 5-hour journey to our hotel in Chicago. We arrived happy and healthy without any problems on the way and settled into the hotel. After a short rest, we headed to the huge skyscraper at 875 North Michigan Avenue where we bought a Chicago City Pass to ensure our visit to the main attractions for the next two days. In that skyscraper, we looked out over the entire Chicago from the 94th floor of the skyscraper. We were speechless. Chicago was so beautiful to us that we stayed up there for 1 hour watching the sun set and the city take over the night. Every street and building was lit up, and every car we saw shone like a little star. When we got off the skyscraper, we headed towards Millennium Park and the famous public attraction called Cloudgate. Since this attraction is shaped like a piece of bean, Chicago locals affectionately call it “The Bean.” We met up with Victor Milanés, Sarah Velez-Osorio, and Kaila Frank in Millennium Park. Victor participated in the 11th traditional Symposium on Intercultural Learning at FOI in 2023, and Sarah participated in the 13th traditional Symposium on Intercultural Learning at FOI last year. Victor and Sarah both participated in the Symposium through the McNair Program at the University of Central Florida. They further introduced us to the deep history and culture of the city of Chicago. After a short evening in the park and reminiscing about their experiences from past symposiums, we headed to the hotel. Our day ended with an early arrival at the hotel and impatient anticipation of the attractions that the next day would bring.
7th Day, September 5, 2026, Saturday, Chicago
On Saturday, we woke up at 8:30 and had a quick breakfast at the hotel. We headed to an agency that organizes attractive and educational boat rides through the city on the Chicago River. At 10:45, we boarded the boat to participate in a 75-minute ride. We expected many wonderful views and a very educational education about the city and its attractions, and we admit that our expectations were met. We learned many interesting facts about the city, but one that we would like to highlight is that engineers famously reversed the course of the Chicago River in 1900 in order to prevent pollution of Lake Michigan, which was the main source of drinking water in the city. After that, we headed to the Field Museum, the world-famous natural history museum in Chicago. There, we saw a wide range of scientific specimens and cultural artifacts. Through the City Pass, we had a direct trip to one of the biggest attractions in Chicago, the Shedd Aquarium. This wonderful experience allowed us to see over 32,500 creatures from aquatic habitats around the world. After that, we had the opportunity to talk to students from Northwestern University. They introduced us to the workings of a highly prestigious institution in the United States. As the evening approached, Victor, Sarah and Kaila decided to take us to try one of the biggest attractions in Chicago, the famous "deep dish" Chicago pizza. We ended the evening with a pleasant dinner and good company, and we have to admit that deep dish pizza is something that will definitely stay in our minds. Then we headed to the hotel so that we could be well rested for our final day in Chicago tomorrow.
8th Day, September 6, 2026, Sunday, Chicago
In the morning we woke up and had a quick breakfast at the hotel, then we headed to one of the biggest attractions in Chicago, the Willis Tower. It is known as the tallest building in Chicago, 442 meters high with 110 floors. On the 103rd floor of the skyscraper is the main attraction called Skydeck Chicago. There we had the opportunity to step onto a glass platform and float at 442 meters with a direct view straight down. We consider this experience an unforgettable experience. On the warm recommendation of Victor, Sarah and Kaila, we decided to head to the famous Chinatown district, which is a historic district on the south side of the city known for its Chinese cultural landmarks and attractions. There we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Chinese culture in Chicago. After lunch, we decided to visit the famous baseball stadium Rate Field, where the Chicago White Sox play. We made friends with the workers at the entrance and they warmly gave us a gift package with baseballs and team clothing. Then we returned to the hotel, picked up our vehicle, and set off for Terre Haute, Indiana. On the way, we had the opportunity to stop to see the United Center, the arena where the NBA team Chicago Bulls plays. We finished the trip safely and happily without any problems. In Terre Haute, we checked into a hotel and went to sleep to prepare for the meeting with the professors and students of Indiana State University tomorrow. 
9th Day, September 7th, 2026., Monday – Terre Haute, Indiana
In the morning, we visited the Eugene V. Debs House, which is home to the Eugene V. Debs Museum and is closely connected with the Debs Foundation. There, we met Prof. Lisa Ann Wunderlich Phillips, Ph.D. from Indiana State University. We were also warmly welcomed by other members of the Foundation, who were very happy to have us there. Also there we met some students from the University: Abdul, Kelvin and Robert. At 11 a.m., we joined the Labor Day Parade in Terre Haute. It was a very lively and enjoyable experience, and we had the chance to participate in the parade ourselves, throwing candy to children along the route and experiencing the celebration together with the local community. After the parade, we had lunch together and continued our conversations in a more relaxed setting. It was a good chance to get to know each other better and exchange experiences. Later in the day, we went on a walking tour of Terre Haute with Don Dodson. During the tour, he introduced us to some of the most important landmarks in the city and shared many interesting stories about its history. Among the most notable places were the Eugene V. Debs House and the Paul Dresser Birthplace. Paul Dresser was a famous American songwriter who wrote the official state song of Indiana. The city is also often associated with the nickname “Crossroads of America,” largely because U.S. Highway 40 and U.S. Highway 41 intersect there. Their intersection helped make Terre Haute an important crossroads for travelers, trade, and transportation. 
10th Day, September 8th, 2026., Tuesday – Terre Haute, Indiana
In the morning, we met with Prof. Chad Witkemper, Ph.D., at the hotel, and he accompanied us to the classroom, where we were welcomed by Dr. Natasha A. Rascon and Karen Dakic, Academic Advisor, Academic Affairs, University Student Success & Advising Center. The academic program began with a presentation by Dr. Damir Vučić. Ph.D., who introduced us to his research. Afterwards, the students took part in a Croatian dance workshop, which they greatly enjoyed. Before lunch, we had the opportunity to meet Prof. Craig Morehead, Ph.D. After lunch, Prof. Dr. Violeta Vidaček-Hainš, Ph.D. introduced the students to the topic of our symposium. This was followed by research presentations given by students Niko Rastija, Mihaela Sedlar, and Dino Plodinec. During presentation we were joined by Dr. Alina M. Weite, Ph.D. who with Professors from FOI cowrote with the book for Springer. During the coffee break, we were joined by Prof. Lisa Ann Wunderlich Phillips, Ph.D., and Dr. Steven Stofferhan, Ph.D. which provided another opportunity for informal conversation and exchange. Later in the afternoon, the students had some leisure time to relax after the busy academic program,while Professors had meet and greet with Center for Education Abroad, where they met with Director of Center for Education Abroad Kristi Barley and Assistant Director of Center for Education Abroad Khalid Siddiq . In the evening, Prof. Chad Witkemper, Ph.D., and Prof. Craig Morehead, Ph.D., joined us for dinner, bringing a very enjoyable and productive day to a close.
11th Day, September 9th, 2026., Wednesday – Indianapolis, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio
In the morning we left Terre Haute and went to Indianapolis. There we saw Indianapolis 500 track and Indiana Statehouse. Then we had lunch and went back to Cincinnati. After a short break we had dinner with Dr. Cheri Westmoreland, Charity Winburn and students.
12th Day, September 10th, 2026., Thursday – Cincinnati, Ohio: last day of Symphosium
In the early morning we had breakfast in University of Cincinnati Dining Area. After that we went to the airport where we said last goodbye.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the leadership of the Faculty of Organization and Informatics (FOI), the University of Zagreb, the FOI International Relations Office, the University of Zagreb International Relations Office, the Varaždin Student Centre, Varaždin County, and the City of Varaždin for their assistance and support in realizing this project.
I also extend my thanks to the University of Cincinnati (UC), OH – McNair UC, Clermont College UC, Carl H. Lindner College of Business and Indiana State University, Department of History and Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport, College of Health and Human Sciences.
Special thanks to
Project Leader Prof. Violeta Vidaček Hainš and Senior Lecturer Dr. Damir Vučić (Professor of Health and Physical Education).
FOI Management Board Dean Prof. Marina Klačmer Čalopa, Ph.D., Vice-Dean Prof. Martina Tomčić Furjan, Ph.D. , the Head of the FOI International Relations Office, Izabela Oletić Tušek and Željka Pitner, International Relations Office, University of Zagreb.
University of Cincinnati: Director McNair Program Dr. Cheri Westmorelamd, Charity Winburn, Assoc. prof. Whitney Westrich from Lindner College of Business.
UC Clermont College: Dean Jeffrey C. Bauer, PhD; Prof. dr. sc. Victoria S. Appatova and Nancy Reveal, program manager
Indiana State University: Izv. Prof. Chad R. Witkemper and Izv. Prof. Craig Morehead (Sport Management) and prof. Lisa Ann Wunderlich Phillips, Ph.D.
A big thank you also goes to all the students who participated in the Symposium!
Videos of 14th Student's Research Symposium on Research and Intercultural Learning
EXPECTATIONS
Mihaela Sedlar
https://youtu.be/BDQ5oVxNrhw?is=h35jQ1knovqGLBf7
Niko Rastija
Dino Plodinec
REFLECTIONS
Mihaela Sedlar
https://youtube.com/shorts/W-E3NVZzkNg?feature=share
Niko Rastija
https://youtube.com/shorts/rGzvxVjbDgk?feature=share
Dino Plodinec
https://youtube.com/shorts/3byuxJDbxjA?feature=share
