Of particular significance to the visit was the signing of a cooperation agreement (Memorandum of Understanding – MoU) between the University of Zagreb and Penn State University in late 2026, shortly before the visit. Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D. initiated discussions with Penn State representatives on the possibility of establishing this institutional cooperation framework in early 2025. The finalized and signed agreement provides an important foundation for further strengthening relations between the two universities and opens up additional opportunities for joint educational, research, and project activities.
Cooperation with Penn State on the Development and Application of Artificial Intelligence
One of Associate Professor Konecki’s meetings was held with Dr. Vasant Honavar, Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence at Penn State University, whose responsibilities include the strategic development and coordination of university-wide initiatives in artificial intelligence. During the meeting at Penn State’s Old Main, Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D. presented the results of his work to date, along with his experience and development activities in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D., and Dr. Vasant Honavar, Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence at Penn State University
The meeting resulted in an agreement to collaborate on developing frameworks and systems for the use of artificial intelligence at Penn State University, with a particular focus on opportunities for the systematic integration of AI into the university environment. This agreement represents a significant step toward bringing together the expertise and research capacities of the two universities in a field that is becoming increasingly important in higher education.
Associate Professor Konecki also held a meeting with Corey Phelps, Dean of Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. The meeting focused on opportunities for collaboration on projects and initiatives related to the integration of artificial intelligence into teaching and learning, the development of innovative educational approaches, and the use of emerging technologies in higher education. The meeting also helped to define the next steps for identifying and developing specific project proposals and ideas in this domain.
Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D., and Corey Phelps, Dean of Penn State's Smeal College of Business
New Joint Projects in Entrepreneurship and Supply Chain Management
A significant part of the Associate Professor Konecki’s visit was dedicated to meetings with representatives of the Smeal College of Business, including Kevin Linderman, Department Head and Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems, and Shawn M. Clark, Clinical Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Director of the Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D., and Kevin Linderman, Head of the Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems at Penn State University
Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D., and Shawn M. Clark, Director of the Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Penn State University
The meetings addressed opportunities to develop joint projects involving the application of artificial intelligence in entrepreneurship, business decision-making, and supply chain management (SCM).
The meetings resulted in an agreement to pursue further project collaboration, with the initial steps toward the development and implementation of joint activities clearly defined. Part of the planned cooperation builds on previously completed international student project activities, including the 3rd International Student Business Meetup, held in late 2025, which brought together students and faculty from the Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, Penn State, and other educational institutions through interdisciplinary work on innovative technology-related project ideas.
The new cooperation builds on previous activities, with an additional focus on research and applied projects in artificial intelligence.
Strengthening Research and Institutional Cooperation
During the visit to Penn State, research collaboration in the field of artificial intelligence was also established with Hadi Hosseini, Associate Professor of Informatics and Intelligent Systems, and Ran Shorrer, Associate Professor of Economics. Discussions focused on opportunities to establish research connections and develop future joint research activities in artificial intelligence.
In addition to research and project-related meetings, Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D. met with representatives of university services and international cooperation, including Jody Pritt, Interim Vice Provost for Penn State Global, Alexandra Persiko, Director of Global Partnerships, and Dr. Leah Zimmerman, Executive Director, Student Disability Resources.
These meetings further contributed to maintaining and strengthening institutional contacts important for long-term cooperation between the Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, and Penn State University.
Associate Professor Konecki, Ph.D., also met with Keith Jervis, former Executive Director of Student Disability Resources.
Dr. Vlad Likholetov, Associate Director of Partnership Agreements and Eurasia Partnerships within Penn State Global, also participated in coordinating and organizing the visit. Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D. collaborates with Dr. Likholetov successfully for many years.
In addition to Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D., Penn State University was also visited by his associates and colleagues from the Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, Luka Milić and Petar Škvorc, who participated in activities during the visit.
Participation in a Penn State AI Event and Networking with Leading Academic and Technology Institutions
As part of the visit, Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D. participated in a Penn State-organized event dedicated to artificial intelligence that brought together researchers, experts, and representatives of academia and the technology sector.
During the event, new professional and research contacts were established with representatives of Penn State and institutions such as the University of Colorado, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and The Ohio State University, as well as representatives of leading technology companies, including Amazon and Meta.
These contacts offer additional opportunities to connect academic research with experience and approaches from the technology industry.
Participation in the event provided opportunities to exchange experiences, research directions and approaches to the development of artificial intelligence, while helping to expand an international network of contacts for potential future cooperation.
Continuing Cooperation with New York University and a Visit to the NYU Game Center
The visit to the USA also included activities at New York University. During the visit, Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D. met with Naomi Clark, Department Chair of the NYU Game Center, and Eric Zimmerman, Associate Chair and Professor.
During his time at the NYU Game Center, Associate Professor Mario Konecki, Ph.D. participated in teaching activities and presentations of student project ideas in the field of video game development. These activities enabled a direct exchange of experiences in educational approaches, creative video game development, and student project work, while further connecting faculty members from the two universities.
The visit also provided an opportunity to continue discussions about future joint activities and the development of cooperation in education and video game development, with particular emphasis on linking course content, student projects, and emerging technologies.
The meetings, newly established contacts, and agreed steps toward further cooperation, together with the signed cooperation agreement between the University of Zagreb and Penn State, represent an important step forward in developing and strengthening the international cooperation of the Faculty of Organization and Informatics. Particular opportunities have been identified in artificial intelligence, innovative educational approaches, entrepreneurship, video game development, and interdisciplinary research projects, providing an additional foundation for future joint activities involving researchers, faculty, and students from Croatia and the USA.
