Summer School 2026

From 29 June to 4 July 2026, the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, organised the 7th CEEPUS International Summer School “From Soil Health to Human Health”, with the aim of exchanging knowledge, experiences and examples of good practice in the fields of sustainable agriculture, agroecology, and the interconnection between soil health, food quality and human health.

The International Summer School was organised within the CEEPUS mobility programme. This year, the Faculty had the opportunity to host 7 international professors, 3 international PhD students and 3 international students, as well as 6 PhD students and 3 students from the Faculty. Participants came from Serbia, North Macedonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

The programme began with participant registration and the official opening of the Summer School, followed by a presentation of the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, its teaching and research capacities, and the CEEPUS programme by Vice-Dean for International Cooperation and English-Taught Programmes, Assistant Professor Marin Kovačić, PhD. Following the introductory presentation, the participants presented their home institutions. A tour of the Faculty's laboratories was also organised, providing participants with an opportunity to learn about the Faculty's research infrastructure and current scientific activities. The academic programme included a series of interdisciplinary lectures addressing contemporary challenges in agricultural production. The practical part of the programme included a workshop on the role of mycorrhiza in sustainable agriculture. During the workshop, participants learned about the potential application of beneficial fungi to improve nutrient availability, enhance soil structure, and increase plant resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about the latest results of scientific research projects focused on the development of sustainable production systems during a professional visit to the Faculty's experimental farm in Tenja. The visit provided an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the Faculty's research activities and the application of contemporary scientific knowledge in agricultural production.

The Summer School programme enabled participants to acquire new professional knowledge, develop international cooperation and networking opportunities, and exchange experiences on contemporary approaches to sustainable soil management and the production of safe and high-quality food. Through lectures, practical workshops, professional visits and informal networking, the 7th CEEPUS International Summer School provided a valuable platform for connecting students, PhD students and academic staff from different countries, while further strengthening the international cooperation of the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek.