In 2017, the Public Open University Zagreb is celebrating 110 years of continual work. In 1907, the assistant professor of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb, dr. Albert Bazala (1877-1947) founded the Public Open University Zagreb as an extension of the University of Zagreb. “The conditions of our time”, Bazala wrote, “are such that only an educated an enlightened man may rightly fulfill them.” This formed the base of the Croatian adult education system 110 years ago under the slogan of Stjepan Radić „education towards freedom“. Radić was political scientist who graduated at École libre des sciences politiques in Paris and the most popular politican at the time. Bazala went to Vienna which already has a rich experience in vocational and general education to study various forms of public education, especially the two most important institutes – Volksheim and Volksbildungshaus and he wrote an interesting report about this experience.
Five years went by from the draft of regulations for public university lectures to first classes held in 1912 starting with “Origin and fall of the great Turkish force” by prof.dr. Ferdo Šišić. They were followed by classes of A. Bazala titled “Chosen life questions” (6 hours), prof. L. Polić “Of the state” (6 hours), J. Šilović “Causes of crime” (6 hours), St. Hondl “Electric current” (6 hours), D. Mašek “On veneral diseases” (4 hours), G. Janeček “Introduction to chemistry” (6 hours), A. Gavazzi “Balkan peninsula”. In 1922 Bazala started the Public Education Almanac as a magazine of the Public University.
Albert Bazala
Since its foundation and up to now, Open University has changed many names: Central People’s University, People’s University of Zagreb, Workers and People’s University of Moša Pijade, Open University and Public Open University Zagreb. Even with the change of names in mind, it has remained loyal to the founder’s idea of educating, enlightening and raising cultural standards of Croatian citizens which fulfilled its basic task. Today it is a public institution founded by the City of Zagreb.
From its beginnings to today, the Public Open University Zagreb is the largest adult education and culture institution in Croatia. Around 15.000 citizens per year participate in various programs, there are about 350 programs of formal and non-formal education with 50 employees and 300 external workers. There are three galleries in the University and it publishes two magazines. Besides creating and implementing a large number of educational and culture programs it was an institutional starting point for most of experts in andragogy who carried out the professional and scientific development of that branch in Croatia.
110 years of activity is an opportunity to re-evaluate the Croatian educational heritage, especially the parts concerning adult education. On the other hand, it is an occasion to discuss new possibilities and open questions about the development of adult education. The celebration will include several professional, scientific and cultural activities: Ceremonial conference awarding the Albert Bazala award and letters of gratitude to associates and organizations which helped in developing adult education and culture within the University, round table on adult education , creating a short film about the 110 years of the Public Open University Zagreb in Croatian and English, open days, a series of lectures inspired by the lectures from 1912.
This year’s celebration fits into the EAEA (The European Association for the Education of Adults) Campaign: The Year of Adult Education in Europe. The 110 years of the POUZ is great proof of the central thesis for this campaign that adult learning can improve citizens’ lives and prospects in Europe, both on a personal and on a professional level.
Tihomir Žiljak