342 UDK 378.091.8(497.1Sisak) 19 Tuji študenti na Hrvaškem v drugi polovici 20. stoletja - primer Metalurške fakultete v Sisku Abstract The migration and the arrival of foreign workers or students in Croatia, as well as in most of the EU, remains a controversial is- sue. According to the author's opinion, the consideration of the impact of the local en- vironment into which such individuals arrive is often still lacking, while on the other hand, the discussion often centres on the impact they have on the local community and space. Therefore, this paper, which adopts a histor- ical perspective and examines students who came to the Metallurgical Faculty in Sisak from Non-Aligned Movement countries in the second half of the 20th century aims to draw attention to this and related issues. After a brief introduction and historical context, the paper presents foreign students using archi- val material, with a special emphasis on the challenges and problems faced by the stu- dents of that time. To at least approximately gain insight into the public perception of foreign students, the paper analyses the pe- - foreign students. Migracije in prihod tujih delavcev ali študen- še vedno zelo aktualna tema. Po avtorjevem mnenju še vedno premalo upošteva vpliv lo- kalnega okolja, v katerega prihajajo, po drugi vpliv, ki ga imajo sami na lokalno skupnost in prostor. Zato je namen prispevka, da se s - šanja, ki obravnava študente, ki so prišli na kratkem uvodu in zgodovinskem kontekstu so tuji študenti v prispevku predstavljeni s - vpogled v javno mnenje o tujih študentih, obdobja, zlasti dnevnik Jedinstvo, in na krat- ko odstira spomine lokalne skupnosti na tuje študente. 343 Foreign Students in Croatia during the Second Half of the 20 th Century With Croatia's accession to the European Union in 2013, the Croatian educational space opened up to students from EU Member States, allowing them to study under the same conditions as those from Croatia. However, other 1 but they must enrol through separate quotas and cover their own tuition fees. Foreign students can come to Croatia through Erasmus mobility or the Study in Croatia programme. portals that tracks issues related to the lives of students in Croatia published an analysis based on data they obtained, revealing that there are very few foreign students in Croatia who did not come through Erasmus mobility, which is a year, compared to 11,080 domestic students. The greatest interest in studying in English was shown at the Faculty of Medicine, where 350 candidates from around the world applied for 95 available spots. However, there are universities that seven, and the University of Slavonski Brod, which has none. 2 These statistics are surprising, since the number of students from Croatia is decreasing every year due to the declining number of high school graduates, and internationalisation is often mentioned as a priority for Croatian universities. This trend is not only journal published an article titled "How to Attract and Retain Foreign Students", stating that the UK aims to have 600,000 foreign students by 2030, considering it 3 As for the countries of origin, excluding EU Member States, most foreign students in Croatia come from neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Israel. 4 In conclusion, it is worth noting that 1 2 3 accessed 4 - 344 university degrees were employed in Croatia. 5 Certain events, such as Welcome Week and Erasmus Days, are organised for foreign students, but a systematic approach to this issue is still lacking. Therefore, this paper aims to encourage comprehensive consideration of became home to a relatively large number of foreign students. It questions the impact of the environment on incoming students then, and opens the discussion on the progress made on this issue over the past 40 years. It is worth noting that some studies on foreign students have already been conducted, primarily based on experiences in Western countries such as the USA, UK, and Canada, 6 while studies of this kind in other countries, including those that were once part of the Eastern Bloc, are still lacking. This should not be surprising, given that foreign students appeared much earlier in the West, according to some authors even in the 18 th century, although it should be kept in mind that students migrated to some of the oldest universities in Europe as early as the Middle Ages. 7 "Foreigners", "Blacks", "Arabs" – these are all terms you might hear in conversation with residents of Sisak when discussing students who, until Aligned Movement countries. Sisak is a city in central Croatia, approximately 60 counting criteria, Sisak is a mostly cloudy city, with frequent fog during autumn and winter , averaging about 82 foggy days per year . 8 Therefore, it can be concluded that in their homelands. After World War II, the rapidly growing economy of Sisak faced a chronic shortage of educated professionals, particularly in metallurgy, where there was the city's largest industrial giants, initiated the establishment of an institution 5 Challenges, and Prospects, Journal of International Students, vol. 5, 2015, n. 3, p 271. Historical Atlas of Cities – Sisak - 2nd Edition Sciences Ivo Pilar and State Archives in Sisak, 2012, p 12. 345 Foreign Students in Croatia during the Second Half of the 20 th Century in Sisak to educate such professionals in 1958. 9 In 1960, a law was passed stating Metallurgy and the Technological Department for Oil Production. 10 Sisak would receive these departments through the restructuring of the Technological Faculty three years later. 11 12 with 89 students enrolled, 13 14 The departments often faced funding problems, despite partial funding being secured at the level of the republic, 15 they always relied on support from "economic 16 It is no surprise that industry played a crucial role in funding educational programmes, as it was workforce in that period employed in the "industry and mining" sector, making it the most powerful sector capable of supporting educational institutions. 17 With the reorganisation of the Faculty of Technology in 1974, the existing departments were abolished and the Basic Organisation of Associated Labour (OOUR) Metallurgical Engineering was established as one of the OOURs of the Faculty of Technology. 18 Four years later, OOUR together with the Institute of Metallurgy separated from the Faculty of Technology and formed a Work 19 In 1979, the Metallurgical Faculty was founded, which would become an independent member 20 and educational institution on June 1, 1991. 21 sak, , no. 3, 1993, p 133. 10 University of Zagreb – Faculty of Metallurgy: 40 Years (1960-2000) Faculty of Metallurgy, 2000, p 13. 11 Fifty Years of Metallurgy Studies 12 University of Zagreb – Faculty of Metallurgy: 40 Years (1960-2000) Faculty of Metallurgy, 2000, p 15. 13 Fifty Years of Metallurgy Studies 14 University of Zagreb – Faculty of Metallurgy: 40 Years (1960-2000) Faculty of Metallurgy, 2000, p 24. 15 Croatian Spring in Sisak 16 Jedinstvo, March 16, 1967, issue no. 711, p 5. 17 Croatian Spring in Sisak 16. 18 Fifty Years of Metallurgy Studies 19 Ibid., p 21. 20 Ibid., p 22. 21 University of Zagreb – Faculty of Metallurgy: 40 Years (1960-2000), p 18. 346 attendees at the Department and later at the Faculty of Metallurgy. Despite this percentage and the fact that their presence was noticed by the citizens of Sisak, their existence in the city and at the Faculty remained almost unnoticed. Among 22 It is surprising, therefore, that to this day there is not a single relevant study that at least partially addresses this topic, and so research must rely almost entirely on archival sources. 23 With regard to the countries which these students came from, and as noted to the total number from other countries combined, with Jordan in second place with 12. In addition to these three countries, there was one student each from Sudan, Lebanon, and India. Particularly interesting are the details concerning the student from India, where someone accidentally or intentionally enrolled him This example illustrates one of the issues that can arise when studying this group of foreign students. Speaking of citizenship and nationality, these two are usually the same, but One of the data points that can be systematically tracked is the age of the students. By analysing their dates of birth, it can be observed that foreign 22 sak, , no. 3, 1993, p 136. 23 All the information provided in this chapter is derived from archival documents housed at the covering entries from number 3 to number 7. Due to restrictions on the use of these materials and in accordance with personal data protection regulations, as stated and agreed upon by the these reasons, all results are presented in a summarised and descriptive manner, rather than individually. 347 Foreign Students in Croatia during the Second Half of the 20 th Century students arrived as already "established" individuals, often in their late 20s or average, since he was born in 1939. Besides age, information about the parents of foreign students is well documented. It can be concluded that in all these their mothers were invariably homemakers. Fathers' incomes varied, but mostly they were retired men who had held prominent positions during their working lives. For example, one student's father was noted as a "retired colonel", while another's was a "retired director", and there is one father who was still working as a physician. The funding of these students varied considerably, but two main sources aid from their native governments. Financial assistance from the family primarily portion comes from other close family members, like brothers. An interesting case involves a student submitting a document in Arabic, later translated, stating that a family member will cover the cost of their education. Scholarships and state aid are of diverse types. For instance, there is a record of a scholarship from the Ministry of Education of Pakistan disbursed through the Commission for Cultural the documentation whether the student received a scholarship from them. In the Iraqi Embassy claiming that they will provide a scholarship. Thanks to these details it is possible to ascertain the cost of education. For example, one student noting that one semester costs 45,000 "new dinars". Only one student's records indicate funding through a loan, but further details are not known. As previously mentioned, all the students who came to Sisak were at an age where it was expected they had already reached a certain level of education. The majority arrived having completed secondary education, which they subsequently secondary school diplomas, often equating them with a high school programme. A smaller number of students had completed higher education programmes, of Pakistan authenticated the statements and diplomas of a student who had previously completed undergraduate studies there. Before starting their studies, all the students had to pass an exam in the 348 admission to the Faculty of Metallurgy, as it is found in almost every student's indicate that their command of the Latin script was often weak, their handwriting the students actually were in terms of communication and interaction with the local population. Challenges and problems of foreign Students Students faced various challenges, including frequently changing of Metallurgy transferred from other faculties, such as the Technical Faculty in these were essentially part of the same institution. Upon arriving in Sisak, students almost all lived in private accommodation. It is not surprising that there was no organised accommodation then, as this is still with Faculty members reveal that students lived in rented rooms, often within the apartments and houses of some of the locals in Sisak, for whom this arrangement provided a reliable and steady income. When discussing students' stay in Sisak, it is important to note that many of them wanted to extend this after completing their studies. They often attempted to do so by applying for an additional year of study without any student rights, solely to prolong their time in Sisak. The reasons for this vary, but in several cases the issue of military service arises, and one student explicitly requested approval for an additional year to avoid going to the "front". submitted, it is clear that their major concerns were respiratory illnesses. They In one case, a student from Sudan was even prescribed a "change of climate" as therapy by a doctor. exam registration forms, which are largely preserved in the archives, and second, through grade transcripts that culminate in an average grade. It can therefore be determined that the foreign students had an average grade in the "middle range", which is around 3 out of 5, with some slightly higher and some slightly lower. However, it is equally clear that they often encountered obstacles in their 349 Foreign Students in Croatia during the Second Half of the 20 th Century Academic success and future career for foreign students Speaking of student grades, an interesting letter from the Iraqi Embassy The majority of students attained the status of engineers, i.e., they graduated. A smaller number obtained a master's degree, and only a few went on to earn a doctoral degree. On the other hand, a large number of students dropped out or transferred to other studies, resulting in their records remaining somewhat sparse. It is worth noting that today, the City Library of Sisak preserves graduate, master's, and doctoral theses of students transferred from the Technical Library professional activities of the Faculty. Only a small number of students worked during their studies, mainly within Faculty of Metallurgy, and its predecessors, did not only collaborate extensively also had very fruitful collaborations with European institutions. For instance, noteworthy is the cooperation with the Mining Academy in Freiberg, Germany, where 12 engineers received training, and two collaborations resulted in doctoral dissertations. 24 The daily newspaper Jedinstvo chronicle of events in Sisak over the years, simply does not recognise foreign students in Sisak as a subject of interest. There are almost no articles or photographs about them, not even occasional mentions. Articles about Africa and distant countries were limited to texts such as "African Magic", which announced the performance of around 30 dancers from Senegal. The only mention of foreign students in the press was during the Forum on a student at the Faculty of Metallurgy. Here Ahmed spoke about the history and interesting aspects of Iraq, accompanied by an exhibition of 200 photographs. 24 University of Zagreb – Faculty of Metallurgy: 40 Years (1960- 2000) 350 The text also mentions that there were some 700 Iraqi students studying in 25 With regard to articles on students and the University in general, it seems that interest in publishing such texts practically decreased from year to year . While by open criticism. However, over time this interest gradually waned, and articles problems and the increasingly common issue of unemployment. 25 "Forum on Iraq", Jedinstvo, 21.5.1987, p 2. 351 Foreign Students in Croatia during the Second Half of the 20 th Century One of the few articles that touches on the activities of the Faculty primarily remains at the Faculty of Metallurgy to this day. 26 The steelworks in Sisak, like many other large organisations, had its own newspaper, . However, this did not dedicate space to foreign 26 Jedinstvo, 10.3.1988., p 8. Forum on Iraq, Jedinstvo, 21.5.1987, p 2. 352 production processes". The newspaper paid much more attention to cultural and conditions and progress. For comparison, in Slovenia there was a newspaper called Glas Afrike (Voice of Africa), published by the Union of African Students. Although the newspaper was essentially just a collection of various texts, resembling a bulletin rather than a professional newspaper, it indeed served as the voice of foreign students. Moreover, all the texts were in Slovenian, indicating they were intended for Slovenian readership. This is further supported by sentences in the texts 353 Foreign Students in Croatia during the Second Half of the 20 th Century 27 aimed at familiarising Slovenians with Africa. However, the newspaper also the regime in Rhodesia, for example, as racist and vengeful. Towards the end of the newspaper, there were even advertisements featuring logos of prominent Slovenian companies like Bank of Ljubljana, underscoring the integration of the newspaper and the Union of African Students into everyday life. of students at the Faculty of Metallurgy in Sisak, occasionally making rare appearances in the public life of the city. But how are they remembered by the Talking to older residents who could at least partially recall them gives the impression that they did not leave a deep mark in collective memory. The most common responses centred around them being noticed due to their race when a very friendly relationship with the local handball club, often accompanying Sisak's handball players to tournaments. He even taught them the basics of Another story involving foreign students revolves around a romantic relationship one had with a girl from Sisak. Out of this a girl was born, who, due which actually forced her mother to leave Sisak and move away. Her subsequent fate is unknown. Unfortunately, the memory of foreign students in Sisak has almost completely faded, and there are no visible traces of their presence. As a result, conducting any systematic research on the culture of memory related to them has become impossible. The research revealed that the foreign students in question arrived in a place to address these problems. Language barriers and other misunderstandings 27 Glas Afrike, March 1979, p 3. 354 frequently occurred, further complicating their studies and leading to varied levels of academic success. In the end, the students were not integrated into the public life of Sisak, and apart from a few exceptions there was almost no media coverage about them. foreign students in Sisak, and indeed in Croatia as a whole, but it is by no means from all over the world went there, enriching their knowledge and contributing to both the Faculty and the city itself, at least in terms of enabling people to encounter every day. On the other hand, it is clear that these students faced a range of challenges and issues, many of which often went unrecognised and thus unaddressed. This study should serve as a catalyst for further exploration of this topic, expanding our understanding of history, because at present the students from microhistory with regard to Sisak. Lastly, it should be noted that the issue of foreign students and migrants in general is still neglected, and in the future it is important not only to draw attention to how they impact the community but also to open the discussion on how the community and environment impact them. Sources Archive of the Student Service of the Faculty of Metallurgy in Sisak Registry Book of the Faculty of Metallurgy in Sisak, no. 3 Registry Book of the Faculty of Metallurgy in Sisak, no. 4 Registry Book of the Faculty of Metallurgy in Sisak, no. 5 Registry Book of the Faculty of Metallurgy in Sisak, no. 6 Registry Book of the Faculty of Metallurgy in Sisak, no. 7 Newspapers Jedinstvo, March 16, 1967, issue no. 711. "Forum on Iraq", Jedinstvo, May 21, 1987. "First promotion of Masters of Technical Sciences", Jedinstvo, March 10, 1988. Glas Afrike, March 1979. Literature History, Challenges, and Prospects, Journal of International Students, vol. 5, no. 3, 2015. 355 Foreign Students in Croatia during the Second Half of the 20 th Century , Fifty Years of Metallurgy Studies 2010. Croatian Spring in Sisak Research in Sisak, no. 3, 1993. University of Zagreb – Faculty of Metallurgy: 40 Years (1960-2000) Historical Atlas of Cities – Sisak - 2nd Edition Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar and State Archives in Sisak, 2012. Internet Sources 11.9.2024 accessed accessed