TEACHING & EDUCATION

Educational leadership in aquatic ecology and environmental monitoring

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

My teaching philosophy is rooted in a simple, yet profound belief often attributed to Albert Einstein - if you can't explain a concept to a six-year-old, then you don't truly understand it yourself. That is precisely why I continue to learn every day, perhaps even more than my students. In order to be a reliable guide through complex concepts, I must always stay one step ahead. This constant pursuit of clarity and depth is both challenging and deeply inspiring. My students deserve nothing less.

PRIMARY TEACHING POSITION

Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad

Position

Full Professor

Department

Department of Biology and Ecology

Teaching Focus

Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Monitoring, Bioassessment and Climatology

Teaching Load

Undergraduate, Graduate, Master and PhD Courses

ACADEMIC COURSES

Undergraduate

  • • Ecology principle
  • • Plant Ecology
  • • Animal ecology
  • • Climatology
  • • Meteorology
  • • Sustainable development
  • • Touristic geography

Master's

  • • Freshwater Ecology
  • • Phytocoenology
  • • Classification systems in Ecology
  • • GIS and Remote sensing in Ecology

PhD

  • • Syntaxonomy
  • • Quantitative Ecology
  • • Ecology of invasive species

Courses in English for Foreign Students

International Exchange Programs:

  • • Sustainable development and corporative responsibilities UDG VATEL (2023-present)
  • • Plant ecology (2014/2015): for students from the University of Lorraine (Université de Lorraine), France, Campus Europe
  • • Phytocoenology (2014/2015): for students from the University of Lorraine (Université de Lorraine), France, Campus Europe
  • • University of Ferrara (2011/2012): Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, mentoring SERCON status of the River Po (Italy), co-mentor Prof Ana Fanno, The University of Ferrara, Master Studies

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

ECOBIAS Project Coordinator

Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership (2020-2023)

Led the development of master curricula in ecological monitoring and aquatic bioassessment for Western Balkans Higher Education Institutions, coordinating 11 universities across 8 countries.

Partner Universities

Programme Countries:

  • • University of Novi Sad (Serbia)
  • • University of Niš (Serbia)
  • • University of Zagreb (Croatia)
  • • University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany)

Partner Countries:

  • • University of Donja Gorica (Montenegro)
  • • University of Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
  • • University of Tuzla (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
  • • University of Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
  • • International University of Travnik (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
  • • University of Banja Luka (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
  • • University of East Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Master's Programs Developed

Led development of 4 new Master's programs in Ecological Monitoring and Aquatic Bioassessment across partner universities, totaling 26 specialized courses.

Program Features

  • • Bologna Process aligned
  • • EU Water Framework Directive compliant
  • • Hands-on laboratory training
  • • Field work components

Course Areas

  • • Freshwater ecology methods
  • • GIS and remote sensing
  • • Biomonitoring protocols
  • • Environmental legislation

Lifelong Learning Programs

Developed 3 professional development programs for environmental monitoring sector professionals, featuring 14 specialized courses.

Target Audience

  • • Environmental consultants
  • • Government agency staff
  • • Water management professionals
  • • Environmental NGO workers

TEACHING IMPACT

28+
Teaching Staff Trained
Through ECOBIAS project
68+
Students Graduated
From ECOBIAS programs
11
Partner Universities
Across 8 countries

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Specialized Training Programs

Faculty Development

  • • EMAB methodology workshops
  • • Field technique training
  • • Laboratory equipment training
  • • Curriculum design workshops

International Collaboration

  • • Cross-border academic partnerships
  • • Student exchange programs
  • • Joint research supervision
  • • Regional network development