Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences
Josip Burušić
Josip Burušić holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Zagreb. He is a senior scientific advisor and the Head of the Research Centre for Knowledge, Education and Human Capital Studies at the Ivo Pilar Institute. He is also the Director of the Research Unit for School Effectiveness Research at the Croatian Scientific Centre of Excellence for School Effectiveness and Management, and a full professor at the University of Zagreb (Department of Psychology and Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry).
He is a member-associate of the Scientific Committee for Education and Schools at the Croatian Academy of Science and Arts (HAZU) and a member of the Expert Group for the development of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia until 2030 in the field of education and human resources.
He was the principal researcher or participated as a researcher on almost 50 research projects, where he has realized several research visits to various academic and research institutions around the world (e.g., Germany, USA, Japan, UK, Malaysia, Austria, Finland, Estonia). He is a member of the international research organizations ESERA and AERA (where he is involved in various reviewer panels) and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Science Teacher Education. His recently completed and on-going grants primarily focus on the development, changes and determinants of student interests towards STEM school subjects, education and careers, identification and teaching of STEM talented and gifted students, teachers professional development and the optimization of teaching methods and intervention programs in the STEM field based on the integration of informal, non-formal and formal teaching and education.
Marija Šakić Velić
Marija Šakić Velić holds a PhD in Cognitive Sciences from the University of Zagreb. She is a senior research associate at the Ivo Pilar Institute and an associate professor at the Catholic University of Croatia. She is a member and an active researcher in the Croatian Scientific Centre of Excellence for School Effectiveness and Management.
She participated as a researcher or a member of a research team on more than 20 research projects. Her research experience and interests are in the field of determinants of student school achievement and interests in STEM, particularly cognitive abilities, family, teacher and school characteristics. In addition, she has research experience related to the development and implementation of qualifications framework.
Maja Ribar
M.A. in Psychology, is a research assistant at the Ivo Pilar Institute and a PhD student at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. Her experience and interests are in the field of effects of stabile student traits, such as personality, intelligence and motivation, on school achievement, and the influences of out-of-school and non-formal social media contexts on student motivation and interests. She has a very strong background in psychometrics and expertise in longitudinal, multilevel and complex research design studies.
Mirela Crljen
M.A. in Economics, is a professional advisor in science at the Ivo Pilar Institute. She has experience and expertise in programs and projects based on participation and collaboration of different stakeholders (research groups, schools, institutions, businesses and NGOs), project management, administration and promotion, organization of public events, promotion programs, and dissemination activities.
