What is Driestar doing in Croatia? Colleagues Bram Kunz, Willemieke Reinoudt, and Peter van Olst recently traveled to the Eastern European country to visit a small theological seminary in the town of Osijek, which is the hometown of the internationally renowned theologian Miroslav Volf. This seminary had organized a conference in collaboration with other seminaries and theological faculties from Estonia, Slovakia, and Romania. There were also representatives from the Christian university LCC in Lithuania, a partner with which Driestar has been working for several years and to which a workweek is held annually.
Although the seminary in Osijek is a partner in the International Network for Christian Higher Education (INCHE), we had not been very familiar with it. This changed when, last autumn, we received an inquiry at our International Office about whether we at Driestar have expertise in the holistic formation of students and a holistic curriculum with an emphasis on mentoring. In Croatia, Professor Dr. Anne-Marie Kool, who had been stationed in Eastern Europe and recently retired but was previously associated with the GZB, had tipped off Driestar. Since Peter van Olst had recently completed his PhD on a similar topic, we took up the request. Ultimately, he and lecturer Bram Kunz taught for a week to about twenty Eastern European teachers and study leaders.
The sessions focused on how to work with Christian students on personal development, what it means to engage in holistic education in a Christian context, and what role theological action research might play in curriculum renewal. Practical examples were introduced, such as how students in the teacher training program work with a theologian or pedagogue as a companion and how we help them think about virtuous actions. What stood out was that the small scale and the distinctive nature of theological education were already very helpful for a holistic approach to students. In Osijek, we encountered a beautiful and flourishing community life. Every student works for two hours a day (!) on campus, for example in the kitchen, housekeeping, or guiding guests, and there is a daily chapel session in the morning that focuses on slowing down and quieting the spirit.
Through this experience, we not only shared our knowledge but also returned with fresh ideas and inspiration. In a little over a week, there will be a digital session as part of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), supported by the Erasmus program. At the start of the conference in Osijek, Lydia Bor, Pieter Oudenaarden, and Jannette Meiling were also present as INCHE-Europe board members.
This enriching experience was made possible through the support of Erasmus+, which enables international collaboration and professional development. Through this program, we were able to engage in meaningful exchanges, broaden our perspectives, and strengthen our commitment to high-quality, values-driven education. We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to building on these international connections in the future!