Department of Geography

Uskršnji otok jedan je od najizoliranijih komadića kopna na Zemlji. Njegovi prvi stanovnici su u nekoliko stoljeća razvili dobro organizirano društvo. Razvoj tog društva temeljio se na pretjeranom iscrpljivanju resursa, a ponajviše na intenzivnoj deforestaciji. Nakon dosega vrhunca, društvo se tek nekoliko desetljeća prije otkrića otoka od strane Europljana urušilo zbog neimaštine izazvane neodrživim razvojem. Ono što čini slučaj Uskršnjeg otoka zanimljivim jest to što se vrlo lako može tumačiti kao model Zemlje u malom, odnosno model današnjih globalnih okolišnih procesa i problema. Kako bi izbjegli scenarij Uskršnjeg otoka na globalnoj razini, potrebno je izvući pouke iz ovog primjera i spriječiti daljnju ekološku devastaciju planeta.
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Easter Island is one of the most isolated islands on Earth. It's first inhabitants developed a well organized society in a few centuries. Development of that society was based on the overconsumption of resources, especially on intense deforestation. After their peak, the society collapsed because of the scarcity of resources caused by the unsustainable development, just a few decades before the first Europeans discovered the island. What makes the case of Easter island so interesting is the fact that it can be interpreted as a model of Earth on a smaller scale, or a model of today's global environmental processes and problems. In order to avoid the scenario of Easter Island on a global scale, it is necessary to learn lessons from this example and to stop further ecological devastation of our planet.

Film je naizgled geografiji nezanimljiv predmet istraživanja. No, istražimo li dublje način na koji film utječe na prostor, dolazimo do zaključka kako je film jedan od snažnih pokretača prostornih i socijalnih procesa. Film Hrabro srce Mela Gibsona tipičan je primjer u kojoj mjeri film može utjecati na prostor i oblikovanje identiteta. Ovaj rad bavit će se odnosom filma i geografije na primjeru ranije navedenog filma, te će proučavati i analizirati na koji način je film utjecao na identitet, politiku i turizam Škotske. // It seems that film is uninteresting topic for geography to research. But, if we investigate deeper in the ways of how film is influencing the space, we come to the conclusion that film is a powerful initiator of spatial and social processes. The movie Braveheart by Mel Gibson is a typical example of how film can influence space and shape the identity of a nation. This paper will study the relationship between film and geography on the example of the earlier mentioned movie, and it will study and analyze how did the movie influence the identity, politics and tourism of Scotland.

This thesis presents a comparison of components of the geography curriculum
and the general features of the educational systems in Croatia and Portugal. The main point
of the thesis is a comparative analysis of the geography curriculum in primary and
grammar schools, as well as educational outcomes and evaluation system for geography in
the two countries. In Portugal, the absence of regional geography in the program and also
the predominance of social rather than physical geographical contents were noticed, while
outcomes are focused on discussion rather than factography. Direct observation of
geography classes in Porto was done in order to see the frequency of the use of the
teaching methods, aids and equipment. Also, a short survey was conducted among the 9th
graders in order to get an overview of their opinions on geography as a subject and science.
Furthermore, by the method of an in-depth interview with Felisbela Martins, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor, some poorly accessible information about geography in the Portuguese
education system were obtained. The Portuguese curriculum is more advanced in the sense
of wider selection of optional subjects and is also requiring higher levels of knowledge
from students. However, the advantages of Croatia are, for example, the national
competition in geography and better prospects of employment, improvement and
advancement opportunities for teachers.


U radu je izvršena usporedba sastavnica kurikuluma geografije te općih značajki
obrazovnog sustava Hrvatske i Portugala. Temelj rada je komparativna analiza nastavnog
plana i programa geografije u osnovnim školama i gimnazijama, obrazovnih ishoda
geografije te vrednovanja u dvjema državama. U Portugalu je utvrđeno nepostojanje
regionalne geografije u nastavnim sadržajima te veća sklonost društvenim nego
fizičkogeografskim sadržajima, dok su ishodi usmjereniji na raspravu nego na faktografiju.
Neposrednim promatranjem nastavnih sati u Portu utvrđena je učestalost korištenja oblika
rada, nastavnih sredstava i pomagala. Metodom anketiranja učenika devetih razreda
dobiven je uvid u njihove stavove prema geografiji kao znanosti i predmetu, a metodom
dubinskog intervjua s doc. dr. sc. Felisbelom Martins dobivene su teže dostupne
informacije o geografiji unutar portugalskog obrazovnog sustava. Portugalski je kurikulum
napredniji u smislu veće izbornosti predmeta te zahtijevanja viših razina znanja od
učenika, no prednost Hrvatske su natjecanja iz geografije te bolja perspektiva zaposlenja,
usavršavanja i mogućnosti napredovanja nastavnika.

This thesis compares the current characteristics of Croatian and Czech
population. It also gives an overview of the demographic development of the two countries
in the last four intercensal periods. The communist ideology has reached its peak during
the 1970s in the former socialist European countries, including the former Yugoslavia and
Czechoslovakia. The inadequate development of agriculture, rural exodus and, on the other
hand, the rapid development of industry and mining, followed by strong urbanization and
frequent environmental problems were important issues in both countries until the early
1990s. The new decade brought forward the disintegration of socialism which, despite its
many benefits, posed a major challenge to the newly independent Croatia and the Czech
Republic, which now had to face the new conditions of economic restructuring and
privatization. All of these socio-economic developments were made obvious in the
demographic characteristics of both countries in the second phase of demographic
transition in the 1970s, and in considerable natural increase of population: starting from
somewhat weaker growth rate of the population during the eighties and followed by a
period of severe crisis due to the radical changes in politics and economy of the two
countries. It is in the next decade, more precisely, in the last 15 years, that the demographic
and economic fate of Croatia and Czech Republic have begun to differ. While the Czech
Republic has to this date enabled demographic and economic growth and has become the
most developed among the countries belonging to the former eastern "half" of Europe,
Croatia is facing population decline caused by both natural change and migration,
accompanied by poor economic progress.


U radu je izvršena usporedba suvremenih obilježja stanovništva Hrvatske i Češke
te pregled demografskog razvoja dviju država u posljednja četiri međupopisna razdoblja.
Sedamdesetih godina prošlog stoljeća u bivšim je socijalističkim europskim državama
komunistička ideologija bila na svom vrhuncu, što nije zaobišlo ni tadašnje Jugoslaviju i
Čehoslovačku. Zaostajanje poljoprivrede, ruralni egzodus te s druge strane nagli razvoj
sekundarnih djelatnosti, koji je pratila snažna urbanizacija te vrlo često i ekološki problemi
bili su stvarnost u objema državama sve do početka 1990-ih godina. Novo je desetljeće
donijelo raspad socijalizma što je, unatoč brojnim prednostima, pred osamostaljene
Hrvatsku i Češku postavilo veliki izazov suočavanja s novonastalim uvjetima ekonomskog
prestrukturiranja i privatizacije. Sva se ta društveno-gospodarska zbivanja mogu jasno
iščitati iz demografskih obilježja obiju zemalja: od druge faze demografske tranzicije u
1970-ima i zamjetnog prirodnog prirasta, preko nešto slabije stope rasta stanovništva
osamdesetih godina nakon koje je uslijedilo razdoblje duboke krize zbog korjenitih
promjena u političkim i gospodarskim sustavima dviju država. Upravo se u idućem
desetljeću, odnosno u posljednjih 15-ak godina demografske i gospodarske sudbine
Hrvatske i Češke počinju razilaziti. Dok je Češka do danas osigurala demografski i
gospodarski porast i postala najrazvijenija među državama nekadašnje istočne „polovice“
Europe, Hrvatska se suočava s depopulacijom uzrokovanom kako prirodnim, tako i
mehaničkim kretanjem te vrlo slabim gospodarskim napretkom.

Predmet istraživanja rada je utjecaj jedinica lokalne i regionalne samouprave Varaždinske županije na formiranje populacijske politike. Analizom statističkih podataka prikazana su osnovna demografska obilježja županije. Opisana je problematika demografske politike u Hrvatskoj od osamostaljenja do danas i identificirane su ovlasti koje imaju općine, upravni gradovi i županije za provedbu mjera populacijske politike. Intenzitet i efikasnost postojećih demografskih mjera lokalne i regionalne samouprave Varaždinske županije analizirane su uz pomoć proračunskih dokumenata i službenih odgovora dobivenih putem zahtjeva za pristupom informacijama. Poseban osvrt napravljen je na strategije razvoja lokalne samouprave i njihova odnosa prema demografiji u budućnosti. Zaključno su predložene mjere demografskog oporavka Varaždinske županije koje mogu provesti upravni gradovi i općine. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju kako su mjere koje provodi lokalna uprava nesustavne, neučinkovite (izostaje porast nataliteta), bez definiranih ciljeva i vremenskih rokova te da populacijsku politiku mora provoditi država.

The thesis topic and subject of research is influence of the local and regional self-government units in Varaždin County on the development of population policy. The analysis of statistical data shows the basic demographic characteristics of the County. Demographic policy issues in Croatia are described since independence, and the authority of municipalities, towns and counties for implementation of population policy measures has been identified. The intensity and efficiency of existing demographic measures of local and regional self-government units of Varaždin County were analyzed using budget documents and official responses received through requests for access to information. A special review was made on local self-government development strategies and their attitude towards demography in the future. In conclusion are proposed measures of demographic recovery of Varaždin County, which can be implemented by towns and municipalities. The research results show that the measures implemented by the local self-government units are unsystematic, ineffective (absence of birth rate growth), without defined goals and timelines and that the population policy must be implemented by the state.

The paper discusses spatial and conceptual perceptions of the Balkans among undergradute geography students studying at the geography departments of the Universities of Zagreb and Maribor, who were surveyed in March of 2017. „The Balkans“ is a concept which we come across everyday, however, it does not exist as a specific geographic category, rather as a vernacular region – that is as a mental construct distinguished on the basis of one's own values, criteria, and feelings towards the Balkans themselves. The research showed that Zagreb students associated the Balkans with negative concepts, though they seemed to dissociate themselves from the Balkan stigma and mostly do not consider the idea of „Balkan“ to be a part of their own (spatial) identity. Zagreb students agreed upon eastern and southern borders, however ideas on the western and northern borders differed in relation to whether the interviewee considered Balkan a part of their identity. Those that did, widened the Balkan area to include Croatia, while the ones that did not narrowed it down to Bosnia and Herzegovina's northern and western border. Maribor students associated the Balkans with both positive and neutral concepts. They are unburdened by negative concepts of the Balkans, since they have never even tried to dissociate themselves from Balkan characteristics – not considering them to be a part of Slovenian collective identity; while spatially perceiving the Balkans in such a way that they almost always include Croatia. The western border was constant, and northern moving towards Slovenia among students that think of the Balkans as their own.

This study provides an overview of the influence of transportation connectivity as the sole predictor of academic success, using the example of pupils of the Donji Miholjac Secondary School who travel longer distances to school. The study was conducted in April 2016 using the methods of surveying, travel diaries, and pupil interviews. The survey results were compared with information on pupils' academic success for the academic year of 2015/16. The study showed that there was a difference between the success of resident pupils and travelling pupils, in which the effects of other factors were not marginalised. The main issue pertaining to transport and academic success was a lack of alignment between bus schedules and the school's timetable, meaning that travelling pupils are required to spend long amounts of time in transport, which resident pupils are not subjected to, and poorly-planned public transportation routes, in terms of the needs of the travelling pupil, which extended travel time. Though exact data showed differences in academic success, the travelling pupils did not perceive that their daily travels had a significant impact on their academic success.