by Angela Madjer, a Chicago Gal & an RIT Croatia alumna
When it comes to finding and deciding on a master’s program you wish to commit to, it can be quite daunting given the numerous options that exist around the world. Monika Karlović wanted to find a program allowing her to use the knowledge she gained during her undergraduate degree while expanding her knowledge in business and strategy development. Realizing that there wasn’t a program that fit her criteria in Canada, where she was born and raised, she started broadening her search and found exactly what she was looking for in — Zagreb, Croatia! Monika packed her things and made the move from her Oakville, Canada to Zagreb, where she now lives and is pursuing her Master of Science degree at RIT Croatia!
What was your deciding factor for choosing to move to
Zagreb to pursue your master’s degree?
I have always loved Zagreb and was curious for a long time about what it would be like to live in this city. When I was researching for Masters programs, I found RIT’s Master of Science program in Service Leadership and Innovation, which is an American graduate program delivered at their Zagreb campus, that gave me the expansion I was looking for. I am interested in service industries and strategy design for organizations, specifically medical organizations, and this program is flexible enough to allow me to explore this industry in my capstone or thesis. The large deciding factor for me was the fact that I can stay in Croatia with this degree as well as go back to Canada and still have it recognized. It made my decision to move to Zagreb a much easier one because I knew even if I did not want to stay I could easily go back to Canada.
What has your experience living in Croatia been like?
Living in Zagreb has made me love coffee time, more so than when I would have my daily dose of Tim Horton’s. You will never run out of places to drink coffee for hours with friends and it is hard to get tired of the scenery and architecture in Zagreb. There are tons of places to go for hikes when the weather gets warmer and so many markets and festivals to explore on weekends. Traveling inside Croatia is 100% worth it and easy to do, so it has become something I love to do when I have a day or two off.
My appreciation for Croatian culture and history has grown immensely since my move to Zagreb. I have learned so much about the country and customs from speaking with locals, who are extremely friendly and exploring the history of the city. Speaking Croatian is increasingly becoming easier every day and it’s something my mom and dad are very happy about.
Naturally, the thing
I miss the most is family and friends. I am fortunate enough to have some
friends and family who live in Zagreb and Samobor, but not seeing immediate
family takes some getting used to, but routines develop and FaceTime makes
these adjustments much easier!
What is studying in Croatia like?
I enrolled at RIT
pursuing my service leadership and innovation
degree which is about understanding and anticipating organizational strategy and
changes over time. It equips students with a way of thinking that allows them
to pre-plan the route of their organization or job based on trends, future
customers and other factors that competitors may overlook. It is versatile in
that it can be applied to all service industries and organizations as well as
in all departments of the organization. but I have definitely changed and
altered my future goals based on this program. I began planning out the type of
business plan I want to implement as an entrepreneur in the future and am
utilizing the ideas and theories from the program to help me foster this goal.
Opening my own business is not something I would have pictured for myself last
year, but after being in this program, even for a short while, I have developed
my goals and outlook on my future.
Any advice for people considering studying/living in Zagreb?
If given the opportunity to move to
Zagreb, even for a short amount of time, I would recommend trying it. I think
this is a positive experience that you will carry with you for the rest of your
life. You will learn so much about your heritage and about yourself in the time
you spend in a new city. It is a different kind of independence than moving to
another city close to home and you may even find yourself wanting to stay for
longer!
About
RIT’s Master of Science Service Leadership and Innovation Program
RIT Croatia offers you the opportunity to earn a Master of Science degree in Service Leadership and Innovation in Zagreb, from a leading U.S. university, Rochester Institute of Technology. The curriculum and the study plan are aligned with the standards of
education at RIT. Classes are in English and combine both online and
in-classroom sessions. The program is delivered by professors from RIT's Saunders
College of Business in Rochester, New York, USA. The program is designed for a
broad array of professionals who aim to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in leadershi