Programme title and location
The title of the programme is "Interdisciplinary training programme in the field of protection of procedural rights of the child and communication with the child".
Three identical programmes are to be carried out at the same time in three cities: Osijek, Split and Zagreb.
Programme holder and operator
The programme holder and operator is the Faculty of Law of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek.
Access, participation and completion requirements
Eligible candidates are those who have completed an undergraduate study programme in law, psychology, social work, medicine, and those who have completed the programmes within the system of the Police Academy as well as candidates who have completed other undergraduate study programmes and communicate with children in the course of their work.
In their applications, candidates are required to describe their motivation for this type of education.
The completion requirement for the training is fulfilment of obligations provided for each of the obligatory and elective courses.
Programme duration and acquisition of certificates of professional training completion
The interdisciplinary training programme in the field of protection of procedural rights of the child and communication with the child comprising theoretical lectures, exercises and a written evaluation of acquired knowledge is organised in the course of six months after which the candidate acquires a certificate of professional competence in the field of protection of procedural rights of the child and communication with the child.
The certificate of professional competence in the field of protection of procedural rights of the child and communication with the child is issued by the Faculty of Law in compliance with the Statute and Ordinance on study programmes and studying at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (2013 consolidated version).
Programme form and description
The programme is delivered in 100 hours i.e. 70 hours of theory lectures and 30 hours of exercises in practical skills of communication with the child (see obligatory and elective courses).
The theoretical part of the training is related to the fields of law, psychology and medicine whereas the exercises relate to demonstrating the ways of communication with the child.
The programme will be delivered according to the schedule of lectures and exercises taking into account the number of participants; it will be delivered according to the established schedule on Fridays and Saturdays for a period of six months.
Interdisciplinary education in this programme encompasses the following areas:
- Psychology (developmental psychology, how to communicate with the child and mentally traumatised child and demonstration with the protected image of a child);
- Pedagogy (social pedagogy, pedagogical communication or communication skills, recognizing deception...);
- Psychiatry (recognition of a mentally traumatized and sick child); and
- Law (family, substantive and procedural law as well as criminal and misdemeanour substantive and procedural law).
Upon completing the training programme the participants will be able to distinguish between substantive and procedural rights of the child, various types of proceedings (and other) involving the child in diverse procedural roles.
Participants will be trained in professional and interdisciplinary terms to communicate with children in a manner appropriate to their age and taking into account the context of the procedure and roles involving the child.
Participants will be able to converse with children in order to learn their opinions and wishes, to inform them of the way the procedures affecting their rights are carried out as well as the consequences resulting from judicial decisions; they will be able to recognise the limitations in communication with the child and the need to protect the child's welfare by other legal mechanisms.
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