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AcademicsNEGOTIATION ANDCONFLICT: Learning tomanage changeBy Rebecca CharrySenior students on their way toexciting careers in the business worldneed to be armed with more than justknowledge and skills – they need to beprepared to handle conflict. In business,and in life, conflict is inevitable. The worldof business is often a world of disputes,negotiations and even court cases. Butnot everyone can handle them in aproductive way. Those who can, will winin the long run.Students explored the world ofconflict resolution, mediation, andnegotiation in winter quarter with Prof.Mladen Vukmir, a lawyer specializing incopyright and intellectual property law.“I try to teach students to takedisputes as opportunities to create andmanage change,” he said. “An importantstep is to realize that everything we see asa “fact” is really just our perception. Likethe well known animation of the spinningdancer so often seen online. Whichdirection is she turning? It depends onyour perception. Sometimes you can seeit one way, sometimes the other,sometimes even both at once. If youunderstand that, you can managedisputes. The key is not to be attached towhat we personally like or dislike.”With a broad range of examples fromdaily life, and professional fields such aspsychology, sociology, tourism, and law,students were excited about learning fromProf. Vukmir’s lectures and hands onexercises.“This class has been an eye openerfor me,” said student Hanne Edvardsen.“We are future business leadersand entrepreneurs, and must be preparedfor conflicts, as the business world getsmore competitive, natural resources arescarcer and markets more saturated.P r o f . Vu k m i r e n g a g e s u s i nProfessorMladenVukmirdiscussions, self-reflectionand practical exercises. Byusing examples from his experience asmediator and lawyer, he makes it clearhow important basic knowledge in conflictmanagement is for our results as futuremanagers. His classes have made me rethinkmy behavior and perceptions ofconflict solving, both in personal andfuture business life.”“Prof. Vukmir is teaching us how toimprove our negotiation skills, but alsoencourages us to avoid conflicts, ” saidstudent Ana Vuin. “The litigation processshould be the last option. In this class welearned how to solve problems in a winwinway, and preserve a businessrelationship that would be ruined if wewent to court.”“The point of the course is toencourage students to create change andhave the tools to think for themselves,”Prof. Vukmir said. “We Europeans inparticular have a problem understandingchange, because of our attachment to thepast. We are so impressed by traditionthat we think everything has to be donethe same way it has always been done,but that approach is really not usefulanymore.”FACULTYSCHOLARSHIPProfs. Barbara Perić andNikolina Božinović gave alecture to the high schoolt e a c h e r s / e c o n o m i s t sassociation of DubrovnikNeretva County entitled"Motivational Techniques int h e C l a s s r o o m . " T h epresentation included atheoretical overview of theconcept of motivation and theimportance of motivationaltechniques in the process oft e a c h i n g , a s w e l l a s adidactic/methodic workshopabout the application ofe f fi c i e n t m o t i v a t i o n a lstrategies in the classroom.Professors Besim Agušai,Barbara Peric and ZrinkaFriganovic Sain, a n dAssociate Dean for AcademicAffairs Dr. Larisa BuhinLoncar were all elected to theCroatian academic title ofLecturer by the Council ofUniversities and UniversityColleges of Applied Sciences.Prof. Rebecca Charrypublished an article in thenewsletter of the CroatianAssociation of Teachers ofEnglish (HUPE) entitled,“ C o m m u n i c a t i v eMethodologies Work: So WhyDon’t We Use Them MoreOften?”3

AlumniREUNION 2012OVER 300 ALUMNI GATHERAT 15-YEAR REUNIONMore than 300 ACMT graduates returned to “It was great to see so many old friends andDubrovnik from throughout Croatia and around professors again,” said Hana Dapo, whothe world to catch up with old friends and former graduated in 2009, and recently started a newprofessors, and enjoy a weekend of memories job as Brand Manager for Max Factor cosmeticsfrom their college days. Sharing news from their in Sarajevo. “I have so many good memories ofcareers, families, travels and adventures, ACMT ACMT, and I know that I would not be the personalumni gathered at Gradska Kavana forI am today if it were not for the things I learnedcocktails, dancing, networking and good fun. there. My ACMT experience gave me confidenceThey especially enjoyed hearing the rhythm of and knowledge to express myself, negotiatingthe reunited Tambo band, which got the crowd and interview skills, and most of all,moving, and Dean Don Hudspeth and Alumni determination and persistence never to give upAssociation president Maja Skrinjar welcomed in pursuing my dreams.”everyone.4

TAMBO BANDACMT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTMAJA SKRINJARCAREER UPDATESBranka Bebić '06 earned anMBA degree from the ZagrebSchool of Economics, and washired as Online Sales AccountManager for the Croatianmarket at Google, in Dublin.Matija Zelic, '06, started ab o u t i q u e y a c h t s e r v i c e scompany, Yacht IN d.o.o.,based in Zagreb and Zadar.Adela Marković, '07 was hiredas Marketing Director forKupiMe.hr group buying site inZagreb.Ida Hohnjec, '03, is the HumanResources Lead for Croatia &Bosnia at Merck Sharp &Dohme, formerly ScheringPlough pharmeceuticals.Nenad Marić '07, was recentlypromoted to General Managerat Hotel Tirena, part of ValamarH o t e l s a n d R e s o r t s , i nDubrovnik.Danijela Vulinović, '06, startedher own recruitment companyin Nottingham, England.The company is called OneR e c r u i t m e n t P a r t n e r ,specializing in premium diningand branded operations.Miran Stambol, '11, was hiredas an independent utility brokerin the electricity, oil, and gasmarkets with Alfa EnergyL o n d o n . H e i s b a s e d i nSarajevo.Naida Kadribegović, '04, washired as Executive Director, atthe Centre for Policy andGovernance in Sarajevo. Shealso enrolled in an InternationalMBA program at CotrugliBusiness School.Ognjen Bačić, '06, was hiredas executive manager withDiokom Novi in Trogir.Marino Rogošić, '10, was hiredas a member of the cabin crewwith Emirates Airlines, based inDubai.Ivana Valentić, '09, enrolled ina Master's degree program inInternational Management atK o z m i n s k i U n i v e r s i t y i nWarsaw, Poland.Jelena Žitko, 04, was hired asDirector of the Tourist Board ofthe city of Solin.Danijela Radić, '02, enrolled ina Doctoral degree program inP u b l i c R e l a t i o n s a t t h eUniversity of Tennessee, inKnoxville, Tennessee, USA,where she is also employed asa graduate teaching associate.Mia (Herencic) Salazar, '06,w a s h i r e d a t t h e M e d i aRelations department of theCroatian National Tourist Boardin New York.Sanda Putica, '03, was hiredas a consultant for the ItalianE m b a s s y t o B o s n i a a n dHercegovina in Sarajevo. Shealso earned a masters degree inS t a t e M a n a g e m e n t a n dHumanitarian Affairs from theUniversity of Sarajevo incollaboration with University ofBelgrade and La Sapienza,Rome.Nikolina Birimiša, '09, washired as Human ResourcesPayroll Specialist with PhilipMorris Zagreb.Marko Sučić, '04 was hired asProduct/Service Manager at thehead office of Societe Generale- Splitska Banka in Split.Alexandra Kežić-Zuvanović,'01 was hired as Advertising &Social Media Manager withDornbirner Messe GmbH/TradeFair Dornbirn in Dornbirn,Austria.Jelena Cvitanović, '04, washired as International FreightManager for the Agent PlusGroup in Zagreb.Mia Guja, '10, was hired asMarketing and Sales Managerat the Beluga graphic and webdesign studio in Dubrovnik.Suzana Bračun, '09, was hiredas head of the Public Lightingdepartment and Thorn LightingBrand Manager at Dicentra inOsijek.Ana Mutnjakovic, '07, washired as Water and SanitationProject Manager and FieldOffice Team Leader for thePakistan Delegation of theGerman Red Cross, in SindhProvince, Pakistan.Robert Bračun, '03, was hiredas General Manger for Regusbusiness workspace services inZagreb.Sanja (Jankovic) Majić, '07,opened her own bookkeepinga n d b u s i n e s s c o n s u l t i n gservice, Inportanca d.o,o, inSplit.Dragan Mrkajić, '04, recentlyreturned from volunteering inTanzania, Africa, and was hiredas a consultant with RolandBerger Strategy Consultants inZagreb.Filipa Srzentić, '06, recentlyenrolled in an MBA degreeprogram at the University ofLeicester, in London.Bojan Kavaš, '09, was recentlypromoted to Key AccountManager at Procter & GambleCroatia, in Zagreb.Andriana (Mandac) Vidaković'09 was hired as Sales &Marketing Manager at thesoon-to-open Hotel Split inPodstrana.Lucija Ramljak, was hired asan education advisor in theCenter for Education at FINA, inZagreb.5

CO-OP: STUDENTSAT WORKContinued from the coverphotographer. One of the challenges oft h e j o b w a s t h e d i v e r s i t y o fresponsibilities, she said.Once, she was told to organize aproject regarding ship construction,something she had no knowledge andexperience about. Nevertheless, Hannecompleted the task successfully and eventhe demanding engineers were impressedwith her work. Hanne became sointegrated to the team that today the HRdepartment of OSM Offshore has her ontheir “wish list” of potential employees.Hanne considers the experience andprofessional connections that she gained,the most valuable outcome of her co-op.Today she can unhesitatingly say: “I knowhow corporations actually work.”U.S. EmbassySenior Ivan Zelko completed his finalco-op at the Commercial Servicesdepartment of the US Embassy in Zagreb.As part of his job, compiled market briefsfor publication, researched Croatianreceptivity to U.S. franchise concepts andf i n a n c i n g m e c h a n i s m s , a s s i s t e dCommercial Specialists in identifyingCroatian agents and distributors forAmerican exporters, prepared marketingpackages for upcoming trade shows inthe United States, and created marketingmaterials to inform and attract U.S.companies to Croatia. He even received arecommendation from the United StatesAmbassador to the Croatia, James B.Foley.STUDENT HONORSUnlike most students,who are paid employees,Ivan worked as a volunteer.“For me, it was notabout making money, it wasabout gaining experience,which I am sure will payoff in the future. Them o s t v a l u a b l ee x p e r i e n c e w a sp a r t i c i p a t i n g i nm e e t i n g s w i t hexecutives of some ofthe largest companies inCroatia. That helped me getinsight into some of the importantaspects of business to business (B2B)relationships. I was lucky to have a greatboss who gave me a lot of freedom, and Igained a lot of business contactsthroughout various industries in Croatia.Working as a volunteer is definitely worthit.”Brussels, BelgiumIvanZelko withU.S.AmbassadorJames B.Foley“Before ACMT, I wouldnever have decided togo to another country allby myself. Now I haveconfidence that I'mr e a d y f o r a n y n e wopportunity.” - Daria DražetaDaria Dražeta spent her co-op at theD u b r o v n i k - N e r e t v a c o u n t yrepresentative's office in Brussels, thecenter of European diplomacy.“When I arrived I felt so lost in thisbig, million people city but my colleagueswere so helpful and kind that in two daysit was like I had lived there for a yearalready,” she said. “Everything was sointeresting, I have never before met somany different people, from differentnations and there was no languagebarrier, everyone speaks English andother languages.The meetings were very interestingand I could learn so many new things andespecially about Croatia entering the EU.This was not only a co-op; for me thiswas a life-changing experience. BeforeACMT, I would never have decided to goto another country all by myself. Now Ihave confidence that I'm ready for anynew opportunity.”Senior student Ivo Hajdić was selected by the professors of ACMT to participate in a conference in Budapest, Hungary,organized by the INA fuel company’s MOL group in April.Senior student Đeni Paskojević was selected by the professors of ACMT and her peers to represent the graduating class of2012 as the commencement speaker. She will also represent ACMT at the Convocation ceremony at the RIT campus inRochester, New York, in May.Freshman student Rafaela Šutić was selected to represent the International Hospitality and Service Management program ofACMT at the annual "Puttin' on the RITz” Dinner at the Rochester, New York campus in March. Rafaela will spend a week inRochester where she will along with other RIT students actively participate in organizing this gala charity event.Freshman students Marko Kulhavi (IT program Dubrovnik) Goran Pekica (IB program Zagreb) and Petra Rajko (IT programZagreb) were selected to represent the ACMT at the annual Imagine RIT Festival at the Rochester Campus in April. ImagineRIT is a series of exhibits and activities meant to showcase the interesting projects that students and community membershave been working on. These students, selected on the basis of their academic achievements and personal leadershipqualities, will spend a week at the Rochester campus for a series of educational and cultural activities.Senior Luka Maleš won a silver medal in the college judo competition, organized by University of Zagreb in January.7

FUN RUN!Coming Soon: the thirdannual ACMT Fun Run,Saturday April 28Put on your running shoes, and joinACMT students, faculty and staff,along with elementary and highschool students of Dubrovnik for a"fun run" race through the Old City,complete with snacks, prizes andentertainment.Whether you are interested incompeting as an athlete, cheeringalong the sidelines, or volunteeringto help, make sure you join in thisACMT tradition.AMERICAN COLLEGEOF MANAGEMENTAND TECHNOLOGYamerican.college@acmt.hrwww.acmt.hrDUBROVNIK CAMPUSDon Frana Bulica 620000 Dubrovnik, CroatiaPhone +385 20 433 000ZAGREB CAMPUSIlica 24210000 Zagreb, CroatiaPhone +385 (1) 643 9100ACMT REPORTEREditor in ChiefProf. Rebecca CharryLayoutViktor ZimmermannPrintingBalboa d.o.o. Zagreb8