Abstract:

Purpose of this paper is to create a conceptual framework for the implementation of the leadership development educational programs in the context defined by the multiple identities of the program participants. The paper presents key steps in the process of developing a leadership graduate study program with an emphasis on the suitability of the curriculum to the needs of the diaspora and presents the benefits of adopting a holistic approach to leadership education in the case of Croatia. In addition, the paper offers a comparative analysis of similar graduate programs in Southeast Europe in the field of leadership. The Croatian diaspora is of extreme importance for the economic, academic, and cultural wealth of Croatia. Intensifying cooperation with it in all fields is a strategic national issue. The dynamics of Croatian emigration through the twentieth century and the fact that the identity connection of the homeland and the diaspora with each new generation is diminishing, raised the question of what role Croatian emigrants will play in the development of Croatian society. This paper analyses and describes the process of establishing a university program modelled on several similar initiatives in other countries, which could be a bridge that could further connect part of the diaspora with Croatia. The area of ​​one-year university graduate study is the field of ​​leadership purposely chosen because knowledge in this area raised interest in students and because leadership is a key phenomenon in understanding success in the field of organizational management, where several individuals work together to achieve a purpose. Whether it is the level of supranational integration or the level of the family, leadership concepts are crucial for setting and achieving organizational goals.

Keywords:

Croatian diaspora, leadership, university graduate study.