VISOKA TEHNICKA SKOLA STRUKOVNIH STUDIJA SUBOTICA

Their core work

Visoka Tehnička Škola Subotica is a higher technical school of applied studies in northern Serbia, focused on vocational education in technical fields. Within the EU framework, their work centers on science communication and public engagement — making research accessible through hands-on activities, digital tools, and outreach events. They have participated in a series of Researchers' Night-type projects (ReConNeCt) that bring science closer to local communities using increasingly digital methods including augmented and virtual reality.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their trajectory shows a clear shift from traditional, hands-on science outreach toward digitally enhanced engagement. The earliest project (ReConNeCt, 2018) emphasized personal connection — local-to-global science experiences with a human touch. By 2020-2022, the follow-up projects added AR, VR, artificial intelligence, and European Green Deal content, reflecting a move toward technology-mediated science communication and alignment with EU policy priorities.

They are moving toward integrating immersive digital technologies (AR/VR) and EU Green Deal themes into public science engagement, suggesting future interest in EdTech and sustainability communication projects.

How they like to work

They participate exclusively as a partner, never leading consortia — consistent with their role as a regional vocational school contributing local outreach capacity. Their three projects involve only 7 unique partners from a single country cluster, and all three are iterations of the same ReConNeCt initiative, indicating a loyal, repeat-partner collaboration pattern rather than broad networking.

A small, tight network of 7 partners concentrated in a single country group, built entirely through the recurring ReConNeCt project series. This suggests strong local ties but limited reach across the broader European research landscape.

What sets them apart

As a vocational technical school in Serbia's Vojvodina region, they offer something distinct: direct access to applied-studies students and local communities in a Widening Country, which is valuable for projects requiring grassroots public engagement in underrepresented regions. Their progressive adoption of AR/VR for science communication shows willingness to experiment with digital tools despite modest resources. They are a reliable partner for Researchers' Night and MSCA outreach activities in the Western Balkans.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ReConNeCt
  The original project in the series (2018-2019) with the highest single funding (EUR 11,000), establishing the science-outreach model that was renewed twice.
• Reconnect Restart 3
  The most recent iteration (2021-2022) stands out for integrating European Green Deal themes and VR/AR technology into public science engagement.