Dr. Zinka Bejtic

Dr. Zinka Bejtic is a professor, and a Head of the Department of Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah, specializing in film and digital media. With a Ph.D. in educational psychology and over twenty-five years of teaching experience, Zinka is a strong advocate for building relaxed and supportive learning environments that foster student engagement and motivation in studio education. Her research focuses on strengthening studio educators' teaching skills and promoting pedagogy of care, emphasizing the need for a human-centered approach to education. In her talks and workshops, Zinka shares insights on the profound changes taking place in the education landscape due to technological, cultural, and social-emotional shifts and emphasizes the need for a change in teaching methodologies to prepare students as lifelong learners. Integrating emotional approaches in pedagogy will strengthen students' sense of empathy, commitment, and resiliency, ultimately leading to improving their overall wellbeing. Zinka actively participates in the transformation of education and seeks to empower educators to embrace the shift towards building and sustaining more student-centered, nurturing, and engaging learning environments.