RIT Croatia student representatives join RIT’s Global Consortium in Rochester

Student Government representatives from RIT Croatia participated in the annual Global Consortium, held in Rochester, New York, from October 2 to 5. The event brought together representatives from RIT’s global campuses to exchange experiences, develop leadership skills, and strengthen connections across the university’s international community.

Representing RIT Croatia were Student Government members Eni Vidulić and Jana Bečanović from the Zagreb campus and Mia Stjepčević and Viktoria Roglić from the Dubrovnik campus.

“The main purpose of the consortium was to bring together Student Government representatives from across RIT's global campuses to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and strengthen our connections as one global community,” explained Eni Vidulić, President of the Student Government. Throughout the four-day event, participants took part in workshops on leadership styles, conflict resolution, personal strengths, and teamwork. They also explored how Student Governments operate across different campuses and reflected on how their experiences could inform their work back home.

For Eni, one of the most valuable takeaways was realizing that there is no single approach to leadership that works for everyone. “Even though we are all part of the same college, every campus has its own culture, structure, challenges, and ways of operating,” she said. “At the same time, despite all these differences, we share the same goal of improving the student experience and making sure students' voices are heard.”

Tamara Lipnjak, Student Life and Well-Being Coordinator, highlighted the importance of understanding these differences. “Students discovered that while many challenges are shared across campuses, local cultures and circumstances shape how they are best addressed,” she explained. The exchange helped them recognize that “there are no one-size-fits-all solutions” to the challenges student leaders face.

Beyond leadership workshops, the consortium also offered opportunities to learn about accessibility and inclusion. Eni recalled learning to sign their names in American Sign Language (ASL) and seeing how RIT adapts its campus, resources, and environment to better support students with disabilities. “It was touching to see how much thought and effort goes into creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel welcomed, supported, and part of the community,” she shared.

Building personal connections was another important part of the experience. Spending time together in person allowed representatives to move beyond online meetings and build relationships that can support future collaboration. As Eni put it, “This consortium really showed how much we can learn from one another and how important it is to make the most of the global network we are part of.”

The consortium concluded with participants presenting their project to representatives from RIT’s main campus and other members of the RIT community. For Eni, watching the video documenting their shared experience was a particularly memorable moment: “After spending so much time together working, discussing ideas, and learning from one another, it was really rewarding to see everything come together.” As Tamara Lipnjak explained, “The experience helps student leaders reflect on their roles and brings them back to their campuses with skills and ideas they can share with fellow representatives”.