SHORT BIO

Dr. Mia Čarapina has a diverse educational and professional background. She holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and initially pursued doctoral studies in Computer Science before completing her PhD in Graphic Technology. 

Her research lies at the intersection of technology, education, and human–computer interaction, with a particular focus on technology-supported learning. Her main research interests include computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), mobile learning, human–computer interaction (HCI) in education, and the development of computational thinking among children. Most of her work is situated in primary and higher education contexts.

Presently, she is a Professional Studies Professor in Computer Science at the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences (TVZ) where she teaches several computer science related courses. 

She is editor of the Springer book series Chapters in Education and Editorial Board member of the International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (ijCSCL).

She is also a member of the ISLS CSCL Junior Subcommittee and a co-founder and member of CONNECT - Collaborative Open Network for New Educational Challenges and Transformation.

From recently, she is actively involved in organizing academic conferences and events, including the Postdigital Backlash Conference in Zagreb in June 2026 and soon to be held EATEL JTELSS27 in May 2027 in Zadar.

In addition to her academic work, she actively promotes STEAM education through projects and initiatives such as miniTVZ, an outreach program designed to introduce children to coding, robotics, and creative problem-solving in playful and hands-on ways.

She has also served for many years as the project leader and mentor of the TVZ mc² (Mobile Challenge Cup), a student competition that fosters innovation, teamwork, and entrepreneurship in mobile, web and IoT application development.