Tamara Rađenović from Serbia is a participant of the European Junior Water Programme (EJWP). In her discussion with Water News Europe, she brings her expertise in social development and humanization of working and living environments. “My current role involves a blend of teaching, mentoring, and engaging in several international projects which focus on water sector skills and circular economy indicators,” shares Rađenović, emphasizing the multidisciplinary nature of her contributions to environmental and social sciences.

What is your current work position?

“My current position is Assistant Professor at the University of Niš, Faculty of Occupational Safety, Department of Social Development and Humanization of Working and Living Environment. Also, I am the leader of the WG5: Organization and monitoring of events and Grant Awarding Coordinator of the Cost Action 20138 Network on Water-Energy-Food Nexus for Low-Carbon Economy in Europe and Beyond (NEXUSNET). Additionally, I am a Grant Awarding Coordinator of the Cost Action CA22156 Transformations International Experience and Research Network for Sustainable Futures (TransformERS).”

Can you describe one of your work days?

“Usually, my working day involves a combination of teaching activities and research activities. I teach Safety Economics in undergraduate studies and Environmental Protection Economics in master studies. Besides teaching activities, my work involves mentoring activities with students. As I participate in several international projects, daily activities involve online meetings with the team members to discuss realized activities and plan forthcoming ones. Research activities also involve a lot of reading in the field, and gathering and analyzing various datasets. My research is currently focused on investigating soft skills in the water sector, as well as circular economy indicators across countries.”

What do you consider the most interesting part of your job?

“The most interesting part of my job is the opportunity to continuously learn new things in the environmental and social sciences, but also to work in a dynamic international setting, thus constantly interacting and networking with multicultural individuals. These aspects of my work are extremely important for me, as they give me joy in what I am doing, but also make me a better person and improve my knowledge and skills.”

What is a topic that you see as increasingly important in the water sector?

“Multiple topics are increasingly important in the current settings, but from my point of view, the most important is water scarcity and the necessity to raise awareness about it globally. I think that a lot of people are unaware of the water resources and how limited they are, and this situation is only going to be worse in the forthcoming period, especially due to the climate changes we are facing.”

What do you expect from international cooperation?

“In my view, international cooperation is very important for broadening knowledge and understanding complex phenomena from different perspectives in an ever-changing world. Furthermore, such cooperation is crucial for exchanging ideas and innovative solutions with experts worldwide, working in a diverse environment, and establishing connections for forthcoming project applications.”

Why are you joining EJWP?

“The reason for joining EJWP is to expand my knowledge and skills in the water sector and to network with young professionals with diverse expertise from various countries. I hope that this group of people will make significant contributions to the water sector challenges in the forthcoming years.”

What and where did you study?

“I finished my bachelor’s studies at the University of Niš, Faculty of Economics, Serbia in 2005. I earned my MA in Finance and Investments with Merit from Nottingham University Business School, UK in 2007, and PhD in Economics from the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, Serbia in 2018. My PhD thesis is in the field of Intellectual Capital Management and its importance for economic performance on both micro and macro levels. What I have learned through all these years of studying is that people are the most important resources/capital a firm/country can have, therefore, I believe that investments in people and their skills are the best investments for the future.”

Original publication of Tamara at Water News Europe
All the profiles of EJWP participants at Water News Europe