The Unger Program at the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs is a program of the Urban Center. Originally founded in 2002 as the Unger International Program for Local Government Leadership, the program's mission was to catalyze an educational bridge between the Levin College and the University of Rijeka. In 2010 the College and the Unger Family Foundation began to re-envision a new direction for the program while still remaining true to the long standing work and history of the Ungers in both Cleveland and Croatia.

Today, the program serves to support and foster economic and community development through independent research and civic education and engagement. The Unger Program at the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs provides matching funding to the Center for Economic Development's U.S. Economic Development Administration University Center initiatives.

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Recent News

Memorandum of Understanding between Cleveland State University and the University of Rijeka.

Cleveland State University and the University of Rijeka announce a Memorandum of Understanding marking a new phase of partnership between the two institutions. On Tuesday, October 17, newly named Levin Senior Fellow Saša Drezgić from the University of Rijeka in Croatia and Provost Nigamath Sridhar from Cleveland State University signed a Memorandum of Understanding between our two institutions, as a culmination of 20 years of collaboration and engagement. Learn more. »

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Building Excellence - The ASPIRE EFRI Project

Join Cleveland State University and the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in welcoming newly named Levin Senior Fellow Saša Drezgić from the University of Rijeka in Croatia as we celebrate the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between our two institutions. Learn more. »

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EDT Conference 2023: Perspective on Resilience of Economic Systems
The Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka is pleased to invite you to the 5th International Scientific Conference "Economics of Digital Transformation (EDT) DIGITOMICS", which will be held in Opatija, Croatia, on June 8-10, 2023. The Unger Center at the Levin College or Public Affairs and Education is a partner for the conference. Learn more: Conference Details | Call for Papers

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Unger Program Graduate Elected Dean of Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Rijeka
Dr. Saša Drezgić, a graduate of the Unger Program at the CSU Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs has assumed the role of Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Rijeka. His term began this month with the start of the new academic year. The Unger Program was founded in 2002 as the Unger International Program for Local Government Leadership. Its mission was to catalyze an educational bridge between the Levin College and the University of Rijeka, and served as a collaborative effort of the College to respond to the consulting, training, research and educational needs of local government leaders in emerging democracies. Today, the program serves to support and foster economic and community development through collaborative research and educational exchanges. Dr. Drezgić continues to regularly engage with the College and works to broaden the relationship between the two institutions. Dr. Drezgić is a longtime professor of the Faculty of Economics and Business and has published a significant number of scientific and professional publications and participated in numerous international conferences. He is the founding organizer of the Economics of Digital Transformation conference, the editor of the Faculty Proceedings, and the head of the postgraduate specialist study program.

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Levin Podcast: Smart Cities - Dr. Nicholas Zingale and Dr. Sasa Drezgic
In these videos we talk about Smart Cities and the future of urban living. We are joined by Dr. Nicholas Zingale, Associate Professor in Public Administration at Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, and Dr. Sasa Drezgic, Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Rijeka (Croatia) in Croatia.

Smart Cities Part 1

Smart Cities Part 2

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Unger Program Graduate Elected Dean of Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Rijeka
Dr. Saša Drezgić, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Rijeka, has been appointed the new dean of the Faculty. His term at the Faculty of Economics and Business will begin in October 2022 with the start of the new academic year.

Dr. Drezgić is a graduate of the Unger Program at the Levin College. The Unger Program was founded in 2002 as the Unger International Program for Local Government Leadership. Its mission was to catalyze an educational bridge between the Levin College and the University of Rijeka, and served as a collaborative effort of the College to respond to the consulting, training, research and educational needs of local government leaders in emerging democracies. Today, the program serves to support and foster economic and community development through collaborative research and educational exchanges. Dr. Drezgić continues to regularly engage with the College and works to broaden the relationship between the two institutions.

Dr. Drezgić is a longtime professor of the Faculty of Economics and Business and has published a significant number of scientific and professional publications and participated in numerous international conferences. He is the founding organizer of the Economics of Digital Transformation conference, the editor of the Faculty Proceedings, and the head of the postgraduate specialist study program.

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Read more news from the Unger Center. »