Croatian school system distinguishes between upbringing (transfer of values) and education (transfer of knowledge). It is assumed that upbringing takes place in family, primary and secondary schools but universities should exclusively deal with the transfer of knowledge. Due to the fact that people constantly develop over a lifetime, and especially at the turbulent time when they are students, this assumption cannot be accepted.  In order to influence their personal growth, university teachers themselves must be the growing individuals. University teachers represent a personalisation of students’ future job and therefore serve as role models that students identify with.

Upbringing at the university level is concerned with the adoption of the system of values characteristic for students’ future profession, but also with providing support for their own socialisation and self actualisation.  The difficulties that young people encounter in their personal growth should not remain unnoticed, but support and assistance should be provided. It is not the interest of society to have a high percentage of drop-outs, which can frequently be linked to some personal disillusionment and disappointment in their young lives.

Unfortunately, most university teachers are not trained to be educators in the sense of upbringing, but it can be changed in the process of lifelong learning. Everyone whose job is related to other people should be involved in a personal systematic training for this delicate and important role.