At the beginning of the Winter School, participants were introduced to the program and divided into working groups. The content-oriented opening was a lecture on language and the cultural identity of a nation, which highlighted the importance of cultural self-awareness for political communication and social cohesion. The second day of the seminar focused on key questions of political ethics and value orientation. Topics covered included the relationship between politics and religion, the foundations of the family and societal controversies, Christian Democratic values in politics and society, as well as morality and authenticity as guiding principles of political action. Another focus was the role of the media in politics, particularly regarding political and media literacy, dealing with fake news, and the influence of social networks on democracy and privacy. A highlight of the program was a panel discussion that allowed participants to collectively reflect on the topics covered. In the afternoon, Dr. Norbert Eschborn, Director of the KAS Croatia–Slovenia Office, analyzed the current geopolitical situation in the aftermath of developments concerning the U.S. President and his statements at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The seminar day concluded with a lecture on the influence of informal groups on the international order. The third day of the seminar was dedicated to practical political communication. In interactive workshops on political speeches, public appearances, and media work, participants gained hands-on insights into professional on-camera performance, nonverbal communication, and navigating various media formats.
The Winter School concluded with the evaluation of the first semester of the Political Academy and the presentation of the 40th issue of the magazine Akademičar, to which the participants had actively contributed. The event once again highlighted the importance of the Political Academy as a central platform for political education and talent development, as well as its contribution to strengthening democratic values, political responsibility, and the European orientation of young political actors in Croatia.
