Introduction

Although there are no precise data about the management structure in Croatia, the analysis of a sample of 100 firms and institutions shows there are 40% of managers with technical education. In production firms this percentage goes up to 80%. At the same time, even less than 1% of the managers have acquired formal management training.Undergraduate study in technical faculty education contains some humanistic courses as a rule. Except that there are no many of them, they are unfortunately distinctly academic in character, so that they can not introduce the students either to the essentials of a manager job or the real problems in enterprises.

In the developed western economies, particularly those in the European Community, the participation of engineers in the managerial structure roughly corresponds to what we have in Croatia. The most important difference is in what they invest in their further professional training. This we can divide into two levels. The first one is the basic education acquired during the undergraduate study and immediately after it. The second is the specialist education that starts up after about two years after the first employment. The financing of the first part is what the students or the society take care about, and the second part is predominately financed by enterprises and executed by Business Schools.

The reasons we mentioned, as well as many others, suggest that there is a need for immediate institutionalizing of management training in Croatia. Except for opening a number of quality Business Schools that function on market principles, it is necessary to restructure educational programs within the University so we will have the managerial studies within it. Apart from the Faculty of Economics and similar institutions where managerial education already takes place, very good results could also be achieved by additional managerial education for engineers.One of the possibilities is, by all means, incorporating the new contents into the existing studies. But, the long time needed for changing and adapting the programs, the quantity of specific managerial knowledge, the tight schedule that students already have, along with a passive attitude towards managerial education, maybe even a lack of aptitude on the part of the student - would suggest that we try and introduce the additional managerial knowledge to engineers through supplementary education.

Organization

The Diploma program of management education for engineers we are starting does not aim at acquiring a master's degree, although most of the courses are recognized in case a candidate continues education on the MBA program at the University of Zagreb. The participants of the Diploma program are expected to come from technical faculties of the University of Zagreb, and this means the graduates (up to three years after graduation), as well as the students who are just about to complete the undergraduate study (for instance preparing the thesis). The prerequisite is their fair command in English language. Also, they are expected to pass the test in The essentials of managerial logic.The classes will be held at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing Zagreb, where all the infrastructure conditions are provided for (including Computer lab).

Previous generations of the Diploma study had several visiting professors from Germany, Great Britain and USA, and they had covered about 30% of the program. Foreign lecturers are teaching in English, so it is expected of the candidates to have a good command of the English language. The majority of the textbooks used in Program are also in English. The courses will be taught in the afternoons (lecturers from Zagreb) and occasionaly in the mornings (foreign lecturers). So the employed candidates must have permission from their firms to attend the morning courses, since the participation at all activities at the study are mandatory.

Entrance propositions

To enroll into the Diploma program the candidates must either have an Engineering diploma (Undergraduate study) or have a status of preparing the thesis. There will be an entrance exam in the Essentials of the Business Logic and the English language. The candidate who completed GMAT and TOEFL tests (or an equivalent) will be accepted without the entrance exam.In the documents the candidates should attach:

• Application form
• Diploma of Engineering study (Undergraduate) or a proof of the thesis preparation status
• Declaration by the firm about an agreement to attend lectures
• Postcards with stamps and an address

Application forms can be obtained at the Booksellers at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and the documents are to be handed (from 11-13) or sent to the Student Service of the same Faculty at the address: FACULTY OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING (for Diploma Study in Management), Unska 3, 10000 Zagreb.

Additional information at the telephone (01) 612 96 42, Mrs. Rumac, are available.