On August 27, 2025, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER) hosted a workshop dedicated to strengthening international cooperation and exchanging experiences between FER and the Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZŠEM). The aim of the meeting was to present international activities related to ZŠEM’s study programs and, from FER’s side, to share experiences in managing research projects and participating in the European Union’s framework programs.

The Dean of FER, Prof. Vedran Bilas, PhD, emphasized FER’s leading role in Croatia in terms of the number and success of EU projects, particularly within the Horizon Europe program. “We currently employ 650 staff, 250 of whom are project associates funded by our own resources. Our mission is to align with the goals of the European Union and act as an institution fully integrated into the European Research Area. For years, FER has been enrolling the top high school graduates in Croatia, based on national exam results, and it is precisely their knowledge and ambition that ensure the high quality of our studies. Our task is to open up as many opportunities as possible for them—from research projects to international collaborations—and provide an educational environment where internationalization is not just a goal, but a natural part of academic and professional development. We highly value ZŠEM’s initiatives in the field of internationalization and knowledge exchange, which is why we organized this meeting,” Bilas said.

The Dean of ZŠEM, Mato Njavro, PhD, underlined the importance of FER as a role model and partner in the field of scientific research. “For many years, FER has been a source of inspiration in the implementation of EU research projects. When we founded ZŠEM in 2002, our mission was to put Croatia on the world map and make it internationally visible through academic programs, reputation, and partnerships. We are pleased that through cooperation with FER, we are opening a new chapter in knowledge exchange and jointly strengthening international presence,” said Njavro.

After the deans’ opening addresses, the workshop continued with lectures and experience-sharing. FER’s Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Capuder, PhD, delivered a lecture on the path to success and positioning FER as Croatia’s leading scientific research institution. This was followed by presentations from Javier Aguayo, Head of ZŠEM’s International Office, and Assoc. Prof. Dubravka Kovačević, PhD, Vice Dean for Project Initiatives and Development, who introduced the concepts and tools of internationalization at their institution, engaging in active discussion with participants.

Numerous representatives from both institutions took part in the workshop. From FER, Vice Deans Krešimir Pripužić and Tomislav Jagušt, along with lecturers Marko Bosiljevac, Ana Drandić, and Fausto Miguel Pascoal Ferreira, participated. ZŠEM was represented by its management and professors involved in the development of study programs and project initiatives, including Zoran Barac, Dubravka Kovačević, Goran Oblaković, and Karmela Aleksić-Maslać.

The workshop concluded with a joint message underscoring the importance of cooperation and continuous exchange of experiences between higher education institutions, in order to make Croatian education and science even more visible and competitive on the international stage.