One of the oldest departments of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb (FER), the Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation (ZESA), has marked 100 years of continuous activity. Over the course of a century, the Department has made an invaluable contribution to the development of Croatia’s electrical industry, scientific research, and the education of generations of engineers.

The celebration was held at SEECEL, under the patronage of the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Academy of Engineering (HATZ). Alongside a special program and the exhibition “A Century of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation”, key historical moments and achievements of the Department were presented.

From Generators to the Next Generation of Automated Systems

Throughout its rich history, the Department has taken part in numerous technological and industrial breakthroughs – from the development of hydroelectric power plant generators to modern solutions in automation, energy systems, mechatronics, and control. Today, ZESA is recognized as a center of excellence and innovation, as well as an essential partner to industry and the research community.

The ceremony was opened by Assoc. Prof. Martina Kutija, PhD, Head of the Department, who highlighted recent successes, scientific projects, and growing student interest in electrical engineering:
"The Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation is one of FER’s 12 departments and has, from the very beginning, been a place where knowledge turns into practice and ideas become innovation. Our legacy over these 100 years is successful cooperation with the industrial sector — a tradition we continue to nurture. The Department is still working on outstanding projects, and this year we recorded the highest student interest in electrical engineering so far, as it is a broad field where students gain practical knowledge and contribute to technological progress."

A Tradition of Excellence and Strong Industry Ties

On behalf of the Faculty, FER Dean Prof. Vedran Bilas, PhD, addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of tradition and lasting cooperation between academia and industry:
"The celebration of the Department’s centenary is important for FER, as it showcases our tradition and the deep roots of electrical engineering, knowledge creation, research, and development. This is an opportunity to highlight Croatia’s rich industrial heritage and to recognize the experience we can use in the future. This particularly refers to the values of knowledge, dedication, and the connection between academia and industry, as well as cities and regions. For one hundred years, close cooperation between the Faculty, the Department, and Croatian companies has been a constant."

President of HATZ, Prof. Vedran Mornar, PhD, added to the importance of preserving tradition and innovative spirit:
"I hope the Department continues the tradition of its pioneers, continues to build and improve Croatia, and contributes to revitalizing the industry that is urgently needed. I wish for it to focus on substance, not form."

Long-standing Partnership with KONČAR

One of the Department’s most prominent partners, KONČAR, is a long-term collaborator in education, research, and new technology development.
"Today, in a time of rapid change and energy transition, our cooperation with the Department is more important than ever. Many of our experts come from FER, and our task is to jointly shape educational programs that will prepare them for the new paradigm in power engineering. This is a shared responsibility of industry and academia, and we remain committed to innovation, development, continuous investment, and joint projects that will ensure competitiveness and sustainability," said Petar Bobek, Management Board Member of KONČAR.

Looking Toward the Future

The importance of education and research was highlighted by the Rector of the University of Zagreb, Prof. Stjepan Lakušić, PhD:
"The Department has always worked closely with its greatest partner — industry. Teachers not only transferred knowledge but created it. It is crucial to pass knowledge on to students and professionals and teach them to work on research that will later benefit society and citizens. This is how the founders of the Department began, with strategic vision — and may that continue."

During the ceremony, a short documentary film about the Department’s history was presented, featuring archival footage from 1967 of Professor Anton Dolenc — honorary doctor of the University of Zagreb and one of the key figures in the development of FER and KONČAR — along with manuscripts from the estate of Professor Miroslav Plohl, the Department’s first head and a pioneer of Croatian electrical engineering. The event was further enriched by Emeritus Prof. Ivan Ilić, PhD, the Department’s oldest member, who shared a personal story recalling his early field assignments.

Photos from the ceremony are available in FER’s online gallery.