The MBA title is not uncommon among Croatian managers, but it is not a guarantee that they will advance in their careers as soon as they obtain it. They emphasize the quality of knowledge they have gained and consider the high tuition fees a wise investment.
Written by Kata Pranić
An increasing number of managers hold an MBA in addition to their Croatian university degree. They are employed in the largest Croatian companies, have an advantage when applying for jobs in foreign companies operating in our country, and are competitive in the foreign labor market. A survey conducted last year by the portal MojPosao showed that the salary of MBA degree holders is 45 percent higher than that of highly educated individuals without such a degree. The education of MBA degree holders cost between 15,000 and 25,000 euros, and they have acquired knowledge that their universities did not provide, while also occupying good business positions. However, they emphasize that not everything is about the MBA degree; it is merely a good springboard in their careers. Until a few years ago, our managers reached it through years of education across Europe, most often in England, but today there are schools in Croatia where one can acquire specialized training in marketing, finance, and business strategy.
One of the MBA degree holders obtained at the University of Liverpool is Damir Vanđelić, who holds several high positions: he is the investment director of Adris grupa d.d., director of Abilija d.o.o., director of Adria Resorts d.o.o., and president of the Supervisory Board of Cromaris d.d. Director Vanđelić believes that lifelong education is essential, which he demonstrates through his own example. He graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb and completed postgraduate studies and numerous seminars, passing professional exams for a licensed engineer and licensed project manager according to IMPA standards. He then educated himself at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh in beer production management. After that, he enrolled in finance and marketing studies and obtained an MBA degree. He has invested 23 years in his entire education from primary school onwards. He believes that studying at a business school where one obtains an MBA degree is beneficial for those with several years of work experience.
– Such education has helped me round out the knowledge necessary to understand and manage all segments of the company’s business. Completing an MBA does not automatically bring better status, but with greater knowledge, advancement is more secure. In seeking new challenges in the labor market, it provides an advantage as it attests to broader education and a healthy ambition to advance in one’s career after several years of effort invested in education. The MBA did not align with my previous education, but it significantly expanded my knowledge – says Vanđelić, whose MBA tuition cost 20,000 euros, but the study expenses increased due to travel, books… Sabina Škrtić, the director of Human Resources at HRT, enrolled in an MBA program at Henley Management College after completing her studies at the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, majoring in finance and management. She only has her thesis left to complete.
– My employer sponsored me. At that time, the tuition cost 15,000 euros, so I enrolled step by step. I hold an Executive Certificate and a Diploma in Management, and I attended and passed the exams for the third level, which included the MBA title, but I stopped at the thesis. The reason was my then-business engagement at Adris grupa and the intense business years during which I could not gather the strength and concentration to write my thesis. Nevertheless, I retained the knowledge. I must admit that the MBA provided me with entirely new knowledge, and in combination with my business experience, especially when I had the opportunity to work on business restructuring projects, it truly demonstrated its real strength. I have often defined the MBA as the dot over the ‘i’ because, in combination with work experience, which is crucial, it ensures a deep understanding of management as a whole. Henley Management College in Oxford has always been among the top ten MBA programs in the world and has played an important role in my career. This is supported by the fact that I worked for six years as a corporate director of human resources at Adris grupa before coming to HRT – says Sabina Škrtić, who has 14 years of work experience.
