Croatian students are increasingly aware of the importance of additional education to be better prepared for the labor market and the demands of employers.
MBA programs are becoming more popular, and Croatia has its own association for all participants and graduates of ‘MBAs’. The Association of MBA Students and Graduates of Croatia (or, for short, MBA Croatia) was founded in June 2009. The idea originated from MBA students at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb. Since at that time MBA students at various Croatian faculties and abroad were not connected, they came up with the idea to establish an association themselves. The number of members is increasing day by day.
– After almost four years of activity in the Presidency, I can say that I am very satisfied with its work. Every year, significant progress has been made in the quality of the organization, the benefits, and the content it offers, which has, of course, increased the number of members and generally the broader MBA Croatia community, which now has between 300 and 400 members. About ten people voluntarily collaborate on the activities of the Association, all of whom are enthusiasts who find internal motivation to achieve the goals set in our mission and vision – explains Aco Momčilović, President of the MBA Croatia Association.
General vs. Specific MBA programs are offered by almost all economic faculties and business schools in Croatia. Some students complete this phase of education abroad, but MBA Croatia believes that Croatian programs are not inferior to foreign ones in any way, although they do acknowledge that there are differences.
– It is ungrateful to directly compare programs in the country or with programs in Western countries. It is clear that this type of education is becoming increasingly necessary year by year, and the market is responding to that. Some programs in Western countries are better profiled in a certain business segment and have chosen specific areas in which they are particularly good after years of experience, while ours focus on achieving a sufficiently good level of general quality. Domestic programs still need to reach a stage where it will be discussed how much they should or should not focus on developing entrepreneurship or, for example, corporate management – highlights the differences Momčilović.
MN: Demystifying the Program
Although the Association is relatively young, it has quickly defined its goals and vision. Its mission is to gather and network MBA students in Croatia and the world, improve the quality of such studies in Croatia, promote lifelong learning, and promote the values of MBA. They consider themselves the main MBA association in the region in terms of excellence, activity, and number. Members have many advantages.
– The advantages for members actually reflect and enhance the benefits that the MBA program carries and, of course, maximize its potential. First and foremost is acquiring new knowledge at the lectures we organize every month. So far, we have had 28 very interesting and highly rated lectures. The lecturers have been recognized experts from various fields, both domestic and foreign. Of course, the lectures are also an opportunity for networking, that is, meeting new colleagues and exchanging experiences. Several times a year, we also organize MBA parties and offer sports activities in which members can participate – emphasizes Momčilović, adding that they also help members in their search for new job opportunities.
MBA Croatia will soon become a member of the American Chamber of Commerce, allowing its members to attend gatherings organized by it.
The tasks of the Association, among other things, include raising public awareness about the importance of MBA programs and bringing them closer to potential students. Especially important is the advisory role in choosing a program.
– There is certainly enough room to raise awareness among both students and the public about what MBA programs actually are, what they offer, and to demystify them a bit. We often receive inquiries from potential participants seeking advice or experiences in choosing a program. That is precisely the purpose of the association, to become the central place for all information about MBA and the schools that offer it – says Momčilović.
