Above-average faculty strengthens ties with the economy

The oldest, largest, and most important higher education and research institution in Croatia in the field of electrical engineering, computer science, and information and communication technology, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing of the University of Zagreb (FER), celebrated its day. The ceremony marking FER Day took place on Friday, November 20, in the faculty hall Auditorium maximum, attended by numerous guests and representatives from military institutions and authorities, scientific and educational institutions, as well as the real sector.

Many of them built their education precisely at this faculty. The arrival of distinguished guests, the CEOs of the technologically strongest companies in Croatia such as Ericsson Nikola Tesla and Siemens, is a great compliment to the faculty, which has been led for a year by a young administration headed by the youngest dean in the history of the faculty, Prof. Dr. Mislav Grgić. Their mission is to apply the results of all research in the economic sector for the benefit of society as a whole, in collaboration with entrepreneurs in Croatia and abroad. They are succeeding in this, as confirmed by the results.

Fifteen points As the dean mentioned in his introductory address, a year ago when he was elected as the new dean, they set fifteen points, a sort of backbone and goals for the mandate, some of which have been achieved, while others have not yet. They defined the undergraduate study FER-3, improved and developed the faculty staff, and independently employed 123 people. They also worked on the international recognition of the study, attracting the best and most innovative high school students, and organized many programs and workshops. They then focused on encouraging and balancing incoming and outgoing mobility. In October, they established the Career Center, systematically invested in staff and students; they invested their own two million kuna in this. The dean also emphasized that they maintained positive trends in obtaining research projects. FER is, in fact, performing at the EU average level, and in the next three to four years, the value of international projects amounts to about 50 million kuna. They also invested in research laboratories and encouraged the establishment of new ones – fourteen have been established in the last year. They continue activities related to the Nikola Tesla Innovation Center (ICENT), which is FER’s capital long-term project that will bridge the gap between the academic and research community and industrial needs, enabling new employment. Five days ago, this center was registered at the Commercial Court in Zagreb.

International cooperation One of the fifteen points defined at the beginning of Grgić’s mandate was to strengthen ties with alumni and bring them closer to the Faculty, as well as to increase collaboration with the economy on new projects. FER has thus become a member of the Leaders’ Export Club, the Croatian-Korean Business Club, and has signed cooperation agreements with Končar, HŽ – Infrastructure, and many others. It has also established a Scientific Center of Excellence for Data Science and Cooperative Systems. There are still a few things left to do, such as working on a new approach to education.
– A significant part has been achieved, and by next year we will achieve the rest – Dean Grgić is confident.
The importance of FER, which has immense research and human potential, was also highlighted in the addresses of high-ranking guests.
– FER is one of the most important faculties, with the greatest international cooperation on a global scale. Croatia needs to promote technical sciences and make progress in this area. We all must raise awareness of how important science-based education is for the betterment of society as a whole, especially for Croatia. We must insist on excellence, and FER and other technical faculties lead in this – emphasized in his welcoming speech Prof. Dr. Damir Boras, Rector of the University of Zagreb, touching upon funding, stating that funding for science and education needs to be raised to the level of other EU countries.