Every two to three years, the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb revises its study programs to keep pace with trends in the domestic and global labor market. According to the dean of the Faculty of Economics, Prof. Dr. Sanja Sever Mališ, the goal is to educate personnel who will drive positive changes in the economy and society in the digital age.
How well is the faculty’s curriculum adapted to the needs of the labor market?
– At the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb, we continuously monitor trends and labor market needs to ensure that students acquire relevant and applicable knowledge. The curriculum is regularly updated in collaboration with key stakeholders from the economy, and feedback from employers and labor market analyses help us identify new professions and skills that will be in demand in the future. We place special emphasis on the development of digital skills and entrepreneurial competencies, which are today key aspects in almost all sectors. We are also introducing new courses and modules covering current topics such as sustainable business, artificial intelligence in economics, and big data analysis.
What new personnel is being educated at the faculty?
– Our faculty continuously directs study programs towards educating personnel who can respond to the challenges of the modern economy. Recently, we have been particularly focused on educating experts in areas such as financial technology (fintech), digital marketing and e-business, sustainable business and green economy, data analysis and business intelligence, innovation management and digital transformation, and international business in a digital environment. These profiles are increasingly in demand in both the domestic and global labor markets, and our goal is to ensure that students possess the skills that enable their competitiveness in these areas. Additionally, we continue to educate experts in traditional economic disciplines, but with an emphasis on their adaptation to the digital age.
What is the dynamics of changes and adjustments of the curriculum to the labor market considering the rapid development of new technologies?
– The curricula are thoroughly revised every two to three years, but we have also introduced mechanisms for faster adaptation. We use flexible modules that can be quickly updated with new content, organize guest lectures by industry experts who bring the latest insights, conduct project-based teaching that allows work on current business challenges, and continuously improve the teaching staff in the area of new technologies. In recent years, we have significantly expanded programs related to business digitalization, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence in business, and big data analytics. We encourage an interdisciplinary approach to education, where students can combine different areas to better understand the impact of technologies on business.
Will students be ready for the global labor market after graduation?
– Yes, our students are ready for the global labor market thanks to several key factors. We offer internationally recognized study programs aligned with European standards and emphasize the acquisition of universal competencies sought in the global market. Students have the opportunity to study in English in certain programs and actively participate in international student exchanges through ‘Erasmus+’ and other programs. We encourage work on global projects in collaboration with partner institutions, the development of advanced language skills with an emphasis on business English, and organize guest lectures by international experts and professors.
Where else, besides the faculty, do students acquire knowledge?
– Our students, in addition to the faculty, acquire knowledge through mandatory internships in leading domestic and foreign companies, participation in real business projects and case study competitions, student exchange programs at partner universities around the world, workshops and seminars led by industry experts, participation in professional conferences and business forums, volunteering and working in student organizations, as well as online courses and webinars for obtaining additional certificates.
What is the collaboration of the faculty with the economy?
– Collaboration with the economy is the foundation of our approach to education and research. It is multilayered and includes joint research projects with leading domestic and foreign companies, regular guest lectures by experts from the business sector, advisory councils composed of prominent businesspeople that help shape the curricula, organization of internships and apprenticeships for students, joint mentoring on master’s and doctoral theses, organization of case studies (case study) and hackathons, and collaboration on lifelong learning and executive education programs. Many of the research we conduct are directly applicable in practice, contributing to the development and competitiveness of the Croatian economy.
