The Ambassador was hosted by the Dean of UNIZG FOI, Professor Renata Mekovec. The meeting was also attended by Professor Nina Begičević Ređep, Head of the Laboratory for Strategic Planning and Decision Making; Professor Blaženka Divjak, Head of the Learning Analytics Laboratory; Professor Neven Vrček; Amalija Koren Cavaleiro, Head of the Student Support and Career Development Centre; Josipa Bađari, Head of the Centre for Projects; and Karla Franović, an associate at the International Relations Center. The Ambassador was accompanied by Andreja Kocijan, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, and Valentijn Lok, an intern at the Embassy.
The presentation of the Faculty’s international activities included a discussion of existing cooperation with Dutch institutions and opportunities to strengthen it further. Particular attention was devoted to two strategic FOI projects that bring together research, education and industry needs.
The Regional Centre for Pre-incubation in Smart Industry project was presented, focusing on the construction and equipping of a modern centre in Varaždin and the establishment of a network of local development hubs. The project connects academia, industry and local government and will support the earliest stages of entrepreneurial idea development through education, mentoring and activities that encourage innovation. It is co-financed by the European Union through the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) mechanism under the Integrated Territorial Programme.
The Ambassador expressed interest in the future centre’s accessibility to students and the wider community, as well as FOI’s cooperation with various economic sectors, including agriculture. The discussion highlighted the role of local development hubs in addressing the needs of individual communities and encouraging the adoption of new technologies across industries.
The second project presented, LAS - Learning Analytics Ecosystem Supported by Artificial Intelligence focuses on developing a concept and prototype for an ecosystem that will enhance the learning experience and support decision-making by students, educators, and educational and business leaders. By connecting scientific research with the needs of higher education and industry, the project seeks to ensure that the solutions developed are scientifically grounded, practically applicable and relevant to the market.
A significant part of the meeting was devoted to the question of how to teach young people in the age of artificial intelligence. Discussions covered the integration of AI into curricula, the pace at which study programmes adapt to technological change, and the challenges faced by educators who completed their own education before these tools became widely available and now teach generations for whom they are part of everyday life.
The visit provided an opportunity to present FOI’s development priorities and exchange experiences on current challenges in higher education, while exploring prospects for further academic, research and industry cooperation with Dutch partners.
