Generation NOW: Hrvatski Telekom is investing an additional HRK 700,000 in education for jobs of the future

22.9.2020

New Generation NOW donation competition opened
Hrvatski Telekom again provides financial support to educational institutions and donates equipment for the development of creative STEM projects, and the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation provides comprehensive professional support
HT has invested more than four million kunas in STEM education so far. More than 2,200 children and young people throughout Croatia have successfully passed the Generation NOW program.

Hrvatski Telekom continues to invest in future STEM experts and today opened applications for the new Generation NOW donation competition. Through this year's donation competition, Hrvatski Telekom is investing HRK 700,000 in developing STEM in Croatia and continues its successful cooperation with its long-term partner, the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation (IRIM).

The applications run from September 22 through October 5. All educational institutions and non-profit institutions that promote STEM can apply through the online form. The selected institutions will be supported by IRIM experts for the entire duration of the program, and Hrvatski Telekom will donate the newest equipment for creative Internet of Things projects, free internet access with free data traffic, and a financial donation.

"Acquiring new skills not only encourages personal and professional growth but also makes progress possible. By acting in the present and empowering our children, Generation NOW, together, we create a better tomorrow. I am extremely proud that Hrvatski Telekom has invested more than four million kunas in STEM education over the last four years, but primarily that we encourage the development of STEM competencies in Croatia from an early age and help children and young people build a better future for them and the whole society. Thanks to this, more than 300 educational institutions take part in our program. More than 2,200 creative, dedicated, and knowledge-seeking young minds are one step closer to realizing their dreams and realizing their full potential. Although this is a very challenging year for all of us, right now it is even more important to support and involve young people in areas that will open up countless opportunities for them," said Kostas Nebis, President of Hrvatski Telekom, on the occasion of another significant investment in STEM education.

Generation NOW is carried out to provide the newest forms of education to young people so that they, with the help of the latest technology, develop their creativity and innovation. This year the program is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Education. The novelty of this year's program is IRIM's interactive educational web portal Izradi!, where everyone can access a free course on Arduino, a crucial technology for STEM that will be used in education. This year, if the epidemiological situation allows, the Generation NOW program will be held in selected institutions throughout Croatia, and interactive materials will additionally help program participants in acquiring knowledge and creating their projects. As the entire educational program is online, it will be available to all other institutions and individuals interested in improving STEM knowledge and skills.

On the occasion of the opening of the fifth donation competition Generation NOW, Paolo Zenzerović, Business Manager of IRIM, explains: "This year again, the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation continues its successful long-term cooperation with Hrvatski Telekom by including 50 institutions and supporting previously involved institutions in Internet of Things projects. Through this project, we educate mentors in primary and secondary schools and associations in the use of Arduino - the world's most renowned platform for the implementation of DIY projects in the field of electronics, automation, robotics, and engineering in general. Together with their mentors, students create their own projects and develop competencies in STEM and other digital skills needed to work and live in today's digital world."

This year's members of the expert Jury that will be in charge of evaluating projects are:

Igor Vukasović, Director of the Corporate Communications Department at Hrvatski Telekom and President of the Jury
Paolo Zenzerović, Business Manager at the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation
Boris Drilo, Member of the Management Board and CTIO at Hrvatski Telekom
Ana Džepina, senior expert advisor at the Ministry of Science and Education
Gordan Gledec, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing
Vuk Vuković, Executive Director at Oraclum Intelligence Systems
Lidija Kralj, representative of the Associates in Learning Association

Last year's donation program included a record of 110 educational institutions throughout Croatia. Using the knowledge gained in the educational program, donated equipment, and financial support, all teams successfully responded to the final assignment on the topic of Digital Game(Toy). According to the decision of the expert Jury, in the category of lower grades of primary schools, the best project was designed by students of Sibinjske žrtve Elementary School in Sibinj, among higher grades, the winner was the team of Bartol Kašić Vinkovci Elementary School, and the best project in high school category was by the team Nova Gradiška Electrical Engineering and Economy School.

The best teams will again receive valuable prizes.

Last year's program was also marked by the filming and screening of "Generation of Inspiration ", the first documentary about the prejudices STEM people face, their views of the world and the attitudes of their surroundings and society as a whole. The film has been viewed more than 1,250,000 times so far. Thanks to a successful collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Education, it is an integral part of the curriculum.