Generation NOW: Hrvatski Telekom invests another HRK 700,000 in STEM education of youth

30.9.2021

This year's Generation NOW 2021/2022 competition Is open
In collaboration with IRIM, HT provides educational and financial support to educational institutions and donates STEM equipment
So far, more than 2,200 children and young people throughout Croatia have participated in the Generation NOW, national program and the investment amounts to more than HRK 4.5 million

Hrvatski Telekom continues with the Generation NOW donation competition, through which it invests in STEM knowledge of future young generations. Through this year's donation tender, Hrvatski Telekom, in cooperation with its long-term partner, the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation (IRIM), invests HRK 700,000 in the further development of STEM in Croatia.

The competition runs from September 30 to October 12, and all educational institutions and non-profit institutions that promote the STEM field can apply via online form. IRIM's expert mentors will provide support during the program to the selected institutions, and Hrvatski Telekom will donate the cutting-edge equipment for creative Internet of Things projects, free internet access with free data traffic, and a financial donation.

"Empowering young people and supporting their personal and professional growth and development is an integral part of our vision of connecting everyone in Croatia with the opportunities that digitalization provides. Hrvatski Telekom has invested more than HRK 4.5 million in Generation NOW and STEM education over the last five years, allowing access to superior education for children and young people throughout Croatia and enabling them to discover and realize their potential. I am particularly pleased to learn that more than 2,200 children and 300 educational institutions have already participated in the program and that by encouraging the development of STEM skills from the earliest age, we invest not only in our young generations but also in the future of Croatia," said Kostas Nebis, President of the Management Board of Hrvatski Telekom.

Generation NOW aims at providing the most modern forms of education to young people to develop their creativity and innovation with the help of the latest technology.

The Generation NOW program will take place this year again, if the epidemiological situation allows, in the premises of selected institutions throughout Croatia. Interactive materials will additionally help program participants in acquiring knowledge and creating their own projects. The entire educational program is online and will be available to all institutions and individuals interested in improving STEM knowledge and skills.

"The Generation NOW project, which we are implementing together with Hrvatski Telekom in primary and secondary schools, associations, and libraries throughout Croatia, enables beneficiaries of all participants to access to modern educational technology in the field of Internet of Things, and their mentors to access to educational materials and project implementation support. Mentors pass on the acquired knowledge to their students on how to use technology to turn their own ideas into device prototypes. Students then become creators of their own solutions, not just consumers of the technology. In addition to knowledge about the application of technology, students acquire knowledge that is crucial in the 21st century - creativity, cooperation, team leadership skills and communication, and presentation skills," said Paolo Zenzerović, Operations Manager IRIM.

This year, the expert Jury tasked with evaluating all projects includes:

Igor Vukasović, Director of the Corporate Communications Department at Hrvatski Telekom and President of the Jury
Paolo Zenzerović, Operations Manager at the Institute for Youth Development and Innovation
Boris Drilo, Member of the Management Board and Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Officer of Hrvatski Telekom.
Gordan Gledec, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing
Lidija Kralj, representative of the Learning Associates Association
Josipa Majić, co-founder, fintech Revuto
dr.sc. Hrvoje Meštrić, PhD, Director of the Directorate of Science and Technology
Ivan Mrvoš, founder, Include