30.5.2016
- A project by Hrvatski Telekom will contribute to the creation of an active academic and economic community of young experts in diverse areas of natural sciences and science and the Zagreb-based Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing will be its first partner.
Gordan Gledec, Marija Felkel, Stjepan Ivanić (FER student and HT’s scholarship recipient), Ana Sović Kržić (ŠUZA – “From School to Science and the Academic Community” programme), Boris Drilo (HT)
HT STEM HUB, a project by Hrvatski Telekom with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing acting as its first partner, has been presented in Zagreb today. It will be an incubator intended to encourage the development of skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – that is in the area of STEM.
Through summer internship to be held in July and August, all the students within STEM HUB will be provided the opportunity to work on the most technologically advanced projects in Croatia, such as smart city solutions, augmented reality system, robotics, and intelligent control systems. Final year students are eligible to apply for a cash-based scholarship in September, and they will also be allocated a professional mentor from HT, who can help them with their professional orientation and the selection of their professional thesis.
Besides being provided the opportunity to practically apply their knowledge, through diverse training and workshops in communication and business skills, students will be additionally prepared to face the real business world following their graduation. Moreover, the best STEM HUB members will be offered a job by Hrvatski Telekom.
"Hrvatski Telekom is the leading company throughout the segments of telecommunication services on the Croatian market and one of the largest companies that employ STEM experts. It is in our interest to attract a large number of young experts, and hence HT STEM HUB is a logical continuation of our long-term strategy of investment into corporate development and growth," pointed out Marija Felkel, Member of the Management Board of HT and Chief Human Resources Officer.
A large number of states have been focusing on popularisation of STEM education commencing from kindergarten, due to an increasing demand for STEM expert employment on a daily basis, whilst the interest shown by young people in enrolling natural sciences faculties and career selection in that area does not follow the trend in an equal ratio. Implementation of active measures intended to foster STEM education in Croatia has been included in the guidelines of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and other competent authorities. Hrvatski Telekom, as one of the leading economic entities in the STEM area, in co-operation with the Zagreb-based Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, as the leading STEM Faculty, has launched this project that will certainly contribute to STEM popularisation in Croatia.
"Projects of this type establish a direct connection between the academic community and employers, as students are provided the opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge in work environment, which will contribute to the development of the entire economy. There is much more to STEM HUB than scholarships – it is a vision of popularisation of science and diverse areas of natural sciences, aiming to provide solutions both for the present and the future," stated Gordan Gledec, Vice Dean at Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing.
HT will donate HRK 700,000 to two projects from the STEM area, under its donation contest Together We Are Stronger, which will also provide an opportunity of involvement for both STEM HUB members and HT employees.