On Tuesday, 26th February 2019, Aspira hosted the meeting of Economic Advisory Board and Alumni to ensure excellent cooperation between the College and the Croatian economy and leading companies that employ top experts from the fields of tourism, sport and computer engineering. The meeting was attended by twenty full members of Economic Advisory Board: Vesna Ivić Šimetin (HUP), Sandra Čanić (Radisson blu), Igor Leben (Le Meridien Lav), Renco Posinković (Spaladium Arena), Josip Reić (Splitski klub olimpijaca), Edo Blažević (KK Split), Goran Škugor (Ericsson), Marko Barić (Typequast), Deni Borozan (gimastičarski klub Marjan), alumni students – Marin Antišić, Marin Pavković, Romana Župan, Antonio Akmadžić and Aspira representatives – the Dean Alen Jerkunica, Vice-dean Toni Miljak, General secretary Marija Radonić, Quality coordinator Petra Mandac and Head of Hospitality and Tourism Management Department, Martina Petrović.
The meeting was opened by the Dean, Alen Jerkunica, who announced the agenda for the meeting: goals of Economic Advisory Board, elections for the board president, and the discussion about internship and student employment. Continuous activity of Economic Advisory Board is of extreme importance for Aspira University College because it is the body responsible for connecting the education and the real sector, as well as for alignment with the Bologna process and the labour market, ensuring guest lecturers for public lectures and joint project development.
The members of Economic Advisory Board have referred to the current situation in education and labour market. IT sector representatives have emphasized tha public universities study programs are outdated and cannot offer suitable knowledge to the students, while IT companies are burdened with too much financial obligations they cannot pay their employees . Goran Škugor from Ericsson company noted that the cooperation between higher education institutions and real sector is extremely important. Representatives of sports sector have also joined the discussion. Renco Posinković and Josip Reić confirmed that the situation in sports in bad. Students of sports management do not have their rightful place in the labour market, because the clubs put trainers on top management positions, instead of educated individuals.
The meeting was ended by the Dean Jerkunica who thanked all the participants. Gastronomy students have prepared refreshments so the discussions continued.