Three times this week, Aspira celebrated the start of the new academic year. The initial recipients of this honour were international and Erasmus students who started a new life adventure on the first day of the week. On Tuesday in Split and Wednesday in Zagreb, the new academic year was inaugurated.
Dean Alen Jerkunica, Vice Deans Mario Buble and Petra Mandac, winners of the dean’s awards, and representatives of the profession spoke at the beginning of the academic year.
The dean’s prizes were presented as a part of the inaugural programme in various categories.
The dean’s award for extracurricular activities was given to Mykhailo Dobrovolsky, Manda Podnar, Eva Atanasovska, and Daphne Gloria Samson on Monday. Rishav Pun, Laura Mishevska, Gloria Araya Ramirez, and Tamara Sudar received the award for grade point average, Stjepan Miše, Petra Veselinović, Matej Pološki, Vladimir Shevalev, and Jadranka Gluhaković received awards for having the highest averages in the event’s opener in Split. For their outstanding efforts, Antonio Ujević, Petar Marić, Piero Pivačić, Tina Čulić, Krešo Jozić, Josip Skoko, Rudolf Zvonimir Živković, Tomislava Nazor, and Ivan Lavrić received recognition.
Jadranka Gluhaković received the prize for the best student project. The certificates of recognition were awarded to Renato Šikić, Toni Meneghello Krstulović, and Toni Jakovčević, per the dean’s recommendation.
While in Zagreb, Anamarija Šimićak and Klaudia Šiprak were awarded for grade point average. Colleagues Lara Hrg and Helena Purgar got the dean’s prize in the category of extracurricular activities, and Alan Žižak Gvozdenović won a special recognition per dean’s suggestion.
Along with students, teachers were awarded the “Žarko Bilić” award, which this year went to Luka Androja, and it is the most significant of the awards since it is a reflection of student satisfaction with teaching. Josip Radić got the award for excellence in the application and implementation of national, international, and EU projects for the academic year 2022–2023, and Ivan Bilonić received a recognition for involvement in extracurricular activities.
Iva Sundji received the “Žarko Bilić” award in Zagreb, while Mato Bartoluci, Marijana Božić, Petra Mandac, and Ivana Šalinović also received recognition.
This honour belongs to you as well as to me. Without your encouragement, support, and help, I would not have been able to achieve this success. “A candle that lights other candles does not lose its shine,” as Professor Bilić would say.
“Therefore, I would like to thank all colleagues and students who supported and motivated me during the previous academic year.” Androja said inspiringly.
The emphasis on the profession and practical knowledge that prepares students for employment in the real economy is a crucial component of the opening, something Aspira has insisted on since its beginnings. Stjepko Bulić, who emphasized learning new skills and gaining experience, Hrvoje Vejić, who spoke about persistence and dedication, and Jure Stančić addressed the audience as representatives of the profession in Split. In Zagreb, Antonella Miletić Benc spoke to the audience as a representative of the profession.
It is unnecessary to discuss developing a network of professional contacts or learning about the organisational culture of IT companies because, in my opinion, the combination that enables students to apply theoretical knowledge to real projects offers an opportunity to develop practical skills, solve real problems, and build an impressive personal portfolio by the end of their studies. The director of Netscale, one of Aspire’s partners, Jure Stančić, emphasised the importance of cooperation with the profession.
Dean Alen Jerkunica gave a suitable address at the very end of the three-day ceremony to officially mark the start of the new academic year.
– Keep in mind each step you must take to succeed, and value each one since without the path taken, there can be no success. That’s why I want you to be educated not only to be excellent experts in your field but also to be excellent people. Dean Alen Jerkunica opened the new academic year by wishing all of the students success.
We wish all first-year students a fruitful year and plenty of lifelong memories.
