Our scientists and researchers are closely connected with industry, and we strive to make breakthroughs that contribute to development, quality of life, and education.
At Algebra Bernays University, knowledge is applied through project-based work, internships, and collaboration with companies in real market conditions. This is evident across all of our study programs, Božo Skoko, Vice-Rector for Postgraduate Studies and the Popularization of Science at Algebra Bernays University, told Diplomacy&Commerce. He also believes that today the gap between theory and practice is smaller than ever before.
- The Algebra Bernays University is the largest private educational institution in Croatia, dedicated to contemporary, relevant, and practice-oriented education. You serve as Vice-Rector for Postgraduate Studies and the Popularization of Science. How do you promote science?
At Algebra Bernays University, we do not view science as a closed academic space, but as a benefit to the wider community. We strive to ensure that science and scientific research are useful, understandable, accessible, and applicable in real life, and specifically in the marketplace. We approach popularization systematically and on several levels: through public lectures and professional conferences, media appearances by our lecturers and faculty members, collaboration with industry, visits to grammar and secondary schools, and projects in which students participate in research with tangible social and market impact.
It is particularly important to us to bring complex scientific topics closer to the public in clear and accessible language, while preserving their professional grounding and seriousness. We believe it is the responsibility of the academic community not only to create new knowledge, but also to actively share it, explain it, and place it within the context of contemporary challenges such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and social development. Science must be visible, open, and inclusive. Its value is not measured solely by scientific publications, but also by its real impact on the community, the economy, and the quality of public discourse. That is why we strive to build bridges between research, education, and practice – as well as between Croatia and the international scientific community. Through partnerships with foreign universities, participation in international research projects, and the involvement of our faculty staff and students in global academic networks, we ensure that the knowledge we create and transfer is relevant not only at the national level, but also at the European and global levels.
- When it comes to postgraduate studies, the Joint Doctoral Study Programme stands out. Who is it intended for, and what makes it stand out among others?
The Joint Doctoral Study Programme in Computer and Data Science is the first joint doctoral programme of its kind in Croatia. It is designed for researchers who wish to work in an international environment and develop topics with real scientific and societal impact. The programme brings together more than forty internationally recognized scholars in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, technology, and ethics. Each doctoral candidate is assigned two supervisors – one from each partner country – ensuring a broader perspective and stronger academic support throughout the entire research process. A distinctive feature of the programme is its strong research support and access to advanced digital resources that enable work on complex scientific problems. Doctoral candidates do not work in isolation; they are actively involved into the international research community. The curriculum is interdisciplinary, combining methodology of scientific research with advanced topics in artificial intelligence and data analytics, while also developing skills such as international project writing and scientific communication. The programme operates under a joint governance model of two institutions, with clearly defined and aligned quality standards, which further enhances its international credibility.
- How would you assess the relationship between education and applied knowledge today, and to what extent is the knowledge acquired at the University applied in practical terms?
The practical dimension is confirmed through projects developed in cooperation with the Croatian Employers’ Association, such as the socially responsible communication campaign of the Ne budi zombi initiative, as well as through the development of computer games created by our students – Rod of Asclepius, Slippy Rails, and Dragon Tribe Chronicles. Collaboration with GNK Dinamo Zagreb connects the study programmes in Multimedia Production, Communication Management, and Creative Design Management with concrete assignments in multimedia, communications, and visual identity, which students develop for this football club. In the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence programme – which we were the first to launch in Europe – students work with concrete tools and models, analyze data, develop solutions, and reflect on the ethical aspects of technology. Artificial intelligence thus becomes both a tool and a subject of critical understanding. This approach enables students to adapt more quickly to the labour market while developing critical thinking, teamwork, and the responsible use of technology.
- Where do you see the biggest problem in today’s education system, and how can it be addressed? What models do you use to tackle potential challenges?
In my opinion, the biggest problem lies in the system’s slow adaptation to changes taking place in technology and the economy. Curricula often reflect reactive practices rather than a proactive approach. The solution lies in more flexible programmes, faster integration of new knowledge and technologies into teaching, stronger cooperation with industry, and greater autonomy for educational institutions in designing their content. We apply a model of continuous improvement, meaning that we update courses every year, involve industry experts, and closely monitor global trends. In addition, we encourage interdisciplinarity, as contemporary challenges rarely belong to just one field.
- Given the vision of Algebra Bernays University to become an institution recognized for its contributions to advanced digital technologies and to be a driver of change, where do you see Croatian education in the future? In which direction will it develop, and what should we pay particular attention to?
The University’s vision is to be a catalyst for change in the fields of advanced digital technologies and innovation, as well as in communication sciences. In that context, Croatian education must evolve toward a model that is personalized, digitally empowered, and at the same time deeply human-centered. The university of the future must be digital, but also tailored to people – technology is a tool, not an end in itself. In the future, key competencies will include digital skills, data literacy, ethical understanding of technology, and the ability for lifelong learning, combined with a high degree of adaptability to new trends and the rapid development of science and technology. Particular attention must be given to fostering critical thinking and responsibility in the use of artificial intelligence. Education will no longer be a one-time process, but a continuous partnership between the individual and the institution. Those who understand this in time will be competitive not only nationally, but globally as well.