ZAGREB, 1 May 2022 - Split University has moved up in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and is now in a group of universities ranking from 401st to 600th among 1,524 institutions from 110 countries.

"Since last year we have gone up 400 places. We have met all 17 criteria of sustainable development, and that means a better ranking. We are working intensively on that," Split University Chancellor Dragan Ljutić said.

This year's rankings were published at the Times Higher Education Impact and Innovation Summit in Stockholm, focusing on innovation climate.

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess a university's impact on society through its contributions toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

"Cooperation is crucial to accomplishing sustainable development goals and we are particularly satisfied that in Partnerships for the Goals, which is one of the criteria, we have made the most progress compared to the previous year and now rank between 201st and 300th place among 1,438 institutions," Ljutić added.

In addition to Split University, also included in the list is Rijeka University, which is in the group of universities ranking from 301st to 400th. 

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

April 27, 2022 - Meet DisCloud, a new product of the Liberato Association that meets the needs of people with disabilities in Split.

At the University Department of Professional Studies in Split, an unusual smart bench with an interactive screen appeared, unique in its complete accessibility for people with disabilities. It is a new product of the Liberato Association, recognized for products that meet the needs of people with disabilities. Named 'DisCloud,' the software of other innovations from this student laboratory can also be installed, such as "LiberatoMap," which provides users with information on the accessibility of public and private facilities, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

This interesting installation supports all other software according to the customer's wishes, such as a guide in the mall, a kiosk for selling tickets in the ferry port, etc., and is rounded by solar power. Its creators, students Stipo Margić, a wheelchair user, and Mijo Marijević, the founder of the association, envisage a mobile application for it.

"Since DisCloud is powered by solar energy during its installation on surfaces, construction work is unnecessary to bring power to the city network. It also provides a wheelchair motor charging function and has the option of offering marketing services. In addition, institutions will be able to switch a lot of their services to a custom kiosk to make up for the shortcomings of their architectural inaccessibility of the facility."

Although it will be available to all citizens, it is primarily intended for people with disabilities because it will provide them with a new dimension of accessibility in the city and help tourists with disabilities.

The Liberato Association has the tremendous support of the University of Split and the University Department of Professional Studies in Split, the Student Union of the University of Split, while Professor Slaven Šitić made a significant contribution to the construction. In addition, the association has more than 20 volunteers, says they have big plans and goals, and are currently working on a mobile version of the app and better adapting it to blind and partially sighted people.

"This is not our beginning, it is not our end, but our path towards creating a world without barriers," is how they present their innovations.

And they already have several large projects behind them, including the mentioned "LiberatoMap" - an interactive map for people with disabilities, which provides easier and faster access to information on the accessibility of facilities in the city with a focus on technical infrastructure and implementation of new cities. The map is available online, and the team works every day on developing mobile applications and expanding to the entire territory of Croatia. The cities currently covered by the map are Split, Trogir and Omiš.

The LiberatoTalk project includes various events/lectures/panel discussions for high school students and citizens to increase the representation of topics about people with disabilities in the broader social context and discuss the problems they face. There is also a Guide for Students with Disabilities, iLiberatoTech. 

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 3 Oct, 2021 - Two laboratories specialising in hydrotechnical and earthquake research were formally opened earlier this week as part of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy (FGAG) of the University of Split.

The hydrotechnical laboratory will study coastal waters, underground streams and the karst phenomenon, while the other one will study the impact of earthquakes on different structures so that safer and more resilient buildings can be designed, FGAG Dean Nikša Jajac said at the opening ceremony.

The laboratories were opened as part of the project "From implementation of contemporary scientific and research infrastructure at FGAG to smart specialisation in green and energy efficient building".

The project was launched in June 2018 and financed from the European Regional Development Fund and the Competitiveness and Cohesion operational programme 2014-2020. Its value is HRK 84.5 million (€11.3m), of which 82.77 million comes from EU sources.

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September 24, 2021 - The Iron Age Danube Route Magazine which was recently presented is now available online for free reading to better present the first cultural route in Croatia acknowledged by the European Council.

With the Iron Age Danube Route getting recognition as a cultural route by the European Council earlier in 2021, the Iron Age Danube Route Association continues to promote this valuable, educational, scientific, and tourist site in eastern Croatia.

As Zagreb's Archaeological Museum website informed its visitors, the first issue of the Iron Age Danube Route Magazine (written in English) has recently been presented, and you can download and read it as a PDF file.

The magazine's intention is to present the Iron Age Danube Route.

''We start with the basics by briefly explaining what the Iron Age was and then we go on to explain the route itself. After that, we invite you to follow the route by meeting the institutions and people behind the entire endeavor. Then you can check out our activities during this year (one little tip: it works even better if you check out the fresh information on our website),'' says the Archaeological Museum on its website.

The topics that will present how things were along the Danube back during the Iron Age include prehistoric landscapes, customs, and even gastronomy.

''The Iron Age Danube Route magazine — and indeed the route itself — not only wishes to demonstrate that the Danube of the Iron Age had an extremely interesting past but also seeks to ensure that it also has a future — a future you're all invited to share. Join us as readers or join us as tourists, if you wish. And who knows, one day, you might even think of joining us as partners. But whatever role you do reserve for yourself, two things are certain: first, you'll be most welcome, and second, there's no better way to start your journey than by continuing reading this magazine. We hope you will enjoy it!'' wrote Sanjin Mihelić, President of Iron Age Danube Route Association, in the magazine's editorial letter.

As TCN previously wrote, the European Council granted the culture route certificate to the Iron Age Danube Route, which stretches through Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, and Slovenia.

That certificate is important as it enhances the overall visibility of the site, allowing the public to become better informed about the area and enriching the overall Croatian cultural and tourist offer, creating new opportunities for business, scientific and educational purposes.

The Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, the Centre for Prehistoric Research, Kaptol County, Papuk Nature Park, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb are the founders and partners of this international project that allows Croatia to learn more about its past while creating new opportunities for today's and future generations.

Did you know the Croatian Hero City of Vukovar is located along the Danube river? Learn more about it in our TC guide.

For more about Croatian history, follow TCN's dedicated page.

September 17, 2021 - Set to be held in Umag on October 7-8, the Klima-Forum Conference is the event to go to for discussions on the contemporary issues of cooling systems and air conditioning in Croatia. Registrations for participation are now underway.

''Nineteen days and eighteen hours'' is displayed on the countdown on the Energetika-marketing.hr website at the time of writing this article. For the professional air-conditioning community, the countdown is more than exciting, as it points how much time remains until the 8th edition of the Klima-Forum, the event about all things related to Cooling, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning.

''The westernmost part of Istria, the first days of autumn, beautiful nature, a pleasant climate... could there ever be a better environment for a discussion and an exchange of experiences, opinions and ideas, for the presentation of new products, solutions and implemented projects in refrigeration, ventilation and air-conditioning technology?'' wonders Energetika-marketing.hr while inviting interested parties to the forum that will take place in Umag on October 7-8 at the Sol Garden Istra hotel.

Even though the application section on the website is made for registration and accommodation, the website nevertheless warns that interested people should send an inquiry to register for both participation and accommodation via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

At the moment, admissions are being taken both for those who just want to come and learn more as well as for authors who also want to present their work in the field of cooling systems. 

''The authors of presentations that will be presented at the conference are exempt from paying the registration fee on the day they present their presentation. If a presentation has more than one author, the one who will present at the conference is the one exempt from paying the registration fee,'' says the website. 

The program that includes round-tables, discussions, and lectures has been divided into six thematic sections. 

On Thursday, October 7, the themes will be Globally and Locally (on laws and practices in Croatia, Europe, and the rest of the world), Ventilation and Air-conditioning (on the pandemic, health protection, cleaning solutions, and more), and Regulation and Control (on smart grids, buildings, and similar topics).

The next day, October 8, the forum will deal with the themes of Projects and Solutions (designing, testing and implementing cooling systems, etc.), Renovation and Modernisation (nearly zero-energy buildings, energy renovation), and finally, Efficiency and Development (the energy consumption of cooling and ventilation systems and more).

With concerns about energy efficiency continuing to take a front seat for the climate change topic, this conference is another environmentally friendly step forward for Croatia. As TCN previously wrote, positive examples include the Hrvoje Požar Energy Institute (EIHP), being the first nearly-zero energy building in Croatia, and the REPLACE Project, to name just a couple of examples.

Several scientific-technical are also keenly backing this upcoming event. These five patrons are the University of Rijeka, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (University of Split), the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (University of Zagreb), the Croatian Chamber of Engineers, and the Croatian Association for Cooling, Air-Conditioning and Heat Systems.

In addition, the lead patron is the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK)

Learn more about Croatian inventions and discoveries from Tesla to Rimac on our dedicated TC page.

For more about science in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

September 6, 2021 - Great news for education in Dalmatia as Times Higher Education rates University of Split the best in Croatia! 

In the latest World University Rankings, published on September 2, 2021, the University of Split achieved the best result at the national level. In the world, it was ranked between 1001st and 1200th place, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

Since this type of evaluation was first conducted in 2011, the number of participating higher education institutions has grown from 200 to as many as 1,662, with more than 2,112 institutions submitting ranking data this year, representing over 100 million citations to more than 14 million scientific papers and a survey of over 22,000 scientists, said the University of Split.

In this pandemic year, when universities have faced many challenges, the greatest progress has been made by Chinese universities, and a significant increase in several categories has been achieved for several years by universities in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

This year, the University of Split achieved an increase in the number of points in as many as four of the five areas that Times Higher Education applies in the evaluation: Teaching, Research, Revenue from Industry, and International Cooperation. It is worth noting that citations are the best-rated area.

Furthermore, the University of Split has again achieved success on the NTU (National Taiwan University) scale, which since 2007, traditionally publishes the university evaluation "Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities."

The ranking is based on 3 parameters: Research Productivity, Research Impact, and Research Excellence, which rely solely on the quality and impact of scientific papers indexed in the Web of Science and ESI Clarivate (Essential Science Indicators) database.

This year, the University of Split is ranked between 651st and 700th in the world, while based on the quality and impact of scientific publications, the field of life sciences, it is positioned in the range from 401st to 450th place, and in the field of natural sciences between 451st and 500th place.

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

May 1st, 2020 - A big step forward for the University of Split, as it is the first in the European Union to issue Europass digital certificates. 

RTL reports, the University of Split has made a step forward at the European Union level in the application of Europass digital credentials, a European tool that enables the digitization of documents in formal and non-formal education. Namely, they became the first institution in Europe to successfully issue as many as 437 digital certificates of participation in January 2021 to participants in the international online conference Week of Innovative Regions in Europe - WIRE 2020, organized by the Faculty of Economics in Split.

"Given the importance of this event, we knew we had to issue certificates to participate and since I was actively participating in the European universities project in parallel, we looked for a testing ground for digitally signed credentials and somehow happily merged with each other," said Maja Ćukušić, Faculty of Economics in Split.

The Dean of the University, Dragan Ljutić, points out that the entire project of the digital European diploma started from them. "In today's time of digitalization, it is clear that we are seriously thinking about it, that is, that we have already started," said Dean Ljutić.

The University of Split, together with the universities of Cadiz, Brittany, Malta, Kiel and Gdansk, has been a member of the alliance called the European University of the Sea (SEA-EU) since October 2019. With the membership in the SEA-EU Alliance, the University of Split has been awarded almost one million euros in grants, which will be invested primarily in the networking of six universities at all levels in the three years of the project. Some of the activities within this project include work on the processes of automatic recognition of qualifications, digitization of qualifications, the introduction of the European Student Card, development of virtual and physical mobility, migration issues, creation of the Center for Socially Beneficial Learning, the connection of research capacities of six universities.

The digital credential has the same legal value as paper certificates, and will allow institutions to issue certificates of qualifications free of charge, such as diplomas and other learning credentials that cannot be illegally altered.

Individuals can store the obtained Europass digital credentials on their Europass profile on the new Europass platform and share it with employers when looking for a job, and employers have a better and more credible insight into the acquired skills and knowledge of potential job candidates.

"I was thrilled by the digital credentials because they are very easy to use and can be downloaded in pdf or image format and as such easily placed on business networks or paired with our Europass CV. I was also delighted that the exact listed competencies were acquired by workshops, and these competencies themselves are in line with internationally standard qualifications of education and as such are recognized throughout the European Union", says a student of the Faculty of Economics in Split Ana-Marija Ivčević.

To read more about news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

March 27, 2021 - The American University of Penn State informed the American public about the results of cooperation between scientists from the University of Split and Penn State University, identifying the remains of the servant of the Mother of God Maria Krucifix Kozulić and her sister Teresa, 100 years after their death. 

"Penn State News", the official bulletin of one of the most influential and largest American public universities, included among the significant achievements of scientists of this university in 2020 the successful identification of the servant of the Mother of God Maria Krucifix Kozulić and her sister Teresa, which they achieved in the middle of 2020 with Croatian scientists under the leadership of prof.dr. Dragan Primorac and prof.dr. Mitchell Holland.

Dragan Primorac, postulator of the cause for the beatification of the servant of the Mother of God Marija Krucifix Kozulić, č.M. Dobroslava Mlakić, and Archbishop Ivan Devčić

As part of the beatification process of the Blessed Mother Mary Crucifix Kozulić (1852-1922), founder of the autochthonous Rijeka religious community of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in 2011, the community leaders decided to initiate the exhumation of skeletal remains from the tomb on Kozala in Rijeka. The exhumation of bone remains from the Kozala tomb began on December 20, 2011, when it was determined that 52 people were buried in the grave. Of that number, the remains of 35 people were in wooden coffins, while the remains of other people were mixed in seven bags. With the help of standard methods of forensic anthropology at the Clinical Institute of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology in Rijeka and then at the Clinical Institute of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology in Split, skeletal remains were selected and preparations for molecular analysis (nuclear and mitochondrial analysis) began.

The expert team for identification was attended by professor and D.Sc Dragan Primorac, Ph.D. D.Sc Alan Bosnar, Ph.D. D.Sc Šimun Anđelinović, Ph.D. Anja Petaros, Ph.D. Miran Čoklo, Associate Professor D.Sc Ivana Kružić, Associate Professor D.Sc Željana Bašić, and American colleagues Dr. Charla Marshall, Dr. Kimberly Sturk-Andreaggi, Dr. Erin M. Gorden, Dr. Jennifer Daniels-Higginbotham, Dr. Sidney Gaston Sanchez, and Dr. Timothy P. McMahon.

Servant Mother of God Maria Crucifix Kozulić and her sister Teresa were identified by analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) almost a hundred years after their death, in the middle of last year. As a result of the identification, a scientific paper entitled “A Forensic Genomics Approach for the Identification of Sister Marija Crucifiksa Kozulić” was published in the journal Genes. In Split, the postulator of the cause for the beatification of the Servant of the Mother of God Marija Krucifiksa Kozulić, MS Dobroslava Mlakić, was handed over by Prof. Dragan Ljutić, Ph.D., Rector of the University of Split, and colleagues from the University. After the handover of the body of the Servant of the Mother of God Marija Krucifix Kozulić and her sister Teresa, the Eucharistic celebration in Split was led by Monsignor Marin Barišić, Ph.D., Archbishop and Metropolitan of Split and Makarska.

Prof.dr. Dragan Primorac and Prof.dr. Mitchell Holland at Penn State University

On September 26, 2020, in the convent of the Society of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the earthly remains of the servant of the Mother of God Marija Krucifiksa Kozulić are buried, for whom the process of the proclamation as Blessed and Holy is currently underway.

The University of Split and Penn State University have been cooperating for many years, which was started by Dragan Primorac and Mitchell Holland, who have been cooperating in the field of identifying victims using DNA technology since 1993. Penn State University is one of the largest public universities in the United States with an annual budget of about $7 billion, and nearly 100,000 students study at the University.

To read more news from Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 10 March, 2021 - The university hospital centre in Split recently performed its first transplant of stem cells, and the patient concerned is a 62-year-old woman, who is recovering from the surgery very well, the centre's director, Julije Meštrović said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The operation was performed 16 days ago, and this is the first time to have a stem cell transplant outside Zagreb.

This is a great success for the medical profession in Split and Croatia, he said.

Three hospitals in Zagreb perform stem cell transplants, and the first surgery of this kind was conducted in 1983.

The Split hospital expects to annually carry out 10-15 transplants of this kind.

For more about health in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

January 18, 2021 – Newly released figures examining further education demographics show that Croatian female postgraduate students account for a huge 66.3 percent of all those enrolled at this level in the country

Nobody is really sure for just how long women have lived in an imbalanced society. The patriarchal system stretches back thousands of years, favouring male authority and male heirs. It is only within the relatively recent past that we have rightly begun to question the social, legal, political, religious, and economic restraints placed upon women. Key to their continuing emancipation has been equal opportunities in education.

In Croatia, where some consider the patriarchal system to have stubbornly lingered for longer than in other parts of Europe, evidence of society's continuing shift can be seen in the latest figures for higher education. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), within the field of specialist studies in the academic year 2019/2020, Croatian female postgraduate students outnumber their male counterparts at almost 2:1.

Of 1429 students who enrolled in specialist continuing studies for the year 2000, some 948 of them were Croatian female postgraduate students. Croatian female postgraduate students account for 66.3 percent of all students enrolled at this level in the country, with their male counterparts accounting for just 33.7 percent.

Social sciences (cultural and social anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science, and economics) accounted for the largest area in which Croatian female postgraduate students chose to study, accounting for 43.7 percent of female enrolments. The next most popular areas of study for Croatian female postgraduate students were biomedicine and health (42.8 percent), followed by technical sciences (5.7 percent), interdisciplinary fields of science (4.5 percent) then natural sciences (1.1 percent). Less than one percent of Croatian female postgraduate students enrolled in the humanities (0.9 percent), biotechnical sciences (0.7 percent) and the arts (0.6 percent).

Most postgraduate specialist students enrolled at the University of Zagreb (79.3 percent), followed by the University of Rijeka (10.5 percent), the University of Osijek (6.9 percent), the University of Split (2.5 percent), and Libertas International University Zagreb (0.8 percent).

Croatian female postgraduate students accounted for 81.8 percent of enrolments for this level of study at Libertas International University Zagreb, 77.8 percent at the University of Split, 68 percent at the University of Zagreb, 62.2 percent at the University of Osijek, and 52.6 percent at the University of Rijeka.

The University of Zagreb © University of Zagreb

Most students enrolling for studies at the postgraduate level were aged 30 to 34 years (36.1 percent), with 24.8 percent being in the 25 to 29 age group. 19 percent were in the 35 to 39 age group, 9.9 percent in the 40 to 44 age group, 5.7 percent in the 45 to 49 age group, 2.4 percent in the 50 to 54 age group, 1.1 percent in the 55+ age group and 1 percent were aged 24-years-old.

98.3 percent of all postgraduate students enrolled at universities in Croatia are citizens of the Republic of Croatia. Foreigners choosing to undertake their postgraduate studies at universities in Croatia accounted for just 1.7 percent of enrolments. Of the Croatian citizens, 97 percent had previously graduated in the Republic of Croatia, and 3 percent abroad.

97 percent of all postgraduate students are already employed and 3 percent unemployed. 42.8 percent are employed in the field of healthcare and social care. Employers paid for the greatest share of postgraduate course fees - 55.8 percent of postgraduate students had their course fees paid for by their employer. 43.7 percent of students paid for their own study fees.