On Friday, November 6, 2026, the Faculty of Engineering in Rijeka marked its 66th anniversary with a formal session of the Faculty Council. The event highlighted the Faculty’s achievements over the past year and its plans for the future. Particular emphasis was placed on modernising education and adapting study programmes to meet the changing needs of the economy and labour market.
The Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Lado Kranjčević, spoke about the Faculty’s achievements and future development plans, emphasising the importance of research excellence and, in particular, the further expansion of the Faculty’s portfolio of study programmes.
“Alongside our established study programmes in Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Electrical Engineering and Computing, we have introduced a programme in Mechatronics and Robotics, which has proven particularly popular. Last year, it contributed to a 27% increase in first-year enrolment at the Faculty, and this growth has continued this year. We have also received approval to launch a new interdisciplinary study programme in Polytechnics, which will educate future teachers for primary and high schools. Teachers qualified to teach STEM subjects are currently in particularly short supply at both levels. The Artificial Intelligence in Engineering study programme, the first of its kind in Croatia, is also currently undergoing accreditation. This expansion of interdisciplinary study programmes is intended to equip future engineers with the knowledge and skills required in today’s professional environment,” said the Dean, Prof. Kranjčević.
The Faculty’s achievements and progress were also commended by the Rector of the University of Rijeka, Prof. Goran Hauser, MD, and Rijeka Deputy Mayor Vedran Vivoda. Both expressed their satisfaction with the Faculty’s work, recognising its important contribution to both the academic and local community. Prof. Hauser particularly highlighted the increase in student enrolment, describing it as a significant achievement in the face of unfavourable demographic trends and a declining youth population.
A special part of the ceremony was dedicated to recognising the Faculty’s highest-achieving students. Awards for outstanding academic performance during the 2025/2026 academic year were presented by representatives of companies with which the Faculty has established long-standing partnerships. A special Recognition for Student Activism was also awarded.
Students recognised for their academic achievements in the undergraduate university study programmes were Laura Pravdić and Dino Dujmić (Mechanical Engineering), Romina Racković and Viktor Đurović (Naval Architecture), Noel Benazić and Leo Vivoda (Electrical Engineering), Aldo Nađ and Luka Vukušić (Computing), and Vito Ribarić and Karla Gržinić (Mechatronics and Robotics).
The following graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering were also recognised for their achievements: Antonio Trubić (Mechanical Engineering), Nora Aničić (Naval Architecture), Marko Babić (Electrical Engineering) and Leonard Lečić (Computing).
Students recognised for their excellent academic results in the first year of the graduate (Master’s) university study programmes were Luka Dorčić (Mechanical Engineering), Dominik Matešić (Naval Architecture), Antonio Križanac (Electrical Engineering) and Karlo Jakopović (Computing). Awards for academic achievement upon completion of their graduate (Master’s) studies went to Jan Pelić (Mechanical Engineering), Nastasija Milošević (Naval Architecture), Mario Roce (Electrical Engineering) and Denis Ibiši (Computing).
The Recognition for Student Activism was awarded to Computing students Nolan Ilisić and Matej Brodarac.
Certificates of appreciation were also presented to the High School for Electrical Engineering and Computing in Rijeka, Technical School in Rijeka, First Sušak Croatian Gymnasium in Rijeka, Electroindustrial and Trade School in Rijeka, Andrija Mohorovičić Gymnasium in Rijeka, First Rijeka Croatian Gymnasium in Rijeka, Technical School in Čakovec, Technical School in Pula, and Juraj Dobrila Gymnasium and Vocational School in Pazin. The certificates recognised the schools’ long-standing cooperation with the Faculty and their contribution to preparing future students for higher education at the Faculty of Engineering.
The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Rijeka continues its work in educating future generations of engineers, providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to build successful careers.
