News

In line with the objectives of the University’s Development Strategy and the need for continuous review and improvement of study programmes to match developments in the labour market and emerging technologies—as well as with the goal of increasing the competitiveness of graduates—a working group was appointed to conduct a thorough review of the existing professional undergraduate programme Computer Systems Maintenance.

As part of this process, a comparative analysis of similar study programmes was carried out, both in Croatia and in neighbouring and EU countries. Valuable input was drawn from graduate student feedback (collected through surveys), current student suggestions, and proposals from IT industry professionals. Based on this input, a qualitative comparison of related programmes and an analysis of learning outcomes aligned with the Croatian Qualifications Framework revealed areas for improvement. This led to the proposal of new study content aimed at enhancing the overall quality and competitiveness of the programme.

During the review process, the need to rename the study programme to “Computer Systems” was also identified.

The curriculum of the new Computer Systems professional undergraduate study programme is designed to equally emphasize two areas: the design and development of information systems and software applications, and the maintenance of system and hardware technology solutions. The proposed programme will equip students with the knowledge and skills required for the use, maintenance, implementation, and administration of IT infrastructure, as well as for the design and development of software support and the creation of simple to moderately complex software applications. These applications may serve various fields, from business process automation to embedded and standalone computing systems for monitoring industrial and energy processes, as well as for control and management of non-IT equipment within the broad application area of the Internet of Things (IoT).

In support of launching this new programme, industry stakeholders have expressed strong interest in a study programme that aligns with labour market needs by educating professionals with both programming and systems expertise.

Ultimately, the relevance of the proposed professional undergraduate study programme Computer Systems, and its alignment with labour market requirements, has been confirmed by a positive opinion from the Croatian Employment Service. The proposal will now move forward into the initial accreditation process.