A ceremony was held at the premises of the Virovitica University of Applied Sciences on April 15, 2024, to sign an agreement continuing the implementation of the “Virovitica Model,” the only one of its kind in Croatia. In this model, the Virovitica-Podravina County, along with its cities and municipalities, co-finance the operations of the Virovitica University of Applied Sciences from their budgets. This unique model in Croatia has been functioning for 15 years, and this year the total co-financing amount from the signatories amounts to 37.4 million euros.
The funds raised are solely intended for the improvement of human resources, teachers, and assistants at our University of Applied Sciences through various professional development programs, scientific and professional interests of my colleagues, but the most important aspect is the full funding of postgraduate doctoral studies. In the past two years, the University of Applied Sciences has significantly expanded its staff with eight new employees, including assistants, lecturers, and senior lecturers from various scientific fields. Additionally, significant financial progress has been made, as there are no longer employees on their own income. This saving has enabled the adoption of regulations for rewarding excellence in publishing activities, encouraging colleagues to publish high-quality papers and books. Furthermore, last year a student service was opened, which complements the mission of the University of Applied Sciences to make knowledge and resources accessible to all students. Additionally, continuous investments are made in various conferences and professional education to maintain the competitiveness of the University of Applied Sciences – emphasized Dean Tubić.