President Milanović Meets with Leadership of the Student Union of the University of Zagreb Marking 30 Years of Activity
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today the delegation of the Student Union of the University of Zagreb on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of this student representative body’s activity.
Representatives of the Presidium of the Student Union of the University of Zagreb, led by the Union’s President Gordan Kragić, presented President Milanović with their activities to date and their work on promoting the status of young people, strengthening the role of higher education and the contribution of students to the development of the Croatian society. During the meeting, it was particularly emphasised that the Union’s work had been aimed primarily towards projects concerning concrete, every-day needs of the students. Thanks to that, they have achieved their highest public visibility so far.
The Student Union is funded by the University’s budget, explained Kragić. As important projects, he highlighted introducing night trains for the wider Zagreb urban area, greater availability of study spaces, improvement of student residence facilities and increased care of student health.
During the meeting with President Milanović, the students also presented their problems that, as they said, currently weigh most heavily on student living standards. These are expensive housing and subsidised student meals in Zagreb which are, they claim, of lower quality than in other student centres in Croatia. Due to insufficient accommodation in student residence facilities, many students have to rent private accommodation in Zagreb, which is increasingly expensive and out of reach. Consequently, students are oftentimes forced to work alongside studying, while employers show little understanding of their specific position, the Student Union representatives warned.
The meeting also touched upon the quality of studying in Zagreb and the prospects offered after graduation, with students sharing their experience from study programmes abroad.
Established in 1996 when the first student elections were held, the Student Union is the umbrella student representative body which protects the interests of all students and takes part in the decision-making process in the University’s bodies, as well as other bodies where the Union has its representatives. The Student Union comprises an Assembly composed of the representatives of the 34 constituent units, and 21 representatives directly elected in the Student Union elections. The Student Union is led by the Presidium, which acts as an operational leadership of the Union, as well as coordinates the advocacy of student interests, cooperation with the University’s constituent units and institutions responsible, and implementation of projects aiming at the improvement of student living standard.
Alongside President Gordan Kragić, the delegation of the Student Union included the Deputy President Karmen Jurić, Spokesperson Marta Severinac, Secretary-General Jan Majdak, Treasurer Aneta Jelinčić, Infrastructure and Development Coordinator Robert Jurčec, Student Health Coordinator Lara-Nika Holjevac Stasiow, Coordinator for Digitalisation Lovro Priselec, Coordinator for Art and Culture Magda Galić, as well as Coordinator for Legal Matters, General Acts and Constituent Cooperation Boris Rajić.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President for Education Jadranka Žarković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas