Partnership with Faculty of Organization and Informatics to expand into new models

At Emil Frey Digital, 70 percent of the employees are FOI alumni who now lead the development of digital platforms for the international automotive industry

At Emil Frey Digital, which recently moved into the newly built company headquarters, 73 out of the 103 employees are former students of the Faculty of Organization and Informatics (FOI) in Varazdin, Croatia. That is the result of a long-term cooperation of the tech company and the faculty, which in the new academic year will expand into new models through further involvement of industry experts in teaching and extracurricular activities for FOI students.

FOI Dean prof. Nina Begicevic Redep, PhD, and Head of Student Support Center prof. Katarina Pazur Anicic, PhD, have met with the company representatives at the new premises to discuss the extended collaboration models.

HR Business Partner at Emil Frey Digital Marina Biro and Head of People Operations Ivana Ratkaj gave Ms Begicevic Redep and Ms Pazur Anicic a tour of the new building, located in the Brezje Business Zone in Varazdin, Croatia. The company has accelerated on its growth path and is looking to expand further, Ivana and Marina said.

So far, experts from Emil Frey Digital contributed to work-based learning, problem-based learning, and the job shadowing model of professional practice, which is mandatory at all FOI study levels.

"In developing new forms of collaboration, we are focused on intensive programs for students and guest lectures by industry experts. FOI recognizes these to be the most useful methods of learning through work, and we will develop them further in partnership with this renowned international IT company located right in our hometown. IT industry has taken the lead in the economic development of Varazdin, which is in large part due to the work of the academia and companies like this one," said Ms Begicevic Redep.

Image: FOI

"We are extremely proud of our collaboration with the Faculty of Organization and Informatics, which has been going on since the very beginnings of Emil Frey Digital. We plan to expand the partnership in the coming months. Early on, Career Weeks by FOI and the Student Support Center helped Emil Frey Digital to establish itself in our regional IT community. In the last 5 years, our company has grown from 17 to 105 employees, 70% of whom are former FOI students. As a development and innovation hub of the Emil Frey Group, a leading European car dealer and importer with operations in 15 countries, we are at the forefront of digital development in the automotive industry, which keeps blazing a trail in digital transformation." – Marina and Ivana said.

They invited final-year FOI students to contact Emil Frey Digital and learn more about opportunities for both their mandatory student internships and full-time employment.

Future collaboration of FOI and Emil Frey Digital will also benefit from the new cpsrk.foi website and mobile application. Created by Student Support Center, it enables a faster and more meaningful connection between students and employers like Emil Frey, Ms Pazur Anicic explained.