Algebra University

ALGEBRA UNIVERSITY

Who are we?

Algebra University (AU) is a distinguished private accredited higher educational institution, part of the largest private educational organization in the Republic of Croatia and the surrounding region. With a presence in almost 30 cities across Croatia, AU specializes in computer engineering and economy. The university serves over 1600 active higher education students and annually enrolls an additional 15,000 students in short and adult education programs. With a dedicated team of 130 full-time teachers and support staff, plus over 600 associated industry experts, AU stands as a leader in innovative education. The university has received numerous accolades, including the 2014 Microsoft Partner of the Year award, the 2017 first prize in the EUROSTAT Big Data Hackathon, the 2019 “Zlatna Kuna” by the Croatian Chamber of Economy, and the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 in Croatia. AU’s commitment to quality is underscored by its adherence to the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance, validated by the Croatian Agency for Science and Higher Education.

Why are we participating?

Algebra University is participating in the RALExILA project to leverage our extensive experience and expertise in educational innovation and digital transformation. Our active involvement in significant projects with organizations like the OECD and World Bank demonstrates our commitment to enhancing interoperability, identification, and digitalization of national registers. By participating in this project, AU aims to strengthen the implementation of Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) in Croatia, thereby fostering long-term educational perspectives and policies. This participation aligns with our mission to bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring that our programs and initiatives are aligned with the needs of the labor market and policymakers. Our engagement in this project will help to attract attention to the importance of ILA and support the development of Adult Learning and Education (ALE) policies.

Our role

In the RALExILA project, Algebra University will play a pivotal role in engaging various stakeholders, including industry partners, policymakers, and the general public. With a community of over 50,000 individuals active on digital media channels and more than 200 education and industry partnerships, AU is well-positioned to influence and communicate effectively. We will utilize research results to advocate for improved communication between the educational and professional sectors, acting as advisors to the Ministry of Labour and the Croatian Employment Service. Additionally, AU will promote these results to the Croatian Ministry of Education and other key partners involved in ALE and VET projects. Our comprehensive outreach and collaboration efforts will ensure that the project’s outcomes are widely disseminated and implemented, driving forward the integration of ILA approaches and enhancing the overall educational landscape in Croatia.

Our team

Maja Brkljačić

Project Manager

Maja graduated from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb, and she received her doctorate at the Central European University in Budapest. She worked as a researcher at the Institute for the Wisenschaften vom Menschen in Vienna and as a project coordinator for the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität in Münster. She is a winner of Erich Maria Remarque’s scholarship at New York University and the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation for Freie Universitat Berlin. She worked as a project manager at Central European University and as a guest lecturer at Northwestern University in the United States. She has published about a dozen scientific papers. In the non-scientific part of life, Maja worked as a Director of School Program in Školska Knjiga, as Executive Director in Profil, and as the Head of Educational Programs for Students in Algebra. She is a textbook author and has held numerous professional lectures and workshops.

Leo Mršić

Senior Researcher

Associate Professor PhD Leo Mršić. Leo Mršić, born in Zagreb, graduated in 1997 (BBA), in 2005 (MSc) on Faculty of Economics and Business; in 2012 (PhD) on Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb. He has been appointed Assistant Professor 2018. Vice-Dean for Science and Research and Head of the Department of Data Analysis at the Algebra University College, active as a lecturer at the eLeadership MBA study. Permanent court expert witness in finance, accounting and information technology areas. With over 20 years of team leadership experience, he has been involved in launching three start-up initiatives. He participated in several domestic and international conferences, with research related to various aspects of business (business efficiency analysis, digital data and marketing, decision support systems, organization optimization, advanced business analytics, business risk management). Co-author and contributor on several books, scientific and professional papers. Member of the Croatian Society of Court Experts (HDSVIP), Member of the Board of the Editor in the Global Journal of Technology and Optimization (GJTO), Member of the International Board of Advisors at the International Journal of Energy Optimization and Engineering (IJEOE), Reviewer with Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Intelligent Decision Technologies: An International Journal (IOS Press) and a Member of program committees at several international conferences and special editions. Consultant on regional capacity building related projects (MRMS, CEP). Consultant on projects related to local (MOL) and international investment programs (Competence and Development). Registered Consultant GOPA Consulting Group Germany for Business Counseling, Application of Analytical/Statistical Methods, Labor Market Analysis and Education Policy Support. Assistant Professor at the Novo Mesto, Faculty of Information Sciences where he participates as a team member on the project “Complex Network” (ARRS P01-0383). He is a member of the ESCO Maintenance Committee at the European Commission in Brussels in the third term (Third MAI 2018. – 2022.).

Aneta Golebiowska

Project Coordinator

Aneta is an experienced specialist in quality management and communication with more than 10 years of experience in the education, finance and service industries. She has extensive analytical, communication and interpersonal skills as well as experience in team management.

She currently works as Researcher and Project Coordinator at Algebra University, where she coordinates education and development projects. Previously, she worked as a teacher of vocational subjects at a high school, where she led the pedagogical innovation “E-portfolio of a future employee”. She also has experience in customer service in the banking and telecommunications sectors.

Elena Pavić

Project Coordinator

Elena Pavić graduated from the Faculty of Science at the University of Zagreb with a degree in Geography in 2021. She began her professional journey as a Business Consulting at Ernst & Young Consulting, where she contributed to the preparation of project applications for Erasmus+, Digital Europe Programme, Connecting Europe Facility, and national programmes. She worked on strategic documents, masterplans, feasibility studies, and various transport and agricultural studies, utilizing her skills in data visualization and GIS analysis. She also gained experience in project implementation and planning, working closely with state, regional, and local institutions on transport and agriculture-related projects. In January 2024, Elena joined Algebra University as a Researcher and Project Coordinator. In this role, she has been actively involved in the implementation of EU funded projects through administrative, technical, organizational, and coordination activities. Elena has also prepared various documentation, such as project proposals, reports, and evaluations and conducted activities such as workshops, panel discussions, and focus groups on digital technologies.