The University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER) has added a significant milestone to its record of international achievement. Academician Prof. Ivan Petrović, PhD, has been honoured with the Outstanding Service Award presented by the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC), one of the most respected organisations in the global automation community. The recognition places Croatian expertise in robotics and automation firmly on the international stage and confirms the calibre of scholarship cultivated at FER.
For prospective students, researchers, and industry professionals following developments in control engineering, this award carries weight well beyond ceremony. It signals that the academic environment in Croatia produces leaders whose organisational vision and scientific judgement help shape the direction of the discipline worldwide.
If this achievement inspires you to consider where your own engineering career could begin, explore FER’s internationally accredited study programmes and see how a foundation in control systems and robotics is built.
A Distinguished Honour in Automatic Control
The IFAC Outstanding Service Award is reserved for members whose sustained engagement has made a demonstrable contribution to the Federation’s activities and long-term development. Academician Petrović received the distinction in recognition of his sustained outstanding performance in major leadership positions within IFAC — years of organisational stewardship, strategic guidance, and community building at the highest levels of the profession.
The award was presented on 22 August 2026 in Busan, Republic of Korea, immediately ahead of the 23rd IFAC World Congress, which ran from 23 to 28 August. The timing is meaningful: the World Congress is the leading international scientific event in automation, convening thousands of scientists, engineers, and researchers from around the world every three years. Receiving the honour in front of that audience underscored the esteem in which Academician Petrović is held by his peers.
Understanding IFAC and Its Global Role
What Is the International Federation of Automatic Control?
IFAC serves as the international umbrella federation for national organisations active in the field of automatic control. It connects experts and scientific communities across continents, coordinating technical committees, sponsoring symposia and congresses, and publishing research that advances the theory and application of control engineering. Few organisations carry comparable authority in automation and robotics; IFAC’s decisions on research priorities, event programming, and professional recognition influence laboratories and universities on every continent.
An award from such a body is therefore not a regional accolade. It represents a judgement made by the international control engineering community about the value of an individual’s sustained contribution — and, by extension, about the strength of the institution that individual represents.
The 23rd IFAC World Congress in Busan
The World Congress deserves particular attention from anyone considering a career in this field. Held every three years, it functions as a global meeting point where the state of the art in automatic control is presented, debated, and set. Sessions span topics from classical control theory to machine learning for autonomous systems, industrial automation, robotics, and cyber-physical systems. For doctoral candidates and young researchers, presenting at an IFAC World Congress is a professional benchmark; for senior figures, leadership roles within the Congress organisation reflect decades of trusted service.
The 2026 edition in Busan, Republic of Korea, continued this tradition, and the presentation of the Outstanding Service Award on its eve gave Croatian science a visible place at the centre of that conversation.
Academician Ivan Petrović: A Record of Leadership and Service
Service at the Highest Levels of the Federation
What distinguishes this award is its focus on service rather than on a single piece of research. IFAC explicitly reserves the Outstanding Service Award for members whose work and engagement across various roles have strengthened the Federation itself. Leading major positions within an organisation of IFAC’s scale demands administrative skill, diplomatic judgement, and a long-term commitment to the community — qualities that rarely receive the same public attention as scientific publications, yet are indispensable to the health of any global discipline.
Academician Petrović’s recognition affirms that behind the congresses, technical committees, and publications that define modern automation science stand individuals willing to devote years to building and sustaining the institutions that make such collaboration possible.
A Career Rooted in FER
The honour also reflects on the institution where that career developed. As a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Academician Petrović represents the highest tier of domestic scholarship, and his connection to the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing links the award directly to the faculty’s research culture. FER’s Department of Control and Computer Engineering and its associated laboratories have long been active in robotics, autonomous systems, and intelligent control — areas in which Croatian researchers regularly publish and compete internationally.
Students who choose to study here benefit from that environment directly. Courses, seminars, and thesis projects are shaped by academics who participate in the international bodies defining their fields, which means the curriculum reflects current global standards rather than lagging behind them. Learn more about FER’s master programmes in English to see how this expertise translates into taught degrees.
What the IFAC Award Means for Croatia and the Region
Recognition of this kind has practical consequences. First, it raises the visibility of Croatian research in robotics and automation, making it easier for domestic teams to attract international partners, joint projects, and funding. Second, it strengthens the case for Croatia as a credible location for studying engineering at an advanced level — an argument that matters for a country seeking to retain talented young engineers while also attracting international students.
For the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing specifically, the award reinforces a broader pattern. FER’s research output, its participation in European projects, and now this senior recognition within IFAC together demonstrate that a faculty from Croatia operates comfortably at the top table of its discipline. Prospective applicants — whether from Zagreb, elsewhere in the region, or further abroad — can read this as evidence of the environment they would be entering.
Studying Robotics and Automation at FER
English-Language Master Programmes
For international students, FER offers master programmes taught entirely in English, including a specialised track in Information and Communication Technology – Robotics. The curriculum covers control systems, autonomous and mobile robotics, machine learning, and sensor integration, combining theoretical grounding with laboratory work. Because the faculty maintains active research groups in these exact areas, students encounter material that connects directly to ongoing projects and contemporary challenges in industry.
Admission is competitive but transparent, with clearly published requirements and application procedures. Candidates typically hold a bachelor degree in electrical engineering, computing, or a closely related field. Review the admission requirements and application steps well ahead of the deadline, as documentation and language evidence take time to prepare.
Doctoral Study and Research Opportunities
Those aiming at a research career will find a structured doctoral programme supported by research seminars, dedicated courses, and supervision from academics embedded in international networks — precisely the kind of network that an IFAC leadership career represents. Doctoral candidates at FER work within laboratories engaged in projects spanning autonomous systems, control applications in industry, and intelligent data processing, and the faculty’s connections to European research initiatives open doors to mobility and collaboration.
The lesson of Academician Petrović’s award is relevant here: sustained, patient engagement with the international community builds reputations and opportunities. A doctoral programme is where that engagement typically begins. Discover the doctoral study programme and its research areas if an academic or industrial research career is your goal.
Career Prospects in Robotics and Automation
Demand for automation expertise continues to grow across manufacturing, energy, logistics, automotive, and emerging fields such as autonomous vehicles and smart infrastructure. Graduates with strong control engineering foundations find roles in system design, embedded development, research and development, and technical leadership. Employers value candidates who combine rigorous theory with hands-on laboratory experience — exactly the profile FER’s programmes are structured to produce.
An institution whose senior academics hold recognised positions in global federations also maintains industry relationships that matter at graduation time. FER’s Career Centre connects students with employers in Croatia and abroad, and alumni of the faculty occupy engineering and management roles across Europe’s technology sector.
Celebrating Excellence and Taking the Next Step
The Outstanding Service Award presented to Academician Ivan Petrović is, at its core, a story about dedication — years of work in service of an international community, culminating in recognition delivered at the profession’s most important gathering. For the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, it is validation of a research culture that produces scholars capable of leading on the world stage. For students and young engineers in Croatia and beyond, it is a reminder that world-class careers in robotics and automation can be built from Zagreb.
Have questions about studying at FER, admission timelines, or life in Zagreb? Write to the faculty and get answers directly from its student services — an early conversation can clarify your options considerably.
Finally, follow FER’s news and announcements to stay informed about awards, research breakthroughs, open positions, and upcoming events. Achievements like this one are worth watching, because they mark the institutions and communities where the future of engineering is actively being made.
