Understanding the Strategic Shift from ETF to FER in Croatia
During the early 1990s, the global technological landscape was undergoing a massive shift. Computing was rapidly establishing itself as a critical, generic technology driving national development strategies. In Croatia, the institution historically known as ETF (the Electrotechnical Faculty) recognized this paradigm shift and understood that its existing name no longer accurately reflected the breadth of its academic and scientific scope. The leadership at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing realized that to remain relevant and attract top-tier talent, the institution needed a public identity that explicitly encompassed both electrical engineering and computing.
Internal documents from the Faculty Council meetings in early 1991 explicitly highlighted this necessity. The council noted that computing played a leading role in the development strategy of every country and argued that the Faculty’s name should clearly present its activities in both core fields to relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, they observed that internationally, it was standard practice for institutions to include computing in their official titles. In Croatia, however, the extensive computing activities conducted at the Faculty were still largely unrecognized by the general public. Changing the name to encompass computing was deemed an essential step in clarifying the institution’s mission and value proposition.
After extensive deliberation, the Faculty Council meeting in July 1994 put two naming proposals to a vote. The first proposal was to adopt the name “University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing,” while the second suggested “University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering.” The first proposal secured 40 votes, decisively beating the second proposal’s 25 votes. Following the required approvals from the University of Zagreb in early 1995, the new name was officially entered into the Commercial Court Register on March 7, 1995. This bureaucratic milestone formally and legally completed the transition from ETF to FER, marking the beginning of a modernized era for the institution.
Modernizing Study Programs and Laboratories
The name change was not merely a cosmetic rebranding exercise; it served as a catalyst for comprehensive institutional modernization. With the adoption of the new Statute and the FER designation, the Faculty clearly articulated a renewed vision. This vision centered on establishing the institution as Croatia’s undisputed leader in electrical engineering, computing, and information and communication technologies.
To achieve this, FER initiated a systematic modernization of its study programs. The curriculum was overhauled to reflect the rapidly evolving demands of the tech industry, ensuring that graduates possessed both theoretical foundations and practical skills. Beyond the classroom, the Faculty invested heavily in physical infrastructure. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the establishment of state-of-the-art laboratories specifically dedicated to automation and robotics. These facilities provided students and researchers with hands-on experience using cutting-edge technologies, bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application. By upgrading both its academic offerings and its physical infrastructure, FER positioned itself to produce engineers capable of driving technological innovation in Croatia and beyond.
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Strengthening Research Activities and Industry Collaboration
As FER solidified its academic foundation, it simultaneously entered a period of more intensive and systematic engagement with the industrial sector. The Faculty recognized that true technological advancement requires a symbiotic relationship between academia and industry. Consequently, FER expanded its focus on applied research activities, leading to the development of numerous joint R&D projects with corporate partners.
This era of growth was guided by a succession of deans, including Stanko Tonković, Slavko Krajcar, and Mladen Kos. Under their leadership, FER expanded its research capacities and fostered a strategic orientation toward industry collaboration. This involved not just traditional research grants, but also the development of professional study programs tailored to the needs of working engineers, collaborative laboratory initiatives, and direct partnerships with businesses seeking technological innovations.
A significant milestone in this industry-academia integration occurred in 2000 with the establishment of AMAC-Alumni FER. This Croatian Association of Graduates of the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing was designed to bridge the gap between alumni, the Faculty, and the industry. AMAC-Alumni FER quickly became a vital platform for professional networking, facilitating knowledge transfer and helping to preserve the institution’s identity and traditions. Through these concerted efforts, FER reinforced its role as an institution that does not merely educate engineers, but actively contributes to the development of technological solutions that enhance social and economic relevance.
Integrating into the European Research Area
The period between 1995 and 2004 was characterized by a significant increase in project activities and a deliberate push toward internationalization. During this decade, FER researchers were involved in approximately one hundred distinct projects. More importantly, the turn of the millennium marked the Faculty’s systematic involvement in international scientific programs funded by the European Union.
A pivotal moment in this internationalization effort was FER’s participation in the European Union’s Fifth Framework Programme (FP5), which served as the primary instrument for funding research and technological development from 1998 to 2002. For Croatian research institutions, FP5 represented the first opportunity to engage in competitive European research projects. FER’s inaugural FP5 project was EUNITE (European Network on Intelligent Technologies for Smart Adaptive Systems), coordinated by Professor Ivan Petrović. Launched in 2001, EUNITE focused on fostering a network of European institutions and experts in intelligent and adaptive systems, with a strong emphasis on connecting young researchers with industry needs.
Shortly after, at the end of 2002, Professor Ratko Magjarević initiated another crucial FP5 project known as CHART (Chartography of Medical and Biological Engineering in Europe). The objective of CHART was to map and harmonize biomedical engineering education and professional standards across Europe. During a time of profound change in the European higher education system, projects like CHART were particularly beneficial for smaller countries like Croatia, as they facilitated student and professional mobility while laying the groundwork for new educational frameworks.
Explore our related articles for further reading on FER’s current international research partnerships.
Navigating EU Framework Programmes and Global Partnerships
Building on the momentum of FP5, FER significantly scaled its involvement in the subsequent Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The Faculty participated in 14 FP6 projects, a remarkable achievement considering that Croatia had not yet achieved the status of an associated country during the early years of the program (a status it would not acquire until 2006). Because of this lack of associated status, FER researchers had to participate under significantly more demanding financial and administrative conditions. Despite these hurdles, FP6 projects cemented FER’s systematic integration into the European Research Area.
One of the most notable FP6 projects in Croatia was ROBUSPIC (Robust Mixed-Signal Design Methodologies for Smart Power ICs), led by Adrijan Barić. The ROBUSPIC project stood out due to the sheer prestige and caliber of its consortium partners. The project was coordinated by ON Semiconductor Belgium (then AMI Semiconductor) and included Robert Bosch GmbH, the world’s leading automotive electronics company at the time. The consortium also featured Cadence Design Systems, the globally dominant software developer for chip design, alongside elite academic institutions such as the University of Cambridge, EPFL in Switzerland, and KU Leuven in Belgium. Furthermore, the project included IMEC, Europe’s leading semiconductor research centre, and the UK-based startup Cambridge Semiconductor Ltd.
As recalled by Adrijan Barić, FER’s position within such distinguished company seemed almost unreal at the time. Participating in these high-level European projects stimulated internal collaboration among FER staff, leading directly to the creation of new research groups, the formation of lasting international partnerships, and the development of new, specialized study programs in electrical engineering and computing.
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The Role of Student Culture in Academic Development
While research activities and internationalization formed the academic backbone of FER, the institution’s identity was also heavily shaped by its vibrant student culture. A central pillar of this culture was KSET, the student club located at the Faculty. As early as 1995, KSET launched “Caffe Fridays,” an initiative that quickly evolved into a popular weekly meeting place for students, faculty, and the wider Zagreb public.
From 1997 onwards, KSET entered what is often considered one of its “golden eras,” characterized by a diverse and high-quality cultural program. The club introduced staple events like Jam Session Mondays and Jazz Club Thursdays, alongside unique promotions like Groodanje and Žedno uho. During this period, KSET established itself as a premier venue for the Croatian and regional rock and alternative music scenes. The club hosted performances by prominent acts such as Partibrejkers, Električni orgazam, Rambo Amadeus, Hladno pivo, Pips, Chips & Videoclips, Psihomodo Pop, and Kojoti. Additionally, KSET organized tribute programs dedicated to legendary bands like Ekatarina Velika and Eclipse, performing the repertoire of Pink Floyd.
Although this vibrant cultural scene occasionally attracted police attention and complaints from neighbors, the diverse programming succeeded in establishing KSET as one of the key centers of Zagreb’s alternative cultural life. This cultural richness provided students with a well-rounded university experience, fostering creativity and community building that complemented their rigorous academic pursuits in electrical engineering and computing.
Evaluating the Legacy of FER in Croatia
The transition from ETF to FER in 1995 was far more than a simple change of nomenclature. It represented a strategic realignment that anticipated the future of technology and positioned the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the forefront of Croatian academia. By explicitly embracing computing alongside electrical engineering, the Faculty set the stage for decades of innovation, interdisciplinary research, and modernized education.
The foundations laid during the late 1990s and early 2000s—strengthened research activities, systematic internationalization through EU framework programs, robust industry partnerships, and a dynamic student culture—continue to define FER today. The institution has consistently shaped generations of engineers who go on to lead technological, social, and economic development across Croatia and the broader European region. For prospective students and professionals looking to engage with a leading European technical institution, understanding this historical context highlights the deep-rooted commitment to excellence that characterizes FER.
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