The Senate of the University of Zagreb has conferred the honorary title of Professor Emeritus upon three distinguished faculty members of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER). Prof. Adrijan Barić, PhD, Prof. Zdenko Kovačić, PhD, and Prof. Ratko Magjarević, PhD, each received this recognition following a formal proposal by the FER Faculty Council. This honor represents the highest form of academic acknowledgment at the university level in Croatia, reserved for individuals who have demonstrated sustained excellence in research, teaching, and institutional leadership.
Understanding the Professor Emeritus Distinction in Croatia
The title of Professor Emeritus is not granted automatically upon retirement. In the Croatian academic system, and specifically at the University of Zagreb, it requires a rigorous evaluation process. A faculty council must first nominate a candidate, detailing their contributions across multiple domains. The University Senate then reviews these nominations against strict criteria that encompass scientific output, educational impact, professional service, and contributions to the broader academic community.
Receiving this title signals that a professor’s work has left an indelible mark on their institution and their field. For the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, having three faculty members recognized in a single cycle underscores the depth of expertise cultivated within the institution. It also reflects positively on the academic standards maintained at FER, reinforcing its position as a leading technical university in Southeast Europe.
For prospective students and academic professionals considering FER, the presence of Professor Emeriti on faculty rosters serves as a strong indicator of program quality. These individuals have shaped the curricula, built research laboratories, and established industry connections that current students benefit from directly.
Prof. Adrijan Barić: Advancing Electronics and Microelectronics Education
Prof. Adrijan Barić’s career spans decades of contributions to electronics, microelectronics, and electromagnetic compatibility. His publication record includes numerous papers in both Croatian and international journals, reflecting a commitment to contributing to domestic academic discourse while maintaining a global research profile. Beyond publishing, Prof. Barić engaged extensively with European Commission-funded research projects, bringing international research frameworks into FER’s academic ecosystem.
Curriculum Modernization and Industry Collaboration
One of Prof. Barić’s most tangible contributions to education advancement at FER was his work on curriculum modernization. He played a central role in introducing chip design into the faculty’s academic programs—a significant undertaking that required new laboratory equipment, updated course materials, and often the training of additional faculty. Chip design represents a highly specialized and industrially relevant field, and its inclusion in FER’s curriculum has positioned graduates to compete for roles in the semiconductor industry, both within Croatia and across Europe.
His leadership extended to strengthening cooperation between academia and industry. By facilitating partnerships with technology companies, Prof. Barić helped create pathways for students to engage with real-world engineering challenges during their studies. This approach to education—bridging theoretical coursework with practical application—has become a hallmark of FER’s program design.
Institutional Leadership Roles
At the university level, Prof. Barić served as a member of the University Senate, chaired the Technical Sciences Council, and led the Research, Development and Technology Committee. Within FER, he held the position of Vice Dean for Research and chaired multiple faculty committees. These roles required balancing the interests of individual researchers with the strategic objectives of the institution. His ability to navigate these responsibilities contributed to FER’s research output growth during his tenure. In recognition of his work, he received the University of Zagreb’s Fran Bošnjaković Award and FER’s Josip Lončar Gold Plaque.
Prof. Zdenko Kovačić: Building Robotics Research Infrastructure at FER
Prof. Zdenko Kovačić’s academic achievements are closely tied to the fields of robotics, automation, and intelligent control systems. His career is distinguished not only by his research publications but by the physical research infrastructure he built. Most notably, Prof. Kovačić founded and led the Laboratory for Robotics and Intelligent Control Systems, known as LARICS. Establishishing a research laboratory from the ground up involves securing funding, acquiring specialized equipment, recruiting researchers, and creating an operational framework that sustains productivity over years.
Impact on Student and Researcher Development
LARICS has served as a training ground for generations of students and young researchers. Working in a fully equipped robotics laboratory provides students with experience that cannot be replicated in a standard classroom setting. They learn to integrate hardware and software systems, troubleshoot complex technical problems, and collaborate in team-based research environments. Many individuals who trained under Prof. Kovačić’s mentorship have gone on to positions in academia and industry, extending his influence beyond the walls of FER.
Prof. Kovačić also led numerous national and international research and development projects. These projects often had practical applications in industry and society, demonstrating that academic research in robotics can produce solutions with tangible benefits. His work in this area helped establish FER as a credible partner for industry-sponsored research in automation and control systems.
Recognitions and Awards
The scope of Prof. Kovačić’s contributions is reflected in the breadth of his recognitions. In addition to the Fran Bošnjaković Award and the Josip Lončar Gold Plaque, he received the Nikola Tesla Award and the Croatian State Award for Lifetime Achievement in Science. The State Award, in particular, places his work in the context of national scientific accomplishment, acknowledging that his contributions have advanced Croatia’s standing in robotics and intelligent systems research.
Prof. Ratko Magjarević: International Leadership in Biomedical Engineering
Prof. Ratko Magjarević’s path to the Professor Emeritus title differs from his colleagues in its emphasis on international professional organization leadership. He served two terms as President of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) and currently holds the presidency of the International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (IUPESM). These are not honorary figurehead positions; they involve active governance of global organizations that set standards, organize conferences, and advocate for the role of engineering in healthcare.
Bridging Croatian Academia with Global Networks
Prof. Magjarević’s international roles have had practical benefits for the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. Holding leadership positions in global federations creates opportunities for institutional partnerships, joint research initiatives, and student exchanges. When a faculty member occupies a visible international role, it raises the profile of their home institution within those global networks. For FER, this has meant increased visibility in the biomedical engineering community, which can translate into collaborative projects, visiting professor arrangements, and access to international funding sources.
His career also illustrates that academic achievement is not limited to laboratory research and classroom teaching. Contributing to the governance of international professional organizations represents a form of service that benefits the broader academic and professional community. It requires diplomatic skills, strategic thinking, and a willingness to invest time in administrative and organizational work that does not always yield individual publications but strengthens the infrastructure of global scientific collaboration.
What These Appointments Mean for FER’s Academic Community
The conferral of the Professor Emeritus title on three faculty members simultaneously is noteworthy for several reasons. First, it demonstrates that FER has cultivated a cohort of senior academics whose contributions meet the highest standards of evaluation. This is not a given at any institution; it requires sustained investment in faculty development, research infrastructure, and a culture that values both individual achievement and institutional service.
Second, the diversity of the three professors’ contributions—spanning microelectronics curriculum development, robotics laboratory building, and international organizational leadership—illustrates the breadth of FER’s academic impact. The faculty is not concentrated in a single research area but maintains strength across multiple domains of electrical engineering and computing.
Third, these appointments provide current faculty members with concrete examples of career trajectories that are valued by the institution. Early-career researchers and professors can look to Prof. Barić, Prof. Kovačić, and Prof. Magjarević as models of different but equally valid paths to academic distinction: one through deep specialization and curriculum reform, another through laboratory founding and applied research leadership, and a third through international service and governance.
The Broader Context of Education Advancement in Croatia
Croatia’s higher education system has undergone significant changes in recent decades, particularly as the country has integrated into the European Higher Education Area. Institutions like the University of Zagreb have had to align their programs with the Bologna Process, improve quality assurance mechanisms, and increase internationalization. The work of professors like Barić, Kovačić, and Magjarević has contributed to these broader institutional goals.
Introducing chip design into the curriculum, for example, aligns with European workforce development priorities in the semiconductor sector. Building a robotics laboratory with international project funding demonstrates the kind of infrastructure investment that makes Croatian universities competitive for EU research grants. Leading global biomedical engineering organizations positions FER within international knowledge networks that facilitate cross-border research collaboration.
For students considering studying in Croatia, these developments are relevant. The quality of an engineering program is shaped not only by its current course offerings but by the legacy of the faculty who designed and refined those programs over time. The Professor Emeritus appointments at FER reflect a foundation of sustained academic investment that directly benefits today’s students.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Academic Excellence at FER
The recognition of these three professors raises questions about how institutions sustain academic excellence across generational transitions. As senior faculty retire, their knowledge, professional networks, and institutional memory must be transferred to the next generation. FER’s approach to this challenge will be shaped by the systems these professors helped build—the updated curricula, the equipped laboratories, and the international partnerships that provide a foundation for continued development.
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing continues to offer programs at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels in both Croatian and English, attracting students from across the region and beyond. The research infrastructure established by faculty like Prof. Kovačić remains operational and productive. The industry connections facilitated by faculty like Prof. Barić continue to create opportunities for student engagement. The international networks cultivated by faculty like Prof. Magjarević continue to open doors for institutional collaboration.
For those interested in learning more about the academic programs shaped by these distinguished faculty members, explore the full range of study options available at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. Prospective students can review program details, admission requirements, and application procedures through the faculty’s official resources.
Have questions about studying electrical engineering or computing in Croatia? Share your experiences or inquiries in the comments below.
