The ceremonial session of the Croatian Conference of University of Applied Sciences was held in Vukovar on July 11, 2024, in the new building of the University of Applied Sciences “Lavoslav Ružička” in Vukovar. On this occasion, our University of Applied Sciences hosted numerous deans from other universities of applied sciences, as well as other esteemed and dear guests.

The program of the ceremonial session began with welcome speeches by Assoc. Prof. dr. sc. Damir Jugo, President of the Croatian Conference of University of Applied Sciences and Dean of Bernays University of Applied Sciences, Dean of University of Applied Sciences “Lavoslav Ružička” in Vukovar and Vice President of the Croatian Conference of University of Applied Sciences, Assist. Prof. dr. sc. Željko Sudarić, Rector of the University of Osijek, Prof. dr. sc. Vlado Guberac, and representatives of local and regional government units, including Deputy Mayor of Vukovar, Filip Sušac, and Head of the Department for Education and Social Activities of Vukovar-Srijem County, Assist. Prof. dr. sc. Jadranka Mustapić-Karlić. Following the welcoming remarks from the hosts, the ceremony proceeded with the awarding of prizes and recognitions: the Croatian Conference’s Recognition for Special Contribution to the Development of Professional and Teaching Activities and the Croatian Conference’s Charter for Contribution to the Development of Professional Studies in the Republic of Croatia, in accordance with the Croatian Conference’s Rules on Awards and Recognitions.

The Croatian Conference’s Recognition is awarded to employees or retired employees of universities of applied sciences for their entire body of work within professional studies, contribution to the improvement of teaching, professional, and/or scientific work, realization of professional and/or scientific projects, notable cooperation with the industry, and achieving high standards of quality in their work. In 2024, the Croatian Conference awarded four Recognitions: for contributions in the field of social sciences to Prof. dr. sc. Vladimir Rosić and Prof. dr. sc. Marčelo Dujanić; for contributions in the field of biotechnical sciences to dr. sc. Nina Popović, prof. of profess. stud.; and posthumously to Prof. dr. sc. Fedor Rocco for contributions in the field of social sciences.

The Croatian Conference’s Charter is awarded for contributions to the development of professional studies in the Republic of Croatia, granted to distinguished individuals or organizations, employees or retired employees of universities of applied sciences, for special merits and lasting contributions to the development of the Croatian Conference, professional studies, and universities of applied sciences as a whole, as well as for promoting their status and reputation in the Republic of Croatia and/or abroad. This year’s recipient of the Charter is Mr. Donald Hudspeth.

We congratulate all the awardees and are extremely pleased that our University of Applied Sciences had the honor of hosting this Ceremonial Session and being part of the Croatian Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences, which includes a total of 31 universities of applied sciences with over 25.000 students, accounting for 20% of the Croatian student population.