Ericsson Nikola Tesla celebrates 15 years of Summer Camp

The closing ceremony of the jubilee 15th Ericsson Nikola Tesla Summer Camp was held on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at Ericsson Nikola Tesla. Along with students and their mentors, the ceremony gathered numerous Academia representatives led by Prof. Vedran Mornar, PhD, Minister of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia. The students and mentors who worked in Summer Camp in Split also followed all the happenings via live stream broadcast.

Welcoming the distinguished guests, MSc Gordana Kovačević, Ericsson Nikola Tesla President highlighted the importance of knowledge sharing and close collaboration between science, education and economy in the growth and development of national economies. Ericsson Nikola Tesla Summer Camp is an excellent example of quality connecting participants in this “knowledge triangle“, and was also recognized both in Croatia and internationally.

On the occasion of marking this important anniversary, the Company granted recognitions to the most deserving institutions, as well as individuals. MSc Gordana Kovačević presented the awards for the long term successful cooperation to Prof. Mislav Grgić, PhD, ‎Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb; Prof. Srđan Podrug, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split, and Prof. Miljenko Šimpraga, PhD, Vice-rector for Innovations, Technology Transfer and Communications, University of Zagreb. For a great personal contribution to Summer Camp organization and promotion, the recognition was given to the most deserving individuals: Prof Gordan Ježić, PhD, Prof. Maja Matijašević, PhD, Prof Mario Kušek, PhD, Prof. Dinko Begušić, PhD, Darko Huljenić, PhD, Saša Dešić, PhD and Prof. Vedran Mornar, PhD.

Ericsson Nikola Tesla Summer Camp, whose 15 ^th anniversary we are celebrating this year, is one of the successful projects of connecting education and economy, which the Company launched in cooperation with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing long ago, back in 2001. Ever since, the Camp became a place of traditionally gathering top graduates, mostly from technical faculties. The students grouped in teams work on cutting edge technological projects with the assistance of the best mentors from Croatia and abroad. In that way, already during their studies, the students get their first work experience in a real business environment.

During this 15 years of Summer Camp, aside from the students of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Zagreb, the students from other universities and faculties also participated, such as the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split; the Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka; the Faculty of Engineering, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek; the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo; the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Tuzla; the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Computing, University of Mostar; the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Montenegro; Faculty of Electronic Engineering, University of Niš; Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science, Universities of Zagreb and Split; Polytechnic of Zagreb; Business School PAR, Rijeka; College for Information Technologies, Zagreb; Algebra - University College for Applied Computer Engineering; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb; Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb; the Centre for Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb. Numerous mentors from Croatia, Sweden, Australia, China, Germany and Hungary participated.

Since 2001 till present day, more than 600 students participated in Ericsson Nikola Tesla Summer Camp. Together with the support of more than 250 mentors from Faculties and the Company, they realized more than 400 projects. For their work, they received numerous recognitions, among which are 4 Rector’s Awards. The Academia got 11 PhDs among former students who attended the Summer Camp, and 9 PhDs among the Ericsson Nikola Tesla Summer Camp mentors. The long term positive effect is visible in 25 doctor thesis and 250 graduation papers regarding the work in Summer Camp.

For many students, the crucial factor for choosing their employer and the field in which they want to develop their career was due to working in Ericsson Nikola Tesla Summer Camp. On the other hand, the Company finds top talents in the Camp, hires them and includes them in the most complex global technological projects. In this way, the Company strengthens its position in the demanding global market, and at the same time ensures attractive opportunities for young professionals and their career development here in Croatia.

The quality of working with students, future Company's employees, as well as the project itself, is confirmed by the award Golden Index, awarded for the Summer Camp project, the best image according to students’ perception, and, as the company with the most Golden Index awards, Ericsson Nikola Tesla was also granted a Grand PRix for large companies. Ericsson Nikola Tesla won the Golden Index award several years in a row, and the significance is even greater because the decision on granting the award was passed by the students, i.e. a commission of students’ associations of the University of Zagreb, upon the initiative of the association eSTUDENT.

Ericsson Nikola Tesla Company Communications