Vukovarsko-srijemska County officials visit Varaždina County to study educational excellence models

A delegation from Vukovarsko-srijemska County, led by Prefect Ivan Bosančić, visited Varaždina County to exchange expertise regarding the development of Centers of Excellence. The primary goal of the visit was to study how to better support gifted and talented students by integrating education with the academic community and the needs of the labor market.

During the visit, the delegation paid respects at a memorial for police officers killed and missing during the Homeland War. Following this, Varaždina County Prefect Anđelko Stričak hosted the delegation, highlighting education as a key development priority. Varaždina County currently operates 16 centers of excellence, five vocational centers of excellence, and two regional competence centers, involving approximately 800 students and 150 mentors annually.

Stričak noted that these centers are integrated into the educational system to foster economic strength. He pointed to the county's economic indicators, noting it has the third strongest economy in Croatia, with an unemployment rate of 2.3 percent as of July, compared to the national average of 3.3 percent. The current challenge identified is not unemployment, but rather a shortage of qualified labor.