Scene
More than 300 students from around the world have chosen Zagreb School of Economics and Management to continue their education. They come from Japan, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Mexico, France, China, the USA, Brazil, Vietnam, the Philippines, and numerous other countries. Some are just beginning to build their careers, while others already run their own startups, manage companies, mentor entrepreneurs, or develop projects they aim to transform into international business success stories.
As the Dean Mato Njavro stated in his welcoming speech, Croatia is not only important tourist destination; it is also a very crucial geopolitical point, where East meets the West, where tech startups flourish, and to some of the students, becomes a new home. Croatia—long recognized primarily as a tourist destination—is increasingly becoming a hub for international education, knowledge exchange, and the development of new ideas.
Among them is 20-year-old Takumi Itoh from Tokyo, a student of international business and management. Before arriving, he knew Croatia primarily through football, but one thing surprised him after just the first week. “I was particularly surprised by the friendliness of the Croatian people. Compared to Tokyo, Zagreb is very small and much quieter, but that is precisely the difference I like. People here are very kind and open,” says Takumi, who will spend four months in Zagreb.
Even more unusual is the story of Regita Gurung from the Kingdom of Bhutan—an entrepreneur and activist who runs two companies and is, to her knowledge, the first person from Bhutan to come to Croatia for her studies. “When I started researching Croatia and Zagreb, I realized that Zagreb has something that reminds me of Bhutan—a sense of a small community where people know one another, socialize, and look out for each other. I didn’t want to live in the fastest-paced or most hectic European city. That is why Zagreb seemed like the place where I would feel most at ease,” says Regita, who hopes to one day bring the knowledge and contacts she has gained in Croatia back to her community in Bhutan. Even though he had just came to Croatia two weeks ago, the students quickly met up and she had already gone to explore the city with Tran Diem Quin coming from Vietnam. “It was my first ever clubbing experience here. The streets feel very safe even late night, everyone is so welcoming and warm. Even though I am a foreigner and I don’t speak the language, I can communicate easily and people are open. My program lasts only for 6 months, but I am very willing to come back here and explore more about what Croatia has to offer”, Quin said to us.
Afomia Anduale, an electrical engineer from Ethiopia who already runs her own startup and mentors young entrepreneurs, has also arrived in Zagreb. She brought her business idea with her to continue developing it during her international studies. “I decided to bring my business idea here and further develop it while studying. That very possibility was what I was looking for—an opportunity to combine education with the development of my own business,” Afomia points out.
Javier Aguayo, Head of the International Office at ZŠEM, believes that Croatia now has the opportunity to make a significant international breakthrough. “Croatia is already a well-known tourist destination, but international students are increasingly viewing it from a different perspective—as a place for study, international experience, career advancement, and personal growth. This is an opportunity we need to further develop,” Aguayo points out.
These and hundreds of other international stories converged at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management’s Orientation Day, which brought together 319 incoming and EMMIE students. This semester alone, the Zagreb School of Economics and Management expects 181 international students from 23 countries, with a particularly notable rise in arrivals from Japan, France, and Mexico.
