Osijek, November 16, 2023 – The Faculty of Economics in Osijek and Belje plus have signed an agreement on scientific and professional cooperation, which officially establishes stronger synergy in joint projects. The main goal of the cooperation is to improve the quality and modernize study programs, exchange knowledge and experience through professional internships, and then create opportunities for the development of future staff and the employment of young talents in Belje plus.
The aforementioned scientific and professional cooperation is a continuation of the long tradition of exchanging knowledge and experience between the academic and economic community of Osijek-Baranja County in order to ensure the foundation for further economic growth of the wider region. As a renowned company of exceptional national importance, Belje plus will provide EFOS students with valuable knowledge and experience through professional internships, case studies, providing data for exercises within the framework of classes, and testing exercises and market research on its products. In addition, the company, as part of the cooperation, receives an important opportunity to additionally present itself to students as a potential employer and to develop young talents who can further enrich the Belje plus staff. On this occasion, the signatories of the agreement, prof.dr.sc. Boris Crnković, Dean of the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, and Damir Leko, Executive Director of the Agriculture Business Area of the Fortenova Group and President of the Belje plus Management Board, together with Ivan Begović, a member of the Belje Management Board, expressed their satisfaction with the signing of this agreement, which represents an excellent foundation for future cooperation.
When signing the agreement, Dean of the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Prof. Dr. Sc. Boris Crnković emphasized "The Faculty of Economics in Osijek traditionally cooperates with the most prominent economic entities in the Osijek-Baranja County with the common goal of two-way exchange of knowledge and mutual progress. Such scientific and professional activities provide students with rich experience in the profession during their studies - in regionally established companies, while partner companies enable targeted development and selection of future quality personnel for further improvement of their business. To our immense satisfaction, the latest in a series of such scientific and professional cooperations was achieved with one of the flagships of Slavonia and Baranja and continental Croatia as a whole, the company Belje plus.
„"This is the third cooperation agreement we have signed with scientific institutions in Osijek this year, which best demonstrates our focus on joint projects and the development of our company, but also the entire region. The Faculty of Economics in Osijek was also my first choice during my studies, so I am personally pleased that the students of the Faculty will have the opportunity to see and learn a lot during their professional practice, which they will have the opportunity to do in Belje. Our company has been a leader in innovation and the application of new technologies in agriculture and the food industry for many years, and we deal with a total of thirteen different businesses. I believe that this agreement will also encourage cooperation between our employees and scientists from the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, and that we will jointly create new projects, products and services," he emphasized. Damir Leko, President of the Management Board of Belja plus.
