The grand opening of the Student dormitory ‘’Bruno Bušić’’ was held on September 25, 2020.
Croatian Minister of Science and Education, Mr Radovan Fuchs, Rector of the University of Split, Professor Dragan Ljutić, PhD, Director of the Student Centre, Mr Ivan Žižić, vice-rectors, the members of the University Senate and many distinguished guests participated in the opening ceremony.
The reconstruction was financed through EU grant in the amount of 32,550,000.00 Croatian kunas and the overall cost of the project was approx. 66 million Croatian kunas. The funds were also invested by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund of the Republic of Croatia, The Ministry of Science and Education of Croatia and Split Student Centre. The residence now has 174 rooms, 121 of which are triple rooms, 49 doubles and 4 singles adapted for disabled persons and those with reduced mobility. The dormitory can accommodate 465 students. The gross area of reconstructed buildings will be 7037 m2 with the all accompanying contents of modern student accommodation, including sports facilities - said Director, Mr Ivan Žižić.
Students will have access to a modern canteen, group work classroom with 60 seats, a lecture room with 65 places, washing machines, elevator for persons with limited mobility, futsal and basketball grounds and recreational equipment.
Mr Ivan Žižić emphasized the energy-efficiency as a high priority of this residence hall. Renewable energy sources will be used, together with the energy sources of electricity and gas.
There are rooftop solar power panels on residential building with a capacity of 144kW and the boiler system used for heating and production of hot water. Solar Air Conditioning even operates on the solar cooling system for heating recovery purposes. Thanks to new technologies, Student dormitory ‘’Bruno Bušić’’ significantly increases the required level of student standards in the higher education system at the University of Split.
’’I am truly honoured to attend this ceremony which is completely in line with our motto students, students and students. This occasion is an excellent chance to support our students and allow them not only to study at the best University in Croatia, but in the region as well. It is necessary to ensure continuity, growth and development.’’- Rector said, adding that the University of Split has a lot to be proud of, however, the effort continues; the next step is to build a new dormitory on campus in the near future.
Rector expressed his gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Croatia headed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, stressing that during his mandate the dormitory has been reconstructed together with the Technology Park in Spinut. He expressed his sincere gratitude to Croatian Minister of Science and Education, Mr Radovan Fuchs and Rector of the University of Zagreb, Professor Damir Boras, PhD, for their tremendous support.
’’As far as I am concerned, supporting the universities and higher education institutions has never been a question, and it will never be. It should be the core mission of The Ministry of Science and Education of Croatia in all of the segments in the Croatian education system.’’- Fuchs said.
’’An investment in education from an economic perspective is one of the safest and most profitable investments a country can make. Educational investment is never a failure. Education is a priority to any society and every person.’’- he added, emphasizing that the University of Split and other Croatian universities offer top-ranked education, which is a core element for successful and fruitful careers, especially in enterprise and science fields.
’’Not only the teachers are essential to good learning outcomes, but also the quality of the learning environment is equally important. Young people should be able to find affordable accommodation without any worries and we should free them of trouble living month to month. If you can provide students with this, you will make them highly valuable to future positions in the university and society.’’- concluded Fuchs.
The new High Technology Incubator was officially presented after the opening ceremony and implemented with the completion of the project ’’Development of the High Technology Incubator at the University of Split’’. The holder of a project is a company UNIST Technology Park and this is the first technology incubator in Croatia. This capital project for the City of Split was supported by the European Regional Development Fund and awarded in a total budget of 20 million Croatian kunas, including 19.83 million Croatian kunas grant. The project is a reconstruction of the former ‘’OH dorm’’ in Spinut and this high-tech incubator will have 26 new modular offices, a coworking space with 45 workspaces. Besides, 140 new jobs will be created for young start-ups from Split-Dalmatia County.
Taking into consideration that the University of Split provides adequate scientific research, structural and higher education capacities in STEM and other high technology areas throughout Dalmatia, the project realization will enable the development of high technology in Split-Dalmatia County and the wider region.
Visit of Croatian Minister of Science and Education, Mr Radovan Fuchs was an opportunity to present the initiatives and projects of the School of Medicine based on collaboration with the Split Clinical Hospital Centre at the University Gallery.
Professor Zoran Đogaš, PhD, Dean of the School of Medicine, presented the condition of the building A, highlighting areas of 4th and 5th floor that are not available for use and emphasized the need of reconstruction. With the possibility of the renovation of an old building, Professor Đogaš also pointed out the option of construction of a Modular Research Center- Building D, a detached building in the southeastern side, where is the current gross area for sport and recreation.
The director of KBC Split, Professor Julije Meštrović introduced the new Research Medical Center Split (IMCS), a new research and innovation infrastructure project between the Split Clinical Hospital Center and the School of Medicine with the support of the University of Split.
Finally, linking scientific and clinical work in the future IMCS is a prerequisite for enhancing the quality of scientific and research work in the field of biomedicine and health care and the formation of interdisciplinary research groups.