October the 30th, 2025 – Innovative Croatian STEM vans are set to bring non-formal education to every rural school and island, ensuring no child is left behind.
As Ana Roksandic/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, earlier this month, the UniCredit Foundation announced the list of projects that will be supported this year under the Edu-Fund platform, a UniCredit Group initiative aimed at reducing educational poverty among young people across Europe.
With a budget of almost fourteen million euros, the platform finances programmes that contribute to reducing young people leaving education early, improving educational achievement, and developing skills that are key to higher education and employment as adults.
Over 500 applications were received last year, and two Croatian projects were among the 30 selected projects: the Network of Education Policy Centres project and the Strengthen-Improve-Integrate for Development (OUI) programme.
The Network of Education Policy Centres project addresses the problem of educational poverty across Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Slovenia, with the aim of strengthening the competences of school staff and improving educational equity and student well-being. Over a three-year period, the plan is to train teachers and principals in 80 schools, implement mentoring activities, and organise a series of national and international events that will bring together around 300 stakeholders from across the education sector.
the innovative croatian stem vans
The STEM EduCamp project, implemented by the OUI association, focuses on children and young people aged 11 to 19 from southern Croatia, especially those living in rural and island areas where access to non-formal education is somewhat limited. Over the course of the two-year programme, over 300 young people will participate in practical STEM workshops, scientific research, and education, supported by a specially equipped Croatian STEM van. Activities include the creation of educational manuals, the development of STEM games, and the training of teachers. The Croatian STEM van will carry this out all with the aim of stimulating young people’s interest in science and technology careers and creating a sustainable network of STEM educators in local communities.
“The Croatian STEM van project team is made up of a large number of people who share the enthusiasm for working with young people and a love for science and a scientific approach; from volunteers, professors, Michelin chefs to those with PhDs. These are all people of different profiles with rich experience in working with young people and who have a practical approach,” said Mia Čović, Director and Research and Development Associate at the OUI association. She added that the UniCredit Foundation recognised the quality and potential of the innovative Croatian STEM van project to contribute to reducing educational inequalities in the targeted areas. It therefore enabled the implementation of all of the project’s implied activities with funding in the generous amount of 288,820 euros.
purchasing croatian stem vans
“The funds received as part of the UCF Edu-fund platform call for non-formal education projects are being used to purchase and equip Croatian STEM vans. They will support the implementation of our training programmes even in the most remote areas, thus improving the overall effectiveness of the entire programme. The UniCredit Foundation will provide access to the network of contacts and expertise of its local non-profit partner organisations, as well as the support of a local bank,” stated Čović.
With this selection, Croatian projects have well and truly confirmed their important role in wider regional efforts to ensure quality, inclusive and modern education for all young people. The UniCredit Foundation stated that, addition to the smaller programme funded with almost 300,000 euros, the Foundation has selected two more organisations whose programme cover several countries, including Croatia. Taking into account the funds allocated per individual country, this is a total investment of more than 800,000 euros in Croatia and the immediate region. The programmes will be focused on different areas of Croatia, with a special emphasis placed on communities with fewer opportunities and regions with higher rates of young people leaving school early.
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