The University of Zagreb (1669) is the oldest university in South-Eastern Europe. With 29 Faculties, 3 Art Academies and the University Centre for Croatian Studies it is the flagship educational institution in the country, a place where more than 7900 teachers and 72480 students develop knowledge and acquire skills. The University excels not only in teaching, but also in research, contributing with over 50 percent to the annual research output in Croatia and 80 percent of scientific productivity of all Croatian universities. It has memberships in many networks and international associations as: AUF, CASEE, DRC, EAU, IAU, RCAA, SEFI, UNICA etc. UNIZG FCE (the beneficiary of the proposed project leader), established in 1919. With 196 employees is today the largest civil engineering faculty in Croatia. It provides teaching, scientific, research and vocational knowledge-based activities and is well established and recognized among scientific and professional community. It consists of nine divisions: Geotechnical Engineering, Water Research, Structures, Materials, Mathematics, Construction Management, Transportation Engineering, Engineering Mechanics and Buildings. It offers university education at an undergraduate (>750), graduate (>400) and postgraduate (>50 students) levels in all branches of civil engineering and has a valid ASIIN international accreditation
Researchers at the UNIZG FCE have significant scientific results in new material systems and technologies in the field of civil engineering, energy efficiency, building physics and fire engineering. Within the area of sustainable development, research on UNIZG FCE includes material response to environmental processes; interaction between environment, material properties and degradation processes; in-service performance of materials; low-embodied energy construction materials, development of novel micro- and macro- characterization techniques to study hybrid materials. The research comprises both theoretical and experimental studies, including micro-scale examination, fullscale testing and field studies. The research work is published in different scientific papers in highly ranked journals. UNIZG FCE has an extensive experience in the work on research, educational and networking projects such are HORIZON 2020, FP7, FP6, TEMPUS, COST, EUREKA, LIFE, LLP, CIP ECO INNOVATION, CIP-IEE-INTELIGENT ENERGY EUROPE, ERASMUS + and ERASMUS MUNDUS. Some of them, where UNIZG FCE was coordinator are as follows:
- EUREKA E!2823 FIRE-TUNNEL Precast Fire Resistant Segments for Secondary Tunnel;
- EUREKA E!4166 FIRECON Fire resistant concrete made with slag from steel industry;
- ECO-SANDWICH® “Energy Efficient, Recycled Concrete Sandwich Facade Panel”; CIP EcoInnovation programme;
- RUCONBAR Rubberised Concrete Noise Barriers, ECO/10/277317; CIP EcoInnovation programme;
- CROSKILLS – Build Up Skills Croatia project No. IEE/12/BWI/457/SI2.623227;
- CROSKILLS II – Build Up Skills Croatia, project No. IEE/13/BWI/722/SI2.680179.
Besides, the UNIZG FCE is actively involved in the development of the relevant legislation in the area of construction and its application into the practice.
With the introduction of the Bologna study program (2006/2007), UNIZG FCE developed several activities related to education and training in the area of fire safety. From 2006., there is one semester (6 ECTS) course Fire safety within master study programme Materials. In 2006/2007, UNIZG FCE established postgraduate specialist study Fire Engineering which lasts for two semesters (60 ECTS) and is intended for people who need specific knowledge in fire engineering (usually architects, civil, mechanical and electrical engineers). Beside lecturers from UNIZG FCE, many recognised professional experts are lecturers in this study. Furthermore, within the scope of LLL activities, UNIZG FCE with professional experts in this field has been organising one-day courses related fire safety topics.