Our first internship program, organized in collaboration with our corporate partner, E.ON Croatia, has successfully concluded. Six female graduate students from technical and social sciences had the opportunity to experience real challenges in the dynamic energy industry over one month, guided by experienced mentors and working on concrete projects: from employee engagement, developing solar potential in Croatia, and market strategies for certain parts of E.ON’s business, to exploring green transition opportunities and helping shape solutions for waste management in the photovoltaic industry.
Program participants were:
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Nikolina Buzić, Electrical Power Engineering student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER)
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Ana Ivičinec, Environmental Engineering student at the Geotechnical Faculty in Varaždin
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Ivana Mladinović, Applied Geology and Geological Engineering student (Geoenergy module) at the Faculty of Mining, Geology, and Petroleum Engineering
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Sara Ostojić, Business Economics student at Libertas University
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Lana Šteko, Mining student at the Faculty of Mining, Geology, and Petroleum Engineering
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Lucija Šušak, Civil Engineering student at the University of Zagreb
The conclusion of the one-month program was marked by final presentations on the projects the students had diligently worked on with their mentors. Through excellent presentations, they demonstrated their energy, creativity, and eagerness to learn, bringing enormous enthusiasm and added value to the entire team. Their passion and effort prove that the future of the energy sector lies in capable and ambitious hands. Well done, ladies!
One of the most valuable aspects of the program, according to the students, was the opportunity to see how things truly work in practice. Nikolina Buzić shared, “Theoretical knowledge from university often remains just theory, but here I could at least briefly connect that knowledge with the real world and learn many new things, both through my own project and others. I especially appreciated collaborating with my colleague Lana Šteko and our mentor Helga Čubrić, whose advice and support enriched this experience. I am sure their friendship and guidance will remain valuable in the future.”
Ivana Mladinović noted that her mentor, Ivana Grbeša, provided highly professional and inspiring guidance throughout the process. Her advice and support helped Ivana better understand the complexities of energy policies and contributed to the quality of her final presentation. “This insight allowed me to better grasp the complexities of business operations, decision-making, and the need for continuous innovation in the energy sector, as well as the critical role of collaboration among experts from different fields to achieve common goals,” Ivana emphasized.
We are also very grateful to our mentors Nela Bučević, Ivana Grbeša, Sofija Kasunić, Helga Čubrić, and Karmen Kostanić, whose knowledge, patience, and support were pillars for these young women. Their role went beyond professional guidance—they demonstrated by example how women can succeed and inspire in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
When asked about their impressions, the mentors agreed on one point: they didn’t just pass on knowledge, but also learned from the students, inspired by their enthusiasm and fresh perspectives.
Karmen Kostanić Jurić shared, “It’s wonderful to work with young women from very diverse fields, showing broad knowledge and tremendous enthusiasm. I was thrilled to be surrounded by women who, in today’s challenging world, strive to align their personal and professional goals with community needs and sustainable principles, aiming to be top experts in their domains. After this internship program, I truly believe in a better tomorrow!”
On advice for students, Karmen emphasized, “Let us hear from you! We’ll try to share as much information as possible so you’re ready to start your careers. Incredible things can happen if you just try!” Ivana Grbeša added, “I would tell students not to fear stepping outside their comfort zones and exploring new areas. And as I always stress, networking and connections are key—they lay the foundation for future projects, collaborations, and professional success.”
Thanks to E.ON Croatia—without their full support and organization, this program wouldn’t have been possible. Their vision and dedication to young people show how a systematic approach can help young women realize their dreams and develop their potential.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without our Internship Program lead, Antonela Vidović Zubak, who invested tremendous effort and energy in designing and managing this successful project.
