About Aspira
Aspira University of Applied Sciences is a higher education institution with degrees in sports, travel and gastronomy management and software engineering. Our educational strategy is in accordance with latest global and European trends and standards. Collaboration with private and public institutions prepares our students for the labor market and imparts meaningful knowledge.
Aspira University of Applied Sciences has been certified in accordance with the Higher Education Act of the Republic of Croatia. We are recognized at home and internationally as a high-end institution and are the recepients of ISO academic excellence certificates.
History of Aspira
Aspira University of Applied Sciencesis the flagship institution of a group including the Atlantis Maritime Education and Training Center and the SUS Community College of Split. This is the largest private education institution in Croatia, offering degrees and certificates in almost all sectors of the economy.
SUS Community College, the cofounder of Aspira, has been issuing certificates for 25 years. Some of the many fields include management, entrepreneurship, communications, accounting and the travel industry. Educational programs in hospitality, hotel management and travel have been certified by the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education.
Atlantis International Maritime Education and Training Center, also founded by SUS Community College, offers a broad spectrum of educational and training programs for maritime professionals in accordance with the STCW Convention. High quality professional staff, modern simulators and other devices provide a quality education and ensure work efficiency. Atlantis Maritime Education and Training Center has been awarded the CRS Certificate and the Lloyd’s Register quality management system.
Aspira’s Strategy
Aspira University of Applied Science strategy focuses on:
- Collaborating with international institutions
- Aligning with European educational standards
- Systematically promoting student, faculty, and staff mobility to enhance the institution’s competitiveness
- Launching study programs in English
- Participating in international projects
- Developing a multicultural learning environment
- Increasing students’ employability opportunities
- Integrating advanced technological innovations in education
- Ensuring education is accessible to all through various learning formats, including distance learning and lifelong education.
Bologna Process
The core objectives of this program align with the key principles of the Bologna Process, including individualized learning in small groups with direct mentoring from assistants and professors, a high degree of both vertical and horizontal student mobility, and a significant proportion of elective courses that students can choose from other higher education institutions. The program also features a flexible study structure, allowing students to tailor their academic experience to their interests while maintaining their professional qualification. Additionally, the study program is comparable to similar programs at renowned international higher education institutions.
Top Lecturers
A quality curriculum has been enhanced with highly competent expert lecturers. Considering the number and importance of professional internships and workshops, the lecturers are all leaders in the fields of travel, sports, gastronomy and IT. Lessons and consults with expert lecturers present students with specific, applicable knowledge and skills which can lead to success in the labor market and a springboard for further specialization.
Business Council
The Aspira University of Applied Sciences Business Council has been set up to help students approach the labor market, and also to acquire information about the needs of employers. Numerous eminent business leaders, public officials and sports figures are members of the Council. The Business Council provides practice for Aspira students, helps to set up public lectures and discussion boards and developes various projects in collaboration with Aspira and its students.
Erasmus Plus Mobility Program
Aspira University of Applied Scienceshas made gains in strengthening international cooperation by winning the university charter for the 2014-2020 period. The charter is an education and training program focused on teaching young people skills that will help their employability. At Aspira University of Applied Sciences international collaboration is an ongoing project, as we plan to increase the number of institutions, educational and other, with whom we collaborate in bringing their experts to share cutting edge developments with our students. In the IT sector, this practice is of particular importance.
Partners in Higher Education
Higher Education institutions with whom Aspira has partnered thus far:
FH Kufstein University in Austria, Wyzsza Szkola Nauk Humanistycznych i Dziennikarstwa, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego we Wroclawiu, Wyzsza Szkola Handlowa, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego Jozefa Pilsudskiego W Warszawie, Politechnika Opolska, Panstwowa Wyzsza Szkola Zawodowa and Jan Amos Komenski State School of Higher Vocational Education in Leszno in Poland, Universitatea Stefan Cel Mare in Romania, Univerza V Ljubljani, Ekonomska sola Celje, Fakultet za šport and Faculty of Business and Management Sciences Novo Mesto, OTH Amberg University and Hochschule Koblenz in Germanz, University of Applied Sciences of Remagen, Adnan Menaderes University iz Turske, Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in Sarajevo and the Education Faculty of Travnik University in Bosnia-Herzegovina, International University College in Bulgaria, Institute of Hospitality Management in Prague, Masarykova univerzita in Brno in Czechia, Kauno Kolegia, University of Applied Science and Lietuvos Sporto Universitetas in Lithuania, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tetovës in Macedonia, Instituto Universitário da Maia in Portugal, GB Creation & Advice Consulting, and Agrivi in Madrid, Spain, Sports Management School in Paris, France, Kodolanyi Janos University of Applied Sciences, Budapest in Hungary, Portsmouth FC in England etc.
Work-Integrated Study Program
The work-integrated study program is tailored for employed individuals who, due to their professional obligations, are unable to attend regular lectures. Part-time students are provided with individual consultations under mentorship, and all teaching materials are available on our website. The Merlin distance learning system ensures high-quality lecture follow-up and interaction with professors remotely, while lectures can also be attended via live video streaming.
Additionally, Aspira University of Applied Sciences enables part-time students residing in remote locations to take certain exams online. Exams are conducted with software support within the Merlin system.
Merlin – E-Learning System
E-learning is the process of education, learning, and teaching through the use of information and communication technologies, which contribute to enhancing the quality of both the process and the learning outcomes.
Today, there is an increasing need and desire to improve the quality and accessibility of various educational programs. Education has become a lifelong process and necessity, emphasizing the importance of ensuring both accessibility and quality throughout the entire lifelong learning cycle. A well-implemented e-learning system offers numerous advantages to the educational process, enabling a modern, high-quality learning experience.
E-learning allows for individual adaptation to students’ needs, active participation and engagement, up-to-date educational materials, global access to diverse educational content, enhanced communication between lecturers and students, improved teamwork, better time efficiency, self-assessment of knowledge, and continuous progress tracking.
An e-learning system is a platform for managing educational content and the overall learning process. It creates a virtual environment where the educational process takes place. This complex software integrates the publication of learning materials with assessment tools, communication features, and administrative tools for managing students and their results.
Merlin is an e-learning system established as a platform for implementing e-learning projects and delivering courses using e-learning technologies. It is based on the open-source Moodle system, which has been further developed and adapted to meet users’ needs. Every student at Aspira University of Applied Sciences is enrolled in the Merlin e-learning system.