On Friday, March 13, the introductory lecture of the Basics of Mainframe Technology course was held, marking the second year of FERIT Mainframe Academy.. Thirty-four students are now part of the second generation of young mainframers at FERIT.

The introductory lecture was held by the course instructor, Associate Professor Zdravko Krpić, with the support of adjunct teaching assistant Luka Kaučić and Želimir Brkljač from IBM. In the future, both theoretical and practical parts of the course will involve experts from IBM, CROZ, and other technological partners of the Academy.

Over the next few months, students will attend five theoretical lectures covering the foundational knowledge necessary to understand the key concepts behind one of the most reliable and secure technological platforms. In addition to the lectures, they will complete seven laboratory exercises, gaining hands-on experience working on a real system. All participants have also been granted access to Interskill and IBM Z Xplore courses, which will further strengthen their understanding of the platform and provide opportunities to earn relevant technical certificates and digital badges.

The addition of 34 new students further strengthens the New to Z community established last year at FERIT Osijek. The community brings together FERIT students, faculty members, and young mainframe professionals from industry, creating a collaborative environment where academic learning meets real-world expertise. Through this initiative, students can connect with experienced practitioners, exchange knowledge, and become part of a growing network of young professionals interested in enterprise computing and IBM Z technologies.

Good luck to students!