Following the kickoff of the COBOL school, we organized a New to Z Croatia chapter gathering, bringing together students, alumni, and industry experts in an informal and collaborative setting.

The event gathered participants from both the COBOL school and the Fundamentals of Mainframe Technology course, along with professionals from CROZ, CROZ DACH, and IBM, as well as alumni of the Mainframe Academy.

In a relaxed atmosphere, students had the opportunity to network, exchange experiences, and learn directly from those already working in the field. Alumni shared their journeys from the academy to internships and full-time roles, while industry experts provided insights into current trends and opportunities within the mainframe ecosystem.

Events like this play a key role in building and strengthening the New to Z community at FERIT, helping students better understand career paths and connect with potential mentors and employers.

The strong engagement and open discussions once again highlighted the value of close collaboration between academia and industry, which remains at the core of the Mainframe Academy initiative.