Students from EFFECTUS College of Applied Sciences participated in the Open Day of the Commercial Court in Zagreb on October 24, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia.

First-year students of the Finance and Business Law program and second-year students of the Entrepreneurship program took part in the field visit, organized as part of the courses Introduction to Law and the Judicial System and Obligations Law with Fundamentals of Commercial Contracts. The aim was to provide students with direct insight into the functioning of the judicial system and the work of one of the key institutions of commercial law – the Commercial Court.

The lectures were delivered by judicial advisors Mario Jerak, Matea Knežević, and Lara Bogdanović, who introduced students to the role of the judiciary within the system of separation of powers and the jurisdiction of Commercial Courts in resolving disputes between companies and other business entities. Through their presentations, they explained the specificities of commercial law, the structure and organization of the court, and the importance of an efficient judiciary for a stable business environment.

After the lecture, students toured the court premises and became acquainted with the practical aspects of judicial work. Particular interest was sparked by examples from court practice, which illustrated theoretical knowledge acquired in class through real-life cases. Students also received useful information about sources for researching case law from Croatian courts and the European Court of Human Rights, enabling them to continue independent study and research.

The field visit once again confirmed the importance of connecting theory with practice in higher education. Through direct interaction with judicial institutions, EFFECTUS students develop an understanding of legal processes, critical thinking, and professional competencies necessary for successful work in the fields of law, finance, and entrepreneurship.

“Such visits give students a new perspective and connect theory with practice – exactly what EFFECTUS bases its approach to higher education on,” said Assoc. Prof. Jelena Uzelac, Ph.D., Dean of EFFECTUS College and course holder.