Solemn Celebration of the 106th Anniversary of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb

On Monday, November 10, 2025, the Ceremonial Session of the Faculty Council was held to mark the 106^th Anniversary of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In the Great Lecture Hall, attendees were welcomed by the Dean, Prof. Marko Samardžija, PhD, who reflected on the past academic year and highlighted the Faculty’s position as the only higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia educating Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, with study programs accredited and recognized at the European Union level.

Among the distinguished guests were delegates from the Office of the President and the Assistant Advisor to the President of Croatia for the Economy, Martina Ciglević; the delegate of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, David Vlajčić; State Secretary Ivan Matijević; the representative of the City of Zagreb and Assistant Head in the City Office for Economy, Ecological Sustainability and Strategic Planning, Vlasta Ranogajec, BSc Agr; the Rector of the University of Zagreb, Prof. Stjepan Lakušić, PhD; Vice Rectors Prof. Dubravko Majetić, PhD, and Tomislav Bolanča, PhD; academicians Josip Madić and Dražen Matičić; the Chairwoman of the Veterinary Medicine Section of the Croatian Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. Emerita Estella Prukner-Radovčić; and other high-ranking attendees.

Since this year’s celebration coincided with the enrollment of the tenth generation of international students in the Veterinary Medicine program in English, special emphasis was placed on internationalization and the contributions of foreign students. Ambassadors and representatives of embassies from several countries from which international students originate were present, including the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia in Hungary, Atila Kos; the Ambassador of Ireland, H. E. Mrs. Wendy Dorman-Smith.; the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, H. E. Mr. Gangumzi Mattias Tsengiwe; French Consul Mr. Phillipe Francois Paul Bonche; and Economic Attaché at the Hungarian Embassy, Mr. Milán Viktor Radácsi.

Following the Dean’s opening address, the Rector, Prof. Stjepan Lakušić, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, David Vlajčić, and the delegate of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Martina Ciglević also addressed the audience.

The central part of the ceremony was dedicated to awarding prizes and recognitions to employees, students, and associates. This year, the Eugen Podaubsky Charter—awarded for exceptional merit and contributions to the advancement of scientific, teaching, and professional work, as well as to the promotion of the Faculty and the veterinary profession in Croatia and abroad—was presented to academician Dražen Matičić.

Awards were also presented for first authorship of papers published in high–impact factor journals. In the doctoral student category, the prize was awarded to Valentina Kunić, DVM, for the paper “Interspecies transmission and genome heterogeneity of porcine-originated Rotavirus A between domestic pigs and wildlife in the Croatian ecosystem,” published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. In the young scientist category, recognition was given to Assistant Ana Šikić, DVM, from the department of Parasitology and Invasive Disease with Clinic for the paper “First molecular identification of Spirometra mansoni in the golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Croatia,” published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. In the established scientists category, the award went to Prof. Ivana Tlak Gajger, PhD, for the papers “Antioxidant capacity and Therapeutic Applications of Honey: Health Benefits, Antimicrobial Activity and Food Processing Roles” and “Antioxidant Potential of polen Polyphenols in Mitigating Environmental Stress in Honeybees (Apis mellifera)”, published in Antioxidants. Prof. Ivana Tlak Gajger also received recognition for scientific excellence, having been listed for the third consecutive year among the top 2% most influential scientists worldwide by Stanford University (USA).

Retired employees were honored for their long-standing service. During the past academic year, three professors retired—Prof. Petar Džaja, Prof. Vilim Starešina, and Prof. Damir Župčić. The Head Librarian, Helena Ivančić, Prof., as well as non-teaching staff members Tatjana Butković, Nevenka Čuk-Kostrec, Smiljka Pavešić, Jadranka Tutić, Nedjeljka Novosel, Pero Petrović, Dragutin Pokas, and Sakib Šabanović, also concluded their service.

This year’s recognition for non-teaching staff was awarded to the Head of Accounting, Katarina Goleš, mag. oec.

The student awards followed, recognizing this year’s highest-achieving students by grade point average: Sara Lovrić, Sara Adžić, Enola Gržin, Flora Gržin, Flora Lalić, Matea Guglić, and Buga Slavica. The Dean’s Award was presented to Doroteja Hunjadi.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the University’s Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate Study Program in Veterinary Medicine in English, attendees viewed a short film featuring international students sharing their experiences at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb. This was followed by a speech by the Vice Dean for the English study program and lifelong learning, Assoc. Prof. Marko Pećin, PhD, and the awarding of prizes for outstanding achievements to students of the Veterinary Medicine program in English: Amélie Jane Couvez, Lea Janine Francine Jeanne, Marinella Gabrielle Cassandra Trompetter, Armand Jacques Hoyet-Boucaud, Ashkan Sadri, and Nina Komplet. The Dean’s Award for this part of the program was presented to Margaux Jade Blanc. Student Ashkan Sadri, who also authored the film about the University Veterinary Hospital and students’ practical training experiences, delivered a speech of thanks on behalf of the students.

After the student awards, the program continued with a segment dedicated to collaboration with the industry sector followed. This year, the Faculty of veterinary Medicine awarded a certificate of appreciation for long-standing successful collaboration with Medical Intertrade, d.o.o., presented to the CEO Ms Jasenka Joukhadar.

This year, the companies Dechra and Agroproteinka once again awarded scholarships to veterinary students. Dr. Neven Čakarun, DVM, a representative of Dechra, announced the recipients of a cash award and two scholarships: Kristina Popović received the cash award, and Magdalena Šafran and Ana Družeta received scholarships.

The Agroproteinka scholarship was presented by the company’s head of Procurement Daniela Tužinski, and awarded to student Tena Jagodić.

This year’s solemn session featured musical performances by Academic Choir of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Ab Ovo, led by Prof. Kristina Matković, PhD, with Josip degl’Ivellio as conductor and Marina Mijatović as pianist.