News: 16 Years of the Zagreb Stock Exchange Academy

Since its inception, the Zagreb Stock Exchange has continuously invested in education on topics related to the capital market, investing, and responsible personal financial management. Over the years, the Exchange has organized numerous educational activities for various groups of financial market participants - ranging from retail investors to market infrastructure institutions and financial professionals - with a particular emphasis on educating university and secondary school students. The need for a more systematic approach to education and broader dissemination of financial knowledge ultimately led to the establishment of the Zagreb Stock Exchange Academy.

The Zagreb Stock Exchange Academy was established in May 2010 as the educational division of the Zagreb Stock Exchange, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and is today the largest provider of financial market education in Croatia.
During its sixteen years of operation, the Academy has developed more than 140 different educational programmes, including several comprehensive specialist programmes distinguished by their duration and scope. Among these, the Investor Relations Programme stands out in particular, having been completed by as many as 19 generations of professionals, alongside the Compliance Programme, which has been completed by seven generations of participants.

To date, the Academy has organized more than 900 educational events attended by approximately 17,000 participants. Special attention is continuously devoted to educating young people, particularly secondary school and university students, with more than 7,500 having participated in Academy programmes over the years. In addition to participants from across Croatia, the Academy has also hosted numerous international student groups from Europe and around the world, including Brazil, South Africa, Canada, China, the United States, and many other countries.
The Academy also regularly participates in activities marking Global Money Week, a worldwide initiative aimed at raising awareness of the importance of financial literacy among children and young people, joined each year by tens of thousands of organizations around the globe.



Alongside its educational programmes, the Academy has organized 12 round tables and expert discussions on current topics in finance and investing.
Through cooperation with numerous organizations and institutions, the Academy actively contributes to the advancement of financial literacy in Croatia.
It has also been part of the body responsible for developing the strategic framework for financial literacy at the Ministry of Finance. Currently, the Academy participates in the Operational Working Group monitoring the implementation of measures and activities defined under the Action Plan for the Improvement of Consumer Financial Literacy and has on several occasions contributed to financial literacy training for teachers and educators organized by the Education and Teacher Training Agency.
 
The Academy also manages the online stock market trading simulation Virtual Stock Exchange, which has more than 26,000 registered users. This educational tool has been used for more than a decade in capital market-related courses at economics and related faculties, as well as higher education institutions and secondary schools.

An important aspect of the Academy’s activities is its cooperation with student associations, universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Through various benefits, organized visits, lectures, financial literacy quizzes, and guest appearances, the Academy continuously supports projects aimed at improving financial literacy among young people. These efforts have been recognized through two “Friend of Students” awards, presented to organizations for their exceptional contribution to the quality of student life, education, and professional development.

Since 2012, the Academy has also presented its own Award for Contribution to Capital Market Education. Previous recipients include individuals, organizations, and associations such as Economic Clinic, the Finance Club of the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb, eStudent, Toni Milun, and Velimir Šonje, all of whom have played an important role in popularizing financial knowledge and making it more accessible to the wider public.

Sixteen years of the Zagreb Stock Exchange Academy’s work confirm the importance of continuous education and the development of financial literacy as a foundation for informed and responsible participation in financial markets.