VERN' University

What VERN' University does

VERN' University (Sveučilište VERN') is a private higher education institution headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia, founded in 1994 as the first private business-focused university in the country. It operates 10 undergraduate and 7 graduate study programs across business, economics, tourism management, journalism, and film and media disciplines, supplemented by lifelong learning programs (Cjeloživotno obrazovanje), some of which are publicly funded through Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) vouchers. The institution serves approximately 1,800 enrolled students and has produced a 6,000+ member alumni network, claiming a 98% graduate employability rate and over 2,000 alumni in managerial positions. Its "Education meets Business" philosophy emphasizes practical curricula, internships, and entrepreneurship; supporting platforms include the Studomatic student information system and the Nastaweb curriculum management system (hosted at eduneta.vern.hr).

The business model is tuition-driven with pricing not publicly disclosed; revenue also includes ancillary streams from continuing education, partnerships with employers (Infobip, Hilton Garden Inn Zagreb, Croatian National Bank, IGH), and international exchange activity via Erasmus+ and bilateral agreements (e.g., Polytechnic University Cavado and Ave in Portugal, EURHODIP). Marketing is conducted across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, plus content, events (open days, graduation ceremonies at KD Vatroslava Lisinskog), email, and earned media. Governance rests with Rector Vedran Mornar, and the institution maintains GDPR-compliant data practices. The institution operates with 101–250 employees and is described as the largest private higher education institution in Croatia. Its intellectual footprint includes the internationally distributed scientific journal "Suvremene teme" covering political science, sociology, communication, and contemporary history of Southeast Europe.

Name

VERN' University

Legal name

Sveučilište VERN'

Website

https://vern.hr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VERN' University is Croatia's largest private higher education institution, founded in 1994 in Zagreb, offering 10 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs in business, economics, tourism, and media to roughly 1,800 students. It operates tuition-funded degree and lifelong learning programs with a 6,000+ alumni network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Private university
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate studies
• Business education

Headquarters

HQ city

Zagreb

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VERN' University is a private higher education institution in Zagreb, Croatia, offering 10 undergraduate and 7 graduate study programs in business, economics, tourism, media, and related disciplines. It also provides lifelong learning programs including HZZ-voucher-funded courses, supported by student platforms (Studomatic, Nastaweb) and an alumni network of 6,000+.

Product overview

VERN' University is a Croatian private higher education institution offering a portfolio of academic programs structured as a platform-plus-services model. The core educational offerings include 10 undergraduate programs (Prijediplomski studij) and 7 graduate programs (Diplomski studij), supplemented by lifelong learning (Cjeloživotno obrazovanje) programs including free vocational courses via HZZ vouchers. Student-facing technology platforms include Studomatic (student information system) and Nastaweb (curriculum management). The university also publishes the scientific journal Suvremene teme and runs the Education meets Business initiative connecting academia with industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Education meets Business: Concept bringing together academic and business sector collaboration
• Suvremene teme

Products and services

• Undergraduate Studies (Prijediplomski studij) Undergraduate degree programs offered at VERN' University, comprising 10 study programs in business, economics, tourism, media, and related disciplines for prospective students seeking their first university degree.
• Graduate Studies (Diplomski studij)

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% graduate employability rate within their field of study
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Croatian Ministry and Partner Universities (National Agreement)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026
• Polytechnic University Cavado and Ave (Portugal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026
• EURHODIP (European Association of Hotel and Tourism Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026
• InfobipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026
• Hilton Garden Inn ZagrebminorStrategic or Co-development Partner
• Koncertna dvorana Vatroslava Lisinskog (Lisinski Concert Hall)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner
• Institut građevinarstva Hrvatske (IGH - Croatian Civil Engineering Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner
• Hrvatska narodna banka (Croatian National Bank)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RIT Croatia: U.S.-affiliated private higher-education institution operating in Zagreb/Croatia, offering business and IT degrees to a similar student persona with an applied, industry-linked curriculum.
• Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM): Croatian private university focused on economics, management, and business in Zagreb — directly comparable in target student, business-curriculum orientation, and Croatian private-sector positioning.
• Aspira University of Applied Sciences: Croatian private applied-sciences institution offering business, IT, and management programs; competes with VERN' for undergraduate students in Zagreb and other Croatian cities.
• Algebra University (Algebra College): Private higher-education and professional training institution in Zagreb with a strong digital/tech and business focus; competes with VERN' for the same digitally-oriented Croatian student market.
• Libertas International University: Croatian private university in Zagreb offering business, economics, and tourism programs — head-to-head competitor in the same niche disciplines and same Zagreb footprint.
• Edward Bernays University of Applied Sciences: Private applied-sciences university in Zagreb focused on communication, media, and management — overlapping with VERN' on media/journalism and business tracks and competing for the same domestic applicant pool.

Broad incumbents

• University of Zagreb (Faculty of Economics): Croatia's flagship public economics and business faculty, representing the dominant low-cost incumbent whose pricing and prestige set the competitive baseline against which VERN' must differentiate.

Regional players

• Bled School of Management (B2 International): Slovenian business school in the same regional higher-education cluster as VERN', with comparable applied-business curriculum — relevant peer for regional benchmarking and student-mobility analysis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@universityvern
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/VERNuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/VERN-100850776627944
• LinkedInhr.linkedin.com/school/vern'%E2%80%8B-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/vern_university
• TikToktiktok.com/@universityvern

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VERN' University