Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić

What Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić does

Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić (also branded IMA Božić / International Maritime Academy Božić) is a private adult education institution headquartered in Split, Croatia, founded in 2015 as the first international maritime school in the Republic of Croatia. The institution operates as the educational arm of the SSM United – Ship Management Group, which has 31 years of operating history and is described as one of the three oldest seafarer training centers in Europe and the oldest in the Mediterranean. It delivers 160+ programs across maritime (Maritime Navigator, Marine Engineering Technician, Electro-Technician, Yachts and Marinas Technician), beauty and wellness (Beauty Academy sub-brand), construction and machinery operation (excavator, forklift, crane, snowplow), and foreign languages, offered in both Croatian and English with Ministry of Science and Education approval and STCW Convention alignment.

The core technology platform comprises modern classrooms, specialized simulators (nautical, CARGO, DP/High Voltage), a unique COLREG polygon for collision-avoidance training, a ship model pool, lifeboat handling range, and beauty/wellness practicum labs exceeding 200 m². Online lecture delivery is available via Skype and Zoom, with remote students supported. The business operates three revenue streams: (1) individual adult learner tuition and enrollment fees for retraining and micro-qualification programs, with installment options and HZZ voucher coverage for unemployed job seekers; (2) B2B corporate training contracts for employee certification delivered on-site at clients such as Jadrolinija, Ceste Rijeka, Luka Zadar, Navalis, Bošana, Hrvatska pošta, and Parkovi i nasadi; and (3) EU-funded project grants, primarily through the European Social Fund and the European Commission. Distribution is anchored by direct enrollment at the Split campus, an SSM Crew / Carnival Maritime employment pipeline placing graduates on passenger ships, and a multi-channel marketing approach spanning social media, website, free public presentations, EU project events, and HZZ referrals.

Name

Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić

Legal name

Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić

Website

https://poubozic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić is a private Croatian adult education institution in Split, offering 160+ maritime, beauty, construction, and vocational programs with a direct employment pipeline to passenger ships via its parent SSM United Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Vocational Education and Maritime Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Engineering & Engine Room Operations (EDAOANAB), Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA), Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD)

Keywords

• Adult vocational education
• Maritime training programs
• Retraining and prekvalifikacija
• Micro-qualification courses
• Lifelong learning center

Headquarters

HQ city

Split

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and enrollment fees for vocational and retraining programs: Revenue generated from fees charged to adult learners for secondary school completion programs (prekvalifikacija), retraining programs (ospособljavananja), and micro-qualification courses. Programs include maritime navigator, marine engineering technician, electro-technician, beauty academy, construction and machinery operator training. Fees are charged per program with installment payment options available.
2. B2B corporate training and professional development contracts: Revenue from delivering custom training programs to corporate clients including Jadrolinija, Ceste Rijeka, Luka Zadar, Navalis, Bošana, and Hrvatska pošta. Programs cover certification and upskilling of employees in specialized roles such as crane operators, forklift drivers, and excavator operators.
3. EU-funded project grants: Funding from European Social Fund (ESF) and other EU programs for adult education modernization, teacher training, and quality assurance system development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić operates a lifelong learning center delivering STCW-aligned maritime retraining programs (Maritime Navigator, Marine Engineering Technician, Electro Technician, Yacht and Marina Technician), micro-qualification vocational courses (excavator, forklift, ceramic tile, solar photovoltaic installers), and beauty/wellness training via the Beauty Academy. Programs are offered in Croatian and English, taught in 20 modern classrooms with nautical/CARGO/DP/High Voltage simulators and the unique COLREG polygon, with a direct employment pipeline to passenger ships through SSM Crew.

Product overview

Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić operates as a lifelong learning center offering a diversified portfolio of educational programs. The institution functions as part of SSM United – Ship Management Group, providing maritime training (Maritime Navigator, Marine Engineering Technician, Electro Technician, Technician for Yachts and Marinas), vocational programs (Gas Service Technician, Drywall Installer, Solar Photovoltaic Installer), and a specialized Beauty Academy. Programs include retraining for secondary education completion, micro-qualification training for specific trades, and vocational qualifications. Maritime programs utilize simulator-based practical training with CARGO, DP, and High Voltage simulators plus a unique COLREG training ground. The institution offers programs in both Croatian and English languages, with pathways to employment on passenger ships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beauty Academy: Beauty and wellness training programs including masseur, wellness therapist, beautician, makeup artist, manicure, nail technician, and wellness center manager programs.

Products and services

• Maritime Navigator (Pomorski nautičar)

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates can work worldwide as Deck Officers on yachts up to 3000GT, Engine Officers, or ETO Officers upon program completion and oral examination.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship / core.

• ELSA (European Law Students Association) SplitminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ELSA Split organized a Summer School of Maritime Law at POU Božić for law students to learn about COLREGS, maritime law, terrorism, piracy, and collision avoidance. Second year of collaboration. POU Božić provided its COLREG polygon and simulator facilities for practical maritime law training.
• SELS Split - Faculty of Law AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-organized lectures for law students on maritime law topics as part of the Summer ELSA Law School project. Lectures covered terrorism, piracy, accidents, maritime law, and rules on avoiding collisions at sea.
• ASOO - Agency for Vocational Education of AdultscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019ASOO (Agencija za strukovno obrazovanje odraslih) partnered with POU Božić for the EU-funded project 'Modernization of the vocational education system - training of maritime teachers.' ASOO co-organized professional development workshops for maritime school teachers on CARGO simulator, DP simulator, High Voltage simulator, COLREG range, and lifeboat handling.
• SSM United – Ship Management Groupflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUO Božić is an integral part of SSM United – Ship Management Group, one of the three oldest seafarer training centers in Europe and the oldest in the Mediterranean (31 years of operation). This parent group relationship is central to the institution's identity, providing the employment pipeline through SSM Crew, shared brand reputation, and access to maritime industry networks. POU Božić represents the educational arm of the SSM maritime group.
• SSM Crewflagship / coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSSM Crew is the maritime crewing agency of the SSM Group with 25 years of tradition, recruiting candidates for Carnival Maritime for employment as officers and hotel staff on passenger ships. SSM Crew directs candidates to POU Božić for required training and education programs, serving as the primary employment pipeline for graduates.
• Carnival Maritimeflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarnival Maritime provides maritime services and operates to the highest technical standards for Costa and AIDA cruise groups. POU Božić developed customized educational programs in partnership with SSM Crew specifically for Carnival Maritime hotel staff recruitment from Croatia. Programs are aligned with STCW Convention requirements for boarding vessels.
• JadrolinijaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJadrolinija (Croatian ferry company) provided practical training facilities for maritime students. Polaznici (students) visited the ferry 'Korčula' to learn about engine room operations, bridge work, and ship equipment handling as part of practical education.
• Restoran Coccolo TrogirminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRestaurant Coccolo in Trogir served as the practical training and examination site for the pizza master (pizza majstor) certification program. All graduates were offered employment on passenger ships through SSM Crew.
• Bošana d.o.o. Biograd na MoruminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBošana municipal company in Biograd na Moru served as on-site training and examination location for heavy machinery operator programs (excavator, branch shredder, chainsaw, mower operators).
• Navalis d.o.o. NartaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNavalis d.o.o. in Bjelovar (Narta) served as on-site training and examination location for bridge crane operator certification programs.
• Ceste RijekaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCeste Rijeka (Rijeka Road Company) engaged POU Božić to train their employees as snowplow operators. Despite being a maritime school, POU Božić has positioned itself as a regional leader in construction and working machine training programs.
• Luka Zadar d.d.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLuka Zadar d.d. (Zadar Port) served as a partner for practical training for port and logistics-related programs.
• Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHrvatska pošta partnered with POU Božić for practical training programs for postal service employees.
• Parkovi i nasadi SplitminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerParkovi i nasadi Split (municipal landscaping company) partnered with POU Božić for working machinery operator training and certification.
• Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of CroatiacoreOthersThe Ministry of Science and Education approves all educational programs offered by POU Božić. Programs are developed according to Ministry guidelines and EU EACEA recommendations.
• Ministry of Transport of the Republic of CroatiacoreOthersMinistry of Transport provides approvals for maritime education programs and is listed among institutional partners of POU Božić.
• European CommissioncoreOthersThe European Commission designated POU Božić as an official partner for international teacher training workshops under the European Week of Skills Acquired in Vocational Education and Training. The Commission fully covers costs for organizing these events.
• European Social Fund (ESF)coreOthersEuropean Social Fund co-finances adult education modernization and teacher training projects at POU Božić, including the 'Modernization of the vocational education system' project for maritime teachers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Maersk Training: Global maritime and offshore training provider owned by A.P. Møller–Mærsk, offering STCW courses, simulator training, and certification across multiple geographies. A scaled incumbent with overlapping STCW and maritime simulator content.
• Kongsberg Maritime Training: Maritime simulation and training division of Kongsberg, providing ship-handling, dynamic positioning, and engine-room simulators used in maritime schools worldwide. Competes indirectly via the same simulator technology stack POU Božić adopts.
• World Maritime University: IMO-founded graduate-level maritime university in Malmö, Sweden. A global incumbent in maritime education, training officers and regulators worldwide with substantially broader scope and brand recognition than POU Božić.

Regional players

• Accademia Navale di Livorno: Italian naval academy training officers for the Italian Navy and merchant marine. Operates in the same Mediterranean labor market for STCW-certified seafarers and competes for European maritime students.
• Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov Naval Academy (Varna): Bulgaria's primary naval academy in Varna, providing navigation and marine engineering training. Competes for Black Sea and Balkan maritime trainees and offers comparable STCW-aligned credentials.
• Constanta Maritime University (Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy): Romanian naval and maritime university on the Black Sea, training merchant marine officers and marine engineers. A regional competitor for EU and Black Sea maritime students, with overlapping STCW program offerings.

Direct peers

• Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Split: University-level maritime faculty also located in Split, Croatia, training maritime navigation and marine engineering students. Directly competes for Croatian and regional maritime students in the same city and offers overlapping STCW-aligned programs.
• Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Rijeka: Croatia's other major maritime university, based in Rijeka, offering navigation, marine engineering, and maritime transport programs. Competes for the same STCW-aligned student pool in Croatia and serves overlapping shipping and cruise employers.
• Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Dubrovnik: Croatian maritime faculty offering nautical and marine engineering study programs. Competes for domestic maritime students and pursues similar placement pathways into the Adria and Mediterranean shipping market.

Emerging players

• Ocean Technologies Group (Seagull Maritime): Digital maritime training and crew competence provider serving shipping companies and maritime schools. An emerging player in maritime e-learning that complements traditional simulator schools and could eventually compete for online delivery of retraining programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poubozic

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pučko otvoreno učilište Božić