The Zagreb School of Economics and Management officially started operating in September 2002.
The enrollment of the first generation was the culmination of many years of work of individuals whose goal is to create a proactive business community as a source of comparative advantage of Croatia in the new competition framework.
Among the individuals who selflessly passed on their knowledge and experience through the best practices of the world’s business schools was the late Josip Bombelles, professor emeritus of economics at John Carroll University in Cleveland. A great patriot and descendant of an aristocratic family, he was the first and lifelong president of the ZSEM Board of Directors.
The establishment of the ZSEM began in 1994, when the publishing house Mate d.o.o., one of the founders, submitted a proposal for the establishment of a new higher education institution, i.e., a recommendation for a study program in the field of economics and management, to the National Council for Science and Higher Education. Dr. Đuro Njavro and Dr. Mate Babić designed the program. Based on the invitation opinion of the National Council for Science and Higher Education, the Association for the Promotion of Education in the Social Sciences from Zagreb initiated the establishment of the ZSEM. Among the founders of ZSEM, along with Dr. Đuro Njavro, a prominent role is played by Dr. Zlatko Mateša and Dr. Ljerka Mintas Hodak.
The late Josip Bombelles, a patriot and descendant of an aristocratic family, was the first and lifelong president of the ZSEM Board of Trustees. He selflessly devoted all of his expertise and efforts to it, ensuring that it grew into one of the top business institutions.
ZSEM enrolls its 1st generation of the undergraduate program in Economics and Management.
ZSEM becomes the first business school in Croatia to be admitted to the elite AACSB Business Education Alliance.
ZSEM enrolls its 1st generation of the graduate MBA program in Marketing, Management, Finance and Accounting Concentrations.
ZSEM receives initial accreditation for the scientific activity from the Agency for Science and Higher Education.
Eduniversal, for the first time, proclaims ZSEM the best business school in Croatia. ZSEM still proudly holds this title, which is awarded every year.
Philip Kotler made his first journey to Croatia to attend a conference hosted by the Zagreb School of Economics and Management.
ZSEM earns AACSB accreditation, placing the school in the top 5% of the most prestigious business schools and universities in the world.
ZSEM launches a new undergraduate program in Business Mathematics and Economics.
For the first time, Eduniversal ranks ZSEM in the TOP 3 best business schools in Eastern Europe.
ZSEM's partnership with Sheffield Hallam University for enrollment on the Doctor of Administration Program.
ZSEM achieves the prestigious AACSB reaccreditation.
ZSEM's MBA program is ranked among the TOP 200 best MBA programs in the world by the QS Global MBA ranking.
ZSEM is the best graded higher education institution in the field of Economics in Croatia by the reports of Expert panel in the reaccreditation cycle 2017-2020.
The Zagreb School of Economics and Management received the highest grade of ADVANCED LEVEL for its Quality assurance system! Thus, ZSEM is the best graded higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia in the external independent evaluation of the Quality assurance system.
ZSEM signs a strategic partnership with one of the leading innovation centers, H-FARM College for the Global Executive MBA program.
