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Dubravka Štiglić
Episode · #228

POSLOVNI FM PREDSTAVLJA Svijet, Dubravka Štiglić

Guest Dubravka ŠtiglićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

The idea for a school can begin with a deeply personal ambition, even if the initial numbers seem small. Marija Šarić, a catechist and political scientist, founded Privatna gimnazija i strukovna škola Svijet in 2003 with just thirteen students and fourteen professors — a venture that felt 'enormously large for an individual, but very small if you only look at the numbers.' What began as a single gymnasium program has since evolved through five different locations and into a multifaceted institution offering vocational training in web design and physiotherapy. Dubravka Štiglić, a pedagogue at the school, shares how this independent educational model has grown by prioritizing student well-being and practical skills, often years before national curricula caught up. She explains the intentional choices that shaped Svijet, from its central city location used as a teaching tool to its early adoption of a later start time. Listen to understand how an educational institution can thrive by staying true to its founding vision while organically adapting to student needs and the demands of the modern world.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Marija Šarić, a catechist and political scientist, founded the school in 2003 with thirteen students and fourteen professors. An ambitious personal decision, initially feeling 'enormously large for an individual,' can create something significant, even if the starting numbers appear modest. The scale of conviction often outweighs the scale of initial resources.
02
The school changed its physical location five times, moving from a smaller office-like setting to a modern, fully equipped building in Vlaška Street. Growth isn't just about expanding programs; it often requires a willingness to repeatedly uproot and re-establish physical presence to meet evolving needs. Your space must serve your mission, not the other way around.
03
The web design vocational program was introduced after years of integrating IT into all four gymnasium grades, long before it became standard in Croatian schools. Program expansion should often follow organic internal strengths, not just external trends. Build on what you've already been doing well for years before formalizing a new offering.
04
The founder's background as a catechist and political scientist led to a unique blend of general gymnasium and vocational programs (web design and physiotherapy). An unconventional founder's background can unexpectedly shape an institution's offerings, leading to a distinctive and successful blend of academic and practical education. Don't let traditional categories limit your design.
05
The school offers sign language courses with certification, in partnership with the Videator association for the deaf and hard of hearing, available to all students and staff. True differentiation in education comes from offering practical, community-connected skills that extend beyond the core curriculum, providing students with unique value and an unexpected advantage.
06
From its inception, the school set its daily start time at 8:30 AM, a practice now being considered by the Ministry of Education as a potential improvement to teaching quality. Small, early operational decisions, driven by an intuitive understanding of student well-being, can prove prescient and later become recognized as forward-thinking practices. Trust your internal clock.
07
Located in the old core of Zagreb, the school regularly uses its central position for daily field trips, turning a walk to Ban Jelačić Square into an educational hour. A school's physical location isn't just an address; it's a pedagogical asset. Intentionally integrate your surroundings into the curriculum to make learning tangible and immediate.
08
During the pandemic, the school chose to maintain in-person classes (Model A), providing synchronous online learning for students in isolation. Prioritizing direct interaction while simultaneously enabling real-time remote participation ensures educational continuity and maintains connection, even when circumstances force temporary physical separation.
09
Students consistently greet everyone with 'Good morning, how are you?' and depart with 'Goodbye, pleasant weekend,' a tradition the guest describes as 'much, much more than just a place to be.' The daily rituals of respect and warmth among students and staff are a stronger indicator of a school's positive culture and student well-being than academic metrics alone. Culture is built in the small, repeated gestures.
10
Alumni from Svijet become lawyers, doctors, economists, entrepreneurs, and artists, and 'felt the freedom to do whatever they wanted if they set that goal.' The ultimate measure of an educational institution is not just the specific career paths its graduates take, but the internal confidence it instills in them to pursue diverse ambitions.
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