PET Youth NET: Regional Study Visit to Križevci
This month, PET Youth NET is heading to Križevci and Zagreb, Croatia, for its first regional study visit. The trip brings together students from the University of Niš and the University of Sarajevo to learn directly from the people and institutions that are shaping a more democratic and fair energy system.
This visit builds on the introductory workshops we held at the Science and Technology Park Niš, where participants explored energy communities, energy efficiency, and the broader dimensions of the energy transition. The focus now shifts from classroom learning to hands-on, field experience.
In Križevci, students will engage with community energy models, innovative "one-stop-shop" approaches for home renovations, and new ways to finance projects through ethical and cooperative mechanisms. The program also includes a stop at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FSB) at the University of Zagreb. There, participants will get a tour of the campus's technical systems, including heat pump installations and the faculty’s photovoltaic plant.
Throughout the trip, mixed teams from Niš and Sarajevo will document what they learn, compare different policy and technical approaches, and turn their insights into new project ideas. The goal is to build practical skills in policy, technology, advocacy, and project development, with a special focus on prosumer models and the principles of a just transition.
PET Youth NET is a core part of PET’s strategy to equip the next generation of leaders in Serbia's energy transition. By connecting universities and communities across borders, we are promoting regional cooperation as a vital way to create a real impact. We are proud that students from Niš and Sarajevo will learn together from proven examples in Croatia and bring that knowledge back to their communities.
This study visit is the first of many PET plans to organize within the PET Youth NET network. We expect to share further updates as participants refine their ideas and contribute to building future energy communities in Serbia and the Western Balkans.
We are grateful to Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Belgrade and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Sarajevo for supporting this initiative.