The core activities of Zadar University currently lie in social sciences and humanities, but national and regional priorities are driving Zadar University to consider expanding in natural and technical sciences with the introduction of new programmes. Physical conditions at the University increasingly hinder its development. Lack of space and equipment are constraints for both the expansion into new fields of science and maintaining high quality teaching in existing fields of expertise. Under these circumstances, the University successfully applied to the WBIF for the funding required to plan for adequate facilities for existing and future students and staff.
The planned developments include new buildings for natural and technical sciences, including innovation support, an extended library with up to date digital and cultural facilities and dormitories and canteen facilities for an expanded number of students. The library would constitute the University Learning Resource Centre (ULRC) and would provide a unique facility incorporating all existing departmental libraries and the ‘science library’, run by the City of Zadar. The campus expansion and the addition of the ULRC will allow for the University to organise international summer schools and other academic events which will attract international visitors, apart from the regular students.
The project has been supported jointly by WBIF Bilateral Donors and the EU, in line with 'Team Europe' approach. Two technical assistance grants have been provided, to cover for feasibility as well as design costs and project management assistance.
The study and preliminary designs, as well as assistance with preparing the investment grant application for EU Regional Development Funds, were completed by the Infrastructure Project Facility 3 in September 2018. Assistance will continue under the Infrastructure Project Facility 5 and the Infrastructure Project Facility 7.
| WBIF | Grant | WB6-HR-SOC-03 | € 800,000 |
| WBIF | Grant | WB9-HR-SOC-02 | € 1,248,000 |
| EIB | Loan | € 15,000,000 | |
| EU Structural Funds | External Grant | € 73,000,000 | |
| Total | € 90,048,000 | ||
| Total Grants | € 2,048,000 | ||
| Total Loans | € 15,000,000 | ||
