Faculty of Economics and Business in Osijek (EFOS): Croatia's Oldest Business Faculty, Recognised by Eduniversal

The Faculty of Economics and Business in Osijek (EFOS), part of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, is one of Croatia's oldest and most established higher education institutions in economics and business.

Founded in 1961 and awarded 3 Eduniversal Palmes of Excellence, a distinction reserved for excellent business schools with reinforcing international influence, EFOS has been shaping business leaders in eastern Croatia and the broader Slavonia and Baranja region for over six decades.

From Regional Cornerstone to International Benchmark: Over 60 Years in Osijek

The story of EFOS begins not in 1961 but in 1959, when the Centre for Economic Studies of the University of Zagreb opened in Osijek, driven by the rapid economic development of the region and the strong backing of the local Chamber of Commerce.

The Faculty of Economics and Business was formally founded on 31 May 1961, a date still celebrated as Faculty Day, making it one of the founding pillars of what would become Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek in 1975.

Today, EFOS is one of the largest constituents of the University of Osijek, which educates approximately 17,000 students across 121 study programmes. With 67 teaching staff and a research mission focused on management, entrepreneurship, information systems and regional development, EFOS combines deep regional roots with an increasingly international outlook.

That outlook is reflected in its Eduniversal standing. The award of 3 Palmes of Excellence places EFOS in the category of excellent business schools with reinforcing international influence, recognising a faculty whose reputation and academic reach extend beyond national borders into the wider Central and Eastern European region.

Undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral Programmes in Business and Economics

EFOS offers a comprehensive suite of programmes aligned with the Bologna framework, spanning undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate specialist and doctoral levels. Its University Master's Programme in Business leads to the degree of Master of Business (univ. mag. oec.), with specialisations covering business administration, applied economics, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, human resources and information systems.

A defining feature of EFOS is its unique position as the only higher education institution in Croatia offering education in entrepreneurship from undergraduate to doctoral level, including a life-long learning programme. This commitment to entrepreneurship as a discipline reflects the faculty's deep engagement with the economic development needs of its region.

CEEMAN Accreditation and Erasmus Mobility

EFOS holds the IQA (International Quality Accreditation) from CEEMAN, the Central and East European Management Development Association, received in 2011 after a rigorous international review process. This accreditation connects EFOS to a network of leading management development institutions across the region and signals a commitment to quality standards that go beyond national requirements.

The faculty is an active participant in the Erasmus programme, offering incoming and outgoing mobility for both students and academic staff. Its International Office coordinates exchanges with partner universities across Europe, making EFOS an accessible destination for international students seeking an affordable and academically substantive study experience in Croatia.

Why Study at EFOS in Osijek?

For students interested in business, economics and entrepreneurship who want to study in Croatia's fourth largest city, in a faculty with over six decades of history and a clear regional mission, EFOS offers a compelling combination of academic depth, institutional stability and geographic character. Osijek, located in the heart of Slavonia near the borders of Hungary and Serbia, is a city of cultural richness and economic ambition, and EFOS sits at the centre of its professional life.