RE@CT Education and Needs of Modern Industry Connected in a New Profession

The RE@CT project has been successfully completed within the framework of the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Croatia–Serbia (Interreg CRO–SRB). The project represents the outcome of a strong partnership between the Center for Professional Development Šabac, the Industrial Park Nova Gradiška, and the International Centre for Technology Transfer, Partnership and Innovation from Novi Sad.

The crowning achievement of the project is the accreditation of a training programme by the Qualifications Agency of the Republic of Serbia for the INDUSTRIAL MECHATRONICS SPECIALIST, which further improves the quality of vocational education and strengthens the link between education and modern industry in the cross-border region.

This training will be offered alongside other programmes at CSU Šabac that aim to increase employment opportunities and enhance the quality of labour market offerings. The programme will be implemented in cooperation with the Industrial Park Nova Gradiška and the International Centre for Technology Transfer, Partnership and Innovation from Novi Sad.

As such, the programme is also included in the Local Employment Action Plan of the City of Šabac for 2026, and participation will be free of charge for all unemployed persons.

 Structure of the Training Programme

The programme is designed as a combination of theoretical instruction and intensive practical training, covering the following modules:

1. Introduction to Mechatronics and Occupational Safety
2. Basics of Pneumatics and Electropneumatics
3. Sensors and Actuators in Industry
4. Process Control Using PLC Systems
5. Simulation and Programming of Mechatronic Systems in CIROS 7
6. Fundamentals of Hydraulics in Mechatronics
7. Robotics and Control in a Virtual Environment
8. Application of Machine Vision and Navigation in Mobile Robotics
9. Working with Laser CNC Machines

Equipment Provided through the Interreg CRO–SRB Programme and the RE@CT Project

A particularly important aspect of the project is the improvement of the partners’ infrastructure capacities, including:

• Equipment for mechatronics and robotics workshops at the Center for Professional Development Šabac
• Equipment for the application of laser technologies in industry in Nova Gradiška, provided through the same programme, creating conditions for the implementation of advanced training and practical instruction in a real industrial environment.

This investment enables trainees to work with modern equipment, industrial robotic systems, PLC controllers, and laser CNC machines, applying the latest technological solutions.

Importance of Cross-Border Cooperation

The RE@CT project represents a successful example of cross-border cooperation between Serbia and Croatia, achieved through the exchange of knowledge, technologies, and experience between educational institutions and industry.

Through the Interreg CRO–SRB programme, lasting capacities have been created for the development of professional competencies in mechatronics, robotics, and laser technologies, directly contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of industry in the region.