The first training conference of the Erasmus+ project Student Business e-Academy was held from 19 till 23 August 2016 in Pakoštane, Croatia. The conference brought together the students from the University of Split, the University of Malaga and the Middlesex University London, along with the students from other universities and countries of Denmark, Macedonia and Romania.

Lead by experienced international mentors, students have engaged in various team activities through which they practiced their entrepreneurial and negotiation skills in the international teams. That way they also prepared themselves for the online program Student Business e-Academy which will start on November 1, 2016. Through teamwork they developed their business ideas, from which the most perspective ones were rewarded by international judges at the conference. From total of 19 project teams, besides a few “classic” business ideas, majority of students have focused on developing useful mobile applications.

The first prize was awarded to the project named “Here 2 Help”, a mobile application for improving mental health, developed by the team “Idea Hunt” with Franka Erceg and Maria Spajic from the University of Split, Asim Shaikh and Joao Diaz from the Middlesex University, Jonatan Sánchez Ávila from the University of Malaga and Ivana Bitolkoska from Macedonia. Second prize was awarded to the team “SFT”, with Tea Bubic and Ivan Mrsic from the University of Split, Joseph Consoli from the Middlesex University, Miriam Ortega Valenzuela from the University of Malaga and Anamaria Martonyikova from Denmark, with the project idea for platform and mobile application development for solo travelers. Third prize was awarded to the team “Eat Easy”, formed of Mia Pavlinovic from the University of Split, who is also enrolled in the Program of post-academic employment of University of Split, Brian Holtby from the Middlesex University, Mario Moncada Soria and Isabel Lucía López Arroyo from the University of Malaga and Mia Malling Jensen from Denmark, with the project idea for development of mobile application for simplified cooking at home.

Besides the newly acquired entrepreneurial skills and priceless experience of learning in international environment, students have made many new acquaintances and have enjoyed their free time with plenty of sport and recreational activities at the location.

Student Business e-Academy, project conducted by the University of Split, the Middlesex University London and the University of Malaga, is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and by the Program of technological development, research and innovation of Split-Dalmatia County. SBeA training conference was conducted as part of the Summer Jam Croatia, which was held fourth time in a row in the organization of the University of Split, Faculty of Economics, and with the support of the Student Council of the University of Split, which co-financed the participation of students from the University of Split.

Conference was also supported by the City Split, City Šibenik, Zadar County and Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Crafts.

Implementation of the conference was carried out by Dr Maja Fredotović, the Vice-dean for science and international cooperation of the Faculty of Economics, University of Split, and professors: Dr Simon Best from the Middlesex University London, Dr Clara Plata Rios and Dr Rafael Ventura Fernández from the University of Malaga, Dr Maja Čukušić, Dr Ivana Bilić, Dr Dario Miočević, and Mr Marko Čular from the University of Split (Faculty of Economics), as well as Ms Lana Ugrčić, project coordinator of Student Entrepreneurship Hub at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Split.