About UEP

EU PROJECTS College

The EU PROJECTS College – Adult Education Institution (abbreviated: UEP) is the first Croatian institute specialized in education on EU funds and project management. The owner of UEP is AVELANT Ltd., a business and strategic consulting company founded by one of Croatia's most renowned EU funds consultants, Mrs. Ariana Vela. The company has a project portfolio exceeding 6.3 billion euros and has educated over 11,700 participants from all sectors.

 

Mrs. Ariana Vela is one of the most recognized experts in EU funds and public procurement in Croatia and the region. Her 21 years of experience, coupled with an excellent understanding of the legal, institutional, and financial frameworks in which projects are developed, is an invaluable asset that ensures the company operates according to the highest professional standards.

She has been involved in the preparation and implementation of over 500 projects funded by EU grants, the largest of which is the "Pelješac Bridge" or the "Road Connectivity with Southern Dalmatia" project. She conceived and launched Croatia's first portal on EU funds (eu-projekti.info) and authored the first book on the preparation and implementation of projects titled "Management of ESI Funds."

She specializes in solving complex issues in the implementation of infrastructure projects, addressing irregularities in public procurement, and strategic planning, while equally passionately advising clients on projects from other sectors.

She is one of the few consultants who prepares and implements projects across all operational and EU programs and has participated in drafting all strategic documents for the new programming period, including the National Development Strategy – Croatia 2030, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and operational programs.

She is an evaluator of educational programs for the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, an external expert for the world's most renowned consulting company – McKinsey and Company, and a lecturer at numerous higher education institutions (currently in the process of obtaining the title of lecturer at higher education institutions).
Our mission

Mission

To enhance the capacities of users and potential users of EU funds for successful project preparation and implementation in all sectors through quality and practice-based educational programs.

Our vision

Vision

To become a leading institution for adult education in EU funds and project management in the Republic of Croatia and the region.

      Why is EU PROJECTS College different from others?

  • EU funds, project preparation and implementation, and public procurement are our core business.
  • We transfer knowledge from first-hand experience and real-life situations in the preparation and implementation of projects in the field.
  • Our experience spans all types of projects across various sectors such as: entrepreneurship, infrastructure, research and innovation, science and education, agriculture, fisheries, social care and health, cultural heritage and environmental protection, water supply and drainage, renewable energy sources, and more.
  • We specialize in large infrastructure projects and solving problems in their implementation – we are usually called in to save the project when things go wrong.
  • We enjoy working on small projects where we build the capacities of our clients.
  • We are one of the few experts who prepare and implement projects in all operational programs and EU programs.
  • Our training is based on a personal approach (we review the content of the tasks you have completed, your final projects, and provide specific instructions for their improvement) and practical work.
  • We are ready to adapt and create training programs according to your needs.

 

These are just some of the projects that the experts of the EU PROJECTS Institute have prepared and/or implemented:

  • Road Connectivity with Southern Dalmatia (construction of the Pelješac Bridge) – Hrvatske ceste d.o.o.
  • Construction of the mainland – Čiovo island bridge in Trogir with access roads – Hrvatske ceste d.o.o.
  • Construction and equipping of a pellet production plant in Slunj – Construction business Špelić
  • Strengthening the tourist offer of Aparthotel Tamaris in Tučepi – Petnjik d.o.o.
  • Procurement of 15 buses for the needs of ZET – Zagreb Holding d.o.o. ZET Branch
  • Strengthening competitiveness in the automotive sector in Croatia – Fornix d.o.o.
  • Procurement of buses for Gradski prijevoz putnika d.o.o. Osijek – Gradski prijevoz putnika d.o.o.
  • Strengthening the competitiveness of ERA Commerce d.o.o. and entering the market of Continental Croatia

 

KEY DATA:

Founder: Ariana Vela, MBA, IPMA/A
Owner: AVELANT d.o.o. for business and strategic consulting
Director: Ariana Vela, MBA, IPMA/A
Headquarters: Zavrtnica 17, 10 000 Zagreb
MBS: 080938833
OIB: 55141567365
IBAN: HR5223400091110691294 at PBZ d.d.