Skills for Transition

Developing skills for the green transition – an international UniCredit Group initiative

The UniCredit Group, of which Zagrebačka banka is a member, has launched the second edition of the Skills for Transition programme, a pan‑European initiative aimed at strengthening the knowledge and skills of young people in the context of the green transition, sustainable finance and Net Zero objectives.

The programme has been designed to address the challenges that climate change and structural economic shifts pose to the labour market, while empowering young people to successfully enter sectors that will play a key role in the transition towards a more sustainable Europe.

Education as the foundation of a just and sustainable transition

Skills for Transition is part of the broader ESG strategy of the UniCredit Group and directly supports its long‑term commitment to a just and inclusive transition, in which education plays a central role. Through this initiative, UniCredit invests in the development of competencies that are already crucial today, and will remain essential in the future, for youth employability and the resilience of European economies.

The second edition of the programme has further expanded its reach and impact, reaffirming the Group’s ambition to contribute to the creation of sustainable value for the communities in which it operates, through cooperation with academic institutions and social partners.

The second edition of Skills for Transition comprises two clearly differentiated streams, tailored to distinct target groups:

• Students stream – in collaboration with POLIMI Graduate School of Management
• NEETs stream – a socially oriented empowerment programme

Two targeted education streams

The student component of the programme has been developed in partnership with POLIMI Graduate School of Management, the business school of Politecnico di Milano, and is intended for students and young graduates.

Selected candidates can choose between two educational formats:

• 12‑month Master’s programme for young graduates
• 4‑month Bootcamp programme for students and graduates

The programmes start in September 2026, are fully funded by the UniCredit Group, and are available to participants from twelve European countries, including Croatia.

The student programmes focus on:

• the green transition and the Net Zero framework
• sustainable finance and ESG
• understanding industrial transformation in sectors such as energy, manufacturing and urban development

Teaching is delivered online, with a strong emphasis on practical projects, case studies and collaboration with companies most exposed to the challenges of the green transition.

Alongside the student stream, Skills for Transition also includes a dedicated stream for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs).

This component is delivered in partnership with Glocal Factory, a social cooperative, and has a strong social inclusion focus.

The NEETs stream:

• is open to young people aged 18 to 35
• combines online and in‑person training, mentoring and meetings with entrepreneurs
• is designed to support employability and re‑entry into the labour market

This stream supports the European Union’s objective of reducing the share of the NEET population to below 9% by 2030.

Croatia as part of a strong European initiative

By participating in Skills for Transition, Croatia forms part of a strong pan‑European initiative that connects young people across different countries and education systems.

The student stream provides young people in Croatia with access to an international academic programme developed in line with the highest European standards, while the NEETs stream contributes to strengthening social inclusion and employability.

In this way, the programme helps build local capacities for implementing the green transition, in alignment with national and European climate and development goals.

Applications and further information

Applications for the student stream (Master’s and Bootcamp) are open, with the programme starting in September 2026. Details on the programme, eligibility criteria and application deadlines are available on the official website.

Further information on the Skills for Transition initiative is also available on the UniCredit Group website.