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Good practice Imported

BrAIn Curriculum — Croatia's Piloted AI Elective for Vocational Secondary Schools

Croatia · Zagreb · See the Croatia profile · See the Zagreb profile

Evidence: Descriptive / self-reported Top 42% 53/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Croatia's AI elective for secondary schools grew from a 2024/25 pilot in 53 VET schools (68 teachers, 1,018 students) to 93 schools and 156 teachers in its 2025/26 expanded edition; 75% of pilot teachers reported high or exceptional student interest.

75% %
Teachers reporting high/exceptional student interest (2024/2025 pilot)
53 → 93
Schools reached (2024/2025 → 2025/2026)
68 → 156
Teachers trained (2024/2025 → 2025/2026)

Details

Maturity
Scaling
Promoter
Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET)
Period
Developed 2023/2024; piloted 2024/2025; national rollout through 2029
Keywords
vocational education, AI curriculum, teacher training, secondary education

Context

Under its BrAIn project, the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET) worked with the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, the Croatian Catholic University and the Croatian Association for Artificial Intelligence to design a new elective subject, 'Artificial Intelligence: From Concept to Application,' for secondary students.

Activities

The curriculum was developed in 2023/2024 and first piloted in 2024/2025 across 53 vocational schools, reaching 68 trained teachers and 1,018 students. The programme is funded through the European Social Fund Plus, with a rollout committed through 2029.

Results

CARNET's post-pilot teacher survey found 75% of teachers reported 'high or exceptional' student interest, and more than 90% of participating teachers committed to continuing it. The curriculum's second edition now reaches 93 secondary schools and 156 teachers.

Conclusions

The evidence here is teacher- and student-reported satisfaction, continuation intent, and adoption growth — a meaningful signal of real uptake, but not yet proof of learning impact.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Medium (€50k–€500k) — Funded through the European Social Fund Plus; a specific budget figure is not published in the available sources.
Time to results
Long (> 3 years) — Curriculum developed 2023/2024, piloted 2024/2025, national rollout committed through 2029.
Staffing & skills
CARNET (Croatian Academic and Research Network), Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, Croatian Catholic University, Croatian Association for Artificial Intelligence

Conditions for success

  • European Social Fund Plus funding secured through 2029
  • Teacher buy-in — over 90% of pilot teachers committed to continuing

Where it fits

Governance type
national agency-led, ESF+-funded
Scale
93 secondary schools
Income level
high income

Commonly funded by

ESF+ — European Social Fund Plus National / regional programmes

Indicative funding routes for practices of this type — always check each programme's current calls and eligibility rules.

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

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