EXIT Foundation and NIS on a joint mission of supporting the young On this occasion, Kirill Tyurdenev, the CEO of NIS, presented the vice-rectors of the Universities of Belgrade and Novi Sad with the letters of appreciation for their longstanding cooperation, stressing that: "The successful have understood that the most important segment of sustainable development is to invest in people. It is great pleasure to be the head of the company whose strategy includes 'Energy of Knowledge' for the fifth year in a row. The pleasure is even greater to work with the young colleagues who came to NIS through that program. We believe that the possibility that young professionals would go abroad to educate and develop themselves and then return to their country and find the right employment - is actually quite a possible mission. That is why this is the right investment and why NIS is here to help you in that effort. 'Energy of Knowledge' is an energy-generating product which motivates success the best", underlined Tyurdenev. Kirill Tyurdenev, the CEO of NIS, presented the vice-rectors of the Universities of Belgrade and Novi Sad with the letters of appreciation for their longstanding cooperation The panel dedicated to the improvement of conditions for young talents to stay in Serbia heard the speeches of: Mladen Šarčević, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development, Ivan Petrović, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EXIT Foundation, Snežana Lakićević, Advisor to the Director of the Organisational Affairs for Cooperation with Scientific and Educational Institutions of NIS, Mirko Topalski, the founder and CEO of Eipix Novi Sad – the leading global producer of HOPA video games, Kosta Jovanović, a scientist in the area of robotics and winner of the Youth Heroes award for 2015 in the field of education and science, and Marko Vanić, a NIS scholar. Žarko Malinović from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce was the host of the discussion. NIS corporate program "Energy of Knowledge" involves partnership with educational and scientific institutions in Serbia and abroad aiming to educate high professionals The purpose of the organizers was to use this event to initiate a dialogue and find systemic solutions which would contribute and enable the young to stay in Serbia, and in case of those who gained their knowledge and practical training abroad, to return. This is the beginning of a joint campaign of EXIT and NIS to improve the conditions for young talents to stay in Serbia, which would contribute to the country's faster development. Mladen Šarčević, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development praised NIS for its investment in education and invited other companies to follow suit: "Many Serbian researchers and scientists have come back to Serbia after their professional development abroad; this is not a mass phenomenon, but it does exist and our purpose is to have more such examples. The fact that the budget of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development in 2018 will be much larger testifies to the priorities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. In order to keep in step with the fourth technological revolution we have done big things, starting from introducing informatics as a mandatory subject in the fifth grade in elementary schools, new classes in high schools for students talented for informatics and increase of quotas for IT studies, to furnishing of schools with IT equipment. Next year, as much as EUR 70 million will be invested in the process of digitalization", said Šarčević. Mladen Šarčević, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development praised NIS for its investment in education and invited other companies to follow suit Ivan Petrović, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the EXIT Foundation used this occasion to stress the following: "In the 21st century, the key issue for all countries and cities is how to attract and keep young talents who are the movers of the entire society. Tonight and in the last two decades, we have shown numerous examples of the possibility to gather young talents and achieve a global success in Serbia, so let it be the beginning of a wider systemic process of support and care for young talents in the country. EXIT Foundation will continue, in cooperation with NIS, to work towards this goal through the project Young Heroes", said Ivan Petrović, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the EXIT Foundation. Snežana Lakićević, Advisor to the Director of the Organisational Affairs for Cooperation with Scientific and Educational Institutions of NIS said: "Five years ago, we launched the project 'Energy of Knowledge' in NIS, believing that the young, knowledge and science are the movers of what the company is striving for. Furthermore, we believed that we could contribute to the improvement of conditions in education, encouragement and support for those who want more, who dream of knowledge and work diligently to achieve it. Commitment is what motivates action. Action leads towards achievement of plans, and our plan is to create conditions for the best to remain in Serbia, to create, together with all other elements, an environment which would ensure their progress, advancement, personal development, but also a good life and possibility to start a family. We have proved in practice that it is possible to implement the plan. The first generations of our scholars already work in NIS, creating and advancing. Further generations are coming. We are proud of them as they are the energy that will bring prosperity both to NIS and to the entire society", said Lakićević. "The first generations of our scholars already work in NIS", said Snežana Lakićević In 2016, through its program "Together for the Community" NIS supported reconstruction of the magnificent building of the Academic Cultural and Artistic Company "Lola". NIS corporate program "Energy of Knowledge" involves partnership with educational and scientific institutions in Serbia and abroad aiming to educate high professionals. In five years since the start of the program, NIS has invested EUR 5 million in improving the quality of education and supported adaptation of more than 40 classrooms and laboratories in schools and faculties throughout Serbia, establishing cooperation with 47 international scientific and educational institutions in the country and abroad and providing scholarships for more than 90 students. The program "Energy of Knowledge" is a part of the socially responsible business operations of NIS, the company which has always supported development of a wider social community, cultural and sports events and institutions, and also promotion of talented individuals. Investment into the wellbeing of the community is one of the strategic priorities of the company. Through the competition "Youth Heroes" (youth-heroes.org), EXIT, named the best European festival, and NIS, the most successful company in Serbia, have so far shown that there are a lot of talented individuals in our country who should be brought to the attention of the public and provided support in their further development. The results of the longstanding project "Youth Heroes" and its active promotion of positive models for the young, encourage future generations to take an active part in the society which holds knowledge, creativity and diligence in high esteem.
