Successful companies understand that knowledge is their greatest advantage. Education fosters skill development, drives innovation, and strengthens organizational culture. When employees have the opportunity for continuous learning, they become more confident in their decisions, more productive, and more motivated. Guided by this principle, JGL has designed and opened the Educational Center (EDUC) - an internal learning hub, conceived as the first stop in every new employee’s career journey within the company. Its primary purpose is to provide structured and high-quality onboarding into business processes and the organizational culture.
However, EDUC is not exclusively for newcomers. It serves as a platform for the continuous development of existing employees, a place where knowledge is constantly strengthened, enhanced, and adapted to new business challenges. Whether it’s about developing new skills, mastering advanced work methods, or deepening professional expertise, the center offers opportunities for the professional growth of every employee.
“Recognising that one of our key strategic priorities is to focus on our core strengths, this investment in our employees is a crucial step toward enhancing our knowledge base, fostering development, and driving the company’s success. Beyond easing existing processes and reducing pressure on daily operations, the Educational Center fosters competency development, innovation, and a culture of excellence,” says Mate Poropat, Director of Pharmaceutical and Technology Operations and project manager for the EDUC’s establishment. He highlights that the curriculum was developed in collaboration with numerous JGL colleagues who contributed their knowledge and enthusiasm. A total of 25 JGL lecturers/instructors and four external lecturers are involved in the program, making it an invaluable resource for future JGL generations.
EDUC is located within the JGL Pharma Valley complex in Rijeka, spanning 300 square meters. It features workstations for dosing, weighing, testing, labelling, and cartoning; a training area for operating electric carts in the plant; an IT classroom; and realistic simulations of business scenarios. These facilities enable employees to develop essential skills through practical examples, learn operational procedures, build confidence in performing tasks, and collaborate effectively as a team. In the first months of operation, the focus will be on production processes and activities..
"In addition to the essential training from the existing initial education week, the Center will integrate courses on general and SOP documents related to workplace safety, microbiology, and sanitization. It will also cover procedures for handling HVAC system failures, while one of the key segments will be operational excellence - adopting best practices that enhance efficiency, optimize resources, and improve processes. Initially, training will last four weeks, with shorter durations planned for later phases. Our goal is for every employee working in GMP conditions to complete both the general and targeted training programs at the Education Center, after which we will develop specific and practical upskilling programs for various roles. In the long-term, we also plan to test machine or equipment elements in non-GMP conditions and collaborate with schools to provide internship opportunities," explains Davor Krivski, Head of the Education Center, adding that the Center’s curriculum is an integral part of the existing HR education and employee development systems, as well as mandatory GMP training within QA/QC.