WaterWise

Mitja Draškovič, a Physical Education teacher and KA2 project coordinator at TŠC Maribor, leads the Waterwise project, an international collaboration between the Technical School Center Maribor and the Maritime-Technical School Dubrovnik. With a strong background in education and project management, Mitja specializes in fostering innovative educational practices and connecting interdisciplinary fields. As the coordinator of Waterwise, Mitja oversees all aspects of the project, ensuring the successful modernization of irrigation systems while promoting sustainability and intergenerational knowledge transfer. His leadership focuses on developing a modular curriculum that integrates theory, practice, and technology, guiding the creation of a smart irrigation system prototype that serves as both a functional tool and an educational model. Mitja is dedicated to empowering teachers through specialized training, equipping them with the skills to deliver advanced, technology-driven content. He also facilitates international collaboration, enabling schools to exchange knowledge, enrich educational practices, and strengthen intercultural ties. His commitment to educational innovation and sustainable development ensures that the Waterwise project creates a lasting impact on students, educators, and the broader community.

Mag. Marjan Bezjak is an electrical engineering teacher at TŠC Maribor, where he has been teaching and mentoring students for over 28 years. Additionally, he lectures at the higher vocational college in programs for mechanical engineering and mechatronics. He completed his master's degree at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in Maribor, where he deepened his expertise in programming microcontrollers and process automation. As part of a project, he leads the development of the technical section, which includes creating educational tools for programming SIEMENS LOGO! industrial controllers and a prototype irrigation system. He ensures the transfer of knowledge between teachers and students. Marjan Bezjak believes that technology and modern approaches can significantly transform the educational process. He, therefore, develops innovative teaching methods based on practical and project-based learning, placing students in active roles. He also provides professional guidance to students and prepares them for national, European, and global competitions. In his free time, he engages in 3D printing, programming microcontrollers, and industrial controllers, often developing new ideas for educational projects. Ten years ago, he created his first controller for an irrigation system, and since then, he has been continuously involved in the development and optimization of irrigation systems.

Iztok Milošič is a teacher and lecturer in Automation and Robotics at TŠC Maribor and ŠC Ptuj, with over 22 years of teaching experience. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Informatics at the University of Maribor, specializing in Electronics. Driven by a desire for in-depth knowledge, he pursued additional education in programming FANUC and ABB industrial robots and completed training for KUKA Robotics Programming 1 and KUKA Robotics Programming 2. He also completed nearly 500 hours of training to become a certified robotics technician at BFI in Austria. He is a master of electronics and a certified electrical installation technician. Additionally, he successfully completed training in Festo electropneumatics. Since 2012, he has been mentoring students for RoboCupJunior, achieving remarkable international success. He gladly and successfully passes on all these experiences and knowledge to younger generations.

Živa Brumec Zadravec, a librarian and a teacher at TŠC Maribor, plays a vital role in international and interdisciplinary projects. With extensive experience in education and information management, she focuses on promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing within the institution and with external partners. In the Waterwise project, she is responsible for communication and dissemination, ensuring the project's goals and results are effectively communicated to diverse audiences. She designs and implements strategies to maximize the project's visibility, manages digital and traditional outreach, and coordinates events that highlight innovative practices and solutions. Her expertise in project coordination and commitment to enhancing educational experiences make her a key figure in TŠC Maribor's efforts to bridge education, sustainability, and global collaboration.

Andrej Šuman is a practical training teacher at TŠC Maribor and has been a member of the faculty for a year and a half. While working, he is completing his studies in mechatronics at the Higher Vocational College, where he is further enhancing his technical knowledge. His role in the project is crucial, as he provides technical support in the development of teaching aids that enhance the learning process. Additionally, he actively participates in the development of a prototype irrigation system, contributing to its optimization with his expertise and innovative solutions. With years of experience in agriculture, he has a deep understanding of the challenges posed by drought periods and the importance of technological solutions in farming. He firmly believes that modern technologies can improve farming precision and ease the burden on farmers. He advocates for hands-on learning, as he believes that students best understand solutions when they can see and test them in a real environment—supported by a strong theoretical foundation. In his free time, he is involved in repairing agricultural and construction machinery and upgrading machines for automated work. He is particularly interested in sensor systems and programming, which he uses to improve the performance of machines and processes.

Nemanja Milenković is a practical training teacher at the Technical School Center Maribor, where he has been teaching since 2024. He holds a degree in power engineering, is a mechatronics engineer, and is currently completing his studies in mechanical engineering at a higher level. He completed his secondary education in Serbia and obtained his higher vocational and university education in Slovenia, where he has been living since 2019. Before starting his teaching career, he worked as an electrician, gaining extensive practical experience, which he now successfully passes on to his students. He strongly believes in the importance of connecting theory with practice and emphasizes a project-based approach to learning. His goal is to provide students with high-quality education based on current technical standards and practical work. In his free time, he enjoys exploring new technologies and teaching methods that he can implement in the learning process and continuously works on his professional development.

Attila Ftičar is a mechanical engineering teacher at TŠC Maribor. For nearly a decade, he has been teaching modeling with CAD/CAM software and mentoring students in their assignments for the fourth subject of the vocational matura exam. He completed his studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor, where he graduated in the field of construction engineering. As part of a project, he modeled the necessary components for assembling learning units for programming SIEMENS LOGO! industrial controllers, as well as a prototype of an irrigation system, given its unique nature. Attila Ftičar believes that the best learning comes through work and mistakes, which is why he actively collaborates with students on various projects where they create new products that have practical applications in life. He encourages students to take responsibility, allowing them to experience the entire development process—from idea to final product—while also encountering and solving challenges along the way. In his free time, he is actively involved in cultural activities in his local community, where he also serves as a municipal councilor. This experience has made him aware of the importance of collaboration and teamwork, values he strives to instill in the students he teaches.

Silvija Popović, professor of Croatian language and literature, has been employed in the education system for over 15 years, and since 2024 she has been promoted to the position of mentor. She participates in numerous trainings, workshops, projects and extracurricular activities. She is a member of the quality team of the Maritime Technical School Dubrovnik. She has gained many years of experience in planning, writing and coordinating Erasmus+ and other projects. She believes that international cooperation is an excellent way to create inspiring stories, lifelong learning and improve the quality of education.

Dalija Milić Kralj is a graduate of the Maritime Transport Engineer, Naval Architecture Department, and graduated in 1997 from the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Dubrovnik. Since 1998, she has been working at the Maritime Technical School Dubrovnik as a professor of vocational subjects. She is the head of the quality system (ISO system) at the school and is one of those responsible for introducing optional robotics classes at the school. She has written two scientific papers on the topic of renewable energy sources and held a lecture on the same topic at an international conference. Since 2024, she has been promoted to the title of mentor. She is the recipient of the annual award of the Croatian Robotics Association for 2021, the state annual award "Ivan Filipović" for 2021 and the state award for technical culture "Faust Vrančić" for 2022. Since 2011, she has been preparing students and participating as a mentor in domestic and international competitions. She is one of the founders of Woman in Tech Croatia. She mentors students in Red Cross competitions. She is also a coordinator for the Red Cross. She is the vice president of the Dubrovnik Athletic Club, where she volunteers, and has a license as an athletics referee. She participates in several international and Erasmus+ projects. She participated in the Erasmus+ project Cybernetic Advanced Technology from the very beginning: from finding a partner, agreeing on a topic, preparatory meetings to writing the professional part of the project. She participated in the EU project Introduction to Robotics as an educator. By participating in the Yellow Dwarf project, she builds on the CAT project and supplements her knowledge and modernizes teaching. She also participates in the Erasmus+ project Learning is a Journey. She actively participates in the WaterWise project in writing the curriculum and knowledge catalog, 3D modeling, and translating materials from the Slovenian language.

Antonio Lučić, a professor of physical education by profession, has been employed at the Maritime-Techhnical School Dubrovnik since 2001. After 13 years of work in teaching, for the last 10 years he was working as headmaster of Maritime Technical School Dubrownik, for two mandates. Since 2024/2025 school year, he has been working as a teacher again. Since 2017, when Maritime –Technical School Dubrovnik was actively involved in Erasmus+projects, as a member of the project team, he has been directly involved in each project from its conceptual development, implementation, dissemination to the sustainability of the results afterprojects' completion. During the successful implementation of a number of projects, he improved his knowledge in preparing, implementing and organizing different activities. The quality work of the project team and the recognition of the completed projects resulted in cooperation with TŠC Maribor as part of the WaterWise project. In the project, he is involved in organizational, activities as well as dissemination and evaluation activities. The most of his time he spends with family or friends from sports fields. In his youth, he used to row and after an active rowing career, he continued to work as a coach for young kids at the Neptun Rowing Club in Dubrovnik. He also plays football or basketball with his friends and is regularly interested in other sports too.

Vladislav Čučić is a teacher of the mechanical engineering group at the Maritime Technical School Dubrovnik, where he has been working for 34 years. He teaches CAD/CAM and CNC technologies and he is a mentor to student sin the realization of their final projects. He also helps in creation of necessary elements for education on a #D printer for his colleagues. With his students, he works on developing new teaching materials for simpler and faster mastering of learning outcomes and professional skills. He graduated in mechanical engineering, The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Split. At this same institution later on, he finished his doctorate. He is the author and co-author of several scientific papers in the field of mathematical modeling of systems. As the participant of the WaterWise project, he is directly involved in 3D modelling and the creation of exercises for teaching.

Damir Dilberović is a teacher of electrical engineering at the Maritime Technical School Dubrovnik, where he has been teaching for more than 6 years. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Split, where he has deepened his knowledge of electrical power systems. He participated in the Erasmus+ project Yellow Dwarf, which focused on the application of renewable energy sources in electrical engineering teaching. In the Waterwise project, he participates in the development of practical courses for professional electrical engineering teaching.