Placed atop Manager magazine’s list of the largest and most dedicated funders of scholarships, the Unior public limited company has been ranked “The second largest funder of scholarships in the country” according to absolute score and second largest according to the share of scholarships in comparison with labour costs. Unior was second only to the state administration, which allocated EUR 485 thousand for scholarships last year.
In 2010, 18 new scholarships were awarded to high school students and 19 to university students for a total of 37 scholarships. The company co-financed three other scholarships within the framework of the RASR (Savinjska Regional Development Agency).
By granting scholarships, Unior wishes to attract individuals with occupations such as cook, waiter, metal worker, mechanical technician and university graduate of mechanical engineering. Unior primarily offers scholarships for occupations that are in shortage such as caterers (level 4), mechanical technicians and engineers (levels 4, 5, 6/1, 6/2 and 7) and physiotherapists (level 6/2). After their studies, scholarship recipients must gain employment with Unior within 6 months and remain employed for twice as many years as the length of the scholarship they received from Unior. Otherwise, the scholarship must be returned.
The current economic situation has caused Unior to somewhat reduce its number of new scholarships (it focused even more on the occupations in shortage). The number of part-time studies co-financed was reduced as early as 2009. Part-time studies were co-financed only in cases where the work process demonstrated a clear need for people with either a specific or a higher level of education. In 2010, Unior did not co-finance any new part-time studies.
Looking ahead, Unior will endeavour to make even more systematic plans so that scholarships are granted primarily to individuals that it will need in the future. Shortages are expected primarily in the fields of mechanical engineering and catering (the fourth and fifth levels of education), which is why there probably won’t be any reductions in the number of scholarships in those fields.
