Organization

CARNET's operations are carried out through a series of interconnected services and projects unified into ten sectors:

• Business sector of the institution
• Network infrastructure sector
• Computer Infrastructure and Services Sector
• Sector – National CERT
• National Services and Support Sector
• Sector for Development and Application of Technologies and Innovations in Education
• Artificial Intelligence Sector
• Sector – National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity Industry, Technology, and Research
• Digital Identity and Communications Sector
• The Special Sector comprises the Director's Office.

CARNET's bodies are: the Management Board, the Director, and the User Council.

Management Board represents the interests of CARNET's founder, the Government of the Republic of Croatia. The members of the Management Board are appointed by the Minister of Science, Education and Youth. 

As of July 14, 2023, the Management Board consists of:

• Prof. Dr. Sc. Drago Žagar, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Information Technology, University of J. J. Strossmayer in Osijek
• Prof. Dr. Sc. Marin Golub, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb
• Božo Pavičin, Ministry of Science, Education and Youth
• Katarina Matasić, Ministry of Science, Education and Youth
• Ivica Markulin, Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNET, employee representative.

Prof. Dr. Sc. Drago Žagar, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Information Technology of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, has been appointed President of the Management Board.

CARNET Executive Committee coordinates short-term and long-term planning, makes decisions about business organization, and is responsible for relations with government bodies, users, partners, and the public, and consists of:

• Director, Hrvoje Puljiz
• Deputy Director, Ivan Šabić
• Assistant Directors: Gabrijela Bagarić, Andreja Bekavac, Juraj Bilić, Tomislav Gotovac, Mirna Ljubić Tustonjić, Vlatka Marčan, Tihomir Markulin, Aleksandra Mudrinić Ribić, Darko Parić, Ana Smoljo.

Director coordinates activities at the institutional level and beyond, and represents CARNET in public.
The Minister of Science, Education and Youth, Professor Radovan Fuchs, PhD, has appointed Hrvoje Puljiz as the Director of CARNET for a period of four years. 

User Council CARNET members are institution coordinators, representing users from the academic community, resource administrators in schools, as representatives of educational institutions, and the CARNET director.

The Director's Office is a special sector of CARNET that manages, coordinates, and organizes the institution's operations. The Director and Deputy Director of CARNET manage the Office, while Assistant Directors coordinate and organize the operations of other sectors and key segments of the institution's activities. The Director coordinates activities at the institutional level and beyond, and represents CARNET in public.

The Director's Office supervises the legality and timeliness of task execution and takes measures to ensure work efficiency, assigns tasks and provides instructions for work, ensures the proper and correct use of property and work resources, and takes measures to determine liability for breaches of official duty as defined by law.

Two deputy directors work in the Director's Office:

• Assistant Director for Quality Control and Business Processes
• Assistant Director for Business Compliance of Educational Services with the National Regulatory Framework.

The office comprises two services and two independent departments:

• Project Management Service
• Business Improvement and Business Analytics Service.

The following activities are coordinated at the Director's Office:

• coordinating affairs with public administration
• Quality control and business processes
• internal audit 
• Management and coordination of projects funded by European Union funds
• special information services and activities related to special programs.

Quality Control and Business Processes It encompasses system management and participation in the development of standards, plans, and technological solutions for systems, as well as continuous improvement of the institution's systems.

Coordinating affairs with public administration It includes strategic planning, advocacy, and active participation in projects that promote technology integration to improve education, research, and innovation within the country. CARNET acts as a crucial link between academia, research institutions, and public administration to enhance the overall digital infrastructure and knowledge-sharing landscape in Croatia. This involves advocating for policies to implement cutting-edge technologies in education, research, and innovation, and participating in the development of strategies and initiatives that leverage CARNET's expertise to improve the efficiency of public services. Additionally, CARNET engages in collaborative projects aimed at addressing digital challenges in education, such as e-learning platforms, cybersecurity, and data management.

Internal Audit and Control assesses the adequacy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the internal control system and ensures the necessary level of security to enable the implementation of risk management, control, and business management processes. Additionally, internal audit audits all programs, projects, activities, and business processes and provides expert opinions and recommendations for improving the internal control system. 

Managing and coordinating projects funded by the European Union and other international funding sources implies engagement in international partnerships and projects, building human and administrative capacities for participation in structural and other programs after Croatia's accession to the EU, and co-financing existing and new CARNET services from EU funds.

The Digital Identity Sector manages the national top-level domain .hr and plans and implements CARNET's communication and marketing activities. It manages registrar relations, coordinates the DNS system, conducts internal and external communication activities, organizes events, and carries out activities aimed at strengthening CARNET's reputation.

The sector consists of two services:

• .hr Domain Registry Service
  • Registry and User Department
  • Department for Coordination of the .hr Domain Commission, Arbitration Proceedings, and Cooperation with State Administration Bodies
• Communications Service
  • External Communications Department
  • Internal Communications Department.

.hr Domain Registry Service manages the .hr domain Registry and carries out the registration of free .hr domains. Within its scope of authority, it coordinates the activities of the .hr Domain Management Committee and collaborates with registrars for paid .hr domains. It also coordinates arbitration proceedings and cooperates with state administration bodies, local self-government units, and other relevant institutions. The Service provides support to users during the domain registration process, when submitting additional requests, and in arbitration proceedings, proposes improvements in the management of the .hr domain Registry, and monitors the regulatory framework in the field of domain space management. Employees of the Service also participate in the work of CENTR (Council of European National Top-Level Domain Registries), a European association of national top-level domain registries, and ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), an international organization.

Communications Service is responsible for strategic planning, organization, and implementation of all activities related to the organization's internal and external communication, as well as marketing and production processes. Within its scope of work, the Service ensures coordinated, effective, and timely communication with internal and external stakeholders, enhances the organization's recognition, and ensures consistent application of communication standards and guidelines. In the area of external communication, the Service is responsible for planning and implementing communication with the public, media, and other external stakeholders, managing the organization's reputation and visibility, and coordinating marketing and promotional activities. Additionally, the Service plans and implements communication activities directed at employees, develops and maintains internal communication channels, and provides expert support to management and organizational units in the area of internal communication. It also monitors the development of communication practices and tools, proposes improvements in communication and production, and contributes to achieving the organization's strategic goals through systematic, professional, and coordinated communication management.

The activities of the Network Infrastructure Sector are related to the construction and maintenance of the CARNET network infrastructure, as well as research and implementation of new network technologies.

The network infrastructure sector is organized into three departments:

• Network services
• Access network infrastructure
• Network maintenance.

Network Services Department is responsible for the development, maintenance, and security of the CARNET network backbone, data centers, and the associated monitoring and management system. The service's tasks include the establishment and maintenance of network services within the network backbone, connecting the CARNET network with external networks (Internet, GÉANT, CIX), and the development and adaptation of open-source based network monitoring and management tools.

Access Network Infrastructure Service is responsible for planning and technical implementation of connections to CARNET member institutions' locations, as well as for the financial and legal aspects of the Sector's operations. The service's tasks include intensive cooperation with external telecommunications service providers, exploring possibilities for connecting member institutions and ministry institutions to the CARNET network, preparation and execution of contracts related to the Network Infrastructure Sector, allocation of public IP address space, and implementation and maintenance of active network equipment for connecting institutions.

Network Maintenance Service It is responsible for supervising the operation of the CARNET network and network services, and provides support to CARNET network users. The service's tasks include monitoring and maintenance of the CARNET network access part (equipment upgrades), overall monitoring of all production devices, services, and connections in the CARNET network, escalating connectivity issues with member institutions and other ministry institutions to the telecommunications service provider, and field work.

The computer infrastructure and services sector performs tasks related to the development and maintenance of central computer and data infrastructure, support for multimedia and video conferencing services, providing system support to member institutions, and service development.

The jobs performed within the Computer Infrastructure and Services Sector are:

• management of a range of administrative and technical services that CARNET provides to its member institutions
• Providing system maintenance services for CARNET's public services such as NISpVU (National Information System for University Admissions), NISpuSŠ (National Information System for Secondary School Applications and Admissions), National Information System for Primary School Admissions, National Information System for Adult Education, e-Matica, Kindergarten Admissions, Information System for Dormitory Applications and Admissions, Education Portal, IFIS (Integrated Financial Information System), e-Dnevnik (electronic grade book), CARNET ID service for secondary and primary schools, content filtering system for primary and secondary school students, as well as other internal computer systems used by CARNET in its operations
• providing videoconferencing and multimedia services
• design, development, and maintenance of application solutions that are a significant component of numerous CARNET services, conducting audits, and providing support to other departments in the process of conceptualizing, developing, and maintaining services within their scope of activity

The computer infrastructure and services sector is organized into three departments:

• Infrastructure Service
• Service Development Department
• Infrastructure Projects and Multimedia Service

Infrastructure Service provides maintenance and enhancement services for CARNET's public service system infrastructure, such as:

• e-Diary (electronic gradebook)
• ID CARD (contact management, email, and website for primary and secondary schools)
• NISpVU (National Information System for University Application)
• National Information System for High School Applications and Enrollments
• National Adult Education Information System
• e-Matica
• Kindergarten enrollment
• Information system for student dormitory applications and enrollment
• Education Portal
• Content filtering system for elementary and middle school students
• Integrated Financial Information System
• internal computer systems that CARNET uses in its operations.

The service also provides hosting services for various information services of national importance, as well as for several ministries of the Republic of Croatia.

In addition to the listed services, there is also a Helpdesk for system engineers (sys.help), virtual server services for member institutions (VPU), creation and maintenance of a portal for system engineers (sys.portal), remote data storage services (sys.backup), member domain management services (sys.dns), and server monitoring (sys.monitor). The department's activities also include the engagement of experts in international projects such as GÉANT 4.

Service Development Department It engages in the design, development, and maintenance of application solutions that are a significant component of numerous CARNET services. Among others, these include e-Diary, e-Citizen mToken, Public Server, content management for school websites, development of an application for managing the .hr domain registry, internal business applications, and more.

In addition to developing new services, the department also revises existing services and supports other departments in the process of conceiving, developing, and maintaining services within their area of operation.

Infrastructure Projects and Multimedia Service Defines and ensures the standardization of the quality of CARNET's key services at a technical level, the resources required for their implementation, guidelines for integration with other systems and services, standardization and monitoring of service security, and the establishment of operational oversight. The main goal of the service is to establish processes and carry out activities that will ensure the integrity and quality of the technical implementation of projects and continuous services intended for end-users. In cooperation with other CARNET departments, the service develops, defines, establishes, maintains, and improves CARNET's key internet services, plans and ensures the technical resources necessary for their implementation, provides guidelines for integration with other systems and services, and monitors and tracks the security of their operation.
In the multimedia-related activities section, the service provides videoconferencing, webinar, and other multimedia collaboration services over the network, for example, by using shared whiteboards, messaging, screen sharing, window sharing, individual application sharing, voice and video transmission, polls, and other collaboration features.

The National Services and Support sector ensures the development, stability, and user support of CARNET's systems and services. The sector is focused on the development and maintenance of key information systems in education, as well as improving educational processes and providing operational and field support to member institutions. Through activities related to analytics, strategic planning, user experience, and effective data management, the Sector supports decision-making and continuous service improvement.

The National Services and Support Sector is organized into three departments with their own divisions and units:

• Support Centers Service
  • Department of the State Information System for Education and Training (DISOO)
    • Department for Development of the State Information System of Education
    • Department for Maintenance of the State Information System for Education (DISOO)
  • Department for Improvement of Educational Processes

• Customer Service
  • Helpdesk Department
    • Mobile Teams Department
    • Advanced Administrative Support for Services and Projects Department
  • Membership Department

• Data Management Service
  • Department of Educational Analytics and Strategic Planning
    • Educational Analytics Department
    • User Experience Department
  • Data Management Department.

The Support Centers Service manages the development and maintenance of services within the Croatian education system. The tasks related to the following systems are: e-Matica, e-Dnevnik, Education Portal, Preschool Enrollment, National Information System for Primary School Enrollment, National Information System for Secondary School Admissions and Enrollments (NISpuSŠ), Information System for Dormitory Admissions and Enrollments, e-Dormitories, National Information System for Adult Education, CARNET sigma, Textbook Selection Application, CARNET mToken, e-Citizens mToken, MDM.

• Upgrade planning and specification writing
• Contract implementation monitoring with suppliers
• delivery control and testing
• System development and new user onboarding
• User education for the system
• coordination of external and internal stakeholders involved in system upgrades and the provision of second-level support.

The Customer Service provides comprehensive support to users of CARNET's services and applications, aiming to ensure a high-quality and consistent user experience. Within the Service, there is a Helpdesk with a contact center that receives all user inquiries, mobile teams that provide on-site support to institutions, advanced administrative support for services and projects, and a Member Department. The Service coordinates information about CARNET's services and projects and provides technical support and assistance in resolving difficulties via email, phone, chatbot, and regular mail, thereby ensuring efficient, accessible, and tailored support to various user groups. The activities of the Customer Service are:

• Customer support for using CARNET services
• Customer support for key information systems in the education system (NISpuSŠ, Electronic Enrollment in Primary Schools, e-Matica, and e-Dnevnik)
• testing supported applications and compiling proposals for their upgrades
• customer relationship management
• Notifying users via distribution mailing lists and Viber community.
• Providing support for the work of the CARNET Users' Council
• editing legal relationships of members
• Managing a database of member institutions
• Managing the RA office for digital signature certificate issuance
• resolving member-specific requests.

The Data Management Service defines procedures, processes, and standards for managing the data of IT systems and services that CARNET is responsible for and manages. Part of the Service's work involves managing CARNET's analytical ecosystem, which consists of a highly available system for storing and analyzing structured and unstructured data, an information system for learning analytics and educational data mining, and the CARNET data user application. The Service organizes and processes data to ensure data quality, reliability, and integrity, as well as the quality and completeness of analyses and reports generated. The Service is responsible for the smooth operation of the CARNET privacy system – an information system for managing GDPR requirements and consents, which includes a Master Data Management (MDM) subsystem for data management. The Informativka, a platform for fast messaging, is also integrated into the CARNET privacy system. The Service's tasks include:

• maintenance and upgrade of existing systems
• contract implementation monitoring and supplier collaboration
• development of new systems like Smart Recommendation Systems
• User education and information dissemination about systems
• collaboration on CARNET projects involving data processing
• improving user experience
• Monitoring the usage of CARNET's services.

The National CERT (CERT.hr) was founded on October 30, 2007, based on the Act on Information Security, as the national authority for the prevention and protection against computer security threats to public information systems in the Republic of Croatia. Its primary task is processing computer security incidents with the aim of preserving cyber security in Croatia.

CERT.hr handles incidents if one of the parties involved in the incident is located in the Republic of Croatia, or if it is in the .hr domain or within the Croatian IP address space, with the exception of government bodies, legal entities with public authority, and local and regional self-government units, which fall under the jurisdiction of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

The National CERT is the competent CSIRT for five sectors based on the Cybersecurity Act (Official Gazette 14/24). These sectors are: banking, financial market infrastructure, digital infrastructure (for the National Internet Domain Name Registry), research, and the education system. The sector also performs CSIRT tasks for public and private entities, including citizens, and collaborates with relevant national and international authorities.

The sector is organized into three services with corresponding departments:

• Awareness and Policy Service
  • Department of Education and Awareness
  • Cyber Law, Policy, and Technical Standards Department

• Incident and Crisis Management Service
  • Incident Response and Forensics Department
  • Cyber ​​Threats and Crisis Management Department

• Academic SOC and Research Service
  • Operational SOC Activities Department
  • Research and Situational Awareness Department.

The National CERT, within its scope of operation, implements proactive and reactive measures. Proactive measures are taken before an incident or other events that could jeopardize the security of public information systems, with the aim of preventing or mitigating possible damages. Reactive measures are taken in response to incidents in the Republic of Croatia and other events that could threaten the computer security of public information systems in the Republic of Croatia.

The National CERT sector performs the following tasks:

• Coordination, processing, consulting, and reporting on cyber incidents in cases where one of the parties involved in the incident, the victim or the attacker, is located in the Republic of Croatia (i.e., if it is in the .hr domain or in the Croatian IP address space).
• development, implementation, and coordination of a security operations center, which serves as the central point for monitoring, protection, and coordination of cybersecurity for all affiliated institutions within the educational and research system
• Development of security policy proposals for the academic and educational community and continuous consultation with member institutions regarding the application of security policies
• implementation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement from various sectors in programs for raising awareness, education, and strengthening national cyber resilience
• Informing and notifying the public about cyber threats and user protection
• participation in strategic and operational-technical national, European, and international bodies with the aim of exchanging information and reporting on the state of cybersecurity within the jurisdiction of the National CERT user
• Development, management, and maintenance of the national platform for collecting, analyzing, and exchanging data on cyber threats and incidents – PiXi
• development, management, and maintenance of services and platforms for information exchange on vulnerabilities, threats, and incidents at the national and European level
• ensuring the security of registered .hr domains through domain space scanning checks to detect domains used for malicious activities and, if necessary, recommending the deactivation of domains registered for such purposes
• organization and participation in national, European, and international cyber exercises to strengthen national cyber security capabilities
• other tasks determined by the regulations governing the field of cybersecurity and information security in the Republic of Croatia.

The National CERT participates in the design of security protections for CARNET's critical and other services, as well as in the establishment of a central system for collecting security data and monitoring security events.

The institution's business sector includes common services required for the operation of all CARNET departments.

The following tasks are performed within this department:

• Legal matters
• Human potential and human resources
• Procurement jobs
• Finance and Accounting
• Fleet
• Warehouse operations
• Internal technical and system support.

Legal matters These include tasks of drafting and verifying the legality of contracts and procedures, monitoring regulations, providing expert assistance in interpreting regulations, preparing and drafting general acts, and filing applications and registrations in court and other registers and records.

Human Resource Management and Personnel Affairs u CARNET refers to a series of interconnected activities and tasks aimed at ensuring an adequate number and structure of employees, their knowledge, skills, interests, motivation, and behavioral patterns required to achieve current, developmental, and strategic goals through the development of each employee's individual capabilities.

Procurement jobs include participation in public and simplified procurement procedures and the preparation of public procurement contracts (goods, services, and works) following the completed procedure, as well as performing other tasks within their scope of work (preparation and amendment of the procurement plan, and monitoring of implementation).

Finance and accounting jobs encompass budgeting and planning, budget execution control, preparation of semi-annual and annual budget execution reports, bookkeeping, preparation of financial statements and consolidated financial statements in accordance with financial and accounting regulations, maintaining accounting records, treasury operations, and processing payroll and other income, royalties, and performing other tasks within their scope of work.

Technical inspection of vehicles, vehicle documentation check, vehicle servicing, vehicle application tracking, and vehicle registration are tasks related to Fleet, as well as performing other tasks within its scope of work.

Warehouse operations This includes organizing the reception of equipment, storage, safekeeping, and issuance of equipment to users, along with providing all accompanying documentation, monitoring compliance with warehousing regulations and other regulations related to the equipment storage process, updating and maintaining the master material record system, assignment locations, defining material groups and types in the system, creating and controlling records, organizing qualitative and quantitative acceptance of equipment in accordance with contracts, preparing for equipment inventory, and performing other tasks within their scope of work.

Internal Technical and Systems Support Manages personal computers, operating systems, and peripherals for user workstations, organizes the installation of software products on computers, keeps records of the distribution and utilization of computer equipment and licensed software, performs administrative management and technical maintenance of existing technical resources necessary for employee work, provides support to users of information systems within CARNET, proposes and determines criteria for the procurement, distribution, and use of computer and software equipment, and performs other tasks within its scope of work.

Artificial Intelligence Sector u CARNET was established with the aim of supporting the increase of competitiveness, quality, and relevance of the Croatian education system in the digital age. The purpose of the Sector is to support research, development, application, and integration of AI solutions and new technologies that can enhance the digital competencies of users and staff in the education system and related learning and teaching processes, contribute to the development of educational infrastructure and related resources in order to adequately keep pace with the challenges of current and future technological changes, and consequently provide timely and relevant information to decision-makers that can be used to monitor trends throughout the entire education sector.

The establishment, development, and active presence of the Sector, within its granted competencies, aims to position CARNET as an indispensable institutional stakeholder in the Republic of Croatia's initiatives in the field of digital technology innovation. This will be accompanied by activities strengthening its own resources, networking, and collaboration with relevant public and private actors. Focusing on project-based funding sources that align with CARNET's development plans in the area of AI research and integration will consequently support the continuous and adequate application of artificial intelligence within the Croatian education system.

The Artificial Intelligence sector is organized into two Services and four Departments:                                                                                                             

• Service for Development and Research
  • Research and Development Department UI
  • Department of Research and Development of New Technologies                                                                                                                  

• Service for Application and Technology Integration
  • UI Application and Development Department
  •  Department of New Technologies Application