Željko Pelević – Business Development & Innovation

Hello! I’m Željko Pelević, the Business Development & Innovation Intern at ESEI Business School. I currently support strategic initiatives that drive academic innovation, partnership development, and institutional growth. Working closely with the Business Development & Innovation Manager, I contribute to projects that enhance educational experiences and expand ESEI’s global network. Alongside my professional role, I am also a student at ESEI, pursuing a Master’s in Digital Marketing. My mission is to support innovation, strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, and help create impactful learning opportunities for students.

Responsibilities

In my role, I am involved in a wide range of initiatives spanning academic innovation, partnerships, operations, and community engagement. Below are the key areas where I provide support:

Academic Partnerships, Projects & Events

I assist in sourcing and managing partners for Project-Based Learning initiatives, including guest speakers, company projects, and field visits. I coordinate course-integrated projects between faculty, students, and external organisations, ensuring smooth collaboration and impactful real-world learning experiences. I also support the planning, logistics, promotion, and partner communication of academic events, while contributing to the integration of guest lectures, industry visits, workshops, and webinars into the academic calendar.

Platforms, Data & Learning Experience

I help administer the ESEI Online Education Platform, supporting content updates, student queries, and grading workflows. I analyse student and partner feedback to enhance both on-campus and online learning experiences. Additionally, I manage academic event communications through the app and CMS, while proposing user-experience improvements and supporting digital learning operations.

Innovation, Research & Program Development

I conduct market and competitor research to support the development of new academic products, partnerships, and strategic initiatives. Working closely with the Business Development & Innovation Manager, I contribute to the enhancement of existing programmes and the creation of new offerings through benchmarking, trend analysis, and opportunity identification. I also assist in developing educational tours and support cross-departmental innovation and quality-improvement projects.

Partnerships, Marketing & Institutional Growth

I support the development of relationships with companies, institutions, and industry partners, helping expand ESEI’s network and create opportunities such as internships and company projects. I also collaborate with the marketing and admissions teams to align academic initiatives with branding, recruitment, and promotional strategies that strengthen programme visibility and institutional growth.

Community Engagement & Digital Management

I assist in managing the Alumni Club database within the institutional app, curating alumni content and supporting engagement initiatives. In parallel, I support CMS platforms, including WordPress, ensuring accurate and accessible content while enhancing digital user experience. I also contribute to the research, planning, and execution of new initiatives through stakeholder feedback, trend analysis, and strategic implementation aligned with ESEI’s mission of innovation and excellence.