"You exceeded all my expectations. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, both my fellow scholarship recipients and the employees of Hemofarm."

With these words, Jana Velimirović, a chemistry student and Hemofarm Foundation scholarship recipient, described her first week of professional internship at Hemofarm in Vršac. In a single sentence, she captured something that can rarely be fully expressed through a programme, agenda or schedule: the feeling of being in the right place, surrounded by people you can learn from, within a system that turns knowledge into responsibility for people's health.



For the 33rd generation of Hemofarm Foundation scholarship recipients, the first week of the internship was much more than an introduction to the pharmaceutical industry. They had the chance to experience a world where precision is an absolute standard, not a mere detail; where responsibility is a daily reality, not just a written principle; and where teamwork is an essential requirement, not merely a desirable skill, for the system's success.

The programme began with an introduction to the fundamentals of responsible business: occupational health and safety, environmental protection, and Hemofarm's corporate culture. From the very first day, the scholarship recipients understood that the pharmaceutical industry is built on knowledge, integrity, trust and teamwork.

During visits to the production facilities and laboratories, they followed the journey of a medicine, from development and manufacturing, through packaging and quality control, to the high bay warehouse that connects the entire production process. They also gained valuable insight into one of the most demanding areas of pharmaceutical manufacturing, sterile production. Through lectures on aseptic processes, development, procurement and medicine safety, they became familiar with the standards of quality, compliance and integrity on which patients' trust is built.



However, the internship in Vršac offered more than just an insight into production; it also provided a glimpse into the future.

Through lectures on communications, sustainability and the use of artificial intelligence in everyday work, the scholarship recipients gained insight into how modern companies are evolving and which skills will be essential in the years ahead.

Particular attention was devoted to personal development. Through discussions on personal and career development, the scholarship recipients received guidance that is not always found in textbooks, but often plays a decisive role in shaping a professional path: how to build self confidence and make decisions, how to recognize opportunities, and how to remain open to lifelong learning.

One of the colleagues who shared her own professional journey with the scholarship recipients was Violeta Novaković, Regulatory Global CMC Manager at STADA Group. For her, this programme is an investment that benefits both the company and young people.

"This is an excellent investment for both the company and the students. We have the opportunity to get to know future professionals and support them at the very beginning of their careers, while they gain professional experience, mentors and a clearer understanding of what they want to do. I believe this programme should be expanded and made sustainable in the long term because by investing in young professionals, we are ultimately investing in the sustainability of people's health across the planet," said Violeta Novaković.

It is precisely in this exchange between the experience of employees and the curiosity of young people that the essence of the Hemofarm Foundation programme lies. The internship is not designed as a one way transfer of knowledge, but as a meeting of generations, professions and perspectives. Young people are given the opportunity to see what the industry looks like from the inside. The company has the opportunity to identify future professionals. And society gains what it needs most: people who want to put their knowledge in the service of health.

Kristina Sekanić, a final year medical student, emphasized that the internship gave her the opportunity to experience firsthand the complexity of the pharmaceutical industry.

"The professional internship at Hemofarm was an extremely valuable and meaningful experience because it allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of every segment of the pharmaceutical industry through lectures, workshops and visits to the production facilities. Beyond the professional content, the lecturers made a special contribution by presenting their fields of work in an inspiring way, while the workshops encouraged active participation and the exchange of ideas."

The first week of the internship also included getting to know Vršac, a town where professional experience was combined with cultural and personal experiences. Alongside the professional programme, the scholarship recipients enjoyed a performance at the Sterija Theatre and a visit to the Vršac Hill, creating memories they will carry with them long after the programme ends.

For the Hemofarm Foundation, this programme represents the continuation of its long term investment in young people, their knowledge and their potential. For the scholarship recipients, it is an opportunity to receive, at the very beginning of their professional journey, what is most valuable: real world experience, the support of mentors and a clearer understanding of where their knowledge can make a difference.

That is why the first week in Vršac was more than the beginning of a professional internship. It marked the beginning of an important stage of professional development, bringing young people together with an industry that demands knowledge, responsibility and character.

And perhaps the most important message is the one contained in the very first sentence: expectations were exceeded. When that happens at the start of a career, young people remember more than just the programme. They remember the feeling that they have found a place where they can grow.