Slovenia: a hands-on Learning experience at the Ytong plant

Xella Slovenia recently welcomed professors and students from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Zagreb, to the Ytong plant in Kisovac, Slovenia, right across the border from Croatia.  
Aleksandar Škurić, project manager for Xella Croatia, kicked off the day with a comprehensive presentation on the Ytong construction system, design guidelines, and Xella’s forward-thinking solutions. “By showing this to the architects of the future, we have the opportunity to shape the building sector and create connections. The students get valuable insight in how the sector works in practice and can learn about the leading solutions in the market,” Aleksandar Škurić says.
Plant Manager Mustafa Čajić and Technology Manager Nika Pristovšek led the tour through the entire production process, highlighting our commitment to energy efficiency, sustainability, and technological excellence. The plant’s Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) underlines Xella’s dedication to reducing environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle. The visit concluded in the showroom, where Sales Representative Krešimir Kasić connected theory and practice with a model house built entirely with Ytong components: “A little building exercise like this makes the experience and the learnings of the day a little more tangible. I think our guests were left with excellent impression and new learnings.”

France: Inspiring dialogue through round tables and partnerships

Through their ongoing partnership with Materiaux.archi, a French company providing documentation on architectural and construction products, Xella France’s prescription & sales team engages with students in the country via dedicated round table sessions at architecture schools.
Recent visits to schools in Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux and Cergy created opportunities for in-depth engagement around themes such as heritage restoration, renovation, energy performance, interior design across all building phases, and fire safety in architectural planning.
Rather than focusing solely on products, these sessions aim to inspire critical thinking, address technical challenges, and explore the evolving role of materials in sustainable design, leading to insightful and impactful exchanges with students.
"These round tables are special moments. They not only allow us to share relevant information about our products and services, but also to better understand the expectations of future professionals. For us, it’s a truly virtuous circle, and I always come away from them feeling very satisfied!" says Murielle Mavounzi, sales representative and part of the prescription team of Xella France.

Romania: Supporting sustainable thinking

We are investing in the future of sustainable construction, hand in hand with Romania’s next generation of builders.
At this year’s National Session of Students’ Scientific Communications (SNCSS 2025), Xella Romania took part in an event that brought together more than 500 students from across the country. Ivan Sebastian, Project Manager at Xella Romania, focused on our wall solutions and the key themes of energy efficiency, sustainability, and how our materials directly support nearly zero energy consumption (nZEB) in buildings. “Sustainability is a major focus for the building industry in Europe, especially when looking forward. The students are the future of the sector and should be presented with the right tools and solutions that drive this approach forward. Events like these are a great opportunity for exchange in that mindset,” Ivan Sebastian says.

At Xella, we see student engagement as a cornerstone of responsible innovation. By opening our doors, sharing expertise, and supporting education, we’re building a bridge between today’s knowledge and tomorrow’s construction.