University of Rijeka
The Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management (FMTU), which is part of the University of Rijeka, is the only higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia that offers study programs in the fields of tourism, hospitality and sustainable development at bachelor, master and doctoral levels, as well as a wide range of lifelong education programs. The main vision of the Faculty is that the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management is a leader in high education, scientific and professional research in the field of tourism, hospitality and sustainable development in Croatia and the wider region.
In addition, the Faculty conducts significant activities with other higher education institutions in the country and abroad, where the Faculty’s role as a partner in the centers of excellence in tourism and hospitality stands out.
The Faculty also fosters business cooperation with tourism and hospitality companies, local administrations and self-government units, associations and other members of the public. Cooperation with companies in the field of tourism and hospitality, especially with renowned hotels, camps and associations in the Republic of Croatia, is achieved through the implementation of student internships, lifelong education programs, as well as the creation of studies and projects. The Faculty organizes numerous lectures by distinguished experts from practice, which enable students to gain insight into the practical knowledge of our best business people and apply the acquired knowledge in solving real business problems.
Zrinka Zadel
Team
Zrinka Zadel, Full Professor, Ph.D.
Team Leader
Zrinka Zadel heads the Tourism Department at the FMTU. The main areas of research are tourism, destination management and cultural tourism. She teaches undergraduate courses like “Management of Tourist Destinations” and “Cultural Tourism”, graduate courses including “Sustainable Management of Tourist Resources” and “Beach Management,” with a doctoral focus on “Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development.” Engaged in 19 projects, she authored over 50 articles and participated in various international events. Zadel serves on the editorial board of Tourism and Hospitality Management: An International Scientific Journal and was a member of the editorial board of the proceedings of ToSEE. In the project, she serves as both a project leader and a researcher.
Dora Smolčić Jurdana, Ph.D. , Full professor with tenure
Researcher 1
Dora Smolčić Jurdana is the Head of the Institute of Tourism and Head of the Postgraduate PhD program “Management of Sustainable Development” at the FMTU. She teaches various courses across undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels such as “Economics of Tourism,” “Tourism Planning,” and “Sustainable Tourism Management.” With over 90 scientific publications and involvement in 5 scientific projects, she focuses on strategic planning, sustainable tourism development and the economic and social dimensions of tourism. As a project manager and coordinator, she has overseen the development of numerous professional projects, effectively translating theoretical knowledge and research findings into practical applications. As a researcher within the project, she will participate in scientific research and other necessary activities in all phases of the project in which FMTU is involved.
Elena Rudan, Ph.D, Associate professor
Researcher 2
Elena Rudan is an Associate Professor at the Department of International Economics and Development at FMTU. Elena Rudan is Vice Dean for Business Relations at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Her research interests focus on tourism, cultural tourism, entrepreneurship, creative tourism and sustainable development. Elena Rudan is an author of scientific papers, book chapters, books and professional articles. She has participated in the significant number of research and projects, where she has successfully implemented theoretical knowledge and scientific knowledge in practice. As part of the project’s research team, she will contribute to scientific inquiry and undertake essential tasks across all stages of FMTU’s involvement in the project.
Romina Agbaba, Senior Assistant
viša asistentica
Romina Agbaba is a Senior Assistant at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka. She is involved in teaching the courses “Tourism Economics” and “Tourism Planning and Development.” Her research interests include crisis management in tourism, general tourism development, and sustainable tourism. She is the author and co-author of fifteen scientific papers published in academic journals and conference proceedings. As a PhD candidate, she has been actively engaged as a member of research teams in several professional projects, including the Tourism Development Strategy of the City of Rab until 2030, the Kvarner Tourism Development Plan until 2030, and the Action Plan for the Development of Gastronomy in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, among others. In addition to her academic expertise, she has organizational and teamwork skills and is fluent in English.
Croatia