University of Rijeci launches first coastal and nautical tourism degree
The University of Rijeci is launching a professional pre-undergraduate degree in Coastal and Nautical Tourism with the new academic year, the first such programme in Croatia. Admissions begin in the autumn intake, with the first cohort comprising 30 full-time and 20 part-time students, reports Novi list.
As Ozren Rafajac, head of the Business Department, stated at a press conference, the degree responds to sector needs where Croatia dominates nautical chartering, yet the growth model based solely on guest numbers and overnight stays has reached its limits. The modern yachtsman, he noted, expects premium service and sustainable experiences, which are impossible without trained personnel.
The programme followed extensive preparations, including market research surveying more than 130 employers. Teaching is organised through ten specialised practicums — ranging from seamanship and vessel management to event management and Mediterranean gastronomy.
336 hours of professional practice are included within a network of 130 partner companies managing more than a thousand yachts and 29 marinas. The University has signed cooperation agreements with sector companies, including ACI, Marina Punat, Katarina Line and MennYacht Group.
The three-year degree awards 180 ECTS credits and rests on four pillars of expertise: operational and nautical skills, management, finance and law, marketing and hospitality, and sustainability and ecology.
The University states the programme is internationally competitive, anticipating interest from foreign students.
