Veleučilište in Rijeka is launching a professional higher education degree in Coastal and Nautical Tourism, the first of its kind in Croatia, with the new academic year. Enrolments begin in the autumn term, with the first cohort comprising 30 full-time and 20 part-time students, Novi List reports.
The degree, according to Ozren Rafajac, head of the Faculty, is a response to the needs of a sector where Croatia dominates in nautical chartering, but the growth model based solely on the number of guests and nights has reached its limits. A modern sailor, he noted, expects excellent service and a sustainable experience, which is not possible without trained personnel.
The programme follows extensive preparation, including market research in which more than 130 employers were surveyed. The curriculum is structured around ten specialized practical modules — from seamanship and vessel management to event management and Mediterranean cuisine.
336 hours of practical training are included, set within a network of 130 partner companies managing more than a thousand yachts and 29 marinas. Veleučilište has signed agreements with companies in the sector, including ACI, Marina Punat, Katarina Line and Meny Yacht Group.
The three-year degree awards 180 ECTS credits and is built on four pillars of expertise: operational and nautical skills, management, finance and law, marketing and hospitality, and sustainability and ecology.
The programme, the institution states, is internationally competitive, and interest from foreign students is expected.
