RRT 2022: Awarded for the best student works from the field course in rural tourism

On Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25, 2022, the 3rd international scientific and professional conference for the development of rural tourism - RRT 2022 was held in Čakovec and Sveti Martin na Mura. 

The best ones were presented and awarded at the conference student papers from the previously held field lesson in which he 60 students from 8 higher education institutions from Croatia and Slovenia toured 4 tourist destinations in Međimurje (Sveti Juraj na Breg, Wine Camp Hažić, Terme Sveti Martin and Čakovec).

An "Open Day" was also held in the hall of the Metal core, where representatives of employers in tourism and higher education institutions of the conference partners presented their employment opportunities and education programs to high school students from the immediate area.

As part of the Student RRT Conference, a round table was organized under the name: Development of new and innovative STEM teaching models as a factor in the sustainable development of rural areas.

The main program of the RRT 2022 conference was organized on Friday, November 25.11.2022, XNUMX. in the Terme Sveti Martin in the form of panel discussions and expert presentations by tourism workers and direct holders of development activities in rural areas from several countries, as well as the presentation of scientific and professional works.

The conference was opened by Matija Posavec - Prefect of Međimurje County, and the guests were greeted by Rudi Grula - Director of TZ Međimurje County, Slavko Štefičar - Director of the Directorate for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness of Tourist Destinations - Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Assoc. Ph.D. Irena Petrušić - dean of the Faculty of Management Herceg Novi, assistant. Ph.D. Dejan Kojić - vice-rector of the University of PIM Banja Luka and assistant professor Ph.D. Marko Jurakić - Vimal Academy, Moslavina Slatina. The conference was very successfully moderated by assistant professor through three panel discussions and one paper presentation session. Ph.D. Petra Barišić, and the remaining sessions were led by Ph.D. Marina Barkiđija Sotošek, Ph.D. Maša Trinajstić and Assoc. Ph.D. Marina Perišić Sold (online session).

The RRT 2022 conference has an international scientific and professional character and is organized in the form of short expert lectures and several thematic panels where mutual experiences will be exchanged and conclusions will be drawn, that is, guidelines for future development.

Preparations and materials for the discussion were offered by students and professors of several universities and colleges who conducted field classes in the area of ​​Sisak-Moslavina County during 2021 and 2022. with the assistance of local tourism workers and the support of the local administration.

Rudi Grula: For the first time, as many as eight deans and vice-deans of faculties and polytechnics from four countries gathered in one place in Croatia 

According to all indicators, the 3rd RRT conference was a great success for several reasons, he said Rudi Grula, director of TZ Međimurje County and added: 

"First, the works presented by students from eight faculties and polytechnics on the first day of the conference were more than great. It was seen that field teaching is inspiring for them and that such an approach to teaching enables them to put their theoretical knowledge as well as their creativity and innovation into the function of concrete projects. Their works will be of great concrete help to the tourism stakeholders they dealt with in their research.   

Also, as far as I know, for the first time in Croatia, as many as eight deans and vice-deans of faculties and polytechnics from Croatia, Slovenia, BiH and Montenegro gathered in one place to discuss and jointly search for new solutions for the sustainable development of rural tourism and the overall rural area. . I believe that the fact that, in addition to the standard stakeholders from the local and regional administration, the competent ministries of tourism and the economy, such a large number of leading people from our most reputable academic institutions and their colleagues from the region gathered together is an indication of how important the topic of development and smart transformation of the hitherto neglected rural space attractive and significant for science. Another indicator is certainly the number and quality of received scientific and professional papers presented by participants from all over Croatia." states Grula. 

The panel discussions offered an open exchange of opinions, ideas and experiences of all participants through presentations of numerous current projects in rural tourism as well as plans for future activities and joint collaborations.

"I personally think that the message of the academic community from this conference to all actors responsible for sustainable rural development was more than clear and strong: We have the capacities, we have the knowledge and the will, and it is up to you to include us and use our resources. Međimurje as a predominantly rural the region certainly intends to include this message in its further activities in the development of its tourism and overall rural development." Grula concluded. 

Panel discussion topics and participants:

1st panel discussion: "Responsible development of the rural area through the development of sustainable tourism"

Participants: Matija Posavec - prefect of Međimurje County, assistant. Ph.D. Igor Klopotan - Dean of Međimurje Polytechnic, Bosiljka Vinković-Kukolić - Director of Economics and Square. schools in Čakovec, Tomislav Gregur - principal of Prelog High School and Anđelko Nagrajsalović - mayor of Sveti Juraj na Breg Municipality

2nd panel: "Education as a key factor in responsible and sustainable development of rural areas"

Participants: associate professor Ph.D. Sanja Sever Mališ - Dean of the Faculty of Economics Zagreb, prof. Ph.D. Sandra Janković - Dean of the Faculty of Management. in tourism and hospitality. Opatija, Assoc. Ph.D. Berislav Andrlić - vice dean for development of the Faculty of Tur. and rur. of development in Požega, order. prof. Ph.D. Boštjan Brumen - dean of the Faculty of Tourism from Brežice (SLO) and Ph.D. Marcela Andreata-Koren, Dean of the Higher School of Economics in Križevci

3rd panel: "New trends in the development of sustainable tourism offer in rural areas"

Participants: Rudi Grula - director of the TZ of Međimurje County, Marcel Medak - director of the TZ of Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Roman Fekeža - TZ of Zagreb County, Filip Horvat - director of the Tourist Board of Čakovec

Organizers of the conference: Vimal Academy - International Center for the Development of Human Resources (www.vimal.hr) and the Tourist Association of Međimurje County (www.visitmedimurje.com)

Partners of the RRT conference: Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics, JJ Strossmayer University in Osijek, Faculty of Management in Tourism and Hospitality, Opatija, Libertas International University Zagreb, Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, Slovenia, Educons University Novi Sad, Serbia; University of PIM Banja Luka, Faculty of Management - Herceg Novi, University of Adriatic, Međimurje Polytechnic in Čakovec, College of Economics in Križevci, Faculty of Tourism and Rural Development in Požega, Zagreb, Higher Education Institution FINra Tuzla, College of Rural Management GRM Novo Mesto,

The RRT Conference is supported by: the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Tourist Board, the Institute for Tourism, Međimurje County, TZ Zagreb County, TZ Bjelovar-Bilogorska County, TZ Koprivnica-Križevac County, TZ Krapina-Zagorje County, TZ Čakovec, TZO Sveti Martin na Muri, City of Popovača, Municipality Križ, Municipality Sveti Juraj na Bregu, LAG Moslavina, KIS Gorski Kotar