Associate Professor Andreja Rudančić, Ph.D., has been the head of this project since October 1, 2025. She was born in Zagreb and graduated in 2011 from the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Opatija, University of Rijeka. At the same faculty, in 2012, she obtained her Master’s degree in the field of Social Sciences, Economics, majoring in Business Economics in Tourism and Hospitality, with a specialization in Tourism Management. In 2013, she enrolled in the doctoral program in Management and Organization at the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, University of Osijek. On June 3, 2016, at the same faculty, she successfully defended her doctoral dissertation entitled “Management in the Function of Developing the Business Tourism of a Destination”, under the mentorship of Prof. Dražen Barković, Ph.D., thereby earning the academic title of Doctor of Science. In 2022, by the decision of the Senate of Libertas International University in Zagreb, she was elected to the academic rank and position of Associate Professor in the field of Social Sciences, Economics. Since 2015, Assoc. Prof. Andreja Rudančić, Ph.D., has been teaching at Libertas International University in Zagreb. Between 2016 and 2019, she also served as the Head of the Libertas University Teaching Center in Poreč. In the same year, she contributed to the preparation of the curriculum for the undergraduate professional study program in Tourism and Hotel Management at Libertas International University in Zagreb. She currently teaches ten courses across undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs at Libertas International University: Tourism and Hotel Management (undergraduate professional study), Business Economics (undergraduate professional study), Sports Management and Sports Activities (undergraduate professional study), Tourism and Hotel Management (graduate professional study), and Business Economics and Sustainable Development (postgraduate doctoral study). The courses she teaches include: Human Resource Management, Animation in Tourism, Event Management in Tourism, Campsite Management, Accommodation Department Business Processes, Human Resources Management, Sports Tourism and Wellness Management, Introduction to Sports and Sports Activities, Tourism and Health, Sustainable Regions and Cities. She is the co-author of the scientific monograph “Camping in Croatian Tourism” (2021) and the scientific book “Managing Business Events from the Perspective of Tourism and Microeconomics with the Application of Information and Communication Technologies” (2023). To date, she has published 78 scientific papers independently and in co-authorship. Since 2010, she has participated in 43 scientific conferences in Croatia and abroad, where she has presented papers as author or co-author, with the proceedings published in conference collections. She has also served as a reviewer for 28 scientific papers in reputable domestic and international journals and conference proceedings. She actively participated as a researcher in the empirical part of the scientific project “Assessment of the Tourism Offer of Kvarner – Research on the Attitudes of Tourists, the Local Population, and Tourism Management” (2011), led by Prof. Branko Blažević, Ph.D. She was also a collaborator on the scientific project of the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies entitled “Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Development of Posavina County Based on the Identity Determinants of the Croatian People”, led by Marina Perić, Ph.D. She was a member of the Working Group for drafting the proposal of the Regulation on the Professional Examination for Tourist Guides and the Regulation on the List of Protected Sites at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia. She was a member of the organizing committee of the international conference “Migration and Identity: Culture, Economy, State”, organized by the Institute for Migration Research in Zagreb, as well as a member of the Body for the Improvement of the Enrollment Procedure in Higher Education at the Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE). Furthermore, she serves as the Head of Professional Practice for the undergraduate program in Tourism and Hotel Management at Libertas International University in Zagreb. She is a member of the editorial board of the scientific journal Acta Economica et Turistica of Libertas University, a member of the editorial board of the Libertas Proceedings, Chair of the Committee for Graduate Theses of Professional Studies at Libertas University, and Chair of the Libertas University Quality Assurance Committee. She is the recipient of recognition for her significant contribution to the enhancement of the international scientific conference Interdisciplinary Management Research (IMR), organized by the Faculty of Economics in Osijek. She has also received a commendation from the Croatian Lions Club for outstanding humanitarian work in the city of Opatija, as well as the Dean’s Semester and Annual Commendations for exceptional academic achievements during her studies at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Opatija.
Dr. Krešimir Dabo is a research associate at the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies and the leader of this project. He graduated in economics from the Zagreb School of Management. He completed his specialized graduate study in Business Communications Management at VERN' University, and completed his second graduate study at the University North, studying communication and public relations. He received his doctorate at the interdisciplinary post-graduate doctoral study in Communication Studies at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek. He completed a one-year study at the Center for Peace Studies. He started his professional career in the field of journalism, working in the editorial offices of several media houses, starting with Radio Student, then Croatian Radio, Television Z1 and RTL Television. He worked in the Public Relations Department at RTL Television, and for six years he headed the Public Relations and Marketing Department at the Ensemble of Croatian Folk Dances and Songs LADO. He was appointed to the position of director of the LADO Ensemble on January 1, 2015 for a four-year term. As an external associate, he teaches courses related to public relations in culture and tourism, event management and communication in general at the Croatian Catholic University, Faculty of Croatian Studies, VERN' University and the Edward Bernays University of Applied Sciences.
Dr. Dejan Gluvačević is the head of the Department of Communications at the Edward Bernays Polytechnic. He is a lecturer at courses in the field of commercial and national identity and image management and project management, and teaches courses such as Brand Management, Public Diplomacy and State Public Relations, Croatia as a Brand, Branding of Tourist Destinations and Management. The main research focus of the project will be on the analysis and interpretation of the brand elements of selected destinations, determining the way and type of use of individual elements in the integrated communication of the destination, and the analysis of the relationship between the use of traditional and new media in the branding process.
Asst. Ph.D. Maja Vizjak is a research associate at the Institute for Migration and Nationalities, graduated and received her doctorate from the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of Rijeka, and graduated from the Academy of Applied Arts. The scientific focus is on organization and management, globalization and those topics related to the education of tourist staff, sustainable development and selective types of tourism. The project will analyze the economic effects and reflections of the success of destination branding and their visual identities as part of the integrated marketing communication of the selected locations.
Assoc. prof. Ph.D. Hrvoje Jakopović is the head of the postgraduate specialist study Public Relations and the head of the Department for Strategic Communication at the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Zagreb and the head of courses such as Public Relations Strategy, Public Relations in Tourism, Public Relations Theory, Public Relations Management, Techniques public relations and Introduction to public relations. His research focus is on destination image and strategic communication. The task in the project will be focused on the analysis of the communication activities of the destination, the determination of how to use tools and techniques in the process of branding Istria and the Croatian littoral as a tourist destination, and the analysis of the public relations strategies of the selected locations.
Danijel Knežević, PhD, Assoc. Prof., was born in Odžak in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He finished primary and secondary school in Đakovo. He enrolled in the undergraduate study of Business Economics at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Zagreb in 2007, and completed it in 2011. In 2011, he enrolled in graduate studies (Finance major) at the same institution, and graduated with highest honors (SUMMA CUM LAUDE) in 2012. He enrolled in postgraduate (doctoral) studies on December 5, 2012, also at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Zagreb, and completed it on June 6, 2022 by defending his doctoral thesis with the title "Quality factors of the performance management system in the hotel business" under mentored by Prof. PhD Nina Pološki Vokić. From 2012 to 2016, he was employed as an assistant director at the Euro Hotel in Odžak, Bosnia and Herzegovina, while from 2017 to 2020 he was employed at the European Business School Zagreb. He worked as a lecturer and quality manager, then as a lecturer and head of specialist graduate professional studies, and in the academic year 2019/2020. as a lecturer and vice dean for teaching. In the academic year 2021/2022. he taught the Methodology of Social Sciences course at the Edward Bernays Polytechnic, and from the academic year 2022/2023. as an external associate, he teaches the Basics of Economics course at Algebra University. The focus of scientific and research work covers the wider field of economics and business economics. He has published over 20 scientific and professional papers and mentored over 30 final theses (professional and specialist). In addition, he was the deputy editor-in-chief of the scientific-professional journal "Entrepreneurship Education", and participated in the editorial work of the scientific book from the international-scientific professional conference "Migration and identity: culture, economy, state (2)". In many years, he participated in the organization of scientific and professional meetings in the role of president or vice-president of the organizing committee. He is the organizer of the international scientific and professional meeting "Continental Croatia: historical context, current events and future perspectives". He is the president of the Association of Independent Investors, founded in 2023 in Zagreb, which, among other things, deals with the development of financial literacy and investment literacy.
Ivana Schildenfeld was born in Šibenik. She has a master's degree in public relations and she is a doctoral student at the postgraduate doctoral study Strategic Communication at the Faculty for Media in Ljubljana. Since 2020, she has been the head of the Quality Office at the Edward Bernays University of Applied Scineces, where she establishes and manages quality in all areas of academic activity. As a lecturer in the scientific field of information and communication sciences, she participates in the preparation and delivery of classes in the following courses: Communication Studies, Crisis Communication, Business Communications, Interpersonal Communication Practice, Women and Politics. She is a member of the organizing committee of the Communication Management Forum, an international scientific conference, and from 2022 the executive editor of the international scientific journal Communication Management Review. She is the executive editor of the proceedings of the international scientific and professional conference "Continental Croatia - historical context, current events and perspectives in the future". She is an integrative psychotherapy educator at the Croatian Association for Integrative Psychotherapy. She is a member of the Croatian Association for Public Relations and the POZA association, which deals with social inclusion and humanitarian aid aimed at vulnerable and minority groups. Scientific interests are directed towards civil society, media and vulnerable groups, public communication, psychotherapy and counseling.
Dr. Nora Mustać is a research associate at the Institute of Tourism, has a master's degree in economics and history, and a doctorate at the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb. The scientific focus is moderate on the history of tourism development, the economics of tourism and the macroeconomic aspects of tourism, especially employment. This project will focus on creating a cost benefit analysis of the implementation of the branding strategy of the tourist destination, a comparative analysis of financial success and a benchmark analysis with other related, successful tourist destinations abroad that rely heavily on cultural identities for their brands.
