BIP: Boosting Students’ Employability through the Enhancement of Soft Skills, Rijeka
The Department of International Business is pleased to share the experience with a short-term blended intensive program titled “Boosting Students’ Employability through the Enhancement of Soft Skills.”
From Monday, June 23 to Friday, June 27, 2025, eight students from the Faculty of International Relations participated in a short-term blended intensive program titled “Boosting Students’ Employability through the Enhancement of Soft Skills.”
Accompanied by our colleague from the Department of International Business, the students were hosted by the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of Rijeka in Croatia. In total, 20 international students took part in the program.
The schedule included morning lectures and workshops on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, while afternoons were either free or dedicated to excursions. On Tuesday, participants spent the entire day at the five-star Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa, where they gained practical insights into hotel management and toured the resort’s facilities.
On Friday, the group travelled to Rovinj, where they visited the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, a five-star property owned by the Maistra Hospitality Group, a leading Croatian conglomerate. In addition to another excursion, students presented and defended their projects at the hotel. After that, they visited the city.
And how was the event perceived by the students?
Nina S., the first-year Master’s student, soon to be, wrote: „Last week, I participated in a blended intensive program in Croatia held by the University of Rijeka. Overall, I would rate this as a great experience with a balance of classes and extracurricular activities. The lectures on soft skills were quite helpful, and we applied some new knowledge to the group projects. I also really enjoyed both tours around Hilton and Maistra, which helped me understand the hospitality industry from a closer look. Finally, the people who organised and participated in the program made it as much fun as possible.“
Another participant, Jiří U., 3rd year Bachelor’s student, soon to be, said: „I most appreciated the opportunity to peek behind the scenes of the hotel business. Seeing the magic happening in real time, with commentary from professionals in the field, was an enriching experience.“
Sofiia M., another student from FIR, stated: “Recently, I had an opportunity to participate in a blended intensive program organized by the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management. This program and the entire trip left a wonderful impression on me. It provided valuable insights and boosted my confidence in working within teams and interacting with other students.”
We would like to extend our gratitude to Vedrana Čikeš and Kristina Črnjar from the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management for their warm welcome and for organizing such an exceptionally enriching program.
