Ružica Rašperić

Ružica Rašperić is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb and Edward Bernays Polytechnic, and previously taught at Vern Polytechnic's Department of Tourism since 2013. She holds a Master's in Economics from the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb (2005) and has extensive professional experience in tourism management and international trade.

Education:

• Master of Social Sciences (Economics), Faculty of Economics in Zagreb (2005)
• Graduate Economist, Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb (1985/86)
• Bachelor's in Foreign Trade, Faculty of Foreign Trade in Zagreb (1980)

Research Interests: Focused on tourism management, quality assurance systems in tourism (ISO 9001 implementation), rural tourism development, and cross-border tourism strategies. Her work emphasizes integrating innovative practices and sustainable tourism frameworks.

Awards & Recognition:

• Recipient of 14 major awards including the Silver Flower of Europe (2004), Golden Interstas (2013), and 2017 Ministry of Tourism award.
• Recognized for pioneering ISO 9001 quality management systems in Croatian tourism sectors.

Professional Roles: Former Director of Velika Gorica and Zagreb County Tourist Boards (1998–2017), Rotary Club founder (2003), and Central Croatia Cluster coordinator (2010–2017). Active in promoting Croatian tourism through strategic partnerships and policy advocacy.