Violeta Šugar

Dr. Violeta Šugar is an Associate Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of Organisation, Entrepreneurship and Law at the Faculty of Economics and Tourism, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Croatia. She specializes in entrepreneurship, innovation management, quality management, and sustainable tourism. Her academic roles include teaching courses such as Entrepreneurship, International Entrepreneurship, Lean Start-Up, and Quality Management. She leads the Student Entrepreneurial Incubator and managed the ISO 9001:2015 implementation project at her faculty. Prior to academia, she held roles in small business ownership, media (TV journalism), and banking, enriching her teaching with practical insights.

Her research focuses on sustainable tourism practices, innovation ecosystems, and the interplay between economic growth and environmental factors. Notable projects include EDIH Adria, analyzing SME contributions to Adriatic economies, and studies on e-bike adoption in Slovenia. She has authored/co-authored books and papers on topics like metaverse integration in tourism economics, burnout economics in healthcare, and cultural heritage management. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementations, emphasizing quality-driven strategies for competitiveness.

Dr. Šugar’s academic contributions extend to EU-funded projects and Croatian Ministry initiatives, reflecting her commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability in economic and tourism sectors. She actively promotes entrepreneurial education and has pioneered quality management systems in higher education institutions.