Croatia Research Articles

Is destination management data-driven and technology based? The perspective of the authorities responsible for destination management in a geographically diverse destination area

n order to determine whether the entities responsible for destination management at the local level are keeping up with market trends, especially the requirements on implementing “smartness”, and whether there is a recognition of the need for their decision-making to be guided by real-time information and data, this research surveyed most of the local tourism authorities in the recognized tourism region of the Adriatic, which regularly records high numbers of tourist arrivals and overnight stays in the Republic of Croatia, a country where tourism is an extremely important component of GDP. To explore the topic, a survey was conducted by using the methods of Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) and Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI), depending on the preferences of the respondents, primarily heads of destination management entities. The study of a specific topic related to tourism development decision-making, the application of smart technologies in the destination, and the collection of input from visitors to the destination included 73.53% of tourism management bodies (tourist boards of cities/municipalities) in the observed region and resulted in interesting findings. It is indicative that the application of technologies varies by sub-region and that decision-making is based on similar sources, regardless of the strategic importance of a particular decision and its long-term impact. Also, the fact that a large proportion of destination planning and development managers interviewed had no knowledge about the existence of strategic documents on sustainable development, and that only a very small proportion implement a strategy for the application of smart technologies and recognize the benefits of such an approach, is somewhat alarming. The limitations in this research are mostly caused by the determinants imposed by the funding source

The Crisis of Adults and Its Implications for the Youth. A Theological-Pastoral Study within the Context of Croatia and the Roman Catholic Church Teaching

This article aims to show the connection between the current crisis of adults and the changes that can be observed in the level of religiosity/spirituality of today’s youth. The Roman Catholic Synod on Young People held in Rome highlighted the need to understand young people and their religiosity. Un­derstanding and interpreting the religiosity, ecclesiasticism, and spirituality of today’s youth is necessary if we wish to answer their religious and spiritual questions properly. Nonetheless, this paper considers only one specific aspect of youth religiosity, that is, the connection between the world of adults, espe­cially the crisis that has affected many of them, and the development of young people—especially of their spirituality/religiosity. The first part provides a basic outline of young people’s religiosity and their rela­tionship to the Roman Catholic Church based on the research. The second part reflects on the crisis of intergenerational transmission of faith, critically evaluating the existing channels used for this purpose. The third part is a critical evaluation of some aspects of the life of adults, especially in light of the crisis that has affected adulthood. The last part, containing results and conclusion, emphasizes the necessity and importance of the formation of adults in the Roman Catholic Church. The research is based on a literature review, analysis of data obtained from research—carried out especially in the Republic of Croatia—as well as directions that come to us from the Roman Catholic Church documents.

Comparative Analysis of the Labour Act Status of Seafarers in the Republic of Croatia and the Surrounding Countries of the Adriatic Sea

The aim of this article is to present and compare the regulations concerning the specific labour act status of Croatian seafarers with those of seafarers in neighbouring countries that have access to the Adriatic Sea. These countries were part of the legal system of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until the 1990s. The question of the professional and social status of seafarers is a specific and complex issue in Labour Act. Seafarers, as employees, have a distinct labour and social status compared to shore-based workers in many respects. To address this, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted 68 instruments (conventions and recommendations) related to their labour status regulation. Today nearly all these ILO documents are consolidated in the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention, making it the most significant legislation concerning the work, life, and social rights of seafarers in international shipping. In this context, this paper examines and analyses Croatian national regulations governing labour and social status of seafarers. It also compares these regulations with those of the neighboring countries such as Slovenia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in terms of the standards prescribed by Maritime Labour Convention.

A Case Study of Biology Teaching Practices in Croatian Primary Schools

Abstract The aim of this case study is to present the most frequent teaching methods used by biology teachers in the Republic of Croatia, based on the observations made during biology class and the teachers’ statements. The study included six distinguished primary school biology teachers, along with their seventh-grade classes. The data comprised an interview with each teacher and twelve class observations. The results show that biology education in the Croatian educational system is mostly traditional, whereby students mostly practice listening to the teacher (34%) and answering the questions (18%). In summary, the majority of teaching consists of teachers presenting the content materials and asking questions or engaging students in specific individual or group activities. The present study has determined a lack of student questions and class discussions. Additionally, the nature of teachers’ questions does not encourage students to think and provide extensive answers. For this reason, the study suggests that teachers encourage students to ask questions and organize teaching activities in ways which will contribute to more class activity and deep learning of students. Despite some acknowledged limitations, the results of this study can contribute to a better understanding of the teachers’ experiences in authentic science classrooms, in specific contexts.

Moving towards Sustainable Mobility: A Comparative Analysis of Smart Urban Mobility in Croatian Cities

Most modern urban areas strive to realize a sustainable and smart urban mobility system. In the Republic of Croatia, no study has provided an analysis of the state of urban mobility therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to determine the level of smart urban mobility in the cities of the Republic of Croatia. Based on the indicators provided by ISO standards (ISO 37120:2018 and ISO 37122:2019), the state of smart urban mobility in the Republic of Croatia was evaluated and a comparative analysis of small, medium-sized, and large cities was conducted. Moreover, correlations were found between individual indicators, within the categories of small, medium, and large cities, to determine whether there is a connection between individual indicators. The obtained results show that the state of smart urban mobility in the territory of the Republic of Croatia is at a very low level. The highest level of smart urban mobility was achieved by large cities, but it was not significantly different from the level in small and medium-sized cities. The correlation between the indicators also highlights the strong links between individual elements in the city. Therefore, to achieve smart urban mobility, it is necessary to manage all elements in an integrated manner.

Information Literacy Programmes at the Academic Level in the Field of Law

Purpose: In law libraries in the Republic of Croatia, only a small number of information literacy programmes have been recorded. This indicates the need to strengthen and promote more effective teaching of information literacy in the field of law. The aim of this paper is to analyse the published literature to gain insight into the existing knowledge regarding information literacy in the field of law over the past 30 years in the Republic of Croatia. This analysis aims to determine possible directions for development and to find more effective teaching methods for information literacy. Methodology/approach: The methodology used included a qualitative research approach, specifically content analysis of works published in the last 30 years concerning information literacy at the academic level in the field of law in the Republic of Croatia. Results: The development of information literacy at the academic level in the field of law can be observed in parallel with the development of information literacy at the broader academic level in the Republic of Croatia. The most significant changes can be seen over the past five years, both at the theoretical and practical level of law school library work. Research on information literacy in the field of law, initially primarily focused on user education, is deepening and expanding, both in terms of methodology and content, because of intense and dynamic changes in the information and educational environment. As a result, further directions of development should be guided by the need for more research on the essential literacy skills of the 21st century for all stakeholders in the educational process. Such research would contribute to a greater understanding of the most relevant content and methods to be included in information literacy programmes tailored to the specifics of the legal discipline. Research limitation: A literature analysis revealed numerous different terms related to information literacy at the academic level in the field of law, especially in works published in the 1990s, when the term “information literacy” was not established in the Republic of Croatia. Therefore, there is a possibility of unintentional oversight of specific works. Another limitation of the research is the role of one evaluator/researcher in implementing the content analysis of the publications due to possible subjectivity in the analysis. Originality/practical implications: This study is one of the first to offer detailed insights into the current trends in information literacy development at the academic level in the field of law over the past 30 years. On a practical level, the author aims to encourage academic librarians to create and implement formal information literacy programmes within the realm of law and its related libraries.

Međuzavisnost rodne zastupljenosti i postignutih rezultata u tijelima državne uprave u Republici Hrvatskoj

Each institution in the state administration in the Republic of Croatia organizes its operations through numerous administrative organizations (administrations) and organizational units (independent sectors, sectors, services, departments, sections and sub-sections) whose number and responsibilities differ with regard to their internal organization. In this paper, the emphasis is on state administration bodies, that is, on ministries and state administrative organizations. The paper tries to answer the research question of whether there is a difference in the efficiency of the operations of state administration bodies in the Republic of Croatia in relation to the representation of women and men among employed officials and state employees. The aim of the paper is to recognize the importance and analyze gender representation in state administration bodies in the Republic of Croatia and to determine whether there is a difference in the efficiency of work results in state administration bodies in relation to the representation of women and men. The research covers 16 ministries and 12 state administrative organizations in the Republic of Croatia, which employ a total of about 49,820 employees. According to the research results, there is no statistically significant difference between business efficiency and gender representation in state administration bodies in the Republic of Croatia.

Reproductive Changes in the Population of the Republic of Croatia

Knowledge of demographic trends is the basis for policy making, both economic, social, health, etc., as well as population policy. The Republic of Croatia has been facing demographic problems for many years, mainly an increase in the elderly population with a simultaneous decrease in the reproductive base and the number of young people. Croatia is one of the countries in the post-transition stage of population characteristics, characterized by the transition of the total fertility rate from a low positive rate to a level that no longer ensures the renewal of generations, and the mortality rate, which is determined by increasing life expectancy. In the Republic of Croatia, fertility is measured by the periodic total fertility rate, which indicates the average expected number of live births that a woman of fertile age (15 to 49 years) would give birth to. The total fertility rate of 2.1 children is often cited in the literature and among the public as the numerical level of generational change, while the Republic of Croatia has recorded a total fertility rate below this level for decades, i.e., 1.48 (2020). Another important characteristic of the post-transition period is late childbearing. The age limit for marriage and readiness to have a first child is increasing. The average age of a mother at the birth of her first child increased from 23.5 years (1960) to 29 years (2020), which significantly shortens a woman's reproductive time. Due to numerous factors, the number of live births has decreased from 95,560 children in 1960 to 35,845 children in 2020, a decrease of 59,715 live births. The subject of this work is a study of the reproductive determinants of population development in the Republic of Croatia, focusing on the determination of the factors influencing fertility and the quantitative presentation of demographic indicators. The aim of this work is to find the cause of declining fertility. Therefore, this work analyzes the factors that influence fertility. Due to the resulting birth deficit, it is necessary to take measures to promote births. Therefore, in the concluding remarks, recommendations are given for improving the demographic situation in the Republic of Croatia in the context of promoting births and increasing fertility. Keywords: reproductive changes, fertility, Republic of Croatia, total fertility rate

HOW PRIMARY STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF MAGNETISM

Magnets are a part of students’ daily experience, whether within technical devices, souvenirs, toys or included in various school experiments. The aim of this research was to gain insight into the way primary students understand magnetism and to estimate the effect of teaching to the development of concepts about magnetism. For the purpose of this research, a diagnostic knowledge test was designed which includes teaching content about the concept of magnets, their properties, interaction and application. A total of 160 of second, third and fourth grade students attending elementary schools „Siniša Glavašević“ and „Nikola Andrić“ from Vukovar and „Bijelo Brdo“ from Bijelo Brdo, Republic of Croatia, were included in the study. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in knowledge test scores among girls and boys. The knowledge test achievements according to age (second, third and fourth grade) were statistically significant between second and third grade, as well as second and fourth. The difference in test scores between third and fourth grade students was observed, but it was not statistically significant. The analysis of students’ responses according to each test question confirmed the absence of differences according to gender but significant differences according to age, as well as the persistence of some typical misconceptions. The overall level of knowledge test achievement was rather low throughout the sample, indicating that primary students lack sufficient knowledge and that the majority of students fail to completely and accurately answer the questions about magnetic phenomena. Based on the results of this study it could be concluded that the process of developing concepts about magnetism within the course Nature and Society from the second to the fourth grade is insufficiently effective. We recommend that the contents about magnetism should be studied from the very beginning of primary school education. Furthermore, it is necessary to apply innovative teaching methods, strategies and models, while connecting these contents with students’ everyday experiences.

Izazovi i uspjesi udruge CroMSIC u sferi volontiranja, projekata i razmjena

The Croatian Medical Students’ International Committee (CroMSIC) is an association dedicated to improving education and collaboration across the Republic of Croatia. The organization’s activities are carried out through student volunteering. It implements a range of projects focused on prevention and education, including initiatives in public health, human rights, sexual and reproductive health, as well as medical education. Additionally, we conduct student exchange programs that enable students to travel and participate in professional and scientific exchanges worldwide, contributing to the recognition of Croatia and its university on a global scale. CroMSIC, as an association, provides a unique international experience and an opportunity for personal and professional development. Through various projects and initiatives, CroMSIC demonstrates its humanitarian side by assisting children and families in need, while some projects facilitate healthcare in often neglected rural areas. Their dedicated officials also work to raise awareness about various healthcare aspects, including specific topics like cancer prevention and genetics, in collaboration with local communities and experts. CroMSIC drives positive change through cooperation with schools, children’s homes, and local communities. Through its projects, the association aims to enhance the quality of medical education and raise awareness about key public health issues. Our past successes include educating thousands of students and engaging hundreds of student volunteers in projects. The aim of this article is to present the association CroMSIC as well as its goals – to contribute to better health and education in the Republic of Croatia, and to shape future generations of medical experts who will bring positive changes in society.

Absence of an Oral Hearing in Administrative Disputes:

Purpose: The right to an oral hearing is an essential element of Article 6 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. This is particularly emphasised in administrative procedures where the parties are in a hierarchical relationship. The absence of an oral hearing can significantly limit a party’s right to a fair trial. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the positive law and state of play in the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia regarding the right to an oral hearing. The purpose of this paper is to analyse relevant legislation and case law with the goal of proposing future legislation that better aligns with effective legal protection.Design/Methodology/Approach: Desk research was conducted to analyse current legal solutions and case law using sociological research methods. These involved analysing domestic and international legal texts and reviewing the rules governing national administrative procedures in the countries included in the research, as well as against decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. In addition, the research used a combination of primary and secondary data sources.Findings: Administrative courts should prioritise procedural justice and equality of arms, even when there is no clear need for oral hearings, especially if one of the parties requests to appear before the court. To minimise damaging discretion, both parties should consent to relinquishing the right to an oral hearing, which should be mandatory by default.Academic contribution to the field: The primary contribution of this paper lies in its de lege ferenda suggestions regarding the right to an oral hearing, which could potentially enhance the protection of human rights in relation to a fair trial in both administrative disputes and administrative procedures.Originality/Value: This research is original as it presents a comparative analysis of administrative procedure and disputes in selected Member States. To the best of the author’s knowledge, no such comparative study has been conducted before. The findings of this research could have significant value as they highlight the need for improving procedural justice and equality of arms in ensuring a fair trial in administrative disputes.
  
  

Reflections of Parents of Elementary School Pupils in the Republic of Croatia About the Use of Tablets in Class

In the last three years, there have been changes that contributed to the introduction of modern technology, i.e., tablets, into the teaching process. "Refreshment" was needed to continue. The need for effective, interesting, and motivating teaching has become evident. The use of tablets in class can certainly meet these needs. The goal was to determine the thoughts and attitudes of parents of elementary school children about the use of tablets: do they agree that tablets should replace classic textbooks in classes? Research was conducted on a sample of 1,403 parents of children who attended elementary school. The results show that 49.0% of respondents state that their child often uses a tablet in class. Furthermore, 69.6% of parents fully agree with the statement that the use of modern technology in teaching is good to know. 67.3% strongly disagree with the possibility of replacing classic textbooks with tablets in class. Parents: 42.6% of them think that the tablet does not make it easier for the child to learn, and 34.0% of the research participants could not make up their minds about the set items. 80.4% of parents believe that excessive use of tablets by children is addictive.  

Challenges for Seafarers Education and Training in the Context of Autonomous Ships Development

Education and training of seafarers are defined in the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) and elaborated by the set of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Model Courses. These documents represent minimum requirements for the education and training of seafarers at the international level. IMO member states shall integrate these requirements as appropriate into their maritime high school and college training programs and into training programs leading to STCW certification. Although there are different views in the literature and in practice about the existing seafarers training system, this system is standardized worldwide. This allows consistent acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competences for seafarers on merchant ships. The development and gradual introduction of autonomous ships raises numerous questions about the future trends of world shipping. Various researches are currently being conducted on autonomous ships. This technological progress brings with itself many challenges and one of them is the education of the personnel who will control and monitor these ships. It is clear that a new approach to seafarer’s education needs to be developed. The development of this concept opens numerous questions from different segments of shipping and maritime security in general, particularly in the context of maritime cyber security. The paper analyses the education concept for seafarers in the Republic of Croatia, paying special attention to trends related to the development and deployment of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS).

Marine Litter and the Circular Economy

Marine litter has been identified as one of major threats to marine ecosystems due to its environmental, economic, safety, health, and cultural impacts. The paper analyses the sources of marine litter and the obstacles to resolving the issue of pollution by marine litter. It addresses the quality of the national waste management concept as well as the efficiency of its implementation in the Republic of Croatia where the Adriatic Sea is subject to substantial pressure from littering. Resolving the problem of marine litter means adopting appropriate policy regarding waste generated at sea, marinas, cruising and fishing, and at land in line with circular economy principles. Findings of the study show that the country should be proactive in adopting policies to reduce and modify packaging and link the bioeconomy to the circular economy in achieving environmental and economic benefits in terms of materials and energy efficiency. Further research concerning all Mediterranean countries should integrate, in a holistic manner, municipal waste management, food packaging and food waste, marine litter, tourism, local agriculture, and local economies.

Man as a “Work of Art”: The Religious–Dialogical Dimension of Education as a Path of Education for Beauty/Goodness

Aiming to establish a dialogue with modern man, who lives in a culture marked by great challenges, church documents put a great emphasis on the via pulchritudinis. The via pulchritudinis, i.e., the way of beauty, is considered to be a privileged way of achieving dialogue. Awareness of the importance of beauty, in close connection with goodness and truth, is increasingly present in the theological and the religious–pedagogical thought. One of the specific questions related to education for beauty refers to the education of a person who is called to transform his or her life into a “work of art”. This paper reflects on only one specific aspect of the issue of shaping human beauty/goodness, that is, people’s “humanity”, in connection with the challenges of increasingly complex coexistence in diversity. Globalization and migration trends, primarily by complicating life together/coexistence, pose certain challenges to man as an individual, as well as to the entire society, especially the challenge that is coexistence of different cultures and religions. Since these problems also penetrate school classrooms, education systems are expected to provide appropriate responses. The paper consists of two parts. In the theoretical part, two specific fundamental issues related to the education of a person’s “humanity” in the atmosphere of “conflict culture” are considered: the issue of comprehensive education following the ancient connection of beauty and goodness, as well as the issue of education for coexistence. The second part presents the results of the research which was carried out in the Republic of Croatia and which aimed to examine the presence of curriculum content that enables the acquisition of religious–dialogical competence, using the method of text analysis. In more exact terms, faced with the challenges that arise from a society burdened with misunderstanding, violence and hostility, often linked with a religious affiliation and worldviews, we ask ourselves the following question: to what extent is the contemporary education system in the Republic of Croatia, at the level of its curricula, open to the comprehensive development of students, especially in terms of the development of the religious–dialogical dimension, necessary for living a good and beautiful life in the modern multicultural and multireligious world? The results reveal a different, mostly insufficient, openness of the curriculum to the religious dimension of intercultural education. That is one of the reasons why the education system does not seem to be open to the development of the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for a harmonious and “beautiful” coexistence in modern society.

Professionalisation of Andragogical Staff Through a University Study Programme in the Republic of Croatia

Despite a rich tradition of institutional adult education and relatively continuous development of andragogical theory and practice, the Republic of Croatia has only adopted strategic and legal frameworks that have created the conditions for the professionalisation of adult education staff in the last twenty years. This paper aims to present the andragogical thought, legislative framework, and andragogy study programme in Croatia. The need for the university education of andragogues stems from research results that indicate many employers prefer highly educated staff in this field. To respond to current needs, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka is going to implement a University Part-Time Graduate Study in Andragogy programme designed in accordance with ten years of positive experience in adult education in the Republic of Croatia, modern achievements in andragogical theory and practice, and based on the Croatian Qualification Frame.

EFFECTS OF A SHORT COURSE TRAINING PROGRAM ON APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: EXAMPLE FROM CROATIA

European countries, in accordance with their higher education policy, regulate in various ways the need for additional professional education of higher education teachers. In the Republic of Croatia, despite the recognized need to improve the process of teaching and learning at the higher education level, efforts and activities in this direction are left to the universities. The main aim of the present study was to examine how the participants of the short course training program on approaches to teaching in higher education in Croatia perceived their own teaching and learning competencies before and after attending the program. University teachers from five higher education institutions in the Republic of Croatia participated in the research. The participants assessed agreement with the statements related to various teaching competencies, important for university teachers, on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The results obtained through research quantitative and qualitative methods indicate that the participants of the short course training program on approaches to teaching in higher education evaluate their own teaching competencies better at the end than at the beginning of the program. The obtained results indicate the importance of formal training and improvement of teaching competencies of university teachers and can serve as an assessment of the expediency of the short course training program on approaches to teaching in higher education at the national level and as a basis for comparison with programs implemented at other European universities. Keywords: higher education, short course training program, teacher training, university teachers

Effects of Change Management on Competitive Advantage in the ICT Sector in the Republic of Croatia

The sector of information and communication technologies (ICT) is characterized by dynamic and rapid technical progress, convergence, and system integration, which leads to rapid changes in all business segments and requires immediate and adequate adaptation of the organization to changes. The activities of the ICT sector are of key importance for influencing the growth and development of the country's entire economy, while information and communication technologies are a crucial part of modern business and an indispensable tool in achieving business efficiency and success. In order to produce the conclusions arising from the hypothesis of this scientific research that change management has a positive effect on the creation of competitive advantage in the ICT sector in the Republic of Croatia, this empirical research included the theoretical framework of change management composed of the determinants of change management in the ICT sector, known as ITIL structural model, then the determinant of one of the latest change management models, the ADKAR model, and determinants of the competitiveness of the Croatian ICT sector. The results of the research confirmed that change management by applying the ADKAR model in the Croatian ICT sector has a positive effect on the competitive advantage of the organization, and as such on the economic growth and development of the economy.

Reprezentacije odnosa obitelji i osnovne škole u nacionalnim dokumentima, zakonima i podzakonskim aktima

The aim of this research is to describe how family and school relations are represented in national documents, laws, and sub-legal acts that organise the primary education sector. The research is based on a qualitative research paradigm and documentation analysis procedure. A reflexive thematic analysis was carried out on 17 documents, laws and sublegal acts relevant to primary school education in the Republic of Croatia, which resulted in four basic representations of the relations between family and school, placed in the context of humanistic, legalistic, procedural and patronising constructions of their relations. Further analysis revealed examples of incongruity in the generated representations of family and school relations within documents, as well as the deviation of individual representations from recent knowledge about the optimal positioning of family and school relations. The conclusion discusses the practical implications of the obtained findings and potential directions of an empirical approach to the described problem.

DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL METHOD OF EXCAVATION OF THE ZENICA TUNNEL AS A FUNCTION OF MINIMAL DAMAGE TO ROCK MASS OF POORER QUALITY OUTSIDE THE EXCAVATION PROFILE

Corridor Vc enhances the connection of Bosnia and Herzegovina with neighboring countries and improves the potential for economic development. The Corridor Vc motorway in Bosnia and Herzegovina stretches from the northern border with the Republic of Croatia from Svilaj to Čapljina on the southern border with the Republic of Croatia, in Bijača. The Zenica tunnel is part of the Corridor Vc motorway in the municipality of Zenica and is currently the longest excavated tunnel with a total length of 3,330 meters. Excavation works were performed by a combination of blasting and machine excavation. The excavation of the tunnel was performed in sedimentary formations (flysch-like Upper Vranduk series 2JK). Excavation of tunnels by blasting with adjusted drilling and blasting parameters in rock mass of poorer quality achieves better results in relation to machine excavation. Key words: tunnel, rock mass, machine excavation, drilling, blasting, overbreak