HRK 44.7 mn grant for Regional Centre of Competence in Pula

A HRK 44.7 million (€5.9 mn) grant agreement for the Regional Centre of Competence in Pula was signed on Tuesday by Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli and the principal of the Pula Tourism, Hospitality and Trade School, Orhideja Petkovic.

The funding for the Regional Centre of Competence in Pula comes from the European Social Fund as part of the Operational Programme Efficient Human Resources 2014-2020, and the intention is to introduce education based on the needs of employers, who are active partners in the project.

"Human resources are the basis of every company's innovation and quality, and this is especially true in tourism, where what is sold is the service, the experience and the product, which is above all the result of the human factor," Cappelli said.

The centres of competence, the minister underscored, are a long-term solution for the modernisation of education to meet labour market needs, develop skills and exchange experience between experts.

"Over HRK 500 million has been secured from the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund for the establishment of Regional Centres of Competence. I believe the centre in Pula, one of six in Croatia, will especially be one of the centres of tourism excellence and knowledge," Cappelli said.

During the first year of the project, innovative educational programmes for camping tourism - a secondary school programme for camp leaders, or experts in camping tourism - will be introduced and implemented in the Regional Centre of Competence in Pula.

The other centres of competence for hospitality and tourism will be located in Dubrovnik, Split, Opatija, Pula, Zabok and Osijek.

(Hina)

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