The Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Rijeka has, for more than six decades, been a meeting place for knowledge, ideas, and people who shape the economic and social development of Croatia. Established in 1961 in a city whose identity has for centuries been shaped by trade, maritime activity, entrepreneurship, and international exchange, the Faculty has from its very beginnings played an important role in educating professionals who respond to the needs of the economy while actively contributing to its development.
However, our story is even longer. The tradition of economic education in Rijeka dates back to 1909, when the foundations were laid for systematic education in what was then the economic centre of the northern Adriatic. Over more than a century, social and economic systems, technologies, and markets have changed, but the guiding idea has remained the same: to create knowledge that has real value for individuals, society, and the economy.
The development of the Faculty is closely linked to the development of Rijeka and its wider region. Located at the crossroads of Central European and Mediterranean routes, in a city that has always been open to the world, the Faculty has grown alongside the regional economy and has become one of the most important centres of economic education and research in Croatia. Through its activities, it has made a significant contribution to the development of higher education in Rijeka and has participated in creating the academic environment that is today an integral part of the University of Rijeka.
Over the years, the Faculty has educated tens of thousands of students who now work in leading Croatian and international companies, financial institutions, the public sector, entrepreneurship, and academia. Their professional paths confirm one of the Faculty’s most enduring values: the ability to connect theoretical knowledge with practice and the real needs of the labour market.
Today, the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Rijeka is a modern and internationally oriented academic community that provides high-quality education, fosters research excellence, and develops partnerships with the economy, public institutions, and universities worldwide. Through contemporary study programmes, international projects, student and staff mobility, and cooperation with the business sector, we create an environment in which knowledge is not only transferred in classrooms but is also created through dialogue, research, and joint development of new solutions.
A special value of the Faculty lies in its people. Teachers, researchers, students, alumni, and partners together build a community based on excellence, openness, responsibility, and mutual trust. Thanks to this community, the Faculty is today not only an educational institution but also a place where new ideas are born, professional potential is developed, and the foundations for the future are created.
Proud of our rich tradition and heritage, we are equally focused on the future. In a time of rapid technological change, digital transformation, and global challenges, we continue to develop education and research that respond to the needs of modern society. We believe that knowledge, innovation, and cooperation are the most important drivers of development, and we continue to build the Faculty as a place where leaders are educated, new knowledge is created, and solutions for the world ahead are shaped.