From 23 to 29 September 2025, representatives of the Faculty of Economics and Business in Rijeka, i.e., Dean Prof. Dr. Saša Drezgić and Vice-Dean for Internationalization and Sustainable Development, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saša Čegar visited Ningbo University of Technology. Their visit to China is a natural continuation of discussions initiated in November 2024, when the NBUT delegation visited the University of Rijeka to discuss concrete possibilities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, with an emphasis on student/staff exchange, research activities, and joint postgraduate (doctoral) study programmes.
During their stay in China, Dean Drezgić and Vice-Dean Čegar became acquainted with the research infrastructure and activities of NBUT, and they also had the opportunity to exchange views and ideas with representatives from the economic sector.
The two institutions, UNIRI Faculty of Economics and Business and NBUT School of Economics and Management, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, thus establishing the Pan-Adriatic Regional Centre, whose main tasks include:
- strengthening scientific and research cooperation,
- fostering staff/student mobility, and
- developing joint international projects and study programmes.
The Centre will primarily conduct research related to artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable development, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches and connecting academia with the economy. The joint initiative further strengthens the friendly relations between Rijeka and Ningbo and creates the foundations for long-term partnerships in the fields of innovation, knowledge, and international cooperation.
