Uber and students from VERN University of Applied Sciences will cooperate on the development of the new UberBOAT service.
The new UberBOAT service which was announced last month is intended for improving the integration of the Croatian islands while increasing the quality of transportation services for tourists in Dalmatia.
UberBOAT will be offered to all Uber users in Croatia this summer, allowing them to order transport by speedboat through the mobile application. The transportation will be performed by existing operators that are already registered and possess all necessary licenses, permits, and insurance. Thus, VERN students will actively participate in the development of this entirely new service which is complementary to the needs of Croatian tourism – setting a great, positive example of cooperation between the private sector and educational institutions.
Besides the direct impact on the tourist season, better connections to the islands are a key prerequisite for improving the quality of life on the islands, especially when it comes to the labor market, education and health care.
“VERN performs studies whose main characteristic is the practical applicability of what has been learned in practice. Our courses are focused on completing tasks from the real business world so that students – in collaboration with the companies, partners, and their lecturers – can develop business solutions which become part of the curriculum and assessment. This cooperation with Uber is an excellent match for the course content in ‘Innovative Entrepreneurship in Tourism’ because it has a wider significance in terms of better connecting the Croatian islands, which along with the business component has social benefits and gives a new quality of life to our islands,” says Prof. Ph. D.. Vlatko Cvrtila, Dean of VERN.
Students specializing in graduate studies in ‘Management of sustainable tourism development’ within the College of Innovative Entrepreneurship in Tourism will cooperate on the development of this service. This collaboration has been agreed in the framework of the VERN project “Companies – Partners,” which combines courses with specific tasks and projects in a real business environment.
“”What is the best way to organize business entrepreneurs in order to prepare for this innovative service?’ ‘How should we optimize the workforce, supply vessels and services to maximize revenue?’ These are just some of the questions the VERN students will be able to respond to through this real business challenge. We believe that the knowledge gained will be very relevant in today’s business world, and the best students will have the opportunity to practice with Uber and later apply for a job there,” concluded Davor Tremac, CEO of Uber for Southeast Europe.
