Gordana Nikolić

Associate Professor Gordana Nikolić, PhD founded PAR University of Applied Science in 2007, and she is still the only female owner of a private higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia. She has spent years perfecting her skills around the world, including at Harvard Business School in the area of creating entrepreneurial universities.

For her work, she has received numerous recognitions: she was named Entrepreneur of the Year in Croatia in 2014 and awarded as “Exceptional Women of Excellence at the Women Economic Forum 2018. At the end of 2022 in New Delhi, she received the “Woman of the Decade” award and an honorary doctorate from one of the more prestigious Indian universities, once again confirming her international recognition in empowering women and promoting academic excellence.

Nikolić, as a Dean, plays a key role in advancing dual higher education in Croatia, with a strong emphasis on structured student internships as a core component of the learning model. Under her leadership, PAR has embedded internships into study programmes, enabling students to gain hands-on experience, develop professional skills, and build direct connections with employers already during their studies.

A particularly important dimension of this approach is the internationalisation of internships through collaboration with the Iacocca Institute. This partnership provides USA students with opportunities to participate in global internships and leadership programmes, combining practical experience with intercultural competencies and exposure to international business environments.

At the same time, PAR’s active role within the EU4Dual alliance further strengthens this model by integrating European best practices, expanding mobility opportunities, and enhancing the quality and recognition of dual and internship-based education across international partner institutions.

She has contributed to strengthening international collaboration and bringing European best practices in dual education to Croatia, reinforcing the institution’s role as a leader in innovative, practice-oriented higher education.

As a global leader and role model for women worldwide, Nikolić leads the higher education sector and industrial connections within the G100 network. The G100 is an eminent club of 100 world women leaders in 100 sectors.