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Excellence comes from distance: the case of a Croatian higher education institution

Author

Listed:
  • Vinko Zaninovic

    (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Zoran Jezic

    (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Alen Host

    (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia)

Abstract

In this paper, we empirically test the impact of motivation on educational outcomes by using distance to home region as a proxy variable. The data come from the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka. We develop two econometric models with GPA and number of courses passed as dependent variables, while controlling for physical distance from the home region to Rijeka and students’ educational abilities. Our results show that distance negatively affects the number of courses passed, but has no effect on GPA. We argue that these results show that distance from the home region is a strong motivating factor for earlier rather than later graduation and that educational policies at the faculty level are needed to increase the motivation of local students to stay level with their “foreign†peers. This would help to minimize opportunity costs for local students and lower the student to academic staff ratio.

Suggested Citation

  • Vinko Zaninovic & Zoran Jezic & Alen Host, 2025. "Excellence comes from distance: the case of a Croatian higher education institution," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 49(3), pages 457-468.
    • Handle: RePEc:ipf:psejou:v:49:y:2025:i:3:p:457-468
    DOI: 10.3326/pse.49.3.5
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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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