Regional Formation and Development Studies

Higher education, scientific research and innovations play a significant role in supporting social cohesion, economic growth and global competitiveness. The Bologna Process documents note the importance of the involvement of students in the quality assurance of higher education.The aim of the article is to reveal the connections between learning provisions and study quality of the Klaipėda University (hereinafter: KU) Childhood Pedagogy study programme students. 131 students of Klaipėda University Childhood Pedagogy study programme were interviewed by means of a questionnaire.The research reveals that students’ attitudes towards individual determinants of the study quality are related to the learning provisions that they follow. Students have identified most important factors affecting the quality of studies: relationship between the student and the university teacher, student motivation to learn, teaching/learning methods and university teacher competences. The results of the research can help university management team, programme curators to enhance educational processes at the university by improving the quality of studies.

The article analyzes the factors that influence the quality of the study. Quality of study and its assurance are priority tasks in the European higher education area. The key provisions of the Bologna Process focus on the paradigm shift in higher education. The Berlin Communique (2003) identifies the need for quality assurance at institutional, national and European level as well as for the development of common quality assurance criteria and methodologies. The Bergen Communiqué (2005) emphasized the importance of research for the improvement of studies, and endorsed the European qualifications framework for higher education based on learning outcomes. They are defined by the Dublin Descriptors (2005), which describe knowledge and understanding specific to each cycle, the application of knowledge and understanding, as well as decision-making, communication and learning to learn skills (2014-2020 Case Study of the Suitability and Compatibility of European Union Funds Investment in Training Programs, 2018). The Leuven Communique (2009) emphasizes student-centered studies, which remain a priority in the European Higher Education Area Quality Assurance Regulations and Guidelines (2015). The article analyzes the attitude of students of pedagogical studies towards the factors that influence the quality of studies. Students from Lithuanian and Romanian regional universities (Klaipėda University and 1 Decembrie 1918 University) participated in the study, 553 persons studying in various forms, undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The study was conducted with the aim of increasing internationalization and developing partnerships with European Union universities. Close collaboration in research helps to disseminate best practice in improving the quality of studies. This international study is theoretically and empirically based on the research methodology and statistical methods have identified the most important factors that determine the quality of the study process. It is researched how students’ attitudes towards individual study process quality factors depend on their study evaluation, learning motivation, age and other parameters. The dissemination of the research results will help the academic community of the universities to carry out similar research and to improve the quality of studies on this basis.

The aim of this paper is to analyse concepts of sustainable development directed at addressing the needs of society and undertaking

Tyrimu siekta išanalizuoti organizacijos kompetencijų koncepciją Lietuvos ir užsienio šalių mokslinėje literatūroje, sukurti organizacijos unikalių kompetencijų formavimo vertinimo metodologiją bei išanalizuoti tarptautinės organizacijos unikalių kompetencijų formavimo Lietuvos atveju aspektus. Suformuluota organizacijos kompetencijų samprata bei nustatyta, kad organizacijos kompetencijos gali būti pagrindinės ir nepagrindinės, vidinės ir išorinės. Be to, egzistuoja glaudus ryšys tarp kompetencijų formavimo ir intelektinio kapitalo valdymo, kas suponuoja konkurencinio pranašumo įgijimą. Atliekant empirinį tyrimą taikytas kokybinio tyrimo metodas – iš dalies struktūruotas individualus (giluminis) interviu. Tyrimo imtis sudaryta ekstremaliojo (deviantinio) atvejo atrankos būdu. Apdorojant gautus duomenis remtasi turinio (content) analize. Atliktas tyrimas papildė organizacijos kompetencijų žinias ir leido sukurti unikalių kompetencijų, pagrįstų intelektiniu kapitalu, įvertinimo metodiką. Ištirtas atvejis atskleidė, kad organizacija rūpinasi savo vidinių kompetencijų formavimu.

The main aim of the research is to reveal the philosophical foundations of the concept of sustainable development. The scope of this research includes an analysis of the philosophical meaning of the concept of sustainable development, focusing on the revealing of the synergy of metaphysical, ethical and ecological parameters of this concept. To give a deeper understanding about different opinions and approaches to sustainable development, there will be an interpretation of some theoretical perspective both about sustainable development and also about different philosophical theories and how they are related sustainable development. The concept of sustainable development is not only concerned with the well-being of people but also of the world where human live, therefore the concept of sustainable development can be understood as holistic philosophy that includes classical philosophical prospects as well as harmonizes and integrates the activities of economic, sociopolitical and ecological system. Therefore, in this article are raised concrete tasks: to analyze the literature and reveal the philosophical context of the formation of the concept of sustainable development; to analyze classical ethical philosophical theories and argue their significance for the concept of sustainable development; to analyze a holistic philosophical approach and to argue its significance for the concept of sustainable development.

The subject of this study is to present the process of implementing the concept of e-citizen in Poland in the perspective of industry 4.0. In the global world, a significant part of public administration, including local government administration, aims to increase activity using Information and Communication Technology. This process allows introducing more efficient functioning of public administration, especially in the scope of providing services to the citizen. Changes in the functioning of public administration are forced by changes in ICT, in particular by those resulting from the current implementation of the concept of industry 4.0. The result of the research was a description not only the legal bases or development policies of public e-administration, but first and foremost to indicate its practical implementation effects. As part of the practical effects, the study will present examples of the effects of e-administration implementation in the Otwock County. In particular, the attention will be paid to the implementation of elements of computerization of administration by the local authorities, and how it affects local sustainable development.

The subject of the research is the entrepreneurial potential of young people in the development of rural green tourism in Ukraine. Studies of trends in the rural labour market in terms of modernisation of the agrarian sector and the impact of world trends in transforming the role of rural territories have been taken into account. The development of entrepreneurship in the agricultural and industrial complex, including rural tourism, is one way of solving the youth employment problem. In the study, the authors rely on an assessment of the potential of rural green tourism in Ukraine, which is significant. The main directions of youth entrepreneurship in rural green tourism are identified. The article focuses on promoting the realisation of the potential of youth in rural green tourism businesses. Specific examples show features of labour motivation and highlight opportunities for its increase in entrepreneurship in rural green tourism. It is proposed to create conditions for the activation of youth entrepreneurship in rural green tourism. The authors come to the conclusion that modern youth, as a specific socio-demographic group, are a reserve for the multiplication of the labour force in the agricultural sector, and are a strategic resource for the development of rural areas through entrepreneurship in various fields, including rural green tourism.

Namų ūkių finansiniai sprendimai priklauso nuo ekonominio ciklo fazės. Atlikti tyrimai atskleidė, kad visame pasaulyje dėl įvairių su pandemija susijusių apribojimų, pasikeitė namų ūkių apsipirkimo įpročiai, daugiau domėtasi finansų ir akcijų rinkų pokyčiais, sumažėjo paslaugų vartojimas. Ribojimai turės įtakos ir namų ūkių finansiniam stabilumui. Siekta išanalizuoti Klaipėdos miesto ir Klaipėdos rajono namų ūkių finansinių įpročių pokyčius COVID-19 karantino laikotarpiu. Straipsnyje nagrinėjami veiksniai, lėmę namų ūkių finansinių įpročių pokyčius, apibendrinami atliktos apklausos duomenys, siekiant nustatyti, kaip pasikeitė Klaipėdos miesto ir rajono namų ūkių finansiniai įpročiai paskelbus karantiną.

The article focuses on the issue of the leadership competence of the heads of progymnasiums as a factor in making schools more effective. Progymnasium is part of the Lithuanian system, an institution of general education (Forms 1 to 8), an intermediate link between an elementary school and gymnasium, which differs from basic school in higher quality of activity, the created added value, and pupils’ learning achievements. Quantitative research was conducted with the participation of 193 progymnasium teachers. The research revealed that the leadership competence of the heads of progymnasiums significantly contributed to making schools more effective in terms of participation in projects, favourable conditions for teacher initiatives, participation of community members in the self-evaluation process, creating conditions for teacher professional development, supporting and promoting initiatives, initiating the process of progress and achievement assessment, ensuring the coherence of the mission, vision, and values of the educational institution, the involvement of parents /guardians/ caregivers, promotion of communication and collaboration between community members, and the maintenance of sustainable relations with social partners. The obtained research findings are to be considered as relevant for seeking active expression of leadership of the school authorities and teachers and making progymnasiums more effective.

Straipsnyje aptariami tamsiojo ir darniojo turizmo aspektai, atskleidžiamos tamsiojo turizmo lankytojų patirtys darniojo turizmo kontekste. Pristatomas tyrimas, kurį atliekant analizuotos Šaltojo karo muziejaus, kuris įsikūręs Žemaitijos nacionaliniame parke, lankytojų patirtys. Tyrimo duomenų analizei pasirinkta teminė analizė, kuri yra lanksti, neribojama konkrečių teorijų ar sistemų. Temine analize siekta atskleisti Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko Šaltojo karo muziejaus lankytojų patirtis, analizuojant „TripAdvisor“ lankytojų atsiliepimus apie Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko ir Šaltojo karo muziejaus lankymo patirtis. Teminė analizė padėjo atskleisti dvylika temų, susietų į tris temines grupes, pavadintas „Tarp erdvės ir unikalumo“, „Tarp istorijos ir patirties“, „Tarp tamsiojo ir darniojo turizmo“. Atliktas tyrimas atskleidė, kad ateityje plėtojant Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko Šaltojo karo ekspoziciją pravartu atkreipti dėmesį į unikalias lankytojų patirtis, Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko vystymą kreipiančias glaudesnės tamsiojo ir darniojo turizmo sąveikos link.