European Journal of Sustainable Development

Legal Regulation of Building Energy Efficiency and Housing Rights: Balancing Sustainability and Social Justice

2025-09-02T17:37:33+02:00

A key issue is the proportionality of energy efficiency obligations in relation to property rights. While mandatory renovations serve the public interest by addressing climate change, they impose significant financial burdens on property owners, particularly vulnerable social groups. These requirements may restrict owners' decision-making freedom, raising concerns about compliance costs and potential property devaluation.

Moreover, energy efficiency mandates impact housing affordability, potentially exacerbating social inequality. Although energy-efficient homes reduce long-term utility costs, initial renovation expenses can drive up property prices, limiting access to housing for low-income populations. This paper examines the legal implications of the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, assessing their proportionality, impact on property rights, and social security risks. It also explores policy recommendations to balance environmental objectives with legal certainty and social justice, ensuring that sustainability measures do not disproportionately burden homeowners or deepen housing inequalities.

Keywords: Housing Rights; Legal Regulation of Energy Efficiency; Proportionality; Social Justice; Sustainability

Toward Sustainable Innovation: A Participatory Study on Designers’ Tool Needs for Circular Product Design

2025-09-02T19:32:36+02:00

The circular economy (CE) provides a framework for sustainable production and consumption, with circular design playing a critical role in shifting from linear systems to models that promote continuous reuse of materials and products. However, many existing design tools focus on high-level strategies that assume entirely new business models, making them less applicable to production-oriented industries. This study explores the practical needs of designers in developing tools that support early-stage circular product ideation, where the majority of a product’s sustainability impacts are determined.

We conducted two co-design workshops using a participatory design approach to surface user needs and assess current tools. Participants were graduate students in industrial design with foundational CE knowledge and experience in circular design projects. In the first workshop, participants tackled rapid design challenges and evaluated the usability and limitations of existing tools. In the second, researchers introduced key CE frameworks — such as the butterfly diagram, 9R framework, and Design for X (DfX) strategies — which participants used to prototype a circular product design card tool.

The study reveals specific, practice-based needs that can guide the development of user-centred circular design tools. These insights offer a foundation for creating more actionable, production-aligned resources to support CE transitions.

Keywords: Circular Economy, Circular Product Design, New Product Development, Product Circularity, Design for X(DfX), Design Strategy

Empowering SMEs through Generative AI: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategic Implications for Sustainable Innovation

2025-09-02T20:28:05+02:00

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the competitive environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by improving market adaptability, innovation, and productivity. The transformative impact of generative AI on SMEs is the primary focus of this paper, with a particular emphasis on its function in content creation, customer engagement, automation, and decision-making. The adoption of AI has been historically dominated by large corporations. However, the accessibility of generative AI tools has allowed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to compete in global markets, optimize resource allocation, and surmount technological gaps. Nevertheless, the widespread adoption of this technology is significantly impeded by obstacles such as data privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and integration costs. This study investigates the ways in which generative AI is utilized by SMEs to drive business growth, identifies sector-specific advantages, and discusses the policy implications through empirical analysis and case studies. The results emphasize that, although generative AI democratizes access to advanced technology, its long-term benefits for SMEs are contingent upon strategic implementation, regulatory frameworks, and digital literacy. This paper concludes with suggestions for policymakers, business leaders, and technology developers to guarantee that generative AI promotes sustainable innovation in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector.

Keywords: Generative Artificial Intelligence, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, business innovation, digital transformation

Circular Business Models for Composting Waste Seaweed: Potential, Barriers, and Enablers

2025-09-02T20:32:18+02:00

This study examines circular business models for transforming beach-cast seaweed waste into high-value agricultural products within municipal contexts. We systematically reviewed 53 peer-reviewed publications (2017-2024) to analyze how coastal municipalities can convert problematic seaweed accumulations into revenue-generating compost and soil amendments. Our findings reveal that while implementation faces barriers including supply unpredictability, heavy metal contamination concerns, and regulatory constraints, these challenges are counterbalanced by rising fertilizer costs and growing policy support for circular bioeconomy initiatives. We propose four scalable business models, particularly on municipal service integration, which transform waste management costs into potential revenue streams while addressing how municipalities can operationalize circular bioeconomy principles through concrete, implementable strategies. Success requires coordinated intervention across technology, supply chain design, and regulatory frameworks.

Keywords: Circular Bioeconomy; Seaweed Valorization; Municipal Business Models; Waste-to-Resource

Colonialism’s Legacy and Impact on Forest Ecosystems: Case Studies in Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo

2025-09-02T20:38:29+02:00

The deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and the illegal copper and cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are two of the direst environmental crises of the 21st century. Through a historical analysis, this paper determines how the colonial histories of both countries affect the modern-day policy and economic choices that exacerbate these crises. This paper finds that institutions put in place by European powers during colonialism remain and continue to determine the role of both countries in the international political economy. Brazil’s government continues the conquest of the Amazon and extermination of indigenous communities that began under Portugal in pursuit of economic exploits, and the DRC continues to rely on foreign-owned mines within the country and the export of minerals to support itself. This aligns with the theory of path dependency by indicating that colonial powers determine a country’s long-term roles in the global economy long after independence.

Keywords: environmental sustainability, socioeconomics, developing countries, global environmental policy, deforestation, colonialism, neocolonialism

Pottery in Perspective: Life Cycle Thinking and Environmental Priorities in Craft Practice

2025-09-02T20:42:57+02:00

A comparative Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) approach is used to assess the environmental significance of pottery-making within the broader context of everyday lifestyles. While craft ceramics are often seen as local, small-scale, and sustainable, they are also energy- and material-intensive. Drawing on a literature review of LCA studies of ceramic manufacturing, lifestyles and products - and informed by the author’s Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of handmade pottery and ethnographic research in UK workshops - the study discusses Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) and other environmental impacts of craft ceramics.

Although many practitioners are already improving efficiency in their studios, this paper argues that placing pottery within a wider lifestyle context reveals overlooked opportunities. The findings compare the impacts of pottery-making with aspects of daily life such as transport and dietary habits, offering a more proportionate view of environmental responsibility. The paper discusses priority interventions for the craft, supporting its role in the broader transition to more sustainable and decarbonized ways of living.

Keywords: Life Cycle Thinking, craft ceramics, studio pottery, Life Cycle Analysis, carbon footprint

Trends in Educational Attainment and Field of Study Among Adults in the European Union

2025-09-02T20:46:22+02:00

Given the evolution of the labor market, adult participation in vocational education and training programs is becoming increasingly important. For the period 2013-2023, the article presents the comparative situation of this indicator. The values for both employed and unemployed people are analyzed. Thus, the level and type of skills held by people are influenced. Technological changes lead to the need for many people to update their skills. Jobs that require low levels of education are increasingly rare. For communities where the level of education of people has increased, an increase in productivity has also been observed. Completing a higher level of education offers a superior possibility of finding a safer and better-paid job. A higher share of people with a tertiary education level creates premises for the development of a community. The article presents the analysis of the evolution of the share of the adult population with tertiary education attainment. The degree of employment on the labor market can also be influenced by the fields of education. Thus, the fields of education of bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates are analyzed.

Keywords: graduates, bachelor, master, doctoral, participation rate in education and training, European Union

Flexible and Sustainable Bread Production in SMEs: A Metaheuristic Scheduling Approach

2025-09-02T22:21:14+02:00

Small and medium-sized bakery enterprises (SMEs) often face inefficiencies due to manual scheduling and limited automation. These challenges are most evident in coordinating multiple interdependent production stages such as fermentation, proofing, and baking. A common problem is suboptimal oven usage—long idle periods between batches lead to excessive energy consumption and environmental burden. This paper introduces an intelligent scheduling approach that combines agent-based modeling with metaheuristic optimization. Bakery production is modeled as a no-wait flexible flow process, and the system applies bio-inspired algorithms, specifically the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) and Firefly Algorithm (FA), to generate optimized daily schedules. The approach adapts to real-world operational constraints, enabling dynamic scheduling across diverse bread types with differing production times, such as sourdough and brioche.

Simulation experiments based on realistic bakery production scenarios show that the proposed scheduling approach can shorten total production time and reduce oven idle periods. The system supports both productivity and environmental sustainability by enabling SMEs to better manage time in energy-intensive stages of production, such as baking. This research contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), by proposing an accessible digital approach to support SME transformation toward smarter and greener food manufacturing.

Keywords: Metaheuristic Optimization, Agent-Based Scheduling, Bakery Production, Sustainable Manufacturing, SME Production Efficiency

The Ones Left Behind: Policy Coherence and Sustainable Development in Ethiopia

2025-09-02T22:27:09+02:00

The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda strives to ‘leave no one behind’. The Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development framework employed by the Netherlands, aims to leverage mutually beneficial relationships in its development cooperation efforts and aspirations towards SDG attainment. The assessment of its merits is situated in the context of Ethiopia’s pastoral communities, investigating the interplay of SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) as well as the role of resilience in addressing consequential hardships. This research integrates critical and inclusive development theory in understanding the dynamism of the development arena between the Netherlands and Ethiopia, their underlying national policy priorities, and the (non-)inclusive efforts towards pastoral engagement. The qualitative research design employs in-depth interviews and informal meetings with experts and policy makers complemented by a two-step policy analysis. The findings indicate a prominent focus on short-term threat assessments, declining medium-term risk management mechanisms, and unfavourable long-term resilience building efforts dictating the lived experiences of Ethiopia’s pastoralists. Furthermore, the inherently politicized nature of the policy process reveals the dominating ideas, interests and institutions of the Netherlands, Ethiopia, and other international actors in shaping the pastoral policy arena and its outcomes. The substantial and procedural incoherence of policy translates into the continuing marginalization and exclusion of pastoral communities from national and global development agendas. Hence, policy recommendations call for participatory horizontal and vertical dialogues on an international scale and the enhancement of consultative practices in working towards policy coherence and striving to achieve the universal pillar of ‘leaving no one behind’.

Keywords: Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development; Climate-Conflict Nexus; Pastoralist Communities; Ethiopia; The Netherlands; Resilience Building; Leaving No One Behind

Challenges and facilitators in the collection and treatment of aquatic biomass waste for the production of high-value products

2025-09-02T22:32:54+02:00

The objective of this paper is to present challenges and propose solutions for the collection and treatment of aquatic biomass waste, specifically beach wreck, such as seagrass and seaweed, in the promotion of a circular bioeconomy.

This paper explores various methodologies for the collection and treatment of beach wrack to optimize the recovery of valuable compounds contained within these biomass wastes.

In order to do so, we identify and assess the efficacy of different collection techniques, including manual collection and mechanical raking, across diverse coastal environments and subsequently, the requirements of the state of biomass in post-collection treatment processes, such as cleaning, drying and quality tests are mapped to analyze the need to enhance the yield and quality of the recovered materials. Utilizing beach wreck as an alternative to virgin feedstock contributes significantly to advancing a circular bioeconomy, and the effectiveness and efficiency of collection techniques are crucial for making waste biomass suitable for the value recovery of the components contained in it.

Keywords: aquatic biomass waste, beach wreck collection, waste valorization, circular bioeconomy, sustainable waste management.

Analysis of Work-Life Balance in European Union Countries: The Impact of Technological Progress and Digitalization

2025-09-02T22:40:37+02:00

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, approved by the United Nations, includes two important goals related to work-life balance: ensuring healthy lives for everyone and promoting sustainable economic growth. A key part of sustainable economic growth is providing full, productive jobs with good working conditions. Recent research shows that work-life balance has several critical issues. Long working hours and heavy workloads are major concerns that harm both physical and mental health. Poor work-life balance can lead to stress, burnout and lower productivity. It's important to maintain a good work-life balance not just for employees’ health, but also for the success of organizations. Companies that support work-life balance have more engaged employees, greater loyalty and lower turnover rates. The rapid growth of technology in the workplace, at home and in public life affects how employees balance work-life time. Cultural differences, economic conditions and social policies impact work-life. This study aims to improve the understanding of work-life balance in EU countries as technology advances. It will identify key factors influencing this balance and explore future trends. The research uses EUROSTAT data to look at work-life balance across 27 EU countries from 2005 to 2023, utilizing regression analysis models for panel data.

Keywords: work-life balance, technological progress, digitalization, healthy life

The impact of institutions on income inequality in the EU Member States

2025-09-02T22:48:00+02:00

This paper aims to analyse the influence of institutional quality on income inequality across the 27 EU Member States during the period 2011-2022. To achieve this, we employed the Panel Estimated Generalized Least Squares (EGLS) method. Our findings demonstrate that enhancing institutional quality-measured through key institutional factors published by the World Bank under the Good Governance Indicators, such as political stability, regulatory quality, and government efficiency - plays a significant role in reducing income inequality. Furthermore, the study confirms a strong positive correlation between the unemployment rate and income inequality, with additional social factors, such as early school leavers and housing cost overburden, that further exacerbate inequality. Conversely, an increase in government spending on social protection appears to mitigate these disparities. Additionally, we identify a strong inverse relationship between income inequality and human development. The robustness of our model has been validated, reinforcing confidence in the reliability of the estimated parameters and the study’s overall conclusions.

Keywords: Institutions, Human Development, Income Inequality, Government efficiency, Political stability, Regulatory quality

Statistical Analysis of Youth Sports Implementation and Its Role in Sustainable Development

2025-09-02T23:01:06+02:00

In this context, analyzing the implementation of sports among young people becomes a pressing necessity. Various governmental and non-governmental initiatives and programs have been launched to encourage involvement in sports activities, but their effectiveness requires rigorous evaluation. The objectives of this paper are to identify the current level of participation in sports activities among young people, to analyze the factors that influence this involvement and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs. The study will use various statistical methods to analyze data collected from surveys and other relevant sources. The methodology will include both descriptive analyses and significance tests. The shape of the paper will encompass an evaluation of the specialized literature, description of the technique used, presentation and evaluation of the data, and very last conclusions. Through this research, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of how sport is implemented among young people and to provide recommendations based on statistical data for improving future policies and programs.

Keywords: development, future, sports, youth

Measuring Performance for Sustainable Governance in Local Public Institutions

2025-09-03T14:35:09+02:00

The intention of this text is to spotlight a few elements concerning the primary functions of organizational overall performance assessment structures (PMS) inside neighborhood public government in Romania (mayoralties) and the existing exploratory imaginative and prescient on those structures. According to a sociological survey carried out in 6 neighborhood organizations (municipalities) in North-West Romania (North-West Development Region of Romania), the consequences of the item suggest a low use of PMS in those institutions, which displays a restricted hobby from the primary actors. The consequences of the have a look at emphasize that overall performance assessment structures aren't but perceived as a powerful managerial device in neighborhood public administrations in Romania, no matter the reality that overall performance size is a substantial possibility for aid allocation, price range improvement or worker motivation. In this context, PMSs are used solely through human beings in control positions withinside the mayoralty, and the motive in their use is restricted to growing the decision-making process, statistical reporting or growing the exceptional of the offerings provided.

Keywords: development, performance, public institution, system

Towards an Inclusive Digital Cultural Heritage: Frameworks for Representation and Sustainability

2025-09-03T14:39:03+02:00

The digitisation of cultural heritage (CH) offers significant opportunities for preservation, maintenance, and promotion. However, it also presents challenges in terms of representation and the exhibition of content, particularly for the cultural heritage of minorities. This situation can lead to reduced participation and inclusion of minority groups, creating inequitable representations of diverse values in digitisation efforts and increasing the risk of misuse of digital CH. Existing academic frameworks often inadequately address digitization needs and diverse stakeholder perspectives. There is a need for adaptive frameworks that integrate various values and narratives relevant to digital and multicultural heritage management. The paper emphasizes the need for a more inclusive and collaborative approach to cultural heritage digitization. The proposed Quadruple Helix Ecosystem Framework provides a comprehensive model to guide the development of innovative and sustainable digital heritage initiatives where diverse stakeholders work together to preserve, interpret, and present cultural heritage in the digital age.

Keywords: cultural heritage, digitalization, stakeholders, minorities

A Historical and Contemporary Perspective: Thermal Comfort in Prefabricated Timber Houses

2025-09-03T14:45:12+02:00

Timber construction is gaining popularity worldwide due to its advantages over traditional masonry systems, including energy-efficiency, sustainability, and fast prefabrication. The technology of prefabricated timber buildings has evolved significantly, affecting the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of such buildings, which are generally perceived as offering high living comfort. While contemporary design practices aim to ensure high performance in new buildings, existing timber structures often fail to meet modern standards. In addition to common issues such as ageing, poor energy-efficiency, and functional inadequacies, problems like seismic vulnerability, fire risk, and the so-called “sick building syndrome” are increasingly relevant. As part of the project Indoor Environmental Quality in Prefabricated Timber Houses: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective, funded through the Public Call Problem-Based Learning for Students in a Work Environment 2024–2027, we investigated IEQ in two houses built by the Slovenian manufacturer Marles hiše Maribor d.o.o. The project was carried out in close collaboration with the company. Using long-term measurements, we assessed and compared thermal comfort and other parameters in an older and a newer prefabricated timber house. The findings offer guidance for both the renovation of existing buildings and the design of new ones, emphasising the importance of aligning energy performance with indoor comfort.

Keywords: Prefabricated Timber Houses, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), Thermal Comfort, Existing Buildings, Sick Building Syndrome

Artificial Intelligence Influencers: Navigating Digital Identity and Sustainability in the Era of AI

2025-09-03T14:55:39+02:00

The appearance and development of Artificial Intelligence will reshape the world, and will have an impact on PESTELI: Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological, Ecological, Legislative and Industry, sectors in ways never witnessed before. Organizations, no matter if they are for-profit companies, or non-profit organizations, politicians, parties, VIPs, influencers, or even ordinary people, will try to enhance their presence online. This is done to gain more profit and increase brand awareness, notoriety, and even acceptance by the general public. The development of AI provides a tremendous boost to those who use social media networks and want to get in contact with their stakeholders. In this study, we conducted research to determine the audience's level of acceptance toward influencers who either use artificial intelligence for certain features, or rely entirely on AI-generated content. Many of the respondents mentioned that they prefer genuine influencers, while AI-driven avatar influencers should have a distinctive symbol. We have created a classification of influencers who use AI tools, based on the way and percentage of their use of such features. Digital Marketing Influencers can transform brand communication and engagement, not only for a product or service, but for an idea, acceptance, and even for a politician or a party.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, real influencers, non-human influencers, social media networks, classification of influencers by AI usage

Sales Expansion Strategies for S.C. Minimal A.P: A Sustainable Business Growth Approach

2025-09-03T15:01:04+02:00

One of the most critical aspects of this paper is identifying the key factors that determine the success of a sales expansion strategy. These factors include analyzing the market and competition, developing an effective marketing plan, and identifying customer needs. The paper will also examine the various sales channels available to the company, including direct sales, online sales, and partner sales. The advantages and disadvantages of each channel will be evaluated, along with strategies for integrating them into the overall sales expansion plan.

Another essential component of this study is assessing how technology can support a company’s sales growth efforts. The analysis will consider technological solutions that enhance the efficiency and productivity of the sales process, as well as their potential to improve the overall purchasing experience for customers.

Finally, this paper will present an overview of the different approaches to increasing a company’s sales, offering a detailed analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each method and how these can be effectively implemented in the specific context of S.C. MINIMAL A.P.

Keywords: development, resources, sales,, supply

Enhancing Service Quality for Sustainable Business Practices: A Case Study of DEDEMAN

2025-09-03T15:09:33+02:00

Measuring and enhancing service quality can significantly increase an organization’s earnings and strengthen its reputation. Regardless of the industry, service quality has a direct impact on an organization’s ability to meet customer needs while remaining competitive. We selected this topic due to its importance; thus, learning how to measure and improve service quality is a valuable skill that requires both research and expertise.

Service quality refers to how well an organization delivers its services compared to customer expectations. Customers purchase services in response to specific needs, and they hold—either consciously or unconsciously—certain requirements and expectations regarding how the organization’s service delivery meets those needs. An organization with high service quality provides services that meet or exceed customer expectations. It is also a measure of how well an organization understands customer needs and fulfills them.

Understanding how to improve service quality is a critical step in fostering the growth and long-term success of any organization.

Keywords: DEDEMAN, development, services, quality

The Impact of Machine Learning on Labor Markets in EU Countries in the Context of Accelerating the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence

2025-09-03T15:30:57+02:00

The progress of the development of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to its extensive implementation in various branches of activity. Artificial intelligence is also actively taking place on labor markets. We set out to analyze how machine learning (ML) technologies influence the structure and dynamics of economic systems, especially the labor market in EU countries. In the article we focused on the development of the implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning, on changes in the labor market and the transformations of jobs. Artificial intelligence will lead to the disappearance of some jobs, but to the creation of new opportunities in emerging areas. Changes are occurring in the development of new skills, the adjustment of the educational system to meet the demands of labor markets influenced by AI. Problems of inequalities with social, economic, financial and educational impact will arise on the labor market. We discuss the development of strategies, proactive policies in supporting the transition of adaptation to technologies, retraining initiatives, supporting social groups and affected sectors. The challenges are significant, but the innovation brought by machine learning will contribute to economic growth, improving the quality of life, with proper management.

Keywords: machine learning, artificial intelligence, labor markets, transformations of jobs, educational system

When Being Men Matters: Exploring Health Literacy Determinants in a rural community, Malaysia

2025-09-23T12:34:04+02:00

Promotion programs are widely conducted in rural communities to improve health outcomes. Hence, understanding the health literacy (HL) of a community is crucial in planning purposeful health promotion programs. However, HL data on the rural setting in Malaysia is scarcely known. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of HL among adults living in the district of Sabak Bernam, Malaysia. 382 villagers participated in this cross-sectional study by answering questionnaires. Most of the villagers had adequate HL, with 14.1% having limited HL. This study established that the elderly, males, and those with non-communicable disease (NCD) comorbidities were significantly associated with limited HL. Whereas having formal education and being non-Malay residents were protective determinants. Being male was a predictor of having limited HL in this research. These findings highlight the importance of tailored health promotion programs focusing on vulnerable groups, including elderly men with NCD. Public health activities in rural communities should consider demographic, cultural and educational status when developing health education materials and interventions. Improved health interventions, curated to address these identified determinants, are the stepping stone towards bridging health literacy disparities in alignment with other efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3-5 and 10.

Keywords: Health literacy, rural, elderly, men, health promotion, community, non-communicable diseases.

AI-Based Plan-Strategy for Implementing the Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility in Small Family Businesses' Activities

2025-09-23T13:02:06+02:00

The growing importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its evolution from a voluntary concept to a regulatory and strategic requirement pose new challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have yet to face it. Family businesses, which constitute the majority of enterprises worldwide and exhibit unique characteristics, including resource efficiency and long-term orientation, will also need to take proactive steps towards the systematic implementation and reporting of CSR. In parallel, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionise business processes and significantly increase transparency and accountability in reporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) data.
This paper proposes an AI-based plan-strategy designed to facilitate and enhance the implementation of CSR principles in small family businesses (SFBs). The strategy is primarily theoretical, with its applicability exploratively tested in a pilot study in a small family winery. Despite the limitations arising from the theoretical nature, limited sample and case study, the development has theoretical applicability by offering a conceptual framework and basis for future research on the synergy between AI, CSR and family business characteristics.
From a practical perspective, the strategy provides a guideline. It identifies specific areas where AI can support CSR efforts in SMEs, serving as a starting point for pilot projects and business support.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility, artificial intelligence, strategy, family businesses

Harmful Algal Blooms and Wind-related Variables Association

2025-09-23T13:14:49+02:00

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are rapidly expanding in marine environments, posing serious risks to ecosystems, public health, and water quality. There is a growing need for more accurate forecasting techniques and intelligent systems that can generate accurate forecasts about the presence of HABs and, as a result, evaluate the effects of them on water quality. Direct forecasts of HABs presence are extremely difficult to be implemented due to the nature of the problem. Many studies use chlorophyll concentrations to detect HABs but such an alteration in chlorophyll concentration consists an immediate effect and not the root of the problem. Trying to early detect a forthcoming HAB, by investigating the impact of wind-related variables in the appearance of a HAB event in the marine system of Thermaikos gulf (NW Aegean Sea) with in-situ data, is the purpose of this research. Primary results have shown a causation among them, especially to east and north-west winds, leading to research paths towards to the spatial distribution of the phenomenon. An outcome that demonstrates the potential transporting of the HAB and also could assist in the creation of early warning systems.

Keywords: HABs, wind, causal inference, prediction, early warning

Customer Service Quality in the Utilities Sector: Sustainability Perspective

2025-09-23T13:25:58+02:00

The article presents a study on customer service quality in Lithuanian utility companies. To survive in the long term, changes related to economic, social, and environmental requirements are necessary; the implementation of sustainability is essential. Growing expectations of stakeholders are the need for companies to move towards sustainability and become sustainable. The analysis of human resource competencies required for sustainable service provision is a field of modern scientific research. The study focuses on enhancing customer service, which is defined as a philosophy that incorporates sustainability dimensions. The analysis of research data distinguishes the key principles of sustainable customer service: cooperation, involvement, loyalty, quality of service provision, and competence. The aim is to investigate how organizations providing utility services serve their customers, assess the quality of customer interactions, and identify trends in the implementation of sustainability principles. The research objectives are as follows: to analyze the principles of sustainability and the criteria for evaluating customer service; to evaluate changes in the quality of customer service provided by utility organizations from 2015 to 2024 and explore prospects.

Keywords: Service of customers, sustainability, service quality, quality management, human resources management.

Energy market, quality of life, and Sustainable Development: The EU consumers’ perspective

2025-09-23T14:07:03+02:00

Energy has become one of the core aspects of the daily life of EU consumers, given the current marketing macroenvironment. The accelerated transition to green energy production and consumption has immediately impacted the quality of their daily lives with direct consequences in terms of the costs and comfort of their living. Increased energy expenditures and decreased home temperatures led to a mix of reactions in the form of migrating between suppliers, switching to green energy sources, or simply saving money by switching off lights and turning off heating. Three years have been enough to observe the emergence of an energy-matter expressed by an imbalance between the macro and microeconomic perspectives regarding the subject, with economic, social, and environmental consequences for all the stakeholders.
The paper presents the results of an investigation conducted using secondary data and from a market-oriented perspective on consumers’ behavior regarding energy consumption, aiming to identify a path towards an organic transition balancing traditional and green energy sources to ensure the quality of life and support the sustainable development of the EU countries.

Keywords: energy market, green transition, EU consumers, quality of life, sustainable development

Reflection on Environmental Sustainability Practices in University General Education Courses and Exploration of STEAM-6E Development Education

2025-09-23T14:13:05+02:00

The sustainable vision based on low-carbon communities has illuminated the dream of rural estates in Taiwan's cities, and this beautiful blueprint has been implemented in May-uan Village, Douliu City. The themes of "environmental sustainability" and "community practice" are integrated into the university's general education curriculum. Qualitative research methods are used to collect data through literature analysis, observation, interviews, and teaching case data analysis. Through the cooperation and leadership of local volunteers and the emotional connection with students during service, we guide students to reflect on themselves, solve problems together as a team, and explore why environmental education requires holistic thinking and action. Secondly, the relevance of STEAM-6E development education and college students' participation in sustainable action is discussed. Finally, environmental education design suggestions from the perspective of college students are proposed to respond to the needs of many general education teachers to advocate environmental sustainability education and social and cultural environmental education in the future.

Keywords: University general education courses; Holistic thinking; Community practice; STEAM-6E education; Sustainable vision

Public-Private-Civil Partnership Approach for Improving Disaster Risk Management and Resilience: Application in the Balearic Islands

2025-09-23T14:24:27+02:00

In response to the urgent global and European call for climate action, the C2IMPRESS Horizon Europe project addresses critical data and awareness gaps related to compound extreme weather and climate events.
It promotes a shift from hazard-focused approaches to people and place centred strategies for assessing multi-hazard risks, particularly in contexts of weak governance and community vulnerability.
Participatory approaches are one possible response and can help strengthen territorial resilience and improve local governance for better risk management in the face of climate change. The Public-Private-Civil Partnership (PPCP) approach, developed by ARTELIA under the C2IMPRESS project in 2023, is part of this dynamic and offers an inclusive model that engages the public and private sectors as well as civil society to address social, economic, and environmental challenges in a coordinated manner.
The PPCP approach was tested through the implementation of Labs at Puigpunyent Municipality (Balearic Islands) for the C2IMPRESS project, contributing to the development of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan, including risk mapping, vulnerability assessment, and disaster response measures. The results can guide future operational situations and protocols within the Plan, incorporating local specificities and moving away from standard plans, thus improving and making disaster risk management and resilience more effective.
The paper contributes to existing research by focusing on multi-organisational perspectives. On a practical level, it supports hospitals in designing their change strategies and processes jointly and in collaboration with other parties that are part of secondary processes.

Keywords: Disaster risk management, Climate change impact, Public-Private-Civil Partnership, Governance, Emergency management Plan, Resilience, Vulnerability, Stakeholders engagement

Application of the Precede-Proceed Model: A Glimpse into Student-Led Community Health Program in Malaysia.

2025-09-23T14:46:33+02:00

Empowering the community through health promotion programs is an integral part of undergraduate medical students’ training in Malaysia. Medical students’ engagement with the community aligns with efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Education) and SDG 3 (Health). The Precede-Proceed Model is a comprehensive framework for planning and evaluating health programs. This article showcases the application of this framework in a program conducted by medical students from Universiti Teknologi MARA in Sabak Bernam, Malaysia. Within four weeks, students, guided by lecturers, designed a health promotion program that includes community profiling, health survey, health education materials, media outreach and health talks culminating in a health carnival day. Through community profiling and health surveys under the ‘Precede’ component, students identified health needs unique to the community, tailoring to elderly residents with non-communicable diseases. The theme “Holistic Health: Healthy Family, Peaceful Community “conveys that individual health contributes to the vitality of the entire community. The ‘Proceed’ component enables students to conduct evaluations at the process, impact and outcome level. The evaluation process is often overlooked; hence, with the use of this framework, students can be aided in conducting comprehensive future public health programs in support of SDGs 2 and 3.

Keywords: student-led, community empowerment, health promotion programs, Precede-Proceed Model.

Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Frontline Social Care Workers in Romania: Preliminary Findings

2025-09-23T15:47:21+02:00

The pandemic exposed systemic vulnerabilities and intensified indirect trauma among social care workers, a group often marginalised in disaster planning. This article reports the preparatory stage of a doctoral study on Bucharest frontline workers, using a sequential mixed-methods design. For instrument adaptation and validation, it leverages the Erasmus+ CARES national dataset (n=296) to calibrate a culturally adapted Romanian ProQOL v5 with sensitivity to masked burnout. Preliminary findings indicate elevated secondary traumatic stress and high compassion satisfaction, with burnout near the normative mean yet suggestive of masking where organisational support is weak. The forthcoming qualitative phase (pending ethics approval) will explore coping, peer/institutional support, and organisational resilience. Framed within a hazard–vulnerability perspective, the study addresses an evidence gap and informs crisis-sensitive policy on trauma-aware training, reflective supervision, and digital competence.

Keywords: social care, COVID-19, psychosocial resilience, burnout, disaster response, ProQOL, Romania, secondary trauma

Integration of Sustainable Development into International Marketing: Developing a Mechanism for Enhancing Enterprise Economic Potential in Wartime Conditions

2025-09-23T15:53:43+02:00

Secondary processes in hospitals, such as procurement and outsourced services, significantly contribute to their carbon footprint. However, driving sustainability in these areas is challenging due to limited hospital control and the involvement of external actors. This study investigates factors influencing sustainable change in secondary hospital processes in Germany, using a framework that categorizes change drivers at micro-, meso-, and macro-levels. Through qualitative interviews with eleven experts from hospitals and service providers, the research highlights the importance of inter-organisational collaboration and structural redesign to enable coordinated sustainability efforts. Findings reveal that current hospital-service provider relationships are primarily cost-driven, limiting transformational potential. Yet, sustainability offers a pathway to redefine roles and build resilient partnerships. In parallel, the study examines how Ukrainian enterprises are integrating sustainability into international marketing under wartime conditions. It analyzes export trends from 2020 to 2024, focusing on the mining sector, particularly “26 Ores, Slag and Ash.” The research identifies promising markets (Netherlands, South Korea, Japan, and the U.S.) and recommends tailored entry strategies considering political stability, trade openness, and logistics. Strategic partnerships, infrastructure development, and participation in global trade forums are emphasized as key to resilience.Together, these findings underscore the need for multi-actor cooperation and sustainability integration in both healthcare and international business. The study offers practical guidance for hospitals and Ukrainian enterprises to align operational processes with long-term ecological and economic goals, even amid geopolitical disruption.

Keywords: sustainable development integration, international marketing, economic potential of enterprises, sustainability strategies, export activity dynamics, geopolitical changes, economic recovery, enterprise competitiveness, wartime risks, logistics infrastructure, economic dynamics, trade freedom, logistics capacity, economic security

The Effectiveness of Fiscal and Monetary Policy to Respond Challenges of Sustainable Venture Business

2025-09-23T17:04:21+02:00

One of the most significant challenges for modern society is balancing its innovative and sustainable development directions. On the one hand, venture businesses play a crucial role in the challenges we face globally and at the national level. On the other hand, the world faces increased capital for sustainable investment. In particular, recent trends prove the increasing need to encourage venture businesses to balance between commercial effect and sustainable practices implementation, responding to various challenges. In particular, recent trends prove that governmental policies play an increasing role in responding to the challenges of sustainable venture business. Therefore, the research problem is disclosing fiscal and monetary policy instruments as a practical possibility to boost sustainable venture business development. The paper aims to provide evidence on specific features of “traditional” and sustainable venture business. The study analyzes the challenges of sustainable venture business development, providing possible strategies to avoid them. The results section presents findings to determine the potential of different fiscal and monetary policy instruments for responding to the challenges of sustainable venture business.

Keywords: sustainable development, venture business, sustainable venture capital, fiscal and monetary policy, venture financing.

Human Development and Economic Growth in Unequal Contexts: A comparative Analysis of Greece and Georgia

2025-09-23T17:14:35+02:00

This study examines the relationship between human development and economic growth in two small economies at different stages of development—Greece, an EU member, and Georgia, a transitioning post-Soviet state. Using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model over the period 1990–2022, the analysis evaluates the role of the Human Development Index (HDI) alongside key macroeconomic variables such as capital formation, government expenditure, trade openness, and population growth. While numerous studies explore the HDI-growth nexus, few focus on small or transitioning economies, and even fewer offer comparative insights between countries embedded in the EU institutional framework and those navigating post-transition reforms. Our findings reveal that HDI significantly influences economic growth in both contexts, but the nature of the relationship diverges: Georgia shows a delayed, linear impact of HDI on growth, whereas in Greece, a non-linear relationship emerges, where higher levels of human development yield compounding economic benefits. Capital investment and fiscal policy also display different dynamics—inefficient and contractionary in Georgia, but more growth-enhancing in Greece. These insights are particularly relevant amid ongoing discussions about EU cohesion, sustainable convergence, and the development trajectories of post-Soviet economies. The study underscores the importance of tailored policy strategies: Georgia must focus on institutional reform, investment efficiency, and public sector effectiveness, while Greece needs to leverage human capital to sustain long-term growth. By comparing two structurally distinct economies, this research contributes to the literature on development heterogeneity and offers actionable guidance for policymakers in similar national contexts.

Keywords: human development index, economic growth, ARDL Model, Greece, Georgia, transition economies, EU Policy

Activities of Transnational Organized Criminal Groups Detrimental to Critical Infrastructure Objects: Providing Qualification to Reduce Negative Impact on Sustainable Societal Development

2025-09-23T17:26:00+02:00

The purpose of the Article is to conduct legal assessment of the activities of transnational organized criminal groups detrimental to critical infrastructure objects from the perspective of criminal law and administrative law qualification to reduce their negative impact on sustainable societal development. Methodology. The following methods are used in the research: logical, dialectical, monographic, dogmatic, normative analyses, system and structural, statistical method, legal modelling. Findings. It is noted that a mandatory stage of the criminal law qualification of such activities is the determination of a foreign element. The correct establishment of all subjective and objective signs of such criminal offenses is one of the main prerequisites for developing theoretical provisions of the methodology for their investigation. Regarding administrative law qualification, it is noted that it is an element of the law enforcement activities of state authorities. It includes the choice of legal norm applicable in a specific case. In this event, the ascertainment of a number of circumstances is mandatory. Practical Implications. It is summarized that a properly conducted legal assessment of the transnational organized criminal groups’ activities detrimental to CIOs allows to achieve substantial results in their prevention and investigation, as well as reduce negative impact on socio-economic progress of the society.

Keywords: critical infrastructure objects, criminal law qualification, administrative law qualification, evaluation, legal assessment, transnational organized crime, societal development

Modernization of Future Educators’ Professional Training in the Context of Education for Sustainable Development

2025-09-23T17:37:55+02:00

Modernization of professional training of future teacher education specialists is of particular relevance in the context of digitalization of the educational space, globalization of the labor market and growing demands on the professional competencies of teachers. Integration of innovative technologies, strengthening of practice-oriented learning and ensuring continuous professional development are key tasks of modern teacher education. This study aims to examine the existing conditions, prevailing trends, and future directions for updating the professional preparation of prospective teacher educators in both Ukraine and the global context. Methodologically, the research relied on comparing, systematizing, and synthesizing information from international reports, alongside analyzing scientific literature and regulatory acts. It also incorporated a secondary review of findings from global comparative assessments of teacher education quality. The research revealed that significant directions in updating teacher preparation include adopting a competency-based framework, enhancing digital skills, applying adaptive learning systems and VR/AR tools, and fostering stronger partnerships with employers as well as international educational organizations. Special emphasis is placed on developing intercultural competence and preparing educators to operate effectively in multilingual settings.
It is proved that effective modernization requires an integrated approach that combines digital transformation, development of practical skills and creation of a system of continuous professional growth. . It is substantiated that teacher education for sustainable development is not only knowledge, but also the formation of a new culture of thinking and responsible behavior, which is a necessary condition for building a sustainable future. The practical value of the findings is reflected in their potential to inform the renewal of higher education curricula, enhance the substance and methodology of teacher preparation, shape a national strategy for advancing teacher education, and establish conditions for training competitive professionals capable of thriving in today’s digital learning environment.

Keywords: professional training, digitalization of education, competency-based approach, teacher education, innovative technologies, intercultural competence, VR/AR, adaptive learning, international cooperation, pedagogical competencies, sustainable development education, environmental competence.

The Role of Public Policy in Shaping High-Impact E-Learning Practices and Their Effect on the Quality of Education

2025-09-23T18:09:53+02:00

This study investigates the role of public policy in shaping high-impact e-learning practices (HIPs) and their influence on the quality of education from the perspective of faculty members. Building on a structural model, the research tests five hypotheses related to key HIPs, including community-based learning, common intellectual experiences, faculty guidance, first-year experiences, and university research initiatives.
The findings reveal that only two of the proposed high-impact practices—common intellectual experiences and university research—exhibit a statistically significant positive relationship with perceived educational quality. In contrast, no significant association was found with community-based learning, faculty guidance, or first-year experience. Specifically, the hypothesis related to university research (H5) demonstrated the strongest support (t = 12.156, p = 0.000), indicating a robust impact on quality outcomes. Common intellectual experiences (H2) also showed a significant effect (t = 3.876, p = 0.000), underscoring their value in enhancing educational outcomes.
The results suggest that public policies aimed at strengthening institutional research agendas and fostering integrative intellectual environments are more likely to drive improvements in educational quality, as perceived by faculty. Conversely, certain widely promoted HIPs may not yield measurable gains unless they are better aligned with institutional strategies or faculty engagement models.
This research underscores the necessity of evidence-based policy-making that prioritizes pedagogical practices with demonstrable impact, particularly within e-learning environments shaped by digital transformation and post-pandemic reforms.

Keywords: Public Policy, High-Impact Practices (HIPs), E-Learning, Educational Quality, Faculty Perspective, University Research, Common Intellectual Experiences, Digital Education, Higher Education Policy, Teaching Effectiveness

Women in Public Spaces: Lived Experiences through a Safety Audit Approach

2025-09-23T18:23:36+02:00

offering diverse opportunities. However, cities remain paradoxical, promising better lives while excluding many. Urban experiences, shaped by social identities, result in complex, unequal spatial dynamics, with gender significantly influencing these. Women often perceive urban spaces differently than men, facing conditional access and heightened public vulnerability. A 2021 NCRB report revealed Delhi's lead in crimes against women among Indian cities, with a 40% increase from 2020 to 2021.
Data Methods, Materials and Methodology: This study evaluates women's safety and access to public spaces in Delhi, aligning with SDG goals. Safety audits and structured questionnaires were employed in 10 locations with higher walkability and visibility, examining both objective and subjective factors. The study emphasizes that cities are not inherently designed for women's safety; instead, women 'create' their own spaces, termed "HerSpaces," through constant negotiations in their daily lives. Furthermore, the three A's—accessibility, affordability, and accountability— widen the gap between existing city spaces, their design, and actual usage by women.
Findings: This unequal and highly differentiated access, resulting from and in turn leading to the marginalization of women, presents itself as a multi-faceted challenge exacerbated by institutional inefficiency, among other things, serving as obstacles in the way of transforming Delhi into a city for everyone - safe and inclusive in every sense of the words.

Keywords: Women’s safety, Safety Audit, Crime against women, gendered spaces, Inclusivity.

Sustainable Education Financing in Ukraine: Challenges and Pathways for Local Development

2025-09-23T18:37:57+02:00

In modern conditions, solving financial issues in municipal education is an urgent task for state and local governments in Ukraine. In order to achieve this goal, various forms of financial support have been studied, which are conditionally divided into self-financing, household financing, lending and insurance. The author also analyses the economic essence of local budgets, which perform the functions of financial support for local governments, distribution and management of monetary resources. The study's main results include proposals for an integrated approach to synchronising fiscal mechanisms with educational policy. The internal and external factors influencing the strengthening of the financial base of local self-government are identified, and the principles of budgetary and fiscal mechanisms for the development of the educational environment are outlined. The creation of an effective budgetary mechanism will help to increase the level of socio-economic and educational development of administrative-territorial communities.

Keywords: municipal entity, education, financial support of municipal entity, financial support, financial resources.

Comparative Analysis of the Properties of Synthetic and Natural Leathers: A Focus on Microfiber Synthetic Leather for Footwear Applications

2025-09-23T19:30:16+02:00

The market for leather-like materials has grown significantly due to concerns about natural leather. Research into sustainable materials is an important part of sustainable fashion. This ever-increasing demand for leather alternatives, particularly microfibre synthetic leather, has made it necessary to understand the properties of leather and leather-like materials. Therefore, this study provides a comparative analysis of the properties of natural leather, PU leather and microfibre synthetic leather. The results show that microfibre synthetic leather is the most robust of the three, with adequate seam strength. On the other hand, PU leather has exceptional seam strength and adequate durability compared to natural leather. In addition, further tests were carried out to assess the performance and potential of microfibre synthetic leather for use in footwear. The results demonstrated the resilience of the material and its potential to improve product durability and sustainability. Considering the test results, it is thought that microfibers will contribute to the concept of environmentally friendly fashion with a longer lifetime and therefore less consumption. It is also thought that both long usage and low structural deformation will increase the intensity of use of these structures in the fashion industry.

Keywords: synthetic leather, natural leather, footwear

Digital Engagement and Gender-Specific Drivers of Customer Satisfaction in the Insurance Mining Industry

2025-09-23T19:46:35+02:00

This study investigates the determinants of insurance customer satisfaction with a focus on the role of digital engagement and their gender-specific effects. Since digital platforms now increasingly shape the field of determining customers' expectations, this study uses advanced statistical models like logistic regression, random forests, and gradient boosting to analyze the association between digital engagement, lowly paid premiums, and customer satisfaction. Findings indicate that web participation is a powerful predictor of satisfaction, where more participation correlates with increased satisfaction, particularly for male customers. Gender-based results indicate that female customers are highly sensitive to affordability for premiums, and thus the price strategy should be developed for this group. The study also identifies nonlinear interactions and interaction effects among such important variables as income, education, and the degree of engagement for which a customer is committed. This suggests the worth of tailored plans for customer engagement. The study contributes to the literature by introducing an advanced framework for the analysis of customer behavior among insurers, demonstrating the power of advanced analytics in uncovering underlying patterns and relationships. Therefore, insurers are required to invest in digital channels that provide differentiated experiences, gender-sensitive pricing, and segmenting customers into categories to provide more accurate solutions. Future studies are also called for in the research to examine the degree to which trust and privacy concerns underlie digital engagement, as well as examine other demographic variables that influence customer satisfaction.

Keywords: Digital Engagement, Customer Satisfaction, Insurance Industry, Gender-Specific Impacts.

Cyberculture and Sustainable Development: Communicative, Ethical and Technological Transformations

2025-09-24T11:40:47+02:00

Contemporary urban agglomerations confront the intertwined challenges of population growth, resource constraints, environmental degradation, and the imperative to enhance quality of life. In response, digital transformation – driven by information technologies (IT), the Internet of Things (IoT), and the virtualization of social and technological processes – has given rise to the “smart city” paradigm. This article employs a systems-thinking approach to examine how cyberculture influences not only the technical optimization of urban services but also the evolving values and communication practices that support participatory governance and collective responsibility. Drawing on case studies, we show that the convergence of AI, IoT, and big-data analytics generates synergies for energy management, mobility, waste and water governance, and green infrastructure. These developments reflect a shift toward ecological responsibility, dematerialization, and digital inclusion, while reshaping language norms and creating platforms for more open civic dialogue and deliberation. We also discuss critical perspectives on the calculative logic underlying smart-city systems and highlight emerging modes of collaborative innovation and knowledge sharing. We conclude that cyberculture, both as a driver of value formation and a medium of communicative innovation, serves as a key enabler of sustainable development, with ongoing implications for justice, resilience, and well-being for current and future generations.

Keywords: cyberculture, smart city, sustainable development, value transformation, communication practices, digital ethics, collective intelligence, participatory governance, language norms

The Legal Mechanisms of State Support for Agribusiness Through the Introduction of Virtual Asset Technologies: Ukraine’s Experience in the Global Context

2025-09-24T12:22:04+02:00

The article examines innovative approaches to state support for agribusiness through the implementation of virtual asset technologies in the Ukrainian legal field, taking into account international experience. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to modernize the existing mechanisms for financing the agricultural sector in the context of the digital transformation of the economy and the development of the global crypto-asset market. The authors analyzed the current state of legal regulation of virtual assets in Ukraine, in particular in the context of the Law of Ukraine "On Virtual Assets" and its implementation. Also, it was outlined the main problems and obstacles to the introduction of innovative financial instruments in the agricultural sector including: instability of the regulatory framework, insufficient integration of digital solutions into state support programs, as well as low technological readiness of small and medium-sized agricultural producers. The authors studied the international experience of using blockchain technologies to support the agricultural sector in countries such as the USA, Australia, Singapore and the countries of the European Union. In particular, the authors paid attention to the analysis of legal models of tokenization of agricultural assets and the use of smart contracts to optimize the processes of state subsidies. Based on the analysis, the authors proposed a comprehensive model of integration of virtual asset technologies into the mechanisms of state support for agribusiness in Ukraine. The key elements of this model are: the creation of special legal regimes for agricultural tokens and NFTs, the formation of infrastructure for the digital interaction of farmers with state institutions, the implementation of blockchain solutions for the transparent distribution of subsidies, as well as the development of a legal framework for agricultural digital cooperatives. The authors substantiated the need to amend the legislation of Ukraine, in particular the Law of Ukraine "On State Support of Agriculture of Ukraine", the Tax Code and relevant regulations on virtual assets. Also, the authors identified the potential risks and advantages of the proposed innovations for both agricultural producers and the state. The results of the research are of theoretical and practical importance for the formation of state policy in the field of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine, taking into account the global trends in digitalization and the use of distributed ledger technologies to ensure the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of state support for agribusiness.

Keywords: virtual assets, blockchain, smart contracts, state support for agriculture, tokenization of agricultural assets, agricultural sector, digital transformation.

Community Engagement and Adaptive Regulation in Sustainable Urban Change: Assessing New Jersey’s Cumulative Impacts Program

2025-09-24T12:30:03+02:00

Cumulative impact assessment has been widely endorsed by governments, scientists, community organizations and environmental groups as an important framework for addressing environmental injustice in communities that are overburdened with multiple sources of pollution. In 2020, the first state cumulative impact legislation within the United States was passed in New Jersey, which has served as a potential model for other states and cities. Finalized in April 2023, New Jersey’s cumulative impacts regulations adopt a community-engagement approach before approving permits for major pollution-generating facilities and uses a community-level mapping tool providing localized environmental and public health data to enable cumulative impacts assessment.

Through a case study of this regulatory program, the paper will assess the legislative and regulatory program’s strengths and weaknesses in achieving overall reductions in pollution levels within overburdened communities in furtherance of Sustainability Goal 10. The purpose of the study is to provide guidance to other states and cities also seeking to adopt cumulative impact programs.

Keywords: Environmental Justice, Cumulative Impact Assessment, Sustainable Urbanism

The Impact of Organizational Behavior on Firms’ Sustainable Performance: A Methodological Toolkit for Measurement

2025-09-24T12:33:39+02:00

The performance of the organization in terms of enterprise management in the current conditions of globalization and transition on the digital is determined by organizational culture. This has an impact on employee productivity, the state of innovation, adaptability to change and resilience of the business in conditions of instability. The aim of the study is to examine technical approaches to evaluation of influence of the organization culture on efficiency of the enterprise under consideration based on the modern trends in the field of the information technology. The work is based on the methodological basis, i.e. the use of the qualitative analysis methods including the content analysis and the case studies. Specifically, existing methods for assessing organizational culture, especially qualitative methods in the field and staged quantitative methods in the laboratory, have limitations, largely related to subjectivity and insufficient adaptation of the latter’s quantitative techniques to the particularity of the corporations and industries examined. It is possible to use modern digital technologies for more objective assessment and at the price of significant staff and adaptation to the conditions of the enterprise. The work results can be used to create integrated methods of assessing the organizational culture forming, thus managing in question will become more efficient which enables enterprises to be more competitive. It has been demonstrated that a socially responsible company is a business structure that carefully adheres to the concept of sustainable development, stimulates innovation, and effectively manages available resources. It is necessary to conduct further research in the development of adaptive models for assessing the corporate culture in consideration of industry specifics, size of entities, and conditions of hybrid and remote work.

Keywords: organizational culture, enterprise efficiency, corporate governance, assessment methods, digital technologies, Big Data, artificial intelligence, strategic management, sustainable development, corporate social responsibility.

Beyond Ethical Fashion: Can Milanese Designers Foster True Economic Independence for Sierra Leonean Artisans?

2025-09-24T12:58:01+02:00

This study critically examines SIERRA2go, a Milan-based, designer-led non-profit initiative that collaborates with female artisans in Sierra Leone. Positioned within the discourse of sustainable fashion and economic empowerment, SIERRA2go presents itself as an alternative to profit-driven fair-trade models by relying on external funding and training programs rather than direct market sales. While the initiative aspires to foster long-term independence for artisans, key questions remain: Does it truly empower them, or does it subtly reinforce dependence on Western markets? Drawing on perspectives from cultural capital theory, postcolonial fashion studies, and economic ethics in sustainable fashion, this study explores SIERRA2go’s impact on market access, production control, and financial sustainability. The findings suggest that while SIERRA2go offers a refreshing alternative to traditional fair trade, its reliance on donor funding may ultimately limit artisans’ economic autonomy rather than strengthen it. This paper argues that for true empowerment to occur, locally driven business models and direct market access strategies must be prioritized—otherwise, well-intended interventions risk perpetuating the very dependency they seek to dismantle.

Keywords: Sustainable Fashion, Economic Empowerment, Milanese Design, Artisanal Training, Non-Profit Model, Postcolonial Fashion

Sustainable Workforce Development: Lessons from EU Industrial Policies for Postwar Ukraine

2025-09-24T19:11:31+02:00

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of European Union (EU) policies aimed at addressing workforce shortages in the industrial sector, with particular relevance to Ukraine's postwar recovery challenges. The study investigates how demographic shifts, technological advancements, and labor market transformations have shaped workforce development strategies across key EU nations, including Germany, Poland, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The research highlights successful EU approaches such as dual education systems, vocational training reforms, and lifelong learning initiatives that have effectively bridged skills gaps while promoting social inclusion. Germany's comprehensive strategy combining skilled immigration programs with digital transformation serves as a particularly instructive model, whereas Poland's experience with diaspora reintegration offers valuable insights for Ukraine's displaced populations. The study also examines innovative solutions such as Italy's visa lottery system and France's emphasis on technological upskilling. For Ukraine, which faces acute labor shortages exacerbated by wartime displacement and economic disruption, the article emphasizes the critical need to adapt these European best practices. Key recommendations include establishing sector-specific training programs, developing flexible certification systems for displaced workers, and creating public?private partnerships to align education with industry needs. The analysis particularly stresses the importance of digital skills development and gender-inclusive workforce policies to meet the demands of modern industrial sectors. Methodologically, this study employs comparative policy analysis to identify transferable solutions that could strengthen Ukraine's industrial workforce while supporting broader economic reconstruction efforts. The findings suggest that a strategic combination of EU-inspired vocational education reforms, targeted immigration policies, and technology-driven productivity enhancements could help Ukraine overcome its postwar labor challenges while fostering sustainable economic growth.

Keywords: labor shortage, workforce development, industrial sector, EU labor policies, postwar recovery

Factors Influencing the Business Performance of Scaleups. A Comparative Analysis.

2025-09-24T19:18:36+02:00

The analysis of the literature on scaleups has shown that the conditions and factors that influence the existence and favorable development of scaleups are known, but most studies take a declarative stance on the topic and provide mostly indirect evidence without a direct relationship to business performance. There is therefore a research gap that can be filled by a better and more detailed understanding of the factors that influence the business performance of scaleups. The purpose of the research is to identify the causes and reasons that positively or negatively affect the business performance of scaleups. A field study of 92 scaleups was conducted. The source of knowledge about the studied scaleups is personal experience recorded in a questionnaire. Research without intermediaries is more authentic and allows for immediate feedback. The research sample was divided into more and less powerful scaleups. Using comparative analysis, the causes and reasons for different business performance were identified. The performance difference between more and less powerful scaleups is a consequence of (a) more efficient conversion of a business idea into a useful product, (b) internationalization of business, (c) a larger and broader offer of various types of cooperation with external partners, (d) more valuable enterprise resources of all kinds, (e) better fulfilment of explicitly set and relevant goals, (f) greater implementation capacities, (g) doing business on international markets and (h) more effective promotion and advertising. The results of empirical research and comparative analysis in the range of identified parameters bring new knowledge about the causes of higher performance of scaleups and at the same time provide guidance on how to achieve such higher performance.

Keywords: scaleup, business performance, comparative analysis, performance factors, high-performance scaleups, low-performance scaleups

The Development of Engineering Qualifications in Ukraine and China Through the Prism of Experience, Transformations in the Educational Space, Personnel Policy, and the Integration of Dual Learning Models

2025-09-24T19:29:43+02:00

In this article, we will look at how engineering qualifications are developed in the country of Ukraine in context of international comparison with much interest in the experience of China in terms of establishing a dual education system and digitalization strategies. The study design includes qualitative content analysis of Ukrainian policy texts and a systematic empirical survey, which will be completed at the beginning of 2025 with the help of students and instructors of vocational and technical learning facilities. The research explores the issue of introducing dual education, digital technologies (including AI, VR, AI) and public-private partnerships to the engineering training system in Ukraine, determining its limitations of structure, division of power, and regional inequality, mainly between urban and rural institutions. To accomplish the purpose of the analysis, the strategic coherent of the vocational education reforms in China is confirmed and compared to the experimental and decentralized reforms in Ukraine. There is a particular focus on trainings and professional development of teachers in the digital innovation, capacity-building of institutions and lack of nationwide performance indicators in Ukraine. These results contribute to the possible usefulness of hybrid governance systems that would intertwine Chinese strategic planning with the flexibility of the Ukrainian model that will allow flexible routes of reforms without compromising the ability to coordinate at the national level or meet international standards. The article ends with some policy innovation and future research recommendations in transition economies that are faced with a lot of complicated transformations in both education and the labor market.

Keywords: education, dual education, vocational education, dual system, engineering training, China, Ukraine, digitalization, public-private partnership, education policy, innovative economy, human resource development.

Research Results on the Problem of Health Preservation among Ukrainian Education Sector Employees during Martial Law

2025-09-24T19:38:41+02:00

The aim of the article is to present the results of an empirical study on the issue of maintaining the health of Ukrainian education sector employees during martial law in six components – physical, mental, intellectual, social and spiritual health, as well as the level of recreational activity as a resource for recovery. The methods include theoretical approaches (analysis, synthesis, generalization), empirical research (questionnaires, surveys), mathematical data processing using Microsoft Excel and visualization of the results. The study has revealed critical physical exhaustion, chronic stress, emotional burnout, decreased cognitive functions, social isolation and loss of meaning in life. The level of physical and intellectual recreation was low. Respondents named the end of the war, increased wages, reduced bureaucratic burden, stabilization of the education reform and restoration of sanatorium and resort provision among the conditions for health preservation. Armed conflict and martial law have significantly affected the health of educators, especially those working in relocation, remote work without adequate support, or near active combat zones. Systematic psychological support, recovery programs, professional development, and institutional platforms for health preservation are needed. Further research includes the development of digital methodological resources, the implementation of state intersectoral programs, and the integration of psychological support into the professional activities of educators.

Keywords: Health, Health Preservation, Education Workers, Martial Law, Professional Workload, Stress, Professional Burnout, Resilience, Recreational Activities.

Student Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization at Universities in Azerbaijan, Colombia, Egypt, India, Poland, and Portugal

2025-09-24T19:51:37+02:00

This study examines student entrepreneurship and research commercialization practices across six countries: Azerbaijan, Colombia, Egypt, India, Poland, and Portugal. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review and original student survey data, the study investigates how entrepreneurial intention, student capabilities, and external factors—such as institutional support, funding access, and mentorship—affect the commercialization of university-based research. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was deployed to analyze relationships among four key latent variables: Student Capabilities (SCAP), External Circumstances Influencing Research (ECIR), Entrepreneurial Intention (EN), and Research Commercialization (RC).

The findings reveal significant cross-national variation. While entrepreneurial intention positively correlates with commercialization in some contexts, such as Portugal and Poland, this relationship is weaker or absent in others, including India and Azerbaijan. This suggests that individual motivation alone is inadequate without institutional alignment and external support structures. Moreover, student cognizance of available commercialization pathways and support services was varying, indicating a need for clearer institutional communication and engagement policies.

The study contributes to the literature by offering a multi-country comparative framework for analyzing student-driven innovation. It also underscores the importance of culturally responsive policies and targeted interventions that address both individual-level capabilities and system-level barriers. Based on the findings, the article recommends integrated strategies for universities and policymakers, including improved mentorship programs, streamlined commercialization processes, and enhanced visibility of support resources. These steps are essential for fostering inclusive and effective entrepreneurial ecosystems in higher education institutions across diverse socio-economic contexts.

Keywords: student entrepreneurship, research commercialization, student competencies, social capital, mentorship, Structural Equation Modeling

Rebuilding Education under Global Challenges: Integrating Sustainability into Economics and Management Curricula

2025-09-24T20:04:07+02:00

Current global challenges and the dynamics of ongoing changes significantly influence modern university education. Despite the diversity of study programs across universities, it is essential to consider the appropriate integration of contemporary social and environmental topics into educational curricula. The Faculty of Management and Business (FMB) at the University of Prešov focuses on education in the fields of economics and management. Therefore, the education of future economists, entrepreneurs, and managers should also incorporate elements of sustainability, circular economy, and proenvironmental approaches in both production and consumption activities. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of students (future entrepreneurs, economists and managers), towards the integration of "green topics" into educational content and their application in practice. The results of the questionnaire survey were complemented by the perspectives of teachers through structured interviews, aimed at identifying the need for and possible ways of incorporating green topics into the curriculum from their point of view. The collected data were analysed using a mixed methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including inductive inference methods. The results served as input for the development of new study programs. Based on these findings, we also formulate proposals aimed at "greening" the existing curricula through the use of creative and participatory forms of education.

Key words: global challenges, education, green topics, sustainability

A Key Performance Indicator for an Integrated Assessment of the Social Sustainability of an Enterprise

2025-09-24T20:07:47+02:00

This paper proposes a tool for the integrated assessment of a company's social sustainability. This tool is an integrated indicator, composed of two partial indicators, which refer to two different aspects of social sustainability: the impact of the company's activity on employees, its relationship with customers and the local community. To develop this tool, 34 criteria were formulated, as well as ways to quantify the company's responses to them. The criteria were grouped into several categories, depending on the aspects to which each refers. Based on each group, two partial indicators are constructed: one indicator relating to the working conditions of employees and the other indicator relating to the relationship with customers and society. For the company's responses to these criteria, formulas were proposed that lead to normalized values, which allowed them to become comparable and aggregated for the construction of the indicator. The indicator proposed in the paper can be used to monitor progress and results related to social sustainability, as well as to rank companies that aim to achieve sustainable development objectives.

Keywords: measure social sustainability; quantifying responses; key performance indicator; key performance indicator; sustainable development.

Application of Article 6(1) of the ECHR in Civil Proceedings: The Effect of European Integration Processes on Ukrainian Legislation

2025-09-24T22:33:17+02:00

The aim of the research is to consider the specifics of application of Article 6(1) of the ECHR, as well as to examine the way national courts use it when administrating justice in civil proceedings as part of euro-integration obligations by our State. Methodology. The methods applied in the article are: historical; hermeneutic; structural and functional; system and structural; formal and logical; case study method. Findings. The development of the institution of judicial protection of person’s rights in Ukrainian legislation, its system, as well as the institutionalization of international guarantees for human rights and freedoms are traced. The key principles of Article 6 of the Convention, which are also fundamental elements of the right to a fair trial are studied in detail. The relevant ECHR practice, as well as the decisions by the Supreme Court of Ukraine that are grounded on applying this rule of the Convention, are examined. Practical implications. It is summarized that national courts need to meticulously and comprehensively establish and investigate all the facts of each dispute and objectively assess the conformity of the application of legal rules. It is also advisably to carefully study the current ECHR case-law, as it is dynamically developing and may differ from previous positions.

Keywords: European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR; Convention), European Court on Human Rights (ECtHR; the Court), Supreme Court of Ukraine (SCU), ECtHR case-law, protecting individual’s rights and freedoms, Article 6(1).

Fundamentals of a Sustainability Profile of Students based on Quantitative Community Building Analyses

2025-09-24T22:41:03+02:00

In the context of a growing awareness of environmental challenges and the importance of sustainability values, practices, and choices, this article presents the key findings of the European co-funded NEMOS research project (A New Educational Model of Sustainability Competences through Service-learning) focused on defining the sustainability profile and competencies of students through service-learning in Higher Education. A community-building bottom-up methodology was innovatively applied to identify the competencies needed to define a sustainability profile of students in food-related degrees of five European Higher Education Institutions. The research findings highlight the need for a holistic understanding of students´sustainability, including economic, social, and environmental aspects, as well as the importance of specific sustainability training for lecturers. Furthermore, it underlines the essential role of service-learning as a pedagogical approach to foster students´active participation in the community and to prepare them to address global challenges in a meaningful way.

Keywords: higher education, key-competencies, service-learning, sustainability profile

The Sustainable Development of the Tourism Industry and Social Acceptance

2025-09-24T23:00:22+02:00

As the tourism industry expands in scale, the importance of sustainable development is also increasing (World Tourism Organization [WTO], 2023). The principles of sustainable development aim to guide industry activities in a beneficial direction, ensuring the greatest possible advantages for society, nature, and the environment. Tourists, in addition to being consumers, are also important stakeholders in the industry, as highlighted in the principles of sustainable development. The economic and social development of the sector, including practices in the Adjara region, significantly depends on their choices and level of satisfaction. However, evaluations of organizations providing tourism services often reveal negative feedback from tourists. Complaints frequently relate to rude, indifferent, or inattentive attitudes. According to social acceptance theory, such issues arise when relationships between different parties are shaped by aggression and rejection rather than cooperation. Since tourists act both as stakeholders and consumers, it is essential that they have the right and opportunity to receive hospitality services in a healthy social environment. Representatives of the tourism industry also bear ethical and social responsibilities toward them. This article discusses the principles of sustainable tourism development and the concept of social acceptance. In particular, it examines the attitudes of tourism organizations in Adjara toward tourists. The main aim of the study was to determine the role of social acceptance in ensuring the sustainable development of the industry. The study was conducted through an online questionnaire. The results revealed that social acceptance plays an important role in the economic development of the industry. It also demonstrated the significance of sustainable development principles, particularly visitor satisfaction.

Keywords: Tourism Industry, Sustainable Development, Social Acceptance

Public Expenditure on Education and Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis of Causality in Serbia

2025-09-24T23:06:32+02:00

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the existence of a causal relationship between public expenditure on education and economic growth in Serbia over the period 2007 to 2022. Public education spending is measured using three indicators: total public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP, public expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of GDP, and public expenditure on higher education as a percentage of GDP. Economic performance is represented by the real GDP per capita growth rate. To test the hypotheses and achieve the research objective, a causality test based on Granger’s methodology is employed. The results indicate a statistically significant unidirectional causal effect running from public expenditure on education to economic growth. Within the applied empirical framework, this suggests that trends in education-related public spending can be used to forecast real GDP per capita growth. These findings emphasize the importance of investment in education as a strategic factor in promoting sustainable economic development, warranting greater attention in the formulation of public policy.

Keywords: public expenditure, educational sector, rate of economic growth, Granger’s approach to causality, Serbia

Factors Affecting Innovations in Tourism in Georgia: Strengthening Sustainable Development Through Competitive and Policy Measures

2025-09-24T23:17:22+02:00

Innovation plays a crucial role in the Georgian tourism industry, which is striving to compete in the global market. This study, based on in-depth interviews, participant observation, and regression analysis, reveals that while both competition and government support significantly impact the level of innovation, their influence is relatively weak. The paper explores this phenomenon by integrating theoretical insights from Chen's (2017) pre-/post-innovation competition theory and Carvalho's (2011) agglomeration theory to explain how fragmented firms and a lack of centralized R&D systems diminish the overall innovation impact. Findings indicate that a key reason for this weakness is the lack of a formalized innovation decision-making process within tourism companies in Georgia. Innovation is not consistently embedded in the corporate culture, and management systems often fail to foster a strong orientation toward innovation. This leads to inefficient decision-making, weak implementation of innovative ideas, and limits the sector's potential for sustainable development. Thus, while competition and state support are vital external drivers, the internal organizational structure and culture play a more significant and challenging role in driving large-scale innovation.

Keywords: Innovation, strength of Competition, state policy, Sustainable development

Legal Regulation of Building Energy Efficiency and Housing Rights: Balancing Sustainability and Social Justice

2025-09-25T05:47:56+02:00

The European Union has set ambitious climate and sustainability goals, which include stringent energy efficiency requirements for buildings. The Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive establish minimum efficiency standards, mandatory renovations, and carbon reduction targets. While these regulations promote environmental sustainability and economic efficiency, they also raise legal and social concerns.
A key issue is the proportionality of energy efficiency obligations in relation to property rights. While mandatory renovations serve the public interest by addressing climate change, they impose significant financial burdens on property owners, particularly vulnerable social groups. These requirements may restrict owners' decision-making freedom, raising concerns about compliance costs and potential property devaluation.
Moreover, energy efficiency mandates impact housing affordability, potentially exacerbating social inequality. Although energy-efficient homes reduce long-term utility costs, initial renovation expenses can drive up property prices, limiting access to housing for low-income populations. This paper examines the legal implications of the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, assessing their proportionality, impact on property rights, and social security risks. It also explores policy recommendations to balance environmental objectives with legal certainty and social justice, ensuring that sustainability measures do not disproportionately burden homeowners or deepen housing inequalities.

Keywords: Housing Rights; Legal Regulation of Energy Efficiency; Proportionality; Social Justice; Sustainability

China’s Sustainable Development Policies and FDI: Short-term Dynamics, Long-term Impact, and Forecast

2025-09-25T05:53:01+02:00

In the context of the 2024 global economic recession, can China's sustainable development policies attract foreign direct investment to achieve industrial upgrading and drive economic growth?This paper examines the short-term dynamics, long-term impact, and forecast of the relationships between industrial policy, green clean energy, carbon pricing, and FDI.

The research uses the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to comprehensively study the short-run and long-run connection among the LFDI and the secondary industry growth, green energy generation and carbon pricing. China officially established its carbon market in 2013, with sustainable access to official data available since then.Although the duration of our research data is relatively short, we have already applied the corresponding models to analyze and compensate for the data insufficiencies.By using this methodological approach, the paper demonstrates how these variables affect LFDI across various time horizons and assesses their contribution to the sustainable development of the economy. Additionally, machine learning techniques are utilized to adopt a rolling forecast approach to predict LFDI levels.

Keywords: industrial upgrading, green clean energy, low carbon, ARDL model, VECM model, machine learning

The scarcity of primary data in life cycle assessments of lithium-ion battery manufacturing: A systematic review

2025-09-25T06:03:30+02:00

With increasing greenhouse gas emissions, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are becoming a promising technology for decarbonization, particularly in the urban mobility sector. However, their production involves critical materials and large energy consumption processes, requiring robust environmental evaluation. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) plays a key role in assessing the environmental impacts of the manufacturing phase. This study presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) focused on identifying the use of primary data in LCAs of LIB manufacturing. The review was conducted using Scopus and SciFinder databases through an iterative search strategy combining keywords related to LIBs, manufacturing, LCA, and primary data. From an initial pool of over 205,000 articles, only four met the inclusion criteria of applying primary data to the manufacturing phase. Most studies focused on LMO and NMC chemistries, primarily in pouch or prismatic formats, and used cradle-to-gate boundaries. Despite being labeled as primary data based, these studies showed strong reliance on secondary datasets, limited geographical coverage, and no recent publications within the last five years. The variability in reported CO? emissions further reflects methodological inconsistencies. These findings indicate a literature gap in LCA studies using primary data for LIB manufacturing. Specifically, there is a lack of recent, geographically diverse, and methodologically transparent research, which raises concerns about the reliability of current environmental assessments.

Keywords: Lithium- ion batteries, life cycle assessment, manufacture and primary data

Organizational Learning Capabilities for Sustainable Performance: Evidence from Saudi Arabia's Public Sector

2025-09-25T06:11:07+02:00

This study examines how knowledge management practices contribute to sustainable development outcomes in Saudi Arabia's public sector organizations. Using quantitative methodology, data was collected from 384 public sector employees across multiple organizations through stratified random sampling. Results demonstrate that knowledge management processes significantly influence sustainable performance, with the full model explaining 34.1% of variance in sustainability outcomes. Cultural dimensions significantly moderate knowledge management effectiveness, with some cultural factors enhancing and others constraining the relationship between knowledge processes and sustainable performance. Technology infrastructure positively influences SECI implementation. Mediation analysis reveals that SECI processes partially mediate the technology-performance relationship. Findings provide robust empirical evidence that systematic knowledge management approaches can enhance public sector sustainability when properly adapted to local contexts. The study offers practical insights for implementing sustainability initiatives in emerging economies while highlighting the importance of cultural adaptation in knowledge management systems.

Keywords: knowledge management, sustainable development, SECI model, organizational learning, cultural dimensions, public sector sustainability

Urbanization as a Tipping Point: Threshold Effects on Carbon Emissions in EU Countries

2025-09-25T06:14:24+02:00

This study explores how the impact of structural drivers on CO? emissions varies at different levels of urbanisation in EU countries, reflecting the broader implications for sustainable economic development. To this end, we apply a threshold panel regression model. Using urbanisation as the threshold variable, the model identifies a statistically significant threshold of 92.572% urban share, dividing the sample into less and highly urbanised countries. The results show that the effect of energy use on emissions is significant in less urbanised areas, but becomes insignificant above the threshold. This suggests that energy efficiency and decarbonisation are enhanced in more urbanised settings. Renewable energy consistently reduces emissions in both regimes, with a notably stronger effect in highly urbanised areas. Land use and forestry (LULUCF) only exhibit a mitigating effect in less urbanised countries. Interestingly, the effect of urbanisation itself is nonlinear: while moderate urbanisation reduces emissions, further urban growth beyond the threshold increases them, likely due to infrastructure saturation and lifestyle changes. These findings provide empirical evidence of a tipping point in the urbanisation-emissions relationship and emphasise the need for decarbonisation strategies that are tailored to the level of urbanisation and aligned with long-term sustainability goals.

Keywords: Urbanization, CO? emissions, Threshold regression, Bootstraping, Renewable energy, LULUCF, Energy use, EU countries

Sustainable Corporate Governance and Reporting Quality: Evidence from Developing Economy

2025-09-27T12:15:54+02:00

This study investigates the relationship between sustainable corporate governance practices and financial reporting quality. Using?a sample of non-financial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange from 2014-2024, the study adopts panel logistic regression random effect model as baseline analysis. The current study finds a significant negative correlation between sustainable corporate governance score, institutional ownership and board size with the likelihood of financial reporting quality in firms listed in non-financial sector in?Pakistan. The empirical findings also showed a weak effect of independence of the board and family?ownership on the quality of the financial information. To the best of our information,?this is the first ever study to develop a governance score based on the recently introduced code of corporate governance and explore its possible relation with the risk to financial reporting quality in term of manipulations in an Asian emerging market. Based on M-score model, this research adds to the existing literature on sustainable corporate governance and financial reporting quality in emerging economies.

Keywords: Sustainable Corporate Governance, Financial Reporting Quality, Corporate Governance Index, Ownership Structure, Board Independence

Bibliometric Analysis of Sports and Gender Equality Studies in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

2025-09-29T21:28:56+02:00

Academic studies indicate that the topic of sport and sustainability is increasingly taking a prominent role in social life and is accepted as a societal norm, since sustainable development efforts play a crucial role in enhancing social well-being, promoting gender-inclusive participation, and empowering women. Accordingly, examining research trends on these topics over time constitutes an important area of study. This study investigates the growing number of scientific publications on gender equality in sport, produced within the framework of the SDGs and published between 1992 and 2025, through a bibliometric analysis. A total of 801 research records were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection and analysed with VOSviewer, focusing on productivity and collaboration networks across authors, universities, countries, and publishers. The findings highlight the dominance of the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, and show that research has gained momentum since the 1990s, with a marked increase particularly after the United Nations announced the SDG vision in 2015. Moreover, the results reveal that conceptual focuses in the field of sport and gender equality have diversified, with themes such as “inclusivity” and “feminism” gaining prominence. By identifying gaps in the literature, this study offers strategic opportunities for emerging researchers and contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of sport in advancing gender equality goals within sustainable development.

Keywords: bibliometric analysis, sports studies, sustainability, gender equality, SDGs

Decoding Bioeconomy: Trends and Definitions Through Bibliometric Insights

2025-10-01T08:07:41+02:00

Bioeconomy is a field of study with major importance for economic systems, but its conceptualization still lacks a harmonized definition. To address this challenge and contribute to the understanding of the field of bioeconomy, the present research aims to identify the newest research tracks in the field of bioeconomy by conducting a bibliometric study within the interval 2010-2024.

The aim of the paper is to grasp all the relevant literature streams over the recent period by employing Dimensions as a database, with the aim to better define bioeconomy. The results are analyzed and visualized with the help of the VOSviewer software for term co-occurrence maps, co-authorship based on authors, institutions, countries and journals.

The findings of this paper may be valuable for researchers, academia, and policy makers interested in consolidation of the bioeconomy model to render a comprehensive system where bioeconomy can be better understood, defined and measured

Keywords: bioeconomy, sustainable development, bibliometrics, circular economy

Development of Students’ Professional Competencies in the Framework of Education Digitalization and general globalization

2025-10-04T08:19:00+02:00

The research goals are to identify the methodological basis and efficient technological mechanisms of the formation of professional competencies of students in the conditions of the digitalization of education, as well as evaluate the effect of these on the quality of training of future specialists, more specifically, to conduct a survey on the identification of the level of formation of the digital and professional competencies of the students. comparative analysis; systematization; generalization; survey. The study has identified that learning platforms are important in shaping professional competencies of students, in the case of digitalizing the education process. The interpretation of empirical evidence conducted on the background of a survey of 1675 students demonstrated that the Coursera, edX, and Udemy platforms are effective in terms of developing digital skills, media literacy, and optimizing the learning process, and Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams facilitate the development of collaborative skills, though the impact on the acquisition of specific professional knowledge is less strong. The overall findings of the study prove the importance of digital educational resources in developing professional and digital competencies in students as the success of such tools is greatly determined by the extent of their integration into the learning process, student motivation, and consideration of the learning requirements of the students as individuals.

Keywords: digitalization of education, professional competencies, digital competencies, digital technologies, educational platforms