Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija

Public organizations, including the armed forces, like other employers, are looking for candidates for soldiers and military personnel in the labor market. Taking into account the attributes that make up the attractiveness of an employer and their interdependence, a study was carried out in the course of which the aim was to find out how one of the public organizations, the armed forces, is perceived by people who may become soldiers or who may take up a job in the military how the sources of information through which it reaches them are assessed, and which of its features may attract their attention. The goal was achieved by carrying out, in the first quarter of 2022, a nationwide survey of people between the ages of 18 and 44. Aiming to better understand the opinions of respondents, an analysis of the labor market situation in all voivodeships was carried out. To analyze the collected data and present the results, Statistica v.13.3 and R/RStudio software were used. As a result of the survey, it was possible to establish that the armed forces enjoy a high level of trust among citizens. Respondents assessed the qualities and motives, tangible and intangible, that may encourage service and work in the military due to the potential benefits for candidates. From the perspective of the armed forces, indications as to individual elements can be the basis for improving personnel policies and marketing communications.

Rural areas are particularly important for ensuring sustainability and smart development of a state as a whole. The present study reflects the quantitative and qualitative assessment of smart growth challenges in the region of Latgale (Latvia) at the level of 19 districts. Worked out within the framework of the Latvian National Research Programme EKOSOC-LV, the present study focuses on smart growth as a tool for risk prevention and the use of opportunities in regional development within the framework of the concept of smart specialization. The research aim is to estimate the risk factors that influence the formation of a smart territory and to analyse the interrelationship of quantitative indicators and expert opinions. By analysing the theoretical principles, the regional actors’ recommendations, taking into account the research group participants’ and regional experts’ findings, the authors characterize the processes and the risks of smart development, as well as make assumptions about the development of the desired situation. The significant risk in the development of Latgale region is the decline in its population. At the same time, the results of the research show that the population is the most important cornerstone of smart growth of the rural territories in Latgale region. Both the objective data processing (statistical analysis) and the subjective point of view (the results of the expert survey) highlight a number of significant risk factors for promoting smart regional space and the growth of knowledge-based economy: the insufficient development of the population’s economic activity particularly in the knowledge-based segment, and the small population size. The assessment of various challenges and risks in the regional development of Latvia, as well as the integrated application of quantitative and qualitative approaches allows for the elaboration of a comprehensive vision of the smart growth processes in Latgale region of Latvia. The quantitative assessment is based on the establishment and testing of the integrated index (Smart Development Index). The qualitative assessment is based on the regional experts’ opinions summarized by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology. The research results have both scientific and practical applicability in promoting smart development in rural areas. First of all, the results of the study offer a possible methodological solution for the assessment of smart development. Secondly, the obtained scientific experience can be used for solving practical problems at the level of the districts of Latgale region.

The development of human resources is an important condition for ensuring the sustainability of the society and the development of the national economy. Knowledge is becoming more and more one of the basic factors for society sustainability and development. In the 21st century economy, which is based on knowledge, the innovation becomes one of the major factors to increase the competitiveness. It is confirmed by the experience of leading economic systems when investing considerable resources in the society educating. It is especially important for the Baltic States in the context of the creation of the knowledge based society declared in the EU space. Thus one of the basic aims of the Latvian economy policy is to create efficient, competitive and sustainable economy. One of the basic priorities of an up-to-date state development strategy is a modern education and science system as the education level and the development of human capital are the most important indicators that are creating the competitiveness and sustainability of the country. In the article there are considered the global tendencies of the higher education; also the connection of education with innovation and sustainability are analysed. The aim of this study is to focus on sustainable competitiveness concept and provide in-depth understanding of higher education impact on ensuring sustainable competitiveness on national level. In the research there are used primarily quantitative comparative research methods. Quantitative indicators are used to characterize specific features of the higher education impact on economics in the Baltics and Nordics. For the calculations, methodology and definitions the OECD methodology and World Economic Forum, global competitiveness concept is used.