FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Since the beginning of the XXI century, there have been clear modifications in the sector of higher education, when the institutions have moved near to the economic sector. These changes were primary introduced as the consecutive response to the transformation processes within the society, which should be embedded in the following construct: there was a clear move towards a more competitive and market-based system. Due to the changes in the operating environment financial sustainability and its management for the higher education institutions became one of the core elements. The main objective of the current paper is to discuss the practical application of the methodology for the management of higher education institutions based on the example of Latvian private higher education institutions. The author would like to argue that the paper contributes to the fundamental discussion of financial sustainability in the field of higher education institution management. Moreover, it has got practical implications for the management of the organizations not only in Latvia but also in other countries when efficiency and effectiveness are primary issues

Development of Investment Strategy Applying Corporate Social Responsibility

Purpose of the article: Due to globalization processes and technological development, companies are having more influence on global society than ever. Therefore, business misconduct causes enormous harm to stakeholders, whereas ethical behavior is becoming an important issue. The goal of the following study is to verify and measure a positive effect from investments in social activities on financial attractiveness of companies in the form of its stock portfolio value growth. Methodology/methods: In order to achieve the goal of the research, quantitative analysis is used by comparing performance of stock portfolio of companies having long-term investments in social activities with market index increment. The quantitative results are accompanied with the review of corporate social responsibility definition and some practical issues on governmental and corporation level. Scientific aim: The conducted research contributes both to the scientific discussion about development of appropriate investment strategy in companies applying CSR principles as well as to the discussion of related terminology used in the field. Findings: The research has shown that engagement in the CSR activities tends to have strong positive effect on companies’ financial results and investors’ financial performance. The research proves this fact by comparing value increment of CSR-portfolio (+35.99% gained from January 2015 to March 2017) with market index (+22.37% in the same period). Conclusions: Regardless the positive result achieved in the study the authors have determined several gaps in the research, which will be discussed in the further studies on the field

In Search of Sustainability and Financial Returns : The Case of ESG Energy Funds

Funding Information: This research was funded by Law Faculty of Riga Stradins University, Latvia. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.The world is facing several challenges, and the problem of sustainable development is one of the most important. It is worth considering that European countries are playing a significant role as pioneers in building a sustainable world, such as those promises made by signing the Paris Agreement and European Taxonomy. To achieve ambitious targets within sustainable development, a huge amount of capital is necessary, while financial and capital market participants are expected to demonstrate a high level of engagement in the domain of sustainability. Facing growing interest and demand, a relatively new product—the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investment fund—was introduced. Scientific literature is providing some controversial views regarding the overall evaluation of this product. Therefore, additional research providing different angles would contribute to a better understanding. This study examines European ESG funds in the energy sector, from the perspective of news flows and investors. It is worth noting that the authors use the word “European” to refer to members of the European Union (EU). The paper consists of the following parts. In the introduction, the current state of this issue is discussed. The following section offers a literature review and a news flow analysis that contributes to a deeper understanding of these issues. A description of the methodology applied for the data analysis follows this, and the final section presents the research results and conclusions. The authors apply statistical analysis and the Carhart model to determine the differences in the performance of the ESG and conventional funds and use their own tool for text analysis to examine the relevance of the topic of ESG to attract client interest. The authors claim that the performance of the European ESG equity funds do not show a statistically significant difference from the non-ESG equity funds in the majority of the periods examined. The application of the adjusted Carhart model demonstrates that the factor of sustainability has a non-significant and negative effect on the fund performance. Finally, the authors highlight the urgent necessity for the unified usage of keywords and terminology, such as “ESG”, “sustainability”, etc., to ensure comparison and attribution possibilities.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Does Car Sharing Contribute to Urban Sustainability from User-Motivation Perspectives?

Funding Information: Funding: The paper was funded by Latvian Council of Science, the project ”The Impact of COVID-19 on Sustainable Consumption Behaviours and Circular Economy” (Nr. lzp-2020/2-0317). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Mobility, its current state and development perspectives in the future creates challenges with respect to sustainability, the first of which is the uncontrolled increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the last few decades, while road transport is one of the “sinners” creating long-term negative impact. The second is the dominance of car travel and car usage in the passenger transportation segment before the latest COVID-19 pandemic accelerated environmental problems. Although recent trends show new, greener patterns in consumption, there is still a relatively low share of consumers acknowledging the importance of sustainable and green preferences. This research study aims to investigate car sharing from users’ perspectives and to determine the most significant factors influencing their choice of sharing services to ensure upscaling of car sharing and, thus, contribute to urban sustainability. This research study contributes to the overall scientific discussion on car sharing and its role within urban sustainability, particularly with the following: (1) deeper investigation of car sharing and its users motivation perspectives in Latvia; (2) analyses of the most significant motivational factors for car-sharing users and aspects of sustainability; and (3) the insight into the generational differences triggering a number of car-sharing users. The existing and potential users of car sharing were surveyed in order to determine the motivational factors for its usage and attitudes towards it. Socio-demographic variables in statistical analysis were used to identify economic and environmental factors that meaningfully influence the choice of car-sharing services. The results of this study can support further development in new car-sharing business models and the value proposition for consumers in Latvia, as well as preparing policy recommendations on the promotion of sustainable transport. These findings are also useful to academics for the investigation of recent trends in car sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Exploring sustainable urban transformation concepts for economic development

Funding Information: The paper was supported by the BA School of Business and Finance internal grant BA2020/1 project ?Modern teaching methods to promote the development of sustainable entrepreneurial thinking ? and the project of Latvian Council of Science No. lzp-2020/2-? ? ? ? ?The ImCpOacVtIDo-f19 on Sustainable Consumption Behaviours and Circular Economy ? ? Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Estudios de Economia Aplicada. All rights reserved.Nowadays cities face numerous challenges amplified to build necessary urban municipal and community capacity to ensure sustainability transformation to respond to the local and global challenges of climate change, inequality, and access to resources. This research combines the study fields of sustainability, economic development, governance of sustainability transformation, providing the multidisciplinary approach as a systemic-oriented view encompassing the social, technological and ecological aspects of urban transformation. The purpose of the paper is to explore how the concept of urban transformation could be operationalized for research of economic development under the economic strain assuming the emergency of Covid-19 grand challenge. The research methods used are a systematic literature review and the content analysis. The paper provides a detailed characterization of the urban transformation exploring this concept from the structure and system perspectives for the economic exit from the crisis.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Problem of plagiarism in the academic area

Bakalaura darbā tiek apskatīti nozīmīgi aspekti, kuri saistīti ar plaģiāta problēmu akadēmiskajā vidē. Akcentēta plaģiāta izmantošana studiju procesā un noskaidrots Latvijas Universitātes Sociālo zinātņu fakultātes studentu viedoklis par šo problēmu. Plaģiāts kļuvis daudz aktuālāks līdz ar interneta resursu izmantošanu, jo piekļuve informācijai un iespējas to kopēt ir kļuvušas vienkāršākas. Kā pētījuma teorētiskā bāze tiek izmantota pragmatisma filozofija un mazākās piepūles princips. Pētījuma metodes: anketēšana, fokusgrupas un ekspertu intervijas. Rezultātā ir noskaidrota studentu attieksme par plaģiātu studiju procesā. Vēlme ar pēc iespējas mazāku piepūli paveikt nepieciešamo darbu ir viens no galvenajiem iemesliem, kāpēc studenti veido plaģiātu. Atslēgvārdi: plaģiāts, studiju process, pragmatisms, mazākās piepūles princips.The bachelor’s paper discusses important aspects of the problem of plagiarism in the academic area. The primary emphasis of the study is on the concept of plagiarism in the study process and as well as on obtaining information about the attitude of the students of the Faculty of Social Science of the University of Latvia to this problem. The problem of plagiarism has become bigger nowadays with access to information becoming easier. The theoretical basis includes two theories: pragmatism and the principle of least effort. Three research methods were used – those of survey, focus group and expert interviews. Research results demonstrate the students' attitude to plagiarism in the study process. Internet plays a major role in the formation of plagiarism. Keywords: plagiarisms, study process, pragmatism, principle of least effort

Youth unemployment problem and its possible solutions in Latvia and Spain

Jauniešu bezdarba problēma ir ļoti aktuāla tēma mūsdienās, par to liecina augstie bezdarba radītāji Spānijā un Latvijā. Spānija ir līderis ar visaugstāko jauniešu bezdarbu ES. Maģistra darba mērķis ir izpētīt bezdarba problēmas aktualitāti un nozīmi Latvijā un Spānijā jauniešu vidū un izstrādāt priekšlikumus, kuri nodrošinātu bezdarba samazināšanos. Darba gaitā tiek risināti vairāki uzdevumi: izpētīti informācijas avoti, teorijas, pētījumi un veikta Latvijas un Spānijas darba tirgu analīze. Pētījumā tiek izmantota anketēšana un ekspertu intervijas. Rezultātā ir noskaidrota jauniešu attieksme pret bezdarba problēmu, ka arī ekspertu viedoklis un situācijas apkopojums. Tiek izstrādāti iespējamie risinājumi jauniešu bezdarba problēmas risināšanai. Maģistra darbā ir noskaidrots, ka jauniešu bezdarbs ir viena no pamatproblēmām Latvijā un Spānijā. Latvijai izdodas labāk risināt jauniešu bezdarba problēmu.Youth unemployment problem is very important today, high unemployment in Spain and Latvia proves this statement. Spain has the highest youth unemployment rate in the EU. The study aims to explore the problem of youth unemployment importance in Latvia and Spain and to develop proposals to ensure unemployment reduction. In this study many different tasks are performed: exploring different sources of information, theories, studies and the analyses of Latvian and Spanish labour market. The study includes questionnaires and interviews with experts. As a result, the attitude of the youth towards the problem of unemployment has been established, as well as expert opinion, and a summary of the situation have been provided. Possible solutions have been developed to tackle youth unemployment. The Master's thesis has revealed that youth unemployment is one of the basic Latvian and Spain problems. Latvia manages to better tackle youth unemployment

Measuring Patients′ Satisfaction in For-Profit Orthopedic Hospital

Patients′ satisfaction plays the central role in management of private hospitals, therefore the development of appropriate methodology and its adjustment to specific needs is necessary. The goal of the research is to develop and test methodology for the assessment of patient satisfaction in a private for-profit orthopedic hospital in Latvia that is consistent for results, as it should help to determine potential areas of progress in the coming periods. Moreover, satisfied patients are likely to return, to fulfil medical treatment requirements achieving better clinical results, as well as to recommend the hospital to others thus contributing to better overall performance of the organization. The results of the study show that the developed tool could be a valid instrument for measuring patient’s satisfaction, allowing to improve the existing processes inside the organization, as well as benchmark different segments in the hospital as far as possible and develop best-practice approaches

Ecological Quality Analysis of the Rezekne River after Zooplankton

During seasonal studies 2012 (August/October), samples of zooplankton were collected and analyzed according standard method. Chemical quality of the Rezekne River's water investigated. Changes of quantitative and qualitative characteristics, saprobity index, species diversity (Shannon- Wiener index) and Renkonen index were employed for the analysis of zooplankton community structure in the Rezekne River. The Rezekne River saprobity varies from o – saprobity to β – mesosaprobity. The lowest ecological quality was determined in the leg of the Rezekne River in the territory of Rezekne city, which characterises with decrease in the total zooplankton abundance and species diversity according to Shannon - Wiener index, increase of saprobity