This paper aims to investigate the experience and to identify the drivers of transforming traditional universities into Entrepreneurial Universities for ensuring sustainable higher education in Latvia. Due to the wide scope, Entrepreneurial University characteristics, the present research study is limited and focuses on the university providing access to students to business incubation facilities, relationships with business incubators for students, as well openness of university to collaboration and knowledge co-creation with its external stakeholders. Analyses of the experiences of universities of Latvia business incubators providing services to students, as well cooperation between higher education institutions (HEI) and local governments and entrepreneurs show that there is a positive trend. In opposite, such a trend can’t be observed towards building Entrepreneurial Universities in Latvia over the past 5 years. The results of the survey show that there is a need put higher efforts to assist young entrepreneurs in building cooperation networks and strengthening knowledge co-creation with external stakeholders.

The current period describes the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis on businesses and the lives of citizens. It has accelerated digital transformation in all areas. The work and learning of many individuals have moved to the digital environment. In order to use digital technologies, employees need to acquire new knowledge and skills. The aim of this research study is to perform an analysis of the development of digital transformation and relevant competencies for employees and to identify the opportunities and challenges in Latvia. The research methodology applied for this research study is based on examining relevant theoretical concepts and publications of the EU regarding digital transformation. A survey method was used to find out the opinions of Latvian employers regarding the importance of digital transformation and relevant competencies for employees. The analysis of the research indicated that the majority of the respondents surveyed rated the level of implementation of digital transformation as high or medium-high, which shows that this is a good trend, and the digitalization process continues to progress. However, about a third of enterprises are only at the early stage of digitalization, while some have not yet begun it. The problem is the development of human capital competencies and digital skills. This is a specific research study that expands and provides insights into the situation in Latvia on the possibilities of implementation of digital transformation, which is closely linked with the development of human capital competencies and digital skills. This requires maintaining a holistic approach to targeted digital transformation management.

One after another, European educational systems are applying reforms to transform primary and secondary schools to fit continuously changing and dynamic environments. Reforms require schools to serve as lifelong learning centres for various learners’ groups, including school leaders, teachers and school staff, making them more flexible, collaborative and innovative in what comes to the teaching approaches. Simultaneously, gradual transformations in education are contextualised by the decrease in teaching staff and low motivation to remain in the profession due to a variety of reasons. ‘School as a learning organisation’ concept is introduced to define a school that continuously changes and adapts to new environments and circumstances through individual and collective learning of its staff. This paper aims to review the main impediments to implementations of the ‘school as a learning organisation’ concept, considering its functioning in Latvia and abroad. Literature and document analysis was done to assess the characteristics of learning organisations in the European context. With special focus on Latvia, several focus group interviews were conducted with the education managers and stakeholders to verify the implementation impediments in Latvia and define main risks of schools as learning organisations. Content analysis was applied to draw conclusions. The results have shown that institutional autonomy and leadership are the keys to positive changes in educational staff perceptions and motivation to take on risks and obtain new knowledge, skills and competence for the individual and organisational growth. However, there are other impediments, such as lack of time, financial resources and insufficient communication and understanding of the whole idea of the school as a learning organisation, that stops schools from being the agents of change. The obtained results will be further applied in the design of the ‘School as a learning organisation’ model and a tool for its measurement in Latvia.

The main feature of teamwork is a common goal, and the involvement of employees is essential to its achievement. In a wider scope, it is understood not only by the involvement of employees in decision-making but also as the involvement of employees in operational planning and strategic issues. Research aim is to find out whether the involvement of employees in decision-making, goal setting and planning is inherent in manufacturing enterprises. According to a survey of 268 different level employees of 25 manufacturing enterprises in Latvia, it was found out that involvement of all employees in the decision-making process is not perceived by the enterprises` performance and strategic planning, and the involvement of employees in decision-making and goal setting can only be seen within the department. Keywords: decision-making, employee involvement, goal setting, operational planning, manufacturing enterprise, teamwork

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