The authors investigate the issue of modelling the balance of sustainable growth determinants based on determining the center of mass. They have identified the most relevant factors that characterize countries' social, economic, and political spheres, digital capability, and cybersecurity to determine sustainable development and growth. The research has been carried out based on empirical values of the selected 17 indicators for 127 world countries in 2018. As a result, the four–pole barycentric models were built as quadrangles, the vertices of which are composite targets formed by the determinants of the four spheres. The models' calculations were carried out taking into account three components: the values of the composite targets (as a geometric mean), the level of pairs balance (as the sum of opposite pairs of quadrilateral angles), and all four targets (as the distance between the actual and standard value of the center of mass). According to the analysis result of the first component, developed countries have the most effective targets (top five – Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands). Research of the results of the second component has revealed an imbalance in target pairs for most countries. Determinants of socio–political development are the most effective for developed countries. The economic sphere is most unbalanced for the least developed countries. Various determinants can cause an imbalance for developing and new industrial countries. The analysis of the center of mass distances revealed that not only developed countries could be balanced, but also developing, new industrial and the least developed, which indicates a balanced development of their determinants, which is pretty slow. New Zealand, Mauritius, South Africa and Mali were the most balanced in each country's sustainable growth group.

The shift to the knowledge-based economy and fast technological development put pressure on higher educational institutions with regard to the modernization of curricula, providing possibilities to overcome the skill gap and finding new tools for ensuring the quality of education services that correspond with the labor market needs. The purpose of the paper is to present the analysis of challenges and results of a currently piloted tool – dual studies – based on best German applied education practices. Authors investigate formal and informal obstacles for the introduction of this innovation in the national context, as well as solutions and potential benefits. The latter are social (decreasing the graduates’ unemployment level), economic (providing the labor market with well-educated labor force equipped with relevant qualifications) and individual (image improvement of companies, advancement of higher educational institution competitiveness and financial support of students, as well as smoothening the shift to the world of work) both short- and long-term. However, despite clear positive socio-economic effects, the dynamics of dual studies introduction as an innovation by stakeholders is far from optimistic due to the unfinished process of the formation of approaches to the dual studies management, which undermines the development of cooperation networks of the three key stakeholders – a higher educational establishment, a company and a student. There is also a current need in updating teaching methodologies, development of new relevant educational programs, curricula, modernization of the content of pre-tertiary and tertiary professional education based on an integrated approach and dual education principles. With regard to the above-listed tasks to be solved and despite a number of structural obstacles, the dual form of education is being implemented in Ukraine, which adds up to building social partnerships between educational institutions, students and employers.

The authors investigate the issue of modelling the balance of countries development determinants based on determining the center of mass. They have identified the most relevant factors characterizing countries' social, economic, political spheres, digital capability and cybersecurity. The research has been carried based on empirical values of the selected 17 indicators for 127 world countries in 2018. As a result, the four-pole barycentric models were built as quadrangles, the vertices of which are composite targets formed by the determinants of the four spheres. The models' calculations were carried out taking into account three components: the values of the composite targets (as a geometric mean), the level of pairs balance (as the sum of opposite pairs of quadrilateral angles), and all four targets (as the distance between the actual and standard value of the center of mass). According to the analysis result of the first component, developed countries have the most effective targets (top five - Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands). Research of the results of the second component has revealed an imbalance in target pairs for most countries. Determinants of socio-political development are the most effective for developed countries. The economic sphere is most unbalanced for the least developed countries. Various determinants can cause an imbalance for developing and new industrial countries. The analysis of the center of mass distances revealed that not only developed countries could be balanced, but also developing, new industrial and the least developed, that indicates a balanced development of their determinants, which is pretty slow. New Zealand, Mauritius, South Africa and Mali were the most balanced in each group of countries economic growth.