ADVANCING A NEW ERA IN HIGHER EDUCATION MANAGEMENT: A STAKEHOLDER OVERVIEW ANALYSIS FROM EUROPEAN AND NON COUNTRIES

Ina SEJDINI

Lecturer, Professor, University of Elbasan

ina.sejdini@uniel.edu.al

Imelda SEJDINI

Associate Professor, University of Elbasan

imelda.sejdini@uniel.edu.al

Ardita TODRI

Associate Professor, University of Elbasan

ardita.todri@uniel.edu.al

Petraq PAPAJORGJI

Professor, Proinfinit Consulting Tirana

petraq@gmail.com

Christos Ap. LADIAS

Professor, Regional Science Inquiry Journal, Greece

ladias@rsijournal.eu

Filip RUXHO

Associate Professor, University “Haxhi Zeka”

filipos.ruxho@unhz.eu

(Corresponding Author)

Abstract

This paper aims to explore how higher education institutions’ (HEI) top managers, students, professors, assistant professors, education experts, and administrative staff evaluate the Albanian, Algerian, Polish, Turkish, and Spanish institutional openness toward the responsibility and sustainability approaches and analyze how it can be improved. In this research study participated 406 individuals out of 680 that were contacted. The study participants’ data were collected using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire uses four pillars concerning institutions’ responsible and sustainable approaches, each containing eight elements. These pillars are: Culture, Resources, and Infrastructure in higher education institutions; Research and Responsible Education; Solidarization for Sustainable Development and Social Management and Knowledge. We start the research with a hypothesis-free approach, and in the following, we handle a hypothesis-based approach. The study shows that the Spanish HEI exhibit higher engagement in terms of responsible and sustainable approaches followed by Turkish, Albanian, Algerian and Polish ones. Further, our analysis suggests that improving Culture, Resources, and Infrastructure toward responsible and sustainable approaches is strongly correlated with the efficient management of Research and Responsible Education, Solidarization for Sustainable Development and Social Management and Knowledge in these institutions.  The study provides some practical implications for HEI stakeholders and line institutions.

Keywords: higher education institutions management, responsible management, sustainable management, countries mindsets

JEL classification: Q01, Q28, Q55

pp. 11-24

read more

MARGINALISED ZONES AS STATISTICAL INSTRUMENTS TO NAVIGATE PERMACRISIS IMPACTS IN EUROPEAN REGIONS

Cristina LINCARU

PhD, FeRSA, Department of Labour Market, National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest, Romania

cristina.lincaru@yahoo.de

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6596-1820

Gabriela TUDOSE

PhD, Senior Researcher, II-nd degree, National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest, Romania

gabriela_tudose@yahoo.com

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-340-9987

Adriana GRIGORESCU

PhD Full Professor, SNSPA; Director of Global Economy & Governance Interdisciplinary Research Platform; AOSR; INCE; LEAD Cambridge, MA; UCLM Spain

adrianagrigorescu11@gmail.com

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4212-6974

Speranța PÎRCIOG

PhD, Scientific Director, National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest, Romania

pirciog@incsmps.ro

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0215-038X

Cristina STROE

Senior Researcher II-nd degree, National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest, Romania

cristina.radu@incsmps.ro

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8384-6084

Abstract

In the context of overlapping and interrelated crises—economic, ecological, social, and geopolitical—European regions are confronted with new governance challenges. Marginalised zones, often treated as residual spaces in policy discourse, must be reimagined as analytical and governance instruments in the transition toward sustainability and territorial resilience. This article explores how marginalised areas can be conceptualised and operationalised through spatial statistical methodologies and policy frameworks that support just transition processes. Drawing on a critical review of empirical studies and strategic European and Romanian documents, we synthesise the main tools used to identify territorial disparities, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), clustering algorithms, fuzzy logic, spatial econometrics, and machine learning. We confirm that these methods allow for more nuanced territorial diagnostics and typologies, which are essential for evidence-based and place-based policies. The article advances a transdisciplinary framework that repositions marginalised zones as strategic levers in adaptive territorial governance. Ultimately, we argue for a paradigm shift: from periphery to policy, where marginalised regions evolve from passive recipients of aid to active instruments of just transition.

Keywords: Marginalised regions, Just transition, Spatial inequality, Territorial resilience, Governance instruments, PCA, Clustering, Fuzzy logic, Regional typologies, Permacrisis

JEL classification: R11, R58, O18, Q56, C38

pp.155-165

read more

NET JOBS GENERATION AND NET GHG EMISSIONS REDUCTION FROM PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF FOSSIL FUELS WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Gustavo FERRO

Associate Professor and Independent Researcher, Universidad del CEMA (UCEMA) and CONICET

gaf97@ucema.edu.ar; gferro05@yahoo.com.ar

M. Priscila RAMOS

Professor and Researcher, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Departamento de Economía. CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Economía Política.

 mpramos@economicas.uba.ar

Carlos A. ROMERO

Professor and Researcher, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Departamento de Economía. CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Economía Política.

cromero@economicas.uba.ar

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the reach of net job creation and net emissions reduction from the partial substitution of conventional (fossil) energy sources by renewables in Southern Brazil. We examine a subset of renewable energy sources, namely, biogas. It has been established that biogas requires lower investment and is also more labor-intensive than fossil energies for comparable units. However, gross job generation does not account for job losses in reducing sectors. In order to account for production and industrial chain relationships, input-output analysis allows for ordering information and tracing the interrelations between industries. Concerning jobs and emissions, input-output tables and models are expressed in monetary units. In contrast, jobs are measured in units (full-time equivalent – FTE), and all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are in MtCO2e. These satellite accounts in physical units join Input-Output tables, transforming conventional into hybrid Input-Output analysis. Once the baseline is established (2018), we consider different scenarios of fossil fuel substitution by biogas and determine values for net job creation and net emissions generation. Results highlight the favorable impacts of the development of biogas to produce electricity generation in terms of greater production and net job creation while saving GHG emissions.

Keywords: biogas, Brazil, input-output, employment, GHG emissions

JEL classification: Q42, R15

pp. 143-153

read more