The Impact of Digitalisation of Higher Education: The Case of Latvia and Nordic-Baltic Region

For the next seven years, the digitalisation of higher education is one of the priority tasks of Latvia. An extensive review of information sources was performed, and an online survey with the technical staff of higher education institutions was conducted to evaluate the progress made towards education digitalisation in Latvia and compare these results with the countries of the Nordic-Baltic region. The paper presents the study results and identities issues hindering the digitalisation progress, e.g., issues with the legislation, basic digital skills, and required competences for academic staff.

Air Cargo Transport development in Central and Eastern Europe and Baltic countries

The economic and social development in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Baltic countries in the last ten years, the admission of first 10 countries from this area in European Union has an important impact on the evolution of air transport in this area. We present the approach used by the airlines for choosing an airport for air cargo operation, step by step: chose of the region of operation, then the economic analysis of the region and of the airports, analysis of possible constraints for operations and individual performances of airport. The interest of airlines for an airport is generated by the growth of the county or of the region, the trade, the foreign investments and the labor market development, all indicators being analyzed in the paper. The diversification of the trade business model, the development of e-commerce has had an important impact on the development of cargo traffic in the world and of course also in CEE. The features of the air cargo transport market have had a great influence on governmental policies for airport cargo capacity development in CEE and in Baltic Countries. In order to provide airports with strategic information for building development strategies, this paper presents a comparative analysis of the evolution and demands of air cargo transport using external and internal benchmarking approach. The target group is represented by capitals' airports from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. © 2022 IEEE.

Telework in Baltic Countries during the Pandemic: Effects on Wellbeing, Job Satisfaction, and Work-Life Balance

As a result of the rapid and unplanned adoption of telework by European companies during the pandemic, specific telework characteristics have arisen. Thus, employees’ experience of telework requires further analysis. Based on the “Living, Working, and COVID-19” results for Baltic countries, this paper studies the effect of telework experience on wellbeing, both directly and mediated by Work-Life balance and job satisfaction, through structural equation modelling. After verifying the significant differences in telework preferences, the model is also tested in high versus low telework preference groups. The main findings corroborate the effect of a positive telework experience on perceived wellbeing, but only indirectly via Work-Life balance. Additionally, data from the group with a high telework preference best fits the proposed model, revealing not only the mentioned indirect effect, but also the direct positive effect of telework experience on wellbeing. Thus, employees with a negative experience of telework during the pandemic will be more reluctant to accept telework over more traditional work arrangements. The implications as well as some limitations to be examined in further studies are also presented.

Public Financial Support to Aviation During the COVID-19 in the Baltic Countries

The paper analyses government financial support (state aid) arrangements to the aviation sector in the Baltic countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The support schemes include three main features. First, the design of public support schemes grounds on a standardized Keynesian framework of stimulation measures during economic recessions. Second, state aid is a rather sensitive issue in the European Union context. Support schemes are generally banned and strictly regulated even in the global pandemic situation. Third, stimulation measures depend on countries' capabilities to support their flag carriers. Which has a direct impact on the post-COVID-19 competition situation in the region. The paper focuses on comparative analyses of the scope of state aid in the COVID-19 situation in the Baltic Sea Region. In the frames of research is given an overview of stimulative instruments proposed by international aviation organizations. As a conclusion will be discussed motives to support aviation and stimulation schemes particularities. © 2021 Kaunas University of Technology. All rights reserved.

Lessons learned from the Baltic countries' response to the first wave of COVID-19.

The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania shared a similar response to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the information available on the COVID-19 Health System Response Monitor platform, this article analyzed measures taken to prevent transmission, ensure capacity, provide essential services, finance the health system, and coordinate their governance approaches. All three countries used a highly centralized approach and implemented restrictive measures relatively early, with a state of emergency declared with fewer than 30 reported cases in each country. Due to initially low COVID-19 incidence, the countries built up their capacities for testing, contact tracing, and infrastructure, without a major stress test to the health system throughout the spring and summer of 2020, yet issues with accessing routine health care services had already started manifesting themselves. The countries in the Baltic region entered the pandemic with a precarious starting point, particularly due to smaller operational budgets and health workforce shortages, which may have contributed to their escalated response aiming to prevent transmission during the first wave. Subsequent waves, however, were much more damaging. This article focuses on early responses to the pandemic in the Baltic states highlighting measures taken to prevent virus transmission in the face of major uncertainties.