Marajn Angeleski, Olivera Kostoska
DIGITAL LEARNING IN A POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMY: EVIDENCE FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Abstract:
Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has enabled countries to jump faster into the future of digital learning. However, the question arises as to what the lasting effects of the pandemic would be, in terms of what education will look like in the post-Covid era; will this way of learning become the ‘new normal’ or should the world immediately be returned to pre-pandemic mode of physical classroom.
Purpose: This article aims to address the above-mentioned challenge by examining trends, shifts, and changes in doing online courses or using online learning materials across European countries prior to the outbreak of the pandemic until the time when many countries removed the measures.
Methods: The analysis is based on Eurostat statistical data for 37 European countries regarding Internet use by individuals doing online courses and Internet use in general from 2019 to 2022. Aside from descriptive statistical analysis and distribution of data and trends, a cluster analysis is performed to examine how different groups of countries respond to pandemic-induced changes and how they can move forward in terms of digital learning practices. All statistical measurements are performed in the Python programming language using diverse set of libraries, including algorithm for conducting a cluster analysis.
Results/conclusions: The results suggest that during the temporary physical closures due to the pandemic, online courses were considered a safe backup system for learning and training, but the popularity of virtual courses declined as social restrictions began to ease. At the same time, the composition of clusters evolves over time, which points to changes in the dynamics of engagement in online courses among various groups of countries. Overall, the analysis made here represents a useful guide for formulating strategies to further promote and support digital inclusion and online education initiatives.
Alexander Anatolyevich Nosachenko
DETECTION OF LATENT RESERVES
OF WHOLESALE TRADE IN FOOD INDUSTRY IN CONDITIONS OF ECONOMIC CRISIS
Abstract:
The article considers approaches to identifying and assessing latent reserves in the global economic crisis in the food industry, as strategically important for the country. The aim is to consider the possibility of identifying latent reserves in wholesale trade of the food industry. The measurement model of latent variables is chosen as the research methodology, which allows to take into account internal and external variables and is based on the provisions of factor analysis. Theoretical research of the concept allowed to substantiate the reserve as an untapped opportunity for the development of economic entities, which are enterprises, and increase their competitiveness by identifying hidden values, and for further effective operation of entities used resources. Types of latent reserves of wholesale trade in food industry in crisis conditions are substantiated. Latent reserves with correlated features were selected by factor analysis. The variance of the variables for the five selected factors and the standard deviation of the normalized value are calculated. As a result of the calculations, the treatment for two identified factors was chosen. The coefficients of connections between external and internal latent variables are determined and the probable latent features are singled out. The calculations showed a significant pressure, depending on the severity of external influences, so on the scale of measurement, experts gave higher scores on the last parameters, which are reflected in the constructed matrix. The results of the study allowed us to trace the links between external and internal latent variables and to build a SWOT-analysis for food industry enterprises, which allowed to outline the prospects for the functioning of food industry enterprises.
