Proceedings of CBU in Economics and Business

Front Matter: Volume 4

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This PDF file contains the front matter of the Proceedings of CBU in Proceedings of CBU in Economics and Business Volume 4, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing.

THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, DIGITALISATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL DECISIONS THROUGH THE EYES OF STUDENTS

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The present of higher education is highly dynamic, and its future is contingent upon numerous factors. It is crucial to recognize that today's students with their perspectives, expectations, and demands, are significantly shaping the future of higher education. They are the future educators and creators of new scientific knowledge. This article aims to identify the essential components for constructing a vision for the future of universities through an analysis of current students attitudes and behaviors. A literature review was conducted on the evolving dynamics of higher education. Based on these dynamics a tailored questionnaire was prepared to study student's opinions, expectations, and recommendations for technological development and their decisions. Over one hundred students, nearly all of them undergraduates, were surveyed. This empirical study assesses students' satisfaction with the educational process, the university environment, interactions with business, and their future aspirations. The survey data was utilized to construct a vision for the future of higher education. The results confirm students' positive attitudes towards technological advancements, but also highlight concerns regarding their impact on the labor market structure. Notably, students envision a future where universities maintain in-person education, emphasizing the need for enhanced social interactions. Despite improved student-university interactions, there remains a strong desire for greater attention to be paid to their opinions and for closer collaboration with business and industry experts and practitioners.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EU CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN PLANT SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN PLOVDIV, BULGARIA

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The Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) is the first Bulgarian Center of Excellence (CoE), funded under the Horizon 2020 program, operating in Plovdiv. This article presents a case study that analyses the development of CPSBB over six years. Content analysis was used as the primary research method, focusing on financial indicators, publication and project activity, and human resources development of CPSBB for the 2017-2023 period. The study examines three critical dimensions of sustainability: management, internal and external factors affecting the Center's operation. The analysis supports the hypothesis that organisations such as CPSBB hold a prominent position in Bulgaria's and Europe's scientific ecosystem because of their operational agility and high productivity. The article outlines the execution of CPSBB's development strategy and highlights plans for enhancing the Center's administrative efficiency and long-term sustainability.

ROLE OF POWER DISTANCE AND INDIVIDUALISM VS COLLECTIVISM IN SHAPING ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENT

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This study examines how two of Hofstede's cultural dimensions—Power Distance and Individualism versus Collectivism—affect entrepreneurial intent in Saudi Arabia. Using Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions as a framework, the research explores how cultural differences shape entrepreneurial activities, focusing on Saudi culture compared to other global cultures. The study aims to empirically analyse the influence of these cultural dimensions on entrepreneurial intent, assess their role in the success of entrepreneurial ventures in Saudi Arabia, and provide insights for entrepreneurs and policymakers to enhance decision-making and strategic planning. The research methodology includes a literature review and a self-administered online survey completed by 200 respondents. The findings reveal that High Power Distance and Collectivism significantly impact entrepreneurial intent in Saudi Arabia, offering valuable implications for promoting entrepreneurship in alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The study also contributes to academic understanding by providing a framework to analyse the relationship between cultural dimensions and entrepreneurial activities in the Saudi context.

APPLICATION OF SECTOR ROTATION IN ACTIVE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT FOR US AND EU STOCK MARKETS

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The paper deals with active portfolio management through sector rotation. Focusing on European and American markets, it introduces the reader to the intricacies of sector rotation in active investing using a carefully selected investment strategy. We aim to propose and validate an investment approach that combines monetary policy changes with momentum. We construct our investment portfolios by constructing sector-specific exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the European and U.S. markets. We analyze monthly data from March 2003 to March 2023 to evaluate performance. Our investigation covers several critical aspects, such as market efficiency, active vs. passive investing, a comparison between active and passive investment approaches and Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down approaches. We explore the merits of these contrasting strategies in active investing. To guide our investment decisions, we closely monitor interest rate changes. Specifically, we track adjustments made by the European Central Bank (ECB) for European markets and the Federal Reserve (FED) for U.S. markets. These serve as monetary easing and tightening indicators, respectively, reflecting expansionary and restrictive policies. Our sector ETFs are strategically selected based on these interest rate changes, either cyclically or defensively. Subsequently, we evaluate the performance of our portfolios using momentum strategies. Notably, our proposed strategy effectively reduces market risk in the E.U. and U.S. markets. Our portfolios surpass the benchmark STOXX600 across all metrics in the European markets. However, in the U.S. markets, the benchmark S&P500 exceeds the performance of all our portfolios.