International Grant Research Articles

Developing research competence in students through the study of socio-humanitarian subjects

In today's world, employers value knowledge and the ability to apply it in practice, analyse data and propose solutions. Research competence is becoming an essential factor in professional training. The study aims to develop students' social sciences and humanities research competence. To achieve the aim of the study, various methods were used: theoretical, synthesis, statistical analysis, survey and observation, and correlation analysis. It has been established that it is necessary to train students to conduct research and critically analyse social phenomena in the context of globalisation, innovative changes, and the growing importance of science and technology. It is outlined that funding for the humanities in Ukraine is less than for the technical sciences, but the state, international grants, and private foundations support it. Changes in spending reflect economic and social processes. The survey showed that students feel prepared for social sciences and humanities research but have gaps in experiments and surveys. They are satisfied with the support of teachers but need more practical tasks and resources to improve their skills. The analysis of the curricula showed that there are essential elements for developing research competence. However, there is room for improvement, mainly through more practical training, the use of accurate data and the expansion of methodological support. The correlation analysis showed that the quality of teaching materials and teacher support positively impact students' research competence. This highlights the importance of quality teaching materials and student support for developing research skills. A list of recommended pedagogical technologies for effectively developing students' research competence is presented. It has been established that integrating these recommendations will improve the development of research skills in students studying social sciences and humanities.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ФІНАНСОВОГО ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ СІЛЬСЬКИХ ТЕРИТОРІАЛЬНИХ ГРОМАД В УМОВАХ СТАЛОГО РОЗВИТКУ

Financial provision of rural territorial communities in conditions of sustainable development is an important aspect of the country's economic and social development. The successful functioning and development of such communities depend on their ability to attract and effectively distribute the financial resources needed to improve infrastructure, education, health care and other vital areas. In the conditions of sustainable development, which involves a balance between economic growth, social well-being and environmental protection, the financial support of rural communities becomes especially important for the preservation of their unique natural and cultural heritage. That is why the purpose of the presented work is to determine the features of financial support of rural territorial communities in conditions of sustainable development. The methods that were used in the formation of the current study are: methods of analysis and synthesis to determine the key aspects of the development of rural territorial communities; methods of induction and deduction to determine the features of the financial provision of territories; method of comparison; logical method; graphical and tabular methods for visual display of research results. Also, as a result of the study, it was proved that the necessity of diversifying the sources of financing is a prerequisite for the financial provision of rural territorial communities. In particular, such communities should actively attract local tax revenues, state support, as well as use the opportunities of international grants and technical assistance programs. At the same time, effective management of resources aimed at the implementation of sustainable development programs, which includes energy saving, development of local businesses and support of environmental initiatives, becomes an important task. In the context of reforming the financial system in Ukraine, financial decentralization is of particular importance, which opens up new opportunities for strengthening the financial independence of rural communities, at the same time placing greater responsibility on them for the rational use of funds. Rural communities can direct the received finances to improve infrastructure, develop social services, support local entrepreneurs, as well as to environmental and energy-saving initiatives.

Circulating inflammatory and immune response proteins and endometrial cancer risk: a nested case-control study and Mendelian randomization analyses

Inflammation and immune dysregulation are hypothesized contributors to endometrial carcinogenesis; however, the precise underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We measured pre-diagnostically 152 plasma protein biomarkers in 624 endometrial cancer case-control pairs nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression, accounting for confounding and multiple comparisons. Proteins considered as associated with endometrial cancer risk were further tested in a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using summary data from the UK Biobank (n=52,363) and the Endometrial Cancer Association Consortium (12,270 cases and 46,126 controls). In the EPIC nested case-control study, IL-6 [OR per NPX (doubling of concentration)=1.28 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.57)], HGF [1.48 (1.06-2.07)], PIK3AP1 [1.22 (1.00-1.50)] and CLEC4G [1.52 (1.00-2.32)] were positively associated; HSD11B1 [0.67 (0.49-0.91)], SCF [0.68 (0.49-0.94)], and CCL25 [0.80 (0.65-0.99)] were inversely associated with endometrial cancer risk; all estimates had multiple comparisons adjusted P-value > 0.05. In complementary MR analysis, IL-6 [OR per inverse-rank normalized NPX=1.19 (95% CI 1.04-1.36)] and HSD11B1 [0.91 (0.84-0.99)] were associated with endometrial cancer risk. Altered IL-6 signalling and reduced glucocorticoid activity via HSD11B1 might play important roles in endometrial carcinogenesis. Funding for IIG_FULL_2021_008 was obtained from Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds (WKOF), as part of the World Cancer Research Fund International grant programme; Funding for INCA_15849 was obtained from Institut National du Cancer (INCa).

Perceptions of Pre-Service Technical Teachers on the Teaching and Learning Activities in Teacher Instructor Colleges of Uganda

Understanding perceptions about the teaching and learning activities has implications on the way teacher training programs can be improved and influences trainers’ motivation. The aim of the study was to examine pre-service technical teachers’ perceptions of the teaching and learning activities in teacher-instructor colleges in Uganda. The following research questions guided the study; “Is the time allocated for the teaching and learning activities adequate; how is the tutoring conducted; are the pre-service teachers satisfied with the assignments given; do the pre-service teachers trust the teaching and learning process and are the pre-service teachers satisfied with the equipment and materials used for training? The study adopted across sectional survey design. Data was collected from 168 pre-service technical teachers using a researcher-constructed questionnaire. The data gathered was analysed using SPSS and presented as descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that time for teaching and learning; tutoring (organization of training), and assignments given were adequate; pre-service technical teachers trusted the teaching and learning process; however, they observed that the equipment and materials were inadequate for training. It was therefore recommended that the government increase the budget for technical teacher instructor institutions; lobbying for funds through; private partnerships, companies, international donor agencies, tax rebates, fellowships, and research grants to purchase adequate training equipment and engage policy makers to create mechanisms for responding to constant technology advancement for technical teacher instructor training institutions to cope

Democracy in Divided Societies: Electoral Engineering for Conflict Management “Chapter 3 Centripetal Incentives and Political Engineering in Australia”

Benjamin Reilly is a professor of political science and international relations at the University of Western Australia. Benjamin previously served as dean of the Sir Walter Murdoch School and was director of the Centre for democratic institutions at the Australian National University (ANU). Benjamin is also an expert in the Australian government, the United Nations, and other international organizations. As a professor of political science, Benjamin was invited to various scientific forums to speak at well-known campuses, such as Harvard, Oxford, and Johns Hopkins. Publicizing scientific papers and books earned Benjamin numerous international grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the United StatesInstitute of Peace, the East-West Center, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the Australian Research Council. Benjamin’s ideas and thoughts were widely published in various international and national newspapers, including the New York Times, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Time Magazine.

Research practice, satisfaction, motivation, and challenges among university academics in Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Researchers in universities and academic institutions must be in a leading position in generating research evidence to inform and direct national policies and strategies, improve service delivery, and achieve the main objectives. This study aimed to determine the factors that promote or hinder research productivity and quality among university academics in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 949 university academics from all public universities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The authors developed a questionnaire that included sociodemographic data, challenges, satisfaction, and motivation for conducting research. Data were collected using a Google form. Frequencies, percentages, and the Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Most university academics (94.6%) believed that research was part of their job, but only 51.6% were satisfied with their role as academic researchers. The lack of financial motivation was the main reason for dissatisfaction, while the main incentive to conduct research was the passion for science. Around 21% of the university academics had not published any research, while 53.1% published 1-5 articles. Half of the participants (49.7%) lacked training in writing research proposals, and the majority (86.1%) have not applied for international grants. Approximately half of university academics (46.9%) shared their research findings with stakeholders, and the primary method was by sharing their published papers (59.4%), followed by seminars (42.2%). One of the important challenges in conducting research was the lack of funding (62.8%). The academics at universities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are passionate about their role as researchers, but face many challenges in conducting effective research. A strategic plan is needed to provide an encouraging environment for university academics regarding infrastructure, financial, and technical support. More studies are needed to identify the root factors of academic staff needs and challenges.

Alessandra Borsini: What neuroinflammation has to do with depression and how nutrition can play a beneficial role

Alessandra Borsini is a Lecturer in Psychoneuroimmunology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London. Her research interest focuses on the role of inflammation and stress on brain neurogenic alterations, particularly in the context of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and on the ability of psychotropic, anti-inflammatory, and nutrition-based treatments to prevent such alterations. She has been a member of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Immunopsychiatry Consortium, the AMBROSIAC ERA-NET/MRC Consortium, and the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Immuno-Neuropsychiatry Network Core Group. She has received various awards, including the Psychoneuroimmunology Award from the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRs) and the Preclinical Psychopharmacology Award from the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP). As of April 2024, Dr Borsini has published over 50 papers, with a current H-index of 25, and has been the recipient of both national and international research grants from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Wellcome Trust, MRC, European Commission and Rosetrees Trust. She is part of the Editorial Board of several journals, including Brain, Behavior, and, Immunity, Frontiers in Neuroscience, and Frontiers in Psychiatry. She is also the programme leader for the new MSc in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mind-Body Interface launching this September 2024 at the IoPPN. Dr Borsini is passionate about public engagement. To discuss her research or topics broadly related to mental health, she has made multiple media appearances in newspapers, including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, and The Independent, and radio and TV programmes, such as BBC Radio 4 Today, BBC Radio 4 All in the Mind, and BBC One Health: Truth or Scare. Dr Borsini graciously answered the Genomic Press Interview, providing our readers with reflections on her personal and professional journey.

515 Implementation of a Translational Science Research Center in a high education level institution in Colombia - Latin America: Unisabana Center for Translational Science (UCTS)

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To establish and develop a high-level, dynamic, and self-sustainable Translational Science – research center in Colombia that promotes and articulates collaborative participation among different disciplines at Universidad de La Sabana to generate impactful solutions in health to transfer the knowledge to the local community. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: With the support of core units of the University, internal funding was given for the establishment of the Research Center. An internal call was performed for recruiting researchers for multiple disciplines interested in joining the UCTS. After the researchers were selected, training of the research community in translational science and funding acquisition was performed towards the objective of interdisciplinary projects with impact in the local community. Project management strategies have been used for the follow-up of the advancements of the implementation of the UCTS. Operational structure and business plan for future self-sustainability are being designed. UCTS is proposed as an articulating party among different actors in clinics, research, and industry, for science and funding management. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: As an starting point, 8 research groups of different disciplines of the University have been integrated with the UCTS, increasing the research capacity in translational science. Internal administrative processes have been articulated within the institution and unified processes for international grants applications have been established in order to optimize the funding acquisition and management. Training programs for the research community, and community engagement activities have been offered as well. Networking relationships have been strengthened among the researchers enhancing international collaborations. Novel research projects are being designed towards real solutions in health for the local community, promoting the transference of knowledge from the benchside to the community. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The implementation of the UCTS led to the integration of disciplines within the University, towards new research projects with common interests for the local community. It has been an enriched experience using the project management approach, fulfilling a huge milestone for the University, aligned with the internal strategic priorities

ПРОБЛЕМЫ ОСВОЕНИЯ КАТЕГОРИИ РОДА ПРИ ОБУЧЕНИИ РУССКОМУ ЯЗЫКУ СЛОВАЦКИХ СТУДЕНТОВ

The category of genus is one of the most intricate and contentious grammatical categories, permeating the entire language system. This underscores the significance of its study not only within one's native language but also in the context of learning it as a foreign language. Simultaneously, conducting typological comparisons aids in the construction of an effective pedagogical framework. In situations of linguistic proximity, such as when studying Russian as a foreign language within the Slovak-speaking audience, it becomes crucial to discern the differences amidst the substantial overlap of classifications and forms of expressing the genus category. These differences necessitate specific attention during students' acquisition of genus paradigms and pragmatics, in addition to recognizing the distinct characteristics of genus asymmetry within languages. Key words: genus category, common nouns, feminitives, Russian, Slovak, intercultural communication Acknowledgments: The article is published with the support of the international grant project Erasmus+ KA220-HED № 2021-1-SK01-KA220-HED-000022917 “The innovation of the concept and curriculum of doctoral study programs and increasing their effectiveness”.

Composite Conductive Carbon-Polymer Paints as a Replacement for the “Faraday Cage”

We have developed composite paint based on graphite, carbon black and some other not expensive components, which can be used as a clay court for sustainable buildings and electronic devices. This paint can reduce sufficiently the problem, which is related to the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on human health. Cellular and radiotelephones, as well as their broadcast antennas, especially which use of the 5G, 6G communication system, may pose a high risk of cancer, reproductive disorders, memory, cellular stress, neurological and mental disorders. The medical disorders are already often experienced by servicemen working at radar stations, observation posts and other similar facilities associated with high-frequency EMR. The effect of EMR is especially dangerous for children of preschool and school age, so, it is necessary to use similar paints first of all for such buildings. Carbon-based composite paints have been developed, which can be used as a clay court for sustainable buildings and electronic devices. This paint can reduce sufficiently the problem, which is related to the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on human health. Cellular and radiotelephones, as well as their broadcast antennas, especially which use of the 5G, 6G communication system, may pose a high risk of cancer, reproductive disorders, memory, cellular stress, neurological and mental disorders. The medical disorders are already often experienced by servicemen working at radar stations, observation posts and other similar facilities associated with high-frequency EMR. The effect of EMR is especially dangerous for children of preschool and school-age, so, it is necessary to use similar paints first of all for such buildings. It is also necessary to note the significant impact of EMR on electronic equipment. First of all, this is a well-known problem of providing the so-called "electronic compatibility", when simultaneously operating different electronic equipment (e.g., thermal imager and radio transmitter) interfere with each other. A number of scientific developments have been implemented and work is underway under the NATO SfS international grant in this area.

Video Microteaching as an Innovation in University Students' Teaching Practice

Increasing the quality of undergraduate teacher training programmes and responding to the current needs and requirements are necessary in the modern world. So, DTI University in Dubnica nad Váhom, Slovakia, has implemented an international grant project focusing on applying video microteaching as an innovation in teacher training. The proposed paper aims to draw attention to the benefits of video microteaching as a suitable, effective, and attractive alternative to the traditionally applied methods of teacher trainees’ teaching practice, with particular attention paid to the necessity of preparing students for it. The paper presents information about a series of interactive workshops with experienced teachers carried out within the project, where teachers shared their expertise with teacher trainees and provided them with space to develop the knowledge and skills essential for delivering lessons and classroom observations. Also, the results of a brief survey are presented, where teacher trainees provided feedback on the quality and the content of the interactive workshops and expressed their overall satisfaction.

РОЛЬ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННО-ЧАСТНОГО ПАРТНЁРСТВА В РАЗВИТИИ СИСТЕМ ВОДОСНАБЖЕНИЯ В РАЗЛИЧНЫХ РЕ-ГИОНАХ МИРА

The problems of creating effective water supply systems that provide round-the-clock, fully remunerated and metered water supply are relevant for various regions of the world, but primarily for developing countries. At the same time, against the backdrop of geopolit-ical instability, in recent years the possibili-ties for financing water supply projects through international programs, grants and soft loans have decreased. The authors consider public-private partnerships as one of the promising areas for solving these problems. The results of the analysis of the effects and risks of implementing such pro-jects for private and public partners present-ed in the article are of scientific and practical interest.

Renewable energy projects in Africa: A review of climate finance strategies

This paper provides a concise overview of the comprehensive examination undertaken to assess climate finance strategies associated with renewable energy projects in Africa. The continent, endowed with abundant renewable resources, faces the dual challenge of meeting its rising energy demand while addressing climate change concerns. This review delves into the diverse landscape of renewable energy initiatives across Africa, emphasizing the pivotal role of climate finance mechanisms in driving sustainable development. The study explores a myriad of renewable energy projects, encompassing solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal technologies, implemented to mitigate the environmental impact of conventional energy sources. It investigates the financial instruments deployed to support these projects, including international funds, grants, loans, and public-private partnerships. The analysis considers the effectiveness of climate finance in fostering the adoption and scaling-up of renewable energy solutions within the unique socio-economic contexts of African nations. Furthermore, the research investigates challenges and opportunities associated with climate finance strategies in the African renewable energy sector. Common barriers, such as regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, and market dynamics, are examined, alongside success stories that highlight innovative financing models and project implementations. The study also sheds light on the role of regional collaborations and the involvement of local communities in ensuring the sustainability and resilience of renewable energy projects. In addition, the review critically assesses the alignment of climate finance strategies with international climate goals, including the Paris Agreement. It analyzes the extent to which these strategies contribute to both mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and promoting adaptation measures in the face of climate change impacts. The findings aim to provide policymakers, investors, and stakeholders with valuable insights into refining and enhancing climate finance strategies for a more impactful and inclusive renewable energy transition in Africa. This review synthesizes a comprehensive understanding of the current state of renewable energy projects in Africa, emphasizing the critical role played by climate finance in advancing sustainable development. The insights generated from this analysis contribute to the ongoing discourse on effective climate finance strategies, offering a roadmap for fostering resilient and low-carbon energy systems on the African continent.

Фінансові чинники ефективної імплементації концепції смарт-економіки на різних рівнях

The article studies the influence of financial factors on the effective implementation of the conception of smart economy at different levels, reveals the influence of factors on the development of smart economy at different levels, presents a hierarchy of levels of smart economy implementation. It is defined that the key levels of smart economy implementation are national, regional, local and business levels. Accordingly, at each of these levels, the features and key aspects of financing smart economy programs are studied. It is further defined that at the national level, the key sources and areas of funding are the development of innovations, the formation of technology parks and innovation clusters, funds for which can be attracted from national, international sources and individual companies that are interested in the implementation of projects at a high level. The regional level is interested in the implementation of regional programs, funding for which, according to research, is provided from regional development funds, regional budget, bonds, national and international grants, co-financing. The study confirms that the role of finance in the development of regions or localities is quite significant, and programs to support smart cities or localities are developing quite actively. The local level is implemented through projects with an emphasis on digitalization, accordingly, these are attracted investments, grants and subsidies, public-private partnerships, city bonds, grants, and crowdfunding. At the business level, the implementation of smart projects requires attracting finance primarily through corporate investments, especially within the framework of corporate social responsibility programs, green investment development, venture financing, green or social bonds, etc. All these sources of funding are often combined with international grants and loans from organizations. The key levels of financing of the smart economy and the forms of its implementation have been identified, taking into account the limitations and opportunities for the development of national economic systems in the globalized world. This became possible due to the analysis of key prerequisites and examples of practical implementation of the smart economy at different levels, the peculiarities of the possibility of attracting financial resources for development at the national, regional, local and business levels.

Implementation of smart building management systems for residential complex “PANORAMA”

The European Union (EU) and Ukraine, which is following a precise European integration course, have a priority to improve energy efficiency in order to prevent negative environmental impact and achieve climate neutrality. It is known that more than 40% of the energy produced is accounted for by energy consumption in existing buildings. Analysis of energy consumption reveals a high percentage of energy losses due to poor management, which necessitates the development and implementation of systems and tools for improved energy management. Therefore, the development of energy efficient building management systems using modern engineering and technical solutions to control and optimise energy consumption is a relevant and promising way to solve the issue of energy resources saving, increase energy efficiency and enhance energy independence. Within the framework of the international research grant “A novel decentralized edge-enabled PREsCriptivE and ProacTive framework for increased energy efficiency and well-being in residential buildings” – PRECEPT under the Horizon 2020 programme, smart building management system was developed and implemented at the residential complex “PANORAMA” in Dnipro city, Ukraine.

Report of the 3rd young researcher group seminar in 2023 and announcement of grant recipients and call for applications for international conference participation grants

Report of the 3rd young researcher group seminar in 2023 and announcement of grant recipients and call for applications for international conference participation grants

Еволюція та сучасні визначення терміна «грант»

The aim of the study is to theoretically substantiate the stages of evolution of the definition of «grant» and formulate recommendations for its clarification. Certain tasks were solved using the following methods: system analysis – for a stage-by-stage retrospective review of the term «grant»; comparative analysis – to compare differences in the definitions of this concept by the academic community, government and professional organizations; induction and deduction – to formulate conclusions and recommendations on the issues under study. The article is devoted to the analysis of the development and transformation of the concept of «grant» with an emphasis on its evolution and current use. Since ancient times, when grants were informal and provided by wealthy people to support various initiatives, changes in the structure and mechanisms of grant support can be traced. The emergence and development of the modern form of grants, the creation of the first modern grant institutions are disclosed. Particular attention is paid to the expansion of State participation in grant programs in the twentieth century, in particular after the World War II, when governments began to recognize grants as an important tool for supporting economic development, public welfare, and scientific innovation. Examples include the creation of the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health in the United States. The importance of grants to support interdisciplinary cooperation and address global challenges such as climate change, public health crises and sustainable development is emphasized. The importance of intensifying Ukraine’s participation in international grant programs, which contributes to the integration of Ukrainian scientists into the world scientific community and raising research standards, is emphasized. A retrospective review of the evolution of the term «grant» and its modern definitions is provided, reflecting changes in societal priorities, public policy, and the increasing complexity of funding mechanisms.

Фінансування міжнародних грантових угод у сферах науки та інновацій через призму декомпозиційної моделі

The relevance of the chosen issues is represented by the consideration that the old methods of financing scientific and innovative activities did not ensure the sustainability of the socioeconomic development of Ukraine and necessitated the search for alternative sources of funds for the outlined purposes. It is argued that grant funding is an effective tool for strengthening scientific and innovative activities. The study was carried out using the methods of system analysis and synthesis, on the basis of which contextual and decompositional models of describing the sequence of processes of functionalization of the mechanism for financing international grant agreements in the fields of science and innovation were built. It is emphasized that the donors for the financing of domestic scientific research on a grant basis are international organizations that develop appropriate procedures and rules for the preparation of projects that deserve funding. As a result of the study, it is found that the ultimate goal of such activities is to create conditions for ecological consumption and production, increase the competitiveness of domestic products, and improve infrastructure as major tasks of sustainable development.

STRATEGIES OF COGNITIVE IMAGES TRANSLATION IN FAIRY TALES (WESTERN AND EASTERN SLAVIC INTERCULTURAL PARALLELS)

The object is the semantic-grammatical and figurative-cognitive structure of phraseological analogues and fixed comparisons (in Czech and Slovak fairy tale texts) is traced in detail, taking into account their transformations in translation and types of interlingual phraseological equivalents, cases of replacement of phrases and paraphrases by non-phraseological contexts are explicated, and vice versa, the use of figurative signs and idioms in the target text that are not present in the original text (units with spatial semantics, emotion metaphors, folklorems and cognitems related to social and marriage concepts) are analysed. The purpose of this article is the differences in the figurative and conceptual structure, some initial, medial and final formulas in parallel texts and in comparison with other linguistic cultures, in particular Ukrainian and Polish fairy tale discourse (the concept of the Way, the journey, typical for fairy tales) are briefly described. Conclusions: Differences can also be traced at the level of semantic variation in the ways of expressing the difficult tasks and ordeals of the heroes, for example, the idea of the impossible or certain pragmatic formulas and constructions. These and other transformations of plots and motifs are typical of fairy tales in different linguistic cultures. This gives grounds to refer to them as peculiar cognitems. Where relevant, authors provides ethnocultural comments on the motivation of the images, their connection with traditional folk culture, ritual and customary representations of a particular ethnic group, and highlights the specifics of the rendering of these cultural realia, the symbolic function of objects and characters in the compared languages (verbalisation of the concepts of old age, unmarriedness, laziness, ways of phraseological representation of the semantic opposition of friend and foe, good and evil, clean and dirty, etc.). *The study is published with the support of the international grant project Erasmus+ KA220-HED No. 2021–1-SK01-KA220-HED-000022917 entitled The innovation of the concept and curriculum of doctoral study programs and increasing their effectiveness.

Tools for financing local economic development of local communities

The study examined the specific features of using the instruments of financing the economic development of territorial communities on the example of Ukraine. Economic and statistical analysis methods were used to process the data, including the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for comparing growth trends. The study identified the most common sources and tools for financing the economic development of local communities, in particular tax revenues, grants, loans, public-private partnerships. The financial instruments of local economic development in the UK, Denmark, and Slovenia were analysed, focusing on their flexibility, adaptability, and efficiency. The importance of integrating the best practices of these countries into the strategic financial management of territorial communities of Ukraine is substantiated. Specific recommendations for implementing successful international experience are proposed. It is recommended that Ukraine introduce monitoring and control systems similar to the British ones to ensure strict control over local budget expenditures, which is important for the stability and transparency of financial governance; consolidate or redistribute competencies in favour of larger communities, increase the share of local taxes, and introduce financial equalisation mechanisms to reduce financial inequality and ensure equal opportunities for all communities, as the Danish experience has shown. According to the Slovenian experience, it is necessary to develop clear standards for the provision of services, create independent supervisory authorities to monitor the effectiveness of local budgets, introduce fiscal decentralisation, and increase the share of local taxes to increase the autonomy of local authorities and reduce the disparity in the level of services between regions. The results obtained emphasised the importance of using an integrated and integrative approach to the development and management of financing tools for the local economic development of territorial communities. The practical significance of the study’s findings is manifested in the provision of specific recommendations on the use of various financing instruments, such as local guarantees, municipal bonds, and loans from international financial institutions and grants from international donors. These recommendations can help determine investment priorities and improve investment planning and management processes, which is important for the development of territorial communities