Due to technical innovation and the rapid digital transformation process, many economies have gone through structural transformation. This paper examines the role of key sectors in Saudi Arabia’s economy in light of Vision 2030. The current study has used three latest input-output tables: 2020, 2025 and 2030 respectively, to capture the change in sectoral performance by using input-output linkages analysis. The study reveals that there are changes in overall economic activities that highlight the key sectors with changes in economic growth. This further justifies the role of key sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and visionary policies. The overall result indicates that it is important to diversify the economy and further suggests there should be more focus on key sectors such as tourism, healthcare, metals, chemicals, rubber, renewable energy and digital services. Furthermore, the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) has displayed changes during 2020-2030 in the form of intermediate inputs and value-added elements due to digital innovation and infrastructure. This implies that Saudi Arabia needs to have regulatory reforms to attract foreign investment, and, by encouraging digital innovation, the kingdom can build a modern and knowledge-based economy. The digital tools will not only enhance productivity but will be a core pillar of sustainability goals.

This article examines the interrelationship and tensions between intellectual property rights and human rights within the context of globalization and the expansion of the knowledge-based economy. While intellectual property rights and human rights share certain common objectives, most notably the protection of the material and moral interests of creators, they also diverge in fundamental respects. In particular, key areas of conflict arise between copyright and freedom of speech, trademark protection and freedom of expression, and patent rights and the traditional knowledge rights of indigenous communities. These tensions have generated extensive debate regarding the need to balance individual proprietary interests with broader societal and communal rights. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of these three domains of conflict and advances proposals aimed at fostering a more coherent and equitable reconciliation between these two critical branches of law.

This study titled “An Evaluation of the Operational Implementation and Economic Impact of the Digital India Programme” aims to examine the effectiveness of the Digital India initiative in terms of its operational execution and its contribution to economic development in India. Launched by the Government of India, the Digital India Programme seeks to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge-based economy by improving digital infrastructure, enhancing online services, and promoting digital literacy.

Slovenia’s labor productivity growth has slowed since the late 2000s, weakening the country’s prospects of catching up with more advanced EU members. In addition to the gap in business investment, the composition of investment is also important as intangible investments are increasingly driving productivity in knowledge-based economies. This paper examines the investment gap using the extended definition of intangible investments from the Corrado-Hulten-Sichel (2005) framework, and discusses options for closing the gaps relative to the EU average and EU innovation leaders, highlighting the need for expanding access to finance for intangible investments, strengthening the innovation ecosystem, and enhancing overall business environment.

Purpose When are organizations more or less likely to acquire external knowledge through purchasing management consulting services? The author argues that the difficulty of the decision problem and the complexity of the solution landscape increase the necessity and value of external management knowledge acquisition. The purpose of this study is to examine determinants of cross-country differences in management consulting spending. The author draws from the organizational search literature, the knowledge-based theory of the firm and transaction cost economics to develop the research hypotheses. Design/methodology/approach The author empirically investigates the effect of a country’s economic complexity, knowledge economy and transaction costs on management consulting using cross-country panel data of 24 European countries between 2004 and 2011 as well as hybrid random effects generalized least squares regressions. Findings The author documents that organizations are more likely to buy management consulting services when they navigate a complex economic landscape or compete in a knowledge-based economy. Furthermore, the author finds support for the negative effect of transaction costs in an economy on a country’s management consulting expenditures. Originality/value The results of this study provide contributions to the literature on business knowledge purchasing and management consulting research.

The present study reforming quality assurance (RQA) processes to improve the performance of institutions of higher learning (HEI) within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the procedures of developing a strategic framework to improve. Based on the quantitative data of 320 students pursuing different courses in different universities, the study evaluates how the quality of teaching, student support services and learning resources and employability-oriented education effects the overall student satisfaction. The result shows that the quality of teaching is the most crucial element of student satisfaction, with a strong focus being put on pedagogical excellence in institutional credibility and learning outcomes. Employability-oriented education came out as a good predictor of the perceived institutional value, which is in line with the vision of the UAE in building a knowledge-based and innovative economy. On the other hand, there were significant disparities in the support programs being offered to the students and this indicates that there is a need to ensure fair and equal availability of counseling, mentorship and academic advising services. The research also states that variations of discipline need more adaptable and context-relevant types of QA models than a centralized, universal standard. These observations highlight the need to have a balanced system that is well balanced between centralized compliance and Commission of Academy Accreditation (CAA) and decentralized and program level innovations. The research consists of the conclusion that a long-term sustainable enhancement of QA practices requires maintaining a feedback loop, educating faculty, basing decisions on data and involving stakeholders. It has been recommendable to increase faculty capacity building, formalize digital feedback system, reinstate student support systems and embed employability and career readiness into the curricula. The framework is expected to create the culture of a continuous improvement and accountability to make sure that the changes are in line with such national priorities as the UAE Vision 2031 and the National Strategy to Higher Education 2030. These studies in general offer a strategic roadmap that can be followed by the UAE universities to realize excellence using responsive, evidence based and innovation-oriented quality assurance systems. Keywords: , , , , , , ,

The article examines the role of human capital in the transition to a knowledge-based economy. It argues that knowledge, innovation, and intellectual resources are becoming key drivers of economic growth and competitiveness. The structure of the knowledge economy is analyzed, including education, innovation systems, ICT infrastructure, and institutional frameworks. Special attention is given to international experience and the development strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan. The study concludes that investments in education, science, digital technologies, and lifelong learning are essential for developing high-quality human capital.

The article aims to provide an interdisciplinary rationale for trauma-informed education as a mechanism for building resilient human capital in the context of war and post-war recovery in Ukraine. The study draws on a theoretical and analytical review of contemporary research in neuroscience, economics of education, and trauma psychology, combined with systems thinking and structured logical analysis, to trace causal links between psycho-emotional safety, students’ cognitive functioning, educational outcomes, and long-term labour productivity. The scientific novelty of the study lies in conceptualising neuroplasticity as an economically significant factor that determines a child’s capacity to restore cognitive resources, improve educational outcomes, and subsequently develop higher labour productivity and adaptability in the labour market. The findings demonstrate that chronic stress and traumatic experiences undermine learning capacity through impairments in emotional regulation, attention and executive functioning, which in turn lead to lower educational attainment and reduced economic productivity in adulthood. The article argues that trauma-informed education, when embedded in pedagogical practices, school governance, and student support systems, helps create safe and neuroplastically favourable learning environments. Such environments foster self-regulation, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and collaboration skills — competencies that are increasingly essential in a knowledge-based economy and a rapidly transforming labour market. The paper concludes that investment in trauma-informed education and children’s psycho-emotional recovery programmes should be treated as a macroeconomic priority, as it reduces long-term GDP losses associated with unrealised skills and strengthens the foundations of a resilient and innovation-driven economy.

Introduction. In the context of digitalization and the shift to a knowledge-based economy, the national vocational education system of the Kyrgyz Republic, like that of most CIS countries, faces acute contradictions: the formalization of teachersʼ professional interaction, poor coordination between educational institutions and the real economy, high turnover of young teaching staff, and a mismatch between specialist training and labor market demands. The lack of an institutionally established mechanism for systematic professional interaction restricts the dissemination of effective pedagogical practices, degrades the quality of workforce training, and weakens the connection between education and the socio-economic needs of society. This underscores the urgency of developing adapted innovative solutions to modernize the educational process. Methodology. The research is grounded in the principle of adapting international pedagogical experience to the national context of the Kyrgyz Republic – the core of the proposed authorial innovative methodology. Three key scientific methods were employed: content analysis of the Kyrgyz Republic’s normative and legal acts and scholarly literature on professional interaction; a comparative analysis of effective international models (Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in the USA, the dual vocational education system in Germany, and institutionalized mentoring in Russia); and an analysis of empirical data from the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic and the implementation results of the World Bank’s Learning for the Future international project. Based on the extraction of key functional elements from foreign models and consideration of national specificities, a localized integrated methodology for assessing and developing education-business professional interaction was developed for the Kyrgyz Republic’s vocational education system. This methodology combines the diagnosis of interaction barriers, the institutional formalization of teachers’ collaborative work, the organization of education-business partnerships, and the quantitative evaluation of interaction process effectiveness. Results. The implementation of the developed authorial methodology has yielded four interrelated practical modules, fully adapted to the realities of the Kyrgyz Republic: 1) a normative module – establishing fixed time (at least 2 hours per week) for teachers’ collaborative analytical work in the timetable of educational institutions, and formalizing a mentoring system with incentive mechanisms; 2) an education – business partnership module – developing a framework for contractual cooperation between educational institutions and enterprises to align the educational process with labor market demands; 3) a digital module – creating a national online platform for the exchange of pedagogical experience and resources, integrated with existing digital education projects in the Kyrgyz Republic; 4) an effectiveness evaluation module – developing quantitative indicators (turnover rate of young teaching staff, the degree of alignment between student training and job requirements, and teachers’ participation in joint professional activities) for the systematic monitoring and timely adjustment of professional interaction processes. The results of theoretical testing and practical feasibility verification show that the methodology reduces the turnover of young teaching staff in the Kyrgyz Republic by 15–20 %, increases the alignment between student training and labor market demands by more than 20 %, and addresses the institutional gap in organizing systematic professional interaction between teachers and employers. Conclusions. The developed localized integrated methodology for assessing and developing education-business professional interaction has proven its scientific validity and practical effectiveness for the Kyrgyz Republic’s context. Its application comprehensively overcomes the formalization of professional interaction, strengthens the stable connection between the education system and the real economy, and improves the quality of specialist training in the vocational education system. A key conclusion of the research is that the effectiveness of adapting international pedagogical experience lies not in the mechanical replication of foreign models, but in extracting their key functional elements and deeply integrating them with the national cultural, economic and institutional characteristics of the Kyrgyz Republic. The developed authorial methodology forms a four-party interactive structure of “government – educational institutions – enterprises – teachers”, serving as a replicable practical model for modernizing the education systems of the Kyrgyz Republic and other CIS countries. It also acts as an important tool for enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy by advancing the workforce training system.

The aim of the article was to examine the usefulness of typologies of cultures for the analysis of the international business environment. Particular attention was paid to the areas of their use and the limitations arising from the methodology adopted by the creators of the typologies, the scope of the research carried out, and the changes taking place in individual societies. The study was based on a literature review of the presented typologies of national cultures. The author uses the method of critical analysis and synthesis of the views of the typology creators and logical inference. This article examines the typologies of national cultures most commonly used to analyze the cultural environment. Each of them constitutes a source of valuable information on socio-cultural conditions, helping to prepare business activities in specific markets. However, it should be noted that the use of the typologies presented is subject to certain limitations, resulting from the purpose and scope of the research conducted by their authors and the time in which it was conducted. Thus, among other things, they do not take into account, or only to a small extent, many aspects related to the globalization process and the development of the knowledge-based economy, the development of the concept of partnership marketing as well as ongoing social changes. While the typologies may be applicable in the case of exports or cooperation activities, it is necessary to go beyond the presented classifications of cultures for more advanced international activities (direct investments). These limitations should not, however, result in the rejection of the typologies of national cultures, but in their use with some caution as a complement to the process of studying the cultural environment.

The transformation of higher education governance has become a critical issue in the context of globalization, digital transformation, and the knowledge-based economy. Universities are increasingly required to adopt modern governance models that enhance institutional autonomy, accountability, innovation, and international collaboration. This study analyzes the requirements for innovation in higher education governance toward a modern and professional governance model that supports sustainable development and international integration. The research applies qualitative methods, including document analysis and case study approaches. A conceptual framework for modern university governance is proposed, integrating key elements such as university autonomy, professional governance systems, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement, and internationalization. Thu Dau Mot University in Vietnam is examined as a case study to illustrate governance reform practices in an emerging higher education institution. The findings indicate that governance innovation contributes significantly to institutional development, educational quality improvement, and international cooperation. However, challenges remain in terms of managerial capacity, financial sustainability, and international competitiveness. The study suggests that universities should strengthen governance structures, enhance digital governance, promote international partnerships, and develop professional management capabilities to achieve sustainable development and global integration.

This study examines how digital leadership influences employees' cognitive and affective competencies, emphasizing the mediating role of flow at work and the moderating effect of psychological safety. Drawing on flow theory, it investigates how digital leadership enhances improvisational ability (cognitive dimension) and emotional commitment (affective dimension) in knowledge-based industries undergoing digital transformation. Adopting a mixed-method analytical approach, the study employs partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test hypotheses. The fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) used to uncover multiple pathways leading to high improvisational ability and emotional commitment. Data were collected through three-wave survey with each wave administered one month apart. Total sample comprised of 405 respondents from knowledge intensive sectors. The PLS-SEM results reveal that digital leadership positively affects flow at work, which in turn significantly enhances both improvisational ability and emotional commitment. Flow at work significantly mediates the relationship between digital leadership and employees' improvisational ability and emotional commitment. Moreover, psychological safety strengthens the link between flow at work and employee outcomes. The fsQCA findings identify flow at work and psychological safety as core conditions for achieving high improvisational ability and emotional commitment. This study advances theoretical understanding of digital leadership by identifying flow at work as a critical mechanism and psychological safety as a boundary condition in fostering employee competencies, offering practical insights for organizations navigating digital transformation.

This study examines the structural transformation of petrostates from resource dependence to knowledge-based economies, identifying a U-shaped relationship between natural resource wealth and economic complexity with four distinct phases. Development typically begins with extraction dominance, followed by diversification. In the subsequent phase, complexity accelerates, ultimately reaching sustainable complexity. Using Qatar as an illustrative example and employing annual data from 2000 to 2023, we estimate an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to capture both the short-run and long-run dynamics of economic complexity. The results reveal that initial increases in income from resource rents tend to suppress complexity; however, beyond a certain threshold, targeted diversification efforts reverse this trend. Granger causality tests further uncover bidirectional relationships between economic complexity and key structural variables, including trade openness, education, and real GDP, highlighting the endogenous and dynamic role of innovation and diversification. Moreover, cross-country comparisons with other resource-rich economies corroborate the model’s generalizability, highlighting that the developmental outcomes of resource wealth critically depend on the institutionalization of knowledge and innovation to achieve better diversification. These findings offer an empirical and theoretical contribution to the literature on structural transformation in petrostates.

Purpose This study aims to explore how culturally and politically embedded management controls influence innovation transitions of public–private partnerships (PPPs) in a developing economy. Design/methodology/approach The study relies on the cultural political economy perspective of management controls. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with senior executives from three knowledge-based PPPs operating in telecommunications, power and energy and high-tech research industries in Sri Lanka. Findings The authors demonstrate how cultural political economy factors (e.g. semiotic and cultural; political and institutional; economic and structural) have influenced Western-led, formal management controls across various PPP models (e.g. labour, leadership, innovation, operational, market, neoliberal and bureaucratic controls), both enabling and obstructing the shift towards the state’s professed “knowledge-based economy” discourse. Management controls within telecommunications-based PPPs tend to be receptive to political interference, often supported by powerful, party-based trade unions and primarily focus on innovation to cater to the local market. In contrast to traditional norms, both energy- and high-tech PPPs leverage management controls to resist political interference, promoting a strong, market-oriented approach to knowledge-driven innovation. Practical implications PPPs with solid professional and managerial backgrounds are more likely to initiate innovation transitions through bottom-up approaches, whereas PPPs with considerable state and political influence tend to be predominantly driven by both top-down and bottom-up approaches. Nevertheless, evidence indicates a dialectical relationship between top-down and bottom-up approaches in all PPPs. Originality/value Cultural political economy redefines the complex interplay among the state’s knowledge-based economy discourse, the innovation transition in PPPs, management controls and development priorities as a co-evolving, politically negotiated process rather than a linear policy implementation. The findings suggest that the success or failure of implementing a knowledge-based economy state project through PPPs depends not only on political policy priorities but also on the interaction of political power, professional leadership and management controls in practice.

The digital economy is growing as a key force driving economic change, facilitating efficiency, innovation, and business development in a variety of industries and communities. One of the main pillars of Oman’s Vision 2040 is a digital economy, which encourages investment in emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, human capital, and public-private partnerships. Through semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from government, private sector and technology experts, this study investigates the potential and investment opportunities within the digital economy, as viewed by the interviewees, in the context of Oman’s National Digital Economy Program and Oman Vision 2040. The main finding of this study showed that there are several opportunities for local and foreign investment in the digital economy in five main aspects: digital infrastructure and transformation, potential growth for private and small and medium-sized enterprises related to aspects of emerging technologies, expansion in the use and application of these technologies, development and training opportunities for the human resources capital and collaboration opportunities between private and public sectors in delivering different digital services. This study recommends focus in Oman’s transition towards a knowledge-based digital economy while also considering the sustainable aspects and focusing on research and development.

The 21st century has brought about rapid transformations in the educational landscape, reshaping traditional notions of teaching, learning, and pedagogy. Globalization, technological innovation, socio-economic change, and the shift toward knowledge-based economies demand a rethinking of how education is delivered and experienced. This paper explores the multifaceted opportunities and challenges that arise as education adapts to the complexities of the 21st century, focusing on the evolving roles of teachers and learners, the emergence of innovative pedagogical frameworks, and the implications of digitalization and globalization on educational practices. It discusses how digitalization, learner diversity, and global interconnectedness have reshaped educational paradigms. Innovative pedagogies such as blended learning, flipped classrooms, gamification, and collaborative learning models have redefined classroom dynamics and student engagement (Prensky, 2010; Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001). While these approaches enhance learner autonomy and creativity, challenges like the digital divide, lack of teacher preparedness, and equity concerns persist (UNESCO, 2020). The paper concludes that effective adaptation requires systemic change, inclusive approaches, and a human-centered vision of learning that harmonizes technology with values, creativity, and critical consciousness.

With the growing competitive and knowledge-based global economy organizations are forced to combine their human capital plans with their brand positioning and financial sustainability plans. In this paper, the author explores the correlation between talent management (TM), brand equity (BE), and corporate financial sustainability (CFS), hypothesizing an interactive model that would make talent management a strategic antecedent to brand equity and long-term financial sustainability. Based on the Resource-Based Theory (RBT), the Signaling Theory and Stakeholder Theory, the study examines how the efficiency of talent acquisition, growth, engagement, and retention leads to the increase in the brand perception, customer loyalty, and, eventually, long-term financial success. A quantitative research method was applied and 250 managerial respondents in various industries took part in gathering the data. The relationships between variables were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results show that there is a strong positive correlation between talent management and brand equity (β = 0.62, p < 0.001), brand equity and corporate financial sustainability (β = 0.58, p < 0.001). In addition, the brand equity moderates the connection between talent management and financial sustainability to some extent, demonstrating the strategic importance of the employer branding and employee engagement in developing market perceptions. The paper adds to theory by combining the human resource and marketing thinking into one comprehensive sustainability concept. In practice, it highlights the fact that organizations need to align internal talent plans with external brand stories so as to achieve financial sustainability and competitive leadership. Long-term investment into talent ecosystems and open brand communication are highlighted as the policy recommendations that can support sustainable corporate development.

This thesis argues that the future of Uzbekistan is poised for transformative greatness, underpinned by strategic national reforms, the demographic potential of its youth, and the rapid development of a knowledge-based digital economy. Through a multidisciplinary analysis of policy frameworks, socio-economic initiatives, and cultural programs, the research demonstrates how the government's "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy, combined with specific youth empowerment and digital transformation agendas, has redefined the nation's developmental trajectory. The research shows how national plans like “Uzbekistan-2030” and “Digital Uzbekistan” are creating real opportunities in education, jobs, and innovation. While challenges remain, the active role of youth, combined with smart government policies, makes Uzbekistan’s future promising and strong.

Relevance of the study is determined by the persistent mismatch between the structure of higher education training and the actual needs of the labor market in the Republic of Kazakhstan, which increases the risks of inefficient use of human capital amid the transition to a knowledge-based economy, digitalization, and economic diversification. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze structural and skills mismatch between university graduates and employers’ demands, as well as to assess the effectiveness of existing interaction mechanisms among universities, the state, and business. Research methods include a combination of systemic and institutional approaches, statistical and trend analysis of official data, content analysis of strategic and academic documents, and elements of expert interpretation of studies on employability and skills mismatch. The results of the study demonstrate that despite relative macroeconomic stability in the labor market, structural and skills mismatch remains significant. Key constraints include information asymmetry among labor market stakeholders, insufficient practice-oriented educational programs, weak institutionalization of partnerships, and pronounced regional disparities. Practical significance lies in the applicability of the findings for adjusting public policies in higher education and employment, developing regional educational clusters, implementing dual education models, improving skills demand forecasting, and monitoring graduates’ career trajectories

The object of the study is the processes of intellectualization of Ukraine’s economy in the context of post-war reconstruction, structural modernization, digital transformation, and the formation of a knowledge-based economy. The problem addressed in the study is the low efficiency of managing the intellectualization of Ukraine’s economy, which hinders innovation development and European integration. It is substantiated that intellectual potential is a systemic factor of socio-economic development and a key driver of the post-war economic reconstruction of Ukraine. In order to increase the innovation activity of the national economy, a holistic mechanism for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property objects integrated into the state science, technology and innovation policy is formed. A comprehensive political roadmap with cross-sectoral coordination and focus on the synergy of science, business and the state is designed, which allows bridge the gap between knowledge creation and its economic realization. The directions and tools for the effective use of intellectual potential based on its targeted integration with the technological modernization of key sectors of the economy are elaborated. The priorities for the development of the knowledge economy, structured according to sectoral and institutional principles, are substantiated, which made it possible to overcome the dispersion of strategic guidelines for innovation policy. It is pointed out that Ukraine needs to implement smart solutions and consolidate all entities of the national economic system in order to revive at a new higher level of intellectual and socio-economic development. The need for Ukraine's integration into European value chains was emphasized. Practical application of the results is possible subject to the implementation of comprehensive programs to strengthen the Ukrainian model on the path of an intellectual society in the process of modernization