(1) Background: Eating disorder risk factors in children are early maturation, body dissatisfaction, dieting, stress and physical inactivity. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these factors due to isolation, online classes and reduced physical activity, all of which have increased children's risk of developing eating disorders. The aim of the research was to examine the frequency of eating disorders among school-aged children in the Republic of Serbia during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the association of these disorders with socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and levels of depression, anxiety and stress. (2) Methods: The research was conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional study on a sample of students from the fifth grade of elementary school to the fourth year of secondary school. The research was conducted from May to August in 2023. using the EAT-26 questionnaire. Before the research, the approval of the ethics committee of the Jagodina Health Center (No. 1238/28.04.2023.) was obtained, where the research was conducted. (3) Results: The results show that 5.8% of students exhibited eating disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic (EAT-26 ≥ 20). Statistically significant differences were observed in girls with an eating disorder, who had a significantly lower body weight compared to the others (p < 0.05). Students with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress showed eating disorders significantly more often. Also, elementary school students and boys with an eating disorder visited a nutritionist and played sports more often. (4) Conclusions: Research has shown that during the COVID-19 pandemic, a smaller percentage of students showed symptoms of eating disorders, with girls being more sensitive. Disorders were significantly associated with the presence of depression, anxiety and stress. The obtained results indicate the importance of monitoring children's psychological and nutritional health, as well as the need for preventive and intervention measures in crisis conditions.

The decision on the dividend policy is one of the most important decisions that need to be made, and it may affect the future position and development of the company. A large number of authors conducted research that showed the influence of various factors on dividend policy. The results of that body of research showed different impacts, depending on the company on which the analysis was performed. The empirical analysis in this paper was performed on the case of financial institutions in the Republic of Serbia, and the basis for their selection was the importance of these institutions for the functioning of all segments of the economy. The subject of the paper is the dividend policy applied by financial institutions in the Republic of Serbia. In accordance with the subject of the research, the aim of the work is to determine the impact of profitability, liquidity, leverage, company size and dividends in the previous year on the current year’s dividend policy. A correlation analysis, panel regression analysis, and Mann-Whitney U test were performed, and the results of these analyses show the existence of a statistically significant negative impact of the the previous year’s dividend on the current year’s dividend policy, expressed by the dividend payout rate. The results of the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test show the existence of a statistically significant difference in the distribution of the dividend policy variable between insurance companies and banks.

Education in modern business conditions plays a strategic role in the development of knowledge-based and innovation-driven societies. Investment in education represents one of the key determinants of democratization and the economic empowerment of individuals. The goal of contemporary education is to strengthen professional knowledge and to develop key competencies, including digital skills, which enable individuals to be prepared for new professional challenges and actively participate in current socio-economic trends. This paper aims to analyse, through conducted empirical research, the impact of formal education and acquired digital competencies on employability in the Republic of Serbia. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between the level of education, digital literacy, and employment opportunities, to provide recommendations for improving educational policies and professional training programs.

Purpose The study's purpose is to determine the relationship between authentic leadership dimensions such as self-awareness, balanced processing, internalized moral perspective, and relational transparency on one side and individual employee performance and leadership outcomes on the other side, together with psychological empowerment serving as a mediating factor in the business context of Serbia. Design/methodology/approach The questionnaire was sent to employees in various companies operating in the territory of Serbia, and the final sample consists of 351 respondents. Data was processed using the structural modeling method (PLS-SEM) in the Smart PLS software. Findings The results of the study indicate that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between authentic leadership and both leadership outcomes and individual performance. Furthermore, psychological empowerment was identified as a significant mediator in these relationships. Research limitations/implications The study's limitation is that it was only conducted once regarding the organizations in the Republic of Serbia, which means that results cannot be compared to one another. However, this does not preclude further research on the same topic being carried out in the future to evaluate the current state of affairs after a certain amount of time has passed. Practical implications Based on results of this study, suggestion is that authentic leadership fosters psychological empowerment among employees, leading to significant and measurable enhancements in employee performance and leadership outcomes. The authors recommend that organizations improve these outcomes by selecting managers who exhibit authentic leadership qualities and by implementing comprehensive training and development programs aimed at cultivating an authentic leadership style among existing managers. Originality/value The paper makes a significant contribution by presenting a combination of constructs within a research model and analyzing it in the context of business environments in developing countries, where the topic is seen as situational phenomenon.

Background In Serbia, as well as worldwide, clinical trials are a significant and unavoidable part of the development of new medicines. There is limited research on prospective risk management in clinical trials in Serbia, underscoring the need for systematic approaches, such as the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) method. The effectiveness of this complex process largely depends on knowledge and experience in the field of management. Like any other process, clinical trials are subject to various risks for both the company and the patient. Purpose The purpose of this article is to conduct a prospective, qualitative study on the risk management of clinical trials in the Republic of Serbia, to identify, assess, and reduce risks for both patients and companies, and to offer corrective measures for reducing their frequency and consequences. Materials and Methods A focus group applied the FMEA method to identify, assess, and mitigate risks. Each risk was assessed based on severity, probability, and detectability, and then a risk priority number (RPN) value was calculated. For the most significant risks, corrective measures were proposed, and the RPN was recalculated. The research was conducted from December 12, 2022 to March 8, 2023. Results In total, 20 risks were identified with RPN values ranging from 10 to 192, of which five had RPN &gt; 100. The minimum RPN value among the five most significant risks was 105, and the maximum was 192. After the proposed corrective measures, there was a significant reduction in the RPN values across all five risks, ranging from 57.14% to 83.33% when compared to the initial values. Conclusion The FMEA method has proven to be a useful instrument not only for identifying and predicting potential risks, but also for their control.

The paper analyses the use of artificial intelligence in the exercise of competences of local self-government in the Republic of Serbia. After the introductory considerations, which also include a short review of the legal framework of the AI in the Republic of Serbia, there is an analysis of different possibilities of using AI in the performance of communal activities in general. After that, there is a brief presentation of the concept of local self-government in Serbia and its shortcomings, and then the discussion about possibilities of applying AI in municipalities and cities in the Republic of Serbia, primarily bearing in mind their size and scope of competences. In the concluding considerations, the results of the research are summarized, with particular emphasis on three key points for the wider application of artificial intelligence in local selfgovernment in the Republic of Serbia in the future.

An important role of the modern state is to actively participate in ensuring social protection and social well-being of its citizens. The state's activities in this framework are numerous: material grants, activities in the community, help from professional workers or accommodation services. In this paper, we describe the current state of social protection in Serbia, citing the latest information about it. We pay special attention to legislation and legal frameworks In this regard, we consider the Family Law as of 2015 and the Social Protection Law as of 2011 and 2022. Furthermore, we herewith entartain other existing legal frameweork in the Republic of Serbia, with reference to the guarding laws in the EU. Additionaly, the paper will also describe social protection services, as well as the manner of their implementation. In the final part of the paper, we will try to critically reflect on the entire paper and thus conclude what the state of social protection is currently in the Republic of Serbia and how it can be improved. The authors of this paper have strived to perform a detailed analysis of the existing social protection system in the Republic of Serbia and to provide recommendations and guidelines on how it can be improved.

This paper work is research subject of the impact of HRM activities on the job satisfaction of academics in higher education in the Republic of Serbia. This work deals with the impact of HRM activities on the general job satisfaction and the partial job satisfaction of academic staff at higher education institutions. The research was based on the survey results, filled out by a sample of employees in higher education. The survey was conducted through an on-line questionnaire, available to the respondents at a given web address. The survey was formed on the basis of open access to the Google surveys - model and the Questionnaire for measuring employee satisfaction – Spector’s Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS). The Questionnaire also covered demographic and organizational variables. The research sample consisted of 225 employees, employed at higher education institutions in the Republic of Serbia. The sample was a “quota sample”. Based on the obtained results, described in detail in the dissertation, it can be concluded that general job satisfaction among academic staff at higher education institutions in Serbia is ambivalent. This means that employees are neither satisfied, nor dissatisfied with their job. In the case of the partial job satisfaction indicators, employees showed the highest satisfaction with the nature of the job and satisfaction with coworkers. Based on the sample of 225 employees at higher education institutions, it can be concluded that HRM activities have a positive impact on job satisfaction. Based on this research, specific proposals of HRM activities are given, that could increase job satisfaction. The proposals are recommendations for HR managers in education system. Those recommendations ought to be applied in both state and private institutions of education all over the World.

Digitalization represents one of the key processes that significantly influence the transformation of contemporary banking operations and the efficiency of the financial system. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of digitalization on the efficiency of the banking sector in the Republic of Serbia, with particular emphasis on the period following the COVID-19 pandemic, when the adoption of digital banking services accelerated considerably. The research is based on the analysis of secondary data provided by the National Bank of Serbia and the application of descriptive statistical methods. The results indicate a stable increase in the number of mobile and electronic banking users, as well as growth in the volume of digital payment transactions, with mobile banking emerging as the dominant channel for conducting financial transactions. The findings confirm that digitalization contributes to the improvement of operational efficiency in the banking sector through the rationalization of business processes, cost reduction, and enhanced resilience of banks. This study contributes to a better understanding of the role of digitalization in modern banking and provides a basis for further empirical research in this field.

Research Question: How do demographic characteristics shape audience perceptions, trust levels, and behaviour regarding influencers? Motivation: Although the role of influencers in shaping consumer behaviour has been widely studied, there has been little research into how specific demographic groups differently perceive the credibility and influence of influencers. In accordance with that, this research is motivated by the need to examine how demographic differences shape audience perception and trust in influencers. It aims to provide explanation why the same influencer can have different degrees of influence on different demographic segments of the audience, which can contribute to more precise targeting and optimization of marketing strategies. Idea: Research hypotheses assume that gender, age, place of residence, level of education and work status of consumers significantly influence their following of influencers, the level of trust in influencers and their behavioural intentions. The independent variables are demographic characteristics, and the dependent variables: following, trust and behavioural change. Data: The research was conducted by surveying a sample of 317 respondents in the Republic of Serbia during May 2023. The questionnaire was distributed via the Internet and social networks, by using a snowball sampling technique. Tools: The questionnaire consisted of five sections: the first section related to demographic characteristics of respondents; the second related to general social media consumption; the third related to respondents’ attitudes towards influencer following; the fourth related to respondents trust in influencers and the fifth related to respondents’ behavioural change. Findings: female gender and generational affiliation were found to be significant predictors of following influencers. Female gender, lower age and the place of residence were found to be significant predictors of higher trust in influencers. Female gender and generational belonging were significant predictors of higher degree of behavioural change under the impact of influencers’ activities on social media. Contribution: The findings of this paper contribute to the current literature related to influencer marketing and behaviour on social media, by investigating factors which motivate social media users to follow influencers.

Research Question: How do managers address the challenges of implementing a cloud ERP system in the case company? Motivation: Numerous studies, including systematic literature reviews and empirical research (Abd Elmonem, Nasr, &amp; Geith, 2016; Awan et al., 2021; Vukovic et al., 2025), have identified various challenges in establishing cloud ERP systems. These challenges include change management, legal and compliance issues, integration, data security, privacy, the need for skilled employees, adjustments to business processes, management efficiency, cloud vendor selection, and migration to cloud management. Many of these challenges significantly burden organizations and should be addressed by different levels of management. However, there are very few studies that explicitly focus on strategies to overcome these challenges, particularly those affecting managerial positions within organizations. Idea: The primary objective of this research is to understand and articulate how management encounters resistance concerning the four categories of managerial challenges identified in our previous study (Vukovic et al., 2025) during the establishment of cloud ERP systems. Data: Qualitative data were collected through open interviews with key managers in the organization located in the Republic of Serbia (fluid and water management industry) and by reviewing organizational documents relevant to the research topic. The data collection took place between November 2024 and March 2025. Tools: Qualitative research was conducted in the form of a single case study, using a deliberately selected organizational sample to address the research question. The collected data were subsequently analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The study identified 14 countermeasures and grouped them according to four categories of challenges involved in establishing cloud systems. For the first category, business process adjustment, the countermeasures include pre-project planning, risk mitigation, adopting a hybrid implementation approach, and providing people support. For the second category, change management, the countermeasures are social activities, transparency, recognition and gratitude, and the selection of key users. For the third category, management efficiency, the countermeasures consist of maintaining on-site presence, improving coordination, and participating in governing bodies. For the fourth category, integration, data security, and privacy, the countermeasures are the use of technical tools, cooperation with vendors, and conducting external audits. Contribution: This study offers a real-world example of how a mid-sized entity within a large multinational company addresses the managerial challenges associated with the establishment of cloud ERP systems.

Archives and facilities for the storage of archival holdings are buildings that provide appropriate conditions for the accommodation of records and materials that require continuous protection for historical and permanent storage, preservation and protection. These facilities must be high-performance buildings whose systems must be designed to continuously operate at a very high level with zero fault tolerance. Often, the irreplaceable nature of the materials that must be permanently stored and preserved in those buildings requires an analysis of the life cycle of those systems and a special approach to their design and construction with backup variants of the given systems. This type of facility must be designed to accommodate the load of the materials to be stored; meet the sensitive environmental requirements necessary for various materials to be permanently stored; functional efficiency; safety, security and comfort of visitors and employees; and protection of archival holdings from fire, flood and harmful consequences caused by human errors and actions. To meet these complex requirements, these buildings are the result of a comprehensive, holistic, integrated approach or "whole building design approach" (WBD) that optimizes and harmonizes various design requirements to achieve the desired high-performance building. This process involves all construction representatives and professional designers from the very beginning of the project. This paper will outline the objectives of constructing such a facility, the selection of the location, general requirements, properties of the object, types and caracteristics of the spaces, installations and systems, as well as the regulations, standards and literature applied in the Republic of Serbia and abroad.

The aim of this study was to examine differences in body composition among girls from three European countries (Serbia, Italy, and Spain). Based on age, participants were di vided into two categories: the first group included girls aged 15–19 years, while the second group consisted of those aged 20–24 years. The first group comprised a total of 113 parti cipants (50 from Serbia, 24 from Spain, and 39 from Italy), whereas the second group inclu ded 167 participants (50 from Serbia, 81 from Spain, and 36 from Italy). Body composition was assessed using the InBody 230 device, which enabled the assessment of the following variables: body height, body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass percentage, and waist-hip ratio. In the age group 15-19 years, results showed statistically significant differen ces among the countries in body height (p &lt; 0.05) and waist-hip ratio (p &lt; 0.05). In the age group 20–24 years, statistically significant differences were observed in all measured variab les. Overall, the results indicate that differences in body composition among girls from Ser bia, Italy, and Spain are more pronounced in the older age group (20–24 years) compared to the younger group (15–19 years), which is likely a consequence of cultural, lifestyle, and trai ning factors, while also underscoring the importance of monitoring body composition during growth and maturation.

Young people often face uncertainty during the transition from education to work, along with high unemployment and job dissatisfaction, which is addressed in the EU Youth Strategy, highlighting the need for better career support. This study aimed to identify main factors influencing youth career decisions and to develop a decision-making model. Five core constructs were defined through literature review: Dealing with Uncertainty, Risk Preference, Adaptability and Resilience, Education and Support, and Life Satisfaction. Data were collected from 673 engineering students. Regression analysis was used to test the proposed model and hypotheses, while Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests examined group differences. The developed model accounts for 46.2% (R² = 0.462) of the variability in students’ career choices. Adaptability and resilience emerged as the most influential factor (β = 0.557). Certain differences, for specific constructs, were also observed in relation to different groups of family income, gender and extracurricular activity engagement. The model supports more informed career decisions and provides insights that may help improve career guidance and educational policy. The findings also may contribute to bridging theory and practice in career development research. The study is limited by its sample, which included only engineering students from the Republic of Serbia, potentially restricting the generalizability of the results.

This study explores the attitudes and readiness of small farmers in the Republic of Serbia toward digital transformation in agricultural production, with emphasis on the application of Big Data, drone technology, and artificial intelligence. The research implemented a quantitative survey, collecting data from 437 participants across three regions of Serbia. Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis were used to examine the correlation of demographic factors, including age, gender, education level, and geographic location, with the perceptions on using information technologies in agriculture. Results present significant interest in digital tools that support productivity and sustainability, despite limited practical experience and low levels of digital literacy. Statistically significant correlations were identified between age, education level, and geography in shaping openness toward technological adoption, while gender showed no significant correlation. Younger and more educated respondents consistently expressed stronger support for using advanced technologies, underscoring the importance of strategic government awareness programs and training initiatives.

On November 14, 2024, the Serbian government removed Belgrade's General Staff and Ministry of Defense buildings from the immovable cultural heritage monuments register, disregarding strong opposition from experts and the public. Even the Heritage Alert issued by the International ICOMOS was ignored. This decision represents one of the most drastic actions among various (un)legal strategies that deliberately lead to demolishing or neglecting 20th-century architectural heritage and has sparked research into the implications of a trend observed since the turbulent 1990s. The findings reveal that, despite signing (or re-signing) international documents and agreements, the new Serbian state has been unprepared to establish a system for properly recognising, preserving, and managing its built heritage. By analysing numerous examples, the research uncovers various typical preconditions and decisions that facilitate the inadequate treatment of historic buildings and urban areas. Heritage has been sacrificed for profit, breaching legal frameworks and the principles and concepts of cultural heritage, along with its societal significance. Violating cultural property law risks completely undermining the cultural heritage protection system, potentially resulting in the loss of significant national heritage, highlighting this urgent issue. Many doctrinal texts, including the Faro Convention, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2025, show us the path but cannot save monuments, especially in less wealthy countries, even if there are well-organised institutions and trained professionals. Belgrade's heritage faces not an exclusive issue but a widespread one: experts are overshadowed by government and political agendas.

The main objective of this paper is to identify key determinants that impact the intention to adopt the most widely used digitalization and automation technologies in manufacturing companies—namely, the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data. An Expanded Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model was used, based on which tailored strategies for specific technology adoption can be defined. The data were collected through a survey conducted in manufacturing companies in the Republic of Serbia and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. The results show that the main drivers of intention to use these three technologies are performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, and the current level of digitalization and automation. All three determinants exhibit statistically significant and positive effects on adoption intentions. The main findings are valuable for decision-makers and practitioners, offering insights into the factors that enable technology adoption and providing support for the development of effective implementation strategies based on the key determinants. Also, these results are relevant for other emerging and post-transitional economies in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as they face similar infrastructural, institutional and digital challenges, as well as similar levels of industrialization and technological development.

Traditional foods (TFs) represent a key component of regional cultural identity and gastronomic heritage, particularly within the hospitality sector. The growing interest of tourists in authentic, locally sourced and sustainable food underscores the importance of understanding the perceptual and socio-demographic factors that shape their preferences and choices regarding TFs. The aim of this study is to identify and explain the factors that influence tourist attitudes toward dishes prepared with TFs in the hospitality sector, as well as to examine the extent to which socio-demographic characteristics predict tourists’ purchasing decisions. For this purpose, the Tourist Perception and Preferences Model in the Context of Traditional Foods (TPP-TF model) and the Perceptual Factors Scale for Traditional Food Consumption (PFS-TFC) were developed. The research was conducted on a sample of 507 respondents in the A.P. Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia), employing both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, which identified the following three key factors: socio-cultural, ecological, and economic. The results of the logistic regression analysisshowed that income level and place of residence significantly influenced the decision to purchase dishes based on traditional foods (TFs). Tourists with higher income levels were substantially more likely to purchase TFs, highlighting the role of economic affordability in shaping consumer choices. Conversely, individuals residing in urban areas showed a significantly lower likelihood of purchasing TFs compared to rural respondents, suggesting that traditional food consumption remains more rooted in rural environments and is closely associated with cultural proximity.

The agricultural sector is one of the vital pillars of the Republic of Serbia (RS) economic development, while its role is reflected in the contribution to income generation, the provision of new jobs and overall foreign trade exchange. In the processes of encouraging the development of domestic agriculture, the IPARD program is of particular importance as one of the key tools of financial and technical support that the European Union (EU) provides to candidate countries and potential candidates in the field of agriculture and rural development, including Serbia. This program, which is a part of the EU's broader strategy to support rural areas, provides financial assistance to farmers through subsidies aimed at modernizing agricultural production, improving infrastructure and adopting sustainable production methods. This article is dedicated to the analysis of the importance and role of the IPARD program in the financing of RS agriculture, with a review of its most significant characteristics, goals and measures, as well as an overview of the results achieved so far in its implementation. The paper pays special attention to the participation of sensitive population categories, as well as practical problems and obstacles in its realization. In addition to its indisputable contributions to the modernization...

This study provides a comprehensive multidimensional analysis of the use and perceived impact of AI assistants in software development among full-time software developers working in software development companies in the Republic of Serbia. Drawing on empirical data from software developers, the study explores three key dimensions: the perceived usefulness of AI assistants, developers’ evolving attitudes toward their work and professional growth, and their expectations regarding the future demand for programmers, all within the context of the increasingly widespread adoption of AI assistants for coding. Through the application of inferential statistical methods, the study identifies significant relationships among indicators pertaining to these dimensions, and examines how the perceived impact of AI tools varies in relation to developers’ expertise levels and the sizes of the companies in which they are employed. The findings reveal distinct patterns in developers’ attitudes toward AI assistants across different levels of expertise, indicating that mid-level developers may represent the most sensitive group in terms of perceived impact. Within the framework of company size, operationalized through the number of employees, freelancers constituted a uniquely positioned subgroup. Additionally, the findings highlight a significant reciprocal relationship between programmers’ emotional engagement, motivation for professional development, and their expectations regarding future demand for software engineers.