The current period describes the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis on businesses and the lives of citizens. It has accelerated digital transformation in all areas. The work and learning of many individuals have moved to the digital environment. In order to use digital technologies, employees need to acquire new knowledge and skills. The aim of this research study is to perform an analysis of the development of digital transformation and relevant competencies for employees and to identify the opportunities and challenges in Latvia. The research methodology applied for this research study is based on examining relevant theoretical concepts and publications of the EU regarding digital transformation. A survey method was used to find out the opinions of Latvian employers regarding the importance of digital transformation and relevant competencies for employees. The analysis of the research indicated that the majority of the respondents surveyed rated the level of implementation of digital transformation as high or medium-high, which shows that this is a good trend, and the digitalization process continues to progress. However, about a third of enterprises are only at the early stage of digitalization, while some have not yet begun it. The problem is the development of human capital competencies and digital skills. This is a specific research study that expands and provides insights into the situation in Latvia on the possibilities of implementation of digital transformation, which is closely linked with the development of human capital competencies and digital skills. This requires maintaining a holistic approach to targeted digital transformation management.

The aim of this research study is to perform an analysis of the consequences and impact of the fourth industrial revolution on the development of employability skills and to identify possible solutions to help overcome these challenges. The research methodology applied in this research study involves examining and analysing literature and Internet sources. To identify possible solutions for the development of employability skills in the context of challenges of the fourth industrial revolution, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used. The results of the research indicate that the promotion of youth employability requires close cooperation between educational institutions and entrepreneurs, as well as that significant attention should be paid to investment in human capital and the digital transformation of business. The research expands and provides insights into the situation in Latvia regarding the impact of the fourth industrial revolution on the development of employability skills and performed an analysis of the main possible solutions for the successful development of employability skills in Latvia that can be ensured by investing in human capital and improving the business environment, the digital transformation of SMEs and the modernization of the education system. In this context, it is crucial to promote more collaboration among educators, academics, policymakers, and practitioners.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the problems and possibilities for development of innovative start-ups in Latvia.Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the aim of this study, a survey of Latvia’s high school students in 2015 (n= 5,910) was undertaken by an online questionnaire within a financial skill built-up contest “New Financial Expert 2016” held by the Financial Institute of Swedbank (Swedbank survey, 2016). Further, Latvia University of Agriculture master students (n= 97) were interviewed in the year 2016 to identify master students opinion about necessary support for entrepreneurship, future services or goods with potentially high added value and find out their readiness for innovative action.Findings: A comparative analysis of data of the master student interviews and the survey of Latvia’s high school students showed that most of the youth associated their entrepreneurship prospects with innovative ideas, new technologies and new skills. The results of the research indicated that the foundation of start-up enterprises in Latvia led to positive results and gave an impulse to increasing economic activities as there were the necessary preconditions for their development.Originality/value: The studies are mostly dedicated to start-ups that are less likely to innovate and have linked the concept of the start-up with business incubation. Unlike other studies, this is a specific research that provides insights into the situation in Latvia and is directed toward building innovative start-up enterprises that should be linked with the growth-oriented new technology, globalization and global market with a focus on innovation. Thus, research findings contribute to extant research on the possibilities of development of innovative start-up enterprises in Latvia and advance the present understanding of the main problems in the creation of new innovative start-ups.

The purpose of this study is to examine the development of entrepreneurial competences among Latvian students in mathematics and in the science subjects, as well as to indicate how recent graduates have evaluated their knowledge and skill s in the various fields of endeavour at university. The research methodology implemented for this study is a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. To assess the opportunities for development of entrepreneurial competences among students, a survey and analysis was undertaken of a broad range of educational and subject curricula, teaching/learning materials and of the academic performance results of graduates. The results of this study have revealed that, in Latvia, there is a unified system of methodological materials that has been worked out in four subject areas, and which provides the potential to devel op the entrepreneurial competences of students. The survey results of recent university graduates reflect that, in general, while graduates (new teachers) in Latvian universities are mostly well prepared in accord with present-day labour market challenges, nevertheless, serious improvements are still necessary in regard to the process of entrepreneurship education.

The aim of the paper is to find the competitiveness of Latvian university graduates in Latvia and the European Union labour market concerning aspects of entrepreneurship education. To achieve the purpose of this study to determine the competitive and qualitative levels of Latvian universities and necessary improvements that need to be made, a survey of 4,909 graduates (from the years 2006-2011) representing six Latvia universities was performed between November-December, 2011. Results indicate that, in general, the graduates consider themselves competitive in the Latvian labour market. The graduates have positive opinions concerning the quality of theoretical knowledge as well as the abilities to present information and to evaluate, analyse and systematise it. At the same time, there are serious improvements that are necessary in regard to entrepreneurship education and to increase the competitiveness of Latvian universities, which can be done by improving the quality of the study process, the content of courses, teaching (learning) methods and the attitudes of academic staff to better motive students to develop their skills emphasising the practical side of the study process

The aim of this study is to carry out an analysis on the implementation of the principles of sustainable leadership in the tourism information centres of Latvian State cities in order to promote the visibility of the territory they represent. This article presents an analysis of the literature on sustainable leadership and visibility of the territories, and provides characteristics of the sector represented by the tourism information centres of Latvian State cities. To identify the possible solutions to the improvement of sustainable leadership principles in the tourism information centres of Latvian State cities, we analysed the following: the implementation of sustainable leadership principles; and the views of the cooperation partners on the visibility of the tourism information centres in their areas, and the promotion of the territory they represent. The results of the study indicate that, based on the assessment of the cooperation partners, the principles of sustainable leadership are generally applied in only three (out of ten) tourism information centres. It was concluded that the application of sustainable leadership principles in the tourism information centres would promote smooth entry into priority target markets and the fastest possible initiation of promotion activities in secondary target markets, which soon could potentially rank on the list of priority target markets, in order to replace one audience with another due to the changing geopolitical situation in the world.