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Higher Education Challenges: Developing Skills to Address Contemporary Economic and Sustainability Issues

Author

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  • Boštjan Aver

    (Faculty of Entrepreneurship, GEA College, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Ajda Fošner

    (Faculty of Entrepreneurship, GEA College, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Nikša Alfirević

    (Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia)

Abstract

This paper aims to provide brief insight into the economic and sustainability challenges that higher education institutions are facing today globally. It provides a theoretical overview of key trends and challenges of higher education, relevant for the development of a sustainable and resilient European economy and society. We support our theoretical proposition by a bibliometric analysis of previous studies dealing with the 21st-century business skills and the sustainability outlook to be produced by the higher education sector. Our main findings are related to a significant rise of researchers’ interest in the topic, along with the multi-disciplinary approach being emphasized, as the academic community seeks how to contribute to the pressing issues of ensuring the integration of sustainability with employers’ requirements, related to new skill profiles, relevant for the European transformation toward a more resilient, digital, green economy and society. We evaluate the proposed course of research and provide recommendations to researchers and other higher education stakeholders interested in promoting this educational sector’s sustainability and relevance in the 21st century.

Suggested Citation

  • Boštjan Aver & Ajda Fošner & Nikša Alfirević, 2021. "Higher Education Challenges: Developing Skills to Address Contemporary Economic and Sustainability Issues," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12567-:d:678808
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Luis Mayor & Line F. Lindner & Christoph F. Knöbl & Ana Ramalho & Remigio Berruto & Francesca Sanna & Daniele Rossi & Camilla Tomao & Billy Goodburn & Concha Avila & Marg Leijdens & Katharina Stollewe, 2022. "Skill Needs for Sustainable Agri-Food and Forestry Sectors (I): Assessment through European and National Focus Groups," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-24, August.
    2. Ana Ramalho Ribeiro & Billy Goodburn & Luis Mayor & Line F. Lindner & Christoph F. Knöbl & Jacques Trienekens & Daniel Rossi & Francesca Sanna & Remigio Berruto & Patrizia Busato, 2023. "Skill Needs for Sustainable Agri-Food and Forestry Sectors (II): Insights of a European Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, February.
    3. Muhammad Setiawan Kusmulyono & Wawan Dhewanto & Melia Famiola, 2023. "Energizing Higher Education Sustainability through Rural-Community Development Activation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, January.
    4. Jana Stofkova & Adela Poliakova & Katarina Repkova Stofkova & Peter Malega & Matej Krejnus & Vladimira Binasova & Naqibullah Daneshjo, 2022. "Digital Skills as a Significant Factor of Human Resources Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-18, October.
    5. María Nuria Sánchez & Emanuela Giancola & Silvia Soutullo & Ana Rosa Gamarra & Rafael Olmedo & José Antonio Ferrer & María José Jiménez, 2022. "Suitability Evaluation of Different Measured Variables to Assess the Occupancy Patterns of a Building: Analysis of a Classroom of a School in Madrid during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, April.

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