Academic Search Alumni Edition

Constructive co-operation between municipal administrations and independ-ent public service providers, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), establishes favourable conditions for the development and dissemination of best practices in the delivery of high-quality social services. This research aimed to assess the development and effectiveness of co-operation between a municipal administration and NGOs in delivering social services, using Marijampolė municipality as a case study. A qualitative empirical approach, comprising interviews and focus group discussions, was employed. The Stakeholder Relationship Manage-ment Maturity (SRMM) model was used to evaluate the level of co-operation. The municipal-ity chosen for the present analysis is distinguished by a substantial presence of NGOs actively delivering services. The research findings indicate that, according to the SRMM model, the maturity of co-operation between municipal administrations and NGOs in providing social services is primarily at the procedural level, whereas relational aspects are evident within the process standardisation dimension. To foster mature co-operation, it is recommended that participants within the co-operation network establish a shared vision regarding the future of social service provision and the role of NGOs. The findings of the empirical research under-score the necessity for participants in a co-operation network to cultivate competencies essen-tial for sustaining and enhancing co-operation (e.g. communication and conflict resolution) and highlight the importance of establishing a unified culture of co-operation.

The attractiveness of regional areas to young people has gained growing academic attention, particularly within the context of demographic shifts, urban-rural disparities, and education. In focusing on the Sudovia region of Lithuania, the paper examines how education can be strategically used as a lever to administer regional appeal among young people. By analysing the interplay between local educational institutions and broader regional development goals, the study highlights context-specific solutions for youth attraction and retention. Existing research emphasises that regional attractiveness is multifaceted, encompassing economic opportunities, quality of life, social infrastructure, cultural identity, and connectivity. Education is one of the factors that influences young people’s decision to relocate and settle in specific regions. Methodology. This study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and interviews to assess the Sudovia region’s attractiveness for young people through education. This approach enables data triangulation for robust insights. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive stats and regression to find key factors of education attractiveness. Qualitative data were transcribed and analysed thematically to identify themes and perspectives that contextualise survey results. Findings. The integration of quantitative and qualitative data presents a compelling view of Sudovia’s appeal to young people through education, emphasising both its promising opportunities and the challenges that must be addressed. Conclusions. The findings highlight that administering regional appeal through education requires integrating academic opportunities with cultural, social, and economic dimensions of regional life. However, aligning local education with emerging industries is critical for enhancing Sudovia’s vibrant attraction for youth.

Healthcare systems face ongoing challenges that require reforms to enhance innovation, accessibility, and efficiency. Lithuania’s healthcare reform aims to enhance equity, quality, and sustainability by reorganising its service network. However, implementation has revealed unintended effects, including “network compression”, where large hospitals absorb services from smaller regional facilities, deepening regional inequality and limiting accessibil-ity for rural populations. A qualitative research method with 22 informants was employed. Healthcare professionals are reporting growing fatigue, increased administrative burdens, and a decline in empathy in patient care. These outcomes highlight how efficiency-oriented poli-cies can unintentionally depersonalise services and marginalise regional healthcare providers. Based on interviews with healthcare professionals, this study examines how reforms trans-form everyday clinical practices and local service delivery. The findings underscore the need to balance efficiency-driven reforms with empathy, professional autonomy, and equitable access to healthcare.

The paper analyses the trends of organizational resilience management in Lithuanian central government institutions based on the “bounce-back” concept, examining the impact on the organization from both internal and external environments and incorporating the resulting uncertainty conditions conceptualized through the prism of the organization’s available information for decision-making. The results of an empirical qualitative study in the Lithuanian public sector suggest that performance deterioration in Lithuanian central government organizations arises from both the internal and the external environment. The study reveals that the strength and the frequency of these impacts are comparably similar in each environment, affecting organizational performance with regular and unexpected factors. Regular environmental influences tend to create conditions of moderate uncertainty, where information is either known and available or there is a constant demand for new information acquisition. Unexpected environmental influences tend to create high uncertainty conditions, where there is a persistent need for information in order to make decisions, escalating to not knowing what information is needed and where it can be obtained. Experts suggest that managing resilience and decision-making under uncertainty requires organizations to invest in information processing and communication, emphasizing free information flow and live, substantive communication between managers, adjusting provided information on the situation that is limiting or expanding it. Effective knowledge management and learning processes that help organizations adapt to changing conditions are best supported by personnel who possess institutional memory, suitable digitization of management information, and active engagement in national net-working (or international networking if no national equivalent exists). Inadequate preparation for periods of negative impact disrupts the organization’s information exchange, and the learning element becomes unmanageable, especially if the negative impact situations re frequent and unforeseen, depriving the organization of the necessary time to “take a breath, look back and learn, and consolidate learning.”.

Digital transformation and data policy are no longer peripheral concerns but strategic imperatives at the heart of the European Union’s (EU) digital agenda. More than a technological shift, this transformation signals a fundamental change in governance logic—one where data-driven decision-making, cross-sectoral innovation, and inclusive design shape the contours of public service delivery. Anchored in the European Digital Strategy (EDS), the EU’s vision for a digitally resilient society is not merely a regulato-ry framework but a multidimensional blueprint that connects digital infrastructure with civic value. This article examines how such ambitions materialize on the ground through a case study of Vilnius City Municipality’s Smart City initiative, focusing on its Mobility Map project. Through the integration of anonymized real-time mobility data, the platform exemplifies the practical application of EDS principles: transparency, responsiveness, and citizen-centered governance. It also underscores the role of municipalities not as passive implementers but as strategic agents in shaping Europe’s digital transformation. Yet, the research highlights persistent asymmetries in local capacity, infrastructural readiness, and policy coherence. The EU’s digital vision often collides with on-the-ground realities, from fragmented data systems to ethical dilemmas surrounding automation. The study argues that sustainable and equitable digital transformation demands not only technical profi-ciency but also institutional reflexivity, ethical safeguards, and adaptive leadership. Vilnius emerges as a microcosm of both the potential and the complexity embedded in Europe’s digital future.

An essential component of supporting sustainable development is the expansion of distributed renewable energy source generation. The purpose of this work is to identify the key areas of influence of state authorities in support of the formation of distributed energy generation. The example of Ukraine revealed the potential of their use in conditions of military threats. The methodological basis of the study encompasses tools of institutional, historical, genetic, structural, comparative, and complementary analysis. Instruments of state regulation of the development of decentralized power generation are presented. The potential for regulating the development of renewable energy generation through artificial intelligenceis shown. Attention is focused on the contradictory influence of scaling effects on the stimulation of its development.

This article examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector, highlighting its transformative potential and associated challenges. AI has the capacity to revolutionize public admin- istration by enhancing service delivery, decision-making, and operational efficiency through advanced data analysis, predictive analytics, and automation. Despite these opportunities, the adoption of AI in government faces significant obstacles, including technical limitations, ethical concerns, legal constraints, and organizational resistance. Key issues such as data privacy, system security, algorithmic bias, and accountability for AI-driven decisions are explored. This study employs a theoretical framework based on literature analysis, document review, and value interpretation. The article also discusses the varying levels of AI deployment, from simple automation to fully autonomous systems, and the strategic approaches needed for successful implementation. The research objectives are to identify the principal challenges and opportunities associated with AI integration in public administration and to answer key questions regarding effective governance, ethical management, and policy formulation. The study also aims to contribute to both academic discourse and policy practice by proposing actionable recommendations for optimizing AI deployment in the public sector. It emphasizes the need for robust governance frameworks, ethical guidelines, and international cooperation to ensure AI technologies enhance public value while preserving trust and democratic principles. The findings underscore the importance of a balanced approach to AI integration, promoting innovation while safeguarding societal interests.

This article underlines how a transparent and unambiguously understood legal system is an integral part of a sustainable state. The analysis begins with the central thesis that unambiguous legislation not only contributes to the smooth enforcement of the law, but also strengthens citizens’ confidence in rule of law institutions. The article discusses a few key aspects, including the importance of clarity in the language of legislation and specific drafting principles that show how clarity contributes to the achievement of the sustainable development goals. It also emphasizes that clarity should not only be seen as a technical aspect of legislation, but also as a strategic aspect of governance, promoting legal awareness and empowering the public to actively participate in public governance. It is also stressed that clearly formulated legislation is essential for effective, accountable, and transparent governance, and that legislation must be equally understood by all sections of society. Finally, the article touches on the concept of a sustainable state, with a transparent and efficient legal system that can respond quickly to social, economic, and environmental challenges, ensuring the full well-being and stability of its citizens. The themes of the article cover several key areas: the principle of legal certainty, the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, economic development, the transparency of the legislative process, and the uniformity of the interpretation and application of law.

The factors contributing to political and institutional trust in Europe are under-researched. This study aims to explore the links between political and institutional trust, subjective well-being, and satisfaction with the economy, national government, and democracy by applying data from the 11th round of the European Social Survey, conducted in 2023–2024. The age of the participants (n = 22,039) ranged from 15 to 90 (M = 51.88, SD = 18.728). The results reveal that in European countries, trust in politicians and political parties is consistently lower than trust in institutions such as the police, the legal system, and international organizations like the United Nations. The findings show that subjective well-being is significantly correlated with all forms of political and institutional trust, including trust in the country’s parliament, legal system, politicians, political parties, the European Parliament, and the United Nations, suggesting that institutional trust is a foundational component of societal well-being. However, the strongest correlation is observed between trust in the police and subjective well-being. Satisfaction with the economy, national government, and democracy show the strongest correlations with trust in the country’s parliament and politicians, positing that economic conditions and governmental performance are the primary determinants of political trust. Structural equation modeling reveals that subjective well-being does not directly translate into political and institutional trust, but political and economic satisfaction acts as a critical mediating variable. High levels of life satisfaction and happiness can enhance positive perceptions of economic and governmental performance, which in turn foster political and institutional trust.

Family support is a crucial component affecting the functioning of parents of children with disabilities within society. Sufficient services that cater to both child support and the parents’ quality of life are required, or else the state labor market runs the risk of losing able-bodied citizens who are responsible for raising children with disabilities. Thus, the research has twofold aim: to review the system of public services for families raising children with disabilities in Lithuania, and to analyze the availability of services from the perspective of managers of service-providing institutions. A structured interviews was conducted to collect information from eighteen experts who are heads of education, health and social services departments of municipalities and subordinate institutions, responsible for decision-making in the organization and provision of services to families raising children with disabilities in the Alytus region. According to research findings, the Alytus region has the potential to provide education, healthcare, and social services following legal provisions. However, the current range of services is inadequate in practice. Typically, most services are available only upon parental request for children with disabilities, with certain services not being available for numerous reasons. Based on the research findings, the insufficient provision of services in the Alytus region is mainly attributable to a shortage of service staff and limited financial resources. At the same time, the study highlights a slow responsiveness of the municipalities and their subordinate entities towards communicating and collaborating, as well as with parents of disabled children.