Introducing the SWOT Scorecard Technique to Analyse Diversified AE Collective Schemes with a DEX Model

Comparing diversified agri-environmental (AE) collective schemes in their capability to provide AE public goods faces great challenges, mostly because of their diversified nature and relatively new way to approach the provision of AE public goods. The state of the art is that there are not yet any common quantitative indicators or data to build a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model to compare it with other practices and to set the strategic plan for the scheme’s improvement. Nevertheless, some qualitative common data of SWOT analyses are available, but the question remains how to simultaneously compare several SWOT analyses in an MCDM model. This study introduces a new way of transforming the qualitative results of SWOT analyses to fit in the MCDM Decision Expert (DEX) model using a special transformation technique SWOT scorecard. The SWOT scorecard evaluates the importance of qualitative results of several SWOT analyses simultaneously in a quantitative way, describing with points how supportive the environment is to each criterion in the DEX model. The SWOT scorecard keeps track of the original results from SWOT analysis and considers the diversity of AE schemes, which results in an appearance of the convergence points. This gives a key for comparing the AE collective schemes in providing AE public goods. Furthermore, it gives a solution for discussing the synergy between aspects that affect AE public goods provision for every AE scheme investigated. The technique is tested via five AE collective schemes in the DEXi program and gives deeper insight into factors that affect each scheme’s performance.

КОМПЛЕКСНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ СОСТОЯНИЯ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЙ СОЦИО-ЭКОЛОГО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ СИСТЕМЫ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ НИЖЕГОРОДСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ)

In order to assess the state of affairs in a region with account for the economic, socio-demographic and environmental aspects, to find out the causes of backwardness, and to work out ameliorating measures, it is reasonable to regard each administrative-territorial unit (ATU) as an integral socio-environmentally-economic system (SEES). ATUs in the Nizhegorodskaya Oblast were chosen to evaluate the suggested approach to integral analysis of SEES conditions and developmental degree. The approach implies calculating the values of the generalized desirability function (GDF) and their assessment using principal components and SWOT analyses. The calculated GDF values for the years 2016–2018 made it possible to distinguish leaders and outsiders among ATUs. Among all ATUs, 78% fall into the two lower classes of GDF gradation, which means that conditions are poor there. The results were confirmed by statistical analysis and were interpreted analytically using SWOT analysis. The suggested methodology makes it possible to distinguish “pain spots” and “points of increase” and correct decision making aimed to promote sustainable development at a regional level.

SWOT Analysis of the Innovation System in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The current global position of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirms the findings of previous research that in our country there is no single or at least harmonized and efficient innovation system, appropriate to the needs of the development of knowledge society and the knowledge economy. The first steps in determining the reasons for this situation are SWOT analyses of the position and role of the innovation system within the general strategic and sectorial research and technology transfer planning. The paper discusses the most important results of matrices obtained and compares them with the findings of our latest research. The first result is a concise SWOT matrix of the innovation system. The results of the elaboration of individual factors we present in a detailed SWOT matrix based on elements of strength. This matrix also showed that uniform and stabilized higher education is the most important element of the strength of the innovation system. Therefore, the paper specifically discusses characteristics of universities as subjects of the innovation system.

The Importance of International Collaboration to Enhance Education for Environmental Citizenship

Environmental Education is essential to promote awareness and facilitate the development of environmental citizens. To contribute to the enhancement of environmental awareness, Iceland, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania have collaborated in joint educational projects which aim at building capacities on sustainable development, delivering environmental teaching lectures, and developing open educational resources. This article presents past and ongoing collaborations between the mentioned countries, assesses the status of environmental education, and highlights the benefits of international collaboration. For this purpose, information on environmental courses in representative universities from each country was collected, SWOT analyses were performed in each country, and a survey among potential students was carried out. The presented analysis reveals that international collaboration raises environmental awareness and increases the likelihood of becoming environmental citizens.

Exploring the Potential of Neglected Local Endemic Plants of Three Mediterranean Regions in the Ornamental Sector: Value Chain Feasibility and Readiness Timescale for Their Sustainable Exploitation

The neglected and underutilized plants (NUPs) have never been mainstreamed by researchers, politicians and stakeholders for sustainable exploitation in the ornamental-horticultural sector. This study focused on 399 local endemic plants of three Mediterranean regions (Crete, Mediterranean coast-Rif of Morocco, Tunisia), with the aim to develop a new scheme for their multifaceted ornamental-horticultural evaluation facilitating their sustainable exploitation. The methodological scheme was developed within three multidisciplinary co-creative workshops by experts and was adjusted by end-users. The developed scheme uses point and weighted scoring of several attributes relevant to biological and ornamental-horticultural characteristics and concerns three ranking levels: (i) ornamental-horticultural potential (general or subsector-specific; 20 attributes), (ii) sustainable exploitation feasibility (12 attributes) and (iii) readiness timescale (after gap and SWOT analyses) in creating value chains in short-, medium- or long-term. The analysis of the data illustrated two example-cases of already achieved sustainable exploitation with established value chains; outlined the prospects for sustainable exploitation of 18 and 23 local endemic NUPs in short-term and medium-term, respectively; and identified 86 taxa with reachable possibilities in the long-term. The proposed multifaceted evaluation scheme can be applied for the valorisation of NUPs in other areas and may help to define priorities and to identify opportunities and gaps for their sustainable exploitation.

Conservation strategy of Anaphalis spp. in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, East Java

The wild population of Anaphalis spp. in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (BTNSP) has been reported decreased significantly. A combination of natural disturbance and anthropogenic factors contributes to the recent wild population decrease. A formulation of conservation strategy to ensure the sustainability of Anaphalis spp. require data and information related to external and internal factors determines the recent population in wild habitat. The objective of the paper was to identify factors related to conservation strategy of Anaphalis in BTSNP. This study found internal factor related to strength includes the existence of species and value of Anaphalisspp., while the weaknesses include increase of habitat degradation and disturbance caused by tourism activities. The opportunities for conservation include support of policy in biodiversity conservation and increase of ecotourism movement, while the threats aspect include less control of land uses changes and increase of mass tourism. The SWOT analyses recommends some significant strategy which are derived from combination of enhancing strength to optimizing opportunities, reducing weaknesses and optimizing opportunities, enhancing strength to reduce threats and managing weaknesses to manage risk.

Virtual exchange for teaching EU economics: building enriching international learning experiences for European students

This chapter presents a Transnational Virtual Exchange (VE) Project (TEP) developed in partnership between a Spanish and a Hungarian university. During this semester-long project, students worked in mixed virtual teams exploring selected topics related to the economics of the European Union. This report provides the details of the planning, design, and implementation of the project and reveals its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) from the students’ perspectives. The in-depth SWOT analyses elaborate on students’ disciplinary learning, 21st century skills development, engagement and motivation, use of digital tools, international online teamwork and collaboration, online communication, and intercultural competence.

Evaluating Animal-Based Foods and Plant-Based Alternatives Using Multi-Criteria and SWOT Analyses

Global diets have transitioned in recent decades with animal and processed products increasing. Promoting a reversal in these trends towards plant-based diets could reduce the environmental impacts of food systems and reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and malnutrition. In Spain, a reference point for the Mediterranean diet (predominantly plant-source based), plant-based alternatives to traditional animal-based products are receiving increased attention. However, limited focus has been given to the opinions of stakeholder groups on the potential of these novel products. We evaluate the opinions of stakeholders within the Spanish agri-food sector, using multicriteria and SWOT analyses, on traditional and novel food products. Stakeholders involved in the supply chain of food products (producers, processors, and distributors) were critical of novel plant-based foods, highlighting problems with their taste, processing technology, and high prices. These results contrast with the perspectives of policymakers, researchers, environmental NGOs, and consumers who see novel products more positively - healthier, more sustainable, and highly profitable. These results illustrate the more traditional mindset seen in Spanish production systems, contrasting with the rapidly shifting tastes and demands of consumers and the potential legislative orientation of policymakers. This study calls for improved understanding and collaboration between stakeholders to better manage complex choices that affect the future of food systems during their needed transformation.