The perception of an image of the state forest enterprise by general public in chosen region of the Slovak Republic

This paper deals with the comparison of the general public perception and the opinion of state forest managers on image of the state forest enterprise. The research was organised during the period 2015–2019. One group of respondents involved all managers of 23 sub-enterprises of state forest enterprise Lesy SR. The other group consisted of 384 respondents representing the general public residing in the Banská Bystrica region. Structured questionnaire with one open and 16 closed questions was applied for data collection with a help of electronic means. Collected data were processed with descriptive (particularly frequency analysis) and two-dimensional statistical methods. The results of the image inquiry aimed at three issues: (i) perceptions of the forest management effectiveness of the state versus non-state forest enterprises, (ii) perception of marketing strategy and its tools of the state forest enterprise, and (iii) comparison between public awareness/experience with public relations activities of the state forest enterprise.

Factors Contributing to Rationed Nursing Care in the Slovak Republic—A Secondary Analysis of Quantitative Data

Rationed nursing care is a significant problem in healthcare facilities worldwide. Awareness of contributing factors to rationed care might support the development and implementation of strategies for reducing this phenomenon from clinical practice. The study examined the association between selected hospital, unit, and staff variables and the prevalence of rationed nursing care. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected between December 2017 and July 2018 from 895 registered nurses in seven acute care hospitals in the Slovak Republic was performed. Data were collected using the questionnaire Perceived Implicit Rationing of Nursing and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics in the statistical program SPSS 25.0. Statistically significant associations were found between rationed nursing care and unit type, education, shift type, nurses’ experience in the current unit, overtime hours, missed shifts, intention to leave the position, perceived staff adequacy, quality of patient care, and job satisfaction. Differences in rating rationed nursing care, quality of patient care, and job satisfaction were identified based on hospital type. Together with top hospital management, nurse managers should develop targeted interventions focusing on mitigating rationed nursing care from the clinical practice with a focus placed on university hospitals. Quality and safe care might be ensured through constant monitoring of the quality of patient care and job satisfaction of nurses as these factors significantly predicted the estimates of rationed nursing care.

Legislative Development of Criminal Proceedings and Evidence in the Slovak Republic (1993-2021)

Background: In this article, the author focuses on the legislative development of criminal proceedings and evidence after the establishment of the Slovak Republic. This article pays special attention to the issue of evidence and means of proof. It also deals separately with the legal regulation of using information and technical means. It briefly suggests possible directions of development in the field of evidence, reflecting the current state of development of science and technology, as well as changes in the security situation. Methods: The scientific methods of historical analysis and legal comparison were used to process the research data. Results and Conclusions: Developments in this area are constantly advancing, and the area of evidence in criminal proceedings in the Slovak Republic will inevitably be subject to updating.

The Phenomenon of Bilingualism in Slovakia

The present chapter deals with the phenomenon of bilingualism in Slovakia in general and the concept of so-called intentional bilingualism in particular. This approach has been gaining popularity and has been implemented in monolingual countries of Europe, with the Slovak Republic being no exception. Several studies on successful implementation of intentional bilingualism in monolingual settings in Slovakia have been published in the literature. First, the theoretical background is presented and the relevant literature is reviewed. Intentional bilingualism is defined, the forms of bilingualism in Slovakia are depicted, possible benefits of bilingualism and some prejudices against it, as well as methods of bilingual upbringing in families, are described. The subsequent research part presents a narrative family case study on intentional bilingualism. The bilingual upbringing of a child in a monolingual culture is described and conclusions are outlined.

REFUND FOR CANCELLED TRAVEL DURING THE PANDEMIC: COMMISSION DECIDES TO REFER SLOVAKIA TO THE COURT OF JUSTICE

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to assess the conformity of the Slovak solutions with regard to refunds for cancelled travels and their conformity with EU law, i.e. the Package Travel Directive. In the article, the position is analysed of the European Commission and its reflection to Slovak legislation on refunds of travels after cancellation of the breach concerning travels by the travel agencies. Method. Legal analyses regarding the Slovak amendment of Package Travel Act and comparison of its provisions with the Package Travel Directive. Findings. In the article, the way is described as to how the Slovak legislator solved the reimbursement for cancelled travels due to pandemic situation. Also provided is the statement regarding the reasoned opinion of the European Commission that followed the adoption of the amendment of the Slovak Package Travel Act. The authors analyse compatibility of the COVID PTA Amendment with European Union law. In the article, it is described that due to time constraints set by the COVID PTA Amendment for refund because of cancelled travels, non-compliance with EU legislation had probably expired by September 2021. Research and conclusions limitations. The research was focused on EU (Package Travel Directive) and Slovak legislation (Package Travel Act) and assessment of compliance of Slovak with EU law. Practical implications. The article draws attention to the question whether some effects of the COVID PTA Amendment will persist after September 2021 provided that the topical purpose of this legislation to postpone refund for travellers has already been accomplished by setting the deadline for 14 September 2021. Secondly, it raises the question of possible damage suffered by the individuals due to the breach of EU law by the Slovak Republic. Originality. As the article is focused on the most current situation, this topic has not been discussed by other authors in other studies. The authors assume a view that makes assessment regarding legality of the Slovak amendment for Package Travel Act with EU law. Type of paper. Research paper.

VIRTUAL WATER POTENTIAL OF SELECTED COMMODITIES IN CO-OPERATION OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC WITH COUNTRIES OF THE WESTERN BALKANS

Our paper rests on two fundamentals: firstly, the EU's initiative to deepen cooperation with and the prospect of its enlargement to the Western Balkans region; and, secondly, the urgency to address sustainable development issues in the international environment. As the virtual water perspective represents an innovative approach in the field of sustainable development, the aim of our paper is to analyse trade-related characteristics based on the water footprint concept (complementary to the alternative RCA/RTA indexes designed to calculate a country's comparative advantage or disadvantage). In our paper, we analyse and evaluate selected commodities traded by the Slovak Republic and the Western Balkans countries in terms of the absolute/comparative advantage related to the national water footprints.

THE CRISIS IS A NATURAL PART OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT IS NECESSARY TO LEARN TO FACE IT

Europe has the strongest and largest tourism in the world. As in times of economic prosperity, the industry can prosper, in the case of a change in the economic environment as a result of a crises, it is hit hard and the tourism industry throughout the European Union is suffering billions of euros in damage. It is the case of all post-communist countries and also in Slovak Republic. The effects of such fluctuations are all the greater for the country´s GDP because they do not have contingency plans in place and solutions are often chaotic or implemented too late. The article assesses the impact of several crises, including the current one associated with COVID-19 and predicts a possible approach to mitigate the consequences of the crisis and at the same time better manage the future crisis.

CRISIS AND RECOVERY OF BUSINESS ENTITIES IN TOURISM IN THE POST PANDEMIC PERIOD IN SLOVAKIA

The aim of the paper is to examine the issue of market recovery and business entities in the pandemic and post-pandemic period. Overall it points out the possibilities of the solution on the basis of interviews and utilizing the models of simulation of the results of companies that have been affected by the crisis. The paper used statistical data obtained by research in the analysed period March - April 2020 and in the examined years 2019 to 2023, including prognostic data from the sources of the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic. Based on the results of selected companies with and without pandemic measures were simulated. Resulting from the research findings, proposed model presents the state of the company affected by the crisis and ways of solving how to get out of this crisis and design further development in the post-pandemic period. The paper pointed out the need to increase expertise in decision-making on the development of the economy of business entities and subsequently the development of the industry with targeted support from the state based on research base in combination with future modelling methods.

Comparison of Situation in the Slovak and Czech Market of Milk and Dairy Products

The paper is focused on dairy sector with the emphasis on the development of consumption of milk and dairy products, including cheese, curd and other dairy products, in the last 15 years in the Slovak Republic and in the Czech Republic. The aim of the paper is to identify the level of milk and dairy products consumption, as well as to identify the main determinants affecting the consumption. Paper is also aimed at milk production with emphasis on the main problems that may affect future development on the dairy market. The primary data are obtained by consumer survey and survey aimed focused on producers of milk and dairy products. Based on the results we have identified that the milk and dairy products consumption by Slovak consumers is lower compared to the Czech Republic and the quality and price are considered as the main determinants influencing the consumption. We also found out that milk and dairy products producers are adapting their production to demand, but it is important to point out the barriers related in particular to the introduction of new technologies into production, rising input prices or growing consumer disinterest in the consumption of milk and dairy products.