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Purpose This paper aims to determine the antecedents that affect higher education students' entrepreneurial intention and awareness in two developing economies (Turkey and Poland) and one transition economy (Kosovo). Design/methodology/approach This study uses a quantitative research approach based on a sample of 342 questionnaires. Using SPSS 23, AMOS and Process Hayes, this study tests research hypotheses using explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis and mediation analysis. Findings The findings show that personal attitudes (PA), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and need for achievement (NFA) variables affect students' entrepreneurial intentions and alertness (EIA) in Turkey, Poland, and Kosovo. PA and PBC mediate the impact of NFA on EIA. In addition, analyses show that the country variable does not have a moderator effect on EIA, PA, NFA and PBC variables. The findings reveal that students' perceptions of EIA differ by country. Research limitations/implications The sample comes from a university in three countries; therefore, these results cannot be generalised to the entire population. In addition, the study was carried out with a cross-sectional study urging the need for a longitudinal analysis of the data, which may provide better results. Practical implications Results can benefit policymakers and higher education administrators for resource planning, organising educational curricula and strategic policy plans for building the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Originality/value The originality of this article is that it presents a model to reveal the effect of PA, PBC and NFA variables on EIA in three different countries.

Today technological progress is reshaping global economic development and changing the overall welfare of societies. Therefore, it is important to assess challenges and readiness of the European Union to use its capacity to ensure that technologies benefit people and bring them towards more inclusive societies enhancing opportunities to use artificial intellect for making health, education, agriculture, services and manufacturing industries more efficient and user friendly. The Digital Economy and Society Index analyses the digital performance of the EU Member States across five main dimensions: connectivity, human capital, use of internet, integration of digital technology, digital public services. However, despite intention to jointly develop Digital Single Market, the gap between the EU top digital countries and less digitally advanced countries remains large. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the digital performance indicators of the EU countries, in particular focusing to Poland and Latvia to assess their progress and potential of their human capital's digital skills. The research is based on theoretical literature studies on industrial revolution stages, European Union Commission documents, indexes and publications available in relevant public institutions such as ministries and industry reports. The research employed monographic method, analysis and synthesis methods as well as graphical data analysis. The research results give evidence that currently Poland's human capital is significantly better prepared for making use of future digital economy challenges than Latvia's human capital, and there is a close link between countries' R&D expenditures proportion of GDP and their human capital's readiness to integrate in digital economy.

The objective of contemporary education is to enhance the competiveness of graduates not only in the local market but also at the European Union scale; therefore, stronger co-operation with foreign education and research institutions can significantly improve the knowledge and skills of Latvian students, which can gradually contribute to Latvia’s competitiveness in high value added activities within global value chains. This, of course, underlines the increasing importance of foreign language skills. In fact, knowledge of the English language in today’s labour market is taken for granted, and the competiveness of those employees, who can speak at least three foreign languages, including one of the Scandinavian languages, is increasing. The aim of the research was to identify Latvian students’ learning experience in European countries in scope of short study mobility programmes. Based on the secondary information sources such as statistical data aggregated by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia and Flash Eurobarometer Report No466, the authors have analysed Latvian students’ mobility destinations and intentions of studies abroad. The research findings suggest that currently there is a contradiction between students’ personal intentions and their real behaviour. The countries that are currently most often chosen as study mobility destinations rather offer valuable cultural experience than practical skills that could be useful in academic and professional work. 

Background: When one hears that company X achieved success, adopted a strategy, or struggles with difficulties, there is always a company board behind this news. Typically, a company board is a reflection of decisions taken by the owner; in practice, there is no rule as to how to appoint a company board. However, if we consider the long-term interest of the company, we may suggest a few ideas that will allow the company to better adapt to the market; they may also help to build the competitive advantage and have a positive impact on the company's market position. This article presents a belief that the company board composition should evolve from merely reflecting the goals of the owner and the professionalism of the members, into a board, whose structure reflects employees and the market in which the company operates. This approach stems from the need to adapt to the market conditions, which is easier when the process of change starts with the company board. To illustrate these ideas, a fictitious example of a limited liability company will be used, for which we developed various board models based on the market situation Journal of Corporate responsibility and leadersHip HuMan resourCes & diVersity ManageMent 20 Joanna Hernik, Antonio Minguez VeraPurpose: The aim of this article is to develop a new approach to board of directors' creation, through the lens of decision-making theory, sustainable development and business performance. Design / methodology / approach: To build a new model of a board of directors, a critical-realistic approach was used along with a case study of a fictitious limited liability company. Hypothetical-deductive technique was a base of the analysis. Findings: Conceptual models of a board of directors -which reflected human capital of the company and market structurewere developed. Research and practical limitations/implications: A guidance for businesspeople on how to compose a board of directors is provided. As this is a theoretical work, it may be a base for future market/ real testing of the presented ideas. Originality/value: The article responds to a lack of research and wider works on connections between a board of directors and developing company performance, so this paper will be of particular value to those involved in the appointment of directors. In conclusions, we propose how to create better boards of directors.