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ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGION AS DIDACTIC MATERIAL FOR ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES Dr., assoc. prof. TEODORAS TAMOSIUNAS, Siauliai University, Lithuania Paper presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, University College Dublin, 7-10 September 2005 Abstract The application of the methodology of the preparation of region’s development plan in the intended researches of sociology module is analysed in the article. The sectional reports of ten groups of sociological researches of students comprise the base of the research. In groups students carried out a potential studio of the preparation of the plan. The structure of the reports of researches is presented, and the results of students and the topic of researches are analysed. Keywords. Sociology, sociological researches, university studies, development plan of the region. Introduction Relevance of the research and topic. Universities are often accused of the insufficient link of science and studies with surroundings, requirements of employers, and unbalanced practice. Social researches of students enable to try theoretical knowledge in reality, adapt theoretical models in particular situations. It is especially topical now when pragmatic science philosophy orienting towards scientific researches of utilitarian character flows from the West to Lithuania Regional policy is a new phenomenon in Lithuania, which is especially emphasised of late years because of the increase of economic and social differences among Lithuanian regions (districts) and significance attached to regional policy by the EU. Hopefully, specialists of economics and management will often confront with regional policy, that is why a detailed research of the regional problems and professional analysis, even of scientific type, becomes an essential part of the training of specialists of such type. The aim of the work – to investigate: 1) the application of the methodology of the preparation of region’s development plan in the intended researches of sociology module for students of Bachelor economy and management study programmes; 2) the main development tendencies of Šiauliai county in the general context of Lithuanian development. The object of the research – economic, social situation in Šiauliai county. 1. Development Plan of the Region In February – September of 2003 36 lecturers of the Faculty of Social Sciences prepared a plan of the development of Šiauliai region for 2004 – 2006. A new task has become topical at once: to apply planned material and databases to studies and transform it into educational media in training Economics and Management specialists for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. A text of 182 pages comprises the plan and its appendixes – 267 pages. In the introduction a context of the plan is presented as well as vision of the development of the region till 2014 and four priorities are formulated. In the first part of the plan analysis of the situation of the region after 20 economy spheres is carried out, SWOT matrixes are abstracted, and results of the poll of 2300 residents are summed up. In the second part strategy of the region is formulated and four priorities of the region as well as objectives and tasks, which correspond to them, are grounded. Means designed for the implementation of the tasks are presented. Seven municipalities of the region and many companies and institutions presented 1496 means with concrete indicated tasks, expected results, and financial estimates. These means were generalized into 183 grand means. Material of the analysis of the situation, results of the poll, and a 1496 means list, which is arranged under strategic priorities, objectives, tasks, and grand means, comprise 32 annexes. There is a list of 110 sources too. 2. The application of the Development Plan of the Region to studies In spring semester of 2003 material of the plan was applied in lecturing Sociology, Economics, Business Administration, and Public Administration modules for students of Bachelor study programmes. They carried out researches, analysed situations of separate districts of the region, modelled strategy of the region, and formulated plans of the region. 10 groups of students carried out sociological researches on the subject of “Vista Studio of the Preparation of the Development Plan of Šiauliai region”. These main parts are required in the report of the research: 2.1. Introduction 2.1.1. Research problem. Formulation of the problem is a difficult task for students. Students emphasised mostly that basically, Lithuania, having got rid of the dictate of Moscow planned economy before ten years, has not got strategic plans and planning of state economy and region has not been treated as an important task of the state. Similarly, Šiauliai region does not know its significance and potential in the general context of the country, does not see the tendencies of the development, and does not have experience in strategic region planning. 2.1.2. Research topicality. This part of the introduction of the research report is easier for students. Here students emphasised that the development of the state and regions has been being planned in the European Union precisely and responsibly every seven year. The same is demanded from Lithuania, which is a member of the EU. Hence, Lithuania will join into the last three years of the septennial plan of the EU, i.e. 2004 – 2006. That is why the representatives of the EU offered Lithuanian government to plan regional policy for 2004 – 2006 and be ready to prepare a septennial plan of the development of the country and separate regions together with the EU countries. Hence, strategic planning of the development of regions has become a very significant and topical task and that is why sociological researches are particularly topical in this sphere. 2.1.3. Research object. Students chose Development Plan of Šiauliai region for 2004 – 2006 as an object. 2.1.4. Research subject. According to the theme students formulated vista studio of the preparation of the development plan of Šiauliai region as a subject of the research, i.e. what they decided to research directly and immediately. 2.1.5. Research objective. Since the objective of the research corresponds the theme, students didn’t have any problems with the formulation of it: the objective of the research – to carry out a vista studio of the preparation of the plan of the development of Šiauliai region. 2.1.6. Research goals. Many groups of students singled out three main goals: 1. To carry out the analysis of the situation of Šiauliai region. 2. To carry out SWOT analysis of Šiauliai region (S – Strength, W – Weak, O – Opportunity, T –Threat). 3. To carry out the analysis of Šiauliai region priorities, objectives, goals, and their implementation. 2.1.7. Scientific hypothesis. Students formulated the priorities of the development of the region as main evidentiary mostly. According to the collected material about the region students considered the expansion of the competitive ability of small and medium businesses, development of human resources, development of economical and social surroundings, and improvement of the situation of the country and agriculture as main priorities. 2.1.8. Research base: methodology, methods, and strategy. Describing sociological researches about the development base of the region, students singled out three main parts of this basis. 1. Methodology. In the report it is divided into two parts: a) in the first part students shortly described the main theories of regional policy and the topicalities of the development of the regions, and summarized the material of the theoretical part of the report; b) the second part is more complicated: here students had to ground the logic of their research, reveal the philosophy of the research, and answer the questions why the research was carried in such a way. 2. Methods. In the report it was divided into three parts: a) in the first part students described the research methods of their group members: the analysis of theoretical sources, the analysis of documents, the method of experts, and poll; b) in the second part exploratory section was introduced: the main data about the development of the region and the situation in each of six regions of the district and Šiauliai is shortly presented; c) in the third part the instruments of the research, mainly questionnaires made during laboratory proceedings in computer classes and distributed among the regional specialists of various spheres, heads of companies and enterprises, and students were described. 3. Strategy. This is a detailed research plan made in the beginning of the semester and coordinated with study plan: eight seminars and accordingly seven tests for separate parts of the report of the research; eight laboratory proceedings with appropriate defence of accomplished work. 2.1.9. The novelty of the results and their theoretical and practical significance. This is the final and perhaps the most difficult introductory part. The novelty was grounded on the basis that the results of the research were collected and worked up especially for the development plan of the region and summarised into strategic provisions. The biggest part of the data was not published in scientific and study reports and was collected from the Internet and the accounts of companies and institutions. Vista studio of the preparation of the development plan of Šiauliai region was carried out for the first time. Describing theoretical significance of their researches, students emphasised that the theories of the development of the regions were supplemented with real empirical material as well as expanded in additional and concrete levels. In the several reports it was stressed that theories of the development of the region acquired utilitarian character and became significant to particular regional surrounding thanks to the results of the researches. But, students did not dare to state that the researches enriched at least one theory with new ideas. To ground the practical significance of the results was considerably easier for students than to ground theoretical significance. Really, potential studies of all ten groups revealed real ways of the preparation of the development plan of Šiauliai region and projected particular means, and collected data may be of service in grounding separate components of a real development plan. 2.2. Theoretical foundations of the research. This is the first part of the research report comprising over 20 – 30 percent of it and occupying 2 – 5 sheets. Each of ten student groups presented an individual package of theoretical material characteristic only to the prepared report of their group members. Students analyzed four main factors of the competition among the regions: the amount of industrial resources (main funds and other), the size of natural resources, and human resources. Much attention was paid to the policy of the development of the regions: experience, models, and the systems of various countries and regions were described. The increase of the significance of the processes of strategic planning was emphasised. In the majority of the reports of the research the review of the experience of the development of regions in foreign countries was carried out and encouragement methods and means of economic development of regions were analysed. Students went deep into encouragement facilities of local business, obstacles to the development of business, and forms of the support to business. Democratic theories of the Western World widely propagate the experience of regional social partnership. Students analysed the resources of social partnership and compound parts of this partnership. The fluctuation of regional policy of Lithuania while integrating into economic and social sphere of the European Union and conformation to the demands of structural policy of the EU received particular attention among the students. 2.3. Research results analysis. 2.3.1. Situation analysis. Students, having grouped into nine teams, carried out this analysis in each group in nine parts. Situations in Šiauliai as well as in six districts – Akmenė, Joniškis, Pakruojis, Radviliškis, Šiauliai, and Kelmė – were analysed. The eighth team carried out the analysis of the situation of Šiauliai district, and the ninth team compared the main rates of Šiauliai district with appropriate rates of Lithuania, the EU, and its’ countries. 2.3.2. SWOT analysis. Here students worked in the same nine teams and singled out the strengths, weaknesses, facilities, and threats of Šiauliai, its district, and six regions. Much attention was paid to the grounding of each factor with concrete facts. 2.3.3. Strategic analysis. In this part the same nine teams of each group set the strategies of the development of Šiauliai, its district, and six regions for the 2004 – 2006, singled out the main priorities of development, detailed them with concrete objectives and tasks, and projected the means of their implementation. 2.4. Conclusions and proposals. It was demanded that conclusions would follow from the statements of theoretical part or from the results of research and would be grounded in as faithful way as possible. Proposals were also grounded with definite facts and were designed to particular addressees: municipalities, specialists of adequate spheres, and heads of companies and institutions. 2.5. Discussion. It consists of two parts. In the first one the authors of the report stated their attitudes towards the preparation of the report and collected data and conclusions, and described the success and failures of their research. In the second part the possible continuations of researches and future plans of the researches of research groups were forecasted and readers were encouraged to initiate researches analysing the development of Šiauliai region. 2.6. Literature list. In report from 25 to 80 resources constituted this list. A lot of foreign literature and Internet information were used. 2.7. Appendix. The number of them is not limited, but students didn’t make a convenience of it. The main documents, which students used in the research as well as additional material directly connected with the research but not fully used were added to appendixes. References must be used in the main text of report in all appendixes. The size of reports amounted from 145 to 378 sheets of A4 format printed in 12 type. The reports are supplied in bound books and compacts in electronic form. Students carried out researches and prepared reports within a semester, i.e. within 20 weeks. A conference proceeded in every group during examination: the presentation of a report using Power Point programme. The majority of students enjoyed carrying sociological researches in groups. They broadened their knowledge about the facilities of the development of the region, collected a lot of theoretical an empirical material and systemized, generalized it as well as singled out the main directions of development. The main thing is that they felt visibly how the truth is being searched and grounded in social researches. 3. Tendencies of Šiauliai county (by student’s researches) Šiauliai county is situated in the North of Lithuania and covers the parts of Western Higher Lithuania and Samogitian ethnographic regions. The county is the second largest one in the country (13 per cent of total area of Lithuania) and covers 8540 km2. The county includes areas of Šiauliai town and district, Akmenė, Joniškis, Kelmė, Pakruojis, and Radviliškis districts. According to the data of Census, the population of Šiauliai county in 2002 was 370 096 (including 134 000 inhabitants of Šiauliai town), constituting approximately tenth of total population of Lithuania. The county stands the fourth by population (Šiauliai Regional Development Plan for 2004 – 2006, p. 7). At the beginning of 2003 Šiauliai county stood the fourth by population density among ten Lithuanian counties: 43 people per square kilometre (43/km²). Vilnius and Kaunas counties are the most densely populated – 87/ km², and Klaipėda county – 74/km², obviously, thanks to these large towns. The average of Lithuania is 53/ km². The number of inhabitants has a tendency to decline. In 1996 – 2001 in Šiauliai town and Akmenė district the number of inhabitants declined notably. In 2001 in all Lithuanian counties natural increase of population was negative and Šiauliai county conforms to the average level of the republic. In most countries of the European Union this rate is positive. According to the data of Census of the RL dated at the beginning of 2002, 61 percent of inhabitants lived in a town. According to this rate, we stand in the fourth place, being behind the counties of the biggest towns. In Vilnius county 78 % of population live in the town. In Šiauliai county in 2003 the level of unemployment constituted 11,8 %, whereas in Vilnius county – only 7,6 %, and the average of Lithuania – 10,3 %. However, currently, there is a considerable decline of the level of unemployment because in Šiauliai county in 2001 it was 16,5 %, and in Lithuania – 12,5 %. Žemės ūkis Agriculture 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Šiaulių apskr 49 Pramonė Industry 50 64 67 59 73 79 64 Paslaugos Facilities 54 60 63 64 71 73 74 74 90 21 30 21 28 30 20 .Lietuva Airij Šiauliai Lithuania 29 29 25 17 25 38 30 32 23 25 20 8 10 8 7 5 4 4 4 2 2 1 Italija Olandija Austrija Belgija Danija Britanija Graikija Ispanija Liuksemburgas Pranczūzija Portugalija Ireland Austria Belgium Denmark Great Britain Greece Spain Italy Luxembourg Holland Portugal D. 4 Suomija Franc 33 24 8 3 2 Švedij Vokietija Finland Sweden Germany Fig. 1. The handling of men in Lithuanian and in the EU countries in 2001 Source: http://www.std.lt / 2003 12 22 However, the handling of men in 2001 shows that Šiauliai county is agrarian: even 30 % of the manpower is employed in agriculture in Šiauliai county, and 20 % in Lithuania (see Fig. 1). Whereas agricultural sector of Great Britain employs only one per cent of the employees, of Sweden – two, of Germany and Belgium – three, and of France, Denmark, Holland, and Austria – 4 %. The first tendency follows from here: the percentage of agriculturalists will decline, so their retraining into other preserves is necessary. GDP for one inhabitant increased by approximately 20 % in the county in 1996 – 2001. However, in 2001 the GDP of the county constituted only 8 % of Lithuanian product and totalled only 71, 5 % of the average of the country for one inhabitant (see Fig. 2). Comparing with the average of the country, GDP for one inhabitant of the county declined from 90 per cent in 1996 to 71 per cent in 2001, that is the reduction constitutes approximately 20 per cent. Accordingly, an average monthly salary in 2001 does not gladden: 801 Lt for one inhabitant of the county – the seventh rate among counties, the average of Lithuania – 982 Lt, in 2002 – 825 Lt, and the average of Lithuania – 1180 Lt. 14,0 12,0 91,7 93,2 10,0 8,0 6,0 4,0 2,0 0,0 8,4 88,4 9,7 100,0 79,7 10,0 79,5 9,8 77,4 10,1 74,2 10,3 74,0 11,0 12,2 80,0 74,8 60,0 6,5 40,0 20,0 0,0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003* Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, thousand LTL Compared to national average, % Fig. 2. Relative decline of GDP in Šiauliai county Source: http://www.std.lt / 2005 07 20 The second tendency: economy and not very marketable agricultural production determines low GDP in Šiauliai county. The transition from agriculture to industry, business, and public services is necessary. Quite a few means of the development of industry and business are scheduled in Šiauliai county. Šiauliai Industrial park and projects of Auštrakiai waste clearing system stand out among them. The activity of the agencies of Šiauliai regional development, Šiauliai Business incubator, Science and Technologic park, Business information centres in Šiauliai county is promising. We have to state that in Lithuania little attention is paid to the researches in industrial and business spheres. In 2003 investments into science and researches constituted only 0,68 % of GDP. Whereas Finland and Sweden, which allocate 3 – 4 % of GDP for this purpose, are notable for industrial and business competitive ability. In Šiauliai county the programme of business development and industrial and business monitoring are not developed. Direct foreign investments in the county increased by 3.6 times from 1995 to 2003 (see Fig. 3). In 2000 investments into the county constituted only two per cent, and in 2002 1,4 % of all direct foreign investments into Lithuania (see Table 1). Here Vilnius dominates steadily: two thirds of foreign investments of Lithuania; that is 47.4 times more than in Šiauliai county. In Šiauliai county, during 1997 – 2000, direct foreign investments for one person constituted only 1620 Lt, while in Vilnius county – 20670 Lt, the average of Lithuania – 8396 Lt. The third tendency of the county development: the increase of the attraction of the county for foreign investors, and the establishment of more favourable economic, infrastructural and social conditions for them. 1200 1000 855 3976 1002 3808 940 906 3068 800 2678 600 400 419 449 514 488 200 0 2000 2001 Šiauliai county 2002 Šiauliai 2003 National Fig. 3. Direct foreign investments per capita in Šiauliai county and city Source: http://www.std.lt / 2005 07 22 In 1996 – 2000 in Lithuanian counties material investments for one inhabitant are not characteristic of such a huge disproportion as foreign investments, however, even here, Šiauliai county is behind Vilnius county more than three times. In 2001 only 2,9 % of the material investments of the country fell to Šiauliai county. According to the investments in house building, Šiauliai county outnumbered the average of the country in 2002. In 2002, the export of Lithuanian goods constituted 76, 4 % of the total export of the country. Here Šiauliai county contributed only 3,8 %. During 1997 – 2001, textile and its products, clothes and their accessories, fur and their ware, milk and its products, manure, and furniture were particularly competitive among the export of Lithuanian goods. A situation of Šiauliai county in respect of industrial production sold has relatively gotten better: in 2001 – 4, 7 %, in 2003 – 5,6 % of total production of the country. According to the general plan of the area of Lithuania dated 29/10/2002, Šiauliai is identified as a 1st level metropolitan centre of regional category. Vilnius and Kaunas are metropolitan centres of international category, Klaipėda is of state category, and Panevėžys, Alytus, and Marijampolė are of 2nd level of category A. But, the general plan states that currently Šiauliai does not meet the criteria of metropolitan level centre and is the weakest link in this level. Four possibilities are scheduled to develop Šiauliai into the centre of metropolitan level: good demographic situation of Western Lithuania, university, possibility to interact intensively with the potentials of neighbouring regions, and the increase of the importance of Via Hanseatika highway. Having used the potentials of this highway, main line, and airport, which does not have weight restrictions, Šiauliai region may become an international centre of logistics. The fourth tendency of the county development: the development of the system of material investments into Šiauliai county and of domestic industry, business, and public services. 4. The possibility of further studies In autumn of 2003 a new specialization of Business Administration study programme – Project Management, which consists of 4 semesters of 4 credits module each, is going to begin. Students, who will choose this specialization, will go deep into preparation of projects and their management. Projects will result from the means confirmed in the plan. The lecturers of the faculty receive proposals from the companies to prepare projects under means presented in the plan. The development plan of the region becomes an important educational media not only to Sociology and Project Management modules. Many lecturers have an opportunity to take practical examples from the material of the plan and concrete problems of the region become good educational media for the analysis of optimal solutions. The plan will be issued in a book format in autumn. The lecturers of the faculty qualify for the monitoring of this plan for three years. That is, the lecturers will supplement and correct this plan and measure the results of achievements. Educational media for students and experience of the studies should develop together. This will be generalized in the textbook of strategic planning of the activity of regions and companies. Economic and social information of the Šiauliai region is used by students in master and bachelor works of economic and management studies. Conclusions 1. Students developed theoretical competence in regional planning and carrying out sociological research projects. 2. They gained skills in selecting and generalising empirical findings. 3. They gained competence in grounding and proving statements of sociological character. 4. They developed analytical skills and relate theoretical assumptions to empirical findings. 5. The results of incorporating empirical information into theoretical courses proved to be benefit for quality assurance in the teaching and learning process. Literature 1. Bagdzevičienė, R., Rimas, J., Venckus, A. Strategy of the region economic development, 2002 /http://www.lrti.lt/veikla/publikacijos.html / [2004 02 06]. 2. Benneworth, P., Conroy, L., Roberts P. (2002). Strategic Connectivity, Sustainable Development and New English Regional Governance. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 45(2). 3. Čepaitienė, N., Pukelienė, V. Formalising the Concept of Region in the Spatial Semantic Hierarchy. Engineering Economics. Kaunas, 2004, 4 (39), 20–32. 4. Damašienė, V., Butkus, M. Economic peculiarities of regional functioning. Ekonomika ir vadyba: aktualijos ir perspektyvos 2004. E. 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