At VU Business School, eight groups of lecturers and researchers are actively conducting research in specific areas.
Detailed information about Scientific Research Studies is provided below.
Impact of sustainability and financial literacy on demand and supply of sustainable financial products (pensions, green loans and long-term investments)
Aim: to investigate how sustainability literacy and financial literacy shape long-term sustainable investment behaviour and how these behaviours can be used by financial sector actors (banks, pension and investment funds, insurance companies), business organisations in product development, and policy-makers (decision-makers) to ensure a sustainable and adequate standard of living in an ageing society (silver economy).
Task:
- based on previous research on sustainability and financial literacy in the Baltics, to extend the analysis to all age groups and link the level of literacy to the choice of real sustainable products (I-III pillar pension funds, life insurance with investment, ESG funds, green loans);
- integrate the analysis of the state's participation in accumulative pension schemes (contributions, tax incentives, subsidies) into the perspective of the business model: assess how public incentives can increase the demand for sustainable investment products without compromising the long-term sustainability of the system;
- develop an integrated research methodology that would be applied in the format of business school studies and case studies.
Period: 2024-2030
A study of complexity phenomena in management and human resource management
Aim: A study of complexity phenomena in management and human resource management explores how organizations operate as dynamic systems characterized by unpredictability, interconnectedness, and emergent behaviour. Complexity theory challenges traditional, linear approaches, emphasizing that organizations cannot be fully understood by analysing their individual components in isolation. Rather, they must be viewed holistically because outcomes arise from intricate interactions and feedback loops among people and processes. In human resource management (HRM), complexity is heightened by diverse workforce needs, regulatory pressures, rapid technological change, and evolving strategic roles, often resulting in HR systems and practices that must adapt quickly and unpredictably to both internal and external factors. Complexity phenomena highlight the importance of adaptability, resilience, knowledge sharing, and decentralized leadership, suggesting that fostering innovation and navigating change requires balancing order and flexibility instead of rigid control. Studies in this area note that successful management and HRM in complex environments rely on recognizing emergent patterns, encouraging experimentation, and investing in sophisticated people strategies tailored to unique organizational contexts.
Tasks:
- carry out a theoretical analysis of the complexity of scientific information on the topic;
- analyze innovative human resource management methods applicable to organizations operating in a complex environment.
Period: 2024-2029
Assessing the sustainability of start-ups in the context of a sustainable economy
Aim: to examine the characteristics of sustainable development in start-ups and to assess their sustainability.
Tasks:
- a theoretical analysis of scientific literature will be conducted, and an empirical research model will be developed;
- the sustainability of start-ups will be assessed using the developed research model.
Period: 2024-2027
The Interaction of Promoting Multilingualism, Social Responsibility, and Sustainability in the Context of Security: A Perspective on the Application of Ethical Principles
Aim: to explore the interactions between the promotion of multilingualism, social responsibility and sustainability in the context of security, based on ethical principles. Their influence on the paradigm shift in higher education in the context of globalization and the possibilities of integrating these aspects into security policy and academic practices are analyzed.
Tasks:
- Review the scientific literature on multilingualism, social responsibility and sustainability in the context of security.
- To analyze the impact of globalization on changes in higher education.
- To identify the feasibility of applying ethical principles in the fields of multilingualism and sustainability.
- To explore successful examples of multilingualism and sustainability from various universities.
- Compare the experiences of higher education institutions across countries to identify the best models.
- To analyze the strategies of international organizations (EU, UN, OECD) in the field of multilingualism and sustainability.
- To compare the attitudes of the education systems of different regions to multilingualism and social responsibility.
Period: 2025-2030
Assessment of the impact of climate change on the ecosystem (including the economy, financial processes, public health, and well-being)
Aim: to develop a comprehensive assessment framework that quantifies the synergistic benefits of tackling climate change, economic challenges and peacebuilding.
Tasks:
- to conduct research covering the problems of climate-related disclosure in various sectors and its impact on the company's activities, financial markets and the stability of the sector;
- research on the synergistic effect of climate change and peacebuilding.
Period: 2024-2027
Research on Organizations’ Preparedness for Future Challenges and Business Development Under Adverse Conditions
Aim: to develop research on organization’s preparedness for future challenges, to provide recommendations aimed at facilitating the risks of entrepreneurial activities under adverse conditions, and to assess the issues related to the integration and personalization of digital technologies in this area.
Tasks:
- to conduct a theoretical analysis;
- to examine and assess the risks and significance of potential challenges.
Period: 2024-2028
Assessing the impact of irrational financial behavior on business decision-making
Aim: the aim of the research is to introduce basic cognitive and emotional biases and their impact on financial behaviour and its rationality, reveal what factors shape irrational financial behavior and investigate their influence on business decision-making; suggest ways and means to resist their influence and minitage negative influence.
Tasks:
- to investigate the main cognitive and emotional factors influencing business decision-making.
Period: 2024-2025
Synergy of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Development of New Value Creation Strategies and Their Impact on Market and Societal Transformations
Aim: to examine how the synergy between entrepreneurship and innovation shapes new value creation strategies by assessing the key competitiveness factors of the innovation ecosystem and their impact on various markets and societal transformations. Based on these findings, to develop new models of interaction among ecosystem participants, contributing to the theoretical advancement in this field and providing practical recommendations aimed at the long-term sustainable development of entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, and society.
Tasks:
- to carry out an analysis of the competitiveness factors of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem;
- to study the ecosystem conditions that determine the development of female entrepreneurship;
- explore the roles of actors in the innovation ecosystem and the mechanisms of interaction between them;
- to carry out an analysis of the scientific literature on the impact of public-private partnerships on the innovation ecosystem.
Period: 2022-2028
