In the digital age the learning environment is blown completely open. The advent of new digital technology and social media is fundamentally reshaping our living and learning.
Consequently, we are finding that students are learning much more in these informal environments because they are voluntarily engaging in information,
Peers play hugely important roles in the learning environments of the 21st-Century. This kind of learning is handled intuitively, with inherent enthusiasm,
7 july 2015 657 environments as the interaction between a teacher, a student, and curriculum (the content which a student supposed to be learning).
because the mundane elements of basic instruction are moved to an e-learning environment, which can be more engaging and interactive.
one that reacts to its environment organically. It not only adapts to the environmental changes, but it integrates the very notion of change into its processes as one of its environmental variables.
UNDERLINES-the need to bring out the richness of Europe's cultural heritage in the online environment
%)The new RDI strategy 2013-2020 foresees significant support to be provided for the creation of an environment in which public institutions,
The new RDI strategy 2013-2020 foresees significant support to be provided for the creation of an environment in which public institutions,
and create an environment in which business sector would create more jobs for researchers. The austerity measures had major impact on the institutional funding of the higher education institutions that decreased by one-third between 2009 and 2013.
0. 9 2. 1 0. 5 Environment 15.9 3. 7 8. 5 2. 5 5. 9 2. 0 9. 3
The RDI strategy would support the creation of an environment in which public institutions, companies and innovative enterprises could develop
the strategy aims at the increase of the attractiveness of the research environment, increase of the scientific excellence in all fields,
drawing up tax proposals for promoting R&d and setting up the related regulatory environment, as well as drawing up the details of the direct support system. 5. In line with the process of development of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3),
adaptation strategies and handling of global challenges (i e. lifestyle and health industry, European start-up hub, water, energy and environment technologies) ß-specialisation:
and iv) enabling environment. A more recent measure is the Start-up 13 programme that was introduced in Section 2. 4 above.
In such an uncertain environment firms tend to focus on day-to-day survival, and thus RTDI activities are rarely in the focus of business strategies.
and to improve the host research institution's environment as well. Attracting and keeping the best Hungarian researchers home
New tools for intensifying the dynamics of innovation in the public sector through Pcp are foreseen in the fields of health care, environment protection, energy,
i e. ones who can inspire the Hungarian research environment. In 2013 the Hungarian Academy of Sciences joined the initiative of Teaming for Excellence elaborated by the Max Planck Society (MPG) and eight other leading Western-European scientific organisations,
and policy environment and provide incentives(+)National Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Quality 2010-2021(+)The National Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Quality aims to increase the proportion of women in leading positions,
33 Reforming the business environment in 2013/14 Case studies 47 Starting a business The growing efficiency of company registries 53 Zoning
It can also help in creating an environment in which standard macroeconomic policies are more effective
Many other dimensions of the business environment also matter but are outside the scope of Doing Business.
Nevertheless, improving in the areas measured by Doing Business is an important step toward a better business environment for all.
The distance to frontier score also provides an important complement to the ease of doing business ranking in analyzing changes in an economy's business regulatory environment.
Economies in the top 20 continued to improve their business regulatory environment in the past year. For example, Switzerland made starting a business easier by introducing online procedures
(and therefore an improvement in the overall business environment as measured by Doing Business), while the absence of one indicates either no improvement or a deterioration in the score.
For more detail on the reform patterns in the past year, see the chapter on reforming the business environment.
and indicators of the quality of the legal and regulatory environment and governance. 13 The finding that good business regulations in areas such as those measured by Doing Business benefit small firms more than large ones is an important one
regardless of income level, can participate in its benefits requires an environment where new entrants with drive
Doing Business captures several important dimensions of the regulatory environment as it applies to local firms.
Doing Business does not capture other aspects of the business environment, such as security, market size, macroeconomic stability and the prevalence of bribery and corruption.
and the best performance at any point in time and to assess the absolute change in the economy's regulatory environment over time as measured by Doing Business.
weighting all topics equally and, within each topic, giving equal weight to each of the topic components. 6 Each topic covered by Doing Business relates to a different aspect of the regulatory environment.
and even within the areas it covers its scope is narrow (table 2. 2). Doing Business does not measure the full range of factors, policies and institutions that affect the quality of an economy's business environment or its national competitiveness.
and importing FIGURE 2. 1 An economy's regulatory environment may be more business-friendly in some areas than in others Hong kong SAR, China United states Singapore Korea, Rep. Finland Sweden Ireland
reform committees within governments frequently use the Doing Business indicators as one input to inform their programs for improving the business environment.
indicators to help inform programs to improve the business environment. Successful business regulation reforms improvements as part of broader reform programs.
Doing Business 2015 Going Beyond Efficiency Reforming the business environment in 2013/14 As many studies have shown,
the business environment can have an important influence on the development of the private sector and economic growth and thus on the creation of jobs and better livelihoods.
They can also have an important impact on perceptions of an economy's business environment.
Moreover, better regulation is correlated strongly with better perceptions of the quality of the business environment in an economy. 6
REFORMING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN 2013/14 35 Croatia made the biggest improvement in the ease of dealing with construction permits (figure 4. 1). New regulations in the Building Act
REFORMING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN 2013/14 37 Greece made the largest improvement in the ease of registering property (figure 4. 3). In December 2013 it established a new property transfer tax of 3%of the property value,
REFORMING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN 2013/14 39 rights of borrowers and lenders either by reforming secured transactions legislation
REFORMING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN 2013/14 41 created private bailiff services, expedient execution procedures and penalties for noncompliant debtors.
which has made the most reforms aimed at improving the labor market environment in recent years. In 2013 Portugal revised the rules on fixed-term contracts executed under the labor code that reach their maximum duration before November 8
REFORMING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN 2013/14 43 TABLE 4a. 1 Who reduced regulatory complexity and cost or strengthened legal institutions in 2013/14 and
REFORMING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN 2013/14 45 TABLE 4a. 1 Who reduced regulatory complexity and cost or strengthened legal institutions in 2013/14 and
Rwanda promoting a competitive business environment The government of Rwanda has been working to improve the efficiency of business registration as part of broader business regulation reforms aimed at promoting private sector FIGURE 5. 2 Online registration
and promote a competitive business environment. The new entity oversees the implementation of applicable commercial laws,
the Office of the Registrar General makes official fee schedules for business services easily available to the general public at its premises as well as on its website. 14 Rwanda has made important strides in improving its business environment over the past 10
Rwanda, a country facing a range of other development challenges, has shown that improvements in the regulatory environment including the adoption of global good practices are well within the reach of low-income economies.
A growing number of economies with difficult business environments are gradually adopting the practices seen in those with more business-friendly climates.
and natural resources, foster a greener environment, improve sustainability and enhance the ability to adapt to climate change.
Getting in on the Act, New zealand, Ministry of Environment, http://www. mfe. govt. nz/publications/rma/everyday/overview/.
though preservation of the environment is a priority 75 G2 semiurban 9 Areas where low-density buildings in closer proximity are allowed but because of location or topography,
preservation of the environment is a priority 75 G3 urban 37 Areas that comprise most of the city's currently urbanized area,
and contribute to a better business environment by promoting transparency about their operations for example, by tracking the performance of their land services and openly sharing statistics about property transactions.
One definition of a transparent business environment is one in which individuals possess essential information about the environment in
which they operate, meaning that information asymmetries do not place an unjustifiable burden on them (OECD 2002). 11.
In optimal regulatory environments, enforcement is the duty both of efficient government agencies with adequate resources
because firms would find themselves operating in an environment where compliance with contractual obligations is not the norm. 2 As in previous years,
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DOING BUSINESS RESEARCH CONFERENCE 103 regulatory environment (as measured by the Doing Business indicators.
One important policy implication of their findings is that fostering an efficient regulatory environment for the financial and private sector can contribute to economic growth by aiding the efficient exit of insolvent firms during economic slowdowns
Audretsch, Belitski and Desai (2014) investigate how the overall business environment affects urban entrepreneurship. They look at a few dimensions of the business environment (such as those measured by the Doing Business indicators on starting a business
registering property, paying taxes, enforcing contracts and trading across borders) and types of regulatory reform (those affecting measures of time,
The authors find that the national business environment is associated with both measures of entrepreneurship and that the type of regulatory reform can affect entrepreneurship outcomes.
number of procedures) of the business environment could have different effects on entrepreneurship. They also find that in some cases their 2 measures of entrepreneurship (new business creation
The authors therefore conclude that governments may be able to attract foreign direct investment by creating a more efficient and more business-friendly regulatory environment.
Belitski and Desai (2014) invites followup research on the impact of multiple dimensions of the national business environment on firms in different cities.
and a better business regulatory environment, is associated with higher new firm registrations. The initial empirical exercise uses a simple model with entry density as the dependent variable and economic growth (as a proxy for the business cycle) as the main independent variable.
Panel data random effects regression is used to examine how the business environment affects new business creation and self employment in a panel of European cities.
Business Environment and Employment Growth across Firms. Economic Development and Cultural Change 59 (3): 609 47.
Multidimensional Business Environment and Entrepreneurship in European Cities. Paper presented at the conference Doing Business:
The Impact of Business Environment Reforms on New Firm Registration. 112 DOING BUSINESS 2015 Policy Research Working Paper 5493, World bank, WASHINGTON DC.
the distance to frontier score shows how much the regulatory environment for local entrepreneurs in an economy has changed over time in absolute terms,
while the ease of doing business ranking can show only how much the regulatory environment has changed relative to that in other economies.
DISTANCE TO FRONTIER AND EASE OF DOING BUSINESS RANKING 149 Variability of economies'scores across topics Each indicator set measures a different aspect of the business regulatory environment.
because this allows a focus on the absolute improvement in contrast with the relative improvement shown by a change in rankings that economies have made in their regulatory environment for business.
JAMAICA CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT Frances Blair NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING AGENCY Christopher Bovell DUNNCOX Mitzie W. Gordon Burke
Gavin Goffe MYERS, FLETCHER & GORDON, MEMBER OF LEX MUNDI Hugh Gordon NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING AGENCY Narda Graham DUNNCOX Herbert Winston Grant
SCHOLEFIELD DELEON & CO. Peter Knight NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING AGENCY Joan Lawla UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Grace Lindo NUNES, SCHOLEFIELD DELEON & CO. Melinda
FUND Reei Tioti MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, LANDS & AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT (MELAD) KOREA, REP. Jaebeom Ahn AHNSE LAW OFFICES Won-Mo Ahn AHN
Lluka IPAK Abedin Matoshi INTERLEX ASSOCIATES LLC Fitore Mekaj BOGA & ASSOCIATES Xhemail Metolli MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND SPATIAL PLANNING Ilir Murseli MURSELI
BANK Nurdin Kumushbekov USAID BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THE PRAGMA CORPORATION Nurbek Maksutov INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL Asel Momoshova KALIKOVA & ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM Umtul
Leoma Matamane MOLEPE QUANTITY SURVEYORS Tlhobohano Matela NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT SECRETARIAT Tony Mcalpine MOORES ROWLAND Moses Mohol Isa Fako MOORES ROWLAND
AND ENVIRONMENT Marina Nathan COMPANIES COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA Connie Ng PANALPINA WORLD TRANSPORT LLP Oy Moon Ng CTOS DATA SYSTEMS SDN BHD Swee
ADVOCATES Charles Buhagiar MED DESIGN ASSOCIATES Johann Buttigieg MALTA ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING AUTHORITY (MEPA) Pierre Buttigieg CSB ADVOCATES
Simon Camilleri CREDITINFO Joseph Caruana MALTA FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY (MFSA) Kirsten Cassar CAMILLERI PREZIOSI Stephen Ferrito MALTA ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING AUTHORITY (MEPA
ADVOKATFIRMA AS Magnar Danielsen MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT Lars Davidsen HAFSLUND Knut Ekern PWC NORWAY Lars Eliassen THE BRONNOYSUND REGISTER CENTER Marie Eltervaag PWC
OF LANDS, SURVEY, NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT Fisilau Leone ITS PACIFIC ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS James Lutui CROWN LAW Salesi Mataele OCEANTRANZ TONGA LTD.
and transforms the business environment, from fashion to automotive, from transport and logistics to energy distribution.
In what was used to be a relatively stable business environment for the old-line ICT service providers,
argued that the fragmented European regulatory environment along national lines for cross border platforms are among the emerging challenges
To avoid a fragmented European regulatory environment the European commission is, amongst others, currently taking actions aimed at monitoring the various initiatives already been put in place by organising workshops with European stakeholders
Also, the 2013 Commission Staff Working Document'Strengthening the environment for Web entrepreneurs in the EU'24 proposes an action with regard to venture capital
Strengthening the environment for Web entrepreneurs in the EU Lack of information and financial knowledge is for some SMES
1. Create an environment in which entrepreneurs and family businesses can thrive and entrepreneurship is rewarded. 2. Ensure that honest entrepreneurs who have faced bankruptcy quickly get a second chance. 3. Anchor the'Think Small First'principle in policy making,
and business environment supportive to timely payments in commercial transactions. 7. Help SMES to benefit more from the opportunities offered by the single market. 8. Promote the upgrading of skills in SMES
and continuously improve the business environment for SMES, the review proposes further action in four priority areas:
They provide a fertile business environment for companies, especially SMES, to collaborate with research institutions, suppliers,
and specialised knowledge amongst entrepreneurs is essential for fostering a more entrepreneurial environment. Sharing information about new technologies, success stories of fostering digital entrepreneurship, available skills and experts in the market 2 Impact:
and colleges up-to-date in a fast-growing technological environment is a prerequisite for graduates with a good‘match'to the evolving needs of the labour market.
The organisation of events that promote existing financial instruments is crucial especially in the environment of potential entrepreneurs
but different rules and conditions apply in the different Member States making it difficult to provide a harmonised environment in this respect for all digital entrepreneurs independently of the Member State in which they operate.
Taking action to harmonise the different rules and conditions among the Member States will also provide an environment promoting cross-border collaboration.
The digital industry should be able to benefit from the EU single market environment. However
and a business environment designed for the analogue era. In this study, for each of the problem areas, objectives have been defined and a list of potential policy options developed.
Strengthening the environment for Web entrepreneurs in the EU-European commission (2012. A Stronger European Industry for Growth and Economic Recovery.
Building Design-Driven Capabilitybuildinginnovationcapability02process04mindset01strategy& Vision03knowledge& Competence 30 01strategy & Visionstrategy articulates the firms preferred environment
but it needs the right environment to foster creative and innovative behaviour that will develop
and enables them to continually innovate in a fast changing environment. This approach has enabled the company to compete for business from all the major multinationals in Ireland and abroad.
The application of design tools and principles in this highly regulated high tech environment to achieve advanced products without identifying it as design is an excellent example of how‘hidden design'plays a major role in bringing products to market.
A robust health information environment will allow all stakeholders patients and service users, health professionals, policy makers and the general public to make choices or decisions based on the best available information.
In such a heterogeneous environment the ability to share information between systems interoperability-is critical
Shaping digital environments in society...22 1. Engaging in greater dialogue with social groups...23 2. Strengthening digital media skills for all generations...
23 4. Shaping digital environments: supporting family life and equal opportunities...24 5. Fostering digital engagement...
We are supporting the digital economy in its research activities and through ongoing dialogue and an innovation-friendly business environment.
zzimproving the financing conditions for start-ups by creating an internationally competitive environment for venture capital and crowdfunding;
We will continue to adapt the e-commerce business environment to new technological possibilities in the area of electronic trading platforms and modern payment systems, for example,
within a healthy and secure environment that enhances employability. The skillsets of employees and job seekers will need to evolve to meet the requirements of digitisation,
Meanwhile, we are committed to creating a more welcoming environment in Germany to attract IT professionals from abroad.
Shaping digital environments in society IV. SHAPING DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS IN SOCIETY 23 Our daily lives are in a constant state of flux.
Skills that we have acquired in the past such as particular ways of communicating with each other, operating machinery and devices or sourcing information, are becoming less important as a result of digitisation.
whether young or old, male or female, with or without disabilities, to control their own access to and engagement with the digital daily environment.
by promoting age-appropriate media environments and by developing and implementing a coherent and up-to-date policy on protecting minors in the media.
Digital services play an important role in this regard by fostering enhanced dialogue in the democratic environment
SHAPING DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS IN SOCIETY zzto become empowered and participate in processes, citizens require equal access to information and services.
quality of service and knowledge networking. 4. Shaping digital environments: supporting family life and equal opportunities Digitisation is already helping us to achieve a more flexible balance between work, family lives and leisure.
and quality assurance can help build more trust in the online environment. zzeveryday family life is also facing new opportunities and challenges as a result of the digital transformation.
Our aim is to support parents in creating a positive family environment in the digital age
what the Internet has to offer. zzthe flexibility of digital environments also offers huge potential in the area of equal opportunities policy.
repositories and virtual research environments and to support this networking by means of strategic projects with vital leverage. 2. Safeguarding access to knowledge as a basis for innovation We will improve the framework conditions for an unrestricted flow of information,
Please consider the environment before printing this report. ITU 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
Youth have advantages in this new environment which provides access to a myriad of learning systems,
It is a dynamic environment where governments and other stakeholders need to be more adept at developing
national and local levels. 108 The United nations Environment Program's 2011 Green Economy Report makes the claim that economic progress
/109 United nations Environment Programme, Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication,(Nairobi, Kenya:
the OECD refers to them as jobs that contribute to protecting the environment and reducing the harmful effects human activity has on it (mitigation),
accounting for some 7 per cent of all formal employment. 112 110 United nations Environment Programme.
New Competences and Jobs for a Greener and Smarter Economy. 112 United nations Environment Programme, Transition to Green Economy Could Yield up to 60 Million Jobs, UNEP News Centre, May 31
Protecting the environment 5. Problem solving 5. 1 Solving technical problems 5. 2 Identifying needs and technological responses 5. 3 Innovating
New ways of interacting in the learning environment are also emerging. Three key trends are explored below:
Authors The blended learning process relies on digital environments called Learning Management Systems (LMS. LMS enable the creation of a virtual classroom for the students,
allows these places to offer a rich environment for learning, collaboration and co-creation. 164 See reports by the European Youth Forum (2008);
A co-working space is shared a work environment where members have access to facilities such as a desk, meeting space, office equipment, kitchen and other amenities.
supportive policy environments, and; partnerships across sectors to spur innovation, economic growth and employment. International agencies have played a vital role by bringing attention to the urgent needs of youth,
187 a comprehensive policy-driven national programme designed to facilitate the construction of new learning environments
and operating in online environments, adept at absorbing new concepts and skills, and capable of seeing new possibilities.
and otherwise provide an environment that facilitates learning. While selfdirected youth can take advantage of online programmes on their own,
UNESCO, 2010. http://unesdoc. unesco. org/images/0018/001891/189108e. pdf. United nations Environment Programme (UNEP.
United nations Environment Programme. Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication. Nairobi, Kenya:
Innovative ICT solutions for youth employment 68 United nations Environment Programme. Transition to Green Economy Could Yield up to 60 Million Jobs.
but also to provide critical public assets and a supportive environment. A community needs successful businesses to provide jobs and wealth creation opportunities for its citizens.
In understanding the business environment managers have focused most of their attention on the industry, or the particular business in which the firm competes.
Companies have failed to grasp the importance of the broader business environment surrounding their major operations.
Excess packaging of products and greenhouse gases are not just costly to the environment but costly to the business.
Companies will make real strides on the environment for example, when they treat it as a productivity driver rather than a feel-good response to external pressure.
improve the environment, and increase competitiveness simultaneously. The principle of shared value creation cuts across the traditional divide between the responsibilities of business and those of government or civil society.
and open hardware environments supporting social innovation by empowering and facilitating citizens'participation. One of the projects is responsible for the impact analysis of Digital Social Innovation impacts.
and the acquired technology skills create network effects impossible in a face-to-face environment. This interdisciplinary domain of activities recognise the need to go beyond technology engineering, to the social nature of progress
CAPS are digital environments enabling and supporting social innovation, smart applications empowering and facilitating citizens participation.
and environment. 7 Fig. 1-Fields of activities of DSI as mapped in digitalsocial. eu (last access on November the 9th) Assessing the impacts on Digital Social Innovation initiatives According to the Naples 2. 0 Report
after all, most aspects of most people's well-being, the quality of their personal lives and social interactions are determined in large part by factors specific to the environments in
She is experienced in working in interdisciplinary environments and, within the CAPS community, is the scientific coordinator of the support action IA4SI Impact Assessment for Social Innovation.
As a sociologist who has worked always in interdisciplinary environments, he focuses on commons-oriented technologies as a field for the interdisciplinary development of socio-technical dialogue.
distributed knowledge creation and data from real environments("Internet of things")in order to create awareness of problems and possible solutions requesting collective efforts, enabling new forms of social innovation.
and the environment, there is little awareness of the role that each and every one of us can play to ease such problems, in a grassroots manner.'
originally as centring attention on the environment as a biological system that is able to endure
The issue at stake is to maintain a viable environment now and into the future through a wide array of practices that support reduction of well-known ecological problems, like energy and water consumption
Online Presence Managementwww. usemp-project. euia4siimpact Assessment for Social Innovationhttp://ia4si. euchestcollective enhanced Environment for Social Taskshttp://www. chest-project. eufocalfoundation for Collective
growth and employment, environment, climate change, health and education, inclusive societies, well-being, etc. Making a project to tackle societal needs implies framing the needs
collective tagging of public places and routes, participatory sensing of barriers and features of the built environment,
and may in fact assume a personal data vault to provide a secure environment for effective control over relevant data.
or the environment that may threaten the safety and sustainability of a social group and, possibly, the wider world.
In this way the cumulative effect of our memory over our lifetime results in an increased subjectivity in our interpretation of phenomena in our environment and of problem situations in particular.
Overtext Web Module V3.0 Alpha
Copyright Semantic-Knowledge, 1994-2011