R58 - Regional Development Planning and PolicyReturn

This article explores the concept of the learning region, focusing on its development and theoretical foundations. Through a literature review, it outlines the evolution of the learning region theory in relation to earlier related concepts and highlights current challenges. The following section deals with the theoretical foundations and also uses a synthesis to point out a typology of learning regions according to focus and management style.

In the programming period 2007 - 2013 the implementation of the European Union cohesion policy is carried out through eleven operational programmes within the frame of objectives Convergence and Regional Competitiveness and Employment. The overall European Union resources invested the amount of approximately € 11 bn. in these programmes, which is distributed under the supervision of the Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic (formerly only Ministry of Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic). Among these instruments is the Operational Programme Environment with total allocation of € 1,8 bn. The objective of this paper is to analyse attributes of all projects that have been approved from the beginning of the programming period until March 2013. This will enable to further study the spatial characteristics of the evaluated programme and discuss the breakdown of the beneficiaries at different levels of spatial hierarchy or the eventual volume of intervention under auspices of this programme in individual regions of the Slovak Republic. The volume and the direction of the investments in relation to the spatial dimension present a new view on implementation of the cohesion policy instruments.

The article covers the compilation of a strategic map of four municipalities in a montane and submontane area in the region of The Novohradske Mountains in South Bohemia. The map was compiled on the basis of the Balanced scorecard (BSC) method. It is a tool by which the fulfilment of a municipality strategy can be monitored and it is used for an effective management of strategies. In other words it means a method of balanced indicators or balanced prosperity. Goals and benchmarks of BSC come from vision and strategy of these municipalities and they monitor their performance from four perspectives: customer, financial, internal processes, learning and growth. These four perspectives are clearly depicted in the strategic map and each one has more detailed definitions of benchmarks of their fulfilment.

Human capital belongs to main factors when discussing causes of regional disparities on one hand and the ways how to stimulate regional development on the other. In this regard, the process of human capital building is traditionally connected with increasing productivity. It is noteworthy that the process of human capital building is based on education and learning. Moreover, human capital is perceived as an important factor of regional differentiation. Then, it is not surprising that human capital was firmly positioned in the fundamental conceptual framework of European cohesion policy with its goal to reduce spatial disparities. This article is focused on spatial analysis of projects supported from the Operational Programme Education for Competiveness. Just this Programme may be regarded as the most relevant Czech operational programme related to the themes human capital and education. The main findings of our analysis are a bit ambivalent when considering the convergence goal of cohesion policy. Thus, the projects were allocated in all Czech districts. However, an important influence of settlement hierarchy may be identified. In addition, the absorption capacity of tertiary education institutions plays a substantial role in regional differentiation.

The article deals with the description of analytical methods suitable for analysis of logistical systems. The description is focused on a wide range, starting with a general description of analytical methods, gradually specifying methods suitable for logistics and finally outlines new methods of analysis fit for logistical systems. Below the article specifies the basic concepts of research, the general description of the approach to research, the description of research methods and their applications, the description of research methodology focusing on logistics and the resulting description of the methods used in logistics. The aim is to summarize the general outline of the methods follow the link between the solutions of exclude logistical problems and special matrix operations applied to the apparatus of Petri's networks.