Sustainable Economic Development: International and National Aspects

For the sixth time, the Faculty of Finance and Economics of Polotsk University has brought together the scientific community and practitioners to discuss current issues in the economic and social spheres.

Irina Pozdnyakova, Dean of the Faculty of Finance and Economics: "Twelve years have passed since our first conference in 2012, yet the relevance of the topic we raised then has not diminished over time.

This year, we received over 200 presentations for the conference, highlighting the strong interest in discussing current issues of sustainable development. We are also pleased to welcome more than 300 participants from various countries, creating a unique opportunity for the exchange of experiences and ideas. This is evidence that the topic of sustainable economic development generates lively interest, and our discussions will cover a wide range of aspects: from international practices to specific national initiatives, from scientific research to practical experience.

The contribution of each participant is important and can be a step toward strengthening the resilience of the economies of our countries".

The conference was attended by scholars, practitioners and experts from five countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Russia and Uzbekistan.

The welcoming remarks were made by Avaz Akbar Alakbarov, D. Sc. in Economics, professor and head of the Department of Finance and Audit at Azerbaijan State Economic University, and Dmitry Pankov, D. Sc. in Economics, professor and Head of the Department of Accounting, Analysis, and Audit in the Sectors of the National Economy at Belarusian State Economic University.

At the plenary session presentations were made by:

• Konstantin Pavlov, D. Sc. in Economics, Professor at Euphrosyne Polotskaya State University of Polotsk Novopolotsk, Republic of Belarus
• Rustam Malikov, D. Sc. in Economics, Professor at Ufa State Petroleum Technological University, Russian Federation
• Svetlana Bychkova, D. Sc. in Economics, Professor at the State Institute of Economics, Finance, Law and Technology, Gatchina, Russian Federation
• Elnur Mahammad Sadigov, D. Sc. in Economics, Professor at Azerbaijan State Economic University, Baku, Azerbaijan Republic
• Igor Korabeynikov, D. Sc. in Economics, Associate Professor at Orenburg State University, Orenburg, Russian Federation
• Elena Sharafanova, D. Sc. in Economics, Professor at the International Banking Institute named after Anatoliy Sobchak, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
• Alexander Postalovsky, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Republic of Belarus

Alexander Postalovsky, Deputy Director for Science at the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus: "Today, sustainable economic development is one of the most prioritized directions of the state's internal policy. The development of comprehensive scientific and practical recommendations for protecting the economic interests of the country in the context of external destructive pressure is a top priority task facing the domestic scientific economic community. The international scientific conference taking place at Polotsk University has brought together leading economists from the post-Soviet space. I would like to emphasize that the main theme of the presentations is dedicated to pressing issues related to ensuring sustainable development, financial stability and strategic guidelines for the development of the national economy in the context of a complex geopolitical agenda, which underscores, first and foremost, the practice-oriented nature of the conference's work".

At the Polotsk University, representatives from the Department of Economy held a meeting to plan employment in innovative activities titled "Continuity in building career strategies for youth: Coordinated Interaction Among Employers, Universities, and Educational Institutions".

The event was opened by Inga Zenkova,Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Economy.

Polotsk University has been productively collaborating with the Polotsk Regional Executive Committee for many years. Natalia Maslennikova, Deputy Head of the Economics Department of the Polotsk Regional Executive Committee, participated in the event: " Polotsk Regional Executive Committee and Euphrosyne Polotskaya State University of Polotsk have a long-standing partnership. Participation in the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference 'Sustainable Economic Development: International and National Aspects' is another opportunity to discuss the situation in the region, as well as promising projects and development directions.

The topic of the conference is relevant because the Polotsk Region is a center of economic growth and is one of the 11 cities in Belarus tasked by the Government with ensuring accelerated territorial development. Constructive communication, fresh ideas and experience exchange are the main outcomes of participation in this event".

At the conference, Dilyara Gamilova, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor and Director of the Ufa Higher School of Economics and Management, presented a report. Active participants in the online format included teachers and students from the Ufa Higher School of Economics and Management.

An important factor in building career strategies for youth is the interaction between educational institutions and organizations that require personnel. Presentations on economic entities and career strategies were made by:

• Danila Zlydnev, Information Security Specialist, and Denis Skrygan, Security Specialist, LLC "Polspo," Polotsk
• Elena Prokhorova, Director of LLC "Intelligent Business Technologies", Vitebsk
• Dmitry Kobelev, Head of sales department LLC "Sales Modern Group", Vitebsk
• Evgeny Sukhodolec, Head of Public Catering and Trade Service, LLC "Metal Procurement Company", Miory.

Elena Prokhorova, Director of LLC "Intelligent Business Technologies", Vitebsk: "The event brought together representatives of the business community, economics students and lecturers. This event facilitated an active exchange of opinions and practical experiences.

The conference served as an important platform for discussing youth career guidance and the development of career strategies aimed at preserving human capital in the country.

During the event, highly qualified speakers shared their knowledge and experience in the field of employment and career development. Participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with real case studies from practice, which allowed for a deeper understanding of the modern challenges and opportunities in the labour market. The conference also discussed career guidance methods that will help students better navigate their future profession choices and develop the necessary skills for a successful career.

We thank all participants for their active involvement and look forward to further collaboration!"

In the online format, the practical part of the conference was attended by partners from the People's Republic of China:

• Binji Yao, General Director of Quzhou Chuanhuida Technology Co., Ltd.
• Xu Feng, PhD student, East China Jiaotong University, Quzhou Professional and Technical College
• Liu Jiqiang, Manager of International Relations at Rudenks OJSC, Republic of Belarus.

Yana Bezukh, a third-year student at the Faculty of Finance and Economics: "I would like to thank the organizers for this wonderful event. The programme was intense and interesting. I was particularly impressed by the speakers, who shared valuable knowledge and experience. I learned a lot of useful information for myself and was inspired for future work”.

The continuity in building career strategies for young people is an important mission for educational institutions. The interaction with employers today provided youth with the opportunity to ask pressing questions and receive informed answers. The experiences shared during this event will empower young individuals to shape their career strategies moving forward.

As part of the conference, a series of open lectures were held for students of the specialty Social Communications.

Alexander Postalovsky, Deputy Director for Science at the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, PhD in Sociology and Associate Professor, delivered a lecture on "Media Audience Measurement: Methodology and Research Practice".

Alexander Belsky, Head of the Operational Research Center at the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences, PhD in Sociology and Associate Professor, helped students deepen their understanding of "Methodological Strategies in Contemporary Applied Sociological Research". He shared his experience in managing and organizing the workflow within the Operational Research Center.

Alexander Belsky, head of the Operational Research Center at the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus: "Arriving in Polotsk, I was able to feel like a student again, recalling the distant 2016 and my participation in the International Scientific Conference 'New Communicative Technologies and Modern Belarusian Society.' Eight years have passed, and if you read the title, it is still relevant today. Everything that happens within the walls of Euphrosyne Polotskaya State University of Polotsk is just as relevant. The rich and glorious history, along with creative and motivated students, allows the university not only to keep pace with the times but also to set trends. The blend of innovation and tradition creates a recognizable essence of Polotsk University, while hospitality and continuity fill it with warmth. Polotsk University is truly a place you want to visit again and again".

Sofia Kurenkova, a third-year student of the Financial and Economic Faculty: "The open lectures left an indelible impression. The speakers presented current research and methodologies used in sociology, which deepened our understanding of complex social phenomena. Interesting examples from practice and discussions of real cases made the lecture lively and engaging. We, the students, actively asked questions, creating an atmosphere of mutual exchange of knowledge and ideas.

Overall, the event not only broadened the professional horizons of the students but also inspired us for further research in the field of sociology!"