EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH – KEY ELEMENTS SUPPORTING DYNAMICS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE EU IN THE PERIOD AFTER OVERCOMING THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Education, support of science and research currently represent one of the key factors supporting the dynamics of economic growth and development, both at the regional and global level. In the context of the indicated development, both within the European integration area and individual member states, there is a gradual implementation of projects focused on the reform of educational systems in order to increase the level and quality of education and its close connection with the needs of current social and economic practice. A highly qualified workforce possessing the necessary knowledge, competences and skills represents the core and at the same time the engine of supporting the growth and development of individual economic sectors and increasing the degree of their achieved competitiveness. Currently, almost every economic or social entity is confront with the need to constantly improve and respond flexibly to the needs and demands coming from its external environment, which leads to the need to innovate and improve internal structures and processes in relation to prevailing trends. The results of the educational process transformed into a qualified workforce can significantly help to correctly identify and appropriately and purposefully adapt to these trends. In this direction, the emphasis on the necessity to connect education with the field of science and research is predominant, which represents key factors supporting economic growth and increasing competitiveness. Within the European integration area and individual member states, these starting points are reflect in the entire spectrum of strategic documents implemented in their internal economic environment. For all of them, we can especially mention the current NextGenerationEU plan, in the implementation of which the key will be the use of new knowledge, the results of scientific research and research activities of various types and focus