USE IPM at TMS ALGARVE 2025 in Olhão

The international conference Technology and Sustainability Challenges in Tourism, Hospitality and Management (TMS ALGARVE 2025) was held from 12 to 15 November 2025 in Olhão, Portugal, at the Real Marina Hotel & Spa. The event gathered researchers and experts from various fields to discuss key challenges related to technology, sustainability, innovation, and management in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Two conference sessions were chaired by Marija Radosavljević and Stojan Debarliev, providing professional moderation and ensuring a smooth flow of discussion. Their expertise enabled dynamic interaction, allowing participants to ask questions and exchange insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable development. Their leadership contributed to a productive atmosphere and facilitated meaningful connections among researchers from various countries. The following research papers were presented by members of the USEIPM team at the TMS ALGARVE 2025 conference:

• Vesna Janković Milić, Jelena J. Stanković, Aleksandra Anđelković – Macroeconomic Skill Mismatch in the Era of Sustainable Development: The Case of the Republic of Serbia
• Marija Radosavljević, Vesna Janković Milić, Aleksandra Anđelković – Assessing Perceptions and Implementation of Sustainability Practices: Environmental, Economic, and Social Dimensions
• Elona Pojani, Brikena Leka – Connecting Ideas to Action: A2B Collaboration Platforms in the WB Region
• Perseta Grabova, Arjan Tushaj – From Classroom to Workplace: Mapping Skills for Future Risk Managers
• Milica Marić, Saša Petković, Ljubiša Mićić, Mirjana Milijević – Key Drivers of Innovation Ecosystems in the Western Balkans
• Ljubiša Mićić, Saša Petković – Assessing the State of Sustainability Reporting and Practice in the Western Balkans
• Vesna Bučevska – Drivers of Green Entrepreneurship in Southeastern Europe: The Role of Education and Incentives
• Stojan Debarliev, Bojan Kitanovski – Do Formal Education or Workplace Training Build Better Entrepreneurs? The Mediating Role of Soft Skills

During the presentations of research papers from Serbia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and North Macedonia, the audience offered constructive suggestions aimed at improving methodological rigor and practical relevance. Conference attendees commended the USEIPM project team for identifying and thoroughly analyzing key aspects crucial for strengthening entrepreneurship and innovation in developing countries. They highlighted the practical relevance of the research and its value for policymakers, educators, and industry representatives.

Particular attention was given to the methodological rigor applied in examining macroeconomic and sustainability dimensions, as well as in mapping skills and collaborative platforms across the Western Balkans. Participants encouraged further application of the developed frameworks, noting their usefulness for strategic decision-making, entrepreneurship education, and policy interventions.

The paper presented by Marija Radosavljević, co-authored with Vesna Janković Milić and Aleksandra Anđelković, received special recognition and an award for outstanding research and presentation. Attendees praised the clarity of the sustainability assessment framework, the integration of environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and the effective combination of empirical evidence with practical recommendations, making it highly relevant for policymakers, managers, and researchers.