RAFAJ, Oliver, Ing., PhD.

Teaching subjects:

Regional economics and policy

Smart cities

Sustainable global development

Final thesis seminar 1

Final thesis seminar 2

Case studies from regional development

Profile on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vmAAKfwAAAAJ&hl=sk&oi=ao

Publications (registered in Web of Science / Scopus databases):

Articles in scientific journals::

[1] Rafaj, O., & Némethová, V. (2024). Efficiency Analysis of Elementary Schools in Bratislava – A Two Step DEA Approach. Review of economic perspectives, 24(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.2478/revecp-2024-0001

[2] Rafaj, O., & Siranova, M. (2023). De‐branching, too‐much‐branching, and cost of debt of SMEs in Slovakia. European Financial Management, 29(5), 1576-1619. https://doi.org/10.1111/eufm.12402

[3] Rafaj O., Rehák, Š., & Černěnko, T. (2022). Smart Cities – Overview of Citizen Participation across Application Domains. Scientific Papers of the University of Pardubice. Series D, Faculty of Economics & Administration, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.46585/sp30011389

[4] Rehák, Š., Rafaj, O., & Černěnko, T. (2021). EU integration, regional development problems and the rise of the new radical right in Slovakia. Regional Science Policy & Practice, 13(2), 303-321. https://doi.org/10.1111/rsp3.12385

[5] Rafaj, O. (2020). The Effect of Human Capital on the Output of Slovak Urban Regions. Scientific Papers of the University of Pardubice. Series D, Faculty of Economics & Administration, 28(4). https://doi.org/10.46585/sp28041163

[6] Rafaj, O., & Rehák, Š. (2017). Ľudský kapitál a lokálny ekonomický rast na Slovensku. Scientific

papers of the University of Pardubice. Series D, Faculty of Economics and Administration. 41/2017. https://dk.upce.cz/bitstream/handle/10195/69600/Rafaj%2c%20Reh%c3%a1k.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

[7] Žárska, E., & Rafaj, O. (2017). Rozvoj miest a jeho financovanie. Scientific papers of the University of Pardubice. Series D, Faculty of Economics and Administration. 41/2017. https://dk.upce.cz/bitstream/handle/10195/69610/%c5%bd%c3%a1rska_Rafaj.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

[8] Rafaj, O., & Rehák, Š. (2016). Spatial Aspects of University Graduates in Slovakia. GeoScape, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1515/geosc-2016-0003

Book chapters:

[1] Rafaj, O., Danko, L., Zhang, S., & Belvončíková, E. (2024). The Localization of Different Types of New Working Spaces in Central Europe. In Evolution of New Working Spaces: Changing Nature and Geographies (pp. 119-127). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-50868-4

[2] Belvončíková, E., Danko, L., & Rafaj, O. (2023). The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Influence on Coworking Spaces in Slovakia: West–East Division. In European Narratives on Remote Working and Coworking During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multidisciplinary Perspective (pp. 83-95). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-26018-6

[3] Belvončíková, E., Danko, L., & Rafaj, O. (2023). The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Influence on Coworking Spaces in Slovakia: West–East Division. In European Narratives on Remote Working and Coworking During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multidisciplinary Perspective (pp. 83-95). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-26018-6

[4] Danko, L., Bednář, P., Mariotti, I., & Rafaj, O. (2022). Changes in knowledge strategies under the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Future of Working Spaces, 25. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003181163

[5] Micek, G., Bednář, P., Rafaj, O., Belvončíková, E., Paas, T., Alfieri, L., ... & Matošková, J. (2022). Independently operated coworking spaces and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Future of Working Spaces (pp. 39-51). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003181163

[6] Šipikal, M., & Rafaj, O. (2020). Bratislava: The development and specific features of outsourcing, offshoring, and the global business services sector. In Outsourcing in European Emerging Economies (pp. 87-97). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003018889-9

Research projects:

[1] SMART-RURAL: Building resilient rural communities through synergy of traditional knowledge and technological innovation COST Action CA24170 | EUBA | 2024–2029.

[2] Collaborative spaces as a tool for creating local economic development in European peripheral regions VEGA 1/0387/26 | EUBA | 2026–2028.

[3] JUSTPLACE: Justice and Participation Through Localised and Citizen-Centred Engagement: Redesigning Democracy Through People-in-Places Strategies EU-funded Horizon project | EUBA | 2026–2028

[4] FIERE: Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Rural Europe

RSA Policy Expo Grant Scheme | EUBA | 2025–2027

[5] The European dimension of knowledge creation in the regions APVV-22-0183 | EUBA | 2023–2027

[6] The evolution of knowledge creation of universities in regions VEGA 1/0384/23 | EUBA | 2023–2026

[7] Spatial aspects of coworking organisations in V4 cities Internal Grant EUBA (I-24-107-00) | 2024

[8] The geography of New Working Spaces and their impact on the periphery COST Action CA18214 | 2019–2024

[9] Coworking spaces and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic VEGA 1/0249/22 | 2022–2024

[10] DIGI-SOC: Digital skills and cross-domain entrepreneurship for societal challenges Erasmus+ (2021-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000027649) | 2021–2023

[11] SMARTREG: Smart governance at local and regional level APVV-19-0263 | 2019–2023

[12] Accumulation of human capital in regions – economic and social consequences VEGA 01/0774/19 | 2019–2022

[13] Social exclusion and distrust in society Internal Grant EUBA (I-20-106-00) | 2020–2021

[14] Universities and economic development of regions APVV-14-0512 | 2014–2018

Projects for professional practice:

[1] From Strategy to Success: Territorial Strategies in Action (Capacity Building Event) European Urban Initiative (EUI) | 2025

[2] Economic Impact Assessment and Demographic Needs for “Nové Lido” Development Area (Bratislava) Business Innovation Center (BIC) Banská Bystrica | 2023

[3] Programme of Economic and Social Development of the Trnava Self-Governing Region (2022–2030) Trnava Self-Governing Region | 2021.

[4] Analysis of Information Publication in the Module of Subsidy Schemes Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Civil Society Development | 2020

Memberships in international scientific and professional networks:

Member of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), Slovak section of European Regional Science Association (ERSA) since 2016; member of the SK-ERSA executive committee since 2024 (link: https://ersa.sk/o-nas-2/)

Member of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) since 2023; RSA Ambassador to Slovakia since 2023 (link: https://www.regionalstudies.org/people/oliver-rafaj/)

Portico, EU platform on Sustainable Urban Development since 2025 (link: https://portico.urban-initiative.eu/community-members/oliver-rafaj)