FROM EDUCATION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: TRANSFORMATIONS THROUGH INNOVATIONS

One of the key factors in social, economic, and environmental progress is the development of scientific, technological, cultural, and educational potential, as well as addressing the challenges of their effective application. Within the framework of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN in the "2030 Agenda," startups play a crucial role in economic transformation and improving societal well-being. This study analyzes the impact of the educational ecosystem on the functioning of the "Sustainable Development – Global Innovation Development – Global Startup Ecosystem – Education" chain. Our research, based on cluster and econometric analysis of data from 97 countries with relevant determinants, evaluates the impact of the educational component - defined by the Human Development Index – on the functioning of the aforementioned chain. In addition, by applying Zhuravlyov's algebraic algorithm for discrete modeling, we determine the informational weights of the attributes within the links of the chain, thereby revealing the significance of various influences. The identified cause-and-effect relationships and their quantitative assessments make it possible to: • Formulate a new conceptual approach to the interconnection between education and sustainable development, • Improve strategies for integrating sustainability into educational programs, • Define mechanisms for effective decision-making to harmonize and integrate the elements of the "education – sustainable development" chain.