The Scientific Journal of Rezeknes Augstskola
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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROFITABILITY INDICATORS OF TOURISM COMPANIES: THE CASE OF LITHUANIAN COMPANIES
Get PDFThe majority of companies aim to make a profit, but at the end of the reporting year they achieve one of two results, either a profit or a loss. This is influenced by an effective analysis of financial results, which is an important tool for financial management, planning and the profitable operation of the company. A detailed analysis allows the identification of loss-making activities, the identification of the elements affecting the financial results and the assessment of the overall health of the company. The analysis of financial results is important not only for the previous accounting period but also for forecasting the future, so forecasting is an important factor to ensure long-term profitability, growth of the company, and to anticipate possible future challenges. Profitability indicators classify a company\u27s return on sales, return on assets and return on capital. Also, a company\u27s profitability ratios show the proportion of profit per euro of sales
ACQUISITION OF HYGIENE NORMS FOR STUDENTS WITH MENTAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM “CATERING SERVICES”
Get PDFPeople with mental disorders can learn basic professional skills and be employed in jobs that do not require academic knowledge, provided they receive education and support tailored to their abilities. Young individuals with mental disorders often lack knowledge and skills related to everyday life, as the skills typically acquired independently need to be specifically taught to them. One of the most critical skills is maintaining personal hygiene, as deficiencies in this area affect various aspects of life.This research aimed to study the peculiarities of hygiene norm compliance skills among students with mental disorders and analyse the interaction between teachers and students in learning these hygiene norms.In the course of the research, an analysis of relevant scientific literature and normative documents was carried out, as well as a group of students in the "X" school, which implements special education programs, was observed and a semi-structured interview was conducted with a vocational education teacher. As a result of the research, it was concluded that there is a close connection between all the skills to be learned in observing hygiene norms, that is, if one of the skills is not learned at a sufficient level, it causes problems in other aspects as well. It was concluded that the main reason for the lack of hygiene norm compliance skills is found in the family, as well as when the student is in an environment that is not suitable for him/her. The learning process of students with mental disorders requires an individual approach and multiple repetition of tasks. A positive atmosphere and the active activity of students during lessons have a beneficial effect on the development of hygiene skills. Integrating transversal skills into the learning process provides an opportunity to reduce the developmental characteristics of students with mental disorders, which is another reason for poor hygiene compliance skills
CHESS AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION AND EMPLOYMENT
Get PDFPurpose and aim of the study: The paper’s aim is to describe and analyse best practices in use of chess as an educational tool for enhancing disadvantaged groups’ social inclusion and employment in selected European countries. Design / Methodology / Approach: The methodology of descriptive research and study was employed in the present research. A focus group interview was leveraged as the method of data collection in May 2024. A total of 15 respondents from Latvia, Italy, and Spain participated in the interview. Categorisation as a classification method in a descriptive study was used for data analysis. Main Findings: The data analysis demonstrated that Italy and Spain utilised chess as an educational tool in a non-classical way, while Latvia continued to keep chess as an educational tool in a conventional manner.Originality: The originality of the paper is shown by three categories of use of chess as an educational tool for disadvantaged groups. The categories were identified as target group, level of initiative, and classical/non-classical use of chess as an educational tool. Implications: The researcher community could invest more efforts into analyses of use of chess for social inclusion and employment of disadvantaged groups due to the chess game’s unique capabilities.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REALISATION OF THE RIGHT OF THE CHILD TO PARTICIPATE IN CHILDREN’S DAY CARE CENTRES
Get PDFThe aim of the study is to reveal the importance of the realisation of the right of the child to participate in children’s day care centres based on the experience of social pedagogues and social workers. Qualitative research was chosen for the study by using the method of semi-structured interview. 11 employees, who work in children’s day care centres in different Lithuanian regions, participated in the study.
The study revealed the importance of the implementation of the right of the child to participate to the child, employees, the quality of provided socio-educational services and the continuity of the implementation of this right when cooperating with the family of the child successfully. The importance to the child should be associated with the strengthening of his/her dignity, self-esteem, self-confidence, the ensuring of his better well-being and emotional security; the self-realisation of the child, his/her problem solving, communication, cooperation, activity planning and organizational skills improve, the child develops responsibility and autonomy when taking and realising decisions. The importance to employees should be associated with the better knowledge of the child and understanding of his/her situation, satisfaction of his/her needs, the formation of the relationship with the child based on cooperation. The importance to the quality of provided services should be associated with activities, which meet the needs of the child, the guarantee of a favourable socio-educational environment in children’s day care centres, the opportunity for the child to influence the planning and organization of activities in children’s day care centres. The cooperation with the family of the child guarantees the continuity of the implementation of the right of the child to participate, because parents understand the importance of this right to the well-being of the child and create possibilities for its implementation
PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCING SALES IN COSMETICS PRODUCTION SECTOR THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
Get PDFThe paper deals with the promotional opportunities enhancing sales in the cosmetics production sector through social media platforms (SMPs). This topic holds significant relevance in the contemporary business landscape. Firstly, in the digital age, consumer behavior is evolving rapidly, with SMPs becoming integral in shaping purchasing decisions. Understanding the dynamics of consumer engagement and preferences on these platforms is crucial for cosmetics producers seeking to optimize their promotional strategies. Moreover, as the cosmetics industry increasingly transcends geographical boundaries, social media provides a global platform for reaching diverse audiences. Understanding how to tailor promotional efforts to different demographics and cultures is vital for international market expansion, and this study addresses these considerations. The aim of the research is to analyse the promotional opportunities for enhancing sales in the cosmetics production sector through social media platforms. Methods: analysis of scientific literature, questionnaire survey, analysis of information sources, data summarisation, graphical representation. The results obtained through the questionnaire survey indicate a relatively low level of popularity in the analyzed cosmetics production sector. Consequently, respondents encountered challenges in providing comprehensive responses due to this limited awareness. The survey further highlights that the company primarily employs a modest set of fundamental sales promotion methods on social networks
PUPILS\u27 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN CONFLICTS BETWEEN PUPILS AND TEACHERS
Get PDFThis paper aims to reveal students\u27 reactions to a conflict situation due to the nonimplementation of students\u27 rights and duties. The data was collected by the means of a questionnaire (anonymous survey). The participants of the study were 241 pupils of a general education school (grades 5-8). The data show that conflicts between pupils and teachers are a daily occurrence. Conflicts between pupils and teachers arise from teacher‘s behaviour that ignores or violates pupil‘s rights: when the teacher explains the subject in an uninteresting way (60.2%); when teacher assigns too many tasks for pupils (58.9%); expresses negative bias towards the pupil (34.4%); teacher restricst pupil‘s independence (34.4%); teacher ignores the pupil‘s abilities (29.4%); teatcher does not assist the pupil (22%); teacher discriminates against the pupil (14.9%); or teacher behaves rudely towards the pupil (13.2%). The survey revealed that pupils tend to be passive during conflicts with the teacher: 47.8% of the pupils chooses avoidance strategy, 52.3% adapt, 29.9% of the pupils chooses the strategy of indirect protest, 6.6% of the pupils chooses direct aggression tactics (saying something offensive, refusing to do the task, etc.). Correlation analysis shows that conflict is most likely to occur when the teacher penalises pupil‘s misbehaviour through grading, when the teacher fails to notice the pupil‘s efforts, and when the teacher fails to help the pupil. As the teacher is the one who is responsible for building the pupil-teacher relationship, the teacher must take the lead in fostering a relationship of dignity and respect with the pupil by exercising his/her rights and resolving conflicts in a constructive way.
PREPARING TEACHERS FOR INCLUSION IN LITHUANIA: TEACHER EDUCATORS’ APPROACHES TO DIVERSITY AND EXISTING CHALLENGES
Get PDFInclusive education is a universal pedagogical trend, covering a broad range of research areas such as race, ethnicity, gender, culture, language, religion, and ability. An inclusive system concerns the rights, social justice, and equity within education for all, especially the marginalised groups (UNICEF, 2022). Lithuania has officially rolled out new legislation (in 2011) and structural changes (in 2024) to its educational system, moving it from a multi-track system to an inclusive one. However, teachers have reported implementation difficulties such as differentiating teaching methods, fostering student socialisation, and lacking multiprofessional collaboration and dialogue with parents (Lakkala et al., 2019). Contextual urgency lies in the changing demographics of the student body and impacts the reconsideration of diversity and inclusion in Lithuanian classrooms. This study focuses on teacher educators\u27 (TEs) perspectives at a major teacher training university in Lithuania. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with faculty members to understand how diversity and inclusion are understood, interpreted, and implemented within the faculty. This research revealed current practices within teacher training regarding diversity, highlighting strengths, challenges, and potential enhancements. Critical implications for preparing future educators for inclusive classrooms are discussed
EARLY SCHOOL LEAVING RISKS RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Get PDFSome of the main challenges in contemporary education systems are decrease of students learning motivation, students, who don’t engage in academic work and early school leaving. In Latvia the percentage of early school leavers still remains high. Main factors reported as the reason for early school leaving were not only risks related to students personality traits, family or social environment, but also risks related to school environment, diverging comprehension of the problems related to at-risk youth among teachers and school staff and different approaches within each school to prevent early school leaving. The method used in the research was questionnaires (with closed and open questions). 195 teachers from comprehensive schools (all districts) in Latvia were involved. The main goal of the research is to analyze teachers comprehension and assessment on early school leaving risks related to school environment and to analyze teachers views about possibilities to identify at-risk youth at an early stage. Another goal of the research is to create a sustainable action plan, to reduce early school leaving risks related to school environment
TUTORING AS A MEANS OF INDIVIDUALIZING THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
Get PDFThe new information type of society has qualitatively changed the concept of training future specialists. Currently, technocratic relations in the "teacher-student" system are being replaced by humanistic ones, with a transition to cooperation with students as active subjects of the individualized educational process.
The authors of the article, taking into account the European experience of individualizing education, analyzed the peculiarities of using tutoring technology as a means of individualizing the education of master\u27s students in the conditions of mixed education.
The results of the ascertaining stage of the pedagogical experiment, the participants of which were teachers and master\u27s students of Dragomanov Ukrainian State University (Kyiv), National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (Kharkiv), Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University (Vinnytsia), are presented.
The purpose of the confirmatory experiment was to identify the level of understanding of university teachers, as well as master\u27s students – future teachers of the essence of tutoring technology and the presence of experience in using it in professional activities.
The article proves that the use of tutoring technology in conditions of mixed learning allows students of higher education to gain experience in independent planning, obtaining and improving educational results. It is substantiated that the acquisition of such experience takes place during the work of tutors (with systematic tutoring support) on individual tutorials, which contain multi-level complex tasks from a certain educational subject. The role and place of the scientific essay as a component of tutoring technology and as a means of individualizing the educational process, which ensures the development of independent creative thinking of students, the formation of their ability to structure information, skillful presentation of arguments, establish cause-and-effect relationships, and formulate conclusions, is characterized
LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS: COMPARISON OF CROSS-ENTROPY AND BINARY CROSS-ENTROPY LOSS
Get PDFThe paper explores Large Language Model (LLM) training on custom datasets for classification microservice development. As training general purpose models for every possible situation is not feasible on smaller scale, because of limitations of computation power, usage of smaller model architectures, such as NanoGPT for training LLM model for specific use-case is a more cost-effective solution. In this article the dataset “Internet Movie Database (IMDB)” is applied in the experiment for LLM training. The dataset IMDB contains user comments about movies. Training criteria was Cross-entropy Loss (CELoss) and Binary Cross-entropy Loss (BCELoss), which were compared in the experiment. LLM training showed that validation accuracy for CELoss is 85.84% while validation accuracy for BCELoss is 86.1%. The biggest difference was in the consistency of results as distance between minimal and maximal accuracy for CELoss was 2.36%, but BCELoss distance between minimal and maximal accuracy was 1.04% providing more stable accuracy