European Scientific Journal, ESJ
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Enhancing Oral Proficiency and Medical Communication in Medical English for Non-Native Speakers through Collaborative Strategies: A Case Study at Grigol Robakidze University
Get PDFThe research presented herein explores the effectiveness of a collaborative teaching approach in enhancing oral proficiency and medical communication in Medical English for non-native speaker students. A case study was conducted at Grigol Robakidze University (GRUNI) with first-year Medical Program (MP) students enrolled in a Medical English course, delivered through a partnership between a non-native speaker instructor and a native English language expert. Unlike a completely new initiative, this course was designed as a continuation of Medical English I, addressing the specific challenges identified during the previous semester. Students had already received prior instruction in Medical English, and their needs were carefully analyzed before implementing the revised course. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing surveys and interviews to evaluate students' progress, satisfaction, and perceptions of the course. Quantitative data focused on students’ self-assessed proficiency levels and confidence, while qualitative feedback provided deeper insights into their learning experiences. Results indicated significant improvements in students’ confidence and proficiency, with 60% reporting high confidence in presenting medical topics in English after the course. The collaborative teaching model, combining native and non-native instructors, was highly regarded by students (80% considered it very effective). Additionally, students identified reading academic texts and improving oral presentation skills as the most beneficial aspects of the course. The study highlights the value of integrating diverse teaching methodologies to enhance both linguistic skills and communication strategies in medical contexts. Based on student feedback, recommendations include increasing interactive learning opportunities such as role-playing exercises and peer-led discussions to further engage students in real-world medical scenarios
Peculiarities of separate forms of discretion according to the procedural law of Georgia
Get PDFIn modern criminal proceedings, one of the key criteria for expressing the state's democratic nature and high standard of rule of law is the legal and legitimate empowerment of participants in the justice process with "special authorities." This endowment is an indicator of the unique role they play within the process. However, granting such "special authorities" solely to certain participants can create an illusory appearance of privilege. In reality, these powers serve as tools for participants to perform positive roles in accordance with legally defined procedural procedures. This contributes to the effective and transparent administration of justice.
The conducted research raises the question of whether it might be appropriate to refine and clearly define the framework within which process participants act, even within "special authorities," incorporating judicial oversight. The research conducted on the raised issue led us to relevant conclusions, which are fully reflected in the work. Through comparative and qualitative research methods, a rational analysis was conducted, suggesting possible legislative changes at the national level to expand and refine discretionary authority for the prosecutor and other participants in criminal proceedings
Agency Theory and the Market Timing Theory: Distinction and Resemblance
Get PDFThis study examines the preference for debt over equity issuance among companies, finding both positive and negative implications, and examining the financial and structural implications of financing decisions. Equity is defined as the company’s book value or the amount owed to owners upon asset liquidation, while debt refers to funds borrowed from external parties, which can be short-term (operational expenses) or long-term (growth investments). Results show that companies tend to issue debt as it reduces tax liabilities and increases post-tax cash flow available for dividends. However, a negative relationship is observed between liquidity, measured by the current ratio (CR), and the debt ratio, suggesting that higher liquidity levels lead companies to limited debt, possibly to manage agency costs arising from conflicts between creditors and owners, and between management and owners. Additionally, the negative relationship between company size and debt ratio indicates that larger companies, with higher profitability, tend to maintain lower debt levels. The findings also emphasize the importance of aligning management incentives with shareholder interests through compensation tied to profitability and stock price performance. Nonetheless, agency costs associated with debt management persist. This approach ensures that management is incentivized to act in the owners' best interest while minimizing agency costs. These findings highlight the complex dynamics of capital structure decisions and suggest that management strategies should focus on optimizing liquidity levels and aligning incentives to balance growth opportunities with shareholder value maximization. The study provides a comprehensive evaluation of how equity and debt financing preferences impact corporate financial strategies and behaviors
L’interdisciplinarité dans des écoles libanaises : regard des enseignants sur ses bénéfices et difficultés
Get PDFCet article s’est appuyé sur les expériences concrètes d’enseignants qui ont mis en place des projets interdisciplinaires au sein de deux écoles libanaises privées, pour examiner les bénéfices et les difficultés que ces enseignants ont relevés lorsqu’ils se sont engagés dans des pratiques interdisciplinaires. Notre échantillon est composé d’un groupe de professeurs de plusieurs disciplines, enseignant la classe de cinquième, dans chaque établissement scolaire. Nous avons utilisé deux instruments de collecte de données au sein de chaque établissement scolaire : un journal de bord que chaque groupe d’enseignants, dans chacun des deux établissements scolaires, a renseigné et un focus group que nous avons conduit auprès de ces mêmes enseignants. Les résultats ont souligné le potentiel de l’interdisciplinarité pour motiver les enseignants, favoriser leur enrichissement mutuel en leur permettant d’échanger sur leurs pratiques pédagogiques et de développer leurs compétences réflexives, tout en leur offrant des opportunités d’innovation pédagogique et d’évolution de leurs pratiques. Cependant, nos résultats ont révélé des difficultés auxquelles ces enseignants ont été confrontées lorsqu’ils ont mis en place des projets interdisciplinaires. Ces difficultés sont liées à la culture disciplinaire des enseignants, à leurs contextes institutionnels concernant l’organisation scolaire et l’organisation des programmes officiels, mettant en évidence des aspects spécifiques à notre contexte libanais. Des difficultés liées à la planification et l’évaluation des projets interdisciplinaires ainsi qu’à la gestion des élèves ont été également identifiées.
This article drew on the concrete experiences of teachers who have implemented interdisciplinary projects in two private Lebanese schools, to examine the benefits and difficulties that these teachers have encountered when engaging in interdisciplinary practices. Our sample consisted of a group of teachers from several subjects, teaching grade seven, in each school. We used two data collection instruments in each school: a logbook that each group of teachers in each of the two schools filled in, and a focus group that we conducted with these same teachers. The results highlighted the potential of interdisciplinarity to motivate teachers, and foster their mutual enrichment by enabling them to discuss their teaching practices and develop their reflective skills while offering them opportunities for pedagogical innovation and changes in their practices. However, our results revealed these teachers’ difficulties when implementing interdisciplinary projects. These difficulties are linked to the teachers’ disciplinary culture, their institutional contexts regarding school organization and the organization of official curricula, highlighting aspects specific to our Lebanese context. Difficulties related to the planning and evaluation of interdisciplinary projects and student management were also identified
Albania's Entities and Environmental Accounting: Current Public Disclosure and the Reality Behind Closed Doors
Get PDFEnvironmental accounting (EA) has become an essential tool for incorporating environmental costs and performance into corporate reporting and decision-making. This paper analyzes the status of EA in Albania, a developing economy and EU candidate, by evaluating the public disclosure of environmental information and the internal practices of EA within enterprises. A content analysis was performed on the websites and financial reports of 100 big Albanian enterprises, in conjunction with a structured survey of 71 managers. Results indicate a substantial disparity between outward reporting and internal practices. Public environmental disclosures are scant; only a limited number of corporations release quantitative or financial environmental data, and nearly none produce independent sustainability reports, indicating a "gray" reporting environment. Survey results reveal that approximately one-third of organizations have initiated internal enterprise architecture practices or sustainability initiatives, albeit without external communication. Significant obstacles impeding wider implementation of Environmental Accounting (EA) encompass constrained financial resources, absence of regulatory mandates, inadequate stakeholder pressure, and minimal awareness or proficiency in sustainable accounting, literature indicated to be issues prevalent in poor nations. Analyzing the results via stakeholder, legitimacy, and institutional theories indicates that the lack of external pressures and obligatory frameworks has resulted in complacency in disclosure, notwithstanding increasing internal awareness. The research underscores an immediate necessity for enhanced regulatory frameworks, capacity development, and stakeholder involvement in Albania. In aligning with the EU’s CSRD (2022) and global reporting requirements, it is imperative to bridge the divide between public reporting and private practice to enhance corporate transparency and accountability
Crisis, Recovery, and Regional Asymmetries: A Firm-Level Financial Analysis of Italian Food and Beverage SMEs
Get PDFThis study investigates the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Italy’s food and beverage processing sector. Drawing on firm-level panel data from the AIDA database, the analysis spans the period 2019–2022 and focuses on structural resilience and heterogeneity across firm sizes and regions. A sample of 1,600 SMEs was examined, segmented by workforce size and macro-geographical area. Key performance indicators - Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Investment (ROI), debt ratio, and EBITDA per employee - were analyzed to track changes before, during, and after the crisis. Findings reveal a substantial contraction in profitability in 2020, with ROE declining by 147% in the North, while Southern firms demonstrated relatively greater resilience. ROI dropped sharply across all areas, with incomplete recovery by 2022. Debt ratios exceeded 70% sector-wide during the crisis, underscoring high financial vulnerability. EBITDA rebounded after a 10% contraction, though rising labor costs - up 8.3% by 2022 - constrained operational efficiency. Supplementary analyses include a firm-level classification of performance evolution, a correlation matrix revealing moderate alignment between investment and profitability metrics, and a cluster analysis that distinguishes between typical SME trajectories, distressed micro-firms, and structurally distinct large enterprises. The results highlight asymmetrical recovery paths shaped by firm size and regional conditions.
Overall, the study underscores the importance of differentiated policy approaches tailored to the structural and territorial characteristics of the sector, to support long-term resilience and mitigate the effects of future systemic shocks
Pour une formation universitaire à l’interférence langagière
Get PDFCette étude porte sur le phénomène de l’interférence linguistique entre l’arabe libanais et le français chez des étudiantes en formation pour devenir enseignantes de français dans le cycle primaire au Liban. Elle vise à identifier les types d’interférences les plus fréquentes, à en analyser les causes et à évaluer l’efficacité d’une séance de remédiation ciblée. La méthodologie adoptée relève de la recherche-action et comprend une enquête diagnostique, une intervention pédagogique collective, ainsi qu’une évaluation des effets de cette intervention. Les données recueillies auprès d’un groupe de 12 étudiantes ont été analysées à la fois de manière quantitative et qualitative. Les résultats révèlent une prévalence marquée des interférences morphosyntaxiques et lexicales, mais également une nette amélioration des performances langagières après la séance de remédiation, notamment grâce au travail collaboratif et à la mobilisation de règles explicites. L’étude suggère que l’interférence ne doit pas être perçue uniquement comme une entrave, mais comme une opportunité didactique permettant de développer la conscience métalinguistique des apprenantes. Des recommandations sont formulées à trois niveaux : la formation des enseignants, l’engagement des étudiants, et l’adaptation du curriculum universitaire. Dans un contexte multilingue et en crise comme celui du Liban, cette recherche met en lumière la nécessité d’intégrer une prise en charge explicite de l’interférence dans la formation initiale des enseignants de français.
This study focuses on linguistic interference between Lebanese Arabic and French among female students training to become primary school French teachers in Lebanon. It aims to identify the most frequent types of interference, analyze their causes, and assess the effectiveness of a targeted remediation session. The research follows an action-research methodology that includes a diagnostic survey, a collective pedagogical intervention, and an evaluation of its outcomes. Data were collected from a group of 12 students and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The results reveal a high occurrence of morphosyntactic and lexical interference, but also a significant improvement in language performance after the remediation session, particularly through collaborative work and the application of explicit language rules. The study suggests that interference should not be viewed solely as an obstacle, but rather as a didactic opportunity to enhance learners' metalinguistic awareness. Recommendations are proposed on three levels: teacher training, student engagement, and curriculum design. In a multilingual and crisis-affected context like Lebanon, this research highlights the urgent need to explicitly address interference in initial teacher education for French as a foreign language
Advancing Cloud Adoption in the Saudi Public Sector: Challenges, Global Insights, and Strategic Policy Recommendations
Get PDFCloud computing has become a cornerstone of digital transformation strategies in the public sector, offering government entities scalable infrastructure, cost efficiency, and enhanced service delivery. In Saudi Arabia, adopting cloud technologies is a national priority aligned with Vision 2030, aiming to modernize government operations and increase digital agility. However, the transition to cloud environments within government institutions faces several challenges. This paper examines the key barriers to cloud computing adoption in Saudi Arabia's governmental sector. These include data governance concerns, cybersecurity requirements, organizational readiness gaps, and rigid procurement models. Through a comprehensive analysis of national frameworks and sector-specific studies, the paper highlights the root causes of slow adoption and identifies opportunities for improvement. The study also draws comparative insights from global practices, offering lessons that can inform local strategies. Based on the findings, practical recommendations are proposed to support more effective cloud adoption in the Kingdom's public sector. These focus on governance enhancement, capacity building, policy alignment, and fostering a cloud-positive culture within institutions
Human Resources and Performance of Deposit-Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kirinyaga County, Kenya
Get PDFDeposit-taking savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOs) in Kirinyaga County face several challenges, including low profitability, high retrenchment rates, and slow adoption of new technologies, which hinder their financial stability and operational efficiency. This study investigates how human resources affect SACCO performance while drawing on resource-based theory. A descriptive research design was employed, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to SACCO managers and employees, while secondary data was sourced from financial reports. A sample of ten SACCOs in Kirinyaga County was analyzed using statistical techniques to assess the relationship between organizational resources and performance. The findings reveal that whereas human capital, particularly well-trained staff, is the most significant factor in enhancing SACCO performance, its impact is comparatively lower. The study concludes that strategic investment in human capital is essential for improving SACCO performance. It recommends prioritizing staff training and development to maintain competitiveness. These insights provide a roadmap for SACCOs to enhance efficiency, sustain growth, and improve their role in economic development
Integrated Marketing Communication Mix Elements and Adoption of a Sports Culture: The Case of Academic Staff Members of Chartered Public Universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya
Get PDFAdoption of a sports culture occurs when people make sports to be part of their lives. This study investigated the mediating role of lifestyle habits and the moderating role of socio-ecological factors in the relationship between the integrated marketing communication mix elements and adoption of a sports culture among academic staff members of chartered public universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The inquiry was based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), communication theory, Attention-Interest-Desire-Action (AIDA) model, and the diffusion of innovation theory. The realism paradigm and a descriptive survey research design were used for the study. The researchers sampled 372 academic staff members from five chartered public universities based in Nairobi City County using stratified random sampling. Binomial logistic regression was used in the data analysis since the dependent variable was categorical in nature. The study established that integrated marketing communication mix elements predicted the adoption of a sports culture, with lifestyle habits mediating and socio-ecological factors moderating the relationship between integrated marketing communication mix elements and adoption of a sports culture by the academic staff members of the identified institutions. The study recommends that managers of health-promoting sports clubs should consider the integrated marketing communication mix elements, lifestyle habits, and socio-ecological factors when designing their communication programs