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DESTRUCTION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN POLISH MARITIME AREAS - LEGAL OBSTACLES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Get PDFThe problem of post-war chemical weapons lying on the seabed of the Baltic Sea is an issue which, in addition to posing environmental threats, may soon also have a direct impact on the realisation of many investments planned to be located in Polish maritime areas. In the nearest future this problem will concern in particular investors connected with the construction of offshore wind farms. Despite the fact that these investments are located outside the official sites of chemical weapons dumping, it is necessary to take into account the risk of the presence of chemical weapons in the area of the realised investment during its realisation, in particular at the stage of geological, and construction research. This is due to the fact that to date there is no comprehensive inventory of the Polish maritime areas in terms of estimating the total amount of dumped chemical weapons, the types of chemical warfare agents filling them, and the exact locations of their deposition. The presence of chemical weapons in the area of the planned investment may significantly delay its implementation, thus exposing investors to enormous losses associated with the downtime necessary to remove the threat. In the current Polish formal, and legal State, there is no specific legal basis for taking actions aimed at clearing sea areas designated for economic use of dangerous objects, such as dumped chemical weapons. There is no entity responsible for coordinating such activities, no entity capable of extracting, and destroying chemical munitions with their contained toxic warfare agents in accordance with the law in force, and there are no identified sources of funding for such activities. It is already necessary to take appropriate legal, administrative, and organisational steps for the extraction, and destruction of dumped chemical munitions in the areas of investment activities so that, among other things, the offshore wind farms can start producing energy as planned. This article analyses the legal obstacles to the clean-up of maritime investment areas from chemical weapons, and identifies the need for legal, and organisational changes to enable investors to safely carry out their planned investments in Polish maritime areas. The aim of this article is not to analyse the issue of the clean-up of chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea, although this problem is also the subject of numerous discussions on the international forum, in particular the European Parliament
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN RELATION TO THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE
Get PDFNowadays, it is necessary for every company to use modern information and communication technology (ICT) for its development and existence. For every company, one of the most important corporate resources is data and information. To process data and information, to increase competitiveness, companies must use a sufficiently developed information base. New information and communication technologies, specialized databases, information systems and the Internet make it possible to obtain the necessary information, analyze it and create qualified strategies and decisions. Nowadays, a company would not be able to achieve competitiveness without purposeful use of ICT. The paper deals with the theoretical issue of the integration of the informatics section into the organizational structure of the company, which will be followed by an examination of a selected sample of companies in the Czech Republic. The investigation will be focused on the analysis of the state of integration of the informatics department into the organizational structure of the monitored companies. At the same time, the amount of expenditure on all informatics in the monitored companies will be determined in connection with the method of managing informatics in the company. The theory indicates the correct inclusion of the informatics section as a separate organizational unit, whose head is directly included in top management. Data, information and knowledge are important for decision-making in all company departments. For a selected sample of companies, an investigation will be conducted into how data and information are obtained in the company. At the end of the contribution, theory and reality are compared on the selected sample and conclusions are suggested about the feasibility of including the informatics section in the organizational structure of the company in relation to the method of financing
TECHNICAL ISSUES IN GRADE-SCORE CONVERSIONS FOR A TRANSITION FROM NORM REFERENCING TO CRITERION REFERENCING
Get PDFCriterion referencing evaluates a student’s performance in an assessment against a predetermined set of goals and standards, while norm referencing measures a student’s performance by comparing it with the performance of other students. Although many universities in Asia-Pacific have already transited from the historically adopted norm referencing to criterion referencing, some technical issues have yet to be fully addressed. In this paper, we shall argue that the adoption of criterion referencing does not imply a dismissal of normal distribution and hence not norm referencing; and demonstrate an application of mathematical justifications to legitimating a grade-score conversion so as to avoid a rampant grade inflation or deflation during the transition from norm referencing to criterion referencing. This, in addition, leads to a reflection on the legitimacy of the linearity of Grade Point Average
A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE PROGRAM COMPONENTS AIMED AT ENSURING SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO A LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY AND A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE IN THE CASE OF AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN THE BALKANS
Get PDFAlthough common in North America, the Liberal Arts model of education is much less prevalent in Europe and almost new in Eastern Europe. The American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) is one higher education institution offering a Liberal Arts experience to students. The university has thus designed and implemented a First Year Experience (FYE) Program, which aims to introduce students to the liberal arts tradition and the new environment and to support their transition from high school to university. The FYE at AUBG includes a multiple-day orientation program, peer advising, academic advising, tutoring, a mandatory First Year Seminar, as well as a first semester mid- term faculty feedback. This paper presents an overview of Cuseo’s ten points of focus for the development and assessment of a high-quality, comprehensive first year experience program (Cuseo, 2007), Kuh’s “High-Impact Educational Practices”, which educational research suggests increase rates of student retention and engagement (Kuh, 2008), Steward’s best practices of a FYE program (Steward, 2016), and Upcraft, Garner and Barefoot’s eight demonstrated student behaviors which define first-year student success, among others (Upcraft et al, 2004). The authors develop a comparative analysis of the four selected frameworks with the current program. This paper further examines and presents insights based on the declared perceptions of students towards the FYE program components. The data was collected in 2020 via an anonymous online internal survey, and is based on a sample of 63 respondents, from an incoming class of approximately 240 students. The paper describes how new students evaluate different program components, and how they believe these have supported specific academic, personal and social learning outcomes. The findings in this paper can serve as a valuable tool for educators and administrators in developing new, or enhancing current programs, aimed at supporting the transitioning of high school students to university
STUDENT AND TEACHER VIEWS ON A WEB-BASED AND AUGMENTED REALITY SUPPORTED ACTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY
Get PDFThis study aims to get feedback on a web-based and augmented reality supported active learning system (ARGEBİLİM) that aims to improve the scientific process skills of 6th grade students. In this context, the opinions of six students and a teacher who participated in a pilot study were taken. Qualitative data collection tools were used in the research, and the model of the research is case study. Semi-structured interview questions were prepared separately for students and teachers. The data obtained from the interview questions were evaluated under five sub-headings: the effect of the developed system on learning, the evaluation method, the use of the system, the design of the system, the activities and the gamification elements. Both students and teachers stated that ARGEBILIM had a positive effect on learning. They found it sufficient to use it as an assessment tool. In addition to these, they also expressed positive opinions in terms of design, ease of use, effectiveness and gamification. In addition, it was concluded that the students found the lesson taught with ARGEBİLİM more fun and effective
FAMILY VALUES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DIFFERENT GENERATIONS IN LATVIAN SOCIETY TODAY
Get PDFThe development of a person\u27s values and mindset shift are processes that take place throughout a person\u27s life, but views on basic values are instilled in the family from early childhood and their development continues during the socialization process at school and in society. The family plays a primary role in the transmission of values as important elements of an individual\u27s character, the teaching of which largely determines the individual\u27s life path. Just as family structures have changed over time and vary from culture to culture, so too have attitudes towards the family. The article examines the place of the family in the individual\u27s value system and analyses the differences in the views on the family of different age groups (generations). The analysis uses quantitative data from the European Values Survey, Phase 5 in Latvia (2021, n=1335). The data show that despite the diversity of family models and the broadening of an understanding of the family, the traditional perception of the family prevails among the Latvian population and in the hierarchy of values, the family is still the most important value in the overall scale of values in the population. The factor that most significantly predicts differences in values and attitudes towards the family is the age of the individual (membership of different generations). Young people (under 29) are significantly more likely than others to see marriage as an outdated form of relationship but are more tolerant of the potential of homosexual couples to become good parents. With an increase in age, the proportion of those who hold traditional views increases proportionally: older generations are generally much more supportive of the institution of marriage, the role of children in marriage, the view that having children is a duty to society, etc
CAREER EXPERIENCES IN RECEIVING PSYCHOSOCIAL AID FROM CARE CENTRES
Get PDFThe Lithuanian child care system is undergoing reforms, with the aim of reducing and phasing out the number of children growing up in care homes. In order to do so, there must be alternatives to guardianship – not only guardianship authorities, but also guardians and on-call guardians. So far, the service network has been a missing element. If we want to have guardians/carers who are courageous to undertake this complex and difficult mission, we need to think about how we can help when a person or family is committed to this mission. ‘In 2020, 18.2 % and in 2019 23.2 % of cases for children deprived of parental care were placed in institutional care, 58.8 % in families (53.4 % in 2019), 0.5 % in families (0.9 % in 2019) and 21,6 % in care centres (2019: 22.5 %)‘(VKT report) The establishment of care centres in Lithuania started in 2018 and currently there are 66 care centres in Lithuania. There is at least one guardianship centre in each municipality. In Lithuania, the care centres have only recently started their activities. They are responsible for carers/guardians and children in care, meeting their needs and providing adequate assistance. These centres are a new function of social security activities with a strong focus on child care reform. There is a lack of research to analyse the activities of the care centres and their specificity in the child care process, and it is therefore appropriate to carry out studies to reveal the experiences of guardians/carers in receiving the services provided by the care centre. This would help to determine whether the care centres pay sufficient attention to guardians/carers and children in care, thus improving the support system for guardians/carers to ensure a child care
DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT CAREER MANAGEMENT COMPETENCES IN HIGHER SCHOOL
Get PDFThe aim of this article is to reveal the general aspects of developing students’ personal career management competencies based on students’ experiences. The problem of the study is: How do full- time students of the Social Work Programme develop career management competencies during their studies? The article analyses the concept of students’ career management competencies and their education in higher education. The research data revealed students’ attitudes towards personal careers and its management in the professional field of social work, and identified career development opportunities and methods used in the study process. The experiences of the study participants have been revealed in four career management competencies, such as self-knowledge, research, planning and implementation of career opportunities. Social work students have identified the challenges they faced in the study process in order to develop their career management competencies
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION, ONLINE PRESENCE AND NARRATIVE PATTERNS
Get PDFThe communication of organizations (companies, communities, NGOs, heritage institutions, etc.) takes place in a complex and heterogeneous context, characterized in particular by the omnipresence of digital ecosystems (web, social networks, Internet of data, etc.) which should not, however, make us forget the requirements of multicultural communication at different scales. Digital Presences of Organizations highlight the communicative issues of organizations as they emerge, not only from their websites, but also from the construction of online narratives. This multi-faceted and multi-strategy digital presence of organizations is addressed through three main thematic axes. The first focuses on the differentiated strategies (of content, services, interaction) that can be identified according to the types of organizations and users. Then the second axis questions the role of narrative in the online communication strategies of organizations. Finally, the focus is on the impact of narrative consistency on online organizational presence
ACADEMIC SOCIALIZING IN THE DIGITAL STUDY ENVIRONMENT – A NEW REALITY
Get PDFThe recent pandemic has boosted the adoption of the digital study environment (DSE) in universities around the world to reduce physical contact. Theories and models have tried to find the factors on which e-learning would depend. Perceived usefulness – a multidimensional higher-order construct – is the determinant of continuance intentions to use DSE. An independent factor is social presence, which ensures the academic socialization. DSE requires a new function of habitus that facilitates socialization. The objective of the study was to find out hindering conditions for socialization in the university where DSE continues to develop. The study was carried out in the spring of 2022. It involved 117 first year psychology students. Five groups were formed and a discussion in each group was held on socialization in DSE conditions. The author took notes on relevant points, the data were subjected to a thematic analysis using NVivo 12. A prerequisite for the socializing function of habitus is the continuity of the social space that facilitates the dispositions to appropriately communicate in the academic setting. The analysis of the obtained data revealed the following problematic areas of socialization in relation to DSE: diminishing the socializing role of the teaching staff, lack of personal contacts and spontaneous interactions, weakening of the social bond, parasocial relationships, feelings of loneliness and exclusion, decreasing social flexibility. The mentioned distractions can lead to a decrease in satisfaction with studies in general and, in particular, to a reluctance of continuance intentions to use DSE. Despite advanced technological and pedagogical affordances, the academic socialization is slightly behind in this context. Although disparity in previous socializing experience plays a crucial role for each student, discontinuity in social space can be overcome if a new function of habitus is promoted. The internalization of social behavior can be influenced mediated by DSE