Evaluation culture in Poland

Kultura ewaluacyjna w Polsce

Author(s): Patrycja Antosz,Zuzanna Drożdżak,Weronika Felcis / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: evaluation; evaluation culture; utility-based evaluation

Evaluation as type of judgement aggregation specifies expected or factual effects of a public intervention. The main goal of evaluation in public administration is to support decision-making processes and therefore increase the quality, efficiency and coherence of public help. That aim is supported by three main functions of evaluation: the function of accountability (executing responsibility), the cognitive function and the function of improvement stimulation within an organization. Among the advantages of performing objective and specified evaluations of public interventions one may name improvements in planning, implementing processes, improvements in quality control, supporting learning processes within institutions, strengthening the feelings of partnerships and joint ownership. For those among other reasons a number of international institutions (e.g. European Union) put emphasis on the development of evaluation culture. On the basis of the results of a project carried out by Centrum Ewaluacji i Analiz Polityk Publicznych UJ (The Center for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies) several elements occurring frequently in evaluations in Poland that may inhibit the development of evaluation culture have been identified. Those elements are the perception of evaluation among public administration workers, the way party ordering evaluations uses evaluation criteria, the existing procurement law and lack of rules concerning the reception of evaluation report.

The examination of the sustainability of brownfield investments paying special attention to public policies and EU support

The examination of the sustainability of brownfield investments paying special attention to public policies and EU support

Author(s): Ágnes Hegyi-Kéri / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: revitalization; public policies; sustainability

According to the economics of welfare the need (or necessity) for state intervention starts when people experience market failures [Pigou, 1920], the goal and reason for state intervention is usually to develop the welfare of people. Studies of actual state interventions show that not only the market but state interventions can fail as well [Wolf, 1988]. The rehabilitation and revitalization of the unused industrial sites represent new development possibilities and a serious challenge to public policies. The question is how to minimize the cost of industrial changes, when industry has lost its function in some areas and it had a negative effect on people. In my study I will try to show the value of the effect and success of these policies without which economic growth is impossible, and which make brown field investments sustainable. In my opinion rehabilitation requires an interdisciplinary approach and one need to pay special attention to the rule of the local and country governance, and the ways of redistribution and financial support both from the European Union and the national state. For long term sustainability it is essential to avert the environmental damage, but without any government help it will not be successful and sustainable.

From Editors

Od Redakcji

Author(s): Jakub Kołodziejczyk / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2012

The examination of non-profit and public institutions from the CSR viewpoint

The examination of non-profit and public institutions from the CSR viewpoint

Author(s): Andrea Benedek,István Takács,István Takács / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: corporate social responsibility; communication; cooperation

To reveal the company’s social policy publicly – in the form of certificates, indices or reports – occurs more and more often in the corporate practice and communication. The year 2011 has a special role among the campaign of the European Union since 1983. This year the main focus is on voluntariness, which is one of the principles of the European Union, the aim is to draw the attention of the European people to the significance of voluntariness. The advantage of the companies’ voluntary programme is that through the internal communication a more effective cooperation can be ensured among the employees and nonbusiness. So more and more companies feel the need of the CSR activities, with which they can create competitive advantage for themselves. The research focuses on the nonbusiness group, and examines its relationships and cooperation with other organizations and groups. The aim of the research carried out in Hungary is to discover and unveil the aims and motivations of the above mentioned segments, and whether the opposing parties, in economic sense, are able to cooperate for one goal in the interest of the community and environment. The research raises the following questions: What kind of donations is offered from the businesses and from the civil people? Do they comply with the expectation and necessities of the nonbusiness? Is their cooperation useful? Are they able to solve their problems, to communicate effectively? The results of the research showed similarities with the literature, i.e.: the influencing factors of CSR are the effective communication, the realized cost and benefits for the donor, the empathy, the norm system of the individual and the expectation of the society. The importance of CSR appears at more and more forums (CSR market, corporate PR etc.). However, to be able to speak of appropriate CSR that is already built-in the value system of the individuals – especially from the viewpoint of society, ecological and economic sustainability – Hungary has a long way to go as there is still a great lack of empathy, internal motivation and social sensitivity, which can only be inherited through culture. Communication forms the base of offering assistance, as without it the realization of needs is not possible. The sceptics often accuse the companies that the CSR practice from their part is nothing else only PR activity, however, it was proven by the present research that the donor companies do not require publicity.

Social innovation – innovative instruments of social policy in projects financed by European Social Fund in Poland

Innowacje społeczne – innowacyjne instrumenty polityki społecznej w projektach finansowanych ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego

Author(s): Gabriela Sempruch / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: social innovation; innovative projects; European Social Fund; utility based evaluation; family assistant

The purpose of this article is to present an example of social innovation in projects financed by European Social Fund (ESF) and discuss problems related to using experiences of social innovation in the process of systemic change in social policy. Social innovation is defined as a new and better way of resolving social problems. The article is a part of broader author’s research on social innovation in social policy in Poland. The theoretic point of research is related to the theory of the utility-based evaluation proposed by the team of the Centre for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies of Jagiellonian University in Cracow. The first part includes definitions of social innovation and detailed description of the process of social innovation. The second part of the paper outlines the results of the case study on family’s assistant described as a social innovation in social services in Poland in 2008. The family’s assistant model was prepared during innovative project in 2004–2008 (in the EQUAL Programme). In the third part the author discusses the role of social innovation in the process of systemic change in social policy. The author believes that social innovations occur in the ESF projects but their potential is not properly used in the social policy. In conclusion, the author emphasizes that the ESF project could be a kind of live laboratory for systematic change in social policy. She proposes to improve the management of knowledge about social innovation and describes assumptions for the system of diffusion of social innovation.

Supporting the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises in the Lodz region by financing investment projects under Measure III .2 Regional Oper

Wsparcie konkurencyjności małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw w województwie łódzkim poprzez finansowanie projektów inwestycyjnych w ramach Działania II

Author(s): Arkadiusz Szymański,Janusz Kornecki,Maciej Kokotek / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: competitiveness; innovativeness; small and medium-sized enterprises; regional support policy

This article presents the results of pilot study carried out in July 2011 among 180 small and medium-sized enterprises who were beneficiaries of Measure III.2 Raising innovativeness and competitiveness of enterprises of the Regional Operational Programme for the Lodz Region for the years 2007–2013. Preliminary results show a significantly positive impact of investment subsidies on innovativeness and competitiveness of the enterprises.

Determinants of voter behaviour at presidential elections in a post-socialist context: the case of Slovenia

Determinants of voter behaviour at presidential elections in a post-socialist context: the case of Slovenia

Author(s): Danica Fink-Hafner,Mitja Hafner Fink,Gregor Čehovin,Simona Kustec Lipicer / Language(s): English / Issue: 075/2014

Keywords: voting behaviour; presidential elections; parliamentary elections; logistic regression model; Slovenia

This article attempts to fill the gap in the literature regarding the determinants of voter behaviour at presidential elections in a post-socialist context, taking into account the changing patterns of competition both within the party system (parliamentary elections) and at presidential elections. Slovenia is taken as a case study of predictors of voting behaviour at presidential elections (1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012) based on bivariate and multivariate methods using Politbarometer public opinion survey data. The key findings are that the predictors of voting behaviour change over time and that party identification has recently been declining in importance as a predictor of voting behaviour at presidential elections.

Change in political behaviour during

Sprememba političnega vedenja v obdobju

Author(s): Meta Novak / Language(s): Slovenian / Issue: 075/2014

Keywords: political behaviour; election campaign; election debate; presidential elections; parliamentary elections

An election campaign is a special sort of information campaign. Election candidates have an opportunity during this time to inform voters about themselves, their positions and programmes. At the same time, voters have an opportunity to acquire information needed to make an informed decision. We were interested to ascertain if during an election campaign any changes in political behaviour can be noticed. We observed a very narrow segment of political behaviour, namely political activation. We used data from the Politbarometer survey from 1996 until 2013 and noticed that during an election campaign the share of non-response to ‘for whom would you vote’ question and an orientational ‘left-right’ question was lower. That is true for both presidential and parliamentary elections.

Queer pedagogy: An Example of a discussion of the children’s story “And Tango Makes Three” in kindergartens in Slovenia

Queerovski pristop k vzgoji: primer obravnave pravljice "In s tango smo trije" v slovenskih vrtcih

Author(s): Nina Tuš Špilak / Language(s): Slovenian / Issue: 075/2014

Keywords: queer pedagogy; preschool education; same-sex family; kindergarten; children’s story “And Tango Makes Three”

This article presents the concept of queer pedagogies and explains it as a frame enabling discussions about same-sex families in kindergartens and at the same time follows requirements such as criticality, objectivity and pluralism that are the foundation of preschool education. Empirical data were gathered from preschool teachers and assistant preschool teachers in 2012 by the author. The results of curriculum analysis indicate that the discussion of same-sex families could be included in the educational process at various levels. The key finding of the research is that preschool teachers and assistant preschool teachers do not include themes of same-sex families in their discussions with children. In the article, we assume that the (queer) children’s story “And Tango Makes Three”, outlining the everyday life of a same-sex family, represents a best practice and suitable tool that would help preschool teachers and assistants present the notion of same-sex families in a way that is easily perceived by children.

Online communities: Typology and fundamental characteristics

Spletne skupnosti: tipologija in temeljne značilnosti

Author(s): Sara Atanasova,Gregor Petrič / Language(s): Slovenian / Issue: 075/2014

Keywords: online community; typology; hybrid online communities; community; heuristic tool

The social complexity and dynamics of online communities do not allow for them to be unambiguously defined which is why the concept attracts plural definitions and conceptualisations. The purpose of this paper is not to generate the most valid definition of the concept but to form a typology of online communities. Based on a synthesis of key definitions of the concept of online community and a critical evaluation of existing typologies, the paper proposes a new typology of online communities and presents their fundamental characteristics. The presented typology is based on three variables: (1) the prevailing relationship orientation of the online community; (2) the multi-functionality of the online community; and (3) types of online communities. The typology identifies 12 ideal types of online communities which can serve as a heuristic tool for further analyses, research, theorisations and the accumulation of new knowledge about such communities.

Gospel’s Covers from Vratsa – Examples of Local Goldsmith Tradition from 17th Century

Евангелски обкови от Враца – примери за локална златарска традиция от ХVІІ век

Author(s): Nona Petkova / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 2/2010

Five Gospel’s precious covers are recognized as related to the work of Vratsa’s goldsmiths from 17th c . Three of them are made for churches in Vratsa, one for Rila Monastery and one for the church in Oryahovo . The article analyzes the icono- graphical, stylistic and techno- logical features of each work pertaining to this group . Particular attention is given to the earliest cover of the Saint Nicolas Church’s Gospel (1623) . With this cover an unknown craftsman introduces among Vratsa’s goldsmiths the constructional principle of arrangement of the binding from different elements . This scheme is later adopted in the execution of the other four precious covers.The presented five works display common technological characteristics and share the usage of identical relief patterns (baskii) for a long period of time. All these features testify to the existence of solid Vratsa’s goldsmith tradi- tion of making Gospels’ covers in 17th c. But whether Vratsa was an independent goldsmith center or the local metal works could be associated with the production from Chiprovtsi, the leading goldsmith center in the northwestern Bulgarian lands during this period? Nowadays it is difficult to give definite answer to this question since the examples, available for comparison, are not enough. The observations made in this article show that the approach followed by Vratza’s goldsmiths differs from the one applied by Chiprovtsi’s goldsmiths whose Gospel’s covers are made of one whole silver gilt sheet. Despite of the mutual influences and parallels undoubtedly existing in the goldsmith’s production of Vratsa and Chiprovtsi during this period, these are not sufficient evidence to consider Vratsa’s covers as part of the production of the Chiprovtsi Goldsmith School. The existing differences are essential and they outnumber the resemblances.

Who are the ancient Philosophers depicted in the Refectory of Bachkovo Monastery and the Church of the Nativity in Arbanasi?

Кои са древните мъдреци, изобразени в трапезарията на Бачковския манастир и църквата „Рождество Христово” в Арбанаси?

Author(s): Emmanuel Moutafov / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 2/2010

For the first time E . Moutafov shows that the Greek texts on the scrolls of the ancient philosophers from the 17th century’ frescoes in the Refectory of Bachkovo monastery and in the church of the Nativity in Arbanasi, Bulgaria, are transferred from a Byzantine manuscript sources of the type „Διήγησις τινος φιλοσόφου περί των επτά Ελλήνων των φιλοσόφων διά την άνω πρόνοιαν”, which are copied out and circulated at the Balkan monasteries during the 16-17th cc . After approving the fact that therе are not ever existing Greek names as Ariklos, Odoneristos, Lysitis, Astakor and Zialigis, the author gives a proof that in Bachkovo’ Refectory are depicted: from South – Homer, Aristoteles, Galenus, Sybila, Plato, Plutarchus; and from North – Aristophanes, Don Trismegistos, Diogenes, Ares kleos, kleomedes and Socrates . In the Arbanasi’ church are represented as follows: kleomedes, Ares kleos, Solon, Diogenes, Pythagoras, Socrates, Homer, Aristoteles, Galenus, Sybila, Plato and Plutarchus . In contact zones like Arbanasi and Bachkovo, where the Greek clergy were surrounded by com- pact masses of Bulgarians in the 17th c ., those texts and images for E . Moutafov are pure Phanariot’ propaganda on behalf of the canonic reputation and antiquity of Constatinople’ Patriarchy, of the Greek self-consciousness and of Greek language . The same phenomenon could be observed on Mount Athos at the same period and earlier . In the Moldo-Valachia during the 16-17th cc ., on the other hand, in spite of Cyrilic epigraphy of the monuments, they are a medium of Ottoman and Phanariot’ strategies for a removal of the Bulgarian element in order to create new, Romanian one, which adores the respectful history and the antediluvian piety of Greeks . In conclusion, for the author the term Iconopathy is not only the pathological state resulting from an excess of images. More generally, it is the corruption of aesthetic experience, brought on by an excess of imagery, or other pathenogenic factors, like in this case, and it is appearing as a result of the mistakes in the manuscript’ sources for those images of the ancient philosophers on the Balkans and Russia, and their appearance results in political factors as well .

A Bronze Reliquary with the Images of the Apostles St Peter and St Paul

Бронзов реликвиар с изображения на светите апостоли Петър и Павел

Author(s): Stella Doncheva / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 2/2010

The article studies a bronze reliquary of St Peter and Paul discov- ered near the village Pet Mogili (Shoumen region) . A mediaeval fortress is situated near the village with settlements outside where during archaeological excavations lead lamellae with inscriptions, belt applications and decorations from the 10th c . were found . The reliquary has a round shape and consists of two parts, con- nected in the lower and upper end . It was found empty inside but it is possible that it contained parts of relics, relics from the Holly Cross or some other relics . Of greatest interest was the relief images of the Apostles Peter and Paul found on the outer walls . The unique individualization of the images, the high relief and rhythmic drapery of the attires place this reliquary at the end of the 10th – beginning of the 11th c . The paleography of the inscriptions is also archaic and it is similar to that of monuments from this period . The examples, presented in the article and the specificities of the images connect the reliquary with Constantinople . It is one of the few original objects found on the territory of Bulgaria, which have been made in the capital of Byzantium and possibly served as a model for numerous object of the plastic art, created by the local masters .

Table of Contents - 2/2010 issue

Table of Contents - 2/2010 issue

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2010

Table of Contents - 2/2010 issue

Describe and paint. Peripeties and transformations in the development of the verbal and visual image

Да описваш и да живописваш. Перипетиите и трансформациите при изграждането на словесния и зрителния образ

Author(s): Elka Bakalova / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 2/2010

book review

Early Byzantine Capitals from Sozopol: Traditions and Diversity

Ранновизантийските капители от Созопол:традиция и многообразие

Author(s): Iva Doseva / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 2/2010

Published for the first time are 11 early-Byzantine capitals from Sozopol that are interesting not only because they represent the development of form during the period but because they are a unique proof of the active construction work and the sources of art in the city . The examined on catalogue princi- pal capitals represent almost all ba- sic types of the epoch – Corinthian, Theodosian, kempferia, Ionian kempferia, and cubic ones . In the framework of these types there are the popular ones (capitals № 2 .1, 2 .2, 5, 6) but also some of the most lavish examples (№9), created in the Empire’s ateliers at Prokones . If not from Prokones capitals № 8 and 10 could have been imported from Greece – the other source of architectural details on the West Pontic seacoast . Some of the capitals have been made my local stone-cutters ateliers and are an example of the specific ‘interpretation’ of those from the capital (№ 3, 4, 7) . Capital № 3 is presumed to have been created in what is now the region of Malko Tarnovo about which there exists information that at least during the Antiquity there were stone-pits and ateliers for marble work . Other capitals presume the existence of stone-cutting ateliers near Sozopol (№ 4, 7) . The two works from the province (№3 and 4), in the framework of the old type of capitals, reflect the new tendencies in architectural sculpture which at the high, capital level turned into perfect new forms – kempfer and cubic capitals . The published here capitals show, that in the city–heir of the ancient Greek Ionian colony Apollonia, existed stable traditions and active continuity .

Narrative Cycles of the Life of St George in the Arbanasi Churches St Demetrius and Nativity

Житийните цикли на св . Георги в арбанашките църкви „Св. Димитър” и „Рождество Христово”

Author(s): Tsveta Kuneva / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 2/2010

The narrative cycles of the life of St George in the mediaeval mural monuments in today’s Bulgarian lands are only three . Two of them – those from Arbanasi, are subject of special analysis for the first time in the present text . In the St . George’s Chapel of the Church of St . Demetrius in Arba- nasi (second half of the 16th c .) 6 scenes from the life of its patron have been preserved: Interrogation of St . George before Emperor Diocletian, Beating Martyrdom, Torture in the Dungeon, Wheel Martyrdom, Lime Pit Martyrdom and Iron Shoes Martyrdom . With the exception of the Lime Pit Martyrdom, where there are included the figures of Empress Alexandra and the beheaded Anatolios and Protoleon, the cycle does not represent any iconographic specificities . At the gallery of the Nativity Church (1649) 9 scenes have been drawn that illustrate the life of St George: Interrogation of St . George before the Emperor, Wheel Martyrdom, Death of Alexandra, Beheading of St George, Resurrec- tion of the Dead, Destruction of the Idols, Miracle in the Paphlagonian Temple (or the Miracle with the omelet) and St . George Saving a Youth from Captivity (in 2 parts) . Of greatest interest are the last two, since they illustrate rare subject matters with the posthumous miracles of the saint, connected with children . The miracle of the saving of the youth from captivity is presented not as it is popular – a boy sitting on the horse behind St George, but in a narrative version . The narrative cycles of the life of St George in Arbanasi offer evidence about the history of the monuments . In the church of St Demetrius the presence of the cycle proves the dedication of the initial chapel of St George . The scenes of the saving of the youth from captivity in the church of the Nativity are connected with the donor’s portrait, placed close to them and bear evidence to the fact, that the murals in the Western part of the gallery have been commissioned in memory of the deceased child of the donor hadzhi Georgi . The narrative cycles of the life of St George from Arbanasi are situated in monuments that are close but differ in content and style . While the painters that have made the cycle in the church of St Demetrius came from a center of local impor- tance, the masters of the church of the Nativity with their crafts- manship and knowledge of not so popular sources of St George’s miracles showed a very high for the 17th c . artistic mastership .

Two Icons by Dionysios of Fournas or by Painters of his Workshop in Bulgaria

Две икони на Дионисий от Фурна или на зографи от школата му в България

Author(s): Aleksandra Trifonova / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 2/2010

The article presents two icons of st John the Forerunner from the Crypt in Sofia and of st Nicholas from the church St. Nicholas in Melnik. After an examination of the icons we found out that there are a lot of exterior similarities from which comes clear that the icons have to be made by the same painter or by painters from the same atelier. On the other hand, the iconographical and technotropical elements allow to associate them with the painter from the first half of 18th c., Dionysios of Fourna or with his students. We can hypothesize that the origin of the icons is common, and more possible from a church of St. Nicholas in Melnik. It is logical that the flourish Greek community of Melnik could order icons to some of the most famous painters from Holy Mountain, to Dionysios of Fourna or to his entourage. It is also known that Melnik had close relation with Mount Athos because of the many metochs and possessions by the athonite monasteries there, but also of the icons made by athonite paint- ers found in Melnik.

HEALTH EDUCATION BY FILM IN THE EARLY 1920s IN CROATIA

Zdravstveno prosvjećivanje filmom ranih 1920-ih u Hrvatskoj

Author(s): Željko Dugac / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 3/2009

Keywords: Health education; School of Public Health; Educational moviesn

This article examines the use of film in health education of wide social segments in Croatia between the end of the First World War and 1926, the year when the film activity of the School of Public Health in Zagreb began. I discuss the early interest of the Croatian medical community in the use of film in health education, as well as the role of the newly founded social medical institutions in promotion of the film as a medium, its purchase and distribution. I review hitherto little known locally produced films that had been used in health promotion before the School of Public Health started its own production

A STUDY OF THE COMMUNIST SOCIAL SYSTEM IN THE JOURNAL ŽIVOT AT THE TIME OF STJEPAN TOMISLAV POGLAJEN’S EDITORSHIP (1937-1941)

Analiza prikaza komunističkoga društvenog sustava u časopisu Život za vrijeme uredništva Stjepana Tomislava Poglajena (1937.-1941.)

Author(s): Josip Kajinić / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 3/2009

Keywords: Stjepan Tomislav Poglajen; the Journal Život; Ideology; Totalitarian political systems; Bolshevik Communism; Anti-totalitarianis

In this article the author attempts to analyze the articles and documents published about communism in the journal Život at the time when Stjepan Tomislav Poglajen was its editor (1937-1941). These articles and documents review the Communist system of social organization in the Soviet Union and the countries occupied by it as well as the role of the publications of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, in spreading Communist propaganda. The work is divided into three parts. In the first part, under the heading “Život in search of the roots of Communism,” an analysis of the articles which show the origins of Communism out of the dialectic of historical materialism is presented. In addition, the author attempts to show how Život assessed the theory on which Communist ideology developed. In the second part of this work, under the heading “Communist Reality,” the author presents the articles published in Život which described, on the basis of eye witness accounts and accounts of victims, societal developments in the lands under Communist rule. In the final, or third, part of the article, under the heading “Analysis of the documents published in Život,” the author attempts to analyze and evaluate the worth and importance of the documents which presented a large number of facts about social developments and events in Communist lands. The author, by way of comparison with these documents, presents an overview of the Communist press and propaganda, in Život, and commentary on its content by the editor of Život, Stjepan Tomislav Poglajen. In the conclusion to this article, the author attempts to briefly evaluate the role and significance of the journal Život in bringing forward facts about Communism and social developments in the lands under the Communist regime.