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About Welfare in Cultural Context

Author(s): Angelica-Nicoleta Neculaesei (Onea) / Language(s): English / Issue: 07/2015

This article aims to briefly analyze the research efforts on measuring welfare indices in terms of cultural relativism. It presents the limitations of GDP and some of the proposed alternatives over time, to understand the wideness and interest in this topic, but also the consequences of imposing a certain type of indicators to reflect the progress and welfare of a country. To provide a coherent overview on the proposed subject, the approach starts with the presentation of general acceptation of the welfare concept. Further, the literature review reveals many concerns about the welfare and progress, but also the difficulties associated with this effort. Critical comments generally reflect the need to consider the culture factor in the debate on welfare.

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Accommodating Social Justice into Transitional Justice Mechanisms. The Case of Northern Uganda

Author(s): Andreea Cristina Nowak / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2010

This article advances the idea that post-conflict societies encounter a twofold challenge in the transitional context; the first challenge is the past – how to heal the wounds, whilst the second challenge is to look forward and provide solutions for a sustainable future, where human rights are promoted and respected. I argue that the complex legal, political, economic and social situation in northern Uganda requires the reconciliation between past, present and future, by merging transitional justice (pastoriented) with economic and social justice (future-oriented), so as to meet the victims‘ needs and in the same time secure a stable transitional regime. The first section of the article will deal with the interplay between conflict and poverty in Uganda and the governmental measures taken in this regard. The following two sections will briefly examine the various transitional justice mechanisms employed here as well as the unfortunate situation relating to socio-economic rights. Based on the arguments advanced in the previous sections, the final part outlines some measures to accommodate economic and social rights within transitional justice mechanisms, suggesting that the later must be part of a broader set of policies for socioeconomic development and reconciliation.

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Accountability and service quality in public service in Israel

Author(s): Yehuda Eliya / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2018

In the last decades we are witnessing to a turn in the interaction between the citizen, as clients, and the public administration, mainly in the level of citizens’ increased expectations about the quality delivered by public service organisations. The citizen is asking for quality service with accountability of the professional factors in public organizations. This article will discuss two main phenomena in public service today: accountability and service quality.

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Action Research in Higher Education through Backward Designing of Ecopreneurship Trainings

Author(s): Anna Varbanova,Martin J. Ivanov / Language(s): English / Issue: Special/2016

The article discusses the model of application of Action Research methodology in the context of the applied project ‘Training for Ecopreneurship at Three Bulgarian Universities’ (2015–2016). The project is conducted by the Institute for the Study of Societies and Knowledge at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, Heidelberg, with the financial support of the German Federal Environmental Foundation, DBU. Beneficiaries and associate partners in Bulgaria are the University of Ruse, the Academy of Economics, Svishtov, the University of Food Technologies, Plovdiv, and Technology Centre, Sofia – organization for technology transfer and advocacy of German businesses in Bulgaria. The project’s main objective is to introduce educational modules for so-called ecopreneurship (sustainable entrepreneurship) in these three universities. Our approach is closer to the so-called Participative Action Research, trying to involve different stakeholders in the different stages of the project. Thus, we want not only to reflect the process, but to induce ‘social change’ with the active participation of the actors. At the core of our intervention is the educational design and implementation of innovative ecopreneurship training for students, based on a competency model (or a model of linked competencies that would lead to building accomplishments) co-developed by the students and previously engaged experts. These competencies are sought, applied, and developed in the learning process through the so-called Backward Design Approach, comprising five phases, each with a different focus: 1) group cohesion development, initial assessment and joint goal-setting; 2) phase of enhancing a deeper understanding of basic concepts through experience, and raising essential no-single-answer questions; 3) immersion in the actual field, active learning of the content based on researching authentic problems; 4) learning by doing a desired type of real-world project/learning product; and 5) students’ showcase in which they present themselves through these projects, which serve as a record for their learning achievement.

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ADOPTING THE FACTS ABOUT OBJECTIVE REALITY IN FAMILY BY THE THOUGHT WAY

Author(s): Esad R. Kurejšepi / Language(s): English / Issue: 13 (2)/2014

The family is nowadays confronted with many difficulties and problems, in order to maintain and fulfill presumed functions and the expected role. The changes that take place at high speed in all aspects of contemporary society has significant consequences on the situation, the development, the role and place of the family in society. Certainly, the most important phenomena of our time is globalization. It leads to major changes in society and the way of life of every man. The reason this study educational function of the family, keeping in mind a few important moments. One of them is all the more pronounced role as the basis of scientific, technical, technological and civilization development in general. Increasingly there is a need of education and learning, raising the educational level of the people, developing their professional and spiritual abilities and training, and only the only way that it can successfully respond to the daily changes that occur during this period.

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Adult social development in modern society.

Author(s): Kestutis Trakšelys / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2013

This article analyzes the Human development in modern society, it also analyzes the social development and quality of life relationship. Human Social Development regards human as a value not only because he/she is a producer of material goods. Human is considered both as an objective and a tool of development. In fact, the development where a human is a centre of attention means a human progress, a progress in a human and a progress under the authority of a human. A growth of choices is everyone’s opportunity to take responsibility for their own lives. Development gives human freedom to choose, but he/she must decide what to choose. Human social development has two sides: on the one hand, physical, psychological, mental and professional capabilities of a human are developed, on the other hand, acquired capabilities allow human to efficiently use them in cultural, economic or political activity. Provision of choices makes sense only when ability to ensure well-being both to present and future generations is maintained.

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African Environmental Ethics

Author(s): Joseph Nkang OGAR,Samuel Akpann BASSEY / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2019

For decades now, experts have studied and documented the severe environmental and land degradation across Africa. However, the nature of the problem has now been ratcheted up by mounting and undisputed scientific evidence demonstrating a clear causal link between tropical deforestation and global climate change. The external observers of the deteriorating African landscape continue to watch in alarm, sometimes heralding a concerted global response. The African environmental “crisis” that once was framed solely in the context of the direct effects of desertification, deforestation and land degradation on African ecosystems, economies and societies, is now in fact unhinged from the location of rapidly advancing desertification and deforestation to a much broader, world-wide crisis. There is now a rapid need for an effective environment ethic hinged on socio-cultural substance which recognize indigenous people, further shape their association with natural habitat. The thrust of this paper is to have a look at African environmental ethics.

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Age diversity and age discrimination in the Czech Republic: overview

Author(s): Klára Cozlová / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

In the Czech Republic, 45 - 65 years old people comprise over a quarter of the entire population and their employment plays a key role in the country’s economy. The data presented here is based on the official national statistics, which are typically classified by age. Unfortunately, the age categories are not consistent across all types of data. In comparison to the EU, the employment intensity in the Czech Republic is slightly higher than average. The employment rate of the working age cohort 15 - 64 years was 65.2 % (as of 2009). The employment rate of 20-64 years old was 70.7% (while the average rate in the EU was 68.8 %). [...]

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Agile Manufacturing and Commerce. The Impact of 3D Printing on Markets and Business Processes

Author(s): Lukasz Wiechetek,Arkadiusz Gola / Language(s): English / Issue: 5.1/2018

Additive manufacturing like 3D printing is frequently used to create unique three-dimensional objects of any shape and geometry. Technologies like 3D printing significantly increase the flexibility of running a business especially in the early phases of new product development and testing, but also democratize the production market. 3D printing uses hardware controlled by computer applications to create single, quite complex 3D objects at relatively low cost. Creating these objects with well-known technologies such as casting can be in many cases economically unmanageable. 3D printing technology has many areas of usage. It can be used in architecture, art, commerce, education, engineering, manufacturing, medicine and military. It can also be a very useful tool in marketing and commerce e.g. market research, product design and product development and shipment. Therefore 3D printing can meet new needs of customers and generate incomes for businesses. The aim of the article is to present recent trends in 3D printing and the possibilities of its usage. The paper contains characteristics of technology, recently developed 3D printing projects, advantages and disadvantages of using 3D printing technology. The authors analyze 1259 3D printing-related projects found on the world’s most popular crowdfunding platform – Kickstarter and presents the impact of 3D printing technology on markets and business processes.

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Aging Population - A Cloud ON Romania’s Economic Future

Author(s): Emmanuel Olusegun Stober / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

The decision to have children nowadays is largely a matter of choice; this has led researchers to model fertility in economic terms. This paper links the demographic effects to the labor market characteristics and consequently to the national economy. It shows that the situation in the Romanian economy is characterized by a steadily declining share of the working age population, a rising share of the elderly and a decreasing share of the young. Therefore if the downward demographic trend should continue, there will only be 15.6 million people left in Romania in 2060 with only 2 million labor force participants. The burden of financing 8 dependents will fall on one labor force participant, thus, the rising old-age dependency ratios will translate into growing tax burdens. The generous pension and health care benefits will crowd out public investment in infrastructure or education, with negative effects on capital accumulation and productivity growth.

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AIR BALL! TEAM PERFORMANCE UNABLE TO PREDICT SPECTATOR ATTENDANCE IN ROMANIAN BASKETBALL

Author(s): Vlad ROSCA / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how sports team performance influences attendance numbers. Knowing this can be important for sports managers in planning their club marketing strategies. The research observes attendance figures and team performance data from the Romanian Men’s Basketball League (LNBM) over five years (2012-2017). The results of the bivariate regression analysis indicate that although the Null Hypothesis can be invalidated and a certain connection between the variables can be accepted, the relationship is only weak and of low significance (R=0.45; R2=0.20). Attendance numbers cannot be predicted based on team performance, mainly because performance can variate strongly over longer periods of time, or even from one game to another. Instead, the study suggests that sports managers should (also) look at other market variables (ticket prices, scheduleing, transportation and opportunity costs, advertising campaigns etc.) in their attempt to create strategies able to bring more fans to the arena.

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Aktivnosti usmjerene osnaživanju nepismenih roditelja romske djece

Author(s): Maja Kutnjak / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 1/2016

This paper discusses the relationship between the quality of family environment and the socio-economic status of families with regard to the impact of the impoverished family environment and educational level of parents on the early development of children. In particular it stresses the results of national surveys which indicate that Roma children are one of the most vulnerable groups of children. The paper also presents some practical guidelines for the inclusion of illiterate parents and highlights a number of programs for children of preschool and early school age and their parents from lower SES aimed at encouraging the development of literacy and other cognitive skills in children and empower parents to meet the requirements of their parental role. As one of the initial steps in the process of enhancing the cooperation and empowerment of Roma children’s parents, the paper presents research conducted by teachers and Roma assistants at Tomaš Goričanac Elementary School in Mala Subotica in the Roma settlement of Piškorovec. The main objective of the study was to determine the educational structure and the level of literacy of the adult population in Piškorovec in order to use the results for planning an intervention program which will be based on the assessed needs.

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Aktywizowanie przez sport jako sposób inkluzji oraz integracji społecznej osób niepełnosprawnych

Author(s): Jakub Niedbalski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 56/2016

Purpose of the article is to demonstrate the manner, in which the concept of social integration of the disabled, where crucial place is occupied by sports activity, is realized on the background of social and institutional conditions. There are qualitative data used in the research, collected through a technique of an in-depth free interview and observations, conducted among the disabled who play sports. Analysis and interpretation of the empirical material and existing data is performed in accordance with principles of the grounded theory. The performed studies proved that sport practiced by the disabled may support the inclusion process of the disabled into broader social circles. Sport not only an opportunity to maintain fitness and health, but also for social integration of the disabled.

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Aktywność społeczności wiejskiej w ramach funkcjonowania Lokalnych Grup Działania w województwie świętokrzyskim

Author(s): Patryk Brambert,Iwona Kiniorska / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2018

Development of rural areas is largely affected by NGOs and local organization, a good example of which is the operation of Local Action Groups (LAGs). LAGs mainly stimulate development of rural areas by defining community needs. The goal of this study was to evaluate the activity of inhabitants of rural areas in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship within the scope of initiatives of selected LAGs. The study was based on secondary sources with queries of available information: documents of organizations, strategies, data obtained from the Central Statistical Office of Poland, database of the National Rural Network 2014–2020. Social activity was studied on the basis of information concerning finished projects from the period of 2014–2017 published on Facebook by LAGs in question. The time span comprised the period of 2007–2017. The study focused on 5 LAGs headquartered in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship and located in its various parts. The areas of their activity are diversified in terms of environmental conditions and economic functions. // W procesie rozwoju obszarów wiejskich istotną rolę odgrywają organizacje pozarządowe i stowarzyszenia lokalne. Charakterystycznym przykładem takich inicjatyw są Lokalne Grupy Działania. Główną przesłanką działania LGD jest aktywizacja środowisk wiejskich w kierunku kształtowania rozwoju, poprzez sformułowanie potrzeb społeczności. Celem pracy jest ocena aktywności mieszkańców wsi woj. świętokrzyskiego w ramach inicjatyw podejmowanych przez wybrane LGD. W badaniu wykorzystano źródła wtórne dokonując kwerendy dostępnych materiałów: dokumentów stowarzyszeniowych, strategii, danych GUS, informacji z bazy Krajowej Sieci Obszarów Wiejskich 2014–2020. Aktywność społeczności lokalnej zbadano na podstawie informacji o zrealizowanych działaniach w latach 2014–2017, które zostały zamieszczone przez obrane LGD na portalu społecznościowym Facebook. Zakres czasowy analiz objął lata 2007–2017. W badaniu uwzględniono 5 LGD, które mają siedziby na terenie woj. świętokrzyskiego i są zlokalizowane w różnych jego częściach. Tereny objęte działaniem tych partnerstw są zróżnicowane pod względem warunków środowiskowych i charakteru pełnionych funkcji gospodarczych.

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Alternativni izvještaj o aplikaciji Bosne i Hercegovine za članstvo u Evropskoj uniji 2019: politički kriteriji

Author(s): Adrijana Hanušic-Becirovic,Aida Daguda,Dajana Cvjetkovic,Dalila Bašic,Dalio Sijah,Damir Dajanovic,Danira Karovic,Darko Pandurevic,Dragana Dardic,Dražana Lepir,Leila Bicakcic,Lejla Arnaut,Maida Zagorac,Milena Mastalo,Mirna Buljugic,Mirsada Bajramovic,Nidžara Ahmetaševic,Radmila Žigic,Rasim Ibrahimagic,Rea Adilagic,Senka Kulenovic,Sunita Dautbegovic-Bošnjakovic,Tijana Cvjeticanin,Uglješa Vukovic,Una Telegrafcic,Vildana Džekman,Vladana Vasic,Zinaida Ibrahimovic,Zlatan Hajlovac / Language(s): Bosnian / Issue: 44/2019

Alternativni izvještaj o aplikaciji Bosne i Hercegovine za članstvo u Evropskoj uniji 2019: politički kriteriji rezultat je rada neformalne koalicije četrdeset (40) organizacija civilnog društva okupljenih oko Inicijative za monitoring evropskih integracija Bosne i Hercegovine. Izvještaj se prvenstveno odnosi na političke kriterije za članstvo u EU, ali sadrži i dodatke u vidu Specijalnih izvještaja o Opštim izborima održanim 2018, stanju u vezi s migrantima i izbjeglicama u BiH, te građanskim protestima u Republici Srpskoj. Kada su u pitanju evropske integracije, Bosna i Hercegovina kontinuirano zaostaje za zemljama regije, te je sve vidljivije da se taj zaostatak vremenom povećava umjesto da se smanjuje. Neurednim i neblagovremenim ispunjavanjem osnovnih obaveza u procesu evropskih integracija, Bosna i Hercegovina ne pokazuje istinsku opredijeljenost za reformske procese na evropskom putu, koja je za sada samo na deklarativnom nivou. Od predaje aplikacije za članstvo Bosne i Hercegovine u Evropskoj uniji prošle su tri godine, dok je Sporazum o stabilizaciji i pridruživanju između Bosne i Hercegovine i Evropske unije stupio na snagu prije tri i po godine. Od tada do danas Bosna i Hercegovina nije uspjela staviti u funkciju sva tijela u okviru Sporazuma, s obzirom na to da Parlamentarni odbor za stabilizaciju i pridruživanje još uvijek nije usvojio svoj Poslovnik o radu. Proces odgovaranja na pitanja Evropske komisije u sklopu Upitnika koji se šalje zemljama potencijalnim kandidatkinjama do zaključenja ovog Izvještaja tek se privodio kraju. Mehanizam koordinacije koji je trebao uspostaviti funkcionalan proces donošenja odluka u vezi s evropskim integracijama pokazao se neefikasnim i ostao je jednako netransparentan kakav je bio i sam proces njegovog usvajanja. [...]

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An Analysis of the Health Sector in Romania

Author(s): Ibrahim Almaashi / Language(s): English / Issue: 04/2014

The paper intends to present an analysis of the efficiency and the performance of health sector in Romania. The research efforts are based on the description of the operational mechanism and analyses of the financing or underfinancing of the above system. Romania has a significant issue in terms of poverty and fairness. Among EU States, it was ranked second in 2008 in terms of the share of the population exposed the risk of poverty, with a share close to the value of 23%, Latvia, with a rate of 26 %. Given this inequality, it would be advisable for the Government to devise specific policies in plane to ensure access for the poor population to health care. Theoretically, Romania provides such protection through the exemption of those registered in the program concerning the guaranteed minimum income from the payment of contributions and of copayments. However, in practice this mechanism is insufficient.

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An Assessment of Distance Learning Education Platform Options and Opportunity

Author(s): Alina Cristina Nuta,Andy Corneliu Pusca / Language(s): English / Issue: 11/2017

Distance learning in Romania is organized by combining different forms of distance interaction and communication (designed and developed using an e-learning predefined platform) but also face-to-face meetings and tutorial sessions. Danubius University implemented in 2009 such a system based on Sakai e-Learning platform. To evaluate the quality and opportunity level regarding the usage of the e-learning platform and the specific methods and tools, the distance learning department developed a quiz for the students. The content of this questionnaire, based on which the performance assessment is made, approach the flexibility in offering the e-learning support, the communication possibilities and the time saving. All the University’s students enrolled in distance learning programs were subjects no matter their degree level or domain. The results of this assessment are managerial tools and decision instruments for future development of the distance learning methods adopted by the university but also for new modules added to the e-learning platform.

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An Assessment of Distance Learning Education Platform Options and Opportunity

Author(s): Alina Cristina Nuta,Andy Corneliu Pusca / Language(s): English / Issue: special/2017

Distance learning in Romania is organized by combining different forms of distance interaction and communication (designed and developed using an e-learning predefined platform) but also face-to-face meetings and tutorial sessions. Danubius University implemented in 2009 such a system based on Sakai e-Learning platform. To evaluate the quality and opportunity level regarding the usage of the e-learning platform and the specific methods and tools, the distance learning department developed a quiz for the students. The content of this questionnaire, based on which the performance assessment is made, approach the flexibility in offering the e-learning support, the communication possibilities and the time saving. All the University’s students enrolled in distance learning programs were subjects no matter their degree level or domain. The results of this assessment are managerial tools and decision instruments for future development of the distance learning methods adopted by the university but also for new modules added to the e-learning platform.

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Analiza Czarnych Protestów jako przestrzeń dla pracy socjalnej. Masowa mobilizacja kobiet z perspektywy feministycznej pracy socjalnej

Author(s): Radoslaw Nawojski,Magdalena Pluta / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2018

The aim of the article is to look at the social mobilization of women in the Black Protests, which have been going on in Poland since 2016, as a space where women’s problems were articulated. The analysis of movement from the perspective of feminist social work makes it possible to capture experiences that interweave individual problems and structural limitations on many levels of social life: citizenship, law, labour market or health.

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Analiza klasowa na rozdrożu? W stronę kulturowej koncepcji klas P. Bourdieu

Author(s): Michal Cebula / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2017

The field of class analysis is currently undergoing profound change spawned by the wave of criticism, both externally and internally. On the one hand, the class theory was challenged by theorists hailing the coming of a new phase of modernity or postmodernity which renders „class” an obsolete concept. On the other hand we are witnessing mounting dissatisfaction with the dominant class scheme (e.g. EGP) because of its inability to adequately illuminate the cultural and symbolic dimensions of class structure. These circumstances have prompted a turn towards new class paradigm, so-called „cultural class analysis” largely inspired by the works of Pierre Bourdieu. The aim of the article is to diagnose the state of art in class analysis and scrutinize how the work of Bourdieu can provide a more foundational rethinking of it.

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