Armenian Community in Bulgaria in The Time of COVID-19: Coping With The Challenge

Author(s): Tanya Matanova / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2022

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced and changed the personal and social life of thousands of people. Armenians in Bulgaria as all Bulgarian citizens had to go through the lockdown and restriction time. On a personal level, Armenians stopped visiting relatives and gathering. On an institutional level, Armenians looked for strategies to cope with the challenges of the pandemic situations – cultural organisations had to find ways to arrange events and celebrations, schools – to teach their lessons, restaurant entrepreneurs started to offer food delivery, representatives of Armenian churches searched for new mechanisms of preaching and supporting spiritually the Armenians. Based on fieldwork material gathered during the pandemic period, the paper presents some examples of how Armenians in different Bulgarian towns succeeded (or not) in expressing their ethnic and cultural Armenian identity and living as part of the Armenian diaspora in Bulgaria.

The Effects of The COVID-19 Pandemic on Ethnic Minority Teachers and Students at Lower Secondary Schools in Some Mountainous Provinces in The North of Vietnam

Author(s): Nguyen Thi Minh Thu,Duong Nguyet Van,Tran Thi Nhung / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the lives of people around the globe upside down because of its dangerous nature and speed of spread. The pandemic has forced people to change their outlooks, habits, lifestyles, and working methods to adapt to new contexts. In Vietnam, for the education sector, these strong impacts, on the one hand, created difficulties and challenges; on the other hand, they also created opportunities to adapt to new forms of teaching; and the motivation for teachers and students to have cognitive changes, contributing to the on-going educational innovation process. These effects on teaching in the ethnic minority areas of Vietnam in general and the Northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam, in particular, have become increasingly obvious. In the context of complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, from the research of the teaching situation at the lower secondary level in some mountainous provinces in Northern Vietnam, in this article, the authors will analyse and explain the challenges and adaptations of those working in the education sector in these regions; and draw lessons and practical experiences as a basis for proposing specific and urgent recommendations to deal with the impacts of pandemics and maintain effective teaching for students in these areas.

‘Dirty or Clean – Immoral or Moral’ – Differences in Perception between Two Different Cultures (Finnish Main Population and Roma Minority) – COVID-19 in Finland

Author(s): Kai Viljami Åberg / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2022

COVID-19 shocked and shook the whole world. Hardly anyone could have predicted a similar pandemic. Romani communities in Europe face a much higher risk of death, as their situation, already marked by extreme racism and poverty, has been worsening in the last decade. Many Roma are not covered by social welfare, and the most vulnerable are informal workers and emigrants. Those in the informal economy are not eligible for aid, while current measures prevent them from earning an income (Asenov, 2022: 1129–1153). Thereby Gypsy, Roma, Travellers, Kaale etc. communities are at higher risk of being infected by COVID-19 and at greater risk of severe outcomes as a result of contracting pandemic. Problems in Roma health care are often caused by cultural perceptions, value and norm systems and beliefs (Alexiadou, 2018: 261–283). In Finland, the problems arising from the healthcare practices of the Romani population are often related to both linguistic and wider cultural differences in relation to the main population. In this paper, I will give a few examples of the inside perspective of the Roma in Finland based on my intensive fieldwork since 1994. I will reflect on the reasons and consequences of living in the middle of two cultures, both linguistically, culturally, and socially causing global health and healthcare to crumble. I ask, why and how COVID-19 gets a different linguistic and cultural significance among the Finnish Roma in relation to the majority population.

Between Pending Narratives: Evaluation of COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories by University Students in Turkey

Author(s): Mehmet Ali Üzelgün,Rahmi Oruç / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2022

With the high levels of uncertainty and vulnerability created in everyday activities, the COVID-19 outbreak has prompted a proliferation of narratives. Against the official narrative crosscutting the worlds of science, medicine, social measures, and personal responsibilities, many conspiracy theories have emerged. In this study, we examine both the official COVID-19 narrative and various conspiracy theories as conforming to a format called the pending narratives (Törrönen, 2021). Pending narratives are future-directed stories operating on three levels – story, discourse, and norm – to call their audience for a certain course of action. As such, they are inherently rhetorical, and their audience evaluation is informative of their rhetorical qualities. To examine the reception and evaluation of COVID-19 narratives by young people, we used 27 semi-structured online interviews conducted between June and October 2021 with freshmen university students across Turkey. While the official narrative was emergent throughout the interviews, we asked specifically about certain alternative stories (lab leak, population weapon, hidden elites). Our analysis shows that both the official and the conspiracy narratives have some purchase among the Turkish students. We thus divide the interview responses into three groups: adhering to the official narrative, adhering to the conspiracy theories, and those that are ‘inbetween’. Focusing specifically on the latter group, our analysis maps the reasons for which the interviewees criticise, debunk, and refute various narratives. We conclude by assessing the rhetorical qualities and appeal of the lab leak, population weapon, and hidden elites conspiracy theories.With the high levels of uncertainty and vulnerability created in everyday activities, the COVID-19 outbreak has prompted a proliferation of narratives. Against the official narrative crosscutting the worlds of science, medicine, social measures, and personal responsibilities, many conspiracy theories have emerged. In this study, we examine both the official COVID-19 narrative and various conspiracy theories as conforming to a format called the pending narratives (Törrönen, 2021). Pending narratives are future-directed stories operating on three levels – story, discourse, and norm – to call their audience for a certain course of action. As such, they are inherently rhetorical, and their evaluation by audiences is informative of their rhetorical qualities. To examine the reception and evaluation of COVID-19 narratives by young people, we used 27 semi-structured online interviews conducted between June-October 2021 with freshmen university students across Turkey. While the official narrative was emergent throughout the interviews, we asked specifically about certain alternative stories (lab leak, population weapon, hidden elites). Our analysis shows that both the official and the conspiracy narratives have some purchase among the Turkish students. We thus divide the interview responses into three groups: adhering to the official narrative, adhering to the conspiracy theories, and those that are ‘inbetween’. Focusing specifically on the latter group, our analysis maps the reasons the interviewees criticise, debunk, and refute various narratives. We conclude by assessing the rhetorical qualities and appeal of the lab leak, population weapon, and hidden elites conspiracy theories.Many conspiracy theories have emerged against the official narrative crosscutting the worlds of science, medicine, social measures, and personal responsibilities

Żydowskie ślady na Środkowym Nadodrzu

Author(s): Andrzej Kirmiel / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2011

Artykuł dotyczy pozostałości po obecności ludności żydowskiej na Środkowym Nadodrzu. Autorka krótko opisuje polsko-niemiecką współpracę w akcie ratowania dziedzictwa kulturowego na badanym terenie oraz działalność organizacji społecznych i szkół uczestniczących w tym przedsięwzięciu.

Managing a Positive and Life-Skills Development in the School-Based Curricula: a Literature Review on the Sustainable Education

Author(s): Lindita Durmishi,Milena Filipova,Ardian Durmishi,Silva Ibrahimi / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2024

The current paper aims to give a comprehensive exploration of the Life Skills resources and sustainable development and the effectiveness of programs in the general development and positive identity of students in the Albanian educational system. The method used for this study is qualitative with a focus on literature review. Qualitative results revealed that increasing a positive development profile for students in schools impacts decision-making, effective development of interpersonal relations, self-awareness, and emotional management in a life-long education process. The current literature review analysis made us reflect that social support, social competencies, positive identity, and empowerment are the assets with the most specific weight and the highest clinical significance as a form of students’ positive development profile to be considered in future school curricula.

Application of the Competency Model in Business Administration Higher Education in Horizon 2030

Author(s): Nadia Mironova,Tatyana Kicheva,Miglena Angelova / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2024

The aim of the article is to establish the extent to which the education in Business Administration at the University of National and World Economy helps to acquire the main key competencies included in the European Qualification Framework. In achieving this goal we first analyze the qualification characteristics of the curricula to determine the extent to which the key competencies from the Framework are included in the educational program. Secondly we analyze the curricula of specialized disciplines for Business Administration in order to determine which of the disciplines included in the curriculum, the acquisition of which competencies contribute. Thirdly we analyze the expert opinions of business representatives on the most important competencies that graduates must have for future. Finally, we conduct personal interviews with lecturers about their approaches to help students acquire key competencies, necessary for their realization. Our results show that UNWE provides good level of relevance with the European Qualification Framework, but in line of horizon 2030 there are three major areas as a trend in the development of Business Administration: Human Resources; Information technology and Innovations.

Verbal Aggression as a Product of the Minimized or Missing Functions of Social Intelligence

Author(s): Yavor V. Georgiev,Vesela Mareva / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2024

This article aims to present conclusions from an analysis of issues surrounding verbal aggression, particularly in cases where social intelligence is lacking among young individuals. The counterproductiveness of an expanding verbal field saturated with verbal aggression undermines the socio-legal framework of society, negatively impacting not only educational attainment but also the lexical background. Verbal aggression fosters interpersonal conflicts, prompting the authors to conduct a survey to investigate this phenomenon. An anonymous survey was conducted among 100 young people aged 15 to 29 regarding their views on verbal aggression. One of the main conclusions drawn from the conducted survey is the necessity for Bulgaria’s educational model and broader social environment to activate new approaches and teaching methods aimed at enhancing social intelligence, thus mitigating verbal aggression.

Image Generative Programs of Artificial Intelligence and Their Use in Educational Disciplines of Linguistics, Literature, And Arts – The Semiotic Aspects

Author(s): Christo Kaftandjiev,Vesselina Valkanova / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2024

The authors analyse in the Literature Review some of the world’s most important scientific books and articles on the following topics – Artificial Intellect (AI); AI image generative programs (Midjourney and others); semiotics and semantics; intertextuality; metaphors; variants/Invariant and redundancy. In the main part of the paper, the author examines some of AI characteristics, namely - less routine and tedious work; time saving; much more impressive results compared to older generation computers; easier communication with AI, and degree of AI creativity. One of the most important topics in the article is AI and its applications in education of linguistics, literature, art, painting, cinema, architecture, advertising, economics, etc. from a semiotic point of view. The authors also study semantic concepts and AI - intertextuality and AI; relation “diachrony/synchrony” and AI; paradigm and AI; redundancy and AI; and the relation “invariant/variants” and AI. In “Discussion and Conclusions” the authors evaluate the positive and negative aspects of the study and application of AI in school and university curricula of many subjects.

Еволюция на социалните услуги в България – опит за проекция на модел на социалните услуги

Author(s): Lilyana Ivanova Rusanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2024

The development of social services over the past decade has been placed as a priority on the agenda of European policies. Regardless of the diversity of existing models, objectives and types of social services in European countries, the argument is put forward that they play a significant role in the well-being and integration of different groups and communities in need of social support. The article traces the evolution of social services in Europe and the main stages of reforming the sector in Bulgaria. The quantitative analysis of the types of social services in the context of the new legislation allows us to outline a model of social services, the effectiveness and practical implementation of which require additional research.

Необходимост от комплексна подкрепа на семейства с деца в ранна детска възраст – резултати от проучване на потребностите

Author(s): Rossitsa Simeonova,Ivanka Shalapatova,Monika Bogdanova,Simeon I. Sapundzhiev,Savelina Rusinova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2024

This article presents results of an empirical study on the needs of children in early childhood age (0–7 years), including children with disabilities and their families. The data are used for the purposes of designing a new type of integrated social service for young children and their families. The authors outline the rationale for this idea in the context of the conceptual framework of the study and the conclusions from the desk research of the relevant policy and legal frameworks in Bulgaria. The empirical data and the findings from the desk research have served for drawing conclusions and recommendations for improving the responses to children and their families as part of the early childhood development policies and systems.

Един етноложки поглед върху интеркултурното образование

Author(s): Mirena Legurska / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2024

Digital Discrimination Risks in the Transformation of Higher Education

Author(s): Silviya Beloeva,Nataliya Venelinova / Language(s): English Issue: 5s/2024

Digital discrimination is a form of discrimination that occurs in a digital environment or through the application of automated solutions, often based on artificial intelligence, which creates conditions for unfair, unethical, or simply different treatment based on selected data on certain feature. In conditions of the digital transformation of higher education, multiculturalism, and globalization, higher education institutions face the challenge of ensuring equity and equal treatment for all staff and students in both traditional and digital environments. Тhis report examines the potential for the emergence of digital discrimination in applying various digital educational approaches and forms in higher education, commenting on the need to prepare plans and programs to prevent digital discrimination in an academic environment.

Оценяване въздействието на традиционния и модулния модел на обучение в професионалното образование по софтуерно инженерство

Author(s): Milena Damesova,Desislava Baeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5s/2024

The traditional approach to modern software engineering training often emphasizes theoretical knowledge and practical skills within the context of long-term courses, some lasting up to 2 academic terms. However, in recent years, the modular approach has been gaining popularity. This approach offers a more flexible and focused structure, typically lasting only about 2 months, allowing learners to concentrate on specific topics and skills. Тhis paper presented а pedagogical experiment, the analysis of which confirms that the study subjects taught using the modular approach statistically achieved significantly higher scores in the areas of programming, software architecture and software testing compared to students taught using the traditional approach.

Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions for Digital Transformation of the Educational Processes through 3D Technologies

Author(s): Georgi Hristov,Plamen Zahariev,Diyana Kinaneva,Georgi Georgiev / Language(s): English Issue: 5s/2024

The modern 3D technologies allow the development and visualization of three-dimensional objects and environments in the digital world, as well as the physical recreation of the digital contents through various specialized systems and solutions. The 3D technologies have the potential to catalyse the digital transformation of the education, through the technologies for virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D printing. Using these technologies, the teachers can change not only the way they conduct classes, but also the methods for learning and studying of the students. The integration of the 3D technologies in the educational processes is characterized not only by many new opportunities, which they are offering, but also by the big number of challenges, which they present. For this reason, this publication presents the main opportunities, challenges and solutions for digital transformation of the educational processes through the use of the various 3D technologies.

Изграждане на компетенции за разработване на STEM обучителни ресурси у бъдещи учители по природни науки

Author(s): Evgenia Goranova,Angel Smrikarov,Valentina Voynokhovska / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5s/2024

The article presents an approach to building pedagogical and digital competencies for developing STEM resources in future teachers from the Pedagogy of Physics and Informatics and Pedagogy of Mathematics and Informatics degree courses. It was provoked by the need for future teachers to be familiar with the concept of STEM education and to be prepared to create STEM resources and lessons already in their higher education. For this purpose, students must synergistically apply the acquired competences from studying natural and pedagogical disciplines. An idea to digitize a physical experiment is considered, taking a research approach to the creation of such resources. Through the students' participation in building such a resource, their creative activity is stimulated. Their competences for generating and realizing STEM ideas in their upcoming professional realization are formed.

Изследване на нетрадиционни подходи за подобряване на комуникацията със студентите от дигиталното поколение

Author(s): Aneliya Ivanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5s/2024

Humor in the classroom has been the subject of analysis and research for decades, and there is hardly an educator who would deny that well-presented and thematically related humorous elements create a positive and intriguing atmosphere in the class and contribute to reducing the students' tension and increasing their initiative in the learning process. It is also well known that good humor is the one which relates to the interests and attitudes of the audience. What type of humor will be understood and well accepted by a generation that does not know a world without meme culture in its various manifestations? When R. Dawkins introduced the term "meme" in 1976, he hardly imagined that he was giving a name to a phenomenon that would grow to such an extent that, almost half a century later, the director of the Center for Digital Culture at Kings College London would say: "memes are one of the clearest manifestations of the fact there is such a thing as digital culture." Is there a place for meme culture in the digitized learning process and does it have the potential to improve the communication between the lecturer and the students? The presented below material will look for the answers to these questions.

Teachers' Adaptation to Changes in an Increasingly Complex World through the Use of AI

Author(s): Zhanat Kunapianovna Nurbekova,Kanagat Baigusheva,Kalima Tuenbaeva,Bakyt Nurbekov,Tsvetomir Vassilev / Language(s): English Issue: 5s/2024

In a rapidly changing world, the adaptation of educators to new challenges becomes critical. Our research within the framework of the research and technical program (grant No. BR21882260, funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan) found that 9,890 (16.1%) of 61,426 teachers consider innovation, creativity, and critical thinking skills to be unimportant or not very important for mentoring. This rejection of an innovation requires a deep understanding of its causes and consequences. These objections may be due to fear of an uncertain future, misunderstanding of the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI), or fear of job loss. The current paper presents the conditions and mechanisms for teachers to adapt to changes in an increasingly complex world using AI.

Атосекундното обучение – метафора на днешното образование

Author(s): Julia Doncheva,Denis Asenov,Angel Smrikarov,Tsvetomir Vassilev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5s/2024

Attosecond learning, illuminated through the prism of digitization, embodies the essence of innovation in education adapting to the rapidly changing digital world. Just as the attosecond symbolizes a brief but powerful moment in time capable of triggering significant changes, so digitalized education must not only be flexible and adaptable, but also integrate technologies that provide an adequate response to ever-changing social needs. Similarly, effective digital learning should produce immediate results in terms of student engagement, understanding, and application of knowledge. To achieve this, educators must use a variety of strategies and tools, such as interactive lessons, technology, and personalized learning, to create a dynamic learning environment that sustains student interest and engagement.

Анализ на програмните модели за автоматизиране на когнитивни процеси

Author(s): Valentin Atanasov,Aneliya Ivanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5s/2024

The current definition of the hardware-program implementation defining mathematical models for cognitive-process domains, in other words, announced as the trading-based name "Artificial Intelligence", could raise serious arguments. The main reason for this issue is rooted in the entirely non-engineering aspect in which such models are being presented to the public with an intentional incarnation of non-existent functionality. There is a rising trend of user access and usage of such technology, which reaches nearly 1.8 billion visits per month. Rapidly spreading boundaries of potential application of the trading-based name “аrtificial intelligence” covers vast areas of human activity. It should be denoted that in certain cases a parallel could be made between discoveries made in the exact sciences and the consequences of their incomplete understanding and application – for example, the underestimated risk of radium-226 application, which consequences were wrongly ignored. It is important for humanity not to repeat the same mistake and despite the euphoria of "artificial intelligence", it is necessary to refine the concepts and pay attention to the semantic, generative, and anthropological problems that the invasion of this technology poses.