Search results for "Key issues"
showing 10 items of 32 documents
THE INTEGRATION OF THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS IN THE LATVIAN EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT: THE CURRENT SITUATION AND KEY ISSUES
2018
Due to the European migrant crisis, the issue concerning the integration of refugees, third-country nationals, into Latvia’s society has become increasingly topical in the last years. Since a lot of refugees are under 18, schools also must be ready to accept learners of other nationalities and cultures and help them integrate into the community of the host country. According to studies conducted in Latvia, the system of education needs to change the attitude towards the integration of immigrants in the school environment. Therefore, the incorporation of inter-cultural experience in the curricula of teacher-training institutions is a significant factor that could enable pre-service teachers …
Is the Universe Fractal?
1999
One of the key issues in cosmology is the question of whether the universe is smooth or fractal at large dimensions. The answer has a bearing on the big bang model of the origin of the universe. MartAnez discusses why recent analyses have come to opposing conclusions regarding this question and looks at how good a case can be made for large-scale smoothness of the universe.
Civil society participation in international decision making: recent developments and future perspectives in the indigenous rights arena
2012
This article focuses on key issues and recent developments concerning indigenous peoples' involvement in international decision making affecting their rights and interests. Based on a human rights-based approach to participation, it suggests that while a number of positive steps have been taken to allow indigenous peoples the possibility to take part to, and influence, relevant intergovernmental decision-making processes, there's a need to provide their own self-governing institutions and organisations with a more influential status than that granted to civil society organisations (CSOs) generally, whereby they can exercise different levels of participatory rights, depending upon the nature…
Key challenges for Latvian teachers in mainstream schools: a basis for preparing teachers for inclusion
2010
This paper analyses current research in Latvia to identify key issues related to inclusive education, special education and social pedagogy. A review of Latvian literature since 2004 was undertaken to determine what is known about special and inclusive education, how it is reflected in various research papers and how it related to the current situation in schools. Key findings suggest that teachers need to be better informed about the potential of inclusion. They need to be prepared to teach children with diverse educational needs in a changing educational landscape. Teacher education for inclusion is identified as a 21st-century priority in Latvia.
An Interview with Zygmunt Bauman: How to Turn the Word into Flesh
2017
Deceased in January this year, the Polish-British sociologist Zygmunt Bauman has left an extremely rich scholarly legacy. In one of his last academic interviews, he refers to the key issues which had been the subject of his in-depth analysis for many years. Bauman starts with reflections on the gap between political authority and power. Next, given his long-standing research into ‘liquid modernity’, he focuses on the vitality of capitalism, which has now adopted a lighter, consumer form. Another thread of the interview is Bauman’s own research attitude, which he refers to as ‘sociological hermeneutics’. It is characterized by his reluctance to use any ‘-isms’ and a profound mistrust of all…
Sizing analysis of interior lighting using tubular daylighting devices
2017
Abstract Daylight access and indoor thermal comfort are key issues for high design level of sustainable buildings. In fact, daylight provides energy savings and visual comfort condition that can foster higher productivity and performance. This paper proposes a case study of sizing of daylight devices for zenith light. It enables the decision-making process of the designer to reach high levels of daylight factor. The proposed method is shown with an example of application. For the case study, a room in south of Italy, 24 different solar tunnels configurations and 12 cases with different number of skylights have been evaluated.
Adapting teaching and assessment strategies to enhance competence-based learning in the framework of the european convergence process
2007
In the framework of the European higher education area, one of the key issues is to discuss how teaching, learning activities and assessment can be best organised to allow students to reach both transferable skills and subject related competences. In this context, during the 2005/06 academic year, our School decided to essay different strategies in a first-year Pilot Group, due to the traditional poor academic performance on these students. Thus, the proposal included a learning contract that must be signed for all the pupils enrolled on this particular group. Both active teaching-learning methods and additional assessment strategies were applied to achieve the objectives, defined in terms …
Thin film growth of Fe-based superconductors: from fundamental properties to functional devices. A comparative review.
2014
Fe-based superconductors bridge a gap between MgB2 and the cuprate high temperature superconductors as they exhibit multiband character and transition temperatures up to around 55 K. Investigating Fe-based superconductors thus promises answers to fundamental questions concerning the Cooper pairing mechanism, competition between magnetic and superconducting phases, and a wide variety of electronic correlation effects. The question addressed in this review is, however, is this new class of superconductors also a promising candidate for technical applications? Superconducting film-based technologies range from high-current and high-field applications for energy production and storage to sensor…
Mechanical Bistable Structures for Microrobotics and Mesorobotics from Microfabrication to Additive Manufacturing
2018
International audience; The use of mechanical bistable structures in the design of microrobots and mesorobots has many advantages especially for flexible robotic structures. However, depending on the fabrication technology used, the adequacy of theoretical and experimental mechanical behaviors can vary widely. In this paper, we present the manufacturing results of bistable structures made with two extensively used contemporary technologies: MEMS and FDM additive manufacturing. Key issues of these fabrication technologies are discussed in the context of microrobotics and mesorobotics applications.
Technology-Mediated Communication in the Workplace
2019
Technology-mediated communication has become an integral part of work and the workplace. Since the early days of digital communication technology, views of both the affordances and uses of communication technology have become more varied and complex. Understanding the reality of communication technology at work means taking into account its ubiquitous and ever-changing nature as well as the interpersonal relationships and social networks in which it is used. This chapter explores the ways in which communication technology relates to building mutual understanding and trust as well as managing networks and coworker relationships. Knowledge of these key issues is used to present ideas about ho…