Hasil untuk "Political institutions and public administration (General)"

Julián Suárez

One of the most refined expressions of rights-based approaches to environmental protection, rights of nature have come a long way since the early 2000s. They have developed into full-fledged governance structures that could either improve or potentially replace duty-based existing environmental protection within domestic jurisdictions. However, even though they advance sustainable development values, both eco-theological and local participative governance strands of rights of nature have encountered shortcomings; several of them particularly related with the scope of protection derived from their explicit content. From a legal analysis perspective, a predominantly doctrinal and comparative approach can contribute to shedding light on rights of nature legal potency. Preliminary conclusions would show that from a legal analysis under this approach comprising four European domestic rights of nature legal frameworks, a bundle of indicators can be extracted to determine whether a certain rights of nature provision could be discarded as capable of enhancing or even substituting existing environmental protection

Mohammad Jalali, Mahdi Mahmoodzadeh Vashan, Nour Mohammad Yaghoubi et al.

AbstractIn recent years, the emphasis on community-oriented capacities as one of the important approaches to the resilience of societies in crisis conditions has attracted the attention of many experts and researchers. Therefore, the present research was conducted with the aim of identifying factors affecting resilience based on community-oriented capacities in crisis conditions and providing a model in this field using the meta-synthesis method.IntroductionToday, societies have been exposed to different types of crises, each of which has brought unfortunate consequences to societies, including threats to human health and security, destruction of resources and biological facilities, and people's activity centers (Sajadi, 2019). Therefore, nowadays, mainly the view that exists towards crisis management is to increase "resilience" in the face of various crises (Rafieiyan et al., 2011). On the other hand, experiences from crisis management in different societies show that governments alone are not able to increase the resilience of societies in crisis situations, and individual and group participation in these situations is mandatory and very effective in increasing their resilience. On the other hand, experiences from crisis management in different societies show that governments alone are not able to increase the resilience of societies in crisis situations, and individual and group participation in these situations is mandatory and very effective in increasing their resilience. (Motahari & Rafieiyan, 2016). Therefore, strategies to increase the resilience of societies are changing. In this change and evolution of the view towards resilience, the "state-oriented" and "centralist" view, which tries to formulate and implement strategies from the top down, has been replaced by a "community-oriented" view that relies on attracting participation. public and social data (Ghorbani et al., 2017). But in Iran, the evidence indicates that this change of approach and outlook has not yet happened in the country, and currently the government-oriented approach is trying to formulate and implement centralized and downward strategies to increase resilience in crisis situations. In addition, few studies have been conducted in the field of identifying and explaining factors affecting resilience based on community-oriented capacities in crisis conditions in our country; So far, a comprehensive model has not been presented as a road map for the country's crisis management managers. Therefore, the current research seeks to identify the factors affecting resilience based on community-oriented capacities in crisis situations using the meta-synthesis method and finally presenting a model in this field.Case studyThe statistical population of this research includes all articles published in domestic and foreign scientific databases between 2000 and 2023, and finally 56 studies that were closely related to the subject under study were selected as a sample.Materials and Methods The research is of an applied type with an exploratory nature, in order to collect data, a meta-synthesis method was used. The analysis of the texts was also done based on the content analysis and the dimensions and codes of the desired pattern were extracted.Discussion and ResultsBased on the analyzes carried out with the help of content analysis method on the 56 final selected researches, a total number of 3 categories, 18 concepts and 66 indicators as effective factors on resilience based on community-oriented capacities in crisis conditions were discovered in this research. and were tagged.ConclusionAccording to the studies conducted in this field and also according to the extraction of 66 indicators through the application of meta-synthesis method, it was determined that the effective factors to increase resilience in crisis situations, which are based on community-oriented capacities, are in three categories of organizational factors. , group factors and individual factors are placed, and the use of these factors in the country's crisis conditions can provide a suitable basis for reducing the incidence of negative consequences caused by it. Further, the findings of the research showed that 7 components of the institutional platform, institutional governance, institutional performance, financial and physical resource management, human resource management and information management in the form of organizational factors; 6 components of common valuation, social infrastructure, collective action and participation, social capital, acculturation and social cohesion in the form of group factors; And 5 components of knowledge, skill, awareness, attitude and capacity and ability in the form of individual factors formed the foundations of the model of factors affecting resilience based on community-oriented capacities in crisis conditions.

Cristiane Sousa da Silva Battaglini, Priscilla Borgonhoni Chagas

Objetivo: Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar as práticas espaciais realizadas na cidade de Maringá/PR pela comunidade escolar à luz das medidas decretadas pela Prefeitura Municipal no contexto da Covid-19. Metodologia/abordagem: A pesquisa é qualitativa e descritiva e envolve coleta de dados primários e secundários. Os dados foram interpretados por meio da técnica de análise hermenêutica-dialética. Originalidade/relevância: Em 2020, a pandemia da COVID-19 impulsionou as escolas a se adequarem aos decretos estaduais e municipais. Este estudo considera a cidade como uma organização moldada por relações de poder, com foco nas práticas espaciais da comunidade escolar por meio de suas demandas e manifestações. Principais resultados: O estudo revelou as práticas espaciais de territorialização em sentido estrito, em sentido amplo e a construção de redes espaciais pela comunidade escolar. Essas práticas espaciais são ações de territorialização resultantes das manifestações ocorridas na cidade-organização. Contribuições teóricas: O estudo amplia a compreensão das práticas espaciais como formas de territorialização, destacando a cidade como um espaço de relações de poder, resistência e disputa, e reforçando a visão da cidade como uma organização formada por interações sociais, conflitos e múltiplos territórios. Contribuições da gestão: A pesquisa demonstra como grupos sociais, como a comunidade escolar, utilizam o espaço urbano para resistir a medidas governamentais. Isso oferece insights valiosos para gestores públicos sobre como dinâmicas de poder e mobilizações influenciam políticas e decisões em tempos de crise.

Anna Paluch

The purpose of the article is to answer the question, whether Article 934 of the Polish Civil Code outlines the subjective boundaries of statutory inheritance correctly and adequately to contemporary social realities, and whether there are reasons for limiting the degree of kinship between the deceased’s ascendants or their descendants and the deceased. The draft amendment of the Civil Code and certain other acts (Parliamentary Document no. 2977) became an impulse to take up this discussion. The draft is analysed within the scope of the proposed amendment to Article 934 of the Polish Civil Code. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the statutory inheritance of grandparents has been rightly introduced into the civil code, while the current wording of Article 934(2) of the Civil Code outlines the circle of persons called to statutory inheritance too broadly, without providing for any limitation of grandparents’ descendants in terms of the degree of kinship with the deceased. Such a solution means that persons completely alien to the deceased, but only formally related to them, may be appointed to inherit, which is not approval-worthy. For this reason, the proposed change of the Civil Code, providing for the inheritance of the descendants of grandparents up to the fourth degree of kinship with the deceased, should be considered justified.

Tanja Karakamisheva-Jovanovska

The process of transition from former socialist to democratic systems brought to surface numerous questions about the political, legal, economic, social and cultural transformation in the societies in which these systems existed. With the fall of the Berlin wall and the so-called Iron Curtain, the former socialist states faced numerous challenges in dealing with the unfair nationalisation of citizens’ private property, dilemmas on how to apply a denationalisation process that will be fair and just, and which model of privatisation of state-owned capital to apply, having in mind the experience of the more advanced western democracies. The key issues in this context were: which type of market economy to choose, how fast should the transition be implemented and through which methods; the answers to these questions differed from country to country, because the transition, just as in a game of chess, does not have a winning formula, but offers merely a limited set of general rules of behaviour. The quest for an intellectually perfect concept of transition that would cover all possible scenarios and details would mean indefinite delay in its application. However, the lack of a coherent and clear strategy also generates serious social and economic problems. This is what the transfer from a planned and politically monolithic economy to a  pluralistic and market-oriented economy has done in the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe, leaving behind a number of open issues and dilemmas. On the other hand, certain governments which captured the state institutions and did not set any boundaries between the party (personal) interests and the state interests, caused additional political turbulence. Partisan domination in the public/state administration had a  strong effect on the ongoing privatisation processes, because business and the party in power were always on the same side of the coin. The high degree of political control over state resources created fertile ground for the emergence of political elites which entirely usurped the national economic potential of the given countries. Unlike the Central and East European countries, which successfully completed their denationalisation processes, the number of incomplete denationalisation cases in Macedonia is devastating. This paper will focus on the Macedonian transition under the influence of the transition processes in the region and will reveal a number of specific features of the Macedonian model. It will show the connection between the captured state and the privatisation of state capital. This connection results in a strong influx of private capital in the hands of the political elite through dubious processes of state capital privatisation, thus generating sources of corruption, clientelism, elitism, technocraticism and other similar processes that reflect the political power in a captured state.

T. Kitsak, M. Lylyk

Formulation of the problem. Currently, Ukraine has to overcome new challenges, which it faces in the modern globalized society. The realities in which the Ukrainian state found itself force us to look for answers to many questions in almost all area of the country’s life. One of these dilemmas is the problem of preserving traditional cultural identity within in the context of intercultural communication, as interstate interactions are an indispensable condition for a country’s existence in the global cultural space. Although there are significant risks of accepting not only positive, but also negative aspects of these contacts. Thus, Ukraine is challenged to preserve its cultural identity, in particular, in the field of public administration, without falling to the sidelines of the global civilizational process. We need to clarify this question in the context of the existing contradictions of intercultural communication, considering the peculiarities of the development of Ukraine at the present stage, and in the future. Analysis of the recent research and publications. In modern realities, F. S. Batsevych, M. M. Halytska, N. V. Hrytsiak, O. V. Ihnatenko, O. P. Kuchmii, L. V. Lytvynova, S. Maltseva, V. M. Manakin, E. A. Makarenko, I. Yu. Miazova, M. M. Ryzhkov, S. G. Ter- Mynasova, O. M. Frolov and many others have touched this problem in their works. The publications raise an issue of the behavior of individuals under the influence of intercultural communication, study the peculiarities of public administration within communication processes, and analyze linguistic aspects of intercultural interactions. Determining parts of the general problem that were not resolved previously. European integration processes of the Ukrainian statehave recently intensified due to the military actions on the territory of Ukraine and the openness of the European Union to ne- gotiations. Therefore, the need for in-depth scientific research related to the imple- mentation of the European integration aspirations of the Ukrainian state and the study and justification of the role of public authorities in ensuring effective communication between the Ukrainian and European parties becomes topical. In this regard, study of the peculiarities of the institutional support of intercultural communication processes of Ukraine in the context of implementation of its European integration vector is highly relevant in modern conditions. Presentation of the main research material. Ukraine’s participation in intercultural communication is a special process that involves taking into account both positive and negative aspects present in the communication relations. Among the obvious advantages of intercultural communication are expansion of the range of possibilities of communicators due to new acquaintances, conversations, experience, opening of new opportunities and perspectives, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to remember the shortcomings of intercultural communication, which manifest themselves in the cultural bias of the parties, who are used to certain established stereotypes, norms and rules of behavior acceptable in this or that society. Intercultural communication can be a source and a tool for the rapprochement of Ukraine and the European Union, as well as a way to avoid dangerous trends, such as the isolation of the Ukrainian state from European society. Along with this, intercultural ties are a reliable tool for countering divisions that can arise in Europe itself. Cultivating the kinship of European national cultures in the direction of strengthening interactions between countries, including cultural ones, is important here. Implementation of the European integration policy of the Ukrainian state, taking into account the key principles and experience of the European cultural policy, will, in our opinion, have a positive impact on European society. Ukrainian culture as a component of European integration and humanitarian development will play an important role in the European Union, in particular, in the following directions: enrichment of European culture with Ukrainian monuments and cultural and historical heritage assets; promotion of cultural diversity in modern European society; development of creative and cultural potential of European society; expanding the access for Europeans to historical and cultural heritage in accordance with the positioning of Ukraine as a full-fledged European state. In our opinion, strategic orientations of Ukraine on the way to European integration in the context of intercultural communication should be the following: acceptance of Ukrainian culture to the European and world cultural space as a full-fledged actor, and not only as a carrier of ethnographic or post-communist exoticism or a passive consumer of other people’s ideas; development of civil society and democracy, prioritizing interests and values of individuals; focus not only on integration into pan-European economic and political structures, but also on European integration in general. Conclusions. Intercultural communication includes such components as features of thinking, attitudes, knowledge, and skills that relate both to one’s own culture and to foreign culture, and manifest themselves during interactions between representatives of different cultures. In course of intercultural communication between Ukraine and the EU, institutional support, which gained special importance after the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, plays an important role. Institutional base that is functioning now was being formed during a long period. Among the number of tasks for public authorities in the context of coordination and regulation of European integration processes, it is necessary to note their role in establishing close and effective intercultural communication between the representatives of the peoples of Europe and Ukraine, as well as representingUkrainian state in communication on the international arena.

Svitlana Gazarian

The problem of creating effective governments in developing countries within the framework of the existing global system, while protecting their sovereignty and national power, is studied. An interdisciplinary approach to the study of the topic is highlighted. It is shown that the answer to the search for objective criteria for evaluating the results of administrative activity, which would testify to its effectiveness, is currently considered to be the Good Governance concept. One of its key principles is the principle of effectiveness, which consists in achieving the maximum possible positive result in accordance with the needs of society, given the most rational use of resources. An analysis of the effectiveness of the Government of Brazil, which has undergone repeated attempts to reform public administration, has been made. However, bureaucracy still remains one of the biggest problems of the state. It was noted that in the countries of Latin America, the reforms implemented under the influence of international institutions have been yet unsuccessful due to substantial socioeconomic inequality, political instability, and institutional culture and management based on Weberian principles. It is emphasized that the key obstacle to reforms is that the need for administrative changes is not rooted in the minds of administrators and managers. The values of the ‘government effectiveness’ indicator for Brazil and Ukraine are compared. A gradual positive dynamics of Ukrainian government’s activity (as distinct from that of the Brazilian government) is noted, which is assumed to be due to cooperation with society and the implementation of European values and standards of Good Governance. The focus is laid on the possibility of applying a mixed, hybrid approach to improving governance efficiency in developing countries. Its reference point is a competent government, the effectiveness of which is enhanced by the use of information technologies of new generation (artificial intelligence, etc.), and issues of transparency and accountability are measured by the public using established parameters. It is proposed to expand the knowledge about the concept of ‘Intelligent Governance’ with the provision about the professional intelligence of officials as a lever for increasing government efficiency. It has been concluded that to ensure the effectiveness of the government in developing countries, it is important to focus on the cooperation between the authorities and the public for their general mutual benefit.

M. Kutepova

The main purpose of the article is to analyze the devolutionary processes in Great Britain, which have intensified and institutionalized since the late twentieth century and continue to the present days, as well as their impact on the political and socio-economic development of its member countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Theoretical and methodological basis of the study are scientific methods and methodological approaches to understanding the process of interaction of public authorities under conditions of devolution. An important condition of the chosen research strategy is the observance of the principles of objectivity, multifactoriality and systematicity. The study is based on methodological principles of a systematic approach. Using a systems approach makes it possible to study the interaction of public authorities in the UK in the context of devolution as a single system. Based on the fact that devolution involves the creation of certain institutions, as well as institutional adaptation to a management system that adapts to new conditions, the main methodological approach to analysis was the institutional approach. The article emphasizes that for a long time the United Kingdom has been a model of decentralized political governance based on the culture of civil society and the representation of local interests in the national government. To a large extent, Britain's sustainable development depends on a periodic political compromise. It can alleviate the main contradiction of the British political system – the dichotomy of the principles of the supremacy of parliament and regional self-government. It is proved that the decentralization of public administration in the UK means the devolution of central government and increasing the responsibility of local government in the expansion and development of various forms of interaction between state and society. In general, the process of decentralization of power in the UK is complex and ambiguous one. The process of devolution in the UK is characterized by asymmetry, as evidenced by the lack of legislative powers of England. In this context, it is stated that the procedure of interaction between public authorities at different levels is not well established. Today there is a significant number of control functions, levers of administrative and financial pressure on central offices, as well as the lack of clear recommendations by which local authorities could determine what is within their competence and address urgent issues more effectively.

Karly O.W. Chan, Maggie K.W. Ng, Joseph C.H. So et al.

Purpose – A new academic structure for senior secondary and higher education was introduced to Hong Kong in 2009/2010. This paper aims to: (1) compare the cohort from the old academic structure (Cohort 2010) and the cohort from the new academic structure (Cohort 2015) on the 14 categories of generic competencies; and (2) compare these attributes among students from different divisions in a tertiary institution in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach – Self-Assessment of All-Round Development (SAARD) questionnaires were distributed to students who took the two-year sub-degree programmes offered by the College of Professional and Continuing Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2010 and 2015 on a self-administered basis. A total of 4,424 students have returned the questionnaires. Data were analyzed with t-test to compare between the two cohorts. Findings – When comparing Cohort 2015 with Cohort 2010, significantly higher scores were observed on five areas such as global outlook and healthy lifestyle (p<0.05). Significantly lower scores were observed on the other five areas such as problem solving, critical thinking and leadership (p<0.05). Students from all divisions unanimously showed higher perceived rating on social and national responsibility but lower perceived rating on leadership (p<0.05). Originality/Value – The elimination of one public examination, the newly included components such as Other Learning Experiences (OLE) and the compulsory Liberal Studies were believed to contribute partially to the diverse responses of the two cohorts. The dramatic change of the curriculum has not changed the examination culture in Hong Kong which may hinder the development of generic skills among students.

Queenie Pearl Villalon Tomaro, Lynrose Jane Genon, Al-Farouk Amod

In the context of Southeast Asia, data on the experiences and circumstances of single mothers are sparse. Single mothers continue to experience stereotypes, discrimination, exclusion from welfare policies and invisibilization of compounding burdens they carry. This study is a literature mapping of scholarly works on single mothers and welfare policies for single mothers and their families. We seek to highlight single mother’s experience as inputs for a more gender- and needs-responsive policy making process. Findings of the study reveal that the majority of Southeast Asian countries have apparent social welfare policies for single mothers except Laos and Indonesia. Common programmes for single mothers include entrepreneurship capacity and financial aid. A two-pronged approach for Southeast Asian Countries which incorporates accessible childcare services and vocational training programs is recommended to achieve more promising outcomes for single mothers.

Lyudmila I. Vlasyuk

In the article, according to the theory and methodology of strategizing of academician V. L. Kvinta substantiates the strategic priority of greening the economy of Kuzbass: the land reclamation fund. This strategic priority has become part of the one developed by the team of of Lomonosov Moscow state University under the leadership of academician V. L. Kvinta Strategies for socio-economic development of the Kemerovo region — Kuzbass until 2035.The most serious environmental problem of Kuzbass is a significant lag in the rate of land reclamation from the rate of their violation by open mining operations, and the lack of accurate data on the area of disturbed land. The most serious ecological problem of Kuzbass is a significant lag in the rate of land reclamation from the rate of its disturbance by open pit mining, and the lack of accurate data on the area of disturbed land. The creation of the Kuzbass land reclamation fund, as an economic mechanism of financial guarantees, will make it possible to carry out work on the restoration of disturbed lands at the expense of coal mining enterprises, the authorities of the Kemerovo region will ensure monitoring and control over the reclamation behavior.The strategic initiative reflects the interests of Russia localized in the Kemerovo region, the interests of the region and its residents, its implementation will significantly improve the environmental situation in the region, restore the value of the land and ensure the possibility of its further use, including in agriculture and forestry, compatible with comfortable living of people subsoil use in the region. The strategic priority is backed by competitive advantages and all types of resources.

MS Sithole

One of the fundamental challenges faced by first-time supervisors in supervision relationships often revolves around the hierarchical nature and unequal power dynamics. Becoming a supervisor is one of the transitions applicable in the workplace, which unfold as either an opportunity or a challenge. This article explores the experiences of power dynamics faced by first-time supervisors in the social service professions, using the case study of Social Work supervisors in the public sector. The uniqueness of the public sector lies in its responsibility to render services to citizens in a non-profit manner, which is in direct contrast to the profit motive in case of the private sector. Two challenges worth mentioning are lack of measures for preparing and supporting supervisors for the new role and the notion that the managerial and professional supervision may, sometimes, be characterised by the contradictory needs. This article reports on the qualitative component, a dominant part of the explanatory mixed methods design, with a sample of thirteen social work supervisors selected from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Social Development. The pragmatist episteme and the triangulation of Experiential Learning and the Transition Theory, served as the underlying paradigm and theoretical framework, respectively. In the main, the study found that redefining of existing relations, the relational and social nature of power in supervision and the educational function in promoting adaptation into the new role were three main findings in this study. The article concludes by stating that putting the measures in place is essential in enabling the first-time supervisors to effectively adapt to their supervisory roles.

Francisco Francés, D. L. Parra-Casado

Abel Tadele Hadush

F. Paulley

The historical method of data collection, analysis and discussion was used to study and report on the role of the National Universities’ Commission (NUC), an agency set up by the Federal Government for all universities, irrespective of ownership (federal, state or private) in ascertaining quality assurance in the management and administration of university education in Nigeria with reference to setting up of minimum academic standard for all academic programmes. The objective was to determine the level of effectiveness of the supervisory/regulatory role(s) of the commission and highlight the local factors that have militated against the attainment of quality assurance in universities in Nigeria. It was found that while the concern for quality assurance in Nigerian university education as pursued by the NUC is commendable and most desirable, the paradox, however, is that the same government is not funding university education adequately. On the basis of these findings, it was suggested that the funding of university education in the country should be a priority as prescribed by UNESCO, since the country is a signatory to the UNO charter so that the needed standard could be met. Introduction The training and production of the right mix and quantity of high-level manpower from the educational system is considered sine qua non for national development. These precisely are the goals of tertiary institutions in all countries. . This the universities do through the basic functions of teaching and imparting knowledge, seeking and discovering truth through research and disseminating their findings to all so that mankind generally may shed the shackles of ignorance and want. In other words, the graduates of tertiary institutions, as represented by the universities in this work, are meant to play a major role in teaching, research and development, curriculum development, quality control, evaluation, management of International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences Vol. 9 , No. 3, March, 2019, E-ISSN: 2222-6990 © 2019 HRMARS 115 both private and public enterprises, improved food supply, health delivery, politics and governance, maintenance of law and order and other community services. The point being made here, according to Okorosaye-Orubite, Paulley and Abraham (2012:266) is that the extent to which civilization can be sustained in any place is dependent on the extent the intellectual momentum and vigour is being sustained by the universities. Nigeria as an emerging economy is desirous of having graduates as products of her universities endued with the relevant quality to drive a modern and vibrant economy in a highly competitive global setting more so with several policies in place driving the aspiration including Vision 20:2020 in focus. To drive home this Vision, the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN, 2014:39-40) gave Nigerian universities ((and other tertiary institutions) the tasks of, among others, 1) contributing to national development through high level relevant manpower training; 2) developing to the intellectual capability of the individual to understand and appreciate the local and external environments; 3) facilitating the acquisition of both physical and intellectual skills which will enable individuals to be self reliant and become useful members of the society; and 4) promoting national unity and international understanding. Through this medium, it is hoped that the expectations of the government and people of Nigeria for the production of highly-skilled entrepreneurial graduates, research outputs that will provide solutions to both national and global challenges and production of professional and technical services for both the local, national and the global communities will be met. These goals will enhance the development of the Nigerian society and so they should be supported by successive governments. From the above, the university is more or less an industrial establishment for turning out the most precious products-the accomplished individuals. It is thus an agent for shaping not only the destiny of man but also of the state. This way, the world is made a better place to live in. The university is a community of scholars, which believes in the superiority of the mind over matter and insists that everything material should be subordinated to the intellect. It is, therefore, a place where concepts hallowed by age and tradition are subjected to severe scrutiny and knowledge grows through dissent, not through compromise. In every country, machineries are put in place to ensure that the education provided by the universities is of good quality. To guarantee this quality, minimum standards are set in the areas of academic programmes and personnel and all universities in a particular country are expected to meet those standards. Appropriate financial provision (funding) is also generally made to help the universities meet those standards. This is what quality assurance is all about. This paper examines the issues relating to quality assurance in Nigerian universities and the paradox in this direction, using the National Universities’ Commission (NUC), as an agency of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility for ensuring quality assurance in the universities, as a case study. These are the issues the paper will be contending with. Quality in Education Quality has to do with something special or that which distinguishes a person or thing. It is an assurance that a product meets a given standard during the process of manufacturing so as to meet the customers’ satisfaction. Ekundayo (2011:101), citing Harvey and Green (1993), identified the International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences Vol. 9 , No. 3, March, 2019, E-ISSN: 2222-6990 © 2019 HRMARS 116 commonly used definitions of quality as exceptional or excellence, perfection or consistency, fitness for purpose, value for money, relevance and worthiness, standard, efficiency, among others. Quality as applied to education, according to Anikweze (2010:210-211), is an education that is relevant to the developmental needs of the recipients as individuals and to the society in which the individuals live and operate. Citing UNESCO (2000), Anikweze (2010:211) said quality education is locally relevant and culturally appropriate. It is informed by the past and relevant to the present, and prepares individuals for the future. Education teaches people to be better individuals, family members, community members and citizens. In other words, quality education should, yield outputs that are intellectually perspicacious, socially adaptable and miscible, vocationally skilled and competent, and morally sound. Over the years, employers of labour and the general public have expressed concern over the quality of graduates from the Nigerian universities. Even for further studies outside the country for which, ordinarily, the graduates were to be admitted, due to the issue of quality of outputs, Nigerian graduates are subjected to qualifying examinations. The state of university education in Nigeria can, therefore, be described as one of massive explosion in students’ enrolment and increasing number of prospective new entrants in the face of inadequate and obsolete infrastructure and equipment, inadequate academic staff in numbers and quality, and lack of relevance of academic programmes, resulting in the provision of low quality graduates. That the Nigerian education system does not appeal to foreign students is no news as no Nigerian university was ranked among the best five hundred (500) in the world (Daily Sun Newspaper: October 7, 2016:15). These are signs of vote of no confidence being passed on the country’s education system. [All these raise the fundamental question of quality assurance in the academic programmes of Nigerian universities. Quality Assurance in Education Quality assurance, in relation to education, according to Materu (2007:3), is a planned and systematic review process of an institution or programmes to determine whether or not acceptable standards of education, scholarship, and infrastructure are being met, maintained and enhanced. It is a proactive means of ensuring quality in an organization, here the university, so that its products will conform to the expected standards. The essence is to ensure that expectations of the user of the manpower in relation to the quality of skills acquired by the product displayed is being met. It is aimed at, among other things, preventing quality challenges. A tertiary institution (university) is only as good as the quality of its teaching staff as they are the heart of the institution that produces its graduates, its research products, and its service to the institution, community and nation. Quality in Nigerian university education is, however, a multi-dimensional concept that should embrace all its functions and activities; teaching and academic programmes, research and scholarship, staffing, students, buildings, facilities, equipment, service to the community and the academic environment (UNESCO, 1998). For Okebukola (2004), quality assurance in Nigerian universities is a continuous process of improvement in the quality of teaching and learning activities that will be achieved through employing mechanisms that are internal and external to the universities. The internal mechanism has to do with instruments put in place by the institutions to ensure quality, while the external mechanism, which is the focus of this work, has to do with the activities of a regulatory body, in this International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences Vol. 9 , No. 3, March, 2019, E-ISSN: 2222-6990 © 2019 HRMARS 117 context the National Universities Commission (NUC), to maintain the required quality. In both ways, it is aimed at assurance that the Minimum Academic Standards (MAS) are attained, maintained and enhanced. The history of quality assurance in

Daniela Gargantini

El déficit habitacional en el país se ha mantenido históricamente. Durante las últimas décadas el protagonismo de los ámbitos locales se ha incrementado y se han propiciado modificaciones en sus modos de gestión. Sin embargo la realidad urbana y habitacional del país encuentra sus posibilidades de atención y resolución en estrecha relación con las capacidades y condiciones institucionales de los gobiernos municipales. La particular forma de abordar la problemática habitacional es determinante, ya que los procesos socio-espaciales relacionados con el acceso a la ciudad y las formas de producción del hábitat son esencialmente locales. El presente trabajo expone los alcances y resultados alcanzados a partir del proceso de acompañamiento y asesoría a municipios del país desarrollado bajo el Programa de apoyo a la gestión local del hábitat SAM- AVE/CEVE. El mismo consideró en su cobertura geográfica municipios de diversas provincias del país (La Rioja, Corrientes, Chaco, Catamarca y Mendoza) y se ejecutó desde el 2014 hasta inicios del 2016 bajo convenio de trabajo colaborativo entre el Centro Experimental de la Vivienda Económica (CEVE), la Asociación de la Vivienda Económica (AVE) y la Secretaría de Asuntos Municipales (SAM) del Ministerio de Interior y Transporte de la Nación. El interés y aporte de este estudio se centra en el análisis pormenorizado de los procesos de gestión local del hábitat que fueron acompañados, y en la identificación de las condiciones institucionales (capacidades y debilidades locales en materia de estructuración del problema en cuestión, capacidad de planeación y gestión, y adecuación político-técnica de las iniciativas) existentes para atender a las diversas problemáticas habitacionales presentes en los ámbitos locales.

Documentación Administrativa

Autores que intervienen en este número.

István Sárkány

A szerző áttekintést nyújt az erőszakos bűnözés minőségi és mennyiségi tendenciáiról Magyarországon az elmúlt 15 évben.

Karin Gottschall, Bernhard Kittel, Kendra Briken et al.