bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural particularities and optical properties of lithium niobate single crystals grown from the charge doped by boron.
Authors:   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials of FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Titov R. A. , Sidorov N. V. ,   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials of FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Teplyakova N. A. ,   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials of FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Palatnikov M. N. ,   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials of FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Biryukova I. V. ,   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials of FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”
Published: February 2021

The analysis of structural particularities and optical properties of LiNbO3 : B (0,55, 0,69 and 0,83 mol. % B2O3) was performed by methods of Raman and photoinduced light scattering, infrared absorption and laser conoscopy. It has been established that the boron impurity brings to 1 the distribution coefficient of lithium and niobium in the growing process. Thus, LiNbO3: B crystals grown from a congruent melt approach the stoichiometric crystals in ordering the structural units of the cation sublattice and the Li / Nb ratio.
Influence of trace amounts of boron on structural defects of lithium niobate crystal.
Authors:   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materialsof FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Titov R. A. , Sidorov N. V. ,   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materialsof FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Teplyakova N. A. ,   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materialsof FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Palatnikov M. N. ,   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materialsof FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Biryukova I. V. ,   Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materialsof FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”
Published: February 2021

The analysis of structural particularities of nominally pure LiNbO3 : B grown with using of B2O3flux was performed by methods of Raman and photoinduced light scattering, infrared absorption andlaser conoscopy. It was established that the non-metallic element boron is included in the vacant tetrahedrals of LiNbO3crystal structure at trace amounts. In this case, boron substantially deforms the oxygen octahedra of the structure and changes their polarizability. It affects the nonlinear optical properties of the crystal. Boron, as an active complexing agent, structures the melt and aligns value of the distribution coefficients of lithium and niobium in the growing process. Boron in the tetrahedralsreduces both the number of NbLidefects and the content of multiply charged uncontrolled impurities in the crystal, enhancing the optical damage.
Influence of use of sinteringtechnology on the structure of materials in the silicon carbide —bor system.
Authors:   D.  Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Feoktistov A. V. , Popova N. A. ,   D.  Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Lukin E. S. ,   D.  Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia
Published: February 2021

In the present work, we examined the effect of the use of pre-sintering technology on the structure of ceramic materials in silicon carbide —boron system. The influence of pre-sintering technology use on the formation of the structure of ceramic materials with the content of boron additive (SiC–xB, where x= 5, 10 wt. %) is determined. Hardness was measured for the obtained materials and scanning electron microscopy was performed. Materials obtained by classic technology had a monolithic structure and porosity characteristic of the solid-state sintering mechanism. The materials obtained by the pre-sintering technology had an equal crystalline structure with low intercrystalline porosity and an almost complete absence of regions with high coherence of boundaries. The highest hardness (27,2 GPa) was possessed by a material containing 10 wt. % boron and obtained by classic technology.
Creation of the calcium-phosphate bone cement composite containing calcium sulphate granules: the influence of the composition, size, porosity of granules on the phase composition, microstructure, mechanical and biological properties.
Authors:   Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science Russian Academy of Sciences, Khayrutdinova D. R. , Antonova O. S. ,   Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science Russian Academy of Sciences, Golgberg M. A. ,   Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science Russian Academy of Sciences, Smirnov S. V. ,   Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science Russian Academy of Sciences, Krochicheva P. A. ,   Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: February 2021

Composite cements based on the tricalcium phosphate (TCP) —calcium sulfate (CS) system were synthesized and investigated. The second component which were introduced into the cement paste (TCP) in the form of modified carbonate anion granules is the calcium sulfate. As a result, new composite cement materials based on the tricalcium phosphate —carbonate —substituted calcium sulfate (granules) system can find their application in regenerative medicine due to the possibility of pore space formation in vivo.
New glass-based materials, activated by the nanoparticles of noble metals for applications in photonics and sensorics.
Authors:   D.  Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Shakhgildyan G. Yu. , Vetchinnkov M. P. ,   D.  Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Lipatiev A. S. ,   D.  Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia
Published: February 2021

The paper considers properties of micron-sized regionsformed in the volume of oxide glasses with different content of silver oxide by direct laser writting. It has been shown the influence of the concentration of silver oxide, as well as parameters of laser irradiation on the size and luminescence intensity of the written microdomains.
Modified sorbents based on wooden wastes for the extraction of heavy metal ionsfrom waste waters.
Authors:   Belarusian State Technological University, Shibeka L. A. , Protas M. V. ,   Belarusian State Technological University
Published: February 2021

The paper presents the characteristics of waste generated in the Republic of Belarus. The results of the research on the use of sorbents based on wood waste in waste water treatment processes from copper, nickel and zinc ions are presented. It has been established that treatment of wood waste with carbamide increases its absorption capacity in respect of heavy metal ions.
Synthesis and propeties investigation of yttrium and ammonium double carbonate .
Authors:   TananaevInstitute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials of FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”, Yakovlev K. A. , Matveev V. A. ,   TananaevInstitute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials of FRC “Kola Science Centre RAS”
Published: February 2021

The paper considers investigation results of yttrium and ammonium double carbonate synthesis. The compound was synthesized and characterized for the first time. It is proposed to use double yttrium and ammonium carbonate as a precursor to ceramic yttria powders.
Academic Historiography in Azerbaijan at the Crossroads of Time (1989-1991)
Authors: Baghirova Irada
Published: February 2021

The scientific development in the USSR has come a long way. Despite all the obstacles posed during its formation and development, it has reached a reasonably high level by the mid-1980s. This achievement was mainly in the natural and technical sciences. The progress was determined by the USSR’s desire to keep the palm in space exploration, nuclear physics, petrochemistry, and other sciences of strategic importance for the country’s development. In these areas, contacts were established with world scientific centers and exchange of scientific achievements took place. As a result, Soviet scientists became winners of prestigious international awards, including the Nobel Prizes. As for the humanities and especially the social sciences, the dominance of Marxist-Leninist ideology and the corresponding interpretation of historical events significantly affected the development of Soviet sciences and reaching the world level quality. Until the mid-1990s, political history as an area of science of history, practically, did not exist. The “History of the CPSU” and the “History of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan” virtually monopolized the multifaceted nature of political themes, reducing it to the apologetics of the party history. Everything changed with the beginning of ‘Perestroika’ and ‘Glasnost’ (the officially announced publicity policy). As a result, the previously unknown pages of the past of the country and national republics became public. Almost every day, there were sensational publications of various authors published by popular magazines and newspapers, which also printed previously classified documents from historical archives. Traditional historical researchers and academicians were in shock. It was not easy for historians to abandon the 70-year-old account of history tied to ideological dogmas; the crisis associated with the loss of orientation was overcome with great difficulty and mainly by young historians. In the late 1980s, foreign historians, who studied the history of Azerbaijan, began visiting the country. Until that time, their existence was known only to a narrow circle of historians, who worked with foreign literature in specialized repositories of local and central libraries. For the first time, Azerbaijani historians left the USSR in 1990, when a conference was held at the University of London on the history of the South Caucasus. The event was attended by historians from Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, as well as the so-called Sovietologists - scientists from Great Britain, the USA, and France. It is symbolic that in the same year in Moscow the last all-Union conference on political history was held. The event was attended by scientists from the Soviet republics, which declared independence the following year.
The Institutionalization of the Bulgarian Circus between 1944 and 1957
Authors: Siedlecka Sylwia
Published: February 2021

This article analyzes the process of institutionalization of the Bulgarian circus be-tween 1944 and 1957. The appreciation of circus as “an equal member of the large family of socialist arts” was rooted in a belief that it was a democratic spectacle which transcended social divisions and classes. The source of the perception of the circus as an instrument of social change can be traced to pre-war Soviet tradition, when the circus became not only a tool of state cultural policy, but also inspired the most important creators of literary and theater avant-garde. In post-war Bulgaria, in order to improve the quality of performances, interinstitutional cooperation of the circus with literary and theater circles was initiated, and with the purchase of circuses by the state, numerous regulations were introduced in the profession of a circus artist. This purchase was not synonymous with nationalization: the state bought the circuses from the hands of their pre-war owners, allowing them to continue to perform strategic functions in the circuses.At the same time, despite deep institutional changes, the circus after 1944 main-tained its semi-peripheral status of an entertainment spectacle, not worth considering on the part of intellectual elites and unfit for the project of national high art. It is this peripheral potential of the circus as a spectacle not shaped by the refinement of the elites, that opens up new research perspectives which allow us to view the circus as a laboratory of social and cultural change. As a nomadic travelling institution, the circus crossed geographical boundaries and communicated with viewers from cities and villages, as well as representatives of various social groups and strata. On the other hand, multiethnic, international environment of the circus was a space for inten-sive transfer and intercultural dialogue, both in the artistic dimension and in the sphere of everyday interpersonal practices.
The Patrimonialization of the Communist Past in Romania: Laws, Memorials, and Monuments
Authors: Dobre Claudia-Florentina
Published: February 2021

The patrimonialization of the communist past in post-communist Romania is a twofold phenomenon: one the one hand, communism was demonized while its victims celebrated as martyrs, and, on the other, it was thrown away to the dustbin of history without comments. The last approach, promoted by neo-communists, was meant to hide the responsibility of theirs ancestors in perpetrating victimhood upon the Romanian nation. What were theirs strategies and concrete actions in achieving the wanted results are the main concerns of my article. It investigates how monuments, memorials and museums were instrumental in forging a politicized/ideological suitable image of the communist past. Furthermore, the laws, institutions, commemorative practices and rituals are analyzed in order to see what was at stake in creating them and who were the promoters of the narratives which lead to such creations.
The Bulgarian International Tourism in Late Socialism – between the Class-party Ideology and the Economic Interest
Authors: Luleva Ana
Published: February 2021

After the 1960s the international tourism was developed as an important economic branch of Eastern European countries and space where the economic interests, ideol-ogy, consumption, and social policies were entangled. In this study, I will undertake a historic-anthropological analysis of international tourism in Bulgaria in the time of late socialism, which is based on a case study of Borovetz, the biggest Bulgarian mountain resort during socialism. The research question addressed are: how the re-gime was trying to establish legitimacy through tourism – among Bulgarian citizens and internationally, which is the role of the ideological confrontation with the West in the period of the Cold War and which are the leading strategies in the management and the work culture in the branch of international tourism at that time.
A (Non)Existing Language – Serbo-Croatian after WWII
Authors: Krejčí Pavel , Krejčová Elena , Stalyanova Nadezhda
Published: February 2021

After the Second World War, Serbo-Croatian was formally declared on the basis of the so-called Novi Sad Agreement (1954). Its demise is connected to the demise of the Yu-goslav Federation (1992). The sociological, historical, political and ideological rea-sons of the rejection of this glossonym (and with it the rejection of the common lan-guage) were clearly the decisive factor, but they were not always the same. The Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks and Montenegrins had specific reasons for this. These reasons can be revealed, inter alia, by analyzing a number of declarative, proclaiming, explanatory, defending, shorter or longer texts on the language generated by all the above-mentioned national communities which used Serbo-Croatian as their first (mother) tongue after 1990. The most recent Declaration on the Common Language (2017) is unique in this sense.
A Multi-perspective Focus on the State
Authors: Kitanov Valentin
Published: February 2021

Seeking to present the State from a different perspective, the book examines both classical and modern theories of the emergence of the State, as well as the historical typology and evolution of the State over time. By applying a different approach, it seeks to overcome the confines of single disciplines, such as history, political science, sociology, law and anthropology among others. In practice, the book traces the history of the institution ‘state’ from the Antiquity to the Modern Age. Paev, K. The State from Antiquity to Modern Age: Theoretical and Historical Questions. Second revised edition: Sofia, Paradigma Publishing House, 2020, 220 p., ISBN 978-954-326-424-7
The Process of Westernization of the Balkans after WWII: The Cases of Greece and Bulgaria
Authors: Kondrasheva Alla , Parastatov Stavris
Published: February 2021

The high significance of the Balkan geopolitical knot was clearly expressed in the bipolar era when the main frontier between the two warring blocks passed through the Balkans. Due to the secret ‘Percentages Agreement’ between Great Britain and the USSR in 1944, the Balkans were divided into spheres of influence of the two great powers. Subsequently, London ceded the role of the main source of Western influence in the region to Washington.Of particular interest are the cases of Greece and Bulgaria as border countries that found themselves in different ‘worlds’ and, given the geostrategic importance of their territories, which were the main ideological instruments and conductors of ideas in the Cold war of the hegemons that stood behind. The Truman Doctrine in 1947 and NATO membership in 1952 strengthened and institutionalized Western influence in Greece. Westernization of Greek society in the form of liberalization and democratiza-tion of social relations and consequently its political system proceeded rapidly with a relatively short interval of the military dictatorship.Greece was assigned the role of a model for the rapid and successful develop-ment of a western country, a bridgehead for the dissemination of anti–communist ide-as in other countries of the Balkan region, primarily Bulgaria. Besides, due to the establishment of a strict pro–Soviet regime in Sofia, the westernization of Bulgarian society was carried out including through intelligence agencies, and after a certain thaw in relations through economic cooperation.
Turkish Historiography on the Forced Migration of the Turks of Bulgaria to Turkey of 1989
Authors: Sarp Solakoğlu Memed , Hergüvenç Begüm
Published: February 2021

The history of the Turks of Bulgaria, following the forced migration that took place in 1989, became a topic highly studied in the Turkish academia. Although many scholars who are focused on the topic are in consensus about what happened between 1984 and 1989, it is less so the case in the period prior to it. In this study of reviewing the Turkish literature (or literature in Turkish) on the Forced Migration of 1989, it is aimed to provide the opinions and comments written by the Turkish scholars on the relations between the Turks and the Bulgarians of Bulgaria regarding the Forced Migration of 1989 and to show that there are discrepancies in the periodizations of the history of Bulgaria even though the main narratives overlap each other almost unanimously. To do so, this study features the interpretations of the agricultural and educational policies in Bulgaria and the dates of changes in these policies according to the scholars and researchers will be provided. The basis of their interpretations will also be included. Finally the perception of the identity of the Turks of Bulgaria prior to 1984 and its relations to that of Turks of Turkey after 1989 will be examined.
Georgian Historians and the Ideological Confrontation Between East and West
Authors: Gotsiridze George
Published: February 2021

The work, on the one hand, highlights the mission of Europe, as an importer of knowledge, which has for centuries been the center of gravity for the whole world, and, on the other hand, the role of the Black Sea Region, as an important part of the Great Silk Road, which had also for a long time been promoting the process of rap-prochement and exchange of cultural values between East and West peoples, until it became the ‘inner lake’ of the Ottoman Empire, and today it reverts the function of rapproching and connecting civilizations. The article shows the importance of the Black Sea countries in maintaining overall European stability and in this context the role of historical science. On the backdrop of the ideological confrontation between Georgian historians being inside and outside the Iron Curtain, which began with the foundation of the Soviet Union, the research sheds light on the merit of the Georgian scholars-in-exile for both popularization of the Georgian culture and science in Eu-rope and for importing advanced (European) scientific knowledge to Georgia. Ex-change of knowledge in science and culture between the Black Sea region and Europe will enrich and complete each other through impact and each of them will have unique, inimitative features.
CFD Investigation into Seakeeping Performance of a Training Ship
Authors: Ahmad Fitriadhy  , Syarifuddin Dewa  , Mansor Nurul Aqilah , Adam Nur Amira , Cheng Yee Ng , Hooi Siang Kang
Published: February 2021

The numerous ship accidents at sea have usually resulted in tremendous loss and casualties. To prevent such disastrous accidents, a comprehensive investigation into reliable prediction of seakeeping performance of a ship is necessarily required. This paper presents computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis on seakeeping performance of a training ship (full scale model) quantified through a Response of Amplitude Operators (RAO) for heave and pitch motions. The effects of wavelengths, wave directions and ship forward velocities have been accordingly taken into account. In general, the results revealed that the shorter wavelengths (l/L ? 1.0) have insignificant effect to the heave and pitch motions performance of the training ship, which means that the ship has good seakeeping behavior. However, the further increase of wavelength was proportional with the increase of RAO for her heave and pitch motions; whilst it may lead to degrade her seakeeping quality. In addition, the vertical motions behavior in the following-seas dealt with higher RAO as compared with case of the head-seas condition. Similarly, the subsequent increase of the ship forward velocity was prone to relatively increase of the RAO for her heave and pitch motions especially at l/L ? 2.0. It was merely concluded that this seakeeping prediction using CFD approach provides useful outcomes in the preliminary design stage for safety assessment of the training ship navigation during sailing.
Heat and Fluid Flow Characteristics of Nanofluid in A Channel Baffled Opposite to The Heated Wall
Authors: Minh Phu Nguyen , Ba Thao Pham , Cong Truyen Duong
Published: February 2021

In this paper, a nanofluid-based solar collector duct equipped with baffles is examined numerically. Baffles are located on the back plate to guide nanofluid flow toward absorber plate for heat transfer enhancement purposes. Cu-water nanofluid with fixed flow rate and concentration in the baffled duct are investigated for thermohydraulic mechanisms. Baffles with different inclination angles, heights and pitches are considered in this study. Numerical simulations are performed using Ansys fluent software with verified results compared to those of an experiment in the literature. The results show that the baffle angle 60° causes the lowest thermohydraulic performance. Because in the angle range of 30 to 60° the heat transfer is less variable while the pressure loss increases sharply. At the baffle pitch of 40 mm, there is no reattachment point at the non-heated surface. At the angle of 90°, three eddies are formed around a baffle. The slope linear regression analysis yields that baffle height has the strongest effects on thermohydraulic performance followed by baffle pitch and baffle angle. Nanofluid pressure loss respectively increases with baffle height and baffle angle at the rate of 0.463675 and 0.0049607 while absorber plate temperature respectively decreases with the baffle height and baffle angle at the rate of -0.176746 and -0.001377. Flow patterns and isotherms of all the cases examined are presented and analyzed in this study.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Rigs-to-Reefs (R2R) Jacket Structures
Authors: A. Rahman Mohd Asamudin , Nazri Muhammad Nadzrin , Alias Fatin , Fitriadhy Ahmad , Mohd Mohd Hairil
Published: February 2021

Platform decommissioning activities have been increasing due to unproductive fields and unstable oil prices. One of the decommissioning methods used by the oil and gas companies is by converting the platform into an artificial reef through the rigs-to-reef (R2R) programme. The programme benefits the marine life and increases the marine productions. In this study, the dynamic responses and flow characteristics of jacket platforms were investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Three jacket structures with different sizes were used to investigate the suitability of the structure as a potential artificial reef. The pressure exerted on the structure as well as the back eddies and upwelling phenomenon were also investigated. This is to ensure the settlement of the coral larvae and attract marine life to inhabit around the artificial reef. The results show that the platform size and configurations are the significant criteria to design any artificial reef. The pressure on the jacket member is in the acceptable range. Higher efficiency index of back eddy and upwelling could also be obtained by smaller jacket structures.
CFD Application for Solid Propellant Rocket Simulation: A Review
Authors: Almayas Ali , Yaakob Mohd Saffuan , Abdul Aziz Faieza , Yidris Noorfaizal , Ahmad Kamarul Arifin
Published: February 2021

The design and testing processes of Solid Propellant Rocket should be done properly to ensure it safe to be used. Prototype testing involve in experimental method to test Solid Propellant Rocket. Few prototypes needed to clarify all the errors because it need to be test several times. It is a time-consuming and cost-consuming process when using experimental method. Other than that, analytic method can be used to solve the engineering problem. Even though the method is difficult and complicated, it has been proven as reliable tools to assists experimentation. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool has been used as part of the design tool since the beginning of its existence. This is due to the fact that the tool is cheap but with acceptable accuracy and can be used without any safety issue. This review paper presents a comprehensive coverage on the application of CFD in the solid propellant rocket research. This is an important review as to provide a guideline to the new researchers that want to start research work in this area. This paper will give an insight on the research path and tools that can be used to assist the researchers on their research work.
Implementation of a Flexible Learning Study Programme in a Blended-Learning Design: Results from the First Two Cohorts
Authors: Muller Claude , Fengler Reinhild
Published: February 2021

Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) launched the flexible learning study format FLEX, a blended learning design allowing students increased flexibility as to when and where they study. FLEX reduces classroom time by about half, while adding an e-learning environment for self-study that includes instructional videos. An analysis of the first two cohorts in the assessment level showed that the new study format was broadly accepted and that students using the FLEX format achieved exam results equivalent to students in the conventional learning format.
Expanding the Boundaries of Service-Learning at Higher Education through e-Learning Scenarios: Lessons from Teaching Innovation Projects
Authors: Creus Amalia , Fiori Mirela , Cambra Ines , Gmelch Nadja
Published: February 2021

Service-learning can be defined as a pedagogical approach that attempts to integrate community service in the academic curriculum. Through service-learning, students engage in organised activities designed to meet community needs and, at the same time, enhance their intellectual, social, and ethical development (Porter Honnet Poulsen, 1989). The synergy between learning and civic engagement distinguishes service-learning as an educational approach that, beyond forming students for particular professional skills, has the goal to prepare them for practical community-based problem solving. From a methodological point of view, it places community-improvement and social-engagement in the centre of the learning process, while reinforcing students’ cross-disciplinary skills, as critical thinking, co-creation or community building (Billig, Root, Jesse, 2005).
Promoting Personalized Learning Design: The Role of Online Pedagogical Intervention
Authors: Abdelaziz Hamdy
Published: February 2021

Online learning technology and design has maximized and optimized the potential chances of personalized, customized, and adaptive learning. This theoretical paper is proposing a new dynamic pedagogical intervention model for effective personalized learning design. The author is trying to share a personal and practical answer to the following two questions: (a) What are the disruptive learning principles of the third renaissance learning paradigm that impact pedagogical engineering and intervention for personalized learning design? (b) What is the suggested model for effective online pedagogical intervention to promote personalized learning design? This perspective was guided by ten emergent disruptive learning principles of the third renaissance learning paradigm that impact online pedagogical engineering, management and intervention for personalized learning design. Effective online pedagogical intervention has four major dimensions that are grounded/interacted and focused on four metaphoric lenses: (a) types of learners (4Cs): Casual, Committed, Concentrated and Continuing; (b) pedagogical levels (4Ps): Intelligent, Agile, Distributed and Situated Pedagogy; (c) intervention levels (4Es): Enriching, Enhancing, Engaging and Empowering; and (d) online assessment frames (4As): Assessment of learning, Assessment for learning, Assessment as learning, and Assessment in learning.
Assessment of what? From measuring memorized content knowledge towards a multilevel assessment cf competencies – the journey’s starting point
Authors: Kellermann Sarah
Published: February 2021

The present paper draws on recent calls from the industry to support students’ development of “Future Skills” (Ehlers, forthcoming), thereby highlighting the corresponding need for new assessment methods that can be applied in both contexts: organizations as well as higher education institutions (HEIs). To date, identification of such skill sets makes up the lion’s share of publications, dedicating little attention to the important question of how to assess them. The present paper seeks to provide an attempt to fill this gap thereby linking Hackman’ s conceptualization of effective outcomes (organizational perspective) and Bloom’ s Learning Taxonomy (educational perspective). The key point the present paper aims to make is that to assess future skills, pure performance evaluation is not sufficient; instead, viability and learning are introduced as two additional types of outcomes suited for the future skills context.
Connecting Stakeholders through Educational Technology for Effective and Digitalised Higher Education Environments
Authors: Schumann Christian-Andreas , Tittmann Claudia , Reuther Kevin , Gerischer Helge , Xiao Feng , Schirmer Oliver
Published: February 2021

The idea of “Education for All” is already explained in detail in the corresponding UNESCO World Declaration in the form of a “Framework for Action to Meet Basic Learning Needs” in 1990. Interestingly, challenges for global access to education are being worked out that are still relevant today: Universalising access and promoting equity, focusing on leaning acquisition, broadening the means and scope of basic education, enhancing the environment of learning, strengthening partnerships. Since then, many things have been turned to good, much remains to be done. However, today's omnipresent digitization offers completely new opportunities to live up to this vision. Serious changes and disruptive innovations are pushed by digital transformations. (UNESCO, 1990)
Digital versus Manual. Two Sides of the Same Coin
Authors: LeRoux Ingrid
Published: February 2021

In their preparation to educate future professionals, higher education institutions often employ innovating teaching methods, including games and simulations (Vlachopoulos Makri, 2017). Digital games and simulations have been used in entrepreneurship and business disciplines for many years and are designed to increase knowledge, improve skills and enable a positive learning environment in a realistic setting (Fox, Pittaway, Uzuegbunam, 2018). These simulations typically highlight the integration of business know-how such as strategy, marketing, positioning and finance to help students understand how a business works (Caruso, 2018). Furthermore, the need for entrepreneurs to obtain and acquire certain skills for them to be successful cannot be over emphasised (Costin, O’Brain, Slattery, 2018). Digital game-based learning is recognised as creating effective learning environments, engaging learners cognitively, emotionally as well as socially (Huang, Johnson, Han, 2014).
A Metacognitive MOOC Framework
Authors: Roberts Jennifer , Gous Ignatius
Published: February 2021

MOOC completion rates are well documented as being very low, in most cases, between 5% to 15% (Greene, Oswald, Pomerantz, 2015; Jordan, 2014). Many reasons have been suggested for the low completion rate. This paper investigates the thesis that one of the predictors of the low completion rates, is that students are not satisfied with the overall experience (structure, content, delivery, etc.) of the MOOC. According to the SERVQUAL measurement scale of satisfaction, service quality can be defined as the difference between expectations and actual experiences. The argument put forward in this paper is that service quality will be enhanced if students’ expectation of the MOOC is well understood and that they are properly prepared for what to expect when undertaking the MOOC. This paper follows from an already accepted research paper featuring an auto ethnographic journey of undertaking a MOOC. The author proposed a metacognitive MOOC framework, from a learner’s perspective, based on her MOOC journey. In this paper, this metacognitive MOOC framework is examined in terms of reflective as well as practical components, to assist prospective MOOC students to be prepared for the experience and enhance their satisfaction with their MOOC.
Disclosing Learners’ Behaviour and Engagement into Online and Blended Courses: Case Study of Vytautas Magnus University
Authors: Tamoliune Giedre , Tereseviciene Margarita , Duart Josep M. , Naujokaitiene Justina
Published: February 2021

Interfaces between students’ participation, number of submissions to discussion forums, attendance of online lectures and students’ performance on their assignments are significant for students’ success and achievements. Teachers’ activities become more significant when delivering blended or online courses and their role changes from knowledge deliverer to learning designer. Therefore, teachers are challenged to recognize new learning behaviour models and find new ways to engage and motivate learners. Universities offering study programs in blended or online way need to recognize learners’ behaviour, know how to analyse the data, make it “understandable” to teachers and learners, and learn how to adapt course curriculum based on this data. Results of the case study conducted at Vytautas Magnus University revealed that after logging in to Moodle learning platform, students tend to spend time checking forums or course assignments rather than browsing another course content. Moreover, a significant drop-out rate was noticed after the 4th click, when 24% of students tend to quit the session. The results of this research confirm the fact that online learners’ behaviour is changing rapidly, and teachers should be aware of that, understand preferred learning patterns and develop course content based on this data.
Student Preferences within a Holistic Blended Learning Environment
Authors: Beukes Bernice , Barac Karin , Nagel Lynette
Published: February 2021

Extant research shows that blended learning environments are widely accepted by students mainly because of the flexibility it offers. However, there is very little research that focuses on students’ preferences within a holistic blended learning environment and the contribution that a component makes to the learning of the subject matter, especially in large class settings. The purpose of this study is to investigate students’ perceptions of blended learning components in a holistic blended learning environment and whether these perceptions vary for students with different academic performance levels. A mixed method approach was used in this study performed at a residential university in South Africa and the results indicate that auditing students do have a clear preference for specific components within the environment and significant differences exist between the preferences of different academic performance levels. Such insights allow lecturers to adjust the resources and focus of the different components implemented in a blended learning environment.
Effects of Online Course Load on Degree Completion, Transfer, and Dropout among Community College Students of the State University of New York
Authors: Shea Peter , Bidjerano Temi
Published: February 2021

Past research suggests that some students are at risk of lower levels of academic performance when studying online compared to students who take coursework only in the classroom. Community college students appear to be among those that struggle in online settings. In this paper, we hypothesize that online course load may influence outcomes for such students, especially those at risk for lower levels of degree attainment. To examine this, we conducted a state-wide study using data from the 30 community colleges (n = 45,557) of the State University of New York, to understand online course-load effects on degree completion, transfer, and dropout. We conclude that when controlling for covariates known to impact degree completion, community college students who successfully complete online courses nearly double their chances (odds ratio = 1.72) of earning a degree or transferring to a 4 year college. However, racial minorities had reduced outcomes and additional research is warranted.Post-secondary completion is a significant predictor of a host of individual and societal benefits. Online education has increased access to post-secondary credentials for millions of people. (Allen Siemen, 2016). Community colleges enrol a higher proportion of online students than other institution types (NCES, 2017). However, concerns exist about outcomes for community college students who take online coursework, especially the effect of higher online course loads. The next section briefly summarizes relevant literature reflecting those concerns.
Improving the Financial Knowledge of the Older Generation – The Plekhanov University Experience
Authors: Grishina Olga A. , Tutaeva Dinara R. , Grishin Alexey
Published: February 2021

It is not a secret that the level of social development of some certain society is not least of all characterized by the attitude towards the senior and older people. The problems and challenges faced by these groups of citizens have never been easy to solve, and in the modern world, they became even more complicated. Among the challenges that have become particularly relevant in recent years, the first that is worth mentioning is the accelerated development of technologies, above all – informational ones. Often, senior and older people are not able to adapt quickly to these changes, and at best, they experience problems in their daily life. In the worst case, this situation leads to the fact that these categories of citizens become “lagging behind”, which is especially painful for people who are specialists in their fields. Despite their knowledge and often invaluable experience, their working competencies are rapidly becoming obsolete. This not only significantly hinders the effective work of such people, but also puts them in a vulnerable position in the labour market, and often becomes the cause of personal psychological problems.
Educating for Interdisciplinary Competences: A VIVES-Framework
Authors: Sabbe Elien , Wemel David
Published: February 2021

Situating interdisciplinarity in VIVES. Nowadays professionals function in a society that is changing faster and faster. They face complex questions and challenges for which a mere (mono)disciplinary approach is no longer sufficient (Holley, 2017; Spelt, Biemans, Tobi, Luning, Mulder, 2009). For VIVES, it is therefore both a necessity and an asset that students are equipped with solid domain specific knowledge and skills as well as with broader competences, the so-called competences for the 21st century. One of those broader competences is the competence for interdisciplinary cooperation.VIVES is investing a lot in interdisciplinarity. In our VIVES-research (VIVES, 2016), we explicitly choose for interdisciplinary centres of expertise. Also in the lab-approach of education, our make-lab, a care-lab and a simulation-lab are seen as real hubs for interdisciplinarity. In our VIVES-vision on education, we aim to prepare student for the jobs and the society of tomorrow (VIVES, 2014). That is why we so strongly stress the importance of interdisciplinary competences in our policy documents: the VIVES vision on education, the VIVES-competences for the 21st century and the VIVES-framework for quality assurance of our study programmes (VIVES, 2018). Our educational policy plan for the period 2017-2022 points out the necessity to create enough space for interdisciplinary cooperation in the curricula and demands that every study programme is cooperating interdisciplinary with at least one other study programme in at least one course (VIVES, 2017).
The Internationalization of the XXI Century Universities: Uninettuno Model
Authors: Garito Maria Amata
Published: February 2021

Universities were born as supranational institutions. Earlier, the first cultural centres, named universities by the scholars of the Arab World, such as the al-Qarawiyyin University, or the al-Karaouine University, based in Fes, Morocco, founded in 859 by a woman, Fatima Al-Fihriya, and followed, in a chronological order, by the al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, founded in 975, played an important role in the cultural relationships between the Islamic World and Europe. The texts of the ancient Greeks, from Aristotle to Hippocrates, from Galenus to Euclydes up to Ptolemy, were translated in Arabic, and studied and commented by the Arabic intellectuals. At the beginning of the Middle Ages, Europe received from Arab culture more than it would be able to give. From the 12th century on, the path was traversed backwards. Latin intellectuals moved to Barcelona, Toledo, Sevilla, and in Sicily, where they found the aforementioned texts and translated them into Latin, allowing Arab culture ideas and knowledge, elaborated on the basis of Greco-Roman civilization ideas, to penetrate the European intellectual circuit. Along with those texts, there came also the works by the Arab commentators to Aristotle, like Avicenna, which were commented and studied at the new-born Universities. In Europe, universities were born as corporations of teachers and students (Prodi, 2013); the first one in 1088 was the University of Bologna and soon after, there were the Sorbonne University in Paris, the University of Salamanca in Spain and the Oxford University in England.
The co-Evolution of Equitable Tertiary Education in a Global Networked Society: The Case of the OERu
Authors: Dubien Danielle , Davis Niki , Mackintosh Wayne
Published: February 2021

The continuing evolution of ubiquitous learning technologies and networks is reshaping models of learning with increasing potential for underserved populations of learners who cannot afford tertiary education. This paper presents a case study of innovative highly networked organisation called the “Open Education Resource universitas” (OERu). As the theme of EDEN 2019 conference has recognised, “Technology is with us everywhere which validates the horizontal-holistic approach for imperative questions of the period. For the transforming education landscape, challenges come increasingly from the socio-cultural-economic, structural and policy fields. Education has to be visionary to reach efficiency gains, new sources – and to offer sustainable services, reflecting the complexity of modern societies.” The OERu is on the far left of such visionary developments with a radically open approach to its equitable mission to expand higher education to come within the reach of all of students who are likely to remain underserved.Established in 2011, the OERu as an educational organisation is co-evolving with cutting edge technologies such as, micro-learning, alternative digital credentials, and implementation of an open source Next Generation Digital Learning Environment (NGDLE) (Brown, 2017). Its strategy is to evolve by scaling up with partners worldwide. Innovations already documented include a successful small mOOC (Davis Mackintosh, 2013). This case study plots the OERu in Niki Davis’ (2018) Arena Framework to clarify the complexity of the evolution of this organisation. The findings aim to support the OERu and its partners to fulfil their vision of providing affordable access to education.
Digital Education, Work and Artificial Intelligence: Health and Law
Authors: Azevedo Abílio , Anjos Azevedo Patricia
Published: February 2021

The use and possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) have been assuming great importance in recent years. This fact led to a greater attention on the topic in various fields, especially in health and law, both in its daily application potential and in learning methods. The aim of this article was to present a brief perspective of the challenges and effects of the AI use in teaching and application on health and law domains. Therefore, to better define the theme it was performed a qualitative methodology of bibliographic review. The applications of artificial intelligence have a great potential in clinical and legal use, facilitating the tasks of those involved by helping to reduce workflow, to avoid errors and in decision-making. However, despite these benefits and new opportunities, there are still obstacles regarding regulation and ethical concerns, as well as some reluctance from professionals in their adoption and formal application. In addition, there also the need to proper implement these technologies in learning to keep up the change and the new challenges currently posed, so there is a path that still needs to be followed.
Open Educational Practices in Romanian Universities during the Educational Disruption
Authors: Andone Diana , Grosseck Gabriella , Holotescu Carmen
Published: February 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented situation, when education worldwide moved online, leading to what is called Emergency Remote Teaching. Completed three months after the suspension of face-to-face activities in schools and universities, this paper aims to capture the actions taken in three Romanian universities, for the continuity of education in online environment. How prepared were the higher institutions in terms of infrastructure, teacher training, digital competences of teachers and students, open education strategy? What educational technologies have been used, what is the role of Open Educational practices, the integration of Open Educational Resources and Massive Open Online Courses? How were accessed, adopted and adapted the many international initiatives, projects and resources? What are the results of the studies already carried out on the efficiency of the actions taken? What can be done better until the return to the face-to-face activities, what are the lessons learned and how this knowledge will be applied for a better future? What current practices will have an impact on the teaching-learning activity, on the opening of education?