bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards Authentic African Higher Education based on African Epistemology
Authors: Nicolaides Angelo , Steyn Jean 
Published: October 2023

Aim. The purpose of this article is to challenge the notion that a largely Eurocentric education is the best one for African universities. It is not by any means suggested that Eurocentric notions should be discounted, but rather that African education should be devoid of any form of subordination and be allowed to assume its rightful equal place and space, in an interconnected global education arena alongside a range of epistemologies and ontologies.
Methods. A literature review was conducted on the topic and the researchers surveyed scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to the area of research. The review conducted to a lesser or greater extent enumerates, describes, summarizes, issues relating to the theme.
Results. Knowledge should be sought for its value to communities through individuals and it should perpetually produce sensible, empathetic, and responsible citizens. African education must inter alia reflect a multiplicity of perspectives and notions that are grounded on local knowledge.
Conclusion. The existing form of Eurocentric university education in Africa certainly has defects when viewed Afro-centrically.
Originality. Decades after the demise of colonialism [if it has in fact ended], African universities still embrace a Eurocentric epistemological paradigm and are for the most part consciously or unconsciously disparaging or ignoring Indigenous African knowledge systems. This is far from liberating, and it is argued in a novel way that what is required is a vigorous promotion of African scholarship which is infused with African values, philosophies and knowledge that can also be promoted to our erstwhile colonisers and others.
Design and Development of Teaching Materials Aimed at Mentor Professional Training
Authors: Hašková Alena , Radulović Branka , Mikla Štefan , Stajić Stefan , Zatkalík Dominik 
Published: October 2023

Aim. The paper presents information on the concept of teaching materials supporting professional development of mentors, either teacher trainees trainers or introducing teachers of novice teachers, created within an international project by experts from 6 higher education institutions (Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra – SK, the University of J. Selye in Komárno - SK, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University in Eger - HU, the University of Ostrava in Ostrava - CZ, the Prague University of Economics and Business in Prague - CZ, the University of Novi Sad in Novi Sad – SRB).
Methods. Based on analyses of different resources and opinions of experts nominated by the above mentioned higher education institution a mentor competence profile consisting of fifteen key competences was compiled. Based on the platform of the created profile teaching materials supporting successful performance of the mentor role or position were processed.
Results. As a main output of the international project 2020-1-SK01-KA201-078250 Mentor training of the Erasmus+ program, five textbooks were created , the basic one in the English version and the other four – its mutations in the national languages of the individual project partners.
Conclusion. The textbooks created within the project will be used in the project partner countries within the mentors practical training and preparation.
Cognitive value. Currently the concept and philosophy of the teaching materials created within the Mentor training project have become a background for processing further teaching materials supporting mentors´ competence development, which are under preparation within an other international project, namely the bilateral Slovak-Serbian project APVV SK-SRB-21-0025 Mentors´ Vademecum supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency.
Technologies in Migration Processes: Mediation in Communication and Social Capital
Authors: Ortiz Cobo Mónica , Jeri Levano Renzo Ismael , García Martín José 
Published: October 2023

Aim. This article presents an ethnographic exploration of technology use among migrants. The main question explored is how migration processes are mediated by communication between migrants and their support network, considering the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
Methods. Multi-situated and virtual ethnography have allowed researchers to access and obtain relevant discourse on the experiences, perceptions, and strategies of migrants in a non-invasive way.
Results. In pre-digital contexts, support networks of friends and family provided sources of information in the development of migration projects. With the spread of technology, Facebook’s virtual communities are a means of facilitating migration strategies. Likewise, ICTs bring migrants and their families closer to the “there”, bolstering their bonding social capital and therefore their emotional well-being. Despite the language barriers, and the stereotypes and prejudices held by native-born residents, virtual social networks allow migrants to strengthen their bridging social capital, facilitating the integration of different Latin American migrant groups in the destination society.
Conclusion. Today, ICTs have transformed migration strategies and expanded bonding social capital, allowing migrants to share common interests with their family setting, despite the distance. Limited interaction between migrants and native-born residents restricts bridging social capital, but the virtual sphere allows the Latin American diaspora to pursue common interests and overcome cultural barriers.
Cognitive Levels of Pragmalinguistic Typology and German Text Comprehension
Authors: Szabó Erzsébet , Stranovská Eva , Ficzere Anikó 
Published: October 2023

Aim. The research aim is to find out the correlation between the comprehension of read texts in German and the different cognitive linking levels such as the propositional, the epistemic and the speech of act level.
Methods. In the first phase of the research, we used qualitative content analysis to identify the different cognitive levels in the texts. After that we used a didactic test to determine the text comprehension in German at the A2 language proficiency level.
Results. A statistically significant positive relationship was found between reading comprehension performance in German and the propositional level. This means, higher performance in reading comprehension of German texts is manifested if the read texts contain indicators such as indicative sentences and adverbial tenses. Subsequently, we find a tendency correlation between the comprehension of German texts and the level of speech acts. No statistically significant relationship was found in the variable of epistemic level and German text comprehension.
Conclusion. Our research showed that the epistemic level indicators and the speech act level indicators made it difficult for the learners to comprehend German texts, for this reason it would be necessary that after mastering the simpler phenomena such as the indicative mood, they should fluently start to deal with the indicators of the above levels. In the educational process, it is necessary to focus on the training of word types, on explaining the meanings of these words or expressions in order to develop and broaden the vocabulary of learners.
General Soft Skills and Sub-competencies Developing Plurilingual Intercultural Competence by Students´ Self-Reflective Understanding
Authors: Petlák Erich , Birova Jana 
Published: October 2023

Aim. The research presents a division of soft skills important for better socialising and being.
Methods. The main method was a questionnaire survey completed by 98 pupils in the 3rd year of the mentioned schools.
Results. We briefly describe the findings of the self-reflective evaluations of the students of two high schools and how they perceive and appreciate their personality in terms of soft skills. We mainly focused on social and personality skills from several areas and divisions of soft skills.
Conclusion. Education must pay more consistent attention to the development of these skills because it is soft skills and their use in life that will be key not only for the advancement of the individual but for the advancement of the entire society. Based on our findings from the questionnaire, we make some important recommendations for the students.
We Must Protect Children but Also Their Grandparents: A Qualitative Understanding of Older Adults’ General Perceptions and Understanding of Social Networks
Authors: Tkáčová Hedviga , Gadušová Zdenka , Sotirofski Kseanela , Yusupova Munira 
Published: October 2023

Aim. Research on older adults (≥ 60) repeatedly confirms that the use of social networks has a rather positive effect on these users. The indicated trend leads us to the research of older adults with a focus on their motivations and challenges when using social networking sites.
Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-four older adults in Slovakia. The aim was to uncover the deeper processes and details that the members of the selected sample experience when using social networks.
Results. The thematic analysis revealed a disproportion between low knowledge of social networks and willingness to use them in theresearch sample (Q1). While older adults rated their knowledge of social networks with a school grade of 4, they do not see this as an obstacle to their increasingly frequent use of social networks. Within the second research area (Q2), a set of seven motivations derived from the use of social networks among respondents were identified. Finally, four main challenges (Q3) were identified in the research.
Conclusion. Research findings confirms not only older adults’ growing interest in using social networks, but also the need for adequate media education with a focus on ‘digital citizenship’, which emphasises both, skills and also knowledge.
Cognitive value. When using social networks among older adults, their family members are the driving force behind respondents’ understanding (knowledge) and technological progress (practical skills). There is the necessity of advancement of digital competencies of older adults.
Development of Competencies by Students. The Case of the University of Lodz
Authors: Matuszewska-Kubicz Agata , Warwas Izabela 
Published: October 2023

Aim. One of the challenges of the labour market in Poland is to match competences adequately to the needs of employers and to enable future employees, including students, to acquire these competences before they start their careers. The aim of the research was to answer the questions, which methods of developing competencies are known to the students, which are used by them and how do they assess their effectiveness.
Methods. The research was carried out by mix-mode method, using quantitative (CAWI, N=352) and qualitative (IDI, N=10) surveys, and the respondents were students of the University of Lodz.
Results. The results indicate that the best known and most commonly used methods of developing competencies are: individual self-education, classes at university, professional work, internships, apprenticeships, voluntary work, trainings, workshops, courses. As regards the evaluation of the effectiveness of the indicated methods of developing competencies, the students considered professional work to be the most effective method. Moreover, the results indicate that each of the methods of developing competencies may be effective, and the effectiveness depends on several factors.
Conclusion. Therefore, it seems crucial not only for students to know and use various methods of developing competencies, but also for universities to ensure high quality activities, so that they effectively support the development of students' competencies and respond to the needs of the labour market.
Impact of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic on the Slovak Economy (Tourism and Education)
Authors: Petrikovičová Lucia , Petrikovič Jozef , Kurilenko Viktoria , Taraj Martin , Kholov Saidmukhidin , Azizi Mahmoud 
Published: October 2023

Aim. The aim of the contribution is to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Slovak economy. We analyzed the pertinent data relating to Slovakia's economy, tourism, and education infrastructures, and also the measures introduced during the pandemic which affected them.
Methods. The paper is mainly based on descriptive, analytical and statistical methods, and based on global statistics data, studies, and research conducted in this field.
Results. In 2020, the Slovak economy decreased by 9.3%. The reason was not only domestic measures against the spread of the coronavirus, but also a slump in foreign demand. The growth of the Slovak economy had already slowed during 2019, even before the onset of the COVID-19 disease. Extensive travel restrictions, especially at the international level, fundamentally affected the total number of visitors, in particular during the period March to August 2021. Almost 1.6 million visitors stayed in hotels, boarding houses, and other accommodation facilities in Slovakia during this period of the pandemic, which represented a decrease of almost 54% when compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Conclusion. The significant deterioration of the economy was the result of a large number of significant restrictive measures taken to stop the spread of the COVID-19 disease. The factor of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the future of tourism and education, bringing changes to their direction and economic benefits. This pandemic has significantly affected education in Slovakia and worldwide, and we are following its transformation.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in a Global Perspective
Authors: Alaverdov Emilia 
Published: October 2023

Aim. The goal of the paper is migration processes in the context of globalisation leading to the erosion of cultural identity and the emergence of many heterogeneous cultures in many countries. Modern countries, where traditional societies with minor inclusions of another culture of European origin, have turned into multicultural communities, in which there are many scenarios for intercultural dialogue and multiculturalisation, including such negative options as xenophobia and racism, highlighting that one of the consequences of the multicultural approach in Europe has been a retreat into closed cultural communities.
Methods. During the working process on the paper we applied the main methods of social and political studies such as the comparative analysis method; empirical methods; the method of observation; evaluation method and methods of content analysis. The paper is based on empirical research materials, articles, reports, research, and books.
Results and conclusion. By way of conclusion, we can say that Muslim migrants who arrive in Europe, for the most part, do not hurry to integrate into the local society. Compared to the local population, they wear different clothes, have different habits, and profess a different religion. All this sets one to consider them y as “others,” as strangers, which, under certain conditions, can lead to a feeling of fear or hostility (Alaverdov, 2020). The fact that Muslims maintain respect for their traditions is often seen by residents of their host countries as a sign of disrespect for local traditions.
Effect of sintering duration on structure and properties of Ni-Al metal-intermetallic composites produced by SPS
Authors: Ogneva Tatiana , Anisimov Alexander , Kuzmin Ruslan , Tyurin Andrey , Emurlaeva Yulia , Aleksandrova Natalya 
Published: October 2023

The fabrication of Ni-Al based metal-intermetallic layered (MIL) composites is one of the actively developing directions in the production of materials for aircraft and space industries. Alternating hard intermetallic layers with ductile metal layers provides a unique combination of mechanical properties. In this study, metal-intermetallic layered composites consisting of Ni and nickel aluminides were fabricated using spark plasma sintering (SPS) of Ni and Al foils 100 and 25 μm in thickness, respectively. Samples sintered at 1100 °C for 0.5, 3, and 8 min were obtained. The purpose of this study was to fabricate Ni-Al MIL composites with increased strength properties using SPS technique and to investigate the effect of sintering duration on structure and properties. The structure of the samples sintered for 0.5 min consisted of Ni layers and intermetallic layers containing the sublayers with stoichiometric and Ni-rich B2 NiAl, L10 twinned martensite NiAl. The tensile strength of such composites was 485 MPa. The intermetallic layers in the sample sintered for 3 min have more Ni-rich NiAl, martensite NiAl, and Ni3Al phases, which promoted to an increase in tensile strength to 575 MPa. The sample sintered for 8 min consisted of Ni and a solid solution of Al in Ni and showed the highest tensile strength, 610 MPa, due to solid solution hardening in the interlayers. The samples did not break when applying bending load, which is the evidence of the good reliability and durability of the composites.
Significance of Pulse-Like Ground Motions and Directivity Effects in Moderate Earthquakes: The Example of the Mw 6.1 Gölyaka-Düzce Earthquake on 23 November 2022
Authors: Türker Elif , Yen Ming-Hsuan , Pilz Marco , Cotton Fabrice 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT
The 1400 km long North Anatolian Fault Zone in Türkiye runs through numerous densely populated regions, including the city of Düzce that was recently hit by an Mw 6.1 earthquake on 23 November 2022. This was the first moderate event in the region after the devastating Mw 7.2 earthquake in 1999, which cost the lives of over 700 people. Despite its moderate size, the earthquake caused unexpected severe damage to a significant number of buildings, as reported by local institutions (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, AFAD). It is well established that ground motions in the near field can lead to increased damage due to near-field domain effects, such as ground-motion pulses and directivity effects (i.e., when the site is aligned with rupture propagation). We examine potential near-field effects using the strong ground motion database of AFAD-Turkish Accelerometric Database and Analysis Systems. To achieve this, we first analyze the behavior of the ground-motion intensities in terms of their spatial distribution and observe higher peak ground velocity than expected by ground-motion models in spatially constrained azimuthal ranges. Furthermore, we find that the majority of the near-fault recordings contain velocity pulses that are primary concentrated on the fault-parallel component. This outcome questions the widely accepted understanding from the previous studies, which mainly suggested that impulsive ground motions that are associated with directivity effects primarily occur on the fault-normal component of large-magnitude events.
Educação e Aprendizado no Ensino Remoto Emergencial: um Relato de Caso da Percepção dos Alunos na Pandemia de Covid-19
Authors: Lima Alyne Cristina Sodré , Silva Junior José Leonilson Abreu da , Tavares Lorena Cunha , Castro Ícaro Rainyer Rodrigues de 
Published: October 2023

Objetivou-se com este estudo embasar discussões com base na percepção dos alunos sobre estratégias de ensino, além de considerar aspectos do acesso a tecnologias e ao material alternativo de ensino fornecido aos alunos. Para possibilitar o acesso ao conteúdo letivo previsto, durante a pandemia, foram elaborados cadernos de revisão no primeiro bimestre do ano letivo de 2020, no nível médio técnico. Foram atendidos 135 estudantes, realizou-se a coleta de informações referente às condições de estudo diante do material oferecido pela instituição. Enviamos o questionário via e-mail, WhatsApp e redes sociais. O questionário continha perguntas sobre o acesso a dispositivos eletrônicos/internet, moradia, interação dos alunos com o material, experiências e percepções no novo modelo de repasse de conteúdo, e informações sobre o processo de assimilação. Os dados obtidos foram analisados através de estatística descritiva. Mais de 80% dos entrevistados residiam na zona urbana da cidade e tinham acesso à internet pelo celular próprio. Contudo, apenas 60% estudaram e realizaram as atividades. A maior dificuldade observada foi na execução dos estudos na área técnica e que envolviam cálculos, principalmente devido à ausência do professor. Apesar dos entraves, mais de 65% dos alunos sugeriram a permanência do material. A utilização do caderno de revisão foi uma estratégia de ensino satisfatória para mitigar, de forma emergencial, os prejuízos ocasionados pela suspensão das aulas na modalidade presencial devido à pandemia.

Palavras-chave: Educação na Amazônia. Ensino médio. Ensino técnico.

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A Usabilidade de Recursos Tecnológicos Digitais: A Perspectiva de um Curso de Extensão Universitária Atrelado à Formação Inicial
Authors: Liao Tarliz , Almeida Sonia Regina Mincov de , Motta Marcelo Souza , Honorato Vinícius dos Santos , Kozerski Wellington Luiz 
Published: October 2023

Norteamos este artigo por dois objetivos principais: a descrição da funcionalidade dos recursos tecnológicos propostos em um curso de extensão na modalidade da Educação a Distância junto a um grupo de graduandos de licenciatura em Matemática provenientes de instituições privadas e públicas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e, na reflexão da interatividade entre esses estudantes e as tecnologias utilizadas. Para tanto, iremos nos ancorar nos pressupostos teóricos que trazem suas discussões acerca dos conceitos de formação inicial de professores de Matemática e suas práticas formativas na extensão, de modo a colaborar na consolidação do debate do efeito de uma formação complementar paralela ao período de graduação. Refletiremos ainda a discussão promovida pela necessidade do suporte das tecnologias digitais (TD) na execução de cursos de extensão, que se constituem cada vez mais em meio digital. No sentido de redarguir a essa investigação, nos propomos a descrever como o funcionamento de tais recursos tecnológicos amparou o curso de extensão, em especial a usabilidade da plataforma GeoGebra enquanto ferramenta capaz de potencializar conceitos geométricos imprescindíveis a formação inicial dos licenciandos de Matemática. Dessa forma, a pesquisa da qual originou esse artigo tem sua natureza qualitativa imersa em uma abordagem explicativa. Acrescentamos que esse tipo de abordagem investiga algo novo na perspectiva da articulação de ideias e busca compreender causas e efeitos de determinado fenômeno. Enquanto resultados apontamos para a (res)significação de alguns conceitos fundamentais das geometrias (plana e espacial), após a participação dos cursistas curso de extensão.

Palavras-chave: Usabilidade. Formação de professores tecnologias digitais. Ensino de matemática.