The National Center for Scientific Research as the basis for the fundamental science development in France: specificity and contemporary problems

The article is devoted to the analysis of the formation and development of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) — a key state research organization in France, which stands among the world's leading national research centers in terms of its scale and effectiveness. The specifics and major problems the CNRS faced over the 80th period of its existence are shown, as well as the main reasons for its institutional viability. Special attention was paid to the advantages of CNRS and to the unsolved contemporary problems. The dynamics of the confrontation between the desire of researchers for scientific autonomy and the intention of the state to control scientific research is investigated. It was revealed that the problem of academic freedom remains one of the most acute and intractable problems for the scientific community of modern France.

Institutions of collective investment in Ukraine: scale and consequences of investment dysfunction

The development of collective investment institutions (CIIs) in Ukraine is characterized by rather ambiguous and stable trends, which at first glance do not have any objective economic basis. The dynamics of CIIs activities in Ukraine demonstrates their steady invulnerability to the crises in the global and national economy, maintaining positions (in quantity terms) against the background of reduced number of both professional stock market participants and other institutional investors, and despite the decrease in the financial instruments in circulation, and the gradual formation in public consciousness of a neutral negative view of the functioning of the national stock market. The authors' assumption that the key to such institutional viability consists in the tax preferences for the CIIs, which is confirmed by the analysis. It is noted that in this case both the economic sense and the declared "collectivity" of this investment institution are distorted. The use of CIIs solely to ease the tax burden, with gross legal and tax violations creates risks for both the beneficiaries of such tax schemes and for the very existence of the institution. The specificity of "investment areas" outside the stock market, the highly conditional performance of the function of accumulation of investment resources and, correspondingly, the profanation of the CIIs' issuer function, in particular as to the fair distribution of investment income, distortions of the essence of the ideology of collective investment in combination with extremely loyal regulation on the part of the NSSMC all presently call into question the entire possibility of considering CIIs as a full-fledged component of the stock market.

An Investigation Of Element Achieve Intellectual Accomplishment Of Proposed Educator

The paper attempted to explain elements impacting the scholarly accomplishment of planned educators concentrating on various instructor training programs. The administration has zeroed in on the improvement in the nature of training particularly after the quantitative development of enrolment rates at all degrees of instruction. As one of the models of the nature of training, imminent educators' scholarly accomplishment was researched in the paper, since scholastic accomplishment is frequently referred to as an institutional viability marker by administrators, instructors, understudies, and their folks. The investigation was completed on an example of 200 understudies of 9 branches of the Institute of Education and Research, University of the Punjab, Pakistan. The example was haphazardly chosen and 22 understudies of the fourth semester from every division were taken. A Combined Grade Point Average (CGPA) of understudies was additionally taken. Data was gathered through a survey. The consequence of the examination investigation demonstrated that parental inclusion, instructor showing style, financial status, peer pressure, and motivation were affecting under investigation's accomplishment.

Response hierarchy models and their application in health and medicine: understanding the hierarchy of effects

Background Successful patient engagement pursuits naturally require healthcare providers to possess a detailed understanding of their target audiences, with one of the most important processes to comprehend being the manner in which they learn about particular establishments and decide to extend their patronage. While health services patronage pathways vary between and among consumers, general patronage patterns exist which can provide enlightenment regarding this important process. Achieving knowledge on this front can help healthcare providers maximize opportunities to engage audiences and acquire all-important market share. Discussion The discipline of marketing, in part, focuses on customer engagement practices and, in describing the patronage process, it often uses what are referred to as response hierarchy models. Also known as hierarchy of effects models, these representations can help healthcare providers to understand the course through which individuals become customers of given establishments, aiding them particularly in devising appeals that can accelerate the patronage process. This particular article describes response hierarchy models, presents examples, and discusses the benefits that they offer healthcare institutions in their efforts to engage patients. Conclusions As institutional viability and vitality are predicated on abilities to successfully attract and retain patients, healthcare establishments must direct keen attention toward developing associated skills. This necessitates that health and medical providers possess a detailed understanding of their target audiences, notably including the stages through which they pass on their way to becoming patrons. Response hierarchy models present the patronage process, depicting given stages, permitting insights which can assist healthcare providers in their quests to hasten desired exchange and capture market share.

Extensão para a educação: a experiência de capacitação a distância do Espaço do Produtor

RESUMO: Este artigo apresenta e analisa os resultados da experiência do site Espaço do Produtor, desenvolvido e mantido pela Coordenadoria de Educação Aberta e a Distância (CEAD) da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV). Para isso, associaram-se os resultados coletados por pesquisa realizada com os usuários em 2012 a uma revisão literária sobre o tema, particularmente sobre os cursos online oferecidos pelo site. Neles, são utilizados recursos das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC), a fim de estimular o autoaprendizado do usuário, dentre outras particularidades da Educação a Distância (EaD). Ao mesmo tempo, pretende-se confirmar a viabilidade técnica e institucional de se desenvolver um site para a realização de atividades de extensão de universidades públicas, fundamentando-as com dados e depoimentos da pesquisa. Entre os empecilhos para o desenvolvimento de atividades e projetos de extensão estão o alto custo e a falta de estímulo para participação de pesquisadores e de alunos. Conclui-se que, com o site, é possível alcançar um grande público, que muitas vezes, por condições geográficas ou falta de tempo, não poderia se dedicar a um curso presencial ou a distância. Além disso, o usuário consegue se aprofundar no assunto, que tem grande importância para a sua tomada de decisões presentes ou futuras na vida profissional e no dia a dia.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: cursos livres; educação a distância; espaço do produtor; extensão. ABSTRACT: This article presents and analyzes the results of the experience related to Espaço do produtor’s website (Producer space, in free translation), developed and maintained by Coordenadoria de Educação Aberta e a Distância (Cead), from Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV). For this purpose, we associated the results acquired by researches made with the website users in 2012, and a literature review about the theme, particularly about the online courses offered by the website. In those courses, the information and communication technologies (TIC) were used to stimulate users’ self-learning, among others e-learning particularities. At the same time, we intend to confirm the technical and institutional viability to develop a website to promote extension activities in education public institutions, grounding them with the help of data and research testimonials. Among the obstacles for the development of activities and extension projects, we found the high costs and the lack of incentive for researches and students’ participation. We conclude that it is possible to reach a large audience, that often, due to geographic condition or lack of time, could not dedicate to a classroom or distance course. Besides that, the user can go further in the matter, which has big importance for his decisions, in the present or future, for the professional or everyday life.KEYWORDS: free courses; distance learning; Espaço do produtor; extension.

Banking for the poor: the role of Islamic banking in microfinance initiatives

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to review the microfinance scheme and discuss how Islamic banks can participate in such an endeavour without actually compromising the issue of institutional viability and sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on an extensive review of microfinance with the objective of building a case for Islamic banking to participate in a microfinance initiative.FindingsAs reviewed in this paper, microfinance requires innovative approaches beyond the traditional financial intermediary role. Among others, building human capacity through social intermediation and designing group‐based lending programmes are proven to be among the effective tools to reduce transaction costs and lower exposure to numerous financial risks in relation to providing credit to the rural poor. This paper also suggests the use of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) as one of the possible alternatives for Islamic banks channelling funds to the poor.Research limitations/implicationsIslamic banks may benefit from the spectrum of Shariah‐compliant sources of funds and offer a wide array of financing instruments catering for different needs and demands of their clients. Furthermore, the use of a bankruptcy‐remote entity like SPV can protect Islamic banks from any adverse effect of microfinance activities.Originality/valueThe analysis here is valuable in drawing the attention of Islamic banking practitioners to the fact that they can actually practise microfinance without undermining their institutional viability, competitiveness and sustainability. This is evident from the proposed model to incorporate SPV into their microfinance initiatives.