Macedonia Faculties’ Students - “Chrisi Avgi” (Right Party) Followers’ Critique on the Greek Educational Policy

The present paper is involved with the Pedagogical faculties’ students’ critique on the current educational system as it has been altered after 1981. The research was carried out utilizing both quantitative and qualitative tools. Students-voters participated in the interviews whereas active voters were difficult to be located to meet the research requirements. The dynamics of the specific political party is based on a popular profile in terms of standpoints related to economic, social and political issues. The research findings depict the students’ strong wish for a change of the curricula and a turn towards History and Religion as well as an elevation of the Greek historic events, as the History books that have been written and taught at schools over the past years contributed to the downgrading of the Greek national and cultural identity. There is also a students’ strong belief that globalization and the immigrants’ presence in Greece have functioned in a negative way against the Greek ideal. Therefore, an overall change of the educational content could open the path towards the reconstruction of the moral values and the Greek national identity.

Women's Participation in Politics: Ukrainian Case

The international practices takes into account the question of women's participation in the political life of modern Ukraine. The selection of the state was due to the dynamic process of democratic transformation - the separation of powers, the formation of multi-party competition among political actors in the electoral process, the activity women in the various institutions of civil society. The position was claimed on the basis of empirical data range of academic institutions and reputable sociological centers, and also interviews with experts who said that the creation of real conditions for self-realization by women's interest in politics is only possible for long term. The process is controversial and caused by political culture, traditions and interests of the ruling class represented mainly by men.

A Cosmopolitan Perspective of Globalization: Cultural and Aesthetic Consumption Among Young People

Author's focuses on understanding in which way people relate with globalization and what kind of imaginative process they engage in to do so in their everyday life. Article deals with the emerging cosmopolitan consciousness and practices that derive from young people's experiences of a globalized world. The paper is based on two different researches of young people, the rationale for such a choice being to understand the impact of emerging transformations on young people - who are often the barometers of societal change from both generational and life cycle perspectives.

Competency Framework for Managers of International Organizations in Ukraine

The article is focused on the analysis of the cross-cultural competency framework of the NGO managers within international organizations. The results of the qualitative research project demonstrate a consistent pattern of three perceived mandatory competencies for efficient managers: communicative competence, intercultural competence and linguistic competence. The qualitative phenomenological research was conducted in Ukraine and US; the insights of 22 in-depth interviews with managers of the international NGOs reveal vision and perception that US and Ukrainian managers have regarding the required education, skill set and knowledge of the successful international managers.

A Contemplative Approach to Clinical Sociology

Abstract*This paper is based on different previous presentations, in particular Understanding and compassion. Towards an integration between spiritual and sociological knowledge S.P.A. Annual Conference, Anaheim (CA, USA), 18th August 2001, unpublished; “Contemplative knowledge and sociological understanding”, panel Contemplative understanding: a challenge to the sociological perspective, Sociological Practice Association (S.P.A.) Annual conference “Using Sociology for Good Purposes”, San Francisco (CA, U.S.A.) August 17th 2004; unpublished. Both have been reviewed and integrated for the recent Workshop Wakeful inquiry: experiencing contemplative sociology in science and practice, held a the ISA RC46 Conference “Clinical Sociology: Improving Lives and Communities through Analysis and Intervention” Madrid, 16-19 March 2013.Note: the pronoun indicating the first person singular is always written in minuscule character

Evaluation of Tanzania Curriculum: An Analysis Using Ornstein's View on Educational Philosophy

It is arguably clear that regardless of one's philosophical orientation, sometimes change cannot be avoided. On the same vein, the change of curriculum in educational sector has become irresistible almost everywhere. The aim of the paper has been to critique Tanzania Educational Philosophy using Ornstein's view (Ornstein, Pajak and Ornstein (2011:1-9); the choice of this work is based on credibility in curriculum studies. The findings indicate that curriculum change can never be avoided. The paper also focused on how traditional curriculum has not only changed, but also co-exists with contemporary curriculum. It has also been made evident that the curriculum in Tanzania has a lot of ‘patches’, and this may have given room for the recent massive Form Four failures. It is also true that recurrent threats to strike and even the last year strike by teachers are indicators that the curriculum needs thorough review. The paper further recommends the work of curriculum review should be not the sole responsibility of Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) but all stakeholders. The process of curriculum review should receive almost an equal emphasis as the constitutional review.