Sociocultural Attitudes Regarding Gender Differences in Mathematics Education and Implications for Related Employment

For many years in several countries there has been gender inequality in mathematics achievement, and girls are less likely to study and specialize in precise sciences. A primary explanation for these gender differences is sociocultural. The attitudes and perceptions prevalent in a society’s culture regarding gen-der can affect students’ attitudes and performance in maths education and their choice to pursue pro-fessional careers in maths related areas. Studies have found that learning in single-sex classrooms can influence girls’ achievements and attitudes. The goal of the present study is to examine the attitudes of girls in mixed and single-sex classrooms towards mathematics and towards gender differences in mathematics. The study population included 281 students in the fifth to ninth grades, attending state-religious schools in Israel. The participants completed a multiple-choice questionnaire, which addressed their attitudes toward mathematics and possible differences between boys and girls. Most of the girls, in both types of classrooms, expressed positive attitudes towards learning mathematics and egalitarian views, although differences were found as girls learning in mixed-sex classes expressed views that were slightly more egalitarian. In addition, girls in single-sex classrooms expressed a moderately higher agreement in the “girls are better” category.

Improving the Availability of University Offerings for the Business Sector Based on Blended Learning Tools

In the dynamic contemporary world, characterised by the ubiquitous presence of information and com-munication technologies, the role and tasks of higher education institutions and their links with the so-cial and economic environment keep changing. These institutions also undergo the process of digital transformation and actively respond to the needs of entrepreneurs. Blended learning – a solution which sees the value in building interpersonal relationships while taking advantage of e-learning tools – can significantly increase the availability of an institution’s educational offering for the business sector.

Cross-border Cultural Cooperation as the Principle Paradiplomacy Form: Evidence from the Czech-Polish Borderland

Microprojects are an important part of Interreg programmes. This article presents areas of cooperation and categories of actors who have been active in submitting and implementing these microprojects in the Czech-Polish borderland. It identifies 11 thematic areas of microprojects, which mainly support people-to-people projects in the field of culture. The most active microproject actors are local govern-ments, while the participation of non-public sector actors has generally rather stagnated since 2004. Cross-border cooperation, based on the use of microproject schemes, is a decisive part of the paradip-lomacy of small and medium-sized municipalities in the Czech-Polish borderland. The role of Eurore-gions is essential.

The Professionalization of Cultural Managers in Spain

The professionalization of cultural management in Spain emerged as a complex process in which the demand for professionals anticipated the existence of an academic discipline to support qualified knowledge, giving rise to strong epistemological debates. The main objective of this research paper is to study the development of the profession linked to the political, social, institutional and economic context, finding a recent research gap. The methodological triangulation of the various sources has revealed the importance of public and private systems in the definition of professional competencies, endowing them with a strong technical character that has been reflected in the theoretical development of cultural management. A lack of consensus between professionals, associations, entities and academies has been detected, showing the current fragmentation caused by the interest of certain sectors in maintaining the status quo that existed prior to the academic development of the profession. Scientific involvement in theoretical and educational development is necessary to guarantee adequate professional compliance in the practice of cultural management.

Innovating the Music and Sound Management Model in Tourist Destinations

This paper presents an analysis of the current level of sound and music valorisation in offerings in Croa-tian tourism and their promotion, and proposals for innovation, among which emphasis is placed on an audio management model based on the principles of acoustic ecology. Croatia is one of the more competitive Mediterranean destinations, focused on cultural tourism in which music offerings have a vital role. The first phase of research is based on in-depth interviews with and surveys of the representatives of tourist boards in Croatia, as a starting point for the situation analysis of music valorisation in Croatian tourism. The second phase is based on in-depth interviews with a target sample of tourist board repre-sentatives regarding music development as well as on the authors’ views based on recent scientific literature sources. The results of the study can be considered on two levels: the theoretical level, at which a management model for music valorisation in tourism is defined, and the practical level, with situation and scenario analysis of music valorisation in Croatian tourism and the design of an audio management model based on synergistic networking at both the micro-destination level and at the stakeholder level in order to diversify the attractions of the musical offering and create an integrated tourism product. Research results confirm that music has an insufficient position in strategic thinking in developing Croatian tourism, despite awareness of the considerable impact of music on the tourist experience in Croatia.

Design Culture in the Era of Industry 5.0: A Review of Skills and Needs

The objective of this article is to analyse the designer skills and company needs that are important for design culture development in the coming era of Industry 5.0. For this purpose, 83 SMEs operating in the manufacturing sector in Italy, Spain, Romania, and Poland were analysed. Qualitative and quantita-tive research conducted within the European project Intride let the authors state that in the 21st century context, companies will need to look for designers with specific skills. Based on their study, the authors indicate the most important skills for further development of design culture from the areas of soft, technological, design, digital, and green skills. Further, the authors suggest that it is necessary to con-tinue research on identifying the most needed skills for smart designers in manufacturing and in rele-vant curricula at universities, which might fill educational gaps related to these skills. They propose the concept of the “smart designer” as a design innovation trigger in the manufacturing sector.

Between Shared and Transformative Leadership: The Hybrid Leadership Model of the Cultural Centre “REX”

This study focuses on the analysis of the leadership model established in the Cultural Centre REX in the period between 1994 and 2020. The purpose of the research was to discover what kind of leadership model was developed and implemented in an alternative cultural centre under the influence of the so-cial and political circumstances in this period in Serbia, having chosen REX as the subject of the case study. The main methodology of the research consisted of an empirical study and theoretical analysis of REX’s organisational structure and management in the context of leadership theories, as well as public theories, due to the complexity of the social and political influences of the time.

The Role of Museums in a Digital World – Attracting Youth and Overcoming COVID19 Obstacles

In the world of digital technology, overwhelmed with information and content, digitalization is often perceived as a process of alienation. This article will challenge that perception and demonstrate that digital museums actually present a unique opportunity to develop interest in art and attracting people not only to art in general but to on-site cultural institutions as well. Digital museums can, among other roles, assume the role of interpreting cultural heritage, but are also the best way to attract a young au-dience to art. This article examines the opportunities provided by digital technology for museums in terms of communication and dissemination of knowledge. The particular emphasis will be on the use of digital collections as well as on connecting and interacting with the public, particularly with a young au-dience. If there was any doubt about the importance and influence of digital museums, the COVID-19 pandemic was a final proof that digital museums have a much greater value than is generally admitted, and that they have become an indispensable part of the overall museum experience in all museums that have been able to develop them as a part of overall museum strategy.

Identification of Values Shaping Inter-Organizational Relations on the Example of the Project The Metropolitan Theatres Night

Inter-organizational cooperation is based on the development of relationships between partners who have attractive tangible or intangible values which may be the subject of exchange. In inter-organizatio-nal cooperation, at least two key stages of relationship development can be distinguished. The first con-cern is initiating ties between potential partners; the second, strengthening, expanding and deepening these ties. The authors attempted to identify the values that affect the relations between organizations cooperating on a joint project in the cultural sphere. The research process was based on the assump-tions of grounded theory. The incomplete induction method was used. In order to solve this research problem, the authors analysed a case study of a network project led by the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis, entitled Metropolitan Theatres Night, and in addition, conducted qualitative research (in-dividual in-depth interviews and written surveys), amongst organizations cooperating on this project. The research proved that the assessment of key values to project partners at the stage of initiating and developing cooperation is varied. At the stage of initiating relations, the financial benefits of coopera-tion and the prestige associated with it are most important. In contrast, at the stage of cooperation development financial benefits come first, while other elements are of secondary importance. The rese-arch results show that the partnership does not use many opportunities resulting from the synergy of resources or joint learning during the long period of cooperation. In connection with the above, the authors defined recommendations that may serve to improve inter-organizational cooperation in this type of project and in other partnerships.