Problem space of modern society: philosophical-communicative and pedagogical interpretations. Part I

This collective monograph offers the description of philosophical bases of definition of communicative competence and pedagogical conditions for the formation of communication skills. The authors of individual chapters have chosen such point of view for the topic which they considered as the most important and specific for their field of study using the methods of logical and semantic analysis of concepts, the method of reflection, textual reconstruction and comparative analysis. The theoretical and applied problems of modern society are investigated in the context of philosophical, communicative and pedagogical interpretations

Current issues of the management of socio-economic systems in terms of globalization challenges

The authors of the scientific monograph have come to the conclusion that the management of socio-economic systems in the terms of global challenges requires the use of mechanisms to ensure security, optimise the use of resource potential, increase competitiveness, and provide state support to economic entities. Basic research focuses on assessment of economic entities in the terms of global challenges, analysis of the financial system, migration flows, logistics and product exports, territorial development. The research results have been implemented in the different decision-making models in the context of global challenges, strategic planning, financial and food security, education management, information technology and innovation. The results of the study can be used in the developing of directions, programmes and strategies for sustainable development of economic entities and regions, increasing the competitiveness of products and services, decision-making at the level of ministries and agencies that regulate the processes of managing socio-economic systems. The results can also be used by students and young scientists in the educational process and conducting scientific research on the management of socio-economic systems in the terms of global challenges

Euroregions, Excellence and Innovation across EU borders. A Catalogue of Good Practices

This Catalogue of Good Practices is dedicated to Euroregions, European organisations which are playing an influential role right on the borders of European countries and at a time in which many doubts persist about the European integration process. In our view, Euroregions truly matter: they are a symbol of communal living across borders, which are notoriously places where diversity is mostly shaped inside our continent. This is the reason why we should give all possible support to the development of these structures as an advanced manifestation of cross-border activities fortunately spreading across internal (and some external) EU frontiers. After being granted the opportunity of spending four years of research on the matter, the Catalogue of Good Practices produced by the research team COOPRECOT II aims at delivering a strong output for a renewed debate on the full realization of Euroregions' potential. In such a way, we seek to provide a new tool on the quest for optimal solutions that may inspire a higher level of cross-border cohesion and a favourable advancement in the European Integration process. The aims of the research will be fulfilled through introducing two separate sections inside the Catalogue. In the first one, we begin by introducing up-to-date theoretical contributions on CBC and Euroregions, alongside a perceptive explanation of our working methodology throughout the research. By showing the process that brought us to generate both a global list and a specific selection for this catalogue, we thereby proceed in elaborating a solid quantitative analysis of our sample. In the second part, we wish to present our research on the 80 CB euroregional structures selected in the shape of info sheets detailing important information extracted from our database. Technical data are also accompanied by a short text-description of the Euroregion and (where available) the corresponding CBC project's features

Admission to Lithuanian Universities: Evolutional Development of the Consolidate Information System

This presentation describes the admission to Lithuanian universities and reflects the main changes in related processes covering the last three years (1999-2001). Founded in 2000, Lithuanian Universities" Council on Admissions (LUCA) started managing all common efforts in the development of the consolidate Information System for the admission. Our system is absolutely based on internet technologies usage and active participation of every university

Social and legal aspects of the development of civil society institutions. Part I

This collective monograph offers the description and analysis of the formation and development of civil society institutions at various levels of government in the field of politics, economics, education and culture. The authors of individual chapters have chosen such point of view for the topic which they considered as the most important and specific for their field of study. Theoretical and applied problems and the existing legal base of practical activities of civil society institutions in the context of growing interdependence of economic, cultural, demographic, political, environmental processes are investigated. The prospects for the further development of civil society and its institutions, their relations with the state, as well as the promotion of the participation of civil society organizations in socio-economic development

Contributo do turismo de saúde e bem-estar para a felicidade e qualidade de vida: estudo comparativo entre Portugal e a Hungria

Since its origin, health and wellness tourism has been related to the history of Portugal and Hungary, currently appearing as an undeniably strategic product for the development of tourism in both countries. The importance of this type of tourism is due to a set of circumstances imposed by contemporary life. Stress levels and working hours, as well as an increase in average life expectancy are some of the factors that converge to a greater concern with well-being issues, aided by an incessant search for happiness and for higher levels of quality of life. In this sense, health and wellness activities, promoted by the Thermal Baths and Spas, figures as means capable of meeting these current needs. The main objective of this thesis is to analyse the contribution of health and wellness tourism to the happiness and quality of life of thermal spas goers, based on a comparative study between Portugal and Hungary. The development of this thesis started from a theoretical basis, grounded on a review of the broad literature on the constructs under analysis, which contributed to the understanding of the use of the concepts of happiness and quality of life in the tourist context. This theoretical approach leveraged the construction of an investigation model and the definition of a set of hypotheses, tested through the results obtained from the empirical part developed throughout the study. The analysis was focused on the demand side, including health and wellness users and tourists in both countries, characterizing them in sociodemographic terms, observing their travel behaviour, assessing their satisfaction with the health and wellness experience, regarding the levels of happiness and quality of life obtained. This analysis is based on an empirical study developed over nine months, whose data were collected in a total of twelve Thermal Baths and Spas, six of them located in the Northern and Central regions of Portugal, and the other six located in the city of Budapest, in Hungary, providing a total of 753 valid responses. In the empirical study, a quantitative approach is made, using descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis, comparing the results obtained in both countries. This analysis allowed to demonstrate the potential of health and wellness tourism on the contribution to the happiness and quality of life of users, according to their different profiles. The main conclusions of the study allow to present a set of theoretical and practical implications for the development of health and wellness tourism in both countries, in a perspective of marketing, complemented with a set of proposals for future research in this area.O turismo de saúde e bem-estar esteve, desde a sua origem, relacionado com a história de Portugal, bem como com a da Hungria, afigurando-se atualmente como um produto assumidamente estratégico para o desenvolvimento do turismo em ambos os países. A importância deste tipo de turismo deve-se a um conjunto de circunstâncias e restrições impostas pela vida contemporânea. O stress acumulado nas jornadas de trabalho, bem como o aumento da esperança média de vida são alguns dos fatores que convergem para uma maior preocupação com as questões do bem-estar, coadjuvadas por uma busca contínua pela felicidade e por níveis de qualidade de vida mais elevados. Neste sentido, as atividades de saúde e bem-estar, promovidas pelas Termas e Spas, podem afigurar-se como um meio capaz de satisfazer estas necessidades. O principal objetivo da presente tese consiste em analisar o contributo do turismo de saúde e bem-estar para a felicidade e qualidade de vida dos seus utilizadores, baseando-se num estudo comparativo entre Portugal e a Hungria. O desenvolvimento deste estudo partiu de uma sustentação teórica, baseada numa alargada revisão da literatura sobre os construtos em análise, contribuindo para a compreensão dos conceitos de felicidade e qualidade de vida numa perspetiva aplicada ao contexto turístico. Esta abordagem teórica alavancou a construção de um modelo de investigação, baseado na definição de um conjunto de hipóteses, testadas através dos resultados provenientes do estudo empírico desenvolvido. A análise dos dados é realizada pelo lado da procura, incluindo utilizadores e turistas de saúde e bem-estar em ambos os países, caraterizando-os em termos sócio demográficos, observando-os quanto ao comportamento de viagem, avaliando a sua satisfação quanto à experiência de saúde e bem-estar, bem como quanto aos níveis de felicidade e qualidade de vida. Esta análise baseia-se num estudo empírico de caráter quantitativo, desenvolvido ao longo de nove meses, cujos dados foram recolhidos em doze Spas Termais, seis dos quais situados no Norte e Centro de Portugal e os outros seis localizados na cidade de Budapeste, na Hungria, tendo este estudo proporcionado um total de 753 respostas consideradas válidas. O tratamento dos dados assenta na utilização de métodos estatísticos de caráter descritivo, bem como análise multivariada, comparando os resultados obtidos nos dois países. Esta análise permitiu evidenciar o contributo do turismo de saúde e bem-estar para a felicidade e qualidade de vida dos utilizadores destes serviços, de acordo com os seus diferentes perfis. As principais conclusões do estudo permitem apresentar um conjunto de implicações teóricas e práticas para o desenvolvimento do turismo de saúde e bem-estar em ambos os países, numa perspetiva de marketing, complementadas por um conjunto de propostas de investigação futura nesta área.Apoio financeiro da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, no âmbito do Programa de Bolsas de Estudo de Curta Duração. Apoio financeiro da FCT e do FSE/POPH no âmbito do QREN.Programa Doutoral em Turism

EUROPE - The Global Challenges

Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu–National-Louis University is one of the most successful private business schools in East Central Europe. It is a driving example of the structural change of the Polish Academic Community in the period of glorious transformation at the turn of the XX and XXI century. In spring 2004 WSB-NLU has decided to create new Research and Publication Programme as an attempt to integrate three fields of academic and pragmatic reflection: 1) regional studies including the management of regional development 2) studies in the field of science and technology including knowledge management 3) European studies as an reflection on global challenges and strategic choices related to the future of Europe This Programme will be animated and coordinated by RECiFER—Research Center for European Regions founded by WSB-NLU. In this context the WSB-NLU has decided to create a New European Publication Forum—defined as RECiFER—Eurofutures Publication Series (REUPUS)