Aims and methods of education: A recapitulation

This paper gives an overview of principal distinction between the aims of the so-called "traditional" and "progressive" education and respective pedagogies associated with each. The term "traditional" education is used to denote the kind of education that prepares people for their role in society as it is, while the term "progressive" is used for education that aspires to equip mankind with capacity to shape the change of society. The paper raises some critical questions about the role of pedagogy in achieving the aims of the progressive model, arguing that the employment of "progressive" methods does not necessarily guarantee the achievement of the commonly professed purposes of progressive education. This is illustrated in the paper by the results of a study in English schools showing how despite the claim of progressive methods, teachers tend to retain traditional attitudes and on the other hand, how even traditional teaching methods can serve the progressive purpose. This is not to advocate for the traditional pedagogy, but to suggest that it might be something other than pedagogy that makes a critical difference in educating liberal-minded citizens of the future. In this sense the paper explores the role of other factors that make a difference towards progressive education, such as democratization of human relations in school ethos and respect for children's freedom

Digital participation framework for mountain areas in Serbia

Planning practice in Serbia is influenced by the transition to more efficient governance, including the digitalization of public administration. Urban areas adapt faster to new requirements in comparison to digital transition in rural areas (RA) and mountain areas (MA). This research aims to provide an understanding of the contextual factors for digital public participation in MA in the example of Serbia, with a focus on the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve. The analysis is based on the contextual factors recognized in the recent literature and their testing through the available statistical data. The results suggest that RA, especially MA, have advantages in comparison to the national average only regarding a smaller share of vulnerable groups, including women. On the other hand, disadvantages are an aging population, a low level of technological equipment, and accessibility to technological advancement and knowledge. Findings suggest that future public participation formats in MA should be hybrid.[https://rtsa.ro/tras/index.php/tras/article/view/734

Governance Framework And Prospects Of Sustainable Management – Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve (Serbia)

Mountain areas in Serbia are not legally defined or recognized as entities with special status. Therefore, the governance and management over them do not appear to be significantly different in comparison to other areas in the country. The most mountain specific measures are to be found in the cases of mountainous protected areas such as national parks, nature parks and biosphere reserves. Sustainable development is one of the priority principles in such areas, which makes them special in terms of governing and management. This presentation considers the only mountainous protected area with both national and international protection status in Serbia – the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve. The aim of this research is to look how the governance framework and sustainable management over the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve are defined in the most relevant acts for this area – the Golija Nature Park Spatial Plan (2004), the Golija Nature Park Action Plan 2018-2022 and management programs – and then interpret their success, difficulties and prospects through the interviews with relevant stakeholders (2020)

Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve (Serbia) as a Driver of Change

n the 50 years since the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) was launched, 727 sites in 131 countries have gained the status of biosphere reserve (BR). Golija-Studenica BR belongs to the group of BRs that have been active for the past 20 years. This BR is one of the most prominent protected areas and the first of its kind in Serbia. A balance between biodiversity conservation, as the primary goal of protection, and the promotion of sustainable profitable activities involving diverse actors has yet to be achieved. This research aims to provide a contextual understanding of changes in Golija-Studenica BR and draw lessons for future BR development. It relies on the experiential and practical knowledge of diverse stakeholders, including management bodies, the NGO sector and the local population itself. The methodology is based on a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. Research results show that the BR model is a subtle, time-reliant driver of change, with some unintentional side-effects. It brings about changes in how protected areas are managed, affects the economic behaviour of the local population, raises awareness about environmental issues, and has an impact on demographic trends and social change

Urban Regeneration in Post-Socialist Serbia under Neoliberal Capitalism – Belgrade Example

The modern-day practice of urban regeneration is generally perceived as a mean of improving the physical and social tissue of cities and towns, along with involvement of stakeholders in decision-making and respect of the basic postulates of sustainability. The experience of the European post-socialist societies has however indicated that market-driven urban development can raise many contradictions and critics. So far, the research studies have shown that the current urban development of post-socialist transitional Serbian society under the auspice of neoliberal capitalism (enthroned on October 5, 2000) has spawned in many cases numerous negative outputs. Within the frame of Serbian proto-democracy, this is an expected consequence of the abolition of the general interest in favor of the private ones which paved the way to private- investors oriented planning, simultaneously neglecting social and environmental dimensions. Negative aspects of the prevailing neoliberal approach to urban regeneration are primarily reflected in the example of the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. Mostly futuristic residential and commercial/business complexes are springing up, mainly in the core center or along waterfronts, the most famous of which is the contradictory Belgrade Waterfront mega-project. New urban (mega)projects are most often shrouded in secrecy, the public is informed from the media, in the phase when all decisions have already been made without proper public participation. Numerous new housing complexes in central municipalities contribute to densification but without provision of accompanying social and educational facilities. The existing COVID-19 crisis has only provided further increase of those negative trends. Though the analysis of some specific urban regeneration projects in Belgrade we will tend to enlighten some lacks of the existing market-oriented planning system, legal regulations, policies, partnerships and other instruments and propose improvements of the existing practice.Editors: Márton Berki, Zsolt Bottlik, Michael Gentile, Margit Kőszegi, Gábor Nagy, Judit Timár, Gábor Tolnai and Tünde Virág

Bright Or Dark Future Of E-Participation In Urban & Spatial Planning For Mountain Communities

The occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed conditions and spurred new public participation tools in decision-making in general, as well as in urban and spatial planning. The new conditions of public participation and the alternative virtual methods have become an interest of academia internationally, which resulted in the publication of articles in this field. This presentation takes into account geographic, demographic, and socio-economic parameters listed in the aforementioned articles and their interpretation as aggravated/extenuating circumstances in digitalisation on participatory planning. Only then, these circumstances are analysed in the context of a protected mountain area when compared to a national average. Some of the analysed parameters of virtual participation concerning digital participation are age and gender demographics, ICT accessibility, cultural context, educational attainment, etc. The Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve is taken as an example of a protected mountain area to compare to the national average of Serbia. Finally, the presentation estimates what are the most vulnerable aspects and groups of stakeholders when it comes to e-participation and interprets what are the actions to maximize the value of digitalized participation in urban and spatial planning in the given context

Tourism as an Opportunity or the Danger of Saturation for the Historical Coastal Towns

In the era of urbanization, small towns confront challenges in sustaining and preserving their essence and population. Historical towns have discovered their potential in tourism development, yet this opportunity often escalates into overtourism, particularly in renowned cruising destinations. This paper focuses on examples of coastal historical towns dependent on tourism revenue and faced with an excessive influx of tourists in the Mediterranean Region. The objective is to examine various cases across diverse geographical, cultural, and policy contexts to evaluate their success in achieving a balance between economic development and genius loci. This analysis seeks to identify the factors that contributed to the attainment of this equilibrium. Therefore, we selected case studies throughout the Mediterranean coast—from Saint Paul de Vence and Èze at the Azure Coast, Dubrovnik and Kotor in the Adriatic Sea, to Nafplio and Monemvasia in the Aegean Sea. The selected examples range from towns that are almost entirely depopulated to those that are suffocating from the influx of tourists. Observations on the spot and review of policies led us to the conclusion that the geography of the area and cultural values represent comparative (dis)advantages that can be influenced and shaped by policies from the time of the pre-tourist phase to the phase of overtourism. Even though the success of an early policy and the effects of investments aligned with it might be uncertain, pre-tourist policies turn out to be the most successful when it comes to balanced tourist-resident development. Determination of authorities to not only see economic benefit but also genius loci and quality of life of residents is crucial, too

Public participation supporting urban sustainability transition: recent experiences from planning and governance practice in Serbian cities

Sustainability transition in urban settings requires planning and governance practice to re-evaluate and reimagine the local community’s quality of life, including but not limited to the domains of social wellbeing and accessibility to the services of general economic interest and public space, sustainable forms of commuting, climate change adaptation, green and low carbon development and economy, environmental protection and disaster risk reduction (Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, 2020). The general public and nonexperts have an important role in informing planning policy and practice about current needs, capacities and anticipated risks in urban settings, which calls for re-examining of the traditional decision-making hierarchies. Serbia recently adopted a cycle of policy documents supporting participatory action at all levels of decision-making in line with the opening of Chapter 22 –Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments as part of the European Union accession trajectory, as well as the sub-goal 11.3 of the United Nations Agenda 2030 to enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable planning and governance in human settlements. This paper outlines the objectives and instruments for the operationalization of public participation in the recent policy framework and discusses some of the practical experiences in planning and governance in ten Serbian cities. Methods used were semiopen questionnaires with representatives of local urban planning departments, qualitative content analysis of adopted urban plans, publicly available reports on conducted citizen participation and stakeholder involvement, and local strategic documents, and, participant observation at joint workshop with city representatives. The results indicate that urban planning and governance practices require space for learning and experimentation, where open and inclusive participation, as well as related empowerment, represent a necessary condition for an urban sustainability transition. The undertaken research with city representatives was supported by the World Bank Group and SECO project “Technical assistance: Strengthening capacities of local self-governments in Serbia towards lowcarbon and resilient urban development investments”

Effect of conjugated linoleic acids in pig nutrition on quality of meat

Relationships among conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in pig nutrition and carcass quality parameters (hot carcass weight, carcass yield and meatiness) and meat quality parameters (initial and pH value after 24, 48 and 72 h, temperature, drip loss, sensory color and marbling) were determined in pigs (crossbreeds Yorkshire x Landrace). Commercial CLA preparation containing 60% CLA isomers was included in the diet. No significant differences in performance parameters were found between pigs fed with CLA and control group during 60 days period. CLA supplementation in feed significantly increased SFA and decreased MUFA and PUFA fraction in pig muscles

Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid on chemical and fatty acid composition of pig skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue

Relationships among conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in pig nutrition, chemical composition of meat and fatty acids composition of meat and adipose tissue were determined in pigs (crossbreed Yorkshire x Landrace) (n=60) A commercial CLA preparation containing 60% of CLA isomers was added to the pig diet. SFA and MUFA in the control pig diet (with no added CLA) were significantly higher (p lt 0.01) than SFA and MUFA in the experimental pig diet. CLA supplementation in the pig diet significantly increased SFA and PUFA and decreased MUFA in both meat and adipose tissue. The same content of c9t11CLA and t10c12CLA was found in the supplemented pig diet. Both c9t11CLA and t10c12CLA were found in meat and adipose tissue of pigs consuming the experimental diet, but not in meat and adipose tissue of pigs consuming the control diet