The use of ICT tools by academic teachers in the international comparative context

The article sets out to analyze the professional competencies on the standard European e-Competence Framework. The survey of information technology teachers of Ukrainian universities concerning the necessity of forming and development of European e-Competence Framework competencies allowed defining the priority areas for training and forming the content component of a model of professional competencies development of information technology university teachers. The proposed model distinguishes stages, factors, and resources for training teachers. Teachers’ attitude to motivation, time and money allocation for professional development was researched. The content component of the development of professional competences of teachers of information technologies is offered. Recommendations for training and advanced training of teachers of information technologies, assessment of the level of development of professional competence, was proposed

A Study of Students’ Preferences in The Information Resources of The Digital Learning Environment

The digital learning environment comprises various resources - didactically transformed and untransformed information, and mediated communication. Students’ information behaviour combines both actions characteristic of the traditional educational process and specific for the digital environment, based on digital tools and user interactions. Students’ information behaviour in the digital environment is considered as an indicator of their engagement in various educational activities that contribute to the personalisation of learning. The results of a survey on students’ preferences of information resources in the digital environment show that learners use a variety of information sources, but they mainly apply the methods of work in the “traditional” learning paradigm. They insufficiently use the digital environment potential of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and knowledge extraction from authentic sources. Obtained data indicates problems in students’ information culture and shortcomings in the methodological support of students’ autonomous work. Based on the results, recommendations on creating conditions for developing students’ prospective strategies of interaction with digital resources are proposed. These recommendations include a gradual increase of the authentic digital learning resources, an account of students’ information preferences, and a particular attention to the management issues in the digital learning environment

Assessment and ways to increase the rate of return in the Russian medium-sized agricultural enterprises

The rate of return (profitability) is the category that allows evaluation of financial, production and other costs of the enterprise. The detailed analysis of return ratios enables to regulate the enterprise financial system and has a positive effect on its financial performance. The article considers the method of the rate of return assessment and suggests the ways to increase it. The case of the medium-sized agro-industrial company was used. Based on the financial performance of the enterprise, the range of the rate of return indicators was calculated, such as fixed assets, rate of return on current assets and on equity capital, gross profit margin, operating and net profit margin. Based on the calculations, the authors show that the rate of return of the enterprise increased, and a high efficiency of operations was observed. However, at the same time, there are tasks to be solved. One of them is to introduce a payment schedule. The analysis of the financial effect of the payment schedule introduction showed that it increased the current rate of return of the enterprise by 10%

Information environment of blended learning: aspects of teaching and quality

The aim of the study in frame of the international project IRNet - International Research Network for the study and development of new tools and methods for advanced pedagogical science in the field of ICT instruments, e-learning and intercultural competences is to understand how the quality of digital learning environment and a new methodology for teaching activities contribute to achievement of learning outcomes sought by modern society. The data from a comparative analysis of regulations in the field of e-learning in some countries participating in the project is represented. The article substantiates indicators of virtual educational invironment in accordance with European standard of quality in higher education. The psychodidactic approach based on accounting of general concepts: information, communication and interaction management in a network learning environment used for evaluation of teaching activities in blended learning. The study hypothesis is based on the data obtained from analysis of the students' views and attitudes towards various educational processes in digital learning environment and represents a set of conditions for system formation of university virtual educational environment and the effective use of e-learning technologies. At a later stage of research teachers in all the universities involved in project will be surveyed

Heat loads analysis and creation of a uniform model for commercial refrigeration equipment calculation

The global commercial refrigeration equipment market size was valued at USD 33.53 billion in 2020. It is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2 % from 2021 to 2028. Furthermore, factors such as regulatory pressures, shift to lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, technological breakthroughs, and the ability to cater to the ever-changing consumer behaviors are also anticipated to create promising growth opportunities for the market. Environmental issues related to high GWP refrigerants, including global warming and ozone depletion, are compelling commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturers to seek alternatives. The rising demand for advancements in technologies that can help reduce hazardous gas emissions has led to the market participants increasingly equipping their products with modern and magnetic refrigeration systems. Apart from this, these systems improve the energy efficiency of refrigeration equipment, bringing down the cost of operation. The analysis of the structure and heat loads of the commercial freezer with monitoring of temperature distribution on the body of heat-insulating fences and in the internal volume during operation of the system is carried out. The heat loads on the body depending on the structure of the freezer are substantiated on the example of the M400S commercial freezer model. The obtained results allow to significantly reduce the time of selection and calculation of the dimensions of a given model range of equipment for product storage, by developing a standard calculation taking into account the climatic class in which the equipment will be used, and taking into account experimental data obtained during the experimen

“Ready-Ready” to Teach: The Telling Case of a Reflective Teacher-Practitioner

This qualitative telling case study was situated within a broader project, which explored how the research participants modified their teaching after having completed their master’s program. We investigated reflective stance of a teacher-practitioner who was a graduate of a Master’s Literacy Specialist program, which promoted reflective teaching practices using videos of students’ own teaching. The research questions were: (1) How does the participant demonstrate his use of a reflective stance with regard to teaching practices? (2) What are the modifications in teaching practices that were made by the participant after the reflective video pedagogy course used in his graduate practicum? (3) What other elements of his graduate program does the participant describe as being important in his development as a reflective practitioner? (4) Which of these elements does he choose to employ in his classroom? Primary data sources included: classroom observations, participant interviews, and student artifacts. We analysed the data using qualitative methods of open coding, thematic analysis, and triangulation. The research found that the focus-participant reported a series of modifications made by him to his teaching and demonstrated his use of reflective stance on the high mastery level

First Outcomes of WPZ Research Carried Out Within the Framework of the IRNet Project - International Research Network

This paper, prepared by an international team of authors including specialists from different scientific areas, connected with /CT, e-learning, pedagogy, and other related disciplines, focuses on the objectives of the international project IRNet - International Research Network for the study and development of new tools and methods for advanced pedagogical science in the field of /CT instruments, e-learning and intercultural competences. The project is financed by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme, within the Marie Curie Actions International Research Staff Exchange Scheme. Grant Agreement No: PIRSES-GA-2013-612536; the duration of the project: 48 monthsl/01/2014 - 31/12/2017. In particular, the article describes a WP2: Analyses of legal, ethical, human, technical and social factors of /CT and e-learning development, and the state of intercultural competences in partner countries: Objectives, Tasks, and Deliverables. The second part of the paper includes data from preliminary research. During the study and analysis of global (international) and local (national) documents as well as university documents Table 1 was prepared which sets forth a comparison of legal, ethical, human, technical and social factors of /CT and e-learning development, and the state of intercultural competences in several partner countries, for example Poland, Ukraine, the Netherlands and Russia in the context of the IRNet project - International Research Network

Efficiency of developing renewable energy market in Russia

The goal of this study is to systematize and provide a quantitative and qualitative assessment of potential positive economic and non-economic effects of the implementation of a new mechanism for supporting renewable energy in Russia. It should result in achieving the national medium-term objective to increase the share of renewable energy in the wholesale electricity and capacity market to 2.5 % by 2024. The introduction examines the mechanism for supporting the generators of renewable energy by capacity charge in the wholesale electricity and capacity market. It is assumed that the main positive effects from implementing this mechanism will be the replacement of hydrocarbon fuels burned for generating the electricity in traditional coal or gas power plants; improvement in the trade balance; multiplier effects from the development of RES in related industrial sectors, new value added and jobs in the sectors producing the generating and auxiliary equipment for generators; reduction of carbon dioxide emissions; decrease in average prices in the wholesale electricity market; reduction of expenditure on environmental activities and measures to protect the health in the territories with traditional power plants; additional scal charges. As a result, the quantification of these effects amounts to 47.77 billion rubles in 2024. The authors rely on the experience of foreign countries, expert estimates, forecasts by the Russian Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Economic Development, research by the Russian Energy Agency, International Energy Agency, International Renewable Energy Agency, Community for Renewable Energy Policy in the 21st Century (REN21), statistics of Russian Federal State Statistics Service

Opportunistic Behavior as Behavior Manipulations

The study of opportunistic behavior in relation with manipulation techniques is important because it directly affects the efficiency of agent's relationship. We identified two forms of opportunistic behavior that depend on the subject composition of the contractual relationship. In the article we attempt to identify significant techniques of manipulation of information. It is important to understand real nature of opportunism in contractual relationship. The study proved the high importance, because it expands our knowledge about the nature of exogenous opportunistic manifestations as a society and economic phenomenon

Green Economy: Regional Priorities

The article is dedicated to transforming the economy of Russian regions to a green economy, which is an essential factor for the sustainable development. This is important not only for Russia but the whole world because our country has the great natural capital and provides important environmental services that support the planet biosphere. Based on the analysis of economic, social and ecological statistical data and Human Development Index (HDI) we have shown that the development of Russian Federal Districts is very unbalanced and each Russian region has its own way to new economic model. For instance, it is necessary to increase the well-being in the North Caucasus Federal District, it is important to reach higher life expectancy at birth in the Siberian and the Far Eastern Districts. It is necessary to move from the «brown» economy to a green one by using the human capital (building a knowledge economy), by applying Best Available Technologies (Techniques), by investing in efficiency of use of natural resources and by increasing energy efficiency. The transition to a green economy will help to achieve social equity and the development of human potential; it helps to move from the exploitation of non-renewable natural capital to renewable human capital. All these socio-economic measures should give decoupling effect, make risks lower, reduce the exploitation of natural capital, stop the environmental degradation and prevent the ecological crisis. Transition to the green economic model has to be accompanied by new economic development indicators, which take into account social and environmental factors