The limits of the European public sphere

The proverbial distance between European Union institutions and European citizens has been attributed by political leaders and scholars alike to a ‘communications gap’, that is, to the way EU affairs are mediated by the news media, and to the apparent lack of interest by national elites in telling their constituencies why Europe matters

Designing the European candidate

The next European elections are just around the corner. They have been moved forward from June to May 2014 to avoid coinciding with the celebration of Whit Sunday–which is a holiday in some of the EU’s Member States–and with the exodus of early Summer vacationists. Anything is possible if it is to increase electoral participation that has been decreasing even as increasing powers have been granted to the European Parliament

Philosophical and Epistemological Basis for Building a Quality Online Training Methodology

This chapter outlines the problem of laying the groundwork for building a suitable online training methodology. In the first place, it points out that most e-learning initiatives are developed without a defined method or an appropriate strategy. It then critically analyzes the role of the constructivist model in relation to this problem, affirming that this explanatory framework is not a method and describing the problems to which this confusion gives rise. Finally, it proposes a theoretical and epistemological framework of reference for building this methodology based on Greek paideía. The authors propose that the search for a reference model such as the one developed in ancient Greece will allow us to develop a method based on the importance of a teaching profile “different” from traditional academic roles and which we call “tutor.” It has many similarities to the figures in charge of monitoring learning both in Homeric epic and Classical Greece

Looking for the excellence in eLearning initiatives. Methodology and training of online tutoring

The aim of this paper is to analyze the main issues to be considered in order to design a quality framework for eLearning. Among other aspects, the active role of online tutors will be shown as a fundamental activity to achieve excellence in eLearning activities. To know how online tutors really work, the training program to be followed by those who desire to become online tutors will be shown, as so as their methodology, skills and competences

Industria agroalimentaria en Extremadura: obstáculos a la innovación, disposición a innovar y políticas públicas demandadas

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the barriers perceived by agribusiness companies in Extremadura; how these barriers influence their disposition to innovate and the type of public actions demanded by these companies in order to boost innovation. Data comes from an ad hoc survey conducted in 2013. The methodology used combines descriptive analysis with factor analysis and econometric analysis. Main results show that high costs and risks, lack of human resources and difficulties of appropriability are the barriers that reduce the probability to innovate, and that there are important differences among the perceived factors of obstacles and demands of public actions. This can be a reference to develop government policies specifically geared towards boosting innovation in this kind of industry.El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las barreras percibidas por las empresas agroalimentarias en Extremadura; cómo estas barreras influyen en su disposición a innovar y el tipo de acciones públicas que demandan estas empresas para impulsar la innovación. Los datos provienen de una encuesta ad hoc realizada en 2013. La metodología utilizada combina el análisis descriptivo con el análisis factorial y econométrico. Los principales resultados muestran que los costes y riesgos elevados, la falta de recursos humanos y las dificultades de apropiabilidad son las barreras que reducen la probabilidad de innovar, y que existen diferencias importantes entre los factores de obstáculos percibidos y las demandas de las acciones públicas. Esto puede ser una referencia para desarrollar políticas gubernamentales orientadas específicamente a impulsar la innovación en este tipo de industria

Determining Quality for Online Activities. Methodology and Training of Online Tutors as a Challenge for Achieving the Excellence

The Information and Communication Technologies have meant a significant evolution in distance education, thus the roles of the student and the teacher have shifted from a traditional teacher-centred standpoint, to a more dynamic perspective, with the student as the central character. Whereas the role of the teacher has been extensively studied, that has not been the case with the online student. This paper reflects on the role of the online learner and draws some conclusions about the key qualities these students need to be successful in any eLearning setting, from the perspective of the Continuing Education and Specialization course Technologies and Methods in Networked Learning: Tutor Online (TOL), held by the University of Salamanca (Spain) from 2004

Preface of Online Tutor 2.0: Methodologies and Case Studies for Successful Learning

[EN] Despite the intervening centuries of discussions, firstly in Philosophy, then in Psychology and Pedagogy, and recently even in Computer Science, the search for excellent approaches regarding how to effectively teach and learn is still a challenge of our times. This became a very relevant issue during the last decades, parallel with the development of Information and Communication Technologies applied to education and learning and, particularly, with the new paradigms implied in online learning technologies and methodologies

The influence of the evolution of labour conditions inside the financial sector on the internal motivation towards financial training

[Resumo] A xestión do coñecemento é un factor estratéxico en calquera organización, en que a expansión tecnolóxica, a interacción socioeconómica e a competitividade profesional xogan un papel crecente. Ora ben, o coñecemento debe autoalimentarse, para o cal cómpre contar coa motivación necesaria, que depende das condicións en que os traballadores realizan o seu traballo. O obxecto deste artigo é mostrar a relación entre as condicións sociolaborais, a motivación profesional e a formación na actividade financeira. Para isto, o enfoque aplicado é un deseño descritivo non experimental, a través do cal se vinculan dous aspectos esenciais das condicións sociolaborais como son a deslocalización e a descualificación profesional con todas aquelas variables definitorias do mercado laboral financeiro: número de entidades, oficinas bancarias, distribución interna do persoal ou cualificación deste. Con base na variación interanual media destas variables cuantifícase o emprego financeiro español, que viu empeorar as súas condicións laborais como consecuencia do cambio regulatorio experimentado polo sector, sen precedentes na súa historia. Os resultados amosan como o proceso de reestruturación do sector coa crise danou especialmente as condicións de traballo dos empregados financeiros[Abstract] Knowledge management is a strategic factor at any organization where technological expansion, socio-economic interaction and professional competitiveness play an increasingly important role. Due to the fact that that self-feeding knowledge –a must for these organizations– depends upon the proper employee motivation, the conditions under which the employees perform their job must be taken into consideration. This paper aims to show the relation between socio-occupational conditions, professional motivation and financial activity training. In order to do that, the approach used was a non-experimental, descriptive one. This approach is used to link two essential aspects of the socio-occupational conditions such as professional offshoring and underqualification. (considering all the defining variables of the financial labour market: number of entities, banking offices, internal distribution of their staff and their qualification). Based on the average inter-annual variation of these variables, we quantify the overall employment of the Spanish financial sector, showing also that it has experienced the worsening of its labour condition as a consequence of the regulatory changes introduced in the sector. The results show how the restructuration process of the sector due to the crisis, particularly damaged the occupational conditions of the financial worker

Factors affecting pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) incidence in Mediterranean pine stands: A multiscale approach

The occurrence of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa, hereafter PPM) in Mediterranean pine forests and plantations is of increasing concern as processes such as global warming and forest cover expansion have amplified the frequency and virulence of outbreaks. This study attempts to provide as complete an overview as possible of the different factors involved in pine forest susceptibility to PPM in 98 pine stands in Central Spain. A large study area (∼3,000 km2) was considered, including three different spatial scales (<1 ha, 1 ha, 10 ha) and four different pine tree species (Pinus pinaster, P. nigra, P. sylvestris, P. pinea), monitored over a 4-year period. Models were fitted for each of the three spatial scales, as well as for a combination of them (multiscale model). Pine species had a strong influence on vulnerability to PPM, with higher incidences in stands dominated by P. pinaster and P. nigra and lower for those dominated by P. sylvestris and P. pinea. Grazing pressure, a factor thus far disregarded, was also determining, with a prominent role at both the multiscale and the stand-scale levels. Other variables were highly influential at some of the spatial scales, showing a greater resistance in pine forests or plantations with a higher diversity of pine sizes, greater tree density, and a larger cover of non-host tree species. Open habitats also played a role in PPM incidence: we detected that, both at the locality and the plot scale, the presence of clearings occupied by bushes or rocky outcrops reduced vulnerability to PPM, while the clearings with a more simplified structure produced the opposite effect. We conclude that PPM incidence is greater in structurally simple pine forests, with strong grazing pressure and abundant open spaces without woody vegetation that may favour PPM pupation. To reduce damage by PPM, pine forest and plantations should be managed to avoid oversimplified forest structures. Patches of non-host tree species should be promoted, as well as some presence of shrubs in open areas. This implies avoiding overgrazing and other management models leading to an excessive increase in bare soil. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the implementation of these recommendations should consider the remaining challenges that need to be addressed in the current context of global change, such as the increased risk of wildfires and the emergence of other pests and diseasesThis work was supported by the European Social Fund managed by the Regional Government of Madrid (Remedinal TE-CM: S2018/EMT4338