Realising aBerNo

Realising aBerNo

Author(s): Miranda Katherine Capecchi / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: aBerNo project; videoconferencing; language learning skills; academic skills; use of technology;

The author provides a detailed case study and reflective account of the aBerNo project. The course, making full use of videoconferencing, covered all four language learning skills through the teaching of key academic skills. The article covers key stages in the course’s development and highlights the work expected and outcomes achieved. Many technology-related issues are discussed, as are assessment procedures. The author provides a personal insight into the workings of a carefully developed project designed to enhance both the linguistic and academic skills of high-level students.

VC Technology: Master or Servant of Education?

VC Technology: Master or Servant of Education?

Author(s): Anjuli Pandavar / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Videoconferencing; education; using technology in education;

The author underlines the importance of having a clear rationale for using videoconferencing. A detailed case study illustrates the pitfalls and challenges of technology and looks at key examples of mismatching. These include mismatches between the different expectations of students and teachers, between theory and practice, between desired aims and actual outcomes, and between the ideal applications and actual limitations of the technology on offer. The article discusses a range of problems and issues but also points to solutions and workarounds. It emphasises the importance of considering not only how technology is used and which type is chosen but also why technology is used at all.

“Yes, interesting. But who were they and what just happened?!”: Working with Disparate HE Groups via Videoconferencing

“Yes, interesting. But who were they and what just happened?!”: Working with Disparate HE Groups via Videoconferencing

Author(s): Jo Eastlake,Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Videoconferencing; higher education; universities; improving socio-linguistic skills; learners;

The authors highlight the processes and outcomes of videoconferencing using an active participation approach. Two contrasting student groups at different universities were able to participate in a varied programme of tasks using creativity to improve socio-linguistic skills. The course was task-orientated, with the learners generating or sourcing the majority of materials. A mix of the theoretical and the practical was used to underpin the programme.

Management of Videoconferencing: Challenges and Strategies

Management of Videoconferencing: Challenges and Strategies

Author(s): Libor Štěpánek / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Videoconferencing; management of videoconferencing; higher education; managing resources; quality of courses;

The author looks at key issues facing managers in establishing effective videoconferencing courses in higher education. The issues highlighted are of a practical nature, but ones which cannot be ignored by those in charge of managing resources, including creating the right physical space, looking at timing and intercultural questions, and making proper use of both physical and human resources. This chapter provides an overview and helpful checklist to maximise the added value and quality of courses for all stakeholders.

Technological Considerations Regarding the Use of Videoconferencing in Education

Technological Considerations Regarding the Use of Videoconferencing in Education

Author(s): Marek Blahuš / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Videoconferencing; education; technology issues in videoconferencing; knowledge transfer; videoconferencing courses;

The author presents a personal and professional overview of key technology issues in videoconferencing. The tone is both authoritative and informative, and the range of information covers most aspects of use. It provides a good introduction to videoconferencing for the novice, whilst existing users will benefit from the detailed options outlined in the technical sections. The article will help teachers not only to expand their knowledge of this developing field but also to organise their videoconferencing courses.

Bibliography

Bibliography

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Videoconferencing (VC) Quick Guide

Videoconferencing (VC) Quick Guide

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Videoconferencing; quick guide; tips; hints; videoconference practitioners;

This quick guide is a compilation of two videoconferencing booklets created for the Invite and Compact projects in 2008 and 2011, respectively. The aim of this guide is to inspire novice videoconference practitioners to deal with basic videoconferencing situations and challenges in an effective way.

Mandatory Convertibles

Mandatory Convertibles

Author(s): Luděk Benada / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: bond; coupon; equity; pay-off profile; share; underlying asset;

The following article presents Mandatory Convertibles as an instrument of hybrid financing. The paper describes its genesis, characteristics and advantages over traditional financing instruments. There are graphically depicted different pay-off profiles and decomposition, which is important for the valuation of the product.

Stochastic Modelling of Interest Rate in Application in the Field of Life Insurance – Stochastic Models

Stochastic Modelling of Interest Rate in Application in the Field of Life Insurance – Stochastic Models

Author(s): Petr Červinek / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Interest rate; life insurance; Vasicek’s model; Cox-Ingersoll-Ross model; Ho-Lee model, Hull-White model;

Interest rate plays the essential role in life insurance. When used for life insurance calculation the interest rate is known as the technical interest rate. It is the minimum interest rate guaranteed for the entire term of the insurance policy. Improper setting of technical interest rate can result in far-reaching consequences. Interest rate movement is random. This can be described by stochastic differential equation. There doesn’t exist any universal model for random movement of interest rate at the moment, although many experts/specialists believe that this is just a question of time. And that’s why it is necessary to be familiarised with current models and to choose the most appropriate one. Models relate to the term structure of interest rates and they try to simulate it.

Diversification of Risk Through Financial Innovation - Securitization

Diversification of Risk Through Financial Innovation - Securitization

Author(s): Blanka Kameníková,Eva Cipovová / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: bank restructuring; the process of securitization; diversification of risk pooling; rating; tranche; financial innovation; SPV;

The paper deals with one of the most important trends in world financial markets - securitization. This trend line has started to use already in 80th years of the twentieth century, but its popularity was given to the 21st century. Securitization is an important investment instrument of the companies, which reduce the importance of financing through traditional loans and it replaced by financing through securitization of commercial products in the capital markets. The advantage of using this tool for companies is to increase liquidity and risk diversification, on the other hand, this type of transactions requires strict legislative control. Aim of this paper is to explain the basic structure of the securitization process, regulatory measures, which have lead to a reduction in the risk and consequences that entails bringing in financial markets.

Labour Market Attributes, Focusing on "People Living With Disabilities"

Labour Market Attributes, Focusing on "People Living With Disabilities"

Author(s): Zsolt Csapó,Nóra Nagymáté / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: labour market; people living with disabilities;

Nowadays employment is a hot topic in Hungary. Many kinds of supplies are provided by the state (on the basis of the 8/1983. EüM-PM Hungarian Law), for example for the group ‘people living with disabilities’. It is very difficult to provide job for these people after their rehabilitation. Statistical figures show, that the highest ratio of ‘people living with disabilities’ can be found in the North Great Plain Region of Hungary (30 per cent of the total number of ‘people living with disabilities’). The employment of these people means extra costs for enterprises. At the same time the complete accessibility of workplaces is still not realized in many cases in Hungary yet. Currently only a few enterprises are specialized to employ people living with disabilities in the North Great Plain Region. Unfortunately most of the enterprises don’t want to employ them. New workplaces for these people should be created by the utilisation of European Union and national available sources in order to integrate them into the job’s world in long run.

British Pound U.S. Dollar Fundamental Analysis

British Pound U.S. Dollar Fundamental Analysis

Author(s): Boris Šturc,Libuša Čurlejova / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: British Pound; US Dollar; London; GDP; 3M; market moving indicator; credit crisis;

Since the beginning of the credit crisis, perhaps no currency has been beaten down more than the British Pound. Experts point to the Pond’s historic volatility, and are afraid that this will continue to flee the United Kingdom in times of uncertainty. The financial debacle in the US is also not playing up to the US Dollar.

Process Management of Revitalisation Projects

Process Management of Revitalisation Projects

Author(s): Agnieszka Goździewska-Nowicka / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Brownfields; revialisation; project management; sustainable development;

Process of revitalisation is integrated and comprehensive vision and actions which lead to the resolution of urban problems and which seek to bring about a lasting improvement in the environmental, economic, physical and social conditions of an area that has been subject to change. Revitalisation should lead to the creation of new urban space and restores the unique character of old quarters and sites. Process of revitalisation has many different dimensions. In the social dimension the quality of life of the residents is intended to improve, while the economic goal of revitalisation is to initiate new impulses for the economic development and stimulate market mechanism.

Analysis of the Influence of Environmental Protection Investments on Trends in Air Quality for the Specific Regions of the Czech Republic

Analysis of the Influence of Environmental Protection Investments on Trends in Air Quality for the Specific Regions of the Czech Republic

Author(s): Helena Mikulíková / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: acquired investment; emissions; air quality; regression analysis; determination index;

The contribution is focused on the evaluation of the trends of environmental protection investments and the trends of air pollution levels for the specific regions over a given period of time. The methods of empiricism, comparison, excerption and trend analysis are used.

Analysis Monetary Poverty

Analysis Monetary Poverty

Author(s): He Nguyen Dinh / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Monetary Poverty; EU SILC 2008; Binary Logistic regression;

In this article we try to analyze the significant factors which influence to poverty. Our analysis in based on collected data from project EU SILC in Slovakia. We used binary logistic regression to analyze data.

Innovation Through Simplicity. Practical Ways to Put Innovation Into Business Practice

Innovation Through Simplicity. Practical Ways to Put Innovation Into Business Practice

Author(s): Michał Piłat / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: management; human resources; innovation; enterprise; motivation;

The paper presents a few simple to introduce, however highly effective management innovations applied mainly in the American companies. As the space is very limited the author shortly characterizes their essence and advantages, which can be achieved through their implementation. Additionally he demonstrates how to release innovative thinking around workers. Moreover the paper is an attempt to find the answer whether all the depicted innovations could also prove useful on the Polish ground.

Is Perceived Significance Determining Decision Strategy Selection?

Is Perceived Significance Determining Decision Strategy Selection?

Author(s): Axel Sonntag / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: Decision Making; Metaheuristics; Strategy Selection Model; Perceived Significance; Classroom Experiment;

“Economics is the science which studies human behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses." Focusing on the term human behavior, makes clear what human beings as economic actors actually can do: Decide between alternatives. This emphasizes the role of decision making as a core topic within a huge variety of economic theories and gives an idea why especially this area of research has been and still is paid much attention to. Humans repeatedly have been claimed unable to be rational optimizers because our brains lack the required processing power and storage capacity to do so. Consequently, to meet our every day decision making needs, less effort-demanding strategies are applied. Instead of calculating the optimal solution, simpler and therefore more humane decision rules which make the best out of our cognitive apparatus could be used to infer a problem. Such strategies are also known as heuristics. However, as can be seen from many empirical studies (e.g. [2][3][4]), there is no perfect heuristic which in general results in the most preferable outcome. As there are many fast and frugal methods, whose accuracy and decision outcome dramatically depend on the actual decision environment, the question arises, which strategy should be selected under which circumstances. Procedures used to select a specific heuristic out of a pool of available decision strategies are called metaheuristics. Cost-benefit models, like the effort-accuracy model by Payne, Bettman and Johnson, compare the beneficial accuracy of a decision strategy in finding the best alternative with the effort necessary when applying that strategy. Unfortunately, this theoretically elegant approach refers to an optimization process which is in direct conflict with the preclusion of such procedures due to limited human processing capability. Consequently, a different, nonoptimizing, approach is chosen to select decision strategies in this paper. A new metaheuristic model for decision strategy selection for consumer goods is introduced. It uses the measures as perceived relative costs and relativ holding times of consumer products to trigger the underlying decision effort (metalevel) in selecting an appropriate alternative (choice level).

From Constitutional Democracy to Constitutional Justice

Od ústavní demokracie k ústavnímu soudnictví

Author(s): Jiří Baroš / Language(s): Czech / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: law; Constitution; justice; democracy; constitutional democracy; representative democracy; parliament; court;

Jednu z nejvýstižnějších definic povahy naší demokracie v judikatuře Ústavního soudu najdeme v odlišném stanovisku emeritní ústavní soudkyně Elišky Wagnerové k nálezu Pl. ÚS 73/04. Wagnerová ve svém disentu zdůrazňuje, že se Česká republika přihlásila k „demokracii s přívlastkem liberální, přesněji k ústavní liberální demokracii. K takové demokracii patří nejen formálně chápané volby, nýbrž volby, které musí dostát určitým minimálním požadavkům, a dále vláda práva, dělba moci, respekt a ochrana základních práv a svobod.“ K modifikaci (pojetí) demokracie tak dochází s přijetím různých konstitucionalistických elementů, asi nejbrilantněji vypracovaných již Johnem Lockem a americkými otci zakladateli, jež si kladou za cíl omezit moc vlády. Autorita vlády přitom spočívá do značné míry právě na dodržování těchto omezení. Prostřednictvím omezení moci vlády dochází k efektivnějšímu uskutečnění základních principů daného politického režimu. Znakem moderního konstitucionalismu bývá zajištění účinné ochrany lidských práv, a proto bývá spojován s liberální tradicí. Kromě materiálních limitů státní moci existují též její limity strukturální, týkající se rozsahu autority (federalismus) a mechanismu uplatňování moci (procedurální požadavky upravující formu a způsob výkonu zákonodárství).

Constitutional Justice and Politics: Turbulent Modus Vivendi

Ústavní soudnictví a politika: neklidný modus vivendi

Author(s): Ivo Pospíšil / Language(s): Czech / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: constitution; law; justice; politics; modus vivendi; hierarchy and redundancies of institutions;

Téma vztahu mezi Ústavním soudem a politikou je možno pojmout různě: z pohledu právní a politické teorie či filozofie, z pohledu analýzy policy, kdy je otázkou, zda lze Ústavní soud pojímat jako jednoho z aktérů policy-making, a konečně bych zde mohl představovat kazuistiku Ústavního soudu a žehrat na to, jak ze strany politiků čelí kritikám a jak není respektována, nebo se naopak zaměřit na to, jak Ústavní soud nedbá pravidel sebeomezení a zasahuje do politických procesů a výsostně politických otázek. Zatímco k tomu druhému tématu a pojetí již bylo vysloveno a popsáno mnoho, zejména v souvislosti s tzv. kauzou Melčák, s přezkumy volebních zákonů či voleb a v neposlední řadě s přezkumy sociálního zákonodárství (nezřídka přijímaného v chvatu ve stavu legislativní nouze a s různými legislativními vadami), první téma je poměrně opomíjené, a to jak právníky, tak především politology.

Judicial Reviews of Political Processes

Soudní přezkumy politických procesů

Author(s): Vojtěch Šimíček / Language(s): Czech / Publication Year: 0

Keywords: politics; political processes; judicial reviews; political agenda; court decisions effects;

Známý politolog Petr Fiala, kterého si osobně velmi vážím, a s nímž je proto i radost a čest polemizovat, uvedl v souboru esejí nazvaných „Politika, jaká nemá být“: „Jakkoli jsou instituce a pravidla důležitá, jsou zde kvůli člověku, a nikoliv naopak. V síti vztahů, významů, pravidel a předpisů, státních a nadstátních útvarů stále více regulujících máme tendenci na to zapomínat. Odtud lze také odvodit hierarchii institucí a jejich významů v moderní demokratické společnosti. Volby a volení reprezentanti lidu jsou pro demokracii klíčovými institucemi, jsou tedy nezbytné (příznakotvorné), a proto také musí mít prioritu. Naopak instituce, jako je např. Ústavní soud, jsou institucemi zbytnými, mohou být, ale nemusí, nejsou určujícím příznakem demokracie.“