Švietimas: politika, vadyba, kokybė /Education Policy, Management and Quality

Number No. 3 (9), 2011

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THE QUALITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES: MANAGEMENT ASPECT

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Abstract

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Number of views: 471

In recent years attention to quality of studies is not decreasing. Lots of different level and ty-pe articles have been written, books and other literature have been published. On the other hand, over the last few years different national, regional and international science conferences and symposiums took place. So, it is obvious, that the concern in the university study quality is really huge. However, the essence of the matter lies somewhere deeper. The main goals, formulated in Bologna declaration, had to be implemented by 2010. However, now it becomes clear, that some of the vitally important things were not realised and there are more and more doubts if they will, on the whole, be carried through. The Bologna process itself is not sought to be analysed. What interests us firstly, is the qu-ality of studies’ management question. Various researches reveal that the university study quality in some countries has significantly decreased even measuring according to the most minimal criteria. First of all, this is because most universities are oriented into providing service. It is known, that service University is not capable to ensure the proper quality of the studies and of provided education at the same time. Mass universities meant for mass usage. University education is more and more “Mc.Donaldized” (Lamanauskas, 2011a). Thus, the problem of the quality of studies remains the key problem in nowadays university work. It is understandable, that different countries have different experience in this field both in horizontal and vertical sense. The quality of studies conception despite all efforts remains diverse and has multiple meanings. Paraphrasing a familiar soviet times’ statement (“from everyone – according to possibilities, for everyone – according to demands”), one can state, that higher education can’t be provided according to demands, and it can’t be required from graduates according to their abilities and possibilities. Massification of higher education in a direct way negatively affects the quality of studies (process), as well as higher education quality (result). This is the essential risk in university management.

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PRECONDITIONS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE OF THE PROCESS OF MATURITY EXAMINATION

Authors: Jolanta Urbanovič, Guoda Balaikaitė

Abstract

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Number of views: 438

Researches of Maturity exams are usually restricted to the tasks of content analysis, thus maturity examinations are attached to the pedagogical field of study. However, the final examination is a complex phenomenon, being the task of content and its implementation process. Therefore, to fully assess the maturity exams, the administration cannot be forgotten. Final examination is a public service and, herewith, one of the public administration areas. For the reasons identified, as well as annually emerging problems of the organisation of maturity examinations and the lack of appropriate scientific researches on this issue, it was decided to carry out a research on the quality of the maturity examinations process and find out what affects the assurance of this quality. The goal of the research is to identify the preconditions of maturity examinations’process quality assurance in Lithuania. According to theoretical models, it was decided to investigate the quality of the maturity examination through the process itself, including the users of maturity ex-aminations public service and its direct providers. In order to systematize and discuss the results, the following methods were used: analysis of scientific literature and legislation, data analysis, summa-rising, comparison, questionnaire and the structured interview. The review of scientific literature showed that the quality of maturity examinations as a pub-lic service is a correspondence of the regulated process and the consumers’ expectations. Question-naire results showed that the consumers are not satisfied with the preparation of facilities and the work of people engaged. According to the interviewed, the main problem of the maturity examina-tions is inappropriate session time. The comparison of the assessment process of the providers and the consumers revealed that they differ in the preparation of the facilities, employees’ appropriate work and the session time. In this research is analysed the concept of the public service quality, the main principles of quality management and quality models, the maturity examination process, which is divided into three phases. Each stage presents the strengths and weaknesses identified by analysing law regu-lated procedures and the results of maturity examinations research. On the basis of the research results the quality assurance elements specific to each phase are established. On the whole, there can be made a maturity examination quality model and its impact identified.

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INCEST PHENOMENON IN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY: REALITIES AND VISIONS

Authors: Irena Gailienė

Abstract

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Number of views: 441

The article examines the genesis of incestuous connection and its expression in the academic community, focusing on the moral, psychosocial, and educational dimensions and meaning. These aspects recently are obviously deviated from the social standards. Anomaly is becoming more and more the norm. With reference to psychological patterns and personal experiences, it is analyzed and illustrated the real and projected impact of incest phenomenon on functioning of academic community: on quality of studies, on research activities, on psychosocial climate and on professional motivation of community members. The consequences of incest are revealed when formally in-groups are established or infor-mally establishes themselves. In such groups typically group thinking is developed, which implies the occurrence of three essential conditions: the group friendship, unity: the relative group isolation from different-minded and the presence of directive leadership, which allows to understand what decisions are appreciated. In in-groups professional and personal intimacy is dominated, withdrawal in their own thoughts circle, rejection of any criticism, censorship and self-censorship, conformism and unconditional obedience to leaders, disregard to moral norms and other features are noticed. Negative impact of the incest phenomenon and its disposal options is set out in two scenarios: pessimistic and optimistic one. In pessimistic scenario a group thinking features and division of community into two hostile camps: us and them, are examined. In-groups are usually characterized by the phenomenon of internal favoritism, where inappropriate, ineffective actions and decisions of this group members are justified. The members of out-group are assessed uniformly and trite, i.e. not taking into consideration the individual personalities. They are usually assigned with negative „labels“. Dissidents instead are considered to be particularly enimies, who submit their own evaluations, opinions and criticisms, thus, different ways of their rejection or even exclusion from the community are searched. In optimistic scenario visions are concretized, thanks to which disappearance of incestuous relations and together the positive changes in everyday life of the academic community are likely expected.

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SCHOOL OPEN FOR INNOVATIONS

Authors: Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė

Abstract

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Number of views: 474

A short communication (interview) with Vilnius "Vyturys" Primary School headteacher Aušra Drumstiene.

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SCHOOL WORTHY TO SURVIVE

Authors: Judita Stankutė

Abstract

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Number of views: 464

A short communication (interview) with head of Alsedziai Secondary School Leonas Mockūnas, Plunge District, Lithuania.