scholarly journals Higher Education in VUCA-World: New Metaphor of University

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Tatiana V. Korsakova

In the 21st century universities cannot survive if they simply support an established state of affairs because the modern world is described by the following relation: the rate of change tends to infinity; the transition interval tends to zero. This leads to the fact that universities cannot rest on their laurels and not change. The university that cannot construct new organizational ties loses its magnitude forever. The article describes the specific features of the new reality which are of great importance for building modern organizational systems in universities. Reference points have been being identified and that allows presenting the direction of development that meets the new requirements of the modern world to people, processes, technologies, structures, and systems accordingly to the university. Analysis of the selected reference points leads to the conclusion that in the conditions of dynamic changes and uncertainty of the world the concrete way of the vision of the university’s situation is to see it as if in the light of the modern world. A metaphor is presented, which is based on a comparison of the university internal world with the current reality. It is expressed by the acronym VUCA.

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Tatiana V. Korsakova

In the 21st century universities cannot survive if they simply support an established state of affairs because the modern world is described by the following relation: the rate of change tends to infinity; the transition interval tends to zero. This leads to the fact that universities cannot rest on their laurels and not change. The university that cannot construct new organizational ties loses its magnitude forever. The article describes the specific features of the new reality which are of great importance for building modern organizational systems in universities. Reference points have been being identified and that allows presenting the direction of development that meets the new requirements of the modern world to people, processes, technologies, structures, and systems accordingly to the university. Analysis of the selected reference points leads to the conclusion that in the conditions of dynamic changes and uncertainty of the world the concrete way of the vision of the university’s situation is to see it as if in the light of the modern world. A metaphor is presented, which is based on a comparison of the university internal world with the current reality. It is expressed by the acronym VUCA.


1960 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-256
Author(s):  
G. V. Edmonson

Although the purpose of this paper is specifically that of describing the Fluids Engineering Laboratory at the University of Michigan, it is clear that an understanding of the faculty philosophy underlying the planning of this unit is a necessary part of the document. This is an age of technological expansion, the rate-of-change of which exceeds any progress the world has hitherto known. The seeking of new knowledge and the application of that knowledge is the work of an ever-increasing number of competent scientists and engineers not only skilled in a technology but equally successful in the art of human understanding and relationships. Institutions of higher education are an integral part of this technological age and, because of this fact, find themselves confronted with the task of foreseeing the educational and research needs of the future. This is an immense task, one which is occupying many of the best minds of this generation. The technological and social progress of the coming generation depends upon the continuing flow of students emanating from our institutions of learning. They must be adequately prepared for the responsibilities which they alone can assume.


Author(s):  
Justyna Mielnik

A Child is an Internet’s Consumer We live in very strange times. Dynamic changes are taking place in front of our eyes. Every day, new, innovative devices, programs and software are created. The world has sped up and people have to adapt to it in the best way possible. Being able to filter so much information is not easy for adults, and even harder for children that are just learning everything. Therefore, it is worth asking yourself whether everything that the world gives us is good, and if not, can we see it? If so, can we protect children from the negative effects of new media and modern technology and teach them to use wisely the benefits of today? The article describes the media, their importance in the modern world and their split. Social media, which are currently considered one of the greatest achievements of mankind, as well as the Internet, where its functions, advantages, but also the dangers it brings are presented in more detailed way. Television, which plays an important role in family life, is also described in this work. The next chapter presents the results of the own research. During the interviews, the students answered questions about what electronic devices they use most often, what websites they use most often, what time they spend in front of the screen/on the Internet and if they know the dangers of using the Internet. In addition, during the study, students’ knowledge of the advantages of using the Internet was tested, why they use internet and how people using internet are controlled. The conclusions of this study are varied. What is the most importantly, we still don’t know exactly how to keep children protected from modern media. Among parents and teachers there is a lot of missing knowledge. It is important to educate teachers, parents but as well children about that. All this can help us to ensure that young people, as well as adults, will only the benefits from what the modern world offer them.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-139
Author(s):  
Rinat Z. Izmaylov ◽  
Evgeniy Yu. Voronkin

The article discusses the development of an information platform for the Department of Applied Informatics and Information Systems. Since in the modern world the availability of a functional information platform, with an easy access, is the most important for communicating with the world, therefore, the implementation of such a platform most often occurs in a web space as a separate informative site with many pages to help users navigate, in the variety of information presented. For the university, as a rule, this is not only a university web resource, but also a graduating department, which is connected with the future field of training. The development of an information resource should include the necessary minimum for viewing cathedral information, not only for applicants, but also for students, as well as for the teaching staff.


2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-22
Author(s):  
Adam Daniel Rotfeld

AbstractAttempting to understand the way in which the international system evolves and what the main forces that shape its future progress are, is always a complicated endeavour. In the present article, based on the presentation made at the Conference “Sir Hersch Lauterpacht ‐ Lawyer of Two Cultures”, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law of the University of Cambridge, the author undertakes this daunting task. Whereas Kissinger argued that there exist only two paths to stability, hegemony or equilibrium, in this article it is argued that this does not reflect the current reality and challenges of the 21st century. By analysing the current forces and challenges of the modern international community the author of the present article strives to derive certain conclusions as to where the world is heading and what would be the shape of the international system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-281
Author(s):  
Sonia Reverter-Bañon

Purpose. This article proposes to reflect on how universities are committed to gender equality. Methodology. After a theoretical reflection that introduces the current reality of universities and the framework of academic capitalism that surrounds them, I investigate the global university rankings (GURs), specifically The High Education (THE) World University Rankings. Results and Discussion. The analysis of the rankings shows us the need to rethink how, in the current reality of university practices imposed by academic capitalism, we can carry out the university equality policies that laws and regulations impose on academia. Conclusion. As a conclusion and contribution, I point out the urgency of a new conception, which puts the commitments of sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda at the center and adjusts the standards and methodologies to these objectives, and not vice versa, the objectives to the methodologies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 7-29
Author(s):  
Peter Horton ◽  
Wah Soon Chow ◽  
Christopher Barrett

Joan Mary (Jan) Anderson pioneered the investigation of the molecular organization of the plant thylakoid membrane, making seminal discoveries that laid the foundations for the current understanding of photosynthesis. She grew up in Queenstown, New Zealand, obtaining a BSc and MSc at the University of Otago in Dunedin. After completing her PhD at the University of California, she embarked on a glittering career at CSIRO and then the Australian National University in Canberra. Not only a gifted experimentalist, Jan was a creative thinker, not afraid to put her insightful and prophetic hypotheses into the public domain. Her many notable achievements include establishing the details and the physiological significance of lateral heterogeneity in the distribution of the two photosystems between stacked and unstacked thylakoid membranes and the dynamic changes in the extent of stacking that occur in response to changes in the light environment. Her investigations brought her into collaboration with leading researchers throughout the world. Recognized with many honours as a leading scientist in Australia, international recognition included the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society of Photosynthesis Research and honorary fellowships at universities in the UK and USA.


Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Stowell

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between Husserl’s phenomenology and soft systems. An important idea arising from the action research programme at the University of Lancaster is the notion of soft systems. The concept of soft systems, that distinguished it from other systems (holistic) thinking of the time, was the conscious link between soft systems thinking and phenomenology. Phenomenology is that the realm of intentional consciousness that enables the phenomenologist to develop a radically unprejudiced justification of his (or her) basic views of the world and of himself and explore their rational interconnections. Similarly, in soft systems, it is acknowledged that reality is formed by sensation and fashioned by experience. It is not exclusively a process of thought (although this may shape how we process our experience), for us the world exists as the result of a subjective appreciation of it. In Part 1, the author explores how phenomenology informs soft systems theory and practice through the work of Husserl and some of those that influenced him and were influenced by him. In Part 2, the author explores a possible relationship between Husserl and Gadamer as a possible intellectual grounding for organisational inquiry. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted by examining published material relating to the development of soft systems ideas and Husserl's phenomenology. Findings An analysis of the ideas within the material suggests that phenomenology can be considered as a underpinning the notion of soft systems Research limitations/implications There is difficulty tracking down important papers that recorded the development of soft systems (i.e. 1970–1990) as Lancaster University had disposed of all issues. However, the author tracked down a source and was able to use this material as part of the research. In addition to helping research the origins of the idea, it also provides a paper trail for other researchers interested in these ideas. Practical implications Tracing the published material relating to soft systems necessitated visits to several universities as many of the important papers where no longer held by the University of Lancaster library. Social implications It seems apposite that the ideas behind soft systems are resurrected as they offer an alternative way of thinking about complexity – which the modern world seems increasingly creating Originality/value There is a lack of research into soft systems as the publications describing the Lancaster research programme have centred around soft systems methodology (SSM). Checkland remarked a decade or so ago that said SSM should be taken as given and other ideas explored. There is little evidence that the soft ideas have been explored outside variations of SSM, this paper is intended to encourage more research into ‘soft’ systems.


Author(s):  
Ronald Barnett

Supercomplexity is that state of affairs that is characterized by multiple, conflicting, and proliferating accounts of a situation, in which there are no secure categories through which to anchor oneself in the world. Stated thus, understanding supercomplexity is at a fork: it can lead either to relativism or can be coupled to a realism. I opt here for the latter gambit, specifically marrying supercomplexity to (Roy Bhaskar's) critical realism and I do so by placing my reflections in the context of investigations of the university. Grasped as a site of supercomplexity, the university is open not just to multiple interpretations and ideas (ideas of the university now flourishing and conflicting) but to infinite possibilities. This is where the researcher-as-scholar comes into her or his own in discerning and imagining possibilities for the university in the 21st century.


1966 ◽  
Vol 05 (03) ◽  
pp. 142-146
Author(s):  
A. Kent ◽  
P. J. Vinken

A joint center has been established by the University of Pittsburgh and the Excerpta Medica Foundation. The basic objective of the Center is to seek ways in which the health sciences community may achieve increasingly convenient and economical access to scientific findings. The research center will make use of facilities and resources of both participating institutions. Cooperating from the University of Pittsburgh will be the School of Medicine, the Computation and Data Processing Center, and the Knowledge Availability Systems (KAS) Center. The KAS Center is an interdisciplinary organization engaging in research, operations, and teaching in the information sciences.Excerpta Medica Foundation, which is the largest international medical abstracting service in the world, with offices in Amsterdam, New York, London, Milan, Tokyo and Buenos Aires, will draw on its permanent medical staff of 54 specialists in charge of the 35 abstracting journals and other reference works prepared and published by the Foundation, the 700 eminent clinicians and researchers represented on its International Editorial Boards, and the 6,000 physicians who participate in its abstracting programs throughout the world. Excerpta Medica will also make available to the Center its long experience in the field, as well as its extensive resources of medical information accumulated during the Foundation’s twenty years of existence. These consist of over 1,300,000 English-language _abstract of the world’s biomedical literature, indexes to its abstracting journals, and the microfilm library in which complete original texts of all the 3,000 primary biomedical journals, monitored by Excerpta Medica in Amsterdam are stored since 1960.The objectives of the program of the combined Center include: (1) establishing a firm base of user relevance data; (2) developing improved vocabulary control mechanisms; (3) developing means of determining confidence limits of vocabulary control mechanisms in terms of user relevance data; 4. developing and field testing of new or improved media for providing medical literature to users; 5. developing methods for determining the relationship between learning and relevance in medical information storage and retrieval systems’; and (6) exploring automatic methods for retrospective searching of the specialized indexes of Excerpta Medica.The priority projects to be undertaken by the Center are (1) the investigation of the information needs of medical scientists, and (2) the development of a highly detailed Master List of Biomedical Indexing Terms. Excerpta Medica has already been at work on the latter project for several years.


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