A Guide to Innovation in the Adoption of Alternative Digital Credentials

This chapter provides a guidance to universities that desire to adopt quality standards and effective procedures for the issuance of alternative digital credentials (ADCs). Its underlying message is that universities must become involved in issuing ADCs if they are to continue to serve the public in relevant ways. It lists the strong reasons for the institutional adoption of ADCs, the barriers to adoption, and then provides advice on how to design an institutional icon (badge), criteria for the issuance of ADCs, the standardization of ADC metadata, choosing an ADC platform, establishing governance and oversight, and establishing an administrative structure. This chapter argues strongly for the adoption of competency-based assessments in contrast to assessments focused only on learning achievement assessments. This comprehensive guide is based on the experience of three universities which have successfully implemented comprehensive ADC issuance programs.

K reformě územně správního členění České republiky

The territorial administrative structure of the Czech Republic has been reformed by Act No. 51/2020 Sb. This change implements an integrated system of local administrative units for the performance of the state administration on different levels based on local units defined as micro-regions. The new arrangement respects the existing boarders of territorial self-governing units while provides an abolishment of the old system of administrative regions based on Act No. 36/1960 Sb.

Stages and actions for an administrative-territorial reorganization reform

This article addresses the process of implementing a territorial reform, as well as its importance for the reorganization of the territorial-administrative structure of the state. Regardless of the administrative-territorial organization of the state, this process involves planning, carrying out and monitoring the reform of territorial reorganization. Each step of the reform is the subject of a successive order, which will be set out in a chronological order, according to the recommendation of the committee of Ministers of the Member States of the Council of Europe Rec (2004) 12. According to the experience of other states, the postponement of territorial-administrative reform is influenced by a lack of political will, insufficient communication between CPA with LPA, inaction of civil society and others.

Determinants of State Institutions Performance in Sierra Leone

Public institutions performance has been the greatest concern for governments in different parts of the world. In Sierra Leone, the success of governments departments contribute towards the socio economic development of the country. Nevertheless, achieving exceptional performance in public institutions is encircled with enormous challenges that hinders the achievement of strategic objectives. Considering the quantum challenges surrounding public institutions performance, addressing those challenges requires consideration of numerous elements that could influence performance. However, this study focus on determinants of state institutions performance in Sierra Leone. The investigation started with an assessment of previous and existing performance benchmarks and then proceeded to its focus. This study was conducted in Freetown, using three public institutions as sample frame and obtained a sample size of 300 employees in a random manner, ranging from nonsupervisory to managerial level. We employed primary data collection method, using the Linkert scale system, which shows the following description: 5=Strongly Agree, 4=Agree, 3=Neutral, 2=Disagree, 1=Strongly Disagree. The study analysed primary data with descriptive statistics and correlational methods aided by SPSS 21. Data obtained from respondents shows that human capital development, rewards, effective and efficient administrative structure and personnel engagement determines state institutions performance. Respondents noted that if state institutions have efficient administrative structure, they would facilitate human capital development and empowerment, ensure efficient management of financial resources and engage personnel for effective job performance. The aforementioned elements constitute determinants of exceptional performance. This study is therefore noteworthy to performance management specialists, human capital enhancement professionals and public institutions in Sierra Leone.

Egy mai elnevezés és a középkor valósága

The territory of Zakarpatska / Kárpátalja now situated in the ukraine, was formulated mostly based on certain parts of four Hungarian counties: ung, Bereg, ugocsa, Máramaros. Th e western part of the former ung county now belongs to Slovakia, southern part of Bereg belongs to the county of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg of Hungary. The southern parts of Ugocsa and Máramaros counties belong to Romania. In the study the changes in the abovementioned counties will be followed on the fi eld of administrative structure, the land-properties and demography during the 13th‒15th centuries.

The Empires of the East

The early sixteenth century saw the rise of three distinct Islamic empires, ruled by the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals. In each, rulers had to find ways to legitimize their authority and their expansionist agenda, co-opting elites while also responding to the exigencies of economic change and military developments. The Ottomans became increasingly identified with Sunni Islam and the Safavids with Shi’ite interpretations of faith, but all three empires were religiously heterogeneous and they needed to cultivate an administrative structure and ideal of service which was not simply tied to a particular spiritual path. In the Ottoman empire there was an important debate about the relationship between those policies and principles which seemed necessary for stability and prosperity, and the demands of the divine law as understood by religious elites. The Mughal emperor Akbar, on the other hand, countered religious orthodoxy with his own version of saintliness and divine favour. In contrast to the lands of Western Europe, there was little interest in developing a concept of natural law whose purpose was earthly flourishing rather than spiritual fulfilment. Political thinking in the Islamic empires tended to emphasize universal principles, although in the Ottoman lands there came to be a recognition of the particular circumstances and challenges faced by that Empire.

Challenges of Equal Church Policies on Rural Pastors and Congregants: The Case of Three Classical Pentecostal Churches in Ghana

Classical Pentecostal Churches in Ghana have various policies to guide their operations such as; administrative structure, functions of various office holders, their terms of office, activities guidelines and many more. Using the qualitative research approach, the paper finds out challenges faced by rural Classical Pentecostal Pastors, families, and congregants in Ghana with regards to policy generalization, which often fails to address some specific challenges of rural folks. Based on results from interviews conducted, this paper offers various recommendations which if adopted would help minimize the challenges of marginalization faced by pastors, their families and the church congregants to the enhancement of their holistic development. Keywords: Equality, Equity, Policies, Generalization, Rural Pastors

Siedziby pańskie na Śląsku w świetle źródeł pisanych. Studium nad średniowieczną nomenklaturą

The subject of this study is the nomenclature used in medieval written sources for small feudal residences. The majority of them are private foundations of vassals to the duke, i.e., knights and citizens of Wroclaw. A few examples are seats of village administrators, as well as rural mansions of knightly orders. Also examined are smaller objects (most having special functions) built by territorial rulers – namely, Silesian dukes and bishops of Wrocław. These objects were clearly different in their scale from the stately brick castles that played the role of princely residences or were otherwise part of the country’s administrative structure. In light of the materials collected, small feudal residences were mentioned in medieval Silesian written sources as: curia/Hof, curia habitationis, curia murata/gemauerte Hof, castrum/Burg/Haus, fortalicium/Feste, propugnaculum/Bergfried, turris/Turm, Gesesse, Sitz, Rittersitz.