Indicative assessment of the financial and economic security of the area: Practical approval of the method

Subject. This article considers the financial and economic security of an area as a complex system. Objectives. The article aims to develop and test a methodology for assessing regional financial and economic security based on a system of indicators divided into metrics. Methods. For the study, I used a statistical analysis and the indicative approach. Results. The article defines the integral safety factors of the Ulyanovsk Oblast, as well as a set of indicators and their threshold values for financial and economic security metrics. Conclusions. The article notes that the number of negative factors that can adversely affect the overall level of regional security and reduce the stability of the regional socioeconomic system has increased over time.

The use of specialized products in organization of school nutrition by the example of regional practices

Одним из путей совершенствования организации и повышения эффективности питания учащихся в общеобразовательных школах является его перевод на индустриальные методы производства продукции и централизованное снабжение школьных столовых различными видами полуфабрикатов, кулинарных изделий, а также продукцией высокой степени готовности, предназначенной для питания детей. В статье показаны региональные примеры организации школьного питания с применением специализированной продукции для детского питания. При применении модели раздаточной организации питания, реализованной в г. Набережные Челны (Татарстан), все операции по тепловой кулинарной обработке сырья вынесены в комбинат питания. Комбинат осуществляет изготовление специализированных блюд для детского питания в групповой упаковке по системе Сook&Сhill. Пищеблоки образовательных учреждений осуществляют операции только по регенерации (разогреву) приготовленных и охлажденных блюд, а также раздачу и сервировку. В Ульяновской области реализовано применение другой модели - доготовочной организации школьного питания, при которой составление рациона основано на максимальном использовании специализированного сырья и детских пищевых продуктов, в том числе обогащенных незаменимыми макро- и микронутриентами, произведенных по государственным стандартам предприятиями пищевой и перерабатывающей промышленности. Применение специализированных мясных продуктов в рационах питания детей в организованных коллективах поможет значительно оптимизировать рацион, скорректировать его по макро- и микронутриентному составу. Успешные региональные практики, основанные на применении специализированных продуктов и готовых блюд, вырабатываемых на базе крупных комбинатов школьного питания и промышленных предприятиях, могут стать примером совершенствования системы организованного питания для других регионов. One of the ways for improving organization and increasing effectiveness of nutrition of students in general education schools is its transition to the industrial methods for food production and centralized supply of school canteens with different types of semi-finished products, culinary products and products of high degree of readiness intended for child nutrition. The paper shows regional examples of school nutrition organization using specialized products for child nutrition. When applying the model of nutrition organization of the distribution type realized in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny (Tatarstan), all operations on thermal culinary processing of raw materials have been transferred to a food preparation facility. A food preparation facility prepares specialized dishes for child nutrition in the multiple package using the Cook&Chill system. The catering units of educational institutions perform only operations on regeneration (heating) of cooked and chilled dishes, as well as their distribution and serving. Another model is used in Ulyanovsk Oblast - organization of school nutrition using secondary food processing (preparation of dishes from semi-prepared products, and organization of consumption at the place of preparation). In this model, ration formulation is based on the maximum use of specialized raw materials and food products for children including products enriched with essential macro- and micronutrients, produced according to the state standards by enterprises of the food and processing industry. The use of specialized meat products in food rations for children in the organized groups will facilitate significant optimization of rations, their correction by the macro- and micronutrient composition. Successful regional practices based on the use of specialized products and ready dishes produced on the basis of large food preparation facilities for school nutrition and industrial enterprises can be an example of the improvement of the organized nutrition system for other regions.

The development of innovation clusters in Volga Region economic space

The object of this research is the spatial boundaries of innovation clusters in the Volga Region economic space. The subject of this research is modeling of the processes of innovation transformation and the zones of distribution of externalities of cluster development. Innovative clusters are viewed as an advanced form of territorial organization of production and the foundation of socioeconomic development of the region in the current context. The formation and development of innovation clusters in the Volga Region is analyzed within the framework of its impact upon transformation of the economic space. The key aspects of transformation of the economic space are determined. Special attention is turned to heterogeneity of the distribution of externalities of clusterization processes in the Volga Region. The conclusion is made on signigicant unevenness of the distribution of clusterization processes in the Volga region economic space. Volga Region has territories with one or several centers of clusterization of the economic space (the Republic of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Udmurtia, Ulyanovsk Oblast). The author reveals the territories that are influenced by clusterization of the neighboring regions. The main result of the conducted research lies in definition of spatial boundaries of the processes of clusterization of production in the Volga Region. The author's contribution consists in identification of spatial zones of innovation clusters, such as the core, the center of the cluster and its periphery, based on transport accessibility.

Logistics of Pedagogical Innovations: Paradigms of Development in Educational Holding

The transition of Russian society to the post-industrial stage actualizes the problem of developing educational systems based on innovations and the search for a relevant methodology for managing pedagogical innovations. Its basis is the logistics of pedagogical innovations as the theory and practice of flow control in educational systems. The purpose of the study is to determine the paradigms of logistic development of pedagogical innovations as a methodology and mechanism for managing innovation in an educational holding. The hypothesis is presented by the assumption that these paradigms form value, content and instrumental frameworks for the implementation and development of logistics of pedagogical innovations. The study is based on an analysis of primary sources, including 1492 cases, which include reports on the results of innovative activities of educational organizations of Ulyanovsk Oblast, which are innovative sites that are part of a regional educational holding (100 educational organizations annually). The materials were prepared during the period from 2003-2004 to 2017-2018 academic years. We introduced the concept of “logistics of pedagogical innovations”, which describes the theory and practice of managing flows (pedagogical, infrastructural, integrative, interference) in an educational holding in order to ensure a steady flow of pedagogical innovations that are the result of its activities and development factor. We identified directions of development of pedagogical innovations logistics, which are defined by five paradigms: axiological (value of innovation), humanitarian (a person as a subject of logistics), interaction paradigm (focus on the development of interaction in the holding’s internal and external environment), meaningful (priority in the study of flows in an educational holding) and technological (focus on improving methods and means of logistics). Each of them sets priorities for improving the educational holding.

Financial situation and social support received by families with children in Ulyanovsk oblast

The aim of this work is to analyze the financial situation and the level of social support received by families with children in Ulyanovsk oblast on the basis of the data from household survey conducted in Ulyanovsk oblast. The study showed that the poverty rate among the surveyed households with children under 18 is significantly higher than the total poverty rate among the households. Many families with children cannot afford buying goods and services they need. In order to maintain their consumption level, a significant proportion of families with children have to take out loans. Analysis of the survey data shows that the coverage of families with children by social benefits is quite high. At the same time, even among the poor households with children, one quarter of households does not receive any social benefits. The surveyed families with children noted difficulties faced by them in obtaining information about social benefits and in collecting necessary documents, long waiting in queues when applying for benefits. The calculations show that provision of regional benefits, including targeted regional benefits, reduces the poverty rate among households with children only slightly. In general, regional benefits are more likely to reduce the extreme poverty of household with children. The analysis presented in the article allows determining possible directions for improving the social support system in Ulyanovsk oblast.

Management of grain production in modern conditions

The paper outlines the role of grain-producing companies in the agrarian sector of Ulyanovsk Oblast. It determines basic competitiveness factors of grain-producing companies in the region. An agricultural enterprise devoted to crop production of the region was assessed to provide an overview of its internal and external environment in modern conditions. The SWOT and PEST analysis tools were used therewith. The overview evaluated the efficiency of grain production at the enterprise, determined a break-even point and margin of financial stability. This allowed the enterprise to be classified as financially unstable with a moderate bankruptcy risk. The paper also discusses the role of innovations (through the introduction of new promising and region-bound grain varieties and the use of highly-efficient liquid fertilizers) and their contribution to the development of grain production and increase in financial stability of the enterprise.