Aspects of Teaching the Georgian Language to Non-Georgian Speakers

Socialization of students, their proper preparation for professional activities exactly corresponds to the spirit of the Bologna Process. That is why it became the basis for our learning process. Besides, our frenetic aspiration to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic space obliges us to follow the mentioned activity. Therefore, it is absolutely clear that we have already established a new scientific field – communicology. The eminent scholars, such as professors of Georgian Technical University Temur Jagodnishvili and Ivane Jagodnishvili laid the firm foundation for the development of the mentioned field. The books published by them: "Oral Communication," "Written and Oral Communication," "Academic Writing" or other textbooks are of the same level as the works of European and Russian textual critics, where the authors' concepts, findings, and methods establish the requirements of the modernity at a high scientific level. In the process of teaching the Georgian language, we pay special attention to the use of specific elements of non-Georgian speakers; for instance, determining the ways of language development and its management, clarifying the issue of language prestige, specifying its role in determining nationality, finding and establishing valid language policy models.

Evolution and Reproducibility of Simulation Modeling in Epidemiology and Health Policy over Half a Century

Simulation models are increasingly used to inform epidemiological studies and health policy, yet there is great variation in their transparency and reproducibility. This review provides an overview of applications of simulation models in health policy and epidemiology, analyzes the use of best reporting practices, and assesses the reproducibility of the models using predefined, categorical criteria. 1,613 studies were identified and analyzed. We found an exponential growth in the number of studies over the past half century, with the highest growth in dynamic modeling approaches. The largest subset of studies is focused on disease policy models (70%), within which pathological conditions, viral diseases, neoplasms, and cardiovascular diseases account for one-third of the articles. Nearly half of the studies do not report the details of their models. We also provide in depth analysis of modeling best practices, reporting quality and reproducibility for a subset of 100 articles (50 highly cited and 50 random). Only seven of 26 in-depth evaluation criteria were satisfied by more than 80% of samples. We identify areas for increased application of simulation modeling and opportunities to enhance the rigor and documentation in the conduct and reporting of simulation modeling in epidemiology and health policy.

Incentivizing BECCS—A Swedish Case Study

Negative carbon dioxide (CO2)-emissions are prevalent in most global emissions pathways that meet the Paris temperature targets and are a critical component for reaching net-zero emissions in Year 2050. However, economic incentives supporting commercialization and deployment of BioEnergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) are missing. This Policy and Practice Review discusses five different models for creating incentives and financing for BECCS, using Sweden as an example: (1) governmental guarantees for purchasing BECCS outcomes; (2) quota obligation on selected sectors to acquire BECCS outcomes; (3) allowing BECCS credits to compensate for hard-to-abate emissions within the EU ETS; (4) private entities for voluntary compensation; and (5) other states acting as buyers of BECCS outcomes to meet their mitigation targets under the Paris Agreement. We conclude that successful implementation of BECCS is likely to require a combination of several of the Policy Models, implemented in a sequential manner. The governmental guarantee model (Model 1) is likely to be required in the shorter term, so as to establish BECCS. Policy Models 2 and 3 may become more influential over time once BECCS has been established and accepted. Model 3 links BECCS to a large carbon-pricing regime with opportunities for cost-effectiveness and expanded financing. We conclude that Policy Models 4 and 5 are associated with high levels of uncertainty regarding the timing and volume of negative emissions that can be expected—Thus, they are unlikely to trigger BECCS implementation in the short term, although may have roles in the longer term. Based on this study, we recommend that policymakers carefully consider a policy sequencing approach that is predictable and sustainable over time, for which further analyses are required. It is not obvious how such sequencing can be arranged, as the capacities to implement the different Policy Models are vested in different organizations (national governments, EU, private firms). Furthermore, it is important that a BECCS policy is part of an integrated climate policy framework, in particular one that is in line with policies aimed at the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the creation of a circular economy. It will be important to ensure that BECCS and the associated biomass resource are not overexploited. A well-designed policy package should guarantee that BECCS is neither used to postpone the reduction of fossil fuel-based emissions nor overused in the short term as a niche business for “greenwashing” while not addressing fossil fuel emissions.

Child Support in Shared Care Cases: Do Child Support Policies in Thirteen Countries Reflect Family Policy Models?

Increasingly, parents in separated families equally share care of their children post-separation. In this article we extend a well-known family policy model to generate hypotheses about the level of child support to be paid by separated parents when children live primarily with their mother (‘sole custody’) in contrast to when children spend equal time with both parents (‘shared care’). We test these hypotheses with data collected from thirteen countries. In sole custody cases, countries with an earner-carer policy model do have lower child support expectations than countries with a traditional family policy model or a market-oriented model, as predicted. Countries with a traditional family policy model do have the highest orders in the shared case, as predicted. However, there is as much variation within models as there is between, suggesting new analytic frameworks for considering child support in family policy need to be developed.

Social policy

The textbook sets out the theoretical and methodological foundations, as well as specific directions of social policy. The principles of organization and mechanisms of functioning of social policy models in Western countries are considered. The material is illustrated by operational statistical and sociological facts. It is recommended for university students studying in the areas of " State and Municipal Management", "Personnel management", "Management", "Sociology" and other managerial specialties, students of various forms of training, professional retraining and advanced training, as well as undergraduates and postgraduates of relevant specialties.

Policy, fast and slow: Social impact bonds and the differential temporalities of mobile policy

Governments are increasingly intrigued by the possibility of harnessing the private ‘social investment’ market to finance the delivery of social services. One social investment initiative in particular – Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) – has spread extensively within the global North. This article investigates the transnational mobility of SIBs by exploring the adoption and implementation of SIBs in New Zealand. It considers SIBs as a case of ‘fast policy’, a concept that describes both the increasing rapidity of policymaking and the proliferation of ‘best practice’ policy models. Although the model was adopted relatively quickly in New Zealand, implementation spanned a number of years following various complications and setbacks, echoing experiences in other places. This article seeks to extend conceptions of policy mobility and fast policy by arguing for both fast and slow temporalities of policy movement, contending that while adoption of mobile policies tends to be rapid, implementation can follow a much more gradual pace as they mediate, and are mediated by, local political, institutional and ideological factors.