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This paper argues that, despite a very large volume of management reform in the EU over the past quarter century or more, our knowledge of the impacts of these efforts is patchy and fragile. It calls on a number of key studies which each, in a different way, carries this same basic message. In the second part of the paper the reasons for this state of affairs are analyzed. One set of reasons is concerned with the considerable methodological difficulties of evaluating major reforms, which are commonly complex, evolving and spread out over time. A second set of reasons concerns the limited incentives for politicians and top officials to take a sustained interest in evaluation. A concluding reflection is that, while this basic situation is not likely to change, there are nevertheless ways in which the academic contribution to reform evaluation can be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the ultimate frontiers in biotechnology is Brain-computer-interface. BCI devices are currently developed for therapeutic purposes (e.g., as assistive tools) but also recreational ones. A BCI system detects brain activity, allowing a decoding of patterns of neural signals, then ‘translatable’ in commands a computer can understand and even carry out in the external reality. That’s why BCI is now becoming more used (or experimented), considering the advantages that could derive from it. Nevertheless, it also raises some questions from a legal perspective. This Paper focuses on BCI-based devices used for assistive and augmented communication of users, and wonders what legal regime should be accorded to the personal will expressed through those tools. Once the risks have been identified, the parameters and requirements a BCI device must meet, for the human will expressed through it having legal value, are outlined. The Paper proposes, in conclusion, a self-assessment strategy to operationalize BCI technologies applicable to the context of legal relations, implementing methods of risk evaluation and management. A risk- based classification model is also suggested.

In the current context, the phenomenon of teleworking has major implications for both individuals, organizations and society. It is well known that the relative ease of identification and use of information has led to significant changes in organizational structures, but also in the working methods of employees. Among the new working arrangements considered flexible, is, more precisely, telework, work from home, which has been implemented considerably, with the emergence of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this paper is to examine the main advantages and disadvantages of this 'technological revolution, but also how the authorities have intervened through fiscal measures. Regarding the main advantages of telework, they are represented by the increasing autonomy and flexibility, the reduction of damage to the environment, as well as the development of optimal solutions for populations with special needs. However, the advantages are weighed against the disadvantages, as some employees believe that they are affected by the feeling of isolation and social distancing, and in terms of organization, they feel negative effects in terms of increased costs of the transition process and new working methods.

The basic assumption underlying this paper is the deficit in the culture of reading literary works exhibited by the school population in the city of Kananga. This study deals with this phenomenon with a view to specifying the causes and determining its impact on the population in question. A possible solution will be suggested in terms of the appropriate pedagogy that should remedy this deficit. The purpose of this work is not to assess the culture of reading, but rather to identify and research the causes and impact on the target population. Le présent article a comme postulat le déficit de la culture de la lecture des œuvres littéraires manifesté par la population scolarisée de la ville de Kananga. Cette étude s’appesantit sur ce phénomène afin d’en spécifier des causes et déterminer son impact sur la population concernée. Une piste de solution sera proposée en termes de pédagogie appropriée pour remédier à ce déficit.Le but de ce travail n’est pas d’évaluer la culture de la lecture, mais plutôt de l’identifier et d’en rechercher les causes et l’impact sur la population cible

Although publishers and authors hope to see their publications having an impact in the discipline, focusing only on the quality of the published articles may not guarantee the desired impact. Papers should also respond to principles of quality not only from a scientific point of view, as it is also very important to understand and capitalize on the critical phases that lead to usage — namely ensuring exposure and discoverability of the publications by the target audience. Apart from partnering with subscription agents that offer value-added services for online publications to ensure that linking to full text is accurate and stable, full-text databases also offer an effective channel to bring high-quality journal contents to a target audience that may eventually cite the consulted articles in their own researches. Nonetheless, the publisher, and at times the editor-in-chief, also wants to make sure that the full-text databases they work with are not going to bring a negative impact on the journal subscription. Therefore, it is critical that publishers look to partners that support all areas of their business in an optimal way. This is what has been achieved across the years by the Journal “Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage” which has had excellent results in its dissemination and scientific content.

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The article presents a research design for the evaluation of the Third Mission in the university context. Given the consulting processes as intermediate outcome mechanisms, the article reports a common theoretical framework that considers the Third Mission as a strategic process integrated, top down and bottom up, with Teaching-Research- Impact/Valorisation of Research, rather than as a isolated and stratified element within the university organization chart. Comparing three different evaluation models, the article finally suggests a set of indicators useful and usable to assure an integrated Third Mission evaluation practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author suggest a substantive approach to Theory of Change Method (ToC) as a solution to deal with the characteristics of complex programs. Program complexity is analysed in its multiple determinants, and context dependence and emergence of outcomes are identified like the most challenging issues for evaluation. Considering program analysis like a process of social interaction in a changing context, we can reconstruct processes of (mutual) conditioning between the different actors on which the production of impacts depends. The reconstruction of substantive ToC needs to valorize the actors point of wiew on the concrete process of change. Presenting a case study, the author suggest an iterative approach to the reconstruction of ToC, considering the emergent strategies that appeared from the adaptation process of the program in a complex context (emergent ToC), without limiting the focus on the programmed strategy (programmatic ToC). The substantive approach on ToC should be a method to analyse the whole story of program interactional process, following in itinere the changes activated in the substantive context of inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is universally agreed that professional development is important but much money has been spent on training and development activities without a commensurate impact on pupils’ learning and wellbeing. With financial constraints hitting education systems across the world, the time is right to try to understand professional development better for as Lawless and Pellegrino (2007) state although the number of opportunities for teachers has increased, our understanding about what constitutes quality professional development, what teachers learn from it, or its impact on student outcomes has not substantially changed. Ascertaining the difference professional development makes is a complex process. Exposure to and participation in development activities may or may not bring about change to individuals’ beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviours. These changes to individuals may or may not lead to changes in the classroom and school practice. And these changes may or may not lead to improvement in pupil outcomes. Difficulties in researching this field, some have argued, stem from simplistic conceptualisations of teacher professional learning that fail to consider how learning is embedded in work contexts. This paper seeks to unpack some methodological issues related to evaluating the difference that professional development makes.

In order to render effective services to its users, Libraries and Information Centres adopt and introduce new and innovative services. Depending on the exposure of users to these services, the services themselves will have a different impact on different users. A positive impact results in positive attitudes, and in a consequent preference for that service. The paper discusses these challenges in making users self confident while using library new tools and services, and examines possibile ways to convert negative impact into a positive one, and thereby enhance the use of the newly introduced services in the library.