text:
kiadvány
中文特刊
Category: Vol. 14, Special Issue, 2018 »
Hungary's Regions, Competitiveness and Country Image
Péter Szatmári – György Suha
International Development Policy Structures for Cooperation in Science, Technology and Education in Hungary
Civic Review, Vol. 14, Special Issue, 2018, 226-240, DOI: 10.24307/psz.2018.0415
Dr Péter Szatmári, CSc, Rector, King Sigismund University (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.); Dr György Suha, Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
In the context of Hungarian development policy, scientific and educational cooperation has a key role. The primary aim of this paper is to give an overview of the significant elements of the current international development cooperation and international humanitarian activities in Hungary. Secondly, it analyses, in a dimensional approach, the opportunities of policy and organisational structures and funding mechanisms for science, technology and innovation in developing countries. This article recommends more subtle ways of reforming political decisions that could support innovation with a deeper insight into some aspects of Hungarian "best practices". Finally, it touches upon issues of tertiary education including the identification of funding instruments and interactions between the private sector and government actors.
Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) code: F35, F53, G18, H52, I28
Keywords: development, research, tertiary education, funding mechanism, Hungary
International development cooperation and international humanitarian activities form an important part of Hungary's international relations and as policies developed in line with Hungary's commitment in the international donor community are key elements of Hungary's role in addressing global challenges. According to the relevant Hungarian law in force,1 under the management of the Minister of State for Security Policy and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Deputy State Secretary for International Cooperation, the Department for International Development and Humanitarian Assistance is responsible for developing a policy for the International Development Cooperation and International Humanitarian Assistance, for its coordination by the Government, and for its implementation.2
Hungary's 2016 annual summary statistics about spending on official development assistance pointed out that last year, similarly to previous years, multilateral development cooperation prevailed, primarily due to the ratio of mandatory contributions to the EU, voluntary contributions to various EU Funds and support for international organisations. In terms of bilateral International Development programmes and projects, the problem of resources with a low level of funding reappeared. Within the OECD, the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) was founded in 1960. Hungary joined to the OECD in 1996 and since its accession to the EU, it has had an observer status in the OECD DAC as an EU Member State. As a result of the accession procedure, launched in 2016 and taking several months, Hungary became the 30th full member of the DAC on 6 December 2016.3 As a member of the Committee, Hungary became part of a global process that aims at coordinating Development Policy all over the world, and deals with the coordinated implementation of the UN Development Sustainable Goals in the long run, as crises can only be handled effectively if a global approach is adopted and Member States cooperate. The Sustainable Development Framework, establishing directions for development after 2015, called Agenda 2030, was adopted by consensus on 25-27 September 2015, at the UN Development Summit, by the Heads of State and Government of the UN Member States with Hungary as a participant. The Framework sets 17 goals and 169 partial goals for the period between 2016 and 2030, and replaces the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted in 2000.4 Hungary had a pivotal role in establishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), since Hungary co-chaired the UN Open Working Group (OWG) commissioned to make a proposal for the goals with Kenya for one and a half years. In terms of adopting the framework, it was emphasised that international peace and security and sustainable development are inseparable, and thus the causes triggering conflicts can only be eliminated through sustainable development. Moreover, the Agenda includes a target system and sub-system to achieve the dual aim of poverty reduction and sustainable development in a balanced manner. Simultaneously with intergovernmental negotiations aiming at the establishment of the Sustainable Development Framework, preparations were going on for the 3rd Funding for Development Conference of the UN held between 13 and 16 July 2015 in Addis Ababa. The final document of the Conference, the Addis Ababa Action
Agenda (AAAA) forms an integral part of the Sustainable Development Framework 2030, thus providing its implementation. The Sustainable Development Framework and the Paris Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference (COP21) of the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are interconnected in many ways. The elements of transformation included in the Agenda 2030 have an effect on the implementation of the decisions made at the Climate Summit, while the decision about the legally binding climate agreement also affects all the goals of the Framework.
Migratory pressure is still one of the greatest challenges affecting Europe. The International Development Cooperation has a key role in handling factors that trigger migration locally, that is, in providing assistance through international cooperation to ensure living conditions appropriate for hundreds of millions of people so that they are not compelled to leave their home countries. The main goal of the UN Sustainable Development Framework adopted in 2015 (Agenda 2030), including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is that people can live in peace and security, under balanced and sustainable conditions in every state of the world within 15 years. Besides the "human sectors", the International Development scheme also has a great potential in terms of the economy. Development activities also contribute to improving the international opinion about a particular country and to enabling the economic actors to pursue their interests in the medium to long term. While migration and asylum were not among the priorities of development and foreign policy instruments under the EU budget, due to the mass waves of migrants and asylum seekers coming to Europe, they were integrated horizontally into most of the sub-programmes, which in turn resulted in the reallocation of resources. The Commission started to use the funds, in an ever increasing ratio, for supporting the resettlement and assimilation of migrants and refugees primarily in countries the neighbouring the states affected by conflicts, and wherever the conditions allowed, also for providing assistance to them to return to their homeland. The Commission set the overall objective of providing better living conditions for forced migrants and refugees also during the transitional period spent in refugee camps and host communities. Thus, the EU paid greater attention to remedying the consequences of mass displacements in addition to handling the causes that trigger migration (e.g. deep poverty, unstable political and economic systems, harsh security conditions, etc.). However, this did not mean a complete change of focus: it was rather a more focused approach in handling consequences, which − in terms of handling causes − had been established by the beginning of 2016, mainly as a result of establishing Trust Funds5. Making payments to the extra-budgetary European Development Fund, which serves the development of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) as part of the Cotonou Agreement, is Hungary's obligation arising from EU membership. At the moment the scheduling and allocation of funds is under way for the 11st EDF6 (2014-2020). The overall budget of the 10th EDF is EUR 22.682 billion, out of which Hungary has to pay EUR 125 million based on its quota (0.55%).7 The funds can only be used in specific sectors as set out in particular country strategies (in general: environmental protection, water management, energy, agriculture, food industry, health care industry, construction, education and culture, building capacities, human rights, migration and supporting democracies).
Hungary has been a member state in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) since 1996. DAC plays a leading role plays a pivotal role in this procedure and in reducing poverty. DAC urges and assists its member states in establishing a comprehensive Development Policy and in coordinating their particular policies with Development Policy, and once in every four years it makes a comprehensive evaluation of the International Humanitarian Assistance and Development Policy of each member state. Hungary takes part in the high level and executive meetings of DAC, as well as in its monthly formal sessions and in the work of particular committees. As regards the reform of ODA, the integration of new, innovative forms of funding into development funding performed in the various working groups of the OECD in 2016 with the main focus on soft loans eligible as ODAs, the administration of development activities in the private sector, and the just recognition of the amount of energy invested by the donors besides the profit of recipient countries. In terms of bilateral scholarships and contributions for developing countries in 2016, 103 students from developing countries participated in the Stipendium Hungaricum programme funded by the Ministry of Human Capacities and coordinated by the Tempus Public Foundation. The scholarship programme, which has become well-known again after several decades, is especially important. It aims to improve Hungary's "international visibility", presenting our national values in a global context. The aim of the educational policy programme is to foster the internationalisation and improve the quality of Hungarian tertiary education, to strengthen the international relations of the Hungarian academic elite, to increase the cultural diversity of tertiary education institutions and to promote the competitive Hungarian tertiary education all over the world. The economic and foreign policy objective of the programme is to lay the foundations of the personal and professional attachment of students graduated in Hungary, thus potentially enhancing the understanding of Hungarian peculiarities and interests among the elite of their home countries, and establishing the social capital necessary for developing Hungarian economic relations and fostering its aspirations for a market entry. It is not negligible that the presence of international students has a positive impact on the economic development of a particular city or region. In addition, the programme contributes to the promotion of the Hungarian language, as some students start their university studies in Hungarian, following a preparatory training. In the multilateral context, the university-level agricultural programme in Hungary for fellows from developing countries based on the agreement between the Government of Hungary and UN FAO, which continues the practice of previous years, falls into this category. The contribution made by the Ministry of Agriculture to the UN FAO scholarship enabled 34 countries to participate. The Regional Educational Centre of the Hungarian Competition Authority organised five seminars on competition law in 2016, as part of its annual programme for the competition authorities of its primary target countries out of which three events were held in Budapest, one in the Russian
Federation and another in Serbia. Within the framework of its bilateral agreements, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences provides financial assistance for the mobility costs of joint research projects and gives mobility support for individuals who wish to travel with research purposes. The subsidised projects mainly last for 2-3 years. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences provided financial support for 10 developing countries in 2016. Moldova held the presidency of the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC SEE) in the first half of 2016. The Moldavian party, due to training programmes previously organised at the International Training Centre of the Hungarian Ministry of Interior and building on the positive experiences during last year's Hungarian presidency, asked the Hungarian Ministry of Interior and the PCC SEE Secretariat to organise the Moldavian Presidency's training programme8 in Hungary. The Hungarian party did not only provide logistics support and assistance for the organisation, but an instructor of the Faculty of Military Sciences and Officer Training of the National University of Public Service also developed the curriculum of the training programme and moderated the training together with the PCC SEE lecturers. 16 military education specialists from ten PCC SEE countries participated in the training, and they found it professional and highly organised. Similarly, professional cooperation based on special knowledge transfer was initiated by the Secretariat of the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC SEE). The target group of the training was the pool of military experts with multiple years of experience in the field of the document security of PCC SEE member states.9 The aim of the professional forum was to provide an opportunity for regional professionals to share their experiences about false and forged Iraqi documents, to review trends and best practices in the field of document security and to strengthen the professional network in the area of documents within the PCC SEE. In addition to the British, German, Belgian and Swiss experts, the Pest County Policy Headquarters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hungarian Special Service for National Security and the National University of Public Service also sent lecturers to the workshop. The curriculum of the training was developed by the professionals of the Hungarian National Police Headquarters, the International Training Centre of the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior and the National University of Public Service in collaboration with the representatives of the Secretariat. Since 2012, Hungary has been a member of the Delhi-based Global Development Network. It is an international network of researchers in Development Studies that focuses on the development of the Third World. The organisation excels other international research institutions and networks by organising its annual conferences presenting new research results.10
Recently, Hungarian diplomacy has also sought to enhance cooperation between the various disciplines of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences especially in the areas of Sustainable Development, Climate Impact, Healthcare and Agricultural Sciences and the scientific and educational professionals of countries entitled to ODAs. Bridging the gap in academic knowledge and education in underdeveloped countries is of key importance in development. In October 2016, the Committee for International and Development Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences received the delegation in Hungary for the preliminary investigation before the Committee's accession to DAC, and informed them about the cooperation between the Ministry and the academia. However, the results of these efforts also depend on the commitment of the parties. This partnership assumes governmental awareness and an appropriate national legal environment.
Countries should commit to invest in r&d
Experience leaves no doubt that innovation (developing and commercially and/or socially exploiting new products, processes, services, infrastructure, etc.) is vital for the success of companies (at the microeconomic level) and economies and to increase individual freedoms, the quality of life and societal well-being, at the social level (Sen-er and Saridogan, 2011). OECD countries show that higher per employee and more intense technology diffusion correlate strongly with total factor productivity. The impact of innovations11 in communication, mobility and e.g. healthcare on the quality of life is unmistakable. Innovation is the result of technological development in combination with organisational changes, new management methods, marketing concepts, financial techniques or policy approaches. All these increasingly rely on scientific research done in natural, engineering and medical sciences, and at present more than in the past, to a major extent in social sciences and the humanities. Former developing countries in East and South-East Asia,12 Latin-America and also South-Africa13 demonstrate that this is the way ahead. Companies do invest in research and development, which they would not do in the absence of good economic reasons, and that is why in almost all OECD countries business funding R&D has increased14 considerably. But firms are withdrawing from longer-term research, while patents reveal that they are based increasingly on academic research findings (citation in patents of academic publications). So here is an important reason why government investments are necessary for maintaining the overall R&D enterprise. More generally, there are three compelling arguments. The first one focuses on improving the quality, productivity, cost-effectiveness and accessibility of a variety of services,15 infrastructure and policies which fall within the – full or partial, direct or indirect – responsibility of the government. Secondly, while basic research does not exclusively serve public good (in other words, others can also use it without diminishing the value for its producers and other firms cannot be prevented from using it), firms will obviously not invest in the entire research they eventually benefit from. Governments have to step and have always stepped in through funding research at universities and institutes of basic science. Thirdly, a considerable amount of knowledge is "tacit" and embodied in persons, procedures and organisations. Using published knowledge requires extensive and expensive learning processes; and capabilities (people, equipment, etc.) are necessary to appreciate and assimilate ("absorb") results from elsewhere. This leads to the modern rationale for investment in public basic research, which creates technological opportunities; increases technological diversity by providing a source of new interactions, networks and technological options, whereas firms tend to exploit the variety included in the existing technological path; and it is also a source of skills, required to translate knowledge into practice; an enhanced ability to solve complex technological problems; and the "entry ticket" to the world's stock of knowledge. Countries that have been able to benefit most from science and technology have systematically built up ways and means to carry out research and development and support firms, government agencies and other organisations in society at large in applying research findings, whether domestically or abroad. Several characteristics are shared, and developed countries, emerging economies and some developing countries do not differ considerably in this regard.
Organisation and funding systems for science
In many developing countries establishing a national body with responsibility for science and technology was part of the initial institutional framework.16 They had, and sometimes still have, a series of responsibilities: defining policies for science and technology, coordinating science and technology and funding R&D are often included, but also supervising or managing research institutes. They may also attend to the registration of ongoing research, assume responsibility for compliance with international provisions (biodiversity and ethics for example), propose legislation for intellectual property, and occasionally even run a national patent office. A key lesson successful countries have learnt is the need to differentiate between several of these functions and to articulate them in separate organisations, some of them within the government structure, some at arm's length or completely independently. In several countries a new type of body has emerged over the past decade or so as an expression of the importance of science and technology, and education, in the social and economic development of a country. The increasing focus on innovation as the mechanism through which the impact of science and technology is often realized, and the awareness that an international, global perspective must be developed only add to the reasons to create such a Research and Innovation Council (which is the name of a successful example in Finland17). The essence is that the government, the industry, research organisations, universities and vocational training institutions agree on and commit to a medium- or long-term vision and strategy of economic and social development. To this end, the government creates a high-level body combining key stakeholders from the government, the private sector and other institutions. Developing and agreeing on the key components of a strategy for economic development; committing to working together, coordinating activities, and mobilising the members' respective constituencies; defining systematic action plans (for example as regards incentives to improve the business environment and entrepreneurship; human resources development; technology, knowledge and innovation; the information infrastructure; communicating with society at large) and monitoring and measuring progress would be the key roles of such a council. It would not take over formal responsibilities but if stakeholders indeed commit to a direction and to work together it may be a powerful informal instance of coordinating across the public and private sector.
Role of a vital business sector
The most obvious standpoint (Golob et al., 2002) is that the business (entrepreneurial) sector usually does not undertake considerable research. Indeed, historical experience shows that with increase in the overall R&D efforts in a country, the financial share of enterprises in the total amount of R&D also increases.18 The Gross R&D Expenditure measured as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GERD/GDP), which in quite a few countries is now close to or upwards of 3%, is financed at a rate exceeding two-thirds by private enterprises. In the period between 2000 and 2015, the GERD share in Hungary rose by a total of 0.59 percentage points. It reached its peak in 2013, when the gross research and development-related expenditure made 1.39 percent of Hungary's GDP. In 2015, this ratio was 1.38 percent, considerably lower than in Austria but higher than in Italy. To the extent that proper economic, social and legal conditions result in expanding and strengthening the sector of private enterprises, one may also expect private R&D efforts to grow.19 One very effective way is to support companies in employing scientists, engineers and advanced technicians. In many countries schemes are in place to subsidise the wage costs at a decreasing rate, say from 75% in the first year to 25% in the third one, and 0% thereafter. Companies often retain these persons subsequently. Financially supporting specific R&D or innovation projects in companies after an independent check on likely viability or collaborative projects between a company and a researcher at a university or public research centre is also proven to be effective. Technology adaptation and dissemination programmes with a group of companies or an industry branch, supported by a (public) national industrial research institute, are another example. Dissemination is indeed one of the fastest ways to increase the skills and productivity of companies on a wider scale.20 It is in the focus of attention in many emerging economies, and is increasingly discussed in developing nations. The key notion is that there is often a certain specialization of economic activity in a region, whatever the precise size. There is a virtuous circle of "proximity": companies, even outright competitors benefit from the same suppliers, from agreements and interaction with universities, polytechnics and technical colleges for focused training, from regional governments and banks creating optimal conditions, from joint public, public-private or even private R&D programmes, and so on. Science or technology parks, or public industrial research institutes, with incubator and business development services to assist entrepreneurs in the initial stages of setting up and growing their company, are part of the game everywhere. And very directly, providing tax support, by allowing companies to deduct part of the salary costs of R&D personnel, is found in general by economists to be an effective stimulus. All in all, developing a rich mix of measures and instruments to help increase skills levels, productivity and R&D efforts of companies is a key policy area and challenge for governments in developing countries. There are numerous good examples, and countries moving fast, such as China and South Africa, have gone already quite some way (Haour and Zedtwitz, 2016).
Tertiary education sector: public and private responsibilities
The university sector or, more generally, tertiary education deserves considerable attention. Many developing countries and emerging economies have seen the sector evolve in a particular way. Often one finds one, by now very large, national university which in the past drew most of the talent in the country, both as professors and as students. As student numbers began to grow new national and increasingly private universities were established (Tindemans, 2009). The (former) national university has often grown so large that concerns for decreasing quality are more than justified as funding has not matched the student numbers. Research was rather concentrated at the national university, also because in many cases this university had close links to one or two universities abroad. Private universities concentrate with few exceptions on areas such as business administration, finances, ICT or for example international relations. The mushrooming number of small universities21 has, however, brought a serious quality issue to the fore, making a considerably tighter accreditation system an absolute necessity. Sometimes, however, governments are still very restrictive in providing licenses to private universities or in other ways, sometimes unknowingly, raising obstacles. The result is that in those countries gross enrolment into tertiary education is at a very low level. Public financing is often non-transparent and rather more follows historical patterns than funding mechanisms that allocate the scarce public resources in the best possible way (McLendon, 2003). Moreover the national university or the few public ones rather deal with the ministry of finance than the ministry of (higher) education, creating a further hurdle towards a transparent and equitable system. In countries with a very strong academy of sciences the additional problem was and often still is that the development of a strong research capacity at universities was effectively choked. Establishing a more balanced system of tertiary education, which is much less focused on one or a few central universities is essential. There are very good reasons for differentiating between universities and professional institutions that offer shorter (one to two year) degree programmes or diplomas or longer (three to four year) professional degree programmes. Only a relatively limited number of universities should be encouraged or allowed to develop into or continue operation as research universities. The dilution of research funding is a threat all over the world and a serious issue, for example, in Europe, but much less so in the US. China clearly follows the US example. Providing high-quality undergraduate education is an important and valuable mission for a tertiary educational institution. A set of interlinked issues relate to the functioning of institutions of tertiary education. But governments need to create the majority of the conditions that provide incentives for the individual institutions to improve their management and operating methods. Universities need strong management, as the traditional academic procedures of appointing persons to key positions are not always well suited to modern requirements. The same applies to human resource management already mentioned in the context of staff development. Universities and other tertiary institutions need increased autonomy, including internal financial autonomy and flexibility in employment conditions. Those conditions, at least in public institutions, often resemble those of the civil service, and the recognition that these are not suitable has taken roots worldwide. Governments are increasingly granting autonomy in exchange for accountability.22 That is often combined with various forms of performance-based funding, discussed in greater detail in the next section. A link to national priorities is another element whether this is implemented through a financial mechanism or not. Governments may require universities to respect such priorities in ways they may freely choose but should report upon in their annual accounts or strategic plans.
Supporting innovation: funding instruments
Developed countries, the most advanced countries and emerging economies do not only differ in the availability of funding, but also in the lack of a differentiated and transparent funding system for research and innovation. It may seem a technical matter, but it is not. Funding mechanisms play a crucial role in improving quality, managing researchers and institutes, ensuring both sustainable infrastructure for research and competition dynamics, and in providing incentives for cooperation between universities and companies. As an example, in quite a few developing countries experience is now being built up through a mechanism of providing funding on a competitive basis to excellent researchers and their teams, using (international) peer review as a selection procedure, funding coming from international partners in development.
In the first place, governments provide direct funding from their tertiary education budgets, mostly as institutional or core funding, to create the infrastructure for research. There are several ways in which this can be done. Even in developed countries this is still often strongly based on discretionary ways, described by some as arbitrary. But attempts are being made to base these core funding allocations on more or less detailed budgeting and on the funding of specific cost categories, governments or tertiary education funding agencies tasked by governments in some countries to replace governments in doing this, increasingly searching for formula-based lump sum contributions, and this implies that governments base their contribution on rational calculations23 whereas universities retain the full freedom to spend the money in ways they deem fit. Both past performance and agreed future targets may lie at the basis of such performance – or formula-based funding mechanisms. The second major contribution to university research also comes from the government, but through and independent "Research Council" (there may be more of them for different fields of science) and, to a minor extent, from an "Innovation Funding Agency". This funding is typically provided on a competitive basis, using (international) peer review as the selection mechanism. The ratio of what is often called the "first flow of funds" to university research and the "second flow of funds" varies widely. Some countries (with the US and the UK as key examples) rely heavily on the competitive mechanism, others place the emphasis on the core funding. Actually, this is a policy issue: continuity versus dynamics, as some would like to phrase the dilemma. How to promote concentration of research and thus differentiation of missions of tertiary educational institutions is a vexing problem that governments in most parts of the world face. With regard to tapping private resources, whether it is for stimulating companies to carry out more research or for attracting private donations to boost research in public institutions, governments need to consider which tax measures will effectively trigger individuals, private foundations or charities and enterprises. Competitive funding for research projects is a key as a complement to institutional funding. Nowadays almost all countries nowadays avail themselves of a mechanism to provide such funding. The National Science Foundation24 in the USA is a well-known example, but in the framework of modernizing research and research funding systems, many countries have set up "Research Councils" or National Funding Agencies with the main task to make research money available for the best researchers by transparently assessing proposals or past performance through peer review (often international) in competition. There is a good case for allowing them operate to a major extent in a "self-organising" mode, run by scientists, although governments should set a certain framework for such a National Funding Agency. The Russian Foundation for Basic Research25 and the National Natural Science Foundation of China26 have been successfully functioning for the past twenty years, but also the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology27 now also provides competitive grants from government money with assistance from the World Bank. Even in France, a country which used to rely extensively on CNRS having its own research institutes and research units at French universities, the French Research Agency28 (AFR) now provides competitive funding. As the STI system evolves and extends, governments may wish to consider whether more research councils or funding agencies would better serve the different fields of science (Tindemans, 2009). As mentioned above, governments can do several things to encourage companies to increase skills, productivity and research efforts. How should one go about it? And what type of support measures is one to consider? Initially for reasons of efficiency and the lack of (human) resources one may well consider to making the same funding agency that on a competitive basis funds academically-oriented or strategic research also responsible for the support measures that target companies in the first place. But eventually, as the STI system matures, one usually finds a separate agency tasked with the promotion of research and innovation in companies. The reason is that proposals to get support from companies or involving companies often require some form of business plan, market assessment and a strong managerial approach. Assessing such proposals requires different skills from those who need to assess on a competitive basis research proposals. Governments are also considering the instruments they can use to introduce more differentiation, concentration and specialization, which as mentioned before are important policy challenges for the tertiary education system. This has led in several countries to competition between various institutions as a whole or departments rather than between individual scientists. Sometimes public and private partnerships are required in such competitions. The competition is not always complete. For example in China's case, the limited number of universities allowed to participate in the so-called "Project 985" were identified by the government,29 using academic performance as an important criteria. Another strategy governments may adopt, especially to increase concentration and also specialization, includes mergers between tertiary educational institutions. It is not an easy option to implement, and certainly not when part of the problem is the occasionally very high number of rather small private tertiary institutions. Yet governments should consider the use of accreditation to improve efficiency and quality by increasing the average size of universities and providers of professional training.
Consistent STI system as tool for development
Closely linked to the system of funding science, technology and innovation (STI) and to the functioning of tertiary educational institutions and research institutes is the system of quality assessment. Theoretically sometimes a distinction is made between Quality Control (QC), which is the licensing or accrediting of institutions or programmes ex ante; Quality Assurance (QA), which relates to assessing ex post whether programmes (not institutions) have performed according to the set goals and promises; and quality promotion or fostering, which means the adoption of the attitude of making quality a key parameter in the management of an institution, of faculties, the provision of education and the conduct of research. Autonomy is increasingly provided in exchange for accountability and the latter often depends on reliable quality assurance mechanisms to be in place. One important component of such a system of quality assurance is a formal accreditation system for tertiary education. Many countries nowadays require that the individual programmes (an undergraduate or graduate programme in chemistry, for example) and/or institutions as a whole are accredited on a regular basis. Public funding (in the case of public institutions) or the operating license (in the case of private institutions) can be made dependent on a positive outcome, although in both cases some think that market information (in the form of outcomes of accreditation reports, in other words, naming and shaming) available for students automatically does the work without formal sanctions. Not all countries have a national system; some depend on professional bodies (for example, in engineering) to perform the accreditation. But the mechanism is basically the same: the institution (or department or programme management) is required to carry out a self-evaluation – retrospective and prospective – according to a strict protocol; an accreditation committee appointed by the accreditation body visits the site, and writes an accreditation report with recommendations or even requirements for improvements to be made before the accreditation body gives its verdict. Setting up a proper, transparent and unbiased accreditation system is one of the urgent challenges for governments in developing countries, and it is a very positive development that this is now happening on a significant scale. This is also an area offering quite some scope for regional and international cooperation to exchange views, to establish common protocols, to get international experts on board for national accreditation exercises, and eventually maybe to set up joint accreditation systems. On a global level one finds the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Tertiary education,30 the INQAAHE with membership from all over world from developed countries, developing countries and emerging economies. The research staff is considerably less homogeneous in terms of quality assurance mechanisms. They are straightforward in the case of agencies providing competitive funding as the evaluation is the key element during selection and granting. But for the core or institutional funding component of research at universities or research institutes, practice still widely differs, or is completely absent. Yet, governments are increasingly of the view that public funding needs to be linked to regular performance evaluations. For this reason, an increasing number of governments appoint committees to evaluate research institutes in a way similar to the accreditation process in education: by self-evaluation, site visits and a verdict with or without direct financial or other implications (including the dismissal of the management). In other cases, governments only require that the institutions or umbrella organisations take the responsibility for such evaluations, and then report the findings to the government. The standard of measuring and evaluating the performance of a research organisation naturally depends on the nature of the institute. An institute for clinical research, an institute for industrial research and an institute for agricultural research that may use a considerable extension component, have different audiences and clients, require different evaluation criteria, and their clients must be strongly involved in assessing performance.
A marked difference between the universities and research institutes in developing countries and in developed nations is found in the area of information and communication technology support. Education, especially tertiary education, and research depend so heavily on support that closing the gap is impossible without adequate provisions. Computers, software tools, management information systems are needed in large numbers, and people need to be trained to use all these. In the past two decades, the establishment and building of a network that provides high-quality data communication services has become of paramount significance. In all developed countries and in many others dedicated national networks called NRENs are in place for the purpose of research and education. These are "knotted" together by continental and global links (very high-capacity cables, increasingly optical fibres). In many developing countries the local capacities are insufficient, national connectivity is poor, as is international connectivity. The other side of the coin is that costs are very high and reliability is low. There is no reason why that situation should be allowed to persist. With the new undersea cable along the African coast, the global coverage of the backbone system is virtually complete. What remains to be built are the national systems and their connection to the continental and global backbones.
1. Act XC of 2014 on International Development Cooperation and International Humanitarian Assistance was passed by the National Assembly during 15 December, 2014 session.
2. http://nefe.kormany.hu/act-xc-of-2014-on-international-development-cooperation-and-international-humanitarian-assistance-is-now-accessible
3. http://www.oecd.org/hungary/hungary-joins-the-oecd-development-assistance-committee.htm
4. The main difference between the two frameworks is that while MDGs focus only on the problems of developing countries, primarily on humanitarian assistance, the new goals also concern developed countries.
5. The Trust Fund on Financing for Development was established in May 2000, in order to support sub-stantive preparations for the International Conference on Financing for Development (March 2002, Monterrey, Mexico) and the participation of developing countries in the Conference. The Trust Fund now seeks voluntary contributions, in order to support the preparation and organisation of the third International Conference on Financing for Development.
6. Financially, the Member States still make payments for the 10th EDF (2008-2013).
7. The overall allocation for the 11th EDF has increased to EUR 30.5 billion, and so has the quota for Hungary (0.61%), thus Hungary's payment obligation has increased to EUR 187 million.
8. The training focused specifically on a "Train the Trainer" type of programme for developing and holding PCC SEE webinars.
9. Austria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.
10. The large-scale conference on Development and Urbanisation was held in Budapest in 2012.
11. http://www.oecd.org/innovation/inno/50586251.pdf
12. https://medium.com/@LetsTalkPayments/fintech-innovation-in-southeast-asia-f723945d5208
13. http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/southafrica/publication/south-africa-economic-update-more-innova-tion-could-improve-productivity-create-jobs-and-reduce-poverty
14. https://www.oecd.org/sti/outlook/e-outlook/stipolicyprofiles/competencestoinnovate/financing-businessrdandinnovation.htm
15. Examples include defence, education, health, water, energy and food security, physical infrastructure, governance, social security, protection from crime, or regional and global obligations governments in-creasingly have (e.g. biodiversity or climate change).
16. Various names occur such as a national council for science and technology or a national or state com-mission for science and technology.
17. http://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/research-and-innovation-council
18. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
19. Yet, there are many things governments can do to promote this.
20. An approach that has attracted considerable interest concerns so-called industrial or economic clusters.
21. Having less than 5000 students.
22. This has several dimensions, but a system of quality assurance which provides transparent and com-parative information on the quality of education, research and outreach activities (such as community services or technology transfer) that institutions of tertiary education carry out, is at the core.
23. E.g. the number of students and/or degrees granted when it comes to education, or on publications or PhD degrees in the case of research.
24. The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering, http://www.nsf.gov
25. http://www.rfbr.ru
26. http://www.nsfc.gov.cn
27. http://uncst.go.ug.
28. http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr
29. The project was first announced by the CPC General secretary and Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Peking University, on May 4, 1998, to promote the development and reputation of the Chinese tertiary education system by the establishment of world-class universities in the 21st century and eponymous after the date of the announcement, May 1998, or 98/5, according to the Chinese date format.
30. The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Tertiary education is a world-wide associa-tion of near 300 organisations active in the theory and practice of quality assurance in tertiary education, http://www.inqaahe.org
Carbone, Maurizio (ed.) (2009): Policy Coherence and EU Development Policy. Routledge, New York.
CESifo (2015): National plans for science, technology and innovation policy. CESifo Group, Munich, http://www.cesi-fo-group.de/de/ifoHome/facts/DICE/Education-and-Innovation/Innovation/Innovation-Policies/National-plans-STI/fileBinary/National-plans-STI.pdf (accessed 17 November 2017).
Golob, Peter; Farrell, Graham and Orchard, John E. (eds.) (2002): Crop Post-Harvest: Science and Technology. Vol 1, Technology & Engineering. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470751015
Haour, Georges and Zedtwitz, Max von (2016): Created in China: How China Is Becoming a Global Innovator. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, New York.
IDB (2010): Science, Technology, and Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Statistical Compendium of Indicators. Inter-American Development Bank, Washington.
Investing in Innovation (2015). Royal Academy of Engineering, September, http://www.raeng.org.uk/pub-lications/reports/investing-in-innovation (accessed 2 December 2017).
Koch, Svea (2015): From Poverty Reduction to Mutual Interests? The Debate on Differentiation in EU Development Policy. Development Policy Review, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 479-502, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12119
Kormany.hu (2016): Fokozatváltás a felsőoktatásban. A teljesítményelvű felsőoktatás fejlesztésének irányvo-nalai [Grade change in higher education. Guidelines in the development of performance-based higher education]. Kormany.hu, EMMI, Budapest.
McLendon, Michael K. (2003): State Governance Reform of Higher Education: Patterns, Trends, and Theories of the Public Policy Process. In: Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research, Kluwer, London, pp. 57-143, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0137-3_2
OECD (2011): Fostering Innovation to Address Social Challenges. Workshop Proceedings, OECD, https://www.oecd.org/sti/inno/47861327.pdf (accessed 2 December 2017).
OECD (2012): Innovation for Development: A Discussion of the Issues and an Overview of Work of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry. OECD, Paris.
Sener, Sefer and Saridogan, Ercan (2011): The Effects of Science-Technology-Innovation on Competitiveness and Economic Growth. Procedia, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 24, pp. 815-828, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.09.127
Suha, György and Szatmári, Péter (2015): Felsőoktatási lehetőségek a magyar gazdaságdiplomácia stratégiájában [Higher education opportunities in the strategy of Hungarian economic diplomacy]. Polgári Szemle, Vol. 11, No. 1-3, pp. 265-273.
Tindemans, Peter (2009): Working Document for G77 Ministerial Round Table on Structure. Organization and Funding of Scientific Research, 4th WSF, Budapest.
Current Publication
Moral and ethical principles
Civic Economics Research Group
For Our Authors
© 2005 – 2021 Polgári Szemle Foundation
Menu	 Main PageCurrent PublicationArchiveEditorial BoardMoral and ethical principlesCivic Economics Research GroupFor Our Authors


It may be difficult for students to earn extra cash for their needs. There are not many part-time job offers with flexible schedules (after all, you should attend your classes and do your homework) and decent salaries to choose from. However, if you like writing and do it rather well, consider combining your student life with doing some freelance writing assignments. It may be tough to find your first well-paying jobs in this field, however, not impossible. Here is a list of the best places where you may push your luck and try to find a gig that perfectly suits your needs.
Make an attempt as a freelancer writing on content mills. These are great places for beginning writers. However, don't stay there for too long, because there is a high risk of burning out. To start getting fresh orders, you should register in a content mill and write a sample article. Your article will be assessed, and you will get your rating. Only afterwards you will get access to a variety of orders in different fields. Your salary will depend on your rating and on the mill itself. Therefore, try to find a reputable and well-paying content mill by looking for feedback on the Internet.
There are many great job offers listed there, and even students can find suitable openings. Apply for the advertisements that are interesting and detailed. Remember to check if the client is reputable by browsing the Web. Pay attention to the payment terms (per hour or per article) and look for the permanent positions. If the terms of work sound like reliable, submit your application. Don't get disappointed if you get no answer. It often happens that you should knock on every door to find a good writing job.
Online communities and forums for freelance writers.
You may not even suspect how many hidden opportunities can be prompted by more experienced freelance writers. Register in several writers' forums, look through the posts, and even ask for advice. Collaboration is a common practice in the writing industry. The other writers will not only hint on where to seek for good openings, but they may also share some promising job leads with you, or even outsource part of their work to you.
Be persistent, don't give up, and you will definitely find a good job. With more experience in the field, it will be much easier to convince potential clients that you are not just a student, but a responsible and quality writer.


text:
Кастельфранко-ди-Сопра () — коммуна в Италии, располагается в регионе Тоскана, в провинции Ареццо.

Население составляет 3090 человек (2008 г.), плотность населения составляет 76 чел./км². Занимает площадь 38 км². Почтовый индекс — 52020. Телефонный код — 055.

Покровителем населённого пункта считается апостол Фома.

Демография
Динамика населения:

Администрация коммуны
 Официальный сайт: https://web.archive.org/web/20060624145527/http://www.comune.castelfranco-di-sopra.ar.it/

Ссылки
 Официальный сайт населённого пункта
 Национальный институт статистики
 http://www.istat.it/english/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I was super exicted tomorrow because I went to Singapore for Influencer Asia 2015!
I want to see how it does and looking for another party of course. This a little diary about yesterday event!
Our first stop belong to National Museum of Singpore. It was raining and windy, but I keep walking and let the rain make my shoes wet and headache.
But everything got okay after I arrieved at ION Mall!
Sephora. Chanel. Estee Lauder. and may more!
But it was so suprising when I can't found my purse!
and yeaps! I got it. someone give it to security office!
and he very happy becase he got the best chili in the town!
like silver ticket, you can seat but quite far away!
VIP Ticket to seat next to her as nomination.
Raisa, presanting Indonesia on beauty influecer!
she so cute and become Parenting given awards!
becuase she is so talented!
but now she become nominating from Indonesia.
I also like this girl, because she so kind and welcome to everyone!
But first like we take a selfie!
Yea again it's me with him.
"Keep being weird and crazy!"
and I can't see TTS mini concert!
Yea, I got back earlier even the event its self not finish!
1 comment on "Singapore Diary - Backpack traveler "


text:
HomeGlobal ChangeGlobal Climate ChangeTropical cyclone threatens Somalia and Djibouti
Tropical cyclone threatens Somalia and Djibouti
May 18, 2018 huangtian Global Climate Change 0
A rare storm in the region is expected to bring torrential rain and stormy seas to coastal regions.
A small but powerful tropical cyclone is threatening Djibouti and northern parts of Somalia with severe weather within the next 24 hours.
'Sagar' was named by the Indian Meteorological Department on Thursday, after beginning life as a tropical depression (1A) in the Gulf of Aden.
'Sagar' is now in the western part of the Gulf of Aden. Its northern edge has brought heavy rain and some minor flooding to coastal towns of Yemen. Its forecast track, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, is to the west-southwest, making landfall close to the small town of Lughaya.
It is highly likely that 'Sagar' will be one of the first tropical storm systems to cross the entire Gulf of Aden. For such systems to affect Djibouti is almost unheard of. Since the start of satellite imagery in the mid-1960s, only two tropical cyclones have been observed to move into the western Gulf of Aden.
The first was Tropical Storm 1A which made landfall in northern Somalia in May 1984. As recently as November 2015 Cyclone Megh devastated the island of Socotra before passing just to the north of Somalia and making landfall in Yemen.
'Sagar' has taken advantage of favourable winds through the vertical profile of the atmosphere, and sea surface temperatures of around 30C, easily warm enough to allow for further intensification.
Although the winds associated with 'Sagar' are expected to peak in the next few hours, with sustained winds of 95km per hour, the seas in the Gulf will remain very rough until well after landfall, which is expected to be around 10:00 GMT on Saturday.
The rainfall, and its effects, remain the main concern. Between 50 and 150 mm, up to a year's worth of rain, is expected to fall on these rugged desert landscapes. Flash flooding directly from rainfall runoff is likely to be followed by significant river flooding.
The UK Met Office issued a special advisory for the region:
"Severe flash flooding and river flooding across the region will lead to a loss of human life, livestock, and the destruction of crops, property and infrastructure."
They also pointed out that the heavy rain across parts of western Yemen could have an impact on the rates of cholera which is affecting the country.
The effects of 'Sagar' could also be made worse by the impact of Ramadan, where people are fasting during the day, and less likely to be prepared for the life-threatening weather.
Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/tropical-cyclone-threatens-somalia-djibouti-180518071225516.html
Commentary: Disability and climate change—impact on health and survival
Pre-monsoon storms hit South Asia
Argentina – Buenos Aires Storm Leaves 2 Dead, Hundreds Displaced
May 1, 2018 huangtian Global Climate Change 0
30 APRIL, 2018 BY RICHARD DAVIES A fierce storm struck areas around Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 28 to 29 April 2018. During the storm some areas recorded over 110 mm of rain and wind gusts […]
Octopus, Starfish and Other Sea Creatures Fell From the Sky During Powerful Storm
June 16, 2018 huangtian Global Climate Change 0
Lisa Spear Newsweek 16 June 2018 The idea of an octopus flying through the air sounds like something straight out of a science fiction novel, but it appears this is exactly what happened during a […]
Deadly Storm Eleanor batters Western Europe
January 4, 2018 Xidai World Events 0
By Laura Smith-Spark, Saskya Vandoorne and Lorenzo D'Agostino, CNN Updated 1643 GMT (0043 HKT) January 4, 2018 Paris (CNN)Three people have died and tens of thousands have been left without power as Storm Eleanor sweeps […]
A brief introduction of Nanhua Farm
(Translated by Zhengjue and Edited by Kaer) In April 2014, more than twenty (20) members came from Yunnan province to Nanhua Farm in the suburbs of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, to rebuild the New Oasis for [...]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package com.java110.vo.api.smallWeChat;

import java.io.Serializable;
import java.util.Date;

public class ApiSmallWeChatDataVo implements Serializable {

    private String operate;
    private String createTime;
    private String appId;
    private String name;
    private String appSecret;
    private String statusCd;
    private String weChatId;
    private String bId;
    private String storeId;
    private String payPassword;
    private String remarks;
    private String objId;
    private String objType;
    private String mchId;
    private String objTypeName;
    private String wId;

    public String getOperate() {
        return operate;
    }

    public void setOperate(String operate) {
        this.operate = operate;
    }

    public String getCreateTime() {
        return createTime;
    }

    public void setCreateTime(String createTime) {
        this.createTime = createTime;
    }

    public String getAppId() {
        return appId;
    }

    public void setAppId(String appId) {
        this.appId = appId;
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public String getStatusCd() {
        return statusCd;
    }

    public void setStatusCd(String statusCd) {
        this.statusCd = statusCd;
    }

    public String getWeChatId() {
        return weChatId;
    }

    public void setWeChatId(String weChatId) {
        this.weChatId = weChatId;
    }

    public String getBId() {
        return bId;
    }

    public void setBId(String bId) {
        this.bId = bId;
    }

    public String getStoreId() {
        return storeId;
    }

    public void setStoreId(String storeId) {
        this.storeId = storeId;
    }

    public String getRemarks() {
        return remarks;
    }

    public void setRemarks(String remarks) {
        this.remarks = remarks;
    }

    public String getbId() {
        return bId;
    }

    public void setbId(String bId) {
        this.bId = bId;
    }

    public String getObjId() {
        return objId;
    }

    public void setObjId(String objId) {
        this.objId = objId;
    }

    public String getObjType() {
        return objType;
    }

    public void setObjType(String objType) {
        this.objType = objType;
    }

    public String getMchId() {
        return mchId;
    }

    public void setMchId(String mchId) {
        this.mchId = mchId;
    }

    public String getObjTypeName() {
        return objTypeName;
    }

    public void setObjTypeName(String objTypeName) {
        this.objTypeName = objTypeName;
    }

    public String getAppSecret() {
        return appSecret;
    }

    public void setAppSecret(String appSecret) {
        this.appSecret = appSecret;
    }

    public String getPayPassword() {
        return payPassword;
    }

    public void setPayPassword(String payPassword) {
        this.payPassword = payPassword;
    }

    public String getwId() {
        return wId;
    }

    public void setwId(String wId) {
        this.wId = wId;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
/Road cars
/Race cars
/For sale
/The Gallery
/The workshop
/Your collection
Alpine Renault A110 1600 S – 1972
Success never comes by chance. The hundreds of victories accumulated by the Berlinette Alpine in regional, national and international rallies were the result of the skills that the team led by Jean Rédélé were able to put into practice. Even if it doesn't have a phenomenal power, the lightness and rigidity of its backbone chassis and its plastic body work wonders on winding roads, where it delighted many amateur and professional pilots!
Launched in 1961 as the A 108, the Berlinette Alpine never stopped evolving. In 1962, at the Salon de Paris, it became the A110 and it reached its aesthetic peak in 1968 with its long-range headlamps, its wider rear fenders and its air intakes in the rear fenders. Compact, sporty and elegant, it also benefited from constant technical improvements. After the 1100 and then the 1300 engine borrowed from the R8 Gordini, it was equipped with the 1600 engine of the Renault 16 TS, which gave it more torque. Its five-speed gearbox and disc brakes made it remarkably smooth. Moreover, its Renault mechanics, derived from the series, made it a relatively simple car to maintain and an economical car to use. Nowadays, it's the most emblematic French sports cars of the 1960s/1970s and by far the most successful one in rally sports.
This Alpine A110 is one of the 1600 S models, the most sought-after model, which won the first World Championship of Rally. Its 1565 cc engine generates 138 hp SAE. 7 It is equipped with two Weber 40 carburettors, bucket seats and additional long-range headlights. It rests on beautiful Gotti light-alloy wheels. Entirely restored in Holland, this car in perfect condition.
Previous CarNext Car


Always keep your workspace clean, the lighting bright and smelling great.
Your work space says a lot to the client about the service they are going to get and also, subsequently, how likely they are to refer you. No matter how good the brows look at the end of an appointment, your client will be embarrassed to send their friends and family to you.
Have music on during the appointment, and let the music selection be your client's choice.
Music heightens experiences, decreases long periods of silence, and will actually make the cutting portion much less painful. If your client can't hear the blade entering their skin, they won't think about it as much.
You should do this THREE TIMES throughout the appointment.
Want to know a really good way to scare clients away, and freak out their friends and family? Not going over aftercare and what the healing process is like in the first week! The healing process can be scary, especially if your clients are going into it blind. To make them confident in the healing process and you as their artist inform them on exactly what to expect, when to expect it, and what to avoid in the healing process (and for the life of their brows).
Smell good, look good, feel good.
You are in very close proximity to your clients for a few hours and you might have nerves (or just sweat easily). We recommend wearing maximal coverage deodorant, chew peppermint gum (during every appointment) and have some kind of fragrance on (or fragrance in the room). We recommend essential oils and love to put them on frequently or in our diffusers. We LOVE LOVE LOVE anything citrus smelling like orange or grapefruit. Essential oils are often times the best route to take because there are very few people who are allergic to them or hate the smell.
Send your client their before/after photos.
This is where a quality camera or phone camera comes into play with amazing lighting and a nice white wall! We highly encourage an I phone 7+ and a ring light.
Sending your client their before and after pictures along with a compliment and message telling them "it was a pleasure doing their brows and if they have any questions please don't hesitate to text" text will go a long way!


EVERETT — As you wait for your holiday packages to arrive, take a look at an Everett nanny who chased and apprehended a suspected package thief.
Home security services RING sent Q13 News video earlier this week from Everett.
The video shows a 29-year-old female allegedly stealing a package off a porch. As the woman tries to run the package back into a car, a nanny bolts out of the house after her.
The getaway car drives away and the suspected thief falls. The nanny grabs her and drags her to the home. Police were called.
The 29-year-old woman was arrested on outstanding warrants, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said. She has not yet been charged.
The nanny was unhurt. The homeowners said they bought her dinner, and were thankful for what she did.


Florentina Dumitru and Stefania Bugan– the two members of team Connected won the Young Marketers Competition, after intense training sessions and rigorous selection, during the 13th semester of The Alternative School for Creative Thinking.
The two are going to represent Romania in the Young Marketers competition taking place at Cannes during the Lions festival, in June. They will compete with similar teams from all around the world. Under the pressure of a tight deadline, they will have to create the "perfect brief" meant to inspire the most talented creative directors and strategists from the Lions Jury.
"Adventure is the word that best describes what The Alternative School for Creative Thinking ment for us. A roller-coaster that took us through a boom of ideas, a twirl in finding relevant insights, bungee jumping sensation for each brief for discovering the right solutions. The excitement and the craze were present before pressing the "sent" button each time. The essence of our team, Connected, came from diversity in terms of passions and professional experience. For us the brainstorming tasted like lemonade & tiramisu as we looked for bohemian places to work. For us this was the "magical formula" for finding the right ideas", said the winners.
At The Alternative School – the 13th edition have been admitted over 40 competitors from companies such as: Albalact, Altex, Golin, Glaxosmithkline, Electrecord, Henkel, Philips, Rogalski Damaschin, Vel Pitar, Skin, but also students from SNSPA University and The Faculty of Journalism from Bucharest, which received scholarships as a follow up from a competition held before the enrolment.
During almost two months, the Alternative students had access to curated content via Dubai Lynx, Eurobest, Cannes Lions and Spikes. They had meetings with leaders from the marketing and business environment, local and international (WGSN, Publicis Paris), as well as access at two events from the industry – The Future of Marketing and The Best of FMCG, where there are enrolled over 20 Romanian and foreign speakers.
Among the leaders who evaluated the teams there were Elena Markos – Business Development Manager – UK, IRL & CEE, WGSN, Hande Guler – Creative Director DDB Berlin, Tahaab Rais – Head of Planning & Strategy F7 MENA, Nicoleta Padure – former Romanian jury at Eurobest and Dubai Lynx festivals, Alexandru Haidamac – gold winner at the Young Lions Design competition, Alexandra Bombita & Andrei Chirisi – veterans of The Alternative School and members in Above 106 (the elite group of the school), Vera Gavrila – Strategy Director Media Concept Store, Filip Gonzacenco – Art Director Publicis Paris, Vesna Vlasic–Managing Director McCann Serbia, Tamara Kostro – PR Director McCann Adriatics, Alina Damaschin – Romanian jury at Cannes Lions PR 2017, Mara Cristina – Brand Manager MiniPrix and Florentina Taudor – CEO Renania, the long run supporter of The Alternative School and endorser for the winners at the international competitions.
The portofolios all all teams were marked on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 representing the maximum mark. The final ranking looked like this: Connected – 4.06, Deep Watermark – 3.72, Ineratio – 3.67, Chicas Bombillas – 3.47, Elision – 3.39, Kaleidonorm – 3.17, The Antlers – 3.01, Airplane – 2.80, ImaginAd – 2.78.


EXMOUTH S RNLI is today inviting the public to take a look around its all-weather lifeboat as part of the station's open day.
EXMOUTH'S RNLI is today inviting the public to take a look around its all-weather lifeboat as part of the station's open day.
Margaret Jean will today, August 23, be stationed in Exmouth's docks from 11.30am until 3.30pm - where members of the public will be welcome to go onboard and take a look around the boat.
The inshore lifeboat, the George Bearman, will also be in dock.
Exmouth's volunteer lifeboat crew, who will be on hand to answer any questions the public might have, will mid-afternoon team up with the RNLI lifeguards who patrol Exmouth beach.
The two crews will take part in a rescue exercise to demonstrate the charity's services.
The Exmouth RNLI Fundraising Guild will have stalls stationed across the road from the ILB station, on the Esplanade, offering raffles, refreshments and stalls to help raise vital funds.
The RNLI's mascot Stormy Stan will be doing the rounds to welcome visitors to the station and the charity's Life First campervan will be packed full of beach safety advice and information on the charity's new awareness campaign.
Kevin Reilly, Exmouth RNLI operations manager said: "RNLI lifeboat day is a fun, action packed day out for all the family. It is a chance to meet the volunteer crew and lifeguards, to see what they do, and to learn some essential beach and sea safety messages, as well as visiting some of the exciting fundraising stalls."


text:
package com.github.twitch4j.chat.enums;

import lombok.Getter;
import lombok.RequiredArgsConstructor;
import lombok.experimental.Accessors;

/**
 * Enumeric Twitch Subscription Plan
 */
@Deprecated
@RequiredArgsConstructor
public enum SubscriptionPlan {
	NONE("none"),
	TWITCH_PRIME("Prime"),
	TIER1("1000"),
	TIER2("2000"),
	TIER3("3000");

	@Getter
	@Accessors(fluent = true)
	private final String ordinalName;

	public static SubscriptionPlan fromString(String plan) {
		if (plan != null) {
			for (SubscriptionPlan subPlan : values()) {
				if (plan.equalsIgnoreCase(subPlan.ordinalName)) {
					return subPlan;
				}
			}
		}

		return NONE;
	}

	@Override
	public String toString() {
		return ordinalName;
	}
}


text:
Home > Features > Universal Studios Florida > Article
30 Magical Hidden Secrets at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley
By Nick Sim, Tuesday, December 2, 2014 12:37
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley opened at Universal Studios Florida back in July 2014, and has already welcomed millions of visitors. It takes Universal Orlando guests into the magical London shopping street, and is also connected to the original Wizarding World over at Islands of Adventure by a high-tech recreation of the Hogwarts Express.
Just like Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley is packed with little tributes to the books and movies that inspired the area. As you race from shop to shop and attraction to attraction, it can be easy to overlook these. That's why we've created this handy list to help you spot some of the best easter eggs to look out for.
Let us know of any we've missed in the comments section!
Spoiler warning: There are no major plot spoilers for the Hogwarts Express or Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts in this article, but if you don't want to know anything about how the rides work, then avoid numbers 21 – 30.
1. The Quint Trio
There are tributes to the former Jaws attraction (which sat for 22 years on the same site as Diagon Alley before its closure in 2012) scattered throughout the new Wizarding World.
One of these can be found in the London Waterfront area, where you'll find a nondescript record store. Displayed in the window is a record titled "Here's to Swimmin' with Bow Legged Women", by the Quint Trio. This is a reference to a toast made by shark hunter Quint in Steven Spielberg's movie.
2. A familiar tune
While attempting to track down the shark in Jaws, the three heroes sing "Show Me the Way to Go Home". This song is among those performed by the shrunken heads that are on display in Knockturn Alley.
3. The shark jawbones
You can find another Jaws reference in the storefront of Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary. A set of shark jawbones is hidden away behind a variety of herbs and potions.
4. A mythical being
The mythical Crumple-Horned Snorkack beloved of Luna Lovegood can be spotted on the second level of the Magical Menagerie store.
5. Speaking in tongues
In the window of the Magical Menagerie store is a snake, which will speak to you in Parseltongue and English.
6. An invisible bird
If you listen closely to the Vanishing Cabinet in Borgin and Burkes, you'll hear a bird chirping away inside.
7. A familiar face
Kreacher, the surly house elf who resides at 12 Grimmauld Place, can be spotted in the façade of the Blacks' home. Keep an eye on the windows, and you'll see him peering out every now and then.
8. Too big to hide
Not quite all of Diagon Alley is hidden from the rest of Universal Studios Florida. Sit down for a bite to eat in Springfield, and you'll be able to see the tail of the dragon that sits atop Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
9. Instant darkness
Look up at the second floor of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and you'll spot Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, used by Harry to sneak into Draco Malfoy's train compartment in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
10. The fireworks display
Look up at the skylight in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and you'll see a perpetual fireworks display.
6 Awful Theme Park Situations That Disney Cast Members See All the Time
11 Short-Lived Disney and Universal Attractions You Might Not Even Remember
10 Disney Theme Park Attractions That Closed Almost as Soon as They Opened
The Dark, Troubled History of Disney's Haunted Mansion
There is 1 comment.
Submitted by Sue Cartwright on Wednesday, September 09, 2015 18:58
There is no Crumple-horned Snorkack, I was in that store 2 minutes ago and asked the staff. That part isn't true.


The wind storm continues to affect travelers across the state and along the East Coast.
Commuters traveling by train on Friday should be sure to check ahead.
Trains that are already en route to their destinations will continue on and hold upon arrival.
ALERT: For safety, all services along the NEC are temporarily suspended due to multiple weather related issues. Trains enroute will continue to WAS/NYP/BOS (whichever is first) and hold. We apologize for this inconvenience and will be providing updates as soon as possible.


text:
Home Model Systems Animal Models Mouse Model Shows How Abnormal Fight or Flight Mechanism Underpins Baby Blues
Mouse Model Shows How Abnormal Fight or Flight Mechanism Underpins Baby Blues
Postpartum depression affects nearly 20% of new mothers, with symptoms ranging from low mood, sadness, lack of energy, confidence, and appetite, and poor self esteem, to significant anxiety, guilt, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty bonding with the baby. Scientists at Tufts University School of Medicine have now developed a mouse model of postpartum depression that demonstrates direct involvement of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, a neuroendocrine system that controls the body's physiological response to stress—the fight or flight response—but which is normally switched off during and after pregnancy.
The researchers suggest that their results have highlighted a potential molecular target against which effective new treatments for postpartum depression can be developed. They also hope that the mouse model will provide new insights into the complex mechanisms that underlie postpartum depression, so that biomarkers can be found that identify vulnerable women.
"Pregnancy obviously involves great changes to a woman's body," comments Laverne Camille Melón, Ph.D., of the Tufts University School of Medicine department of neuroscience, first author on the authors' published paper in Psychoneuroendocrinology ("Inability to Suppress the Stress-Induced Activation of the HPA Axis during the Peripartum Period Engenders Deficits in Postpartum Behaviors in Mice"). The authors point out that, "…we're only now beginning to understand the significant unseen adaptations occurring at the neurochemical and circuitry level that may be important to maintaining mental health and maternal behavior in the first few weeks to months following delivery."
The HPA axis is normally deactivated during and after pregnancy to help protect the developing baby from stress. Although it has been proposed that dysregulation of the HPA axis may play a key role in postpartum depression, studying this dysregulation directly hasn't been possible because of a lack of useful animal models. And while animal experiments have shown that stress, or administering stress hormones, can induce abnormal postpartum behaviors, clinical data on stress hormones in women with postpartum depression have been inconsistent. Studies haven't been able to demonstrate a role for corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)—the main driver of the stress response—or for inappropriate activation of the HPA axis in postpartum depression. CRH is primarily secreted by the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the hypothalamus.
"Some clinical studies show a relationship between CRH, HPA axis function, and postpartum depression, but others fail to replicate these findings," comments corresponding author Jamie Maguire, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine. "Direct investigation into this relationship has been hindered due to the lack of useful animal models of such a complex disorder."
Previous work by Dr. Maguire's laboratory had shown that the brain protein KCC2 plays a role in regulating CRH neurons and the physiological response to stress. In their latest studies, the researchers first assessed KCC2 expression in the PVN of virgin, pregnant, and postpartum mice to investigate the specific role that KCC2 might play in regulating the HPA axis during and after pregnancy. They found that KCC2 was downregulated in virgin mice exposed to stress, but not in pregnant or postpartum mice.
The team then developed knockout mice that lacked KCC2 in CRH neurons and compared activation of the HPA axis in the knockout mice and in their wild-type littermates. The KCC2 knockout animals showed much more stress reactivity during the peripartum period than the control animals. Animals lacking CRH KCC2 also didn't exhibit the reduced levels of anxiety that are typical of the postpartum period, but instead demonstrated abnormal maternal care compared with the normal animals. Applying techniques that activated or silenced CRH neurons allowed the researchers to pin the abnormal behaviors onto the activity of these neurons that govern the HPA axis.
"Here, we demonstrate that the normal suppression of the stress-induced activation of the HPA axis during the peripartum period involves maintenance of KCC2 in the PVN," the authors write. "This study demonstrates that dysregulation of the HPA axis is sufficient to induce abnormal postpartum behaviors and deficits in maternal behaviors in mice, providing empirical support for a role of HPA axis dysfunction in the pathophysiology of postpartum depression."
The results effectively show "for the first time that dysregulation of the HPA axis and a specific protein in the brain, KCC2, can be enough to induce postpartum depression-like behaviors and deficits in maternal care," comments Dr. Maguire, who is also a member of the Neuroscience and Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics program faculties at Tufts' Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences.
The researchers suggest that the HPA axis will represent just one component in an interplay of mechanisms that underlie postpartum depression. "Many psychiatric and neurological disorders are a constellation of symptoms and represent an unfortunate synergy of heterogeneous maladaptations," Dr. Melón continues. "The mechanisms underlying one woman's postpartum depression may differ from another's."
The team hopes that their mouse model will help them to identify a biomarker that might indicate which pregnant women are more likely to develop postpartum depression, and potentially lead to new approaches to treating disorders characterized by KCC2 deficiency. '"By uncovering the role for stability of KCC2 in the regulation of CRH neurons, the postpartum stress axis, and maternal behavior, we hope we have identified a potential molecular target for the development of a new class of compounds that are more effective for women suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety," notes Dr. Melón.
"There is much more we need to learn," Dr. Maguire notes, "but we believe our model will be useful for testing novel therapeutic compounds for postpartum depression. Such studies could also be relevant to other conditions in which KCC2 deficits are implicated, such as epilepsy, chronic pain, and autism, and to other stress- and anxiety-related disorders."
Previous articleShire Pursues FDA Approval for Plasma Manufacturing Facility
Next articleHidden Structural Variations Emerge from Long Reads of a Complex Genome
Molecule at Nexus of Schizophrenia's Genetic/Environmental Origins
Function of Candidate Human Obesity Genes Demonstrated in Fruit Flies


Impeccable design, uncompromising quality: take your tennis to the next level, choose a Wilson tennis rackets.
Clash actually delivers with the world's most flexible racket that doesn't compromise stability.
The Pro Staff 97 is the essence of classic control.
A perfect mix of power and control, the Wilson racket for demanding tennis players.
Maximum power with minimal effort. Choose a Wilson Ultra and push your game beyond any limit.
Wilson Racquets dedicated to amateur tennis players, to have fun without too much agony or to get in tennis without sacrificing quality.
Vast choice of Wilson junior rackets , the best choice for young player.
Explore the wide range of Wilson tennis rackets online and choose your next gaming partner in the specialized tennis shop. Among the most appreciated of the tennis circuit ATP, Wilson tennis rackets have always been the choice of the greatest tennis champions. Roger Federer has played all his tennis career with the glorious Wilson Pro Staff, the racquet symbol of precision and reliability, Serena Williams chooses instead Wilson Blade, the tennis racket for those who, like the champion, loves a style of attack powerful and aggressive.
Did you know that by purchasing your new Wilson tennis racket on Mister Tennis the ropes are free to assemble? Our experts will take care of the stringing of your new Wilson, using the latest generation of stringing machines. You can choose between dozens of free strings, or among hundreds of other models for a fee, you will only pay the cost of the rope, we will offer the assembly! What are you waiting for? Buy with confidence your new Wilson tennis racket in our online store, no one offers you the same convenience.
We at Mister Tennis know how much you want to start playing with your new Wilson racket. Precisely for this reason our preparation and delivery services are very fast: tennis rackets are always available and our logistics unit travels at the speed of light, we like to surprise you! Put us to the test, our couriers deliver throughout Europe in 3-4 days.


text:
La batalla de Guayabos o batalla de Arerunguá (Banda Oriental, 10 de enero de 1815) fue un combate entre las fuerzas federales del oriental José Artigas y las del Directorio de las Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata al mando de Manuel Dorrego. La victoria fue de las fuerzas federales.

Antecedentes

A principios de 1814 Artigas y sus hombres se separaron del sitio de la ciudad de Montevideo (dominada hasta entonces por los realistas españoles), indignados por el trato que el gobierno unitario de Buenos Aires daba a las demás provincias. Cuando la ciudad de Montevideo cayó en poder del Directorio el general Carlos María de Alvear se negó a entregarla a los orientales. Ya desde antes, las fuerzas de Artigas se enfrentaron con las del gobierno central en varias batallas menores, que les permitieron a los primeros controlar Entre Ríos y Corrientes.

Varias pequeñas divisiones del ejército directorial intentaron derrotar a los federales en la Banda Oriental, y el 4 de octubre el coronel Manuel Dorrego derrotó a la fuerza más importante de los federales en la batalla de Marmarajá, cerca de la frontera norte, obligando a su jefe, Fernando Otorgués, a huir hacia el Brasil. Alvear creyó que había terminado con la insurrección y ordenó que sus fuerzas se trasladaran hacia Buenos Aires.

Pero pronto Otorgués regresó y Artigas todavía era fuerte en el noroeste de la Banda Oriental. Dorrego tuvo que hacer varias campañas por el interior de la provincia, hasta que, en los primeros días de enero, marchó hacia el campamento central de Artigas en el arroyo Arerunguá, cerca del río Uruguay. Estando en camino, exigió al jefe de las fuerzas directoriales en Entre Ríos, Juan José Viamonte, que le enviara refuerzos; pero este estaba tan amenazado por los federales que no se los pudo enviar.

Desarrollo

La batalla sucedió en el arroyo Guayabos, afluente del Arerunguá, el 10 de enero de 1815, entre los 800 hombres de Dorrego y los alrededor de 1500 de Artigas, cuyas fuerzas eran mandadas por Fructuoso Rivera.

Al iniciar las acciones, el ala derecha del ejército directorial, soldados del Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo al mando de Juan Lavalle, lograron alguna ventaja sobre los montoneros orientales. Pero varias de las unidades de Dorrego se pasaron a los federales, y así estos lograron resistir el ataque. La mayor parte de las fuerzas del Directorio huyeron, salvo los granaderos y la escolta de Dorrego.

Consecuencias

Poco después, también los directoriales de Entre Ríos fueron derrotados, y el director supremo Alvear ordenó abandonar la Banda Oriental. Las fuerzas directoriales saquearon Montevideo el 4 de marzo, llevándose todo el armamento y dinero de la ciudad, además de su imprenta, dejando a Otorgués entrar en la ciudad. Durante el mencionado saqueo, soldados directoriales volaron el polvorín de la capital oriental, provocando la muerte de un centenar de civiles.

Poco después, Alvear ofreció a Artigas la independencia de la provincia Oriental, que el jefe federal rechazó indignado.

La batalla de Guayabos significó la liberación de la Banda Oriental de la dominación directorial e inició el período de máximo poder de Artigas. Fue el germen de la independencia de Uruguay, que se concretaría doce años después (en 1828).

Pero, al no haber solucionado la cuestión federal, fue un eslabón más en las interminables guerras civiles que dividieron a la región del Río de la Plata en el .

Bibliografía
 Carranza, Adolfo: Manuel Dorrego, Buenos Aires.
 Lacasa, Pedro: Vida del general Juan Lavalle.
 Rodríguez, G. F.: Historia de Alvear.
 Sosa de Newton, Lily: Dorrego. Buenos Aires: Plus Ultra, 1967.

Batallas entre unitarios y federales
Batallas del siglo XIX
Batallas de Uruguay
Guerra entre Artigas y el Directorio
Uruguay en 1815
Batalla


text:
Feschuk: Weary Leafs fight back to salvage point
Less than 24 hours after a gritty win in New York, Leafs rally in third to gain valuable point against Devils.
By Dave FeschukSports Columnist
Wed., Dec. 7, 2011timer4 min. read
In the early moments of the third period of Tuesday's Leafs-Devils game, Toronto was hemmed in their end and hard up for solutions.
The Devils, leading 2-1, were swarming the net occupied by James Reimer, just as they had for long stretches of a dominant first period.
Certainly you could have chalked up the home team's listless lot to their tough schedule slot. The Leafs, after all, were playing less than 24 hours after a gritty 4-2 victory at Madison Square Garden, this while the Devils, losers of their previous four, had been idle since Saturday. Certainly you could have shrugged and conceded, matter of factly and without insult, that the Leafs just didn't have their legs.
So give Toronto's NHLers some credit for finding a way to swing the occasionally wayward momentum. Out of New Jersey's down-low dominance in Tuesday's third period came a Cody Franson breakout pass, which led to a Mikhail Grabovski dish to the left wing, which fed Matt Frattin, who was building steam. Frattin cut and shot and scored to tie it 2-2 — the kind of goal the Leafs hope they'll see more of from the 23-year-old rookie from Edmonton.
And with that key piece of a scoring summary, the Leafs answered one in a number of questions that could bode well for the rest of their promising season. For starters: What happens to the Leafs when a less-than-compelling opponent and a post-road-trip letdown combine to produce a blase effort? In this case, the home team ground out a single point, albeit in what ultimately went down as a 3-2 overtime loss, New Jersey's David Clarkson potting the winner. And so it went.
What happens when New Jersey's underwhelming power play (fourth-worst in the NHL) clashes with Toronto's unimposing penalty kill (also fourth-worst in the NHL)? In a league in which defence almost always prevails, you'd think the Leafs' less-than-stellar work with the manpower disadvantage would find some relief against the Devil. Alas, the Devils sprung to a 2-0 first-period lead with a pair of power-play goals, neither of which reflected kindly on Toronto's struggling special team. On the first goal, an Ilya Kovalchuk one-timer from the top of the left circle, the Leafs' resistance was non-existent. On the second, scored by Clarkson on a pinpoint passing combination from Zach Parise and Patrik Elias, the Devils carved a hole through the heart of Toronto's defence. It was just the second time this season the Devils opened a game with a 2-for-2 showing with the favourable numbers. Perhaps it was no coincidence that the other time came against the Leafs last month in Newark. The Devils nearly made it 3-for-3, Parise beating Reimer on an early second-period shot that hit the post.
Said Luke Schenn, the Leafs defenceman: "Our penalty kill wasn't sharp. ... A couple of brain cramps and we got behind the 8-ball."
What happens when the Leafs' stellar power play (second-best in the league) faces New Jersey's league-best penalty kill? Defence wins, of course. Toronto's power play, of course, is vastly improved over last year. A little more than a third into the campaign, it has already scored 27 times, more than half last year's season-long output of 52 goals. But on Tuesday night the Devils, setting the standard on the kill, ensured the Leafs went 0-for-2.
What happens when one of the league's hottest scorers carves out a breakaway on a Hall of Fame-bound goaltender no longer in his prime? Phil Kessel found that ice in the first period. Martin Brodeur, age 39, thwarted Kessel's effort with a skyward stack of his pads. It wasn't the night's only bit of nifty goaltending. Reimer needed a big save on a power-play shot from the slot by Clarkson in the early going. Reimer closed a mid-third-period door on Elias, and made a late-game beauty on a free-in-front Clarkson. But Reimer deferred to Brodeur's brilliance.
"He has a billion wins for a reason," Reimer said of his New Jersey counterpart. "He can make big saves."
What happens when the first period suggests the Leafs are in for a loss? Tuesday's was a classic comedown game, especially in the wake of a road trip on which the Leafs' fathers were their occasionally misty-eyed companions. Emerging from a back-to-back set with three points was a source of dressing-room pride.
"Playing so many games, and with the travel (Monday) night, and then to be down 2-0, we could have thrown in the towel and gave up. But we didn't," Reimer said. "We battled hard. I thought we dominated for most of the last two periods ... and we deserved the two points. But we, for sure, deserved the one point."