Current Reform Research Articles

Punishment or mercy? Tripartite game between the State, offenders, and victims in China’s environmental crime governance

China is attempting restorative justice reforms in environmental crime governance. However, a discrepancy remains between the ideal and the reality of environmental restorative justice (ERJ), particularly in balancing mercy or punishment. This study explores the strategies of the State, offenders, and victims in China’s environmental crime governance and develops a three-party evolutionary game model to analyze these interactions. Analysis of evolutionary stability identifies four potential scenarios that align with legal theory and practice during the ERJ reform process: Compromise justice, Retributive justice, Reparative justice, and Restorative justice. The simulation results based on environmental crime governance data from 2019 to 2023 indicate that current reforms are primarily oriented towards achieving reparative justice, where environmental restoration outcomes rely on punitive pressure from the State on offenders. To foster a more effective transition towards ERJ, we suggest the State maintain punishment in a moderate level through an environmental punitive compensation system. At the same time, social forces should be encouraged to participate in environmental crime governance.

Kill Two Birds With One Stone? China's Mixed Ownership Reform and Investment Efficiency

ABSTRACTThe reform of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) is a major strategic step for the central government to implement the policy of strengthening and expanding SOEs and an important measure to support the development of the nonpublic economy. This has become the main direction of China's current reform and the focus of its governance. Mixed ownership reform is the key implementation path and main direction of SOE reform. Its fundamental purpose is to stimulate the vitality and competitiveness of these enterprises. Taking the sample of Chinese A‐share‐listed firms from 2004 to 2022, we aimed to explore the impact and mechanism of the mixed ownership reform of SOEs on the investment efficiency of SOEs and participating private enterprises (PEs). We found that the SOEs' mixed ownership reform provides a win–win situation for both SOEs and PEs. Specifically, the incorporation of non–state‐owned capital owed by PEs prevents SOEs' overinvestment, which is denoted as the “direct effect.” Meanwhile, PEs' participation in the reform leads to a reduction in underinvestment, which is denoted as the “indirect effect.” Mechanism analysis indicated that for SOEs, the reform leads to a decreased level of government intervention and a reduced principal agency cost, showing the reform's “governance effect.” For PEs, participation in the reform leads to reduced financing constraints, demonstrating the reform's “resource effect.” This study not only enriches the relevant research on the consequences of mixed ownership reform at the microlevel but also provides valuable experience and reference for the economic reform of emerging markets and developing countries.

Comparative Analysis of the Teaching Organization Form Between Chinese and German Kindergartens

Germany is the birthplace of preschool education, and after long-term development, it has formed a relatively complete advanced preschool education system. Kindergarten education is part of preschool education. Therefore, this study hopes to play a certain role in the current kindergarten reform in China by comparing the differences between the teaching organization forms of kindergartens in China and Germany, drawing on the advantages of the current kindergarten education in Germany and combining it with the local situation in China. The reasons for the difference between Chinese and German kindergartens will be analyzed from the organizational form of kindergartens. The biggest difference between German and Chinese kindergartens is that German kindergartens adopt mixed-age classes, while Chinese kindergartens adopt same-age classes. The reasons for these differences are the two countries' policies and economic and cultural attitudes. Then it compares the theoretical basis of different teaching organization forms in the two countries, analyzes the value of these two different teaching organization forms, and combines the advantages of German kindergarten education to put forward reasonable and feasible suggestions for Chinese kindergarten education.

MAIN SPECIFICITIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REFORM PEDAGOGICAL MOVEMENT IN HUNGARY: ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AFTER 1990

The study aims to present the current reform and alternative education situation in Hungary. Hungarian reform pedagogy has a long history, and between the two world wars, the reception of European reform trends became a significant part of the pedagogical culture. The New School movement, the Child Study movement and experimental pedagogy became an integral part of Hungarian pedagogy. Reform pedagogical institutions were established mainly in the capital, the most important being Waldorf, Montessori pedagogy, the Family School, the New School, and in the countryside, the most significant were the School of Action and the Garden School (Szeged). The information sources for the study were the results of research on reform pedagogy and life reform in Hungary, studies about alternative pedagogical schools, and pedagogical websites. The outline and overview analysis cover the conceptual definitions, the historical traditions and the main features of the current situation. The research group of Eötvös University (led by Prof. András Németh), the Jena-Plan working group, has played a prominent role in researching (over 30 years) and promoting the Hungarian reform pedagogical movement.

Проблемы и перспективы постболонского реформирования системы высшего образования в России: теоретический обзор

The relevance of this study is determined by the need to understand new trends in the development of higher education in Russia after the country’s exit from the Bologna system in May 2022. The author’s goal is a critical analysis and systematic review of scientific sources on pedagogy and social and humanitarian sciences (sociology and philosophy of education, political science, law, economic disciplines), which highlight the problems, contradictions and ways of reforming higher education in Russia in the context of abandoning the two-tier “Bachelor’s – Master’s degree” system and creating a national model of higher education based on traditional priorities and meeting the needs and demands of the national economy. The opinions of domestic scientists on the prospects for modernizing Russian higher education in the post-Bologna period, possible risks and scenarios for the development of domestic education in the context of the introduction of a pilot project implemented on the basis of six Russian universities from 2023 to 2026 are analyzed and compared. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that by means of content analysis of scientific texts four circles of problems are identified that should be solved in the course of current reforms, including economic, social, legal and pedagogical issues. Positive and negative results of the implementation of the Bologna reforms in Russia are described, the attitude of researchers to traditions, innovations and retro-innovations accompanying the process of reforming higher education is revealed. The circle of the most controversial issues that worry the academic community in the context of the transition to a new model of higher education, which is based on the updated format of the Russian specialist degree, is determined.

Schoolteachers as reformers: evidence from primary school science classrooms

ABSTRACT Fostering scientific literacy (SL) is gaining global prominence and is being implemented across all educational levels. However, limited empirical research exists on its implementation in primary school science education. This study explores the implementation of a large-scale school education reform at the micro level of primary school classrooms, focusing on the extent to which day-to-day teaching practices support larger reform aims. Data were derived from public schools in Kazakhstan, which has committed to reforming its school system by introducing a new curriculum. Classroom observations and semi-structured interviews were used to shed light on the current reform situation in state schools, specifically teaching practices. The findings suggest that teachers are superficially implementing innovative teaching methods to meet external reform expectations. Through evidence from observed classroom practices, this study can assist teacher educators in reflecting on their practice, thereby providing an additional perspective on teaching science. The results also highlight the role of professional development in teaching scientific literacy in addition to reading and mathematical literacy.

Research on the Reform Path of College Physical Education Teaching under the Background of Sports-Education Integration

With the deepening and development of higher education reform in China, the integration of sports and education has become an important direction of the current physical education reform. Carrying out the integration of sports and education in college physical education teaching will effectively guarantee the reform and development of physical education, promote the construction of an education service system of discipline integration, improve collaborative education in colleges and universities under the background of sports-education integration, laying a good foundation for colleges to better improve the teaching quality of physical education curriculum and carry out the integration of sports and education. In addition, it can promote the healthy growth of students. In this regard, this paper first expounds on the significance of the reform of college physical education under the background of the integration of sports and education and then puts forward the effective reform path, in order to provide some references for the relevant education researchers.

Insights from the German Classical University Concept and Harvard's Educational Philosophy for China's "Double First-Class" University Initiative

The topic of building world-class universities has been discussed and practiced in China for over a century, with evolving strategies guiding the development of higher education. The German classical university model and the educational philosophy of Harvard University have long been studied as benchmarks within the higher education community. These models have significant relevance to current higher education reforms, particularly China's "Double First-Class" initiative. This article examines the educational principles of both to understand their potential applications to the “Double First-Class” Initiative and broader reforms in Chinese higher education.

The Impact of the Dalton Plan-based Instruction on Learner Autonomy in Reading Among College English Course Learner in China

This study explored the impact of the Dalton Plan-based instruction on learner autonomy in reading performance among learners in College English course in China. A quasi-experimental design was employed to reach the goal. The experiment was undertaken in one university characterized by students from multi-ethnic background. One second year College English (CE) course class with 16 students makes the experimental class, the other same level CE course class with 15 students composes the control class. The experimental class received the Dalton Plan-based instruction and the control class received conventional classroom instruction. All the participants are medical majors. The data were collected by utilising Autonomous Learning Scale (ALS)，students’ self-reports and semi-structured interview. The findings of this study revealed that Dalton Plan-based instruction was more effective in building learner autonomy compared to conventional instruction. Data from the analysis of the ALS indicated that the experimental group improved in study habits and independent learning. Additionally, findings from the students’ self-reports showed that the students in the experimental group experienced an increase in reading interest, a more regular reading habit, better emotional control, improvement in reading strategies and more adaptable to reading challenges. This research bears crucial pedagogical implications in that the Dalton Plan-based instruction may be considered as a good alternative to choose in the current College English (CE) course teaching and learning reform which highlights the importance of building student’s learner autonomy in their English learning.

EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES TO PROMOTE REFORM IN MORAL EDUCATION THROUGH FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSES

Against the backdrop of current educational reform, teaching evaluation has emerged as a crucial means of measuring teaching quality and effectiveness, highlighting its growing significance. However, traditional teaching evaluations frequently concentrate on knowledge acquisition and examination results, overlooking the evaluation of students' comprehensive qualities and the broader educational outcomes. Therefore, constructing a scientific and comprehensive evaluation system for educational outcomes is of great importance in advancing teaching reform and innovation. This paper aims to explore how to promote teaching reform, particularly in the practical application of moral education through courses, through the evaluation of educational outcomes. By analyzing the problems existing in current teaching evaluations and combining the practice of moral education evaluation in foreign language courses in School of Foreign Studies, Zhaoqing University, this paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation system for educational outcomes and elaborates on its development steps and application cases in teaching. This system not only helps improve teaching quality but also effectively promotes students' overall development. KEYWORDS: evaluation of educational outcomes; teaching reform; moral education through courses; evaluation system

Studio glass in Ukraine: theoretical aspects, terms and concepts

Several complex terminological and conceptual issues arise in light of the current reforms of higher education and science in Ukraine and the pursuit of international standards. The study's primary objective – Studio Glass Art – is one of the least researched in our country but quite scientifically substantiated in the global scientific field. Particular attention is drawn to the problem of the relevance of the terms currently used in Ukrainian art history and the lack of understanding of certain concepts in the popular information field. The main difference between professional decorative art and folk art is that. The article provides definitions of the terms of art morphology in Ukrainian scientific sources and makes a comparative analysis of the definitions of these concepts in the English-language literature. In the example of the works of world-famous Ukrainian and foreign artists, the author generalizes artistic features and assigns the most characteristic samples of works to a particular type of art. Specific importance is attached to the interconnectedness of stylistic characteristics of studio glass. The author emphasizes the difficulty of assigning studio glass to one particular type of art – decorative or fine art – in the general aggregate. It is argued that in scientific studies of contemporary Ukrainian glass art, it is essential to distinguish the features of the main concepts that characterize works of fine and decorative art and the design of volume products. It has also been determined that studio glass art is developing exclusively in the vein of professional art in Ukraine, as in other countries. Based on the examples given, specific morphological solutions are proposed. The article aims to promote the democratization of approaches to classifying contemporary glass art and avoid using a single decorative or applied art concept. It is noted that the Ukrainian professional terminological apparatus of a technological nature requires significant revision in the context of the exclusion of terms of foreign, particularly Russian, origin and the introduction of adequate Ukrainian equivalents.

Does children’s voice matter? Exploring teachers’ and pupils’ perspectives on critical pedagogy in childhood development

Current educational reforms in Africa aim to cultivate problem-solving and critical-thinking skills among early childhood learners through a democratic educational approach. Ghana’s newly adopted standards-based curriculum prioritizes the constructivist theory of learning which, among other aims, seeks the development of children’s critical thinking skills and their ability to critique existing knowledge. Critical pedagogy proves to be an educational approach capable of empowering students in this regard. Hence, this study investigated teachers’ and pupils’ perspectives on the role of critical pedagogy in achieving these educational aims. Employing an exploratory case study design, 12 teachers and 20 pupils in four public elementary schools in Sunyani-West Municipal were involved in this inquiry. The study revealed that teachers hardly embraced critical pedagogy. They viewed this educational approach as a threat to their authority and a potential instigator of disobedience among pupils. Conversely, pupils perceived themselves as lacking the right to critique societal norms due to established traditions. Moreover, the political culture of Ghana was cited as one of the major reasons teachers frown upon critical pedagogy in early childhood development. Based on these insights, recommendations for policy and practice have been offered for consideration.

Multiple Representations in The Context of Education in The 21st Century

Multiple representation is an important part of practically any human experience. Literature is being extensively used to study how important multiple representations are for pupils’ in understanding a concept. Moreover, we explored whether particular traits in this group were related to participants, the physics concepts, or multiple representation. The eligibility requirements have been encountered in 47 articles studies from Scopus and WoS indexed articles. The review examined the Springer, Sage, Elsevier, Willey, relevant journals using a qualitative research technique. We conducted a search to find papers published from 2019 to 2024. Then, we use descriptive statistics and content analysis to analyse the data. Our qualitative content analysis revealed five key themes: multiple representations, external representations, and multiple representations in physics. The categories and frequencies have each been examined separately. We have been assessed the research's inadequacies in order to direct future efforts toward a deeper comprehension of physics phenomena. In the current reformation of physics education, multiple representation has been highlighted as a new trend in understanding a concept. As a result, the findings of this study may be used as a starting point for all stakeholders involved in physics education in the future, notably educators, professors, and researchers.

A Study on the Development of Modern Chinese Medical Education

The development of modern Chinese medical education represents a profound transformation in the history of Chinese medicine, undergoing a process of transition from tradition to modernity and from a closed system to an open one. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the development of modern Chinese medical education, analyzing its characteristics, influencing factors, and implications for contemporary medical education. It offers historical insights for current reforms and the development of medical education. Through in-depth analysis of the introduction and initial development of Western medical education in the late Qing period, the coexistence and integration of Chinese and Western medical education in the Republic of China, and the profound impact of political, economic, and cultural factors on medical education, this paper explores how these changes shaped the evolution of Chinese medical education. Finally, it concludes by summarizing the insights of modern Chinese medical education for contemporary medical education and proposes suggestions for enhancing international cooperation and exchanges, focusing on practical and innovative education, and promoting diversified development.

REFORMS AND IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES IN GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH: FIELD OBSERVATION AND ANALYSIS (2010-2018)

When it comes to improving citizen service delivery standard and processes, or broadly, management in government (MIG), many reform programs and improvement efforts are ongoing across different ministries, departments, and agencies. As part of a larger field research, this paper investigates what those programs and projects are, and how they are doing, and what the gaps are. Analyzing the publicly available data on the government portal and donors’ website, this article provides an overall idea of current reforms in various places of government. In parallel, field research was conducted through visiting agency offices, observing office environment and mechanisms, and interviewing public managers who are working at district and sub-district level offices of directorates or agencies. As a trend, state-led development process and the traditional mode of administration have moved to New Public Management based quality and performance approach. All donors have their own strategy framework document like ‘Country Assistance strategy’, ‘Country Operations and Business Plan’, Logical Framework Document, etc. Many of the projects are sectoral and agency or ministry specific, having inherent limitations, due to ‘cadre’ based organizational structural arrangement. It is common ‘not to own the projects’, rather ‘using the fund as much as possible anyway within the given project duration’. When the fund ends, implementing units or agencies leave the projects alone. That is why many projects are actually half done without significant and sustained direction.

China: Gaokao (College Entrance Exam) Current Reform and Future Development

China: Gaokao (College Entrance Exam) Current Reform and Future Development

The Impact of the Dalton Plan-based Instruction on Learner Autonomy in Reading Among College English Course Learner in China

This study explored the impact of the Dalton Plan-based instruction on learner autonomy in reading performance among learners in College English course in China. A quasi-experimental design was employed to reach the goal. The experiment was undertaken in one university characterized by students from multi-ethnic background. One second year College English (CE) course class with 16 students makes the experimental class, the other same level CE course class with 15 students composes the control class. The experimental class received the Dalton Plan-based instruction and the control class received conventional classroom instruction. All the participants are medical majors. The data were collected by utilising Autonomous Learning Scale (ALS)，students’ self-reports and semi-structured interview. The findings of this study revealed that Dalton Plan-based instruction was more effective in building learner autonomy compared to conventional instruction. Data from the analysis of the ALS indicated that the experimental group improved in study habits and independent learning. Additionally, findings from the students’ self-reports showed that the students in the experimental group experienced an increase in reading interest, a more regular reading habit, better emotional control, improvement in reading strategies and more adaptable to reading challenges. This research bears crucial pedagogical implications in that the Dalton Plan-based instruction may be considered as a good alternative to choose in the current College English (CE) course teaching and learning reform which highlights the importance of building student’s learner autonomy in their English learning.

Stakeholders' Perception of the Impact of Curriculum Reform on the Quality of Primary Education in Zanzibar

The need to undertake curriculum reform to improve education quality has become one of the crucial issues in the current world education reform agenda. This study examined the perceived impact of curriculum reform on the quality of primary education in Zanzibar. The aim was to generate an understanding of the assumptions for the reform, its impact on the teaching and learning process and pupils learning outcomes and finally to understand its relevance to individuals and communities. A hybrid phenomenology design was used to guide the study. The study sample was obtained using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, documentary reviews, focused group discussions and non-participatory observation. Collected data were thematically analysed. The findings indicate that the leadership influence (political stance) and recommendations from the 2019 Need Assessment Report were the two main assumed triggers of the reform. Changing the teaching and learning approaches, reducing the number of subjects, using new assessment procedures, delaying the delivery of curriculum materials to schools, and lack of teachers in some new subjects were among the impacts of the reform. Activities-based learning and, a competence-based approach which encourages active participation for the learners are among the missing relevance included in this new reform since their inclusion improved in the current teaching and learning process. The study recommends a thorough analysis of the reform needs before final decisions for curriculum change are made, and there should be adequate preparation for curriculum reform specifically considering the timely delivery of necessary curriculum materials and thorough teacher training as a prior requirement for new curriculum implementation

Research on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Reform in Local Colleges and Universities under the Background of Industry-Education Integration

With the continuous development of China’s economy and the continuous upgrading of market demand, the demand for talent in enterprises and industries is increasingly diversified and complex, especially innovation ability has become one of the important standards to measure the quality of talent. At the same time, the difficult employment of college students is still serious, the state has issued a series of policies to encourage college students to actively start their own businesses. In this context, local universities, as an important part of higher education, are facing the critical task of innovation and entrepreneurship education reform. This paper aims to explore the current situation, problems, and reform paths of innovation and entrepreneurship education reform in local universities under the background of the integration of industry and education, in order to improve the training quality of innovative and entrepreneurial talents.

Review of current status and ongoing reforms of the mental health system in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's mental health system is undergoing significant reform aimed at improving care and service delivery. This article provides a comprehensive evaluation of the current state of Uzbekistan's mental health system using the WHO 2010 monitoring and evaluation framework. It also details ongoing reforms designed to address systemic issues, enhance mental healthcare and ensure better health outcomes for the population.