Current Reform Research Articles

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.

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.

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

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.

Understanding general practice funding models in Australia and beyond.

Australia is undergoing general practice funding reform, with recent changes to Medicare and the introduction of MyMedicare voluntary patient registration. Within this context, we provide general practitioners (GPs) with an explainer on health economic concepts relevant to current funding reform debates. This article outlines different funding model types, discusses the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of each funding model, and reflects on past experiences of reform. Common GP funding models across the world include fee for service, capitation, pay for performance and bundled payments. Each funding model has its potential advantages and disadvantages. Blended funding models can minimise undesired consequences of individual funding models but can introduce additional complexity. The challenge remains to design funding models that enable access to quality care, adequately pay providers and are sustainable into thefuture.

On the Logical Path of Teachers' Professional Ethics

The professional development of teachers is the main trend in current teacher education reforms and a central topic in research on teacher education. Teachers' professional ethics, as a crucial aspect of their professional development, is a significant indicator of their professional maturity. At present, China is in a key transitional stage from teacher occupational morality to professional ethics. Starting from the identity of teachers as individuals, this paper delves into three core dimensions: teachers’ natural life and morality, teachers’ social life and ethics, and teachers’ spiritual life and professional ethics. This deep exploration of the logical path of teachers' professional ethics further reveals the ethical dilemmas and essential problems faced by teachers in contemporary society, while also aiming to discover, from an ethical perspective, a path toward future identity recognition.

Potential consequences of the German hospital reform and the resolution of the Federal Joint Committee on the treatment of proximal femoral fractures for the Federal State of Saxony : Improvement or hazard for the quality of care?

The German hospital landscape is undergoing comprehensive changes due to the increasing aging population and staff shortages in the healthcare sector. These changes are driven by the current hospital reform and the guidelines of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) for the treatment of proximal femoral fractures. To investigate the effects of the hospital reform and the implementation of the G‑BA guidelines for the treatment of proximal femoral fractures in Saxony. Based on the number of proximal femoral fracture surgeries performed in all certified trauma centers in Saxony (East Saxony/West Saxony Trauma Network) in 2019 and 2022, asimulation was conducted to visualize the implementation of the G‑BA guidelines and the hospital reform. Applying the criteria of the G‑BA resolution results in areduction of hospitals treating proximal femoral fractures in Saxony from 42to 28(-33%). The implementation of the planned hospital reform further reduces the number of such hospitals to 15(-64%). This reduction leads to asignificant increase in case numbers in the remaining hospitals (twofold to threefold) and up to a fourfold increase by 2030. This comes with an increased need for operating capacities (1.2operating rooms per week) and about 7400 secondary transfers per year. In the districts of North Saxony, Bautzen, Central Saxony, and the Erzgebirge District, no hospital would be available to treat geriatric proximal femoral fractures. The planned reform and the current implementation of the G‑BA resolution pose ahigh risk to create gaps in care in Saxony with a markedly reduced number of hospitals involved in treatment of proximal femoral fractures. The necessary operating resources and inpatient capacities in the remaining hospitals are insufficient to care for the expected number of patients given the personnel and capacity shortages.

The influence of policy advocacy and education on medical staff's adaptation to diagnosis related groups payment reform in China: an analysis of the mediating effect of policy cognition.

In recent years, China has been carrying out the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) payment reform, which has an impact not only on payment methods and medical expenses, but also on the behaviors of medical staff. Some of these behaviors are unexpected by policymakers, such as turning away critically ill patients, disaggregating hospitalization costs, setting up disease groups with higher points, and so on. This phenomenon attracted the attention of some scholars, who put forward a few positive intervention measures, mainly including policy advocacy and system improvement. The scholars believed that the former was more feasible. However, there is a lack of research on the effects and influencing processes of these interventions. Therefore, this study aims to explore the influence of policy advocacy and education on medical staff's adaptation to DRGs payment reform in China and the role of policy cognition in this process, in order to provide experiences for the smooth implementation and sustainable development of DRGs payment system. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 650 medical staff in five large general hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, to understand their participation and feedback on policy advocacy and education, their adaptation to the current DRGs payment reform, and their cognition of relevant policies. After descriptive statistical analysis, partial correlation analysis, multiple linear regression models and bias correction Bootstrap sampling method were used to analyze the mediating effect of policy cognition factors. All respondents had participated in organized collective policy advocacy and education activities in the past year, but the degree of satisfaction and recognition was not very high. 59.5 percent said their adaptation to the DRGs payment reform was average. Nearly half did not regularly pay attention to and participate in the management of the medical costs of patients with DRGs through compliance. And they had a low understanding of the specific rules of DRGs payment and did not form a high policy identity. The mediating effect values of policy cognition were 0.148, 0.152, 0.108, and 0.057, respectively, when the frequency and quality of policy advocacy and education influenced medical staff's adaptive perception and adaptive behaviors. The organized collective policy advocacy and education can promote medical staff's adaptation to DRGs payment reform by improving their policy cognition, and the action paths are diverse. Policymakers and hospital managers need pay attention to this phenomenon, and formulate demand-centered, value-oriented whole-process advocacy and education strategies while constantly improving the DRGs payment system. All of these provided a basis for further research and practice of positive intervention in DRGs payment reform.

Junior Doctor Retention Strategies: Integrating Knowledge Management with Supportive Leadership and Organizational Climate

AbstractThis study aims to evaluate interventions and strategies used to retain junior doctors, with a specific focus on the roles of organizational climate, supportive leadership, and work engagement influenced by effective knowledge management practices. We examine how knowledge management—the systematic process of creating, sharing, using, and managing the knowledge and information of an organization—contributes to creating a favorable organizational climate and supportive leadership strategies. Engaging in a quantitative study with a sample of 950 junior doctors across four Central European countries, we explore the impact of an integrated approach that combines traditional performance-oriented climate models (rational goals model) with knowledge management practices tailored to the unique demands of healthcare settings influenced by current healthcare reforms and bureaucratic systems. Our findings suggest that not only do supportive leadership and a positive organizational climate enhance work engagement among junior doctors, but robust knowledge management practices also play a crucial role in improving retention rates by facilitating continuous learning and effective information sharing. To the best of our knowledge, our research is the first to draw on the synergy between rational goals, organizational climate, supportive leadership, and knowledge management practices to explain the antecedents of junior doctor work engagement and retention. This approach offers new insights into the dynamics of employee retention and underscores fundamental factors influencing junior doctors’ retention, paving the way for a more resilient and thriving healthcare workforce amidst the ongoing turbulence in global healthcare.