Forms Of Cooperation Research Articles

Travelling religion: dynamic processes of Orthodox religious education in Germany

ABSTRACT The Orthodox Church in Germany is characterised by its diaspora situation. Most of the Orthodox Christians are related with at least one other country from Eastern, South-Eastern Europe or the Middle East. This constellation has an impact on Orthodox religious education historically as well as in terms of structure and religious pedagogics. Beyond national backgrounds the curricula consider cultural diversity and a formation of an Eastern identity of a Western Orthodoxy in a fruitful dialogue with the concrete local surrounding. At the same time, it corresponds to the religious education models prescribed by the German federal states, which includes denominational religious education and expectantly forms of denominational cooperation. Orthodox religious education in Germany is characterised by a dynamic process that aims to the Orthodox identity, the contextual surroundings and current challenges.

The post-Soviet break in economic ties between Russia and Africa: causes and consequences

The article analyzes the causes and consequences of the post-Soviet breakdown of economic ties between Russia and Africa. The post-Soviet period (since 1991) has led to a breakdown of economic ties between them. It means that trade, investment, and other forms of economic cooperation between the two sides have been significantly reduced or stopped completely. After the collapse of the Soviet Union at the initiative of Mikhail Gorbachev, Africa really became a “non-subject” for diplomats and military personnel stationed in the region, and some economic actors witnessed Moscow’s first initiatives. It was only in early 2018, on the occasion of the arrival of the first shipments of Russian weapons and dozens of “advisers” from Moscow in Bangui, that the French media learned of Russia’s “great comeback” in Africa. This Central African prism powerfully shaped perceptions in Paris: Russian involvement would be a new phenomenon echoing the confrontation between East and West, and Central Africa would be a crucial link in a grand strategy on a continental scale, where Russia would be on its way to establishing itself as a major player. The severing of economic ties between Russia and Africa has negative consequences for both regions, including reduced trade, investment, and political influence, and Russia’s lack of resources and changing political priorities since the collapse of the Soviet Union are the main reasons for it.

Intergovernmental Impact Analysis in Optimizing the Implementation of the Village Profile and Administration Management Information System in Merjoyo Village, Purwoasri District, Kediri Regency

The Government of Kediri District through the Office of Community Empowerment and Village Administration created the Village Profile and Administration Management Information System (SIMPADE). The existence of the SIMPADE application is expected to help the performance of the village government in the service of making population certificates. This research is a descriptive research with a qualitative approach. The focus of this research is to determine the impact of the application of SIMPADE as a form of village cooperation with the implementing elements of village government affairs in Merjoyo Village, Purwoasri District, Kediri Regency. Data collection techniques through semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and documentation review. Data analysis techniques consist of data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing. The results of this study indicate that the impact of the SIMPADE application on the provision and dissemination of service information is quite good because it provides options and has the potential for further development even though there are some obstacles regarding the operation of the application in the field.

Integrated Approaches in Nutraceutical Delivery Systems: Optimizing ADME Dynamics for Enhanced Therapeutic Potency and Clinical Impact

Abstract Background Nutraceuticals is a general term for a variety of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids which have shown promising ability in the field of health. Efficacy of these drugs somewhat relies on their Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) processes in the body. Methods This review provides a comprehensive understanding of ADME principles blended with the pharmacological insights to design customized nutraceutical interventions dependent on individual well-being. This review discusses absorption dynamics starting from ingestion and excretion and further examines how they relate to a therapeutic outcome. In addition, special focus is paid to breakthrough methods like AI and multi-disciplinary cooperations among other ways of improving nutraceutical science. Both nanotechnology and encapsulation techniques, together with other novel approaches, aim at improving the bioavailability of foods. This is important for the continuing advancements in food engineering. Results Any combination of such strategies will ensure effectiveness of nutraceuticals in personalized medicine, which in turn enables better lifestyle choices for the population. Conclusion It is crucial to add ADME-understanding to pharmacology-based insights to make nutraceutical adjustments according to the situation. Innovations in the forms of AI and multi-disciplinary cooperation remain crucial in the progress of nutraceutical science. Methods like nanotechnology and encapsulation are powerful tools of improving bioavailability and tailor-made medicine, which in turn, will be responsible for healthier lives.

Advanced Cooperative Formation Control in Variable-Sweep Wing UAVs via the MADDPG–VSC Algorithm

UAV technology is advancing rapidly, and variable-sweep wing UAVs are increasingly valuable because they can adapt to different flight conditions. However, conventional control methods often struggle with managing continuous action spaces and responding to dynamic environments, making them inadequate for complex multi-UAV cooperative formation control tasks. To address these challenges, this study presents an innovative framework that integrates dynamic modeling with morphing control, optimized by the multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient for two-sweep control (MADDPG–VSC) algorithm. This approach enables real-time sweep angle adjustments based on current flight states, significantly enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and overall UAV performance. The precise motion state model for wing morphing developed in this study underpins the MADDPG–VSC algorithm’s implementation. The algorithm not only optimizes multi-UAV formation control efficiency but also improves obstacle avoidance, attitude stability, and decision-making speed. Extensive simulations and real-world experiments consistently demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms contemporary methods in multiple aspects, underscoring its practical applicability in complex aerial systems. This study advances control technologies for morphing-wing UAV formation and offers new insights into multi-agent cooperative control, with substantial potential for real-world applications.

The impact of support selection and Co loading amount on the catalytic performance for methane combustion

Methane (CH4) is a key component of natural gas and is essential for energy production and utilization. However, due to its strong greenhouse effect, efficient catalytic combustion methods are needed to convert it into CO2 and H2O. This study systematically evaluates the catalytic performance of Co, CoO, and Co3O4 in methane catalytic combustion, particularly highlighting the superior activity of Co3O4. To improve catalytic efficiency, this paper examines the effects of SiO2, Al2O3, and CeO2 as support materials using co-precipitation and impregnation methods. The results show a significant improvement in the catalytic activity of Co3O4 supported on CeO2, attributed to CeO2's unique redox properties and high oxygen storage capacity. Additionally, the study explores the impact of different loading amounts (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) of Co3O4(x)-CeO2 catalysts on their performance. The optimal 10%wt Co3O4–CeO2 catalyst achieves methane conversion rates of 10%, 50%, and 90% at temperatures of 376 °C, 473 °C, and 578 °C, respectively, demonstrating exceptional stability during a 20-h stability test and the ability to adapt to fluctuations in CH4 concentrations in low-oxygen environments, while also exhibiting significant catalytic activity across a range of methane concentrations from 0.5% to 2.5%. These findings provide important theoretical and experimental guidance for the application of cobalt-based catalysts in CH4 combustion, paving the way for future catalyst design and optimization.

Third party interventions promote cooperation on the interdependent networks: A perspective based on prospect theory.

Third-party intervention is a beneficial means to alleviate conflicts and promote cooperation among disputants. The decision-making of disputants is closely related to the intensity of the impact of third-party intervention on their profits. Actually, disputants often decide whether to adopt cooperative strategies based on their own perceived rather than actual gains or losses brought about by third-party intervention. We, therefore, introduce prospect theory to explore the formation and maintenance of cooperation in a system composed of third parties and disputants, which, respectively, constitute two sub-networks of the interdependent networks. Both interveners and disputants participate in a prisoner's dilemma game, and the third-party intervener will pay a certain price to impose certain punishments on the defectors of the disputed layer. The simulation results show that the introduction of third-party intervention based on the prospect theory alleviates the conflicts in the dispute layer and promotes cooperation among disputants, which indicates that third parties such as governments or organizations should appropriately consider the risk attitudes of disputants when mediating their conflicts. The level of cooperation at the dispute layer is inversely proportional to the intervention cost and directly proportional to the intervention intensity. Our research may shed some new light on the study of the evolution of cooperation under third-party intervention.

Integrated health and social care for pregnant women and young families in a vulnerable situation in the Netherlands: Professionals’ views on cross-sectoral collaboration

PurposeThis qualitative study investigated the perspective of professionals from the medical, social, and public health care sectors with regard to: cross-sectoral collaboration in providing integrated health and social care during the first thousand days of life (preconception up to children aged two years) for pregnant women and young families in a vulnerable situation. This knowledge is needed for the enhancement of cross-sectoral collaboration and the implementation of integrated care. MethodsProfessionals (n = 35) were recruited from three deprived municipalities in South-Limburg, the Netherlands. Semi-structured interviews gained insight into professionals’ views, by using a theoretical framework based on the ‘National model for integrated care for childhood overweight and obesity’. ResultsProfessionals stressed the importance of addressing both medical and social risk factors in pregnant women and young families in a vulnerable situation. However, their interpretation of vulnerability differed, hindering collaborative working. Furthermore, cross-sectoral collaboration was restricted by lack of formal cooperation agreements between sectors, and unclear referral lines from the medical to the social sector. Professionals often did not know the expertise and role of other sectors. Digital information and referral systems are not connected between the sectors which acts as an inhibiting factor. Discussion/ConclusionThis study highlights the need and ways to facilitate collaborative working between the medical, social, and public health care sectors in delivering integrated care. Recommendations include: 1) Enforcing implementation strategies aimed at facilitating collaborative working: formal regulations, structured agreements, and use of consistent definitions and protocols to facilitate integration. 2) Strengthen informal connections between professionals by the Solid Start local coalitions. 3) Align all professionals, also those not directly involved in the Solid Start local coalition, with the goals and vision of the coalition. 4) Implement a joint digital file or IT referral system to improve cross-sectoral collaboration. 5) Enhance collaboration between sectors at case level through multidisciplinary consultation.

CONCESSION POLICY IN THE TRANS-SFSR (1921-1930)

Today, Georgia strives to take a worthy place in the world, develop its economy, establish close business ties with some important countries and attract investments. In view of this, we consider it relevant to identify and analyze the archival materials relating to the experiences of our region in the field of business relations with other countries in the 20s of the twentieth century. The object of the study is the concession policy of Bolsheviks and how worked the concession institutions from a historical perspective. The purpose of this study to present the concession agreements as a mechanism for partnership between social, state and private elements, that ensured sustainable economic development of the TSFSR as a whole and of Georgia in particular. It is also important to research the emergence, development and abolition of concessions, as well as to bring to light the activities of central and local governments bodies. Economic review of concessions will make it possible to take into account the experience gained in the historical past when developing, adapting and introducing the modern forms of economic relations. The study of these experiences will inevitably be conducive to concessional ties with other countries at the current stage of economic development. Problem Identification. Studying the economic retrospective of concessions makes it possible to take into account previous experience when developing, adapting and implementing modern forms of economic cooperation. Studying this experience will facilitate the implementation of the concession cooperation plan at the current stage of economic development.

Модели сетевого адаптивного взаимодействия организаций в условиях принятия решения доминирующим собственником о реализации проекта

In modern business conditions, the network interaction of organizations is one of the most effective forms of cooperation within the framework of the project. The ability of the network to adapt to changing factors and conditions of the external and internal environment based on the reactive management of business processes of project interaction ensures not only the achievement of project goals, but also the satisfaction of the complementary interests of all counterparties. The process of developing the author's model includes an analysis of existing models of network interaction between organizations, the study of methods and approaches to evaluating the effectiveness of such interaction, as well as the identification of key factors influencing the success of the project. The results obtained will improve the understanding of the processes of networking between organizations in the implementation of projects, as well as develop recommendations to improve the effectiveness of such interaction. The results can also be useful both for the scientific community and for practitioners involved in project management and business processes in a network context. The methodological basis of the study was the methods of comparative and logical analysis, induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis. As a result of the work carried out, the author's model of network adaptive interaction of organizations was formed in the conditions of decision-making by the dominant owner on the implementation of the project.

Technology entrepreneurship in innovation ecosystems: features of functioning and forms of support

Developing a business based on innovative ideas, technology entrepreneurship plays a leading role in achieving the goals of sustainable development of the national economy. At the initial stage of development, technological startups need resource support to transform into an innovative company. Such support can be provided by innovation ecosystems and technology entrepreneurship ecosystems. Government support for the activities of small innovative enterprises is an important factor in the development of technology entrepreneurship. The purpose of the study is to develop an organizational and functional model of technology entrepreneurship. The level of development of technology entrepreneurship at the federal level and at the level of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation was assessed using indicators of the share of small enterprises in the total number of organizations, the share of innovative products of small enterprises in the total volume of manufactured products, expenditures on innovative activities, and internal costs of research and development. The author used data from the Federal State Statistics Service. An organizational and functional model of technology entrepreneurship is proposed, the main elements of which are the business community, investors, scientific and educational organizations, innovative enterprises, innovative and technological infrastructure, support institutions. It is shown how a startup, scaling a business model, can turn into an innovation business, what forms of support can ensure this, how intercompany interaction is organized within the innovation process. It is recommended to develop forms of cooperation between the business community and universities, stimulate innovative enterprises in the regions, support technological startups, and improve forms of government support for technology entrepreneurship. For the growth and development of startups in the innovation ecosystem, mechanisms for productive interaction of all its elements and effective forms of support for technology entrepreneurship are needed.

REGIONAL COOPERATION IN CENTRAL EUROPE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

The paper systematically reviews ten years of academic literature published from 2014 to 2023 and indexed in the Scopus database to establish the current state-of-the-art on how Central European regional groups operate. The review includes 52 publications on six regional cooperation formats: the Central European Defence Cooperation, the Slavkov/Austerlitz Triangle, the Salzburg Forum, the Three Seas Initiative, the Visegrád Group and the Bucharest Nine. The paper finds that regional cooperation research is very concentrated on selected aspects of Visegrád cooperation and follows poor methodological reporting practices. The majority of studies analyse the V4 in relation to migration and foreign policy issues, whereas research on cooperation dynamics in other policy areas and within other active regional groups is marginal. After identifying promising future research directions, the paper calls for greater methodological and topical diversity in Central European regional cooperation research.

ORGANIZATION-PEDAGPGICAL CONDITIONS OF PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ABILITY FOR INTERACTIVE DISTANCE EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION

The article justifies the topicality of future teachers’ preparation for work in blended learning conditions, including for organization of interactive distance educational cooperation. Such terms as interactivity and interactive education proposed by domestic researchers are analyzed. The classification of interactive activity forms is proposed.Organization-pedagogical conditions of the development of future teachers’ ability for interactive distance education cooperation are described: the implementation of models of interactive distance cooperation into educational process of a pedagogical university; the combination of various forms of interactive distance education cooperation; the use of active and interactive methods of education; the creation of open dynamic information-educational environment on the basis of equality and equivalence of objects of education, their cooperation and inter education; the use of modern dialogue technologies, modification of traditional forms of pedagogical interaction. The models of interactive distance interaction are characterized: informational, intentional, interactive, and inclusive. Much attention is drawn to the need for combination of different forms of interactive distance educational cooperation: the means of acting and dramatizing; role games; discussions, debates; press-conferences; “Brainstorming”, “Solution Tree”, method “Know / want find out / have found out”; method “Uncompleted Sentences”, “Press”, “Microphone”, sync wine. The peculiarities of active and interactive methods according to the requirements of modern educational process are highlighted. The ways of the creation of open dynamic informational-educational environment on the basis of equality, equivalence of objects of education, their cooperation and inter education are characterized. The examples of using of modern dialogue technologies, the modification of traditional forms of pedagogical interaction in future music teachers’ preparation are given.

Efektivitas Manajemen Organisasi Pelayanan Publik pada Perencanaan dan Pengawasan Pembangunan Daerah B

Village Community Empowerment (LPMK) is an independent community social institution as a forum for participation by residents and Village partners to realize the aspirations of community needs in the field of development. The implementation of Musrenbang must be carried out by supporting efforts to prevent corruption, so that it is hoped that the targets in the focus of State Finance can be achieved well. After presenting the results of the research and discussing them, it can be concluded that the Musrenbang process has been running with fairly good community involvement. Even though the Musrenbang is already quite large, namely approximately 50% - 70%, efforts are still needed to increase the role of RT, RW and LPMK in area B in the Musrenbang process. Pramusrembang needs to involve mass organizations/institutions/associations and business actors in the region as a form of regional cooperation and a form of channeling to complement the realization of physical/non-physical activities that cannot be handled by budget implementers from Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD). Campus

Critical Discourse Analysis of the Portuguese Media’s Coverage of the Belt and Road Initiative: The Case of Portuguese Mainstream Media, Público

Since 2013, when the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China, this transnational cooperation initiative has attracted a lot of attention and discussion on a global scale. Portugal has been one of the EU countries actively supporting the Belt and Road Initiative and has signed a formal cooperation agreement with China. Coverage of the Belt and Road initiative has become a window into Portugal’s attitude and impression of China. This work uses newspaper-based data from Público to deconstruct the attitudes of the main Portuguese media towards the Belt and Road Initiative in terms of language use, discursive practices, and social practices, using content analysis and critical discourse analysis. The results show that Público uses both positive and negative terms in its coverage of the Belt and Road initiative, reflecting a complex attitude towards it. Criticism of the Belt and Road initiative reflects concern that Chinese policies could affect Portugal’s national interests, including concerns about human rights and environmental protection, among others. In general, media coverage of the Belt and Road initiative in Portugal has been both approving and supportive, as well as critical and challenging, and this attitude is closely related to Portugal’s international policies, economic interests, and social values. Analysis of this coverage provides a better understanding of the complex global impact of international cooperation projects such as the “One Belt, One Road” initiative and the way they are presented in the media of different countries.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ПОСИЛЕННЯ ПОЗИЦІЙ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКИХ КОМПАНІЙ НА РИНКУ DEEP TECH В УМОВАХ МОДЕРНІЗАЦІЇ ІННОВАЦІЙНОГО ЛАНДШАФТУ ЄС

The purpose of the article is to highlight the prospects for strengthening the positions of European companies in the deep tech market in the context of the modernization of the EU innovation landscape by using the potential of regulatory policy and competition policy. The article is based on a research hypothesis, which stems from the fact that at the present stage there is a rethinking of the role of innovations as a source of socio-economic development of global economic entities. It has been established that even at the supranational level, powers in the field of implementing EU innovation policy are distributed between several departments and directorates; such distribution of powers has determined the specificity and diversity of budget mechanisms for financing innovations, which leads to subadditivity of innovation management. The role of innovation for European society is to transform research results into new, higher-quality goods and services in order to maintain and improve their competitiveness in the global market, as well as to improve the well-being of the population. The EU innovation policy is aimed at creating conditions recognized to facilitate the introduction of innovative ideas to the market, and is also a link between the policy of research and development in the field of technology and innovation and the industrial policy of states. Within the framework of the concept of open innovation, the following forms of international innovation cooperation can be distinguished: obtaining knowledge from the external environment (licensing, obtaining firms-sources of knowledge); knowledge transfer (for example, from a management company to foreign subsidiaries); partnership (equal cooperation between two companies, one of which is a non-resident of the other country); venture investments (infusion of foreign capital into innovative projects, start-ups). International innovation cooperation today is expressed mainly in the commercial activities of states: purchase and sale (export and import) of technologies in materialized form; provision of technological know-how (transfer of experience) on a contractual basis, as well as technical support within the framework of cooperation; sale of patents and licenses; personnel training (advanced training, retraining); creation of joint ventures. Coordination is the development by two states or a group of states of a common policy in the field of innovation and technology development. The methods for implementing this form of international innovation cooperation may be the implementation of various interstate programs in the field of joint scientific and technical activities. DeepTech ("deep" technologies) are fundamentally new technological solutions of innovative companies, including start-ups, developed with the aim of finding answers to global challenges and requiring long-term scientific research and significant investment. The areas of deep-tech most often include: new materials, advanced manufacturing technologies, biotechnology, blockchain, robotics, photonics, microelectronics and quantum computing, life sciences, chemistry, space, green energy and agriculture. "Deep" technologies will be in demand beyond the EU and will generally increase the inflow of investment into the innovation sector of Europe. An even more significant budget (EUR 372 billion for 2021-2027) has been allocated through the InvestEU program. It plans to support successful projects of SMEs entering IPO and implement venture fund programs focused on the late stages of the innovation cycle (scale-up venture capital) and formed from the funds of pension funds and insurance companies. Another program, "European Scale-up Action for Risk Capital" (ESCALAR), with a budget of EUR 1.2 billion until 2027, also includes tools to support innovative businesses. The general logic of the modernization of the EU innovation development program assumes a certain "smoothing" of the pan-European innovation landscape by supporting existing and launching new interregional initiatives. This will help to balance the innovative development of regions and EU countries, including those with low indicators in this area. One of the features of venture capital is its high-risk nature, i.e. the possibility of not receiving the expected profit, or losses as a result of the inefficiency of the financed project. This risk must be justified by the high profitability of commercial activity. But venture capital does not simply strive for risky entrepreneurial projects, it kind of frees the innovative entrepreneur from risk, shifting it to itself through venture funds, where this risk is shared between its numerous partners in proportion to the contribution of each. For this reason, venture capital controls the activities of the innovative entrepreneur, creating all the conditions for him to enter the market.

ВПЛИВ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЙНИХ ЗМІН НА ЕФЕКТИВНІСТЬ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ ІННОВАЦІЙНИХ ПАРКІВ

Innovation parks are key elements of modern innovation infrastructure aimed at the development of science, technology and support of entrepreneurship. In the conditions of rapid transformational changes caused by the development of digital technologies, globalization processes, growing requirements for environmental sustainability and social responsibility, innovative parks are faced with the need to adapt their business models and management approaches to maintain competitiveness and increase efficiency. The purpose of the presented work is to determine the features of the impact of transformational changes on the efficiency of the functioning of innovation parks. Methods used in the work: logical method, method of comparison, methods of analysis and synthesis, methods of deduction and induction, tabular and graphic methods for visual presentation of research results. It is also substantiated that the impact of transformational changes is manifested in the need for the integration of the latest technologies, digital solutions, as well as the application of innovative formats of cooperation, which leads to the rapid renewal of park infrastructure, the development of new services and approaches to knowledge management. Changes in the labor market, increased requirements for the qualifications of employees, and the intensification of work on projects focused on environmental sustainability make innovation parks centers of socio-economic progress and adaptation to the requirements of sustainable development. The impact of transformational changes is manifested in the need to integrate the latest technologies, digital solutions, as well as the use of innovative formats of cooperation, which leads to the rapid renewal of park infrastructure, the development of new services and approaches to knowledge management. Changes in the labor market, increased requirements for the qualifications of employees, and the intensification of work on projects focused on environmental sustainability make innovation parks centers of socio-economic progress and adaptation to the requirements of sustainable development. Thus, analyzing the impact of transformational changes on innovation parks is an important task for determining their role in the modern economy and finding effective solutions to preserve their relevance and effectiveness in the face of constant changes.

Современное состояние и тенденции развития сельскохозяйственной потребительской кооперации

Today, small forms of management in the Russian agro-industrial complex occupy a significant share in the structure of producers for certain groups of agricultural raw materials and food. Institutional transformations that have taken place over decades in the agro-industrial complex have shown the viability of such a form of organization as agricultural cooperation. The advantages that determine the competitiveness of cooperation include reducing transaction costs, economies of scale, increasing the share of rural producers in the final price of products, etc. Modern socio-economic trends dictate new conditions for the formation of food chains and the participation of economic entities in them. In this connection, there is an urgent need to analyze trends in the development of agricultural consumer cooperation. This will make it possible to determine strategic directions for development and justify relevant measures of state support for both small business forms themselves and the cooperative form of their organization. The purpose of the study is to comprehensively analyze and substantiate the development trends of the institution of agricultural consumer cooperation, as the most important component of ensuring food security in Russia in modern conditions. Achieving this goal involves the use of general scientific methods of cognition (historical and logical, comparative and system-structural) and traditional methods of economic analysis. The trends in the development of the Institute of Agricultural Consumer Cooperation have been studied. A comprehensive analysis of the competitive advantages and weaknesses of small business forms in the agro-industrial complex was carried out. The potential for growth of the institution of agricultural consumer cooperation in the conditions of transformation of the socio-economic space has been identified. The experience of supporting agricultural cooperatives in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation was studied. Measures of state support for the development of this institution that are relevant to current trends in economic development are substantiated. The results of the study and the conclusions drawn on their basis will be useful for supporting management decisions in the field of development of the agro-industrial complex, increasing the efficiency of planning and implementing state support for the small business sector in the agro-industrial complex

Развитие системы педагогического образования в Республике Гана

Relevance. Integration of African students into the Russian cultural and educational space is one of the most effective means of fostering friendly bilateral relations in order to implement Russia’s humanitarian policy on the African continent. Pedagogical education can become an important form of cooperation; it may include enrolling foreign students in higher education programs and expanding our work in educational centers abroad. Such a center promoting Russian culture among students was opened in the Republic of Ghana in 2003. However, our understanding of the organization of pedagogical education – primarily the system of teacher training – will contribute to deeper integration into the Ghanaian educational system in order to achieve the above-mentioned objective. We should aim to comprehend the internal structure, objectives, content, management, and evolving directions of the Ghanaian educational system, grounded in its history. The aim of the research is to analyze the contemporary system of teacher training education in the Republic of Ghana. The methodology uses a cultural approach, blending comparative and historical pedagogical methods with analysis of scientific literature, state educational documents, reports of the Ministry of Education and international organizations, enhanced by field observations and interviews with representatives of Ghana’s higher education. The findings reveal a dynamic evolution in Ghana’s higher education system, highlighting its contemporary structure, governance, and educational policies concerning teacher training. Conclusion: the study identifies the principles underpinning the organization of Ghana’s national pedagogical education and notes the active renewal phase of the teacher training system, which aligns with national interests yet relies on international support (methodological and financial). Therefore, at the moment, Ghana is as open as possible for cooperation in teacher training education. Practical application: the research results are valuable for the development of the Center for Open Education in Ghana and for creating joint training programs under the Russian Federation’s Humanitarian Policy abroad. Additionally, the results can contribute to comparative pedagogy courses at university level.

The Main Security Challenges and Threats in the Western Balkans and Possible Model for Solving Them in the Process of European Integration

In a narrower sense, within the geo-political jargon of the European Union, the term “Western Balkans” is used alongside the term “Southeast Europe”. The Western Balkans encompasses the former Yugoslav countries of Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, excluding Slovenia but including Albania. After the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, objective reasons emerged that prompted the need for new forms of cooperation between the new and existing countries in order to promote reconciliation and stabilise the Western Balkans. NATO and the EU played a predominant role in this process, along with certain Member States of these international organisations. The aggression by Russia against Ukraine on 24th February 2022, the situation in the Middle East, and the complexity of relations between China and the United States regarding Taiwan have compelled all European countries to recognise that these conflicts pose an immediate threat to European security. Analysing the foreign policy aspects and their impact on regional security, it is essential to highlight that the Western Balkans is characterised by weak governance, a fragile civil society, and geopolitical disputes. These internal and regional factors make the region highly susceptible to local and external disinformation campaigns. On the other hand, China represents a significant global partner for Serbia, and it is important to point out that since 2016, investments from China have been accelerating and also that in the period from 2016 to 2023, about 96% of the total investments were made, a total of 5.3 billion euros, and that in each of those years, China was among the five most important investors in Serbia (Politika, 7th May 2024). As the most influential state economically and politically in the Western Balkans, Serbia has the potential to influence other countries in the region toward alternative centres of power. The latest NATO Strategic Concept, adopted in Madrid in 2022, emphasises the strategic importance of the Western Balkans and the Black Sea region for the Alliance, and NATO has expressed its readiness to continue supporting the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of interested countries in these regions. The Berlin Process (BP) is an intergovernmental initiative aimed at connecting the Western Balkan countries (WB6) with the European Union and facilitating the development of mutual relations based on European values. The focus of the process lies in high-level cooperation between WB6 officials and their EU partners. It also involves EU institutions, international financial institutions, civil society, youth, and businesses in the region. One of the significant advantages of the Berlin Process is the financing of planned and assumed commitments from EU funds, unlike most other initiatives where states finance their participation from their own budgets.