Participation Of Greece Research Articles

Barriers to Employees’ Participation in Continuing Professional Education Programs in Greece

Surveys that examine the perceptions of employees regarding lifelong learning in Greece reveal that employees have a positive attitude towards education and also indicate that about 70% of the working population showed intention to participate in some form of continuing education. However, the participation rates of Greek employees in educational programs are below the European average. At this point, it is worth noting that little is known regarding the barriers that prevent them from participating. In this light, the present study is the first attempt to investigate both individual barriers and barrier categories of employees’ participation in Greece. Survey data were collected using a questionnaire. The results of the present study revealed four categories of barriers. Of these, situational barriers gathered the highest average, followed by <italic>institutional: state/institute barriers and, institutional: working environment and, to a lesser extent, dispositional barriers. In particular, the three main barriers faced by employees were the “lack of time due to work obligations”, the “participation cost”, and the “lack of time due to taking care of children.” In addition, the categories of barriers were found to be related to three of the four demographic variables examined: gender, employment status, and occupation, which were independent of age.

The Confrontation About Enosis (Union) Between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the Legislative Council of Cyprus (1902-1931)

ABSTRACT This article discusses the confrontation between Greeks of Cyprus (GoC) and Turks of Cyprus (ToC) in the Legislative Council of Cyprus regarding the issue of the Enosis (Union) and the changes of content since 1902. The question arises, yet to a limited extent, during the period 1902–1914, given the formal subordination of Cyprus to the Ottoman Empire. From 1915 to 1918, due to the placement of the Ottoman Empire on the side of Britain’s opponents and the participation of Greece within the Entente front, the Greek pressure on the British became very intense, while the Turkish were in a defensive position. In the period from 1918 to 1930, the main argument of the ToC was that even Greece no longer raised the issue of Enosis. Finally, in 1931, the GoC raised the issue urgently facing the strong reaction both of the ToC, as well as the British.

Exploring preferences of older adults for dental services: A pilot multi-national discrete choice experiment.

To pilot an exploration of older adults' future preferences using discrete choice experiments to understand who should provide dental examinations and treatment, where these services should be provided, and participants' willingness to pay and willingness to travel. The proportion of older adults in the general population is increasing and is recognised as a pressing public health challenge. Older people aged 65 years and over were recruited into this study from the UK, Switzerland and Greece. Drawing on earlier stakeholder engagement, a set of choice experiments are developed to explore the future preferences of older people for dental examinations and dental treatment, as they anticipated losing their independence. These were presented to the participants using a range of platforms, because of the COVID pandemic. Data were analysed in STATA using a random-effects logit model. Two hundred and forty-six participants (median age 70 years) completed the pilot study. There was a strong preference across all countries for a dentist to undertake a dental examination (Greece: β = 0.944, Switzerland: β = 0.260, UK β = 0.791), rather than a medical doctor (Greece: β = -0.556, Switzerland: β = -0.4690, UK: β = -0.468). Participants in Switzerland and the UK preferred these examinations to be undertaken in a dental practice (Switzerland: β = 0.220, UK: β = 0.580) while participants in Greece preferred the dental examination to be undertaken in their homes (β = 1.172). Greek participants preferred dental treatment to be undertaken by a specialist (β = 0.365) in their home (β = 0.862), while participants from the UK and Switzerland preferred to avoid any dental treatment at home (Switzerland: β = -0.387; UK: β = -0.444). Willingness to pay analyses highlighted that participants in Switzerland and the UK were willing to pay more to ensure the continuity of future service provision at a family dental practice (Switzerland: β = 0.454, UK: β = 0.695). Discrete choice experiments are valuable for exploring older people's preferences for dental service provision in different countries. Future larger studies should be conducted to further explore the potential of this approach, given the pressing need to design services that are fit for purpose for older people. Continuity of dental service provision is considered as important by most older people, as they anticipate losing their dependence.

Social change, protest and participation in Greece, Portugal and Spain

Social change, protest and participation in Greece, Portugal and Spain

Herb Sector in Greece: Training Needs and Perspectives

The Greek flora is rich in native herbaceous plants and due to the Mediterranean climate, there are optimal climatic and soil conditions for their cultivation. Herbs play a very important role in the Greek rural economy and facilitate change in the national agro-food sector as it is still developing. In recent years, this sector has become an area of interest. Many farmers changed their old crops into new cultivations like herbs. This development requires investments, training programs, new studies, and projects in order to enrich the knowledge and skills of all the participants involved in the value chain. HEGO is a Black Sea Project, funded by the European Union, and one of its main goals is the modernization of enterprises associated with the cultivation, production, and promotion of diversified, sustainable, value-added herb products, as well as the enhancement of cross-border trade opportunities for local herb enterprises in participating Black Sea Basin countries (Greece, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia). This paper explores the current situation of the herb sector in Greece regarding the cultivation, processing legislation, managerial issues, and the trade value of herb products. More specifically, its purpose is to investigate the current skills and expertise in herbs of the participants in Greece. Additionally, this paper explores the future training needs in relation to the above mention topics. Descriptive statistics, SWOT, and PEST analysis were performed. The main results of this research revealed the lack of knowledge of wildcrafting practices and trading. The importance of further training was highlighted, especially in marketing and trading skills. These findings can be used to develop training curricula and courses in order to cope with potential threats in the herb sector in Greece.
 Keywords: herbs, Greece, training needs, skills, knowledge

Training in the age of liberalization and crisis: Understanding the learning experiences of young Active Labour Market Programme Participants

AbstractVocational Training has been a prominent aspect of Active Labour Market Policy (ALMP) across EU member states, as part of efforts to boost the employability and human capital of young unemployed people and address new social risks arising within knowledge economies. However, young people's learning experiences of these programmes, and how these shape their early formative experiences in the labour market is underexplored. We address this gap by presenting new analysis of an extensive qualitative dataset, involving interviews with participants in Greece's Continuous Vocational Training (CVET) Program. Drawing on Unwin and Fuller's influential theory of restrictive and expansive learning environments which was developed through examination of formal apprenticeship programmes, we explore the extent to which these short‐term vocational training programs provide meaningful learning and work experiences for young people. We show that vocational training facilitated through ALMPs is often experienced as restrictive, underpinned by a lack of meaningful training, occupation‐specific skills, supportive guidance and quality employment prospects. Furthermore, we show how ALMPs in such contexts not only fail to support young people, but they also reinforce and legitimize precarious work practices by socializing the younger generation of workers into low‐pay, temporary and routine jobs.

Knowledge and awareness about and use of iodised salt among students in Germany and Greece

BackgroundIodine is an essential trace element, which is important for human metabolism, growth and mental development. Iodine deficiency may still occur in Europe and the use of iodised salt is an effective measure to enhance iodine intake. Knowledge and awareness about the importance of iodine in nutrition and health can have a positive impact on the use of iodised salt. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge about and use of iodised salt among university students in two European countries.MethodData from two countries (Germany and Greece) were extracted from a multi-centre cross-sectional survey, conducted among non-nutrition science/non-medical students from October 2018 to April 2019.ResultsAmong the 359 participants in Germany (35% females, median age: 22 years) and the 403 participants in Greece (51% females, median age: 21 years), 41% and 37%, respectively, reported use of iodised salt at home. Users and non-users did not differ by age, gender and Body Mass Index or general interest in nutrition in both cohorts. However, those who had a better knowledge about iodine and (iodised) salt or had previously attended nutrition classes were more likely to report iodised salt usage.ConclusionThe results suggest that strengthening the imparting of nutritional information and additional education of young adults are needed and may improve knowledge about and usage of iodised salt.

Subjective and physiological responses towards daylit spaces with contemporary façade patterns in virtual reality: Influence of sky type, space function, and latitude

Recent studies have shown that the façade and light patterns in a space are an important factor in the occupants' experience, but little is known about the generalizability of these findings in different lighting conditions, uses of space, or latitudes. This study employed virtual reality to investigate the effects of façade geometry and daylight patterns on space impressions and physiological responses (skin conductance, heart rate, and heart rate variability), while simultaneously examining the effect of sky type, spatial context, and latitude on participant responses. In an experimental study conducted in Switzerland and Greece, 256 participants were exposed to immersive interior scenes with six façade geometry variations with the same perforation ratio, derived from contemporary architecture. Participants evaluated the scenes under different sky types (clear sky with high or low sun angle, or overcast sky) and spatial contexts (working or socializing). The façade geometry influenced both the appraisal (how pleasant, interesting, exciting, or calming the space was perceived) and the visual appearance of the space (how complex, bright, or spacious the space was perceived). Façade geometry also influenced the reported satisfaction with the amount of view, with a façade variation with small, irregularly distributed openings driving this effect. Neither the sky type nor the spatial context influenced space impressions. Results showed a significant effect of country and an interaction between country and façade geometry only for ratings of excitement, with participants in Greece rating specific façade variations as more exciting than participants in Switzerland. Skin conductance level (logΔSCL) decreased under exposure to a social context in clear sky with a low sun angle compared to a working context in overcast sky conditions. No significant effects were found for the other physiological measures. The results of the present study show that façade geometry was the main driver of the participants’ spatial experience, inducing perceptual effects that were robust to variations in sky type and space function and to regional differences (except for excitement). These findings have implications for the built environment, delineating the façade geometry as an important design tool with a high application potential across lighting conditions and space uses, and across latitudes between central and southern Europe.

Regional Differences in the Perception of Daylit Scenes across Europe Using Virtual Reality. Part II: Effects of Façade and Daylight Pattern Geometry

ABSTRACT While there is a growing use of complex façade designs in contemporary architecture worldwide and across Europe, little is known about the perceptual effects of these façades and the resulting daylight patterns on occupants, or about how such effects might differ between European latitudes. This study examines the perception of façade and daylight patterns across Europe by replicating a virtual reality (VR) experiment in Norway, Switzerland and Greece, using a mixed experimental design to jointly investigate the influence of different factors on the perception of a daylit interior space. These factors included: façade geometry (within-subject factor with four contemporary façade designs of equal aperture ratio), sky type (clear sky with high or low sun angle, or overcast sky), spatial context (socializing or working), and country (Norway, Switzerland, or Greece). Results showed that, among the manipulated factors, only the façade geometry affected the studied attributes (how pleasant, interesting, exciting, calming, complex, spacious, and bright the space was perceived, and the satisfaction with the amount of view in the space). Regional effects were observed only for reported brightness, with higher evaluations from participants in Greece than in Norway, but are difficult to generalize due to limitations stemming from the use of VR and the conduction of experiments in different seasons (summer and early fall) in the two countries. These findings show that façade design is a crucial feature in our spatial experience, inducing equivalent perceptual effects, such as changes in pleasantness or interest, across Europe, and motivate further research on the perception of brightness.

Regional Differences in the Perception of Daylit Scenes across Europe Using Virtual Reality. Part I: Effects of Window Size

ABSTRACT The size of window openings is widely acknowledged as an important factor in our spatial perception. However, little is known about how the perception and preference of windows changes between countries, leaving a gap of knowledge regarding the applicability of research findings across latitudes. This article presents the outcomes of a study investigating regional differences in the perception of spaces with varying window size (small, medium, and large), space size (small and large), spatial context (working and social), and sky type (overcast and two types of clear sky). As the regional differences were the main studied factor, the study was performed in Norway, Switzerland, and Greece, representing northern, central, and southern European latitudes, respectively, and used virtual reality as a means to replicate the same experiment in different locations. In total, 406 participants evaluated eight spatial attributes using an 11-point Likert-type scale. Results indicated that regional differences could be observed in the participants’ responses, with significant differences in how pleasant and calm the space was perceived, found not only between participants in Greece and Norway in all the studied window sizes, but also between Greece and Switzerland for the medium and large windows, indicating that even small variations in latitude within Europe can affect the spatial perception. The findings of this study reveal that spaces with specific fenestration characteristics might not induce the same response across different latitudes in Europe, and thus, have important implications for daylighting and architectural design, which would motivate the use of region-specific parameters.

Энергетическая безопасность Греции: национальное и европейское измерения

The article examines the national concept of energy security, which is the basis for the energy policy of Greece. The factors that shape the perception of national energy security at the political and expert levels due to regional specifics are analyzed. The influence of these factors (external and internal) on the country’s energy policy is emphasized. The reasons for the liberalization of the Greek energy sector are considered. The article describes individual branches of the energy sector and their role in ensuring energy security. The impact of new trends in global energy markets on the Greek energy sector is considered. The article describes new opportunities and challenges that Greece faces due to the impact of globalization on the world energy sector. The article analyzes the country’s view of its place and role in the implementation of the European Union’s energy policy. Energy projects implemented by leading players with the participation of Greece are listed and characterized. Emphasis is placed on the possibilities of Russian-Greek cooperation in the energy sector.

Asylum seekers' perspectives on vaccination and screening policies after their arrival in Greece and The Netherlands.

IntroductionEurope has been dealing with an increasing number of refugees during the past 5 years. The timing of screening and vaccination of refugees is debated by many professionals, however refugees’ perspectives on health issues are infrequently taken into account. In this study, we aimed to investigate asylum seekers’ perspectives on infectious diseases screening and vaccination policies.Materials and methodsInterviews were conducted in Greece and the Netherlands. Asylum seekers and recently arrived refugees were approached and informed with the help of interpreters; consent forms were acquired. The survey focused on demographic data, vaccination status, screening policies and prevention of infectious diseases.ResultsA total of 61 (43 male, 70.5%) refugees (30 Afghanis, 16 Syrian, 7 Erithrean) were interviewed. Mean age was 35.2 years (SD 13.5) and 50% had received primary or secondary education, while 24.6% received none. Median time after arrival in Greece and the Netherlands was 24 months (IQR 8.5–28). 44 out of 61 (72.1) participants were willing to be vaccinated after arrival in Europe, 26 preferred vaccination and screening to be performed at the point of entry. The need for screening and vaccination was perceived higher amongst participants in Greece (100% vs 43.3%) due to living conditions leading to increased risk of outbreaks.ConclusionParticipants were willing to communicate their perspectives and concerns. Screening and vaccination programs could be more effective when implemented shortly after arrival and by involving asylum seekers and refugees when developing screening and vaccination interventions.

Is There a Case for Intergenerational Transmission of Female Labour Force Participation and Educational Attainment? Evidence From Greece During The Crisis

AbstractThe paper investigates the intergenerational transmission of female educational attainment and the intergenerational transmission of labour force participation in Greece, in 2011. Results show that parental educational background, and especially maternal, is identified as a key determinant of women's high level of educational achievement. A wife's labour force participation decision is related to her husband's mother's and mother's participation, and even more strongly related to her own level of educational achievement along with the number of children in the household. The labour force participation of the mother of the husband is more important than that of the woman's own mother, indicating a strong transmission of the husband's cultural model. Results point to the presence of heterogeneity of cultural transmission of female labour supply conditional on household income.

Health Democracy Index: Development and Validation of a Self-Reported Instrument for Measuring Patient Participation in Health Policy.

Introduction: Patient participation has emerged as a preponderant theme in contemporary health and healthcare; however there is a dearth of research on the degree and impact of collective patient participation on shaping health policy. In this frame, the current study endeavored to validate a scale for assessing patients' association (PA) participation in health policy processes. Furthermore, PAs' participation in health policy decision making in Greece was explored.Materials and Methods: The Health Democracy Index (HDI) is an eight-item scale enquiring about PAs' participation in important facets of health policy. To investigate its psychometric properties, 414 members of PAs in Greece were randomly recruited. By employing a self-reported questionnaire, construct validity was examined through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, while convergent validity was investigated through an additional question asking respondents to rate the degree of their association's participation in health policy processes. Moreover, the internal consistency of the scale and its test-retest reliability were explored.Results: The scale showed high internal consistency (Cronbach a = 0.85) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.89, p < 0,001). Exploratory factor analysis suggested a unidimensional construct; while confirmatory factor analysis indicated an adequate fit of the one-factor model (RMSEA = 0.079, CFI = 0.976, and GFI = 0.972). Regarding convergent validity, the HDI composite score displayed strong and positive correlation with the item asking respondents to rate the degree of PA participation in health policy processes (rho = 0.73, p < 0.0001). Concerning the pattern of results in Greece, PAs' participation was found to be low. The lowest level was observed for the item enquiring about PA participation in the national parliament and the highest for panels at influential health-related organizations.Conclusion: The HDI is a valid and reliable tool that can be utilized to serve policy-related as well as research purposes. PAs' participation in Greece is weak and thus efforts should be made to enhance it.

RESEARCH PROJECTS TO STUDY THE SEA FLOOR AND SUB-BOTTOM SEDIMENTS FUNDED BY THE RECENT EUROPEAN COMMISSION FRAMEWORK PROGRAMS: THE I.G.M.E. PARTICIPATION

Since 1983, after the participation of Greece in the European Union (EU), IGME has carried out many research projects relevant to earth sciences funded by the European Commission (EC). Especially in the sector of Marine Sciences, a number of projects have been funded in cooperation with other European Institutes. The main targets of the research projects were relevant to the tasks described in the various framework programs (FP) evaluated by the EC, with the tasks changing according to the decision of the European Parliament. The marine projects became gradually larger in terms of the number of the participating Institutes while their target focused more toward to the society needs such as the sustainable energy resources and environmental problems. In this presentation we will describe the research projects relevant to the above targets that were carried out in the last 10 years partly or entirely in the Greek seas.

A cross-cultural study on emotion expression and the learning of social norms.

When we do not know how to correctly behave in a new context, the emotions that people familiar with the context show in response to the behaviors of others, can help us understand what to do or not to do. The present study examined cross-cultural differences in how group emotional expressions (anger, sadness, neutral) can be used to deduce a norm violation in four cultures (Germany, Israel, Greece, and the US), which differ in terms of decoding rules for negative emotions. As expected, in all four countries, anger was a stronger norm violation signal than sadness or neutral expressions. However, angry and sad expressions were perceived as more intense and the relevant norm was learned better in Germany and Israel than in Greece and the US. Participants in Greece were relatively better at using sadness as a sign of a likely norm violation. The results demonstrate both cultural universality and cultural differences in the use of group emotion expressions in norm learning. In terms of cultural differences they underscore that the social signal value of emotional expressions may vary with culture as a function of cultural differences, both in emotion perception, and as a function of a differential use of emotions.

European Integration in the Age of Narcissism: An Approach of the Greek Economic Crisis

Abstract European Union's (EU) enlargement has two principal impacts towards the new Member-states (M-S) socioeconomic system: economic and social (including cultural) integration. Economic integration is based upon an economic arrangement between different regions, regarding the elimination of trade barriers and the coordination of monetary and fiscal policies. However, the participation of Greece in the Economic and Monetary Union and the adoption of the Euro (€) as national currency, restricted country's international competitiveness. Despite the income increase, which rose from € 5,500 (1991) to € 17,745 (2008 before the economic crisis) thanks to the Greek accession to the EEC in 1981, the production system could not take advantage of the new conditions, due to its inability to resolve its vast structural and systemic weaknesses. The Greek society had a strictly short term view depending on the exploitation of the EU capital inflows, and the economic growth did not contribute either to growth in productivity or competitiveness for the country. Apart from economic integration, Greece also experienced intensely a social integration, which led to the differentiation in attitude for a large majority of Greeks. The rise of standards of living as well as the trend towards modernization, which characterize the Greek European integration, instead of reflecting a convergence, it is mostly characterized by a cultural imperialism, which is based on the idea of the poor countries of the European periphery imitating the rich of the center. However, the imitation of the western European consumption patterns could not be self-supported due to the lack of wealth, which led to borrowing and finally to the phenomenon of the over-indebted households. The country was introduced in an era of narcissism, which led to a collateral drawback, the downgrade of its social capital.

Promoting Sport Participation in Greece: Issues and Challenges

Promoting Sport Participation in Greece: Issues and Challenges

Mature student experiences in teacher education: widening participation in Greece and England

In the context of the growing number of mature students entering higher education in Europe, this study breaks new ground in comparing the personal and professional identities of mature student teachers in Greece and England. Using an analytical model of student success by Zepke and Leach (2008), the research sought to identify the factors affecting the progress and development of 30 mature student teachers (15 in each country). It was found that individual motivation and prior experience were assets in the development of the student teachers, while peer and family support were vital success factors. In the English context, the importance of institutional support from university and school-based tutors was also strong. Barriers included financial difficulties and domestic responsibilities, which had a particular impact on mature women students. Some recommendations to improve institutional support for mature student teachers are made in conclusion.

An insight into the performance of benthic classification indices tested in Eastern Mediterranean coastal waters

This work evaluates four indices that have been used for benthic macroinvertebrate ecological quality classification in the Mediterranean Sea. Our study was based on the data obtained from the participation of Greece and Cyprus in the Mediterranean Geographical Intercalibration group. The indices AMBI, M-AMBI, MEDOCC and BENTIX were applied to the available benthic species data, and the succession of the ecological groups along the graded values of each index was plotted. The level of agreement among methods was calculated, and the performance of each method in estimating ecological quality status was evaluated. AMBI, based on the Atlantic model, and its derivative M-AMBI overestimated the statuses, while MEDOCC showed the best level of agreement with BENTIX. BENTIX gives equal weight to tolerant and opportunistic species groups, which correlates them more closely than the other indices and makes BENTIX the most sensitive in detecting ecological disturbances in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, where tolerant and opportunistic groups seem to play an equally important role in the response of benthic communities to stressors.