Principle Of Equal Opportunities Research Articles

Examining of Interior Design Approaches in Special Education Buildings for People with Autism

Introduction: Special education building allow each child to be educated within the framework of the principle of equal opportunity. This study aims to examine the interior design approaches applied in education schools for autism and to provide an overview of the special education buildings to be built in Türkiye. Method: The study has been designed with a qualitative research method and a document review has been conducted to determine the sample group. The sample group consists of five special education schools located abroad, where the most comprehensive information was accessed in terms of spatial characteristics such as plans, sections, interior visuals, etc. The interior design approaches of these schools have been examined in terms of 8 parameters, namely spatial organization, circulation areas, lighting, acoustics, color, material, equipment/reinforcement and security. Findings: All of the schools determined as the sample group have been arranged in a campus and as a single or two storey. The most important emphasis in schools is on gradual smooth transitions between spaces, with different sensory levels (low, medium, high). In addition, in these schools, individual learning areas have been created as well as arrangements that allow group work in terms of the changing sensory needs of students. Discussion: As a result of the examination of the sample group, it has been determined that especially the space organization, lighting, color, material and acoustic design are extremely important in schools for autistic people. Specially designed schools also support the healthy development of students with autism.

Rationality and Justice: Textual investigation based on A Theory of Justice

Rawls put forward the concepts of "the original state" and "the Veil of ignorance" in his book A Theory of Justice, which made an outstanding contribution to the reconstruction of the social contract theory. On this basis, he demonstrated the combination of the two principles of justice, namely the principle of equal liberty, the principle of equal opportunity and difference principle, which had a strong impact on the long-term mainstream utilitarian view of justice. Based on the textual investigation of A Theory of Justice, this paper starts from the reason basis shared by the two, takes the relationship between reason and justice as a clue, analyzes the differences between Rawls and utilitarianism in moral philosophy and methodology, and explains the connotation of Rawls's two principles of justice in detail. On the other hand, Rawls' systematic recognition and adoption of utilitarianism, as well as the utilitarian characteristics presented in the principle of difference, make the relationship between the two show a complex state of opposition and interwoven. In this paper, Rawls's theory of justice will be deeply explored, and the internal logic of Rawls's thought of justice will be analyzed, so as to further clarify the relationship between reason and justice.

Relationship Between Equal Opportunity, Training and Employee Performances

The purpose of this paper is to look into the relationship and problem of equal employment opportunities in the HR recruitment and selection process. Because both HR managers and employees are involved in these processes, this research is carried out separately among them. As a result, it'll be determined whether both parties agree on the existence of this concept. Equal employment opportunities are essential for any business and play a key function in attracting qualified employees. One of the main path to achieving social justice in the community is the principle of equal opportunity among employees. As a result, equal opportunity is greater than a slogan to be shouted or a claim to be made; it is a political will and a national strategy. Many researchers have paid attention to this study in the modern era, particularly in terms of equal pay and employment equity training in the administrative center. In this regard, one of the primary aim of this paper is to conduct a review and analysis of the empirical literature on the effect of equal opportunity among employees on employee performance based on previous research conducted by the researchers. Equal opportunities are a curial detail among employees in administrative center in order to enhance overall performance and achieve social justice in the community. This studies goals to identify the contributions and the consequences of equal opportunities on the employee overall performance in administrative center. The data was analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 25 for Windows. The results of the regression analysis showed significant and positive impact on equal opportunities and employee overall performance in the organization of its 4 dimensions. Thus, this paper is significance as its concerning on the future guidelines as well as addresses other variables in the administrative center which can be utilized to enhance this area.

Democratisation and Educational Inclusion during Lockdown Times: Perceptions of Portuguese Teachers

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on school education, as confirmed by numerous studies produced at the international level. One of the most profound effects was the potential change to the political mandates of schools and resulting alterations in professional teaching practices, given the proliferation of remote (online and blended) teaching. This article aims to explore the extent to which the pandemic crisis has reconfigured schools’ educational priorities, with an emphasis on democratisation and inclusion at the expense of learning outcomes and meritocratic approaches. Based on an extensive study as part of a wider international project, the results of a questionnaire survey of Portuguese teachers (n = 3983) during the initial lockdown period in 2020 are analysed. The empirical evidence suggests that the pandemic resulted in a strengthening of the democratising pole, underpinned by the principles of equal opportunities, inclusion, and social justice, even though the practices and priorities of teachers as a whole are not homogeneous. This heterogeneity reflects pre-existing professional and school cultures, which vary depending on level of education, gender, school type, and career length, among other important factors.

Differences in corporate social responsibility implementation between Slovak and Czech companies

In recent years, corporate social responsibility has emerged as a pivotal factor for corporations in cultivating a favorable public perception. Despite this, many companies remain uncertain about the integration and rationale behind incorporating it into their core business strategies. This study aims to discern dissimilarities in implementing corporate social responsibility initiatives between Slovak and Czech companies, addressing the triple bottom line framework. This approach is a metric for evaluating a company’s achievement across three dimensions: social, environmental, and economic. The study is predicated on a questionnaire survey conducted among a sample of 180 Slovak and 180 Czech companies operating as subsidiaries of multinational corporations as typical implementers of corporate social responsibility activities in emerging economies. Following the triple bottom line framework, three distinct sets of variables were formulated to account for social, environmental, and economic activities using the Mann-Whitney U Test to ascertain statistically significant disparities between Slovak and Czech companies. The findings indicate that the surveyed companies from monitored countries exhibited no notable distinctions in environmental endeavors. However, discrepancies were discerned in economic activities, specifically relating to post-sales or post-warranty customer services, which was significant with a small effect size (0.19). In social activities, significant differences were observed concerning adherence to the principle of equal opportunities in the workplace. Based on these outcomes, it is recommended that future investigations delve more extensively into the monitored parameters within the Visegrad countries. AcknowledgmentThe paper was prepared within the project “Etika v podnikaní na Slovensku” no. 01/2022/GA FEM SPU supported by Grant Agency – Faculty of Economics and Management – Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra and internal grand of AMBIS college.

ПСИХІЧНИЙ, СОЦІАЛЬНИЙ ТА ЕКОНОМІЧНИЙ ДОБРОБУТ

The issue of well-being is a constantly important issue for the existence of humanity in terms of its components. The ideology of the dominance of the "mother" model increasingly appears as a marked kind of animation, becoming at the same time a universally recognized priority and a cultural and "status" compulsion related to the quality of life. The purpose of the article is to determine the interdisciplinary principles of well-being in terms of its mental, social and economic components. The subject of research is the conceptual foundations of mental, social and economic well-being. Research methods: analysis and synthesis, comparison, grouping and analogies. Presenting main material. The article reveals the authors' reflections on well-being. Arguments and reasons are presented to confirm the principle of equal opportunities in access to social and economic benefits of individuals, which in turn predict their mental well-being. Issues related to well-being in the above dimensions will be considered in the context of the need for changes that are introduced in social life through, among other things, man's opus magnum, which is the phenomenon of globalization. The issue of well-being and, as a result, happiness is presented as a subject of interdisciplinary analysis carried out by representatives of many scientific disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, sociology, economics and ethics. Different interpretations of approaches to well-being and well-being are presented. The essence of the concept of well-being in the system of related concepts, such as wealth, standard of living, quality of life, economic well-being and social well-being, is revealed. Attention is focused on socio-economic well-being, which is revealed in the context of the implementation of the above-mentioned principle of equal opportunities in access to benefits related to the spheres of mental, social and economic components. Originality and practical significance of the research. The practical value of the research lies in the fact that the obtained results deepen in the conditions of globalization and consist, among other things, in supporting poor countries and equalizing differences in the income levels of citizens of different countries. Access to and use of even basic economic goods and services is critical to the integration of members of modern society. Research conclusions. In the conditions of deepening globalization, the problem of economic and social well-being takes on a new expression. On the one hand, it will be economic alienation, and on the other - alienation in the social sphere. It should be remembered that economic and social exclusion (caused, among other things, by low income or even no access to the labor market, inability to meet certain needs, services, etc.) is closely related to mental well-being. Therefore, the modern world must face the problem of economic and social inequality and organize social life in such a way that it promotes the development of all people as much as possible, i.e. "pro publico bono", which in turn will contribute to the equalization of their mental well-being

Somatic rights and medical law: issues of protecting dignity and autonomy

It is noted that somatic rights, which define human rights to the inviolability of the physical body and medical autonomy, are gaining increasing importance in the modern world. The protection and enforcement of these rights are becoming urgent challenges because they determine the way in which health care is provided and received.
 It has been established that somatic rights are defined as human rights to the inviolability of the physical body and the right to control it. These rights include the right to privacy of medical information, the right to freely choose medical procedures, as well as the right to confidentiality and protection from any form of medical discrimination. Somatic rights are an important aspect of general human rights and ensure that individuals can make their own decisions about their physical health and medical procedures.
 It is emphasized that medical law recognizes the right of a person to freedom of choice of medical procedures and treatment, as well as the right to refuse medical intervention. This is related to a person's right to control his physical body and make decisions about it. It also provides protection against any form of medical discrimination based on gender, age, race, religion or other characteristics, which contributes to the observance of the principle of equal opportunities and respect for somatic rights in all areas of medical practice.
 It is emphasized that reproductive rights include the right to freely choose the number of children, intervals between births, as well as the right to access information and services related to reproductive health. They allow a person to make decisions about their reproductive future according to their own values and beliefs. Medical law includes norms and principles that regulate medical practice, relationships between medical professionals and patients, and also ensure compliance with ethical standards in the medical field.

Algorithmic Fairness of Machine Learning Models for Alzheimer Disease Progression

Predictive models using machine learning techniques have potential to improve early detection and management of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, these models potentially have biases and may perpetuate or exacerbate existing disparities. To characterize the algorithmic fairness of longitudinal prediction models for AD progression. This prognostic study investigated the algorithmic fairness of logistic regression, support vector machines, and recurrent neural networks for predicting progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD using data from participants in the Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative evaluated at 57 sites in the US and Canada. Participants aged 54 to 91 years who contributed data on at least 2 visits between September 2005 and May 2017 were included. Data were analyzed in October 2022. Fairness was quantified across sex, ethnicity, and race groups. Neuropsychological test scores, anatomical features from T1 magnetic resonance imaging, measures extracted from positron emission tomography, and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers were included as predictors. Outcome measures quantified fairness of prediction models (logistic regression [LR], support vector machine [SVM], and recurrent neural network [RNN] models), including equal opportunity, equalized odds, and demographic parity. Specifically, if the model exhibited equal sensitivity for all groups, it aligned with the principle of equal opportunity, indicating fairness in predictive performance. A total of 1730 participants in the cohort (mean [SD] age, 73.81 [6.92] years; 776 females [44.9%]; 69 Hispanic [4.0%] and 1661 non-Hispanic [96.0%]; 29 Asian [1.7%], 77 Black [4.5%], 1599 White [92.4%], and 25 other race [1.4%]) were included. Sensitivity for predicting progression to MCI and AD was lower for Hispanic participants compared with non-Hispanic participants; the difference (SD) in true positive rate ranged from 20.9% (5.5%) for the RNN model to 27.8% (9.8%) for the SVM model in MCI and 24.1% (5.4%) for the RNN model to 48.2% (17.3%) for the LR model in AD. Sensitivity was similarly lower for Black and Asian participants compared with non-Hispanic White participants; for example, the difference (SD) in AD true positive rate was 14.5% (51.6%) in the LR model, 12.3% (35.1%) in the SVM model, and 28.4% (16.8%) in the RNN model for Black vs White participants, and the difference (SD) in MCI true positive rate was 25.6% (13.1%) in the LR model, 24.3% (13.1%) in the SVM model, and 6.8% (18.7%) in the RNN model for Asian vs White participants. Models generally satisfied metrics of fairness with respect to sex, with no significant differences by group, except for cognitively normal (CN)-MCI and MCI-AD transitions (eg, an absolute increase [SD] in the true positive rate of CN-MCI transitions of 10.3% [27.8%] for the LR model). In this study, models were accurate in aggregate but failed to satisfy fairness metrics. These findings suggest that fairness should be considered in the development and use of machine learning models for AD progression.

The role of functional diagnosis in the education of children with disorders

The article focuses on an important aspect of supporting children with developmental disorders in the education process. The author illustrates the importance of functional diagnosis as a key tool for understanding the individual needs and abilities of students with various developmental disorders. The article also contains the terminology related to functional diagnosis, presenting its goals, stages of procedure, the importance of diagnosis and selected methods that are used. The paper describes the role of functional diagnosis, which is crucial in the context of educating children with various types of developmental disorders. The diagnosis provides comprehensive knowledge about the needs, abilities and challenges of students with developmental disabilities, which allows the educational process to be tailored to their individual needs and helps them achieve success at school. Changes in the area of special education and in shaping social policy, based on the fundamental principle of equal opportunities, have had a significant impact on expanding the scope of use of functional diagnosis. As society becomes more aware of diversity and the needs of students with different skills and abilities, functional diagnosis has become a key tool in ensuring inclusion and equity in education.

Science, Race, and Scientific Truth, Past and Present

This article examines the violation of longstanding scientific norms, in particular universalism, objectivity, and truth orientation by new identity policies such as the principle of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI). The imposition of this principle by public opinion, administration, and mass media, particularly in the United States but also in other countries, contradicts the principle of equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, nationality, and class, by putting the emphasis of assessment on group identities. The implementation of this principle has begun to damage careers, threaten scientists and lower standards in academia. In order to provide a historical perspective, I review how the violation of scientific norms has impacted scientific success in past authoritarian countries, in particular the USSR under Stalin, and Nazi Germany. The comparison with past authoritarian countries does not aim at equating situations from then and now, but can help understand social and political mechanisms of current events. It also highlights in a drastic way consequences that a violation of scientific norms may have for science today.

The ESA Parastronaut Feasibility Project: Investigating the Need and Contents of Physical Performance Tests for an Inclusive European Astronaut Corps

IntroductionIn 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) held the first astronaut selection since the beginning of space flight that allowed physically impaired astronaut candidates to be selected in an inclusive European astronaut corp. The main objective of the ‘parastronaut feasibility project’ is to investigate if physical performance tests (PPTs) should be part of future astronaut recruitments for an inclusive ESA astronaut corps to test their flight readiness. The objectives of this study are (1) to assess if future (para-)astronaut recruitment campaigns should include PPTs to ensure flight readiness, safety, and mission success; (2) if so, which areas of physical performance should be tested to mimic nominal and off-nominal crew activities during all phases of a space mission; and (3) to assess whether PPTs are compatible with the ethical principles of equal opportunity for an inclusive pool of astronaut candidates.Methods58 subject matter experts with specialisations in space physiology, operational human space flight, space medicine, medical ethics or parasports were interviewed in two rounds using the Delphi method. Both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained, analysed, categorised, and visualised using the qualitative research tool NVivo and Excel.ResultsTwo thirds of the experts were in favour of adding PPTs to future astronaut selections and recommended to implement them for both physically unimpaired and physically impaired astronaut candidates. The main physical skills that should be examined are space-related, mission-specific coordination skills of the upper extremities, followed by endurance performance and stamina, dexterity of the upper extremities, motor learning ability and mobility.ConclusionBased on this study, it is clear that PPTs should be part of future astronaut selection campaigns. However, the content of these PPTs must be carefully evaluated and validated using existing data on crew activities before, during, and after space flight, while considering equal opportunities in the context of human space flight. Historical considerations have influenced current astronaut requirements, but this study's findings indicate a need to reassess these requirements for future inclusive selection campaigns, as their validity and necessity remain uncertain.

School admissions and educational justice: Parents' moral dilemmas facing the new Chilean school admission system

In the context of the increased interest in social justice within education policy debates, this article addresses the new justice-oriented school admission system implemented in Chile. Considering the critical role of parents in education policy, we explore families’ negotiations about the new school admission system, focusing on the moral dilemmas they experience when confronted with changes in the rules that organize the distribution of school seats and the notions of educational justice they adhere to. We draw on interviews with 80 families from different social classes and belonging to five regions of Chile who were choosing a school under the new school admission system. Our findings underline that—while families tend to agree with the principle of equal formal opportunities in the school admission field—the reform brings in a set of moral dilemmas and competing notions of justice that encompass its different components. Based on these findings, we shed light on the distance between policy intention and interpretation, and between abstract conceptualizations of justice in educational policies and what counts as just policies in families’ views. In addition, we outline a set of implications for justice-oriented reforms worldwide.

Taking the EWS Quota Seriously: Is It Fair and Just?

The Supreme Court’s recent judgment upholding the economically weaker sections (EWS) quota has given rise to the idea that reservations can be provided to economically vulnerable sections of the people. This expansion in the beneficiaries of affirmative action has triggered the perception that the reservation policy, which was earlier seen as promoting the principle of equal opportunity and providing compensation to historically marginalised castes, is now also a tool to overthrow poverty, unemployment and economic deprivation. This essay addresses this rebuttal by the court and clarifies that in the context of India, the implementation of reservation policies was based on the premise that the abolition of untouchability was not sufficient to secure equality of opportunity and the battle for social equality will remain as long as we are struggling to deal with caste discrimination. This essay explains why the EWS quota is likely to be a poor tool for achieving economic equality or redressing social discrimination.

БОЛОЧОК СОЦИАЛДЫК ПЕДАГОГДОРДУН АТА-ЭНЕЛЕР МЕНЕН ИШТӨӨ КОМПЕТЕНЦИЯЛАРЫНЫН МҮНӨЗҮ

This article will analyze the competencies of future social educators in working with parents. It is noted that, despite the change in the worldview of society in relation to persons with disabilities, the issue of implementing the principle of equal social rights and opportunities in education is relevant, the analysis of competencies in research in this area shows the specifics of the competencies of a social pedagogue. Information is provided on what steps potential social educators should take when working and communicating with parents of students, as well as about the features and objectives of each step. Currently, social educators occupy a large place in the lives of parents and children.

A Comparison Between the Confucianism’s and Aristotle’s View of Distributive Justice — The Thoughts Based on Contemporary Development

Throughout the over 2000 years of feudal rule in ancient China, the Confucianism’s distributive justice has played an important role. The principles of Humanity, Differential Distribution and Equal Opportunity had a lasting impact on social development even in modern times. While in ancient Greece, Plato and Aristotle has specifically discussed the view of distributive justice, especially in the content of the distribution principle of “Equality of Values and Proportional Equality” and "Principle of Differential Distribution", whose content was later being developed and enriched continuously by various schools of thought. This paper has systematically introduced the contents and principles of the Confucianism’s and Aristotle’s view of distributive justice. Aimed at the historical background and the view of the theory of the comparison of existing value and its limitation, this paper reveals the value of the view of distributive justice. This paper reveals the value of distributive justice in different times, cultures and systems. By studying the view of distributive justice at all times and in all over the world, the paper is intended to seek solution to the increasing social disparities and injustices in modern states in their processes of building harmonious societies, so that the theory of distributive justice will display a new vitality.

EDUCATIONAL DEMOCRACY IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF ISLAMIC EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Democracy has a set of values that are characteristic for achieving the goals of democracy itself. The development of democracy is still experiencing changes for the better. It can be seen that the discussion of democracy has expanded not only in the political and economic fields, but has also developed in the field of education. Educational democracy means that there is freedom given to educational actors in order to increase progress in the world of education. Islam has advised its people to treat others as they treat themselves. Islam also calls for the principle of equality and equal opportunities in learning, so that an awareness of learning is opened for everyone, without any differences between the rich and the poor and the socio-economic status of a student

Basic Education for All

Abstract We study how the principle of equal opportunity is reflected in national laws on implementing the right to free and compulsory basic education in Finland and Russia (those being the 1998 Basic Education Act in Finland and the 2012 Federal Law “On Education in the Russian Federation” in Russia). We pursue to find answers to the following question: which elements comprising the principle of equality of educational opportunity are manifested in two laws under review, notwithstanding the significant differences in legal traditions and the respective approaches to equality in two states under consideration. The accuracy of our analysis is based on the existing universal “four A’s scale” of education for all, set forth by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, i.e., availability, acceptability, accessibility, and adaptability.

Sustaining development in Nigeria through liberal democracy

Development is a pivotal process for human existence. The unique feature of the development is that it involves an active engagement of everybody. In Nigeria, the situation is different because, with the inception of self-rule particularly the return of full democracy in 1999, the system of politics disguisedly revolves around the interests of the few (bourgeois). National interests are handled like private property by the selected few who came into power on the basis of socio-economic status, tribe, and religion. However, people who are supposed to contribute to the transformation of the state are neither not voted into power because of their tribe nor allowed to participate in national decisions. Nigerian politics in a nutshell stifled all efforts of true democratization because of greed which sidelines the welfare of the masses. Advocates of development insist that the process can only be sustained in a society where there is a principle of equal opportunities. By this, the principles of right, law, and government should aim at shielding different personalities as illustrated in the principles of liberal democracy. Liberal democracy maintains a political value that incorporates equality and widens the horizon for religious, economic, political, and intellectual freedom of citizens. It is on this basis that this study suggests liberal democracy as a vital system which can transform the socio-economic and political situation of Nigeria. The study recommends that to sustain development in Nigeria, stakeholders should prioritize the welfare of the civil society against material gains and selfish interests of the few elites.

Barriers to the efficiency of internal evaluation in Polish secondary schools

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the system of factors influencing the efficiency of internal evaluation in Polish secondary schools.Design/methodology/approachData collected in interviews with evaluation experts and teachers on the barriers to the efficiency of internal evaluation and their causes were subjected to a qualitative cause-and-effect analysis.FindingsFive barriers to the evaluation efficiency (6B model) and five actions of the school head stopping their impact (6A model) were identified. The latter include selecting the key evaluation function (3KEF model) and ensuring the conditions for efficiency in the improvement loop.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the research was carried out in Polish schools, the conclusions indicate regularities affecting organizations throughout the world.Practical implicationsStudents’ educational needs may exceed the schools’ ability to meet them at class time mostly due to resource constraints. The implementation of the principle of equal opportunities in education requires continuous improvement of the efficiency of schools’ processes. Evaluation can help qualify tasks for improvement.Social implicationsThe level of engagement (reactive/active) of the school principal and teachers in evaluation and improvement is a crucial factor in overcoming the barriers to the efficiency of the school processes.Originality/valueThe ability to respond to the efficiency gaps of the school processes depends on the choice and efficiency of the KEF. The rationale for selecting the function and the schemes for its implementation have paradigmatic grounds.

The social status of Russian youth: ideas and reality

This article examines the features of the social status of modern youth in its objective and subjective dimensions. The objective social statuses of young people are characterised by the position of their representatives in the key hierarchies in terms of education level, professional positions and income level. It is shown that the level of education of the Russian youth has increased noticeably over the past twenty years; the socio-professional structure of the youth group also underwent certain changes, reflected in a decrease in the proportion of the unemployed, as well as workers of various skill levels, in its composition. The space of socio-professional statuses of young people does not demonstrate significant differences compared to Russians of middle and older ages, and this is also typical for models of income stratification of these groups. In general, speaking about the space of the objective statuses of young people in modern Russian society, it can be stated that young people are not in a disadvantaged position in this respect due to the specifics of this stage of the life cycle - on the contrary, already in the youth group one can observe the existing configuration of the social structure, that is also characteristic of Russians of working age as a whole (that is reflected, in particular, in a similar share of the middle class in these groups). With regard to subjective statuses, young Russians, like citizens in general, tend to place themselves in middle positions in society. However, the position they consider “fair” for themselves, as well as their desired position, turn out to be much higher than the current one, that can also lead to the accumulation of discontent, since it reflects obviously unrealistic expectations regarding social mobility. And although young Russians are quite positive about the medium-term future, their expectations for the next 2-3 years are more restrained. A negative indicator is the fact that young people share with adult Russians a sense of the unfairness of the structure of Russian society, and these perceptions have little to do with their objective statuses. At the same time, young Russians see principles related to the instrumentalisation of the principle of equal opportunities as key elements of a just society.