Progressive Research Articles

Some issues of public administration of education and science

Problem setting. The essential globalization changes require new approaches to the management of the educational sphere, which is an integral set of educational structures, relations, activities and consciousness that ensures the reproduction and development of the intellectual potential of society. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure an optimal ratio of newly introduced elements with traditional ones intended for the management of an educational institution. Analysis of recent researches and publications. The article mainly analyzes the provisions of Ukraine’s regulatory legal acts. Among domestic scholars, attention is drawn to the works of: V. E. Khoustova, O. I. Reshetnyak, V. A. Zinchenko, M. V. Kryvanych, I. V. Borisov. Purpose of research is to examine the legal regulation of the system of public administration of education and science at the conceptual level. Article’s main body. The draft Strategy of Innovative Development of Ukraine for 2010-2020 in the context of globalization challenges envisaged the need to reform the management of science and innovation and the need to create a new government body the Ministry of Science and Innovative Development, which would play a coordinating role in the scheme of innovation development management. The newly created ministry would have to formulate state scientific, technological and innovation programs that would be implemented in the interests of all ministries and departments, control and direct budget funds to the scientific, technological and innovation sphere, organize an examination of the effectiveness of scientific teams. Conclusions and prospects for the development. The state has experience in the establishment and functioning of an independent central executive body directly accountable to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, so the proposal for the functioning of such a specialized body is considered to be worthy of support and is quite possible to implement (using this experience with appropriate adaptation to current global challenges and improvement of certain provisions). In our opinion, the main drawback that contributed to the liquidation of the state committee was the lack of a systematic combination of the powers of the committee and the NAS of Ukraine in the field of science. 2. Specialized bodies for the development of science and innovation in Europe play a crucial role in the development of scientific research, technology and innovation, provide funding and support for scientific and technological projects, contributing to economic growth and social progress, so it is important to adopt this experience to ensure optimization of the management of science and education in Ukraine.

Universities on the way to open science implementation: theoretical and practical context

Problem setting. Despite certain progressive movements of universities towards open science, currently one of the problems that hinders progress is the achievement of balance, systematicity, and consolidation in taking measures that contribute to the openness of scientific researches, to ensuring wide access to scientific inventions, discoveries and developments, contribute to expanding the possibility of their use for the advancement of knowledge and real changes in the world, and also to stimulation of innovations. Purpose of the research. The experience and practices of implementing open science in universities become an illustration to note as soon as possible the extent of their impact on achieving a greater level of transparency, integrity, reliability, reproducibility and accessibility of research discoveries in order to make certain social impacts for the benefit of social progress. Analysis of recent researches and publications. The scientific and theoretical understanding of the trends in the development of open science, the evolution of information systems, and electronic archives that support the availability of research data and discoveries is reflected in the works of T. Yaroshenko, S. Nazarovets, A. Lyubchych, L. Luparenko, P. Gaitanou, I. Andreou, J. Leitao, D. Pereira and others. Article`s main body. The article examines the new roles and impacts of open science, open data, and open access on the modernization of the scientific research field in the context of global challenges and the digital transformation of universities. It has been proven that an essential characteristic of the changes taking place under the influence of the modification of means and systems for the implementation of the open science principles is the mandatory online presentation of research data, facts recorded in research materials, which helps not only to acquire, but also to overcome the gap in the knowledge of interested persons, ensures the transparency of scientific researches. in the difficult conditions of martial law, remote work, the importance of implementing a system approach when calculating the main indicators of scientific and scientific and technical activity in universities is increasing, in connection with this, a new “Regulatory framework of open science” and metrics for evaluating scientific researchers are being developed, taking into account the principles of open science. Such important aspects of open science as storage, management and sharing of industry research data must comply with the FAIR guidelines (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability) and be based on the development and application of modern technologies. This, in our opinion, will allow: better integration of data on scientific activity in electronic information systems (IS); to consolidate research datasets and make them accessible and compatible; to support their storage, legal multiple use for scientific purposes; to make easier the search for scientific information in systems and on the Internet. Thanks to technology and the intensification of the universities movement towards open science, scientific cooperation and information exchange is expanding, and that benefits science and society; scientific knowledge becomes more open, more accessible for use; the processes of creation, assessment and circulation of scientific knowledge are accelerated; everyone’s right to participate in scientific progress and its benefits is more fully realized. Conclusions and prospects for the development. It was made the conclusion about the importance of the formation and use of the entire complex of network resources and platforms, international and national practices of the open science implementation in universities as an action plan agenda in the construction of modern ecosystem of scientific research activities of higher education institutions and in the support of the national scientific infrastructure in ensuring the availability of Ukrainian research with their further integration into world science.

Ascending past constraints through immersion into the social worlds of climbing gyms

Gyms are community hubs centered around physical activity and in recent years indoor climbing gyms have witnessed unprecedented growth globally as the sport has moved from extreme to the mainstream. As the sport continues to grow, the industry seeks to understand how to both keep new climbers and progress climbers already invested in the sport. The study sought to understand how individuals encountered and negotiated constraints as they became progressively immersed into the social worlds of the activity. Interviews were conducted with indoor rock climbers in Australia and Canada ranging in experience and social world progression (N = 27). The findings revealed the nature of constraints and the ways in which individuals negotiated them evolved as they become more immersed into the social community of climbing. Practically, this research provides the climbing industry with insight on how to assist in creating and maintaining climbing communities to foster continued participation.

The Influence of a New Geopolitical Environment on the Peace and Security of the Western Balkans

Trends in the EU and NATO are certainly a part of global international efforts and communications along with being integral parts of the actions of those progressive forces that strive towards global peace, security, and social progress. Therefore, European trends cannot be taken out of the global context of international relationships or any other efforts to make positive changes in the world. The countries of the Western Balkans are faced with important political, economic, and security challenges, and should support one another in the process of their accessions to the EU and NATO and create the necessary conditions for the development of a better European defense and security relevant as regards the security interests of NATO. As part of democracy and humanity, their friends should help in the building of a safer geopolitical environment. In the search of a better solution, it is recommended to focus on the values and goals of all citizens and peoples of the Western Balkans. This primarily includes dignified living in a modern, prosperous, and democratic country. A country of this kind in the Western Balkans can exist only by being fully integrated in the European and global organisations and by respecting contemporary global standards. The future of the countries of the Western Balkans cannot rely on negative, narrow-minded concepts or approaches. Their future should be founded on universal human values. And not only the future of the Western Balkans, but the entire region where it is situated. All of us should understand that happiness and prosperity of one people in this region should not be built upon the misfortune of others.

Future Trends of Population Aging

Population aging is an important issue related to social development, and promoting balanced population development is an important part of global population work. Population aging is an inevitable trend of social development and an important embodiment of human social progress. We must face up to the problem of population aging and take active action. This paper mainly analyzes the percentage distribution of the population of each age group in China, the United States and India. The population percentages of different age groups were calculated using the population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in 2024, which published the total population of each country in different age groups.

Chinese women's years of education and subjective well-being: an empirical analysis based on ordered Logit model and coupling coordination model.

In modern society, the improvement of women's education level has become one of the important indicators of national development and social progress. Although there are many useful explorations on the relationship between education and subjective well-being, the research on women's years of education and subjective well-being is very limited. The article focuses on women's years of education to determine whether and how to affect subjective well-being. This study is based on the China general social survey in 2021. The ordered Logit model was used to analyze the impact of women's years of education on subjective well-being, and a binary coupling coordination model was constructed to test the above two variables. The results show that the longer the education years of women, the stronger the subjective well-being. The benchmark regression results show that women's years of education have positive and negative effects on subjective well-being through economic status, physical and mental health, ecological environment, social cognition and personal cognition. The analysis of coupling coordination degree shows that the coupling between the years of education and subjective well-being of women in coastal areas and economically developed areas is the strongest, and the subjective well-being is better realized by increasing the years of education. Based on the above research results, this paper provides some practical suggestions for improving women's subjective well-being, and provides some valuable references for women to effectively balance husband-wife relationship, family relationship and work relationship, improve women's years of education and better obtain happiness.

Understanding the Local Complexities in Land Law Reforms: The Case of Land Inalienability in Ethiopia, 1991–2018

Abstract Postcolonial governments often restrict the market alienability of land rights for various policy reasons. One policy aims to treat all citizens equivalently and safeguard vulnerable social communities equally, as an unrestrained land market could allow one affluent social group to buy out one that is less affluent. Another policy is to set a standard that is easy to apply in the same way in every case, as a bright-line rule banning land alienation is simpler to administer than a standard that requires case-by-case considerations. Today, in Ethiopia, such laws face opposition from proponents of a free market economy and private property rights. Thus, international development institutions and influential Ethiopians are spearheading an ambitious reform to Ethiopia’s post-socialist law that bans land alienability, arguing that the law has impeded social and economic progress. This article shows, however, that the legal ban has never prevented land transfers. Many people have utilized legal constructs such as gifts, bequests, loans, and leases to sell their land. Such transfers have circumvented the ban amidst aggressive land expropriation by the state and other agents. These intricate local and national dynamics undercut the misleading sense of regularity created by the inalienability law, raising serious questions about the persistent demand by international development institutions to privatize land rights and create land markets through law reform without paying close attention to the lived experiences at the local level.

Risk analysis of accident-causing evolution in chemical laboratory based on complex network

Chemical laboratories usually have many high risks from various dangerous chemicals, dangerous devices, and experimental operators involved in the laboratory. Once a severe accident occurs, the accident consequence will significantly impact scientific research innovation and social progress. Aiming at laboratory safety problems, an accident evolution model is established to reveal the critical accident-causing factors and the most likely evolutionary path of accidents in the process of accident evolution. Firstly, the 24 model is used to identify the cause factors of laboratory accidents and the causal relationship between factors. Then, the complex network model of laboratory accident evolution is constructed with accident-causing factors as nodes and causal relationships between factors as edges. Secondly, using the TOPSIS method, four typical complex network characteristic indexes, including degree centrality, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, and eigenvector centrality, are constructed into a comprehensive evaluation index to reveal the key influencing factors in the accident evolution process. Finally, the fuzzy number is introduced to quantify the uncertainty of the accident evolution path. The most likely evolutionary path is obtained through the Dijkstra and risk entropy theory. Based on the data of 151 laboratory accidents from 2001 to 2022, the accident evolution analysis of chemical laboratories was carried out. The evolution results show that the maximum probability value is the evolution path of fire accidents, and the minimum probability value is the evolution path of electric shock accidents, which accords with the general statistical law of accidents. When applied to the actual laboratory, the safety management level of the laboratory can be effectively improved by controlling the key influencing factors and cutting off the accident evolution path.

SOCIAL PROGRESS AND COOPERATION: A SHORT ANTHOLOGY OF PUBLIC THOUGHT

In the work, the authors consider the socio-political thought concerning the issues of cooperation. Special attention is paid to the concepts of intellectuals representing various ideological trends. The works of authors from various scientific schools are analyzed, with an emphasis on an in-depth presentation of cooperation in the context of prospects for social development.

Bénédict Augustin Morel (1809-1873): The Originator of the Degenerative Theory of the Heredity of Mental Disorders and the Pioneer of the Biological Approach to Psychiatry.

The concept of progressive hereditary degeneration, which significantly influenced medical, particularly psychiatric and in turn social thought of the second half of the 19th century, was articulated by Bénédict Augustin Morel. The distinguished French psychiatrist developed the theory of degeneration and created the nosological framework of the heredity of mental illness in order to explain the more frequent psychoses and nervous disorders. In the absence of patho-anatomical findings, Morel attributed these phenomena to hereditary causes. His theory was the first attempt to interpret insanity, mental disorders, and criminality, across generations, andformed the basis for the further development of psychiatry. It had a notable influence on many scientific disciplines of the time, such as criminology, anthropology, biology, and general pathology. It would later result in the emergence of eugenics, which raised several moral issues and would ultimately be used in many ways to justify segregation.Morel was mainly influenced by the monogenetic degenerative theory and believed that social progress could be achieved by the coupling of psychiatry, a social medicine, with philosophy and Christianity.

Systematic Literature on the Reform Efforts in Education in the United States

Education reform aims to create equitable learning environments for all students, fostering their contributions to American society. This study explores public concerns and strategies in education reform, utilizing ethnomethodology as its theoretical framework to examine practical reasoning methods. Reform efforts emphasize social collaboration and state directives, rooted in citizens' lived experiences. Key components include high standards and accountability, authentic assessment, active learning, community building, lifelong learning, and character education. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) are pivotal in American politics, driving educational and social progress. NCLB emphasizes academic growth for disadvantaged students, while ESSA aims for equitable, high-quality education for all, preparing them for higher education and careers. Future research recommendations focus on individual instruction and strategies for active student engagement.

Research Progress on Ecological Carrying Capacity and Ecological Security, and Its Inspiration on the Forest Ecosystem in the Karst Desertification Control

Social progress and the improvement of living standards are often accompanied by the intensification of ecological crises. The long-term abuse of natural resources has led to the accumulation of ecological liabilities, which in turn seriously hinders economic development. This has prompted all sectors of society to recognize the importance of ecological carrying capacity (ECC) and ecological security (ES). Remarkable progress has been made in karst desertification control (KDC), which has helped reshape the ECC and ES pattern of forests. Currently, the research field of ECC and ES is experiencing rapid development. Further studies in these areas have immeasurable value in promoting regional sustainable development strategies and strengthening ecological civilization construction. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the current research status and potential challenges in the field of ECC and ES, with a view to optimizing the program of forest restoration and protection in KDC. This study systematically analyzed 350 relevant studies and found that (1) research on forest ECC and ES has shown a strong growth trend overall, especially after 2017, with a growth rate exceeding 75%; (2) the literature predominantly focuses on the assessment of forest ECC (40.58%) and the enhancement of forest ES (23.42%); and (3) geographically, research findings are heavily concentrated in Asia, representing 95.40% of the total. Notably, China emerges as the primary contributor to research in this field, accounting for a substantial 94.12%. Based on the above analysis, this review summarizes the significant advancements in forest ecosystems, ECC, and ES, while also delving into the key scientific issues that need to be addressed. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights from forest ecosystems in tackling KDC, with the goal of offering guidance and strategic recommendations for future research and practices in managing delicate ecological environments.

Predicting Extension of Time and Increasing Contract Price in Road Infrastructure Projects Using a Sugeno Fuzzy Logic Model

Road infrastructure plays a crucial role in the development of countries, significantly influencing economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability. Major infrastructure projects are frequently challenged by substantial risks and uncertainties, leading to delays, budget overruns, and compromised quality. These issues can undermine the economic viability and efficiency of projects, making effective risk management essential for minimizing negative impacts and ensuring project success. For these reasons, a study was conducted using a Sugeno fuzzy logic system applied to completed projects. The resulting model is based on 10 project characteristics and provides highly accurate predictions for Extension of Time (EoT) and Increasing Contract Price (ICP). By utilizing this model, project management can be significantly improved through more accurate forecasting of potential delays and cost overruns. The high precision of the Sugeno fuzzy logic system enables better risk assessment and proactive decision-making, allowing project managers to implement targeted strategies to mitigate risks and optimize project outcomes.

School Counselors’ Reflections on Supporting LGBTQ+ Students

Background: Suicide attempts and suicide completion are on the rise for children and adolescents and even more so for LGBTQ+ youth. Despite some social progress, LGBTQ+ individuals still face oppression socially and legally. With much of the restrictive LGBTQ+ legislation occurring within educational settings, school counselors have an important role supporting the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth; however, many school counselors do not feel equipped to do so. Objectives: School counselors often exit their graduate programs and enter the profession with little to no knowledge of or experience working with LGBTQ+ students. The current study sought to better understand school counselors’ experiences supporting LGBTQ+ youth in their school by discussing results of two focus groups with school counselors working with LGBTQ+ students in a southeastern school district. Research Question: What are the experiences of elementary, middle, and high school counselors supporting LGBTQ+ students in a southeastern school district? Methods: Using thematic analysis of two focus group interviews, we gained greater insight into school counselors’ experiences of supporting LGBTQ+ students in their schools. Results: Through the thematic analysis, five themes and two subthemes emerged in the data. Conclusions: Although school counselors often lack time or resources to work with LGBTQ+ youth ( Gonzalez, 2016 ), the current study’s findings reveal additional barriers given less attention in the literature: navigating tension and pressure from legal policies and nonaffirming parents.

Laying the Foundations for a Child-Focused Cities Analytical Framework: Reflections From an International, Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Children, a unique yet marginalized social group, hold immense potential for driving meaningful social and environmental change, both in their current lives and as future stewards of the planet. However, their significant contributions often depend on the mechanisms and opportunities adults create to facilitate their participation and inclusion. This places local governance at a crucial juncture, mediating children’s involvement in shaping their urban environments. This research was initiated by the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy in 2022, gathering international scholars and practitioners to critically assess the “child-friendly city” concept. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the study sought to advance the notion from simply being “friendly” to a deeper commitment to amplifying children’s voices within social, physical, and relational spheres. The methodology transitioned from initial academic discussions to the creation of a comprehensive analytical tool, the “Child-Focused Cities Analytical Framework.” This framework aims to tackle the complex challenges of child participation, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in both local and global settings. This article unveils new insights at the intersection of children’s rights, the SDGs, and local governance, laying the groundwork for a model that prioritizes and enhances children’s perspectives, thereby catalyzing social and environmental progress.

Returns, Marches and Countermarches: The Agony for Truth and Justice

The present research aims to describe and characterize the actions in the reparation processes of Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, and Mothers and Relatives of Disappeared Detainees, in Argentina and Uruguay respectively, in the period from 2005 to 2015, in the face of the effects of political violence and state terrorism. It is proposed to make visible what the organizations' actions have been to influence advances in reparations, with special emphasis on concrete actions in contexts of self-styled "progressive" governments. A qualitative research is proposed, with the substantive use of the technique of documentary analysis and in-depth interviews for data collection, and for the analysis of said data we proceeded through discourse analysis. The results indicate that the central axes linked to comprehensive reparation in each organization are oriented towards: psychosocial reparation, accompaniment in the search process, progress at the legal level, recognition by the State of its responsibility before the crimes committed, the clarification of the truth, especially in the awareness of young people, with an educational paradigm that encourages education for memory. Reparatory mechanisms have manifested themselves in a similar way in the contexts of political progressivism, both in Argentina and Uruguay. However, the Argentine context has established a greater deployment of policies, with a special focus on the restitution of rights, and guarantees of non-repetition, developing an instituting policy promoted by the human rights movement. In the Uruguayan case, although progressivism enabled the creation of new institutions, providing new spaces and a budget to respond to the citizenship and mainly to the victims' relatives, for truth, justice and reparation, these have been poorly satisfactory measures, in where there is still a consolidation of policies, demanded by the human rights movement.

The synergetic effect of economic complexity and governance on quality of life: policy thresholds

This study aims to bridge the empirical research gap in governance-modulating effects on the link between a country’s productive structure and individuals’ well-being. In doing so, this study utilizes the economic complexity index to quantify a country’s productive structure and the social progress index to measure quality of life. The empirical strategy relies on the system-GMM approach, covering 75 developing countries from 2011 to 2021. The following conclusions were drawn from the empirical analysis. (1) Economic complexity and governance consistently and unconditionally improve quality of life. (2) Governance substantially modulates economic complexity to enhance quality of life, generating an overall positive net effect. (3) The results remain robust and consistent across several GMM specifications, regardless of whether the six governance indicators compiled by the World Bank were clustered using principal component analysis into four categories (i.e., general, political, economic, and institutional) or used individually. (4) Of the six governance indicators, government effectiveness, the rule of law, and control of corruption were found to be particularly significant, as were economic and institutional governance. (5) An additional threshold analysis was implemented to identify the critical governance levels that further improve quality of life. The thresholds for complementary policies are then established as follows: 0.8435, 1.846, and 1.717 for government effectiveness, rule of law, and corruption control, respectively, and 5.59, 3.14, and 3.32 for general, institutional, and economic governance, respectively. Consequently, economic complexity and governance are necessary and sufficient to improve well-being below these thresholds. Complementary policies are, however, necessary to sustain the overall positive impact beyond these thresholds. The findings of this study provide insights into complementary policies for leveraging economic development to improve the well-being of developing countries.

Physical and internet medical system: Service quality and management mode analysis

In an era of social progress and policy changes, some hospitals have diversified their services by incorporating internet hospitals. However, since the development of internet hospitals has been delayed and their management model remains ambiguous, this paper employs game theory to establish an internet medical system. By categorizing patients based on their severity and their acceptance of telemedicine, and by devising the centralized and decentralized management models, the paper assesses the quality of service and management practices of internet hospitals. The findings reveal that under decentralized management, internet hospitals can enhance the quality of service in physical hospitals. Nevertheless, the disparity in quality of physical hospitals in the two medical systems under the centralized management mode requires clarification. In addition, the paper delves into hospital revenue and patient utility, indicating that while the establishment of internet hospitals may not consistently increase healthcare system revenue, it can significantly improve patient utility, especially in remote areas. These results provide valuable insights into the management and expansion of internet hospitals.

Unveiling the Detrimental Impacts of Intensive Chemical Use and Monoculture on Soil Health and Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land in Telangana

Objective: The primary objective of this research is to investigate the implications of excessive chemical use in agriculture and its detrimental impact on the environment. The study aims to highlight the urgent need for a shift towards sustainable farming practices that prioritize both productivity and ecological preservation. Theoretical Framework: The research appears to be grounded in the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the balance between economic growth, social progress, and environmental protection. It aligns with the understanding that intensive agricultural practices, while boosting yields, can have severe ecological consequences. Method: Researchers employed a descriptive survey methodology to gather data through semi-structured interviews, case studies, and group discussions. This mixed-methods approach provided a comprehensive understanding of farmers' practices and challenges. The collected data was analysed using SPSS software with a focus on descriptive statistics. Results and Discussion: The findings are alarming, indicating a heavy reliance on chemicals (98.2%) and a widespread adoption of monocropping (84.8%), particularly cotton cultivation. The study also revealed a decline in traditional farming practices with a shift towards mechanized methods (87.6%). Furthermore, there is growing scepticism among farmers about the effectiveness of livestock manure as a fertilizer. These results underscore the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Research Implications: The study's findings affect lawmakers, farmers, and environmentalists. Sustainable agriculture practices that reduce chemical use, promote biodiversity, and protect soil health are urgently needed. The research also emphasises the importance of educating farmers about the long-term effects of current methods and the benefits of sustainable ones. Originality/Value: This article presents empirical facts on agricultural chemical consumption and related issues, advancing current knowledge. By evaluating the issue from a sustainable development goals viewpoint, the research illuminates the complex relationship between agricultural productivity and environmental preservation. The findings can inform legislation and actions to promote environmentally friendly agriculture.

FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL INNOVATION INITIATIVES FOR TRANSFORMATION

Through the launch of social innovation projects with the potential to bring about revolutionary change, this study explores the critical function of social entrepreneurship in promoting long-term societal progress. This study set out to do one main thing: shed light on how social innovation fits into entrepreneurial endeavours with a social mission in order to attain longterm social development. Quantitative research was carried out in India through an online survey to examine the proposed links. Organisations across India that are involved in social entrepreneurship and social enterprises were surveyed for this data. The link between social entrepreneurship and long-term social progress can be mediated by social innovation, according to the research. Social innovation in social entrepreneurship projects has a major impact on long-term social progress, according to the research. Government agencies, lawmakers, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, educators with an entrepreneurial spirit, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) can all benefit from these discoveries. Policymakers, practitioners, and academics can benefit from this research because it sheds light on the mediating elements and pathways that allow social entrepreneurship to promote transformative social change. This research is important for sustainable development efforts.