Creative society is a type of society in which the most important social group is a creative class. The creative class consists of people employed in science and engineering, research and development, high technology industries (i.e. innovation industries), art, music, culture, aesthetics and design (i.e. creative industries), as well as knowledge-based workers in health care, financial and legal services. According to calculations of scientists, a country has a creative society if representatives of the above-mentioned areas make 25-30 percent of all employees in that country. Promotion of culture is the main pre-condition for development of a creative society. This pre-condition is confirmed by the European research "The Impact of Culture on Creativity". The aim of the article is to find the level of promotion of culture (as a pre-condition for development of a creative society) in different countries. Research method was statistical data analysis (Eurostat database was used). It was found that the average level of promotion of culture in the European Union was 0.4 percent of GDP, and in Lithuania – 0.5 percent of GDP every year. Statistical data analysis revealed that the financially reasonable level of promotion of culture (as a pre-condition for development of a creative society) could reach 3 percent of GDP every year because there were other state functions (e.g. general public services, social protection) in the European Union that got even 7 percent of GDP every. [to full text]
Creative society is a type of society in which the most important social group is a creative class. The creative class consists of people employed in science and engineering, research and development, high technology industries (i.e. innovation industries), art, music, culture, aesthetics and design (i.e. creative industries), as well as knowledge-based workers in health care, financial and legal services. According to calculations of scientists, a country has a creative society if representatives of the above-mentioned areas make 25-30 percent of all employees in that country. Promotion of culture is the main pre-condition for development of a creative society. This pre-condition is confirmed by the European research "The Impact of Culture on Creativity". The aim of the article is to find the level of promotion of culture (as a pre-condition for development of a creative society) in different countries. Research method was statistical data analysis (Eurostat database was used). It was found that the average level of promotion of culture in the European Union was 0.4 percent of GDP, and in Lithuania – 0.5 percent of GDP every year. Statistical data analysis revealed that the financially reasonable level of promotion of culture (as a pre-condition for development of a creative society) could reach 3 percent of GDP every year because there were other state functions (e.g. general public services, social protection) in the European Union that got even 7 percent of GDP every. [to full text]
Creative society is a type of society in which the most important social group is a creative class. The creative class consists of people employed in science and engineering, research and development, high technology industries (i.e. innovation industries), art, music, culture, aesthetics and design (i.e. creative industries), as well as knowledge-based workers in health care, financial and legal services. According to calculations of scientists, a country has a creative society if representatives of the above-mentioned areas make 25-30 percent of all employees in that country. Promotion of culture is the main pre-condition for development of a creative society. This pre-condition is confirmed by the European research "The Impact of Culture on Creativity". The aim of the article is to find the level of promotion of culture (as a pre-condition for development of a creative society) in different countries. Research method was statistical data analysis (Eurostat database was used). It was found that the average level of promotion of culture in the European Union was 0.4 percent of GDP, and in Lithuania – 0.5 percent of GDP every year. Statistical data analysis revealed that the financially reasonable level of promotion of culture (as a pre-condition for development of a creative society) could reach 3 percent of GDP every year because there were other state functions (e.g. general public services, social protection) in the European Union that got even 7 percent of GDP every. [to full text]
In the context of changes the issue of improvement of vocational training network became highly relevant in Lithuania. In accordance with EUROSTAT data Lithuania is among three countries of the European Union with the least developed participation of labour force in formal and informal education. The sector of vocational training does not react to the changes of environment and country's economy fast enough, i.e. there is a constant shortage of qualified workers, workers in service sector and high qualification specialists. Subject of the study: activity peculiarities of vocational training centres. Aim of the study: identify peculiarities of activity of vocational training centres under conditions of changes and give recommendations on this matter. Methodology of the study. Theoretic provisions of vocational training and regulatory legal acts of European Union regulating vocational training were analysed. Peculiarities of vocational training under conditions of changes are viewed through the context of vocational training applied in Lithuania and Europe. Analysis of activity of vocational centres under conditions of changes is carried out: what changed, what goals are set, what should be improved according to pedagogues and students. Methodological study is based on three alternatives – personality development trends originating from different philosophical traditions: philosophical trend of person-orientated education; philosophical trend of productivity-orientated education; and philosophical trend orientated towards education of problem-solving skills. Methods used in the study: theoretic analysis; analysis of documentation; questionnaire and statistical analysis. Volume and planning of the study. 15 centres of vocational training from Klaipeda, Kaunas, Panevezys, Vilnius, Siauliai, Utena and Marijampole participated in the study. Overall 300 respondents: 150 pedagogues from vocational training centres and 150 students. Conclusions. The following tendencies of activity peculiarities of vocational training centres were identified: 1) changes in activity of vocational training centres are influenced by rapidly changing economic environment, innovative processes in science, social policy, technologic development and development of education priorities; 2) changes in activity of vocational training centres determines changes in functions of activity, qualifications and competences.
In the context of changes the issue of improvement of vocational training network became highly relevant in Lithuania. In accordance with EUROSTAT data Lithuania is among three countries of the European Union with the least developed participation of labour force in formal and informal education. The sector of vocational training does not react to the changes of environment and country's economy fast enough, i.e. there is a constant shortage of qualified workers, workers in service sector and high qualification specialists. Subject of the study: activity peculiarities of vocational training centres. Aim of the study: identify peculiarities of activity of vocational training centres under conditions of changes and give recommendations on this matter. Methodology of the study. Theoretic provisions of vocational training and regulatory legal acts of European Union regulating vocational training were analysed. Peculiarities of vocational training under conditions of changes are viewed through the context of vocational training applied in Lithuania and Europe. Analysis of activity of vocational centres under conditions of changes is carried out: what changed, what goals are set, what should be improved according to pedagogues and students. Methodological study is based on three alternatives – personality development trends originating from different philosophical traditions: philosophical trend of person-orientated education; philosophical trend of productivity-orientated education; and philosophical trend orientated towards education of problem-solving skills. Methods used in the study: theoretic analysis; analysis of documentation; questionnaire and statistical analysis. Volume and planning of the study. 15 centres of vocational training from Klaipeda, Kaunas, Panevezys, Vilnius, Siauliai, Utena and Marijampole participated in the study. Overall 300 respondents: 150 pedagogues from vocational training centres and 150 students. Conclusions. The following tendencies of activity peculiarities of vocational training centres were identified: 1) changes in activity of vocational training centres are influenced by rapidly changing economic environment, innovative processes in science, social policy, technologic development and development of education priorities; 2) changes in activity of vocational training centres determines changes in functions of activity, qualifications and competences.
Due to aging population it is more and more spoken about development of social services for elderly people. Development of community social services is the priority of Lithuanian politics. However, the amount of elderly people who use institutionalized social services is still growing. Improvement of social care services is one of the priorities indicated by European Commission. However, there are no research results that would show what the quality of given social services is. Ministry of Social Security and Labour has confirmed the social care standards. These standards include appointment of services, meeting person's needs, etc. The standards are pretty extensive and include many ways of evaluation of social care services. It was chosen to evaluate the living conditions in elderly homes. The purpose of this master dissertation is to evaluate the ways of improvement of living conditions in elderly homes. To reach this purpose the preconditions of elderly home residents' activity stimulation were analysed, as well as aging processes that are important choosing the ways of improvement of living conditions. Also the ways of improvement the qualities of habitation and resources in the surroundings were analysed. Finally, the evaluation of living conditions of the residents, their family members and the personnel were explored. The quantitative research was accomplished. There was chosen the questionnaires method for this survey. The objective respondent sample was implemented for the residents of the elderly home, the systemic probability sample – for the personnel and accessible element sample for the family members. There were 90 questionnaires analysed. There are some ways of residents' activity stimulation indicated in the academic literature. These are the stimulation of communication between the residents, as well as between the residents and their families, assurance of private life, leisure organization, etc. The research results show that residents' private life is assured and their self – dependence is stimulated. The residents take part in most of the organized leisure programmes. They also have an opportunity to get in touch with their families at any time. However, there is lack of collaboration between the personnel of the elderly home and the residents' family members. The family members are poorly stimulated to take part in the improvement of living conditions for the residents. Also residents' initiative is poorly stimulated. Also the ways of improvement the qualities of habitation and resources in the surroundings are pointed out in the academic literature (create a cosy surrounding of the elderly home, make it close to home conditions, etc.). According to the research results the surrounding of the elderly home is sufficiently adapted to the residents' needs, but it is not close enough to home conditions. The residents can also use the transport services and keep in touch with the neighbour community. On the whole, the residents, personnel and residents' family members evaluated the elderly home's living conditions quit high. However, the residents' evaluation was lower than the rest of the respondents. The research showed that all the respondents link the notion of improvement of living conditions with improvement of physical surroundings and facility. The few respondents indicated the ways of improving living conditions that are related with the improvement of relationship between the residents and their families.
Due to aging population it is more and more spoken about development of social services for elderly people. Development of community social services is the priority of Lithuanian politics. However, the amount of elderly people who use institutionalized social services is still growing. Improvement of social care services is one of the priorities indicated by European Commission. However, there are no research results that would show what the quality of given social services is. Ministry of Social Security and Labour has confirmed the social care standards. These standards include appointment of services, meeting person's needs, etc. The standards are pretty extensive and include many ways of evaluation of social care services. It was chosen to evaluate the living conditions in elderly homes. The purpose of this master dissertation is to evaluate the ways of improvement of living conditions in elderly homes. To reach this purpose the preconditions of elderly home residents' activity stimulation were analysed, as well as aging processes that are important choosing the ways of improvement of living conditions. Also the ways of improvement the qualities of habitation and resources in the surroundings were analysed. Finally, the evaluation of living conditions of the residents, their family members and the personnel were explored. The quantitative research was accomplished. There was chosen the questionnaires method for this survey. The objective respondent sample was implemented for the residents of the elderly home, the systemic probability sample – for the personnel and accessible element sample for the family members. There were 90 questionnaires analysed. There are some ways of residents' activity stimulation indicated in the academic literature. These are the stimulation of communication between the residents, as well as between the residents and their families, assurance of private life, leisure organization, etc. The research results show that residents' private life is assured and their self – dependence is stimulated. The residents take part in most of the organized leisure programmes. They also have an opportunity to get in touch with their families at any time. However, there is lack of collaboration between the personnel of the elderly home and the residents' family members. The family members are poorly stimulated to take part in the improvement of living conditions for the residents. Also residents' initiative is poorly stimulated. Also the ways of improvement the qualities of habitation and resources in the surroundings are pointed out in the academic literature (create a cosy surrounding of the elderly home, make it close to home conditions, etc.). According to the research results the surrounding of the elderly home is sufficiently adapted to the residents' needs, but it is not close enough to home conditions. The residents can also use the transport services and keep in touch with the neighbour community. On the whole, the residents, personnel and residents' family members evaluated the elderly home's living conditions quit high. However, the residents' evaluation was lower than the rest of the respondents. The research showed that all the respondents link the notion of improvement of living conditions with improvement of physical surroundings and facility. The few respondents indicated the ways of improving living conditions that are related with the improvement of relationship between the residents and their families.
What is the role of social democratic paradigm in Lithuanian society? In the article a short history of development social democracy policy worldwide is presented, emphasizing the main stages of its history and paying attention to the different present conditions that have particularly changed during the last 30 years under the influence of neoliberal ideas.
