CHANGING POLICIES AND DILEMMAS IN HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE: THE HUNGARIAN SITUATION AS COMPARED TO THAT OF OTHER EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Political change and declining economies have forced the higher education systems of the countries of east and central Europe to undergo restructuring, in particular to develop new financing mechanisms and to permit the emergence of private higher education. The Hungarian experience is described with reference to the situations in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Reference is made to the “base and addition” model of higher education finance as it evolved in eastern Europe beginning in the 1950's. This model went into crisis in the 1980's because it failed to encourage institutions to search for sources of funding other than government grants. In the post‐Communist situation, new types of funding mechanisms are being explored in the three countries. Czechoslovakia has so far made the fewest fundamental changes because of the relative strength of its economy. Poland has adopted a policy of professional co‐ordination for academic survival. Hungary is experimenting with professional and market co‐ordination.     

Will media influence learning? Reframing the debate

This article addresses the position taken by Clark (1983) that media do not influence learning under any conditions. The article reframes the questions raised by Clark to explore the conditions under which media will influence learning. Specifically, it posits the need to consider the capabilities of media, and the methods that employ them, as they interact with the cognitive and social processes by which knowledge is constructed. This approach is examined within the context of two major media-based projects, one which uses computers and the other, video. The article discusses the implications of this approach for media theory, research and practice.     

Other Foreign Media

John A. Lent's Asian Mass Communications: A Comprehensive Bibliography (Philadelphia: Temple University School of Communications and Theater, 1975---$44.00, paper with spiral binding)

H.Edward English (ed.) Telecommunications for Canada: An Interface of Business and Government (Toronto: Methuen, 1973---price not known)

Television Advertising Conditions in Europe

Communication Policies in Ireland, by John Stapleton (1974, 73 pages, $3.95, paper)

Communication Policies in Hungary, by Tamas Szecsko and Gabor Fodor (1974, 58 pages, $3.30, paper)

Communication Policies in the Federal Republic of Germany, by Walter A. Mahle and Rolf Richter (1974, 86 pages, $4.95, paper)

Communication Policies in Sweden, by Lars Furhoff, Lennart Jonsson, and Lennart Nilsson (1974, 76 pages, $4.65, paper)     

A comparative analysis of a game-based mobile learning model in low-socioeconomic communities of India

This study explores the effectiveness of a game-based mobile learning model for children living in underdeveloped regions with significant contextual variations. Data for this study came from a total of 210 children between the ages of 6-14 years old from six marginalized communities in India. The findings reveal that children with little or no previous exposure to technology were able to not only figure out the given mobile learning technology, but also solve a series of incrementally challenging problems by playing math games without specific intervention or instruction by adults. The study also found that various factors, including gender and group size, do affect children's ability to adopt and learn while presenting a unique set of learning interaction patterns. This paper concludes with specific recommendations for future ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development) projects for educational development particularly targeting developing regions.     

A reply: Media and methods

Media and methods together influence learning. This article illustrates an approach to research that allows us to look at the cognitive mechanisms by which learners interact with instructional designs and use media and methods to construct understanding. It critiques Clark's (1994) replaceability challenge.The project described in this article was performed pursuant to grant number USE-9150617 and grant number RED-9353614 from the National Science Foundation. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the National Science Foundation or SRI International.     

THE STEERING OF HIGHER EDUCATION: A HUNGARIAN CASE STUDY

The steering of higher education in Hungary is symbolized by the House of Professors in Budapest, a building owned by the Hungarian Ministry of Education and Culture, which houses a number of international programmes of importance to Hungarian higher education as well as the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference. First the article presents an over view of present trends in steering and governing higher education in western Europe. Then it compares western European tendencies with those typical of eastern and central Europe. Finally, it identifies Hungarian higher education as an intermediary case situated between the extremes of western and eastern developments. The article concludes with an exposition of how Hungarian higher education will be steered by remote control mechanisms.     

THE EXPANSION OF EDUCATION IN EASTERN EUROPE: A REGIONAL VIEW

The higher education systems in the countries of eastern and central Europe are still in a period of stagnation. A period of rapid growth is expected, similar to that of the 1960's in the western part of Europe, to begin around the turn of the millenium. Because of the similarities of its middle classes, Subregion A (territories with traditional state education) might adopt a massification scenario even in the face of financial restrictions. The higher education of Subregion D (territories with non‐state education) might follow an élitist scenario in the course of higher education development according to which the autonomy of institutions and the privatization of systems would become major political issues.