NEW LAW ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA

The Federal Assembly of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic approved, on 10 April 1980, the new law (Nr.39/80) on higher education. This law was under preparation nearly three years by the Czech and Slovak ministries of education and representatives of universities and other institutes of higher education as we'll as experts in charge of economic and social development. Starting from 1 September 1980 it will replace the previous law on higher education (Nr. 19/66) that has been in effect since 1966.

The following article, written for “Higher Education in Europe” by Professor Jiri M#akeri?ka, Director of the Research Institute on Engineering Studies in Prague, presents the main elements of this new law.     

Information and communication: An outline of a possible general theory of sign information

All live systems acquire and use knowledge to ensure appropriate efficiency in the mutual intercourse with the surrounding environment. Knowledge can be communicated only when the subject's internal model of the object of reality is objectified by means of a certain set of physical signs. Such an externalized model, a communicate, is to be accepted, adequately understood and evaluated by other relevant live systems. The information value of a communicate is therefore a function not only of the communicate itself but of the needs, aims, expectations and possibilities of relevant live systems as well. The information value of the same communicate can vary within a set of those systems. The determination of regularities in the relations between the information value of communicates, their content similarity and distinctive features of live systems producing and using them is a problem for experimental and empirical studies.     

Freizeitgestaltung der Schüler Höherer Lehranstalten in Slowenien/Jugoslawien (Fortsetzung)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Exploring relationships among internationalization,choice for research and development approach and technology source and resulting innovation intensity: Case of a transition country Croatia

The purpose of the paper is to examine the impact of internationalization on innovation. Specifically we explored the impact of internationalization on firms' choice for research and development (R&D) approach and technology source, impact of choice for research and development (R&D) approach and technology source on innovation and finally impact of business hampering factors on innovation. We had focused on innovation intensity to measure impact on innovation. A survey of foreign investment enterprises in Croatia was conducted. A total of 145 firms responded to the questionnaire. Multivariate analyses are used to analyze the data. In addition we identified key factors impacting different types of innovation.     

Validation of a laboratory and hospital information system in a medical laboratory accredited according to ISO 15189

Introduction

The aim of the study was to present a protocol for laboratory information system (LIS) and hospital information system (HIS) validation at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine of the Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.

Materials and methods:

Validity of data traceability was checked by entering all test requests for virtual patient into HIS/LIS and printing corresponding barcoded labels that provided laboratory analyzers with the information on requested tests. The original printouts of the test results from laboratory analyzer(s) were compared with the data obtained from LIS and entered into the provided template. Transfer of data from LIS to HIS was examined by requesting all tests in HIS and creating real data in a finding generated in LIS. Data obtained from LIS and HIS were entered into a corresponding template. The main outcome measure was the accuracy of transfer obtained from laboratory analyzers and results transferred from LIS and HIS expressed as percentage (%).

Results:

The accuracy of data transfer from laboratory analyzers to LIS was 99.5% and of that from LIS to HIS 100%.

Conclusion:

We presented our established validation protocol for laboratory information system and demonstrated that a system meets its intended purpose.     

Non-invasive methods for characterisation of printed cultural heritage

The quality of a book reprint depends on several factors, e.g. paper, typesetting, reproduction of illustrations, printing and bookbinding. The quality of the 1958 and 1988 reprints of the fairytale edition from 1944 designed by the Slovenian architect Jo?e Ple?nik was studied using standard and other non-invasive testing methods, e.g. microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, sonic velocity, Young's modulus of elasticity, surface topography and image analysis. The chemical, physical and colorimetric properties of papers and typographic tonal density were analysed. The results showed that the reprints do not correspond to the originals. Some of the differences in the reprints, if compared with the original (e.g. typographic tonal density), could have been easily avoided, while others (e.g. structural and optical properties of paper) remain unavoidable, mainly due to the influence of internal and external factors on the ageing. The ageing process influences paper properties, since optical properties deteriorate in time. It has been concluded that a precise and systematic study of the properties of an old book should be performed before the preparation of a reprint. The results of the research have shown that the applied methods are useful and satisfactory for the characterisation of the paper properties and typography, and can be of use at the analysis of printing ink and illustration reproduction.     

Key block theory application for rock slope stability analysis in the foundations of medieval castles in Slovakia

This research investigates the stability of rock slopes in the foundations of selected medieval castles in Slovakia. In the first phase, static analysis of the 45 selected medieval castle rock slopes was performed, where more than 12,000 potentially unstable blocks were analyzed and the factor of safety in static condition was calculated using the key block theory implemented in the Kbslope module of PTworkshop software. Based on results of the static stability analysis, a pseudo-static analysis was performed adopting the seismic acceleration in accordance with Slovak Technical Standards – Seismic actions on structures. This was implemented by calculating the vectors of horizontal force acting upon shear failure in the direction of the slope face with a zero vertical component. When non-finite and tapered blocks were ignored, the results proved that 14% of the 12,217 blocks investigated under static conditions could be considered unstable. This number increased to 23% under pseudo-static conditions, when seismic acceleration was implemented in the stability calculations. A detailed stability assessment of the Gymes Castle located in western Slovakia was carried out with delineation of blocks prone to rock sliding and proper stabilization methods, based on joint sets orientation measurements performed on the 3D point cloud generated by laser scanner.     

A mentor’s aid in developing the competences of teacher trainees

The induction period is a very important time in the career of a teacher and has a long‐term influence on the teacher’s professional development, efficacy, job satisfaction and the length of his/her career. One of the key roles in this period is played by the trainee’s mentor. This paper presents the results of the extensive project ‘Partnership of Faculties and Schools’, carried out at the Pedagogical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, with the financial support of the European Social Fund and the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. We studied an induction project involving 361 teacher trainees and 331 mentors. The study reveals the trainees’ expectations towards their mentors and the mentors’ and trainees’ evaluations of how the mentor aids a teacher trainee in developing their competences.     

Validity of Holland’s theory in adolescence: evidence from a Slovak sample

The underlying calculus assumption of Holland’s theory was tested in two samples of primary school students (N₁ = 400 and N₂ = 250) with an average age of 13.86 and 14.14 years, respectively. Both exploratory and confirmatory multidimensional scaling and Hubert and Arabie’s randomization test of hypothesized order relations were calculated. The circular spatial arrangement of RIASEC types was not confirmed in either of the two samples. The study discusses possible causes of the inappropriateness of using Holland’s model in an adolescent sample.