Summary of an Extended Comparative Analysis on European Private Higher Education1

In November 2005, UNESCO‐CEPES organized a conference on Private Higher Education in Europe and Quality Assurance and Accreditation from the Perspective of the Bologna Process Objectives. Thirteen country reports and a comparative analysis study were commissioned for this specific initiative. The countries included in the project were: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the Ukraine. This article provides a brief summary of several main points of the comparative analysis study. The data referred to in this summary is taken solely from the sources cited in the full text study.     

Perceptual-cognitive expertise of handball coaches in their young and middle adult years

There is little research investigating the maintenance of perceptual-cognitive expertise in general and even less comparing coaches of different ages. The aim of this study was to test for perceptual-cognitive differences between age groups, licence levels, and their interaction. This study investigated differences in skilled performance between young and middle-aged coaches of three different skill levels. Participants performed an accuracy-oriented pattern recall (mean distance in pixel) and a time-oriented flicker test (mean detection time in ms). There were some significant differences between age groups and between skill groups for both tests, but no interactions. For the pattern recall test, the effect sizes were larger for skill level differences, while for the flicker test effects were larger for ageing. These results suggest coaches are able to maintain accuracy skills better than reaction timed tasks. This is in line with findings on speeded performance in general populations, which show declines with age. Moreover, results also support findings on perceptual expertise in skills where accuracy was important.     

Home advantage in soccer – A matter of expectations,goal setting and tactical decisions of coaches?

In soccer, home teams win about 67% of decided games. The causes for this home advantage are still unresolved. There is a shortage of research on the psychological states of actors involved. In this study, we examined soccer coaches’ expectations, goal setting and tactical decisions in relation to game location. Soccer coaches (N = 297) with different expertise levels participated in an experimental, online management game and were randomly assigned to one of two groups, “home game (HG)” or “away game.” Participants received information on the game for which they were asked to make decisions in multiple points. The only differing information between groups was game location. Regardless of expertise, HG coaches had higher expectations to win, set more challenging goals and decided for more offensive and courageous playing tactics. Possible consequences of these findings concerning home advantage in soccer are discussed.     

Incorporating Library School Interns on Academic Library Subject Teams

This case study analyzes the use of library school interns on subject-based teams for the social sciences, humanities, and sciences in the San José State University Library. Interns worked closely with team librarians on reference, collection development/management, and instruction activities. In a structured focus group, interns reported that the internship enhanced their professional and career development, but they desired greater feedback and mentoring than they received. The library gained staff for its large instruction program and successfully recruited talented former interns for professional openings. This analysis will help other libraries and library science schools to improve their internships and field experiences.     

CO2-Einsparpotenziale des Energietr?gers Erdgas

Zusammenfassung Angesichts der staatlichen Klimaschutzziele stellt sich die Frage, wie diese mit m?glichst geringer Beeintr?chtigung einer sicheren Versorgung zu günstigen Preisen erreichbar sind. Erdgas, das im Vergleich zu anderen fossilen Energietr?gern deutlich kohlenstoff?rmer ist und darüber hinaus bei der Verbrennung auch keine weiteren Schadstoffe emittiert, kann hier einen Beitrag leisten. Gegenw?rtig hat Erdgas für die Versorgung mit W?rme sowie bei der Erzeugung von Strom eine erhebliche Bedeutung, die zukünftig weiter wachsen wird. Anhand verschiedener Szenarien werden Prognosen zur weiteren Entwicklung von Erdgas und die Auswirkungen auf die CO₂-Emissionen angestellt. Es zeigt sich, dass der Anteil von Erdgas im Bereich der W?rmeversorgung von 46 % auf 56 % steigen wird. Durch ?nderung des Energiemix und Effizienzsteigerungen kann der CO₂-Aussto? für Raumw?rme daher bis 2020 um 8,3 % gesenkt werden. Für die Stromerzeugung werden alternative Szenarien berechnet. Beim derzeitigen Energiemix k?me es zu einer j?hrlichen Steigerung des CO₂-Aussto?es um 0,8 %. Würde Kohle komplett durch Gas ersetzt, k?nnte der CO₂-Aussto? j?hrlich um 1,9 % gesenkt werden.

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Given the governmental climate targets, the question arises how these targets can be achieved without affecting a secure and cheap energy supply. As natural gas causes less carbon emissions than any other fossil fuel it might be able to make a contribution in this regard. Currently, in the generation of heat and power natural gas plays a significant role, which will further increase in the future. Using several scenarios, we predict the development of the importance of natural gas and the consequences for carbon emissions. The calculations show that the share of natural gas for the supply of heat will increase from 46 % to 56 %. Efficiency increases together with changes in the structure of power generation can reduce heating-related carbon emissions by 8.3 % until 2020. For power generation, we calculate alternative scenarios. If the current structure of power generation is held constant, carbon emissions will increase by 0.8 % p.a. If instead natural gas completely replaces coal and lignite, the carbon emissions will be reduced by 1.9 % per year.

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Dieser Beitrag ist eine Kurzfassung der Studie „Wirtschaftsfaktor Erdgasbranche“, HWWI Policy Paper 1–3, Hamburg