Academic education in conditions of the COVID-19 epidemic threat – the perspective of students and lecturers

Understanding the opinions of students and lecturers of Polish universities on the quality of academic education during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their recommended activities for improvement of learning processes in the event of a constant epidemic threat was the main goal of the conducted research. The main tool in the adopted research model were proprietary questionnaire forms based on the Servqual methodology. The research results presented in the publication illustrate the gaps (differences) between the expectations of students and lecturers and the aspects assessed by them, which make up the quality of academic education. 145 students, representing 12 Polish universities participated in the research. They represented both a practical and general academic profile of studies, full-time and part-time studies. In the case of lecturers, the research sample was 81 academic staff representing 20 Polish universities. According to the position held, the most numerous group of lecturers were: assistant professors, senior lecturers, university professors, lecturers and assistants. The publication presents the problems most frequently indicated by students and lecturers related to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, including the implementation of distance learning. Methods of improving the organization of didactic classes in the context of the epidemic threat were also presented.

Economic and Legal Principles of Technical Control of Motor Vehicles

This scientific article is devoted to the study and definition of technical control of motor vehicles, with an emphasis on it as an independent specific legal definition and special features. Control is a mandatory procedure for some areas of management, and the transport sector is the most important sector that meets the needs of the population and businesses in transportation, including road transport. In general, the sphere of management is characterized by supervisory and control actions carried out by authorized persons, including public authorities and local governments in order to comply with legislation on standards, quality, compliance, etc. The objects of these actions may be vehicles, including cars, their units, mechanisms, and the procedure is called technical control. It is through technical control that road transport is maintained in good condition and subject to safe use. The economic and legal principles of technical control are that it is carried out in respect of motor vehicles used by economic entities for its implementation and maintenance. Due to the positive conclusions of the technical control, the business entity can carry out transportation, operate a vehicle of proper quality in terms of its technical and technological characteristics. Technical control carried out by specially authorized state bodies is a means of state regulation, the purpose of which is to detect and prevent qualitative and technical violations of the vehicle, which are detected by periodic inspections and documented. Technical control can be mandatory and optional, apply to various types of road transport, be permanent and periodic. Permanent is carried out on a corporate basis, ie before each operation of the vehicle by a specially authorized person of the business entity with mandatory documentation. The prospect of developing technical control is its implementation through the widespread use of the latest modern information and digital technologies that save time and human resources. These technologies allow for technical control with high quality in accordance with current international standards and regulations. This requires constant monitoring of international standards and regulations, in order to further amend the current domestic transport legislation, in particular on road transport, the Laws of Ukraine “On Road Transport”, “On Road Traffic”, “On National Police”, etc.

Legally Permissible Use of Quality Management Tools by Local and Regional Authorities

The subject of the considerations is the use of quality management instruments by local government units. The analysis of their activities shows that in their practice they implement quality-oriented measures in different areas. This fact is confirmed by public information available on the BIP website, describing, for example, the implementation of a given system or the use of a specific methodology or quality management tool. The legal bases for the use of quality management tools by local and regional authorities need to be examined in order to determine the content of the legal provision giving them the power to implement quality-related measures. Consequently, the article reaffirms the thesis on the legal admissibility of using the instruments of quality management by local government units, indicates its scope and formulates the concept of quality management instruments in the context of the functioning of local government.

Quality as a high political priority all over the world has to do with control over educational output in relation to decentralization and autonomy of schools. In the article, the concept of quality is analysed both in relation to original etymological meanings and the imbedded implications, and by empirical semantics as regards the present use of language and operational definitions in quality assurance practice. Findings: Original meanings can be characterized as a horizontal focus of difference in kind, classification and descriptions of properties and characteristics of objects, persons and processes. Practical and operational use of the term is vertical, attributing value and judging and it is based on matching between outcome of activity and criteria to be met. Common definitions of the quality in judgment is fitness for use or fitness for purpose.

When they steal our words…

The paper addresses issues related to the growing social phenomenon that has disturbing consequences for practice – in this case, everyday academic life in Poland. It consists of the critical categories of contemporary humanities; its “first words” are given content very distant from their original, traditional meanings. The meanings of these categories are often reversed, given secondary meanings or even made meaningless. As a result, many words are used as empty labels, fashionable words intended to add dignity to the speaker. The article’s author, referring to the metaphor of “stealing” words, raises three specific issues. Firstly, it presents a register of “stolen” words, three of which are the subject of detailed analysis – evaluation, quality, and dialogue. The second issue is a detailed analysis of the mechanisms governing changes in the meanings assigned to each of these categories and the effects associated with using “stolen” words in the everyday life of academies and dormitories. Finally, the issue of the “perpetrators of the theft” was raised. The author claims that one of them is the “seventh enemy from the seventh world of the field” – an entity that creates the everyday life of academic life, regardless of its place in the university’s social hierarchy.