This article discusses the growing importance of digital competencies in education, specifically focusing on the role of technical infrastructure in schools and staff support strategies. The discussion aims at the introduction of the ICT coordinator role in Czech Republic schools. Analysis indicates that schools with an ICT coordinator exhibit improved technology access for students and teachers, not solely determined by computer quantity per pupil. Noteworthy differences lie in the flexibility and availability of technology, with ICT coordinator-aided schools having more mobile computers, mobile labs, and more vital facilitation of BYOD methods. In conclusion, while recognizing the partial nature of school technology equipment data, the article concludes that training teachers and implementing the ICT coordinator role positively impact ICT technology use in schools. Recommendations based on Czech Republic research include establishing the ICT coordinator position, providing financial incentives, and reducing direct teaching loads. Future research should track changes in ICT equipment during ICT coordinators’ tenures and explore technology deployment dynamics, emphasizing collaboration between ICT coordinators, school management, and individual teachers.

This article presents a methodology to perform quality analysis on the cadastral map, based on the tools provided by open (public or free) license geographic information systems (GIS). The errors presented in the cadastral map have a direct impact on the information systems, which can lead to erroneous decisions and to an increase in the costs of maintenance and updating of spatial data. The methodology developed was used and tested by Costa Rica’s Cadastre and Registry Regularization Program; as a product of this program, a continuous cadastral map has been created for Costa Rica, on which cadastral and registry transactions will be processed within the National Registry of Costa Rica. The methodology allows detecting, locating and classifying errors in the cadastral map for easily correcting, so that this map correctly represents the reality of the properties that conform it.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are mostly presented as a means to introduce efficient procurement methods and better value for money to taxpayers. However, the complexity of the PPP mechanism, their lack of transparency, accounting rules and implicit liabilities make it often impossible to perceive the amount of public expenditure involved and the long-run impact on taxpayers, providing room for fiscal illusion, i.e., the illusion that PPPs are much less expensive than traditional public investments. This psaper, thanks to a systematic review of the literature on the EU countries experience, tries to unveil the sources of this illusion by looking at the reasons behind the PPPs’ choice, their real costs, and the sources of fiscal risks. The literature suggests that PPPs are more costly than public funding, especially when contingent liabilities are not taken into account, and are employed as mechanisms to circumvent budgetary restrictions and to spend off-balance. The paper concludes that the public sector should share more risks with private sectors by reducing the amount of guarantees, and should prevent governments from operating through a sleight of hand that deflects attention away from off-balance financing, by applying a neutral fiscal recording system.

This paper explores the ritual practices associated with Beiyuan Tribute Tea production in Jianzhou, Fujian, China. Beiyuan Tribute Tea, a historically significant tea, originated in the Tang Dynasty, flourished during the Song Dynasty, and experienced a decline in the Ming Dynasty, reproduced in contemporary times. The tea’s production involved intricate rituals that not only enhanced its quality but also embedded it deeply into the socio-cultural and religious fabric of the time. These rituals, encompassing aspects of religious reverence, craftsmanship, and social etiquette, played a crucial role in the tea’s esteemed status as a tribute to Chinese emperors in history. The study utilized ethnographic methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews with 17 people, and document analysis, to capture the rich, contextual details of the tea production process. The study delves into the historical context, production techniques, and symbolic meanings of the rituals, highlighting their impact on the broader cultural heritage of Chinese tea. The recent revival efforts of these traditions underscore their enduring significance and offer insights into the cultural continuity and adaptation in contemporary tea practices.

This study aims to explore the perceptions of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) of primary and secondary school teachers in C City, China, as well as the challenges they face in developing these abilities. Through narrative inquiry involving five current teachers, the research collected their personal experiences in the development of teaching and academic abilities, with data gathered through semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that teachers are primarily driven by external forces, professional identity, personal growth, and the need to improve teaching quality in their efforts to enhance teaching and academic abilities. However, they also encounter challenges such as teaching pressures, time management difficulties, insufficient school support, and declining energy. To overcome these obstacles, teachers have adopted strategies such as time management, task allocation, and cognitive enhancement. The study concludes by recommending that through the combined efforts of teachers, schools, and society, a strong professional belief system should be established, and a supportive environment should be created to collaboratively promote the development of teaching and academic abilities among primary and secondary school teachers, thereby fostering their professional growth.

Based on our 11 years of medical bachelor's degree education practice for international students in China, combined with the national "the Belt and Road" strategic background and the "Quality Standards of Higher Education for International Students in China (Trial)" issued by the Ministry of Education, this paper explores the strategies to improve the quality of medical education in China. Specifically, it includes: 1) optimizing the enrollment standards of students from countries along the "the Belt and Road"; 2) Improve the quality assurance system for medical bachelor's degree education in China; 3) Innovate the management concept of "convergence"; 4) Establish a comprehensive education system for the cultivation of international students in China; 5) Strengthen the process monitoring role of awarding standards for medical bachelor's degrees in China. To provide theoretical support and reference for our school and sister universities to improve the quality of medical bachelor's degree education in China.