Open-access scientific articles in the following fields: Administration and Management Economics Informatics and Information Technologies Legal Sciences Psychology Social Activities Political Science and Public Communications Architecture and Construction Arts and Design Foreign Language Teaching Students’ Research Activities Archive - articles before 2024
SOCIAL INFLUENCE AS AN INTERPRETIVE PROCESS: AN EMPIRICALLY GROUNDED MODEL IN DIGITAL COMMUNITIES
This article conceptualizes social influence as an interpretative process occurring within digital unorganized communities. Based on a theoretical framework and an empirical study (N = 137), the relationships between personality traits, value orientations, and social desirability are examined as factors associated with susceptibility to social influence. The findings indicate that social influence does not operate as a direct effect of external stimuli, but rather as a process of interpreting social signals, mediated by cognitive and motivational mechanisms. Social desirability emerges as a key factor influencing the perception and acknowledgment of influence, while personality traits and value orientations function as selective filters. On this basis, an empirically grounded interpretative-motivational model of intentional social influence is proposed, revealing its multi-stage and context-dependent nature in digital environments.
Copyright (c) 2026 E-Journal VFU https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE INVESTMENT FUND COMPANY AND THE DEPOSITARY – DUTIES, LIABILITY, AND PRACTICAL PROBLEMS
The institution of the depositary constitutes one of the fundamental mechanisms for protecting participants in investment funds. Traditionally, its role was primarily associated with the safekeeping of fund assets and the maintenance of accurate records. However, the development of the financial market, the growing complexity of investment instruments, and regulatory changes at the European Union level have led to a significant expansion of this function. Today, the depositary performs not only a technical role, but also supervisory and protective functions. Of key importance for the transformation of the legal status of the depositary were Directive 2011/61/EU (AIFMD), Directive 2014/91/EU (UCITS V), and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 231/2013. These regulations extended the depositary’s duties to include monitoring cash flows, verifying the fund’s compliance with legal provisions and its statute, and determining the rules governing liability for breaches of duty and loss of assets. This shift was subsequently reflected in the Polish Act on Investment Funds and the Management of Alternative Investment Funds. The presentation serving as the starting point for these considerations indicates that the new approach to the depositary’s function includes both an extension of its duties and an increased significance of this institution within the system for protecting fund participants. The doctrine emphasizes that the depositary has ceased to be merely a passive participant in the valuation of assets and has become an entity co-responsible for the proper functioning of an investment fund. At the same time, the extension of its catalog of duties raises significant interpretative and practical doubts, particularly regarding the limits of liability, conflicts of interest, and the admissibility of entrusting certain activities to sub-custodians. This article aims to analyze the evolution of the investment fund depositary's function following the implementation of the AIFMD and UCITS V regulations into Polish law, with particular emphasis on new duties, liabilities, and the protection of fund participants’ interests. The study applies the dogmatic-legal method and functional analysis, thereby enabling assessment of both the scope of normative changes and their practical consequences for the investment fund market.
A MODEL FOR SUPERVISING INVESTMENT FIRM AGENTS: REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, RISKS, AND BEST PRACTICES
This article addresses the issue of an investment firm’s supervision of its agents in light of the position of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority. The starting point is the assumption that the use of the agency model is a significant element in the organization of investment services distribution, yet it simultaneously generates numerous legal, organizational, and operational risks. Of particular importance here is the obligation arising from Article 79(6a) of the Act on Trading in Financial Instruments, pursuant to which an investment firm is required to supervise the activities performed by an agent to ensure their compliance with the law and to eliminate the negative impact of the agent’s other activities on agency activities. The study indicates that the investment firm’s liability for the agent’s acts and omissions is full and unconditional, which justifies the need for active, systematic, and multi-level supervision. The analysis concludes that the agent, despite its formal separateness, functionally constitutes part of the investment firm’s external organizational structure in the performance of agency activities. For this reason, supervision cannot be limited solely to the provisions of the agency agreement but should also cover internal procedures, the control system, reporting rules, the organization of activities, and the technical and organizational conditions of the agent’s operations. Particular attention was devoted to high-risk areas, such as the prohibition on sub-agency, the method of engaging persons to perform activities on behalf of the agent, the flow of information, the control of communication with clients, and the use of internal control instruments. The article emphasizes that the effectiveness of supervision depends on the implementation of actual verification and response tools, rather than merely the formal assignment of responsibility to the agent. The UKNF’s position was assessed as a significant reference point for building an effective compliance model to protect clients, mitigate regulatory risk, and ensure that agency activities comply with capital market law requirements.
MEASURING SOFTWARE DEVELOPER PRODUCTIVITY: REVIEW OF APPROACHES AND THEIR LIMITATIONS
This article examines modern approaches for measuring software developer productivity, focusing on the tools used, the available data, and the applied metrics. The main sources of information in the development process are analyzed, including task management systems and version control platforms, as well as different groups of metrics – classical, DevOps, and experimental. Special attention is given to the limitations of these approaches. It is shown that a significant part of the real work of developers remains outside the available data and is not reflected in the used metrics. Key problems are discussed, such as “invisible work”, lack of context in the data, dependence on team dynamics, and the influence of metrics on behavior. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that productivity cannot be adequately measured using single quantitative indicators. Instead, a broader and more integrated approach is needed, which takes into account both the technical and the social aspects of work in software teams.
Informatics and Information Technologies
MANAGERIAL FACTORS OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN AN ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM
This article examines student engagement in an online educational platform as a result not only of individual motivation, but also of specific managerial characteristics of the platform environment. The study is based on the understanding that student participation in digital education is shaped by conditions of entry rules, mechanisms of recognition, algorithmic mediation, varying degrees of transparency, and the presence or absence of meaningful feedback. Its aim is to identify those managerial factors that make student participation more meaningful, more predictable, and more sustainable. The theoretical framework combines the literature on student engagement, self-determination theory, the effect of feedback, and the issue of algorithmic explainability in education. The analytical model is organized around four main domains: managerial predictability and motivational clarity, visibility and recognition of effort, transparency and algorithmic explainability, and feedback and communicative inclusion. The article argues that student engagement in a platform environment is a management-dependent variable: it is strengthened when participation is intelligible, recognition is legitimate, the system logic is understandable, and feedback is real. The text contributes to the field of administration and management by offering a managerial reading of student engagement and by opening a direction for subsequent role-based and comparative studies on online educational platforms.
Administration, Management and Economics
THE TEACHER AS A CARRIER OF PLATFORM VALUE: RECOGNITION, STATUS, AND PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNANCE OF AN ONLINE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
This article examines the teacher and content creator in the online educational platform not as a peripheral executor, but as a carrier of content-related, pedagogical, and organizational value. The study is based on the understanding that the sustainability of the platform environment depends not only on its technological functionality or on learner activity, but also on its capacity to recognize and manage the contribution of participants who produce knowledge, maintain methodological quality, and participate in the continuous refinement of the environment. The central thesis is that sustainable teacher participation is a management-dependent variable: it is strengthened when the platform transforms contribution into recognizable professional validity, legitimate status, a visible pathway for role development, and a real opportunity for participation in governance. The theoretical framework combines the platform-based approach to management, knowledge management, the concept of intellectual capital, the literature on recognition and legitimacy, as well as the ideas of shared and distributed leadership. The article argues that the teacher remains a sustainable carrier of platform value when the system does not reduce their work to mere technical presence, but includes it within a transparent logic of recognition, accountability, and influence. The text contributes to the field of administration and management by offering a managerial reading of the teacher’s role in the online educational platform and by laying the groundwork for subsequent comparative studies on recognition, remuneration, and role development.
LIGHTNER WITMER - THE FATHER OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The article examines the life and contribution of Lightner Witmer, recognized as the “father of clinical psychology.” From a historical perspective, it analyzes the emergence of clinical psychology, as well as the life and work of its founder, including his training under Wundt and the establishment of the first Psychological Clinic in 1896. The study explores Witmer’s key ideas and concepts, as well as his practical contributions, including the introduction of the term “clinical psychology” and the founding of the journal The Psychological Clinic. The article emphasizes his role in the institutionalization of clinical psychology and its influence on contemporary theory and practice. Special attention is given to Witmer’s enduring legacy and the continued relevance of his ideas.
PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY IN CLINICAL MEDICAL PRACTICE – BIOPSYCHOSOCIONOETHICAL ASPECTS
The article analyzes the specific features of psychological counseling and psychotherapy in clinical medical practice through the prism of the integrative biopsychosocionoethical model. Some of the more significant aspects of the application of a non-medical model of working with patients in a medical (hospital) environment are examined. Emphasis is placed on the psychology of the patient, illness, and the process of being ill, and their significance for the process of counseling and therapy. Particularly important for analysis are the functions, tasks, and goals of the psychologist and psychotherapist in hospital institutions. Last but not least, various techniques and problems of psychological counseling in a hospital environment are considered, as well as the applied aspects of medical psychotherapy.
GENEALOGY OF THE "PUBLIC GOOD" - PROBLEMS AND SHORTCOMINGS. Part 2
In the article attempts to fix the most basic problematic points arising from the shortcomings of the modern phrase "public good". The autor examines the reasons for the existing social phenomena gravitating around this phrase, whose presence should not satisfy the modern man, but motivate him to rethink his intellectual presence and, consequently, his attitude towards himself and his world.
Copyright (c) 2024 E-Journal VFU https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
GENEALOGY OF THE “PUBLIC GOOD” - LIBERALISM AND SOCIETY. Part 1
The already present and potential weaknesses of human society have been constantly in the sight of wisdom throughout the ages. The escalation of negative characteristics in the twenty-first century stands in stark contrast to the ideals of previous eras. The text attempts to analyze the causes of the negatives, as the ancient belief that the problem can only be solved if it is seen is valid today.
DEATH - THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONSOR UNANSWERED QUESTION
The only contemplation that can claim eternity, at least as long as the human species exists, is that of death and immortality, seen always in unity, as mutually determined. Moreover, such a unity necessarily foregrounds the sense of man's saying goodbye to his present, and of this act being his most enduring presence in existence - it is the misunderstanding of this potentiality that presupposes the triviality of all available suffering.
Escape from loneliness is like escape from freedom - sought after, desired, enslaving, yet accompanied by the expectation of salvation and happiness - accompanying illusory living. Man will always fear and obey conventional notions of the meaning of everything. His self-love will always prevent him from being alone with himself. Truth will always be accessible only in moments of solitude - when self-deception is not possible.
THE ROLE OF WORK IN PRISON AND ITS IMPACT ON THE REHABILITATION IN MODERN PENITENTIARY SYSTEMS
This article analyzes the role of prison work as a criminological mechanism in the rehabilitation of inmates and the reduction of recidivism in modern penitentiary sysems. Drawing on contemporary criminological literature and evidence-based models, the study examines the interaction between structured activities, psychological interventions, and institutional factors. Through a theoretical analysis and a case study at IEVP Peqin, as well as an empirical survey of 80 inmates, the paper highlights that the effectiveness of prison work depends on implementation, staff training, and the structure of rehabilitation programs.
THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF FAMILY VISITS ON PRISONERS
This article analyzes the importance of family contacts in maintaining emotional stability of prisoners, their impact on reducing recidivism, and their role in the process of resocialization. Through an analysis of the international and national legal framework, as well as the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, it is argued that family contacts represent not only a fundamental right but also an effective instrument for rehabilitation. The article also addresses contemporary developments, such as the use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting their impact on the penitentiary system.
THE INVISIBLE PSYCHOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE HOME: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND BOUNDARY SETTING AS DETERMINANTS OF MATERNAL RESILIENCE
Maternal resilience—the capacity of mothers to adapt to the emotional, social, and practical demands of parenting—has emerged as a central construct in contemporary positive psychology and family research. While the visible aspects of parenting often receive scholarly attention, the internal psychological resources that sustain maternal functioning remain less explored. This conceptual article proposes that emotional intelligence and boundary setting constitute an “invisible psychological infrastructure” within the home that supports maternal resilience and psychological well-being. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature from positive psychology, parenting research, emotional regulation theory, and family systems theory, the article synthesizes existing empirical findings and develops a conceptual framework that explains how emotional intelligence facilitates adaptive emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning, while boundary-setting protects psychological resources and prevents role overload. The interaction between these two constructs is proposed to strengthen maternal resilience by enabling mothers to balance caregiving responsibilities with personal well-being. The paper also discusses practical implications for parenting support programs, psychological interventions, and future research directions. Understanding these internal psychological mechanisms is essential for promoting maternal well-being and fostering healthy family environments. The article also introduces a conceptual model that illustrates the dynamic interaction among emotional intelligence, boundary setting, and maternal resilience.
THE SECRET TO EMOTIONAL FLOURISHING: THE DRIVE MODEL FOR SELF-LEADERSHIP AND WELL-BEING
The present paper proposes the DRIVE Model as a novel conceptual framework aimed at addressing a central limitation in the literature on well-being: the lack of an integrated, process-oriented explanation of how individuals actively cultivate and sustain emotional flourishing. While established models such as PERMA (Seligman, 2011) and Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) identify key components of well-being, they remain largely descriptive and do not sufficiently explain how individuals translate psychological resources into sustained outcomes. The DRIVE Model positions Emotional Intelligence (EI) as a foundational regulatory resource that enables individuals to transform internal motivations into adaptive functioning through five interrelated dimensions: Direction, Relationality, Inner Fulfilment, Vitality, and Engagement. The model is grounded in empirical and theoretical literature on emotional intelligence, organizational commitment, and well-being, and is further informed by findings from caregiving research that highlight the mediating role of organizational commitment in linking emotional competencies to quality-of-life outcomes. The model is presented as a conceptual framework requiring further empirical validation. Directions for future research and practical implications for emotionally demanding professions are discussed.
DEVELOPMENT OF DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS TO ENHANCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF KAZAKH UNIVERSITIES IN QS RANKINGS
The article is being considered peculiarities measuring the educational trajectories of applicants, their choice of field of study, and also actualizing the importance of monitoring incoming contingent students (on basis statistics and data surveys) For analysis of the competitiveness of the university, its economic stability. Motivation applicants upon admission, their academic achievements at school largely determine the directions of professional future and are differentiating features in the formation of certain educational trajectories at the university. The paper discusses the features of measuring the educational trajectories of applicants and their choice of educational programs. Moreover, it actualizes the importance of monitoring students' applications based on statistics and survey data to analyze the university competitiveness and its economic sustainability. The motivation of prospective students, their academic achievements in the school determinate the professional future direction and the formation of certain educational trajectories in the university. The systematic practices of analyzing the formation of prospective student's educational trajectories contribute to the early identification of admission heterogeneity and adjusting its quality, as a result, its help to evaluate the effectiveness of university development strategy and predict the amount of budget funding.
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF NICHE SUBJECTS TO ENHANCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF KAZAKHSTAN'S UNIVERSITIES IN QS SUBJECT RANKINGS
The integration of Kazakhstan’s higher education system into the global academic space requires a strategic re-evaluation of curriculum development and research prioritization. While general metrics of competitiveness have been analyzed in regional contexts, there is a lack of frameworks specifically designed to leverage Kazakhstan's unique cultural, linguistic, and industrial resources for International university rankings, such as QS. By synthesizing approaches from principal component analysis of competitiveness, educational informatization, and specific case studies in natural language processing and thermal physics, we outline a dual-track strategy for curriculum innovation. This approach aims to transform local challenges into global research opportunities, thereby improving the bibliometric and reputational indicators required for higher QS ranking positions.
COMMON-GOOD-ORIENTED CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR: LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
This paper develops a refined conceptual framework for common-good- oriented corporate governance in the real estate sector. Drawing on extensive scholarship on corporate governance, ESG approaches, the Economy for the Common Good, and urban governance, the study argues that prevailing models fail to capture the sector’s socio-spatial, ecological, and institutional externalities. The framework integrates five governance dimensions into an input-throughput-output model that links ownership and capital structures, governance processes, and societal outcomes. Ideal-typical configurations illustrate variation across profit-oriented corporations, municipal providers, cooperatives, and steward-ownership or purposedriven entities. A multidimensional indicator system is proposed to assess social, ecological, and governance performance. By synthesising insights from institutional economics, behavioural governance, multi-level governance, and comparative housing research, the framework provides a robust basis for embedding common-good objectives into strategic and operational decision-making.
Smart cities are examined in the article in their sense of flexible systems. The criteria for "intelligence", the role of ICT and connectivity for optimizing urban systems are analyzed. Special emphasis is placed on two points - sustainable development and social inclusion. A comparative characteristic of the applicable international indices is carried out.
COMPREHENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION PROPOSALS FOR THE URBAN PLANNING DEPARTMENT
This article presents a comprehensive framework for the modernization of the Urban Planning Department in Chania, focused on implementing "horizontal" reforms to enhance administrative capacity and institutional transparency. Central to this strategy is the transition toward a robust e-Government model and the integration of advanced information systems designed to replace obsolete bureaucratic workflows. The author identifies digitalization as a critical "arsenal" for optimizing the speed and reliability of public services, encompassing electronic application tracking, automated building permit management, and the digital archiving of urban planning data.
ARCHITECTURAL ASPECTS OF INTERIOR SYSTEMS IN ADAPTIVE INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS
This article examines the systemic aspects of interior finishing in industrial architecture as a primary factor for achieving spatial flexibility and operational sustainability. In the context of accelerated technological cycles, the study analyzes the synergy between the classical Bulgarian school of industrial interior design (Kostov, Pisarski) and modern European factory planning methodologies (Wiendahl, Pottgiesser, König, etc.). The architectural parameters of industrial floors as installation platforms, modular partition systems, and technical ceilings are examined in detail through the "building within a building" concept. Special attention is paid to the ergonomics of vertical communications and the humanization of the work environment through the integration of hybrid recreational spaces. Conclusions are drawn regarding the role of interior components as a tool for extending the life cycle of industrial facilities and enhancing their competitiveness.
STRUCTURAL MODEL FOR SPECIALIZED DETAILED DEVELOPMENT PLANS OF INDUSTRIAL PARKS IN BULGARIA
This article explores the necessity of defining a structural model for the specialized detailed development plans (DDP of IP) introduced by the Industrial Parks Act (IPA). An analysis of the state Register of Industrial Parks reveals a critical discrepancy between the law's innovative requirements and conservative urban planning practices. The authors propose a three-component model integrating a regulatory core, a general transport system plan, and a dynamic matrix of changeability potentials supported by modern technologies. Drawing an analogy with port master plans, the study argues for a two-stage legitimation process for the DDP of IP. The proposed model transforms the urban plan into an intelligent management system, ensuring "internal connectivity" and investment adaptability of the park within the context of Industry 4.0.
THE PRACTICE OF APPLYING THE PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE IN PRESIDENTIAL VETOES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
This article analyzes the decrees of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria by which the presidential veto is exercised, focusing on the invocation of principles and ideas of justice, as well as on the forms of justice identified in these decrees.
INTENTIONAL SOCIAL INFLUENCE IN UNORGANIZED SOCIAL COMMUNITIES: PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS AND AN EMPIRICAL STUDY
An empirical study on intentional influence in unorganized social communities was conducted, with a focus on the psychological mechanisms determining individuals’ susceptibility to influence. The main objective was to examine the relationships between personality characteristics, value orientations, and social desirability as factors associated with susceptibility to social influence in a digital environment. The study involved 137 respondents. Data were collected through three validated questionnaires and an author-developed survey. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The findings indicate the presence of statistically significant relationships between the examined psychological characteristics and the degree of susceptibility to social influence in online communication.
The following text aims to define the position of both, the subject and the social role, not only as “place of acting”, but as the place who is the source of the intention. Not only the subject in the psychoanalytical meaning, but for example, also as the “subject of the legislation”,” the subject of the contract”. In linguistic and grammatical meaning, also this is the place of he, who is speaking/acting. Furthermore, it is place which is in relationship with the identity. In particular the identity of the person, but as well as this of the social role structure. The social role is regarded in two aspects. In an individual perspective – this is the place in which the subject and his desire could be recognized. A place meant for the gaze of the Other. And in the social perspective, as a place which is already established like a concrete pattern of relatively stable characteristics. As far as this concept of the interaction of the subject and its social role can be related to the “self-image”, and suggest to some structural connotations, this paper follows the Lacanian analytical discourse.
PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON PARTICIPANTS IN YOUTH MOVEMENTS
The concept of youth exists all over the world, and is a fairly new concept that appeared in the history of mankind. Every society and country deals with these ages, which range from 12 to 18. We will examine how people of this age were called in the different kingdoms and at different times. The boys at these ages are influenced educationally from several places: from home, from the educational institution and from informal education. In several countries in the world there is an informal framework and it is a youth movement. We will examine whether and how a youth movement affects the boy's future. We will examine the effect that society has on the boy. and the effect that the youth movement has on the boy. Let's see what caused the status of the youth to flourish in the last one hundred and fifty years.
THEORY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENCE
The phrase "adolescence" is very common in the world. In every family with children, there comes a time when the children reach this age. A very challenging age for children and parents. There are children who go through this period in a relaxed way and some go through it in the form of a pursuit of breaking away from rules, educational frameworks and more. We will try to see in this article, the historical progression for this period in life. We note that the definition of this age was made at a very late period. We will see different approaches of psychologists to interpret behavior in a period of time of this age.
EVOLUTION AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES IN DATA STORAGE
This text analyzes the historical evolution and contemporary challenges in data storage and management, tracing the development from early material forms of record-keeping to the complex digital ecosystems of the 21st century. Emphasis is placed on the exponential growth of digital information in the context of global digitalization. Modern practices for data backup and recovery are examined as key mechanisms for ensuring information security and operational resilience. Additionally, strategies for long-term data preservation are explored, including cloud solutions, physical archival media, and innovative technologies such as durable optical media.
FROM NORMATIVE RIGIDITY TO FLEXIBLE GOVERNANCE –MODELS FOR HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION IN SOFIA
This article examines the deficiencies in the regulatory framework for high-rise construction in Sofia. The analysis reveals the existence of a paradox between the excessive normative rigidity and the normative automatism embedded in the Sofia Development and Construction Act (SDCA) and the General Development Plan (GDP). These factors hinder architectural quality and lead to suboptimal urban planning results. The author argues for a transition towards a flexible regulatory model based on the "Principle of Differentiated Intensity." A mechanism is proposed based on objective cumulative criteria (location, scale, complexity) and a "Comparative Urban Planning Analysis" procedure. The model aims to achieve a balance between investment initiative and proven "contributions to the urban environment," offering a sustainable basis for future legislative reform that would transform the administration from a registrar into an active regulator of urban quality.