Tiltai

The multitude and complexity of factors determining career decisions result in the complexity of career decision process and the dynamics of inherent characteristics with reference to both individuals and social groups, for instance, generations. During the recent decade the representatives of Generation Y have entered the labour market; their values and behaviour differ from those characteristic of the representatives of Generation X who still prevail in the labour market. The emerging intergenerational conflict complicates the labour relations. Therefore, it is important to understand the reasons behind the career choice made by representatives of different generations. What has determined their career choice? How the dynamics of factors determining career decisions is related to the characteristics of different generations highlighted in the generational theory and the relevant historical and cultural context? The aim of the article is to reveal the Dynamics of factors that have determined the career decisions of Generations X and Y and to reveal similarities and differences.

The article highlights the education community, drawing the community as a strengthening of local government units; debate on the participation of community members in self-governance process. The article discusses the case study; exposing the local community (Kupiškis district) participation in political and cultural life of the community, directly to the (self) pulling into municipal development processes and public civil debate edge business development actualities positioning. Concerned members of the community competencies, activities and feel, the presentation of their region as a smart social space of the region, in support of a competitive advantage in the global market – i.e. community participation, the promotion of entrepreneurship in the region; the development of tourism, the use of existing natural, cultural and other resources.

The article is devoted to the study of socio-cultural environment of the student youth as a reference group of professional socialization. According to the collected theoretical and practical material, the development components, trends and standards are reviewed. The research results show that the process of unsuccessful professional socialization and adaptation, which may result in a process of social exclusion, also deserves careful research attention. The obstacles of successful professional socialization are mentioned, such as a sharp increase in social differentiation and changes in the structure of public relations, which act as factors – demotivators of the process of professional socialization. It is emphasized that the main determinant of stabilization should act as handling social conflicts (misunderstandings), which is inevitable. It is noted that the initial professional socialization within the university as a social institution can be seen as a means of reducing social conflicts, because in the professional socialization and proper labor standards and values, the greatest achievement of combining norms and values is held.

The article reveals demographic and social characteristics of socially responsible consumers and the attributes that have the most impact on the intention to purchase the item from socially responsible companies. Empirical study revealed that socially responsible consumer behaviour is shaped and decision-making is influenced by gender, income adequacy and education. Based on investigation results, client profile of socially responsible companies is identified – it’s all ages (probably older than 25 years), higher-income, educated women.

This article discusses non-salaried work in the household. The definition of non-salaried work in the household is formulated by the author, changes in the household are analyzed along with the structure and diversification of the varieties of household work. In research the family is interpreted as a household. It is proposed to evaluate work in the household as a section encompassed by social work in the manner that a composite product or an encompassed part of a social product is evaluated, and therefore up to the present time the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for a single inhabitant without the income of a household, as a universal indicator, is unable in itself to show the level of people’s welfare. Work, carried out in the household and performed as non-salaried, household labor, would be included, though not insured, as the calculated length of service of the working activity of the person. In evaluating the features of the welfare of inhabitants, it would be more accurate to analyze non-salaried household work carried out in the household along with the characteristics and the structure of consumer requirements and their level of satisfaction and opportunities. This analysis will appraise the extent of the well being of society and its changing trends.

In most cases the internet has a positive effect on its users – it offers unrestrained communication, expression of opinions and sense of openness. On the other hand, excessive usage leads to internet addiction. The most important features of the internet include rapid spread of information and news, access to tremendous amount of information, personalization and anonymity. After the literature review of theoretical research of authors from Lithuania and abroad, and application of theoretical analytical, resumptive, analogical, deductive and comparative methods, the features of XXI century media literacy were identified. A questionnaire allowed to examine the internet’s specifics and nature of users’ media literacy online. Empirical research was conducted to analyse the internet users’ behavior based on age groups as well as to identify their level of literacy. A big part of today’s daily activity and free time is related to usage of the internet media. Many services take an online form. Therefore, the issue of Lithuanian users’ online behavior becomes a concurrent to the development of welfare society, and media literacy gets to be one of the necessities for future skills. Instead of searching for and passively using the given information, internet users start to make their own, evaluate it and spread further. The users are enabled to fashion their private social networks, they become responsible for organization of the whole personal communication infrastructure. This research points out the main reasons of Lithuanian internet users not using e-services: the lack of media literacy and insufficient spread of the service-related information. The biggest difference in literacy among age groups was noticed while evaluating personal predisposition to internet addiction. Levels of literacy based on age groups were significantly different in terms of ability to critically evaluate online information.

Motivation has long been identified as one of the main factors affecting the English language learning. The study examines the type and level of ESP learning motivation (extrinsic and intrinsic) of 148 first-year undergraduate students of Klaipeda University as well as their attitudes towards learning the English language. Identification of the kind of students’ motivation and their attitudes to learning will help to formulate measures for the improvement of students’ learning motivation and the subject learning quality.

Learning / teaching languages is vital in higher education. There are two main approaches to language teaching, the monolingual and the bilingual. This article aims at examining students’ attitudes to using the mother tongue in learning English for Specific Purposes and analyzing their self-assessments of translating from native language (L1) into English (L2) and vice versa. The respondents in this study are the 1st and 2nd year students of two specializations, Healthcare and Philology at Klaipėda University, and they will need English for their future profession. The analysis of their responses has revealed that all learners need a support of their mother tongue in English classes. The reliability and validity of the findings were checked by applying the SPSS software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and the obtained statistical data imply that conclusions can be extended beyond the relatively small amounts of the respondents’ samples of the current research.

In this article, I speak of the importance of the symbol of Mary (the Virgin Mary), in particular – of the importance of locating and validating the Shadow of Mary and the instinctual side of Mary. For that purpose, I engage with the ideas of the Jungian authors Marie-Louise von Franz and Clarissa Pinkola Estés. I offer an interpretation of the Lithuanian fairy tale “Agnieškėlė” to show an example of the Shadow of Mary. The main aspect of my article is that I speak of the Virgin Mary in non-Christian terms as of the sovereign female divine who can be the source of the divine power and strength.

This article presents the aspect of the social work professionalization which responds to the new challenges of a global society that is the refugee migration. The refugee problem in the European Union has recently become one of the important social problems. Due to the political situation in Africa South European countries are already unable to manage the daily flow of refugees. EU Parliament is trying to solve this problem. Lithuania has to be ready to solve this problem as well. The country which receives refugees not only has to have the legal regulation of this process, but also the professionals who could ensure the success of their adaptation. The authors, using different empirical research materials which were conducted in Lithuania in the years 2011–2014, reveal the depth of the needs and the possibilities of the social work services while implementing these needs in the context of social services in Lithuania. This is the presentation of the experience available. This article can help you to assess the situation and the opportunities that are ahead for the Lithuanian society when helping to solve the problem of today’s refugees in the European Union. At the same time this article reveals one more aspect of the identity in the social work profession, revealing the depth of the social worker’s competencies in a changing society and his ability to operate in unspecified situations.