The University: An Agent of Social Change?

Can universities be agents of progressive social change? How would we know if a university was acting as an agent of social change? Drawing on four case studies, I raise a number of questions to problematize our understanding of the university as an agent of social change. I outline a number of contributing factors that appear to explain successful cases. I conclude by arguing the relevancy of these cases for larger, and more traditional, sociological projects.     

Challenges to Connecting Sociology and Service Learning

Service-learning programs are not free from challenges brought about by lack of financial support, lack of widespread commitment from professors, community agencies, and recipients of service, and lack of knowledge and insight in students directly involved in such programs. While service-learning initiatives and programs serve positive functions for organizations and individuals, rhetorical accolades for service learning can distort or omit the realities of program implementation and sustained delivery. This paper specifically explores the following challenges connected to service-learning programs: (1) pedagogical difficulties; (2) student limitations; (3) time constraints; and (4) community cooperation.     

A NOTE ON EVANESCENT PROCESSES

This note examines the connection between μ-invariant measures for the transition function of a continuous-time Markov chain and those of its q-matrix, Q. The major result establishes a necessary and aufficient condition for a convergent μ-invariant measure for Q to be μ-inhant for the minimal transition function, P, under the assumption that P is honest. This corrects Theorem 6 of Vere-Jones (1969) and the first part of Corollary 1 of Pollett (1986), both of which assert that the above conclusion holds in the absence of this condition. The error was pointed out by E.A. van Doom (1991) and the counterexample which be presented provides the basis for the present arguments. In determining where the error occurred in the original proof, we are able to identify a simple sufficient condition for μ-invariance.     

对车险改革后保险营销的浅析

在车辆保险条款费率改革之后的车险市场上,现实状况却与预计效果相差甚远。其主要原因是,对保险营销战略的忽视,没有以相应的保险营销战略为指导,使得营销战术在操作过程中显得盲目而跟从。针对以上问题,我们首先要做的是树立正确的保险营销观念,即重新审视营销战略在车辆保险中的作用,并在此基础上建立广义的产品观念;同时注重服务在车险营销中的作用;有效地进行市场细分和市场选择;最后对车险营销战略的具体实施即营销战术提出建议。     

商业银行个人金融服务的国际比较

目前,我国商业银行以代发工资、代收费等业务为突破口,已开发了近40个品种的个人金融服务业务。谁能提供更快捷、方便的金融服务,谁就会拥有更多的客户。进一步的对外开放,个人金融服务的巨大市场是中外银行竞争的焦点。个人金融服务市场从以往简单地通过银行储蓄存款获得利息并保障安全,已跳跃到支付结算、外汇买卖、临时透支、贷款融资、经营投资和综合理财等全方位、多层次的服务。这些对国内各家商业银行拓展个人金融服务提出了巨大的机遇和挑战。     

对市场经济条件下教育产业的审视

由于对教育产业的内涵与外延缺乏清晰的界定,使得我们在市场经济条件下对其产生了诸多认识上的误区和适用上的混乱。教育产业的规定性是由其产品——教育服务的性质和生产过程的特征决定的,市场经济只不过是教育产业由幼稚走向成熟和强盛的一种有效的经济运行方式,二者之间是过程和手段、内容和形式的关系。     

经济全球化与湖南服务产业的发展

经济全球化大背景下服务业大发展是一个历史趋势 ,入世后加快我国服务业的发展具有特殊、重要的意义。湖南省服务业发展存在一定优势 ,发展湖南服务业要有正确的总体思路 ,并注重优化调整湖南服务产业结构。     

与时俱进 应势而变——浅议入世后我国高等职业教育发展的趋势

入世以后,必将对我国高等职业教育提出新的要求。高等职业教育必须顺应时代发展的趋势,与时俱进、应势而变,才能与时代同步。本文遵循以下思路展开:入世以后,对我国高等职业教育的发展趋势作一些前瞻性的探讨,在此基础上提出应对的措施。有利于我国高等职业教育主动地适应新形势发展的要求。     

江苏高校科技服务的嬗变与反思

本文通过梳理江苏高校以科技服务社会的历史发展轨迹 ,总结了江苏高校科技服务社会四个发展特点与趋势 ,在此基础上 ,进一步思考如何提升江苏高校科技服务的质量 ,为江苏高校拓展科技服务的深度和广度提供有益的借鉴 ,推动江苏经济与社会的进步     

实施网络外语教学应注重的问题

实施网络外语教学应注重的几个问题 ,一是要认真考虑使用网络的教学目的 ,二是网络交流应该结合课程目的而展开 ,三是不能低估网络使用中存在的困难 ,四是在进行网络外语教学时教师必须提供必要的帮助 ,五是要让学生参与确定网络课堂教学的计划和内容