Sotirios Bersimis

Investigating the factors affecting companies' attitudes towards CSR and CER during the fiscal crisis in Greece

This paper explores, through a relevant survey, the factors affecting companies’ behaviour towards Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSR and CER) and how the fiscal crisis in Greece may change companies’ perceptions towards them. All responses were appropriately analysed using multivariate statistical techniques, and showed that companies’ attitude towards CSR/CER is mainly associated with the management systems applied. In addition, it is strongly related to financial results, which are influenced by the recession and the bank credit accessibility problems. Moreover, companies believe that issues such as a companys financial results, reputation/image, market-share/sales etc. are considered as significant incentives to implement CSR/CER actions.

An integrated self-evaluated framework for embedding Web 2.0 technologies in the educational process

In this paper, an integrated framework is proposed which covers synchronous and asynchronous education using several Web 2.0 tools and which takes into account several existing principles, views and strategies. Furthermore, this framework embeds self-evaluation mechanisms that are based on the performance of students, on answers to appropriately structured questionnaires and on the on-line monitoring of the supporting platforms parameters.

Factors, issues and interdependencies in the incorporation of a Web 2.0 based learning environment in higher education

This work investigates the effect a Web 2.0 learning environment may have in higher education in adding value to the students’ existing competencies. The major issues that this work examines are whether the incorporation of a Web 2.0 environment in higher education has an effect on the students’ performance and what are the significant factors that should be taken into account in the deployment of these technologies to achieve the maximum possible benefits and whether and how they correlate to each other. These factors are derived from the students’ views on the use of technology in a university course deployment and from the students’ personal opinions about a pilot course in a Web 2.0 learning environment. Although the results indicate no direct effect on the students’ performance, significant factors have been revealed via a thorough assessment, which has been performed in the context of a semester–long course, utilizing statistical process control techniques. The derived factors are namely: “Technology as an educational reinforcement”, “Technology as a tool to enhance comprehension” and “Enhancement of student interest and experience”, while in the second one “Completeness of the educational approach”, “Satisfaction from the educational approach” and “Course demands”. These factors can then form the basis for a feedback processes and a monitoring mechanism for a continuously updated educational process.