Abstract This study examines the integration of Anglicisms into Kosovar media, focusing on how English loanwords influence cross-cultural communication within Albanian-language news outlets. Through a qualitative content analysis of four major media sources – T7, Klan Kosova, RTK, and RTV21 conducted from March 26 to April 4, 2025, the research identifies the prevalence of English borrowings such as internet, lider, and event across television broadcasts and online articles. Drawing on Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions and Hall’s High and Low Context Cultures, the findings reveal a tension between Kosovo’s high-context communication style and the low-context nature of English terms, which often disrupts accessibility for audiences unfamiliar with English. The study highlights the dual role of Anglicisms: enriching the Albanian lexicon by filling lexical gaps while posing risks to cultural identity and inclusivity due to their rigid use and the lack of native equivalents. Social motivations, such as signaling modernity or expertise, further drive this linguistic shift, though resistance persists among those valuing linguistic stability. The paper advocates for a balanced approach, urging media professionals to enhance accessibility through accurate translations and culturally sensitive adaptations, while calling for robust linguistic initiatives to develop authentic Albanian alternatives, ensuring the language evolves sustainably and preserves its unique identity amidst globalization’s pervasive influence.

Abstract As a result of the shortcomings that accompany the enforcement of institutional measures and sanctions on perpetrators of criminal offences, a system of community-based sanctions and measures has emerged. These are intended to relieve the criminal and penal system, maximize the principle of individualization, improve the reintegration of offenders into society, reduce recidivism, and protect society. The organizational units that implement such measures and sanctions are known as probation services. This paper analyses international standards, the emergence and development of probation, a comparative analysis, and the establishment of probation under the Law on Probation in the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as perspectives for the full and effective functioning of the probation service. The probation service is a special organizational unit formed within the Administration for the Execution of Sanctions under the Ministry of Justice. The probation service is tasked with implementing community-based penalties, including measures such as suspended sentences under supervision, community work, and home confinement. It also follows the enforcement of conditional release decisions issued by the courts. Through its activities, the service assists offenders in their social reintegration and rehabilitation, contributing to public safety and the reduction of the prison population. In addition, the service prepares assessments of the risk level of defendants during ongoing criminal cases and provides the court with recommendations regarding the appropriate form of sanction.

Abstract The right to know one’s genetic origins is a fundamental aspect of personal identity, and as such, it should be upheld as an inviolable right. This right is generally undisputed when a child is born to married parents, as both the mother and father are presumed to be known from birth. However, exceptions arise when biological and legal parenthood do not align, leading to situations where legal processes may be initiated to establish or challenge maternity and paternity. In the Republic of Albania, this concept has recently gained legal and scholarly attention, particularly in discussions surrounding the protection of the rights of children and adopted individuals. Albanian legislation, drawing from international human rights conventions, has recognized the right to know one’s biological origins as a vital element in preserving the emotional and biological bond between parents and children in cases of adoption, but not for children born through methods of assisted reproduction. This right, however, is not regulated in the same form within the legal framework of the Republic of North Macedonia. This paper aims to provide a comparative legal analysis of the right to know one’s genetic origin in both countries, as well as to examine the solutions offered by other states and the European Court of Human Rights through its jurisprudence, focusing on the legal barriers that hinder the realization of this right. Special attention is given to issues related to genetic identity, adoption, and medically assisted reproduction, examining how inconsistencies in legislation impact the recognition of this right. The study offers a clearer overview of the existing legal frameworks in Republic of North Macedonia and Albania, the practical and ethical challenges arising from the lack of regulation, and presents concrete recommendations aimed at ensuring greater alignment with the best interests of the child and international human rights standards.

Abstract This paper examines public sentiment about Agile methodologies and Digital Transformation through high-end Twitter sentiment analysis techniques. Agile, initially developed for software development, is nowadays one of the most important drivers of innovation and adaptability in many sectors, whereas Digital Transformation reshapes the operations of organizations through the use of digital technologies. Understanding public sentiment toward these concepts is crucial for organizations that want to align their strategy with new trends and adapt to an increasingly digital world. This approach is further fine-tuned in this research through the incorporation of advanced data preprocessing techniques and the application of more sophisticated analytical tools. VADER sentiment analysis is used to catch the polarity of sentiments expressed on social media. It also includes the adoption of Latent Dirichlet Allocation, or LDA, topic modeling in order to mine further into the conversations on Agile and Digital Transformation. This constituted some methodological improvements in this study that can allow nuanced understanding of emotions, opinions, and ideas that dominate public discourse on these transformative methodologies. This research performs an in-depth examination of the patterns of sentiment expressed through Twitter, termed a real-time barometer of public opinion, by analyzing a dataset of 1,014 tweets using the hashtags Agile and Digital Transformation tweets collected during the period from January 31, 2023, to August 18, 2023. On the other hand, integrating topic modeling will enable the identification of key areas of interest in public discussions: the role of AI and automation, organizational challenges, and finally best practices regarding the implementation of Agile. This paper gives a wider outlook on Agile and Digital Transformation from the perspective of public engagement and provides useful insights into their practice, research, and policy implications. The findings will be useful for organizational decisions, communications, and the development of better strategies in response to perceived public views and trends that arise with digital innovations.

Abstract There is currently a global debate about the so-called media transformation, or metamorphosis, which is mainly concerned with technological benefits in the realm of information. This argument focuses on the relationship between "social media" and new media realities, specifically the impact that these platforms have on the development of political leadership in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans in general. This paper examines the differences between social media and traditional media, exploring their respective roles in shaping the public sphere and political leadership dynamics in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans. Information as a media product, produced with new technology, has caused a massive explosion in the 'membranes' of public interest and this has also diverted attention to a wider plan, where the diagram of reliability does not always match with that of reporting, due to the tendency for the media product to be seen more as a consumer good and less as a communication value. The study is based on comprehensive research, thorough analysis, and synthesis of data published in books and scientific articles on the Internet, with a critical analysis of the current situation. Furthermore, this scientific research procedure involves breaking down complex concepts, judgments, and conclusions into simpler components and elements. In the end, the study highlights that the professional challenges in conquering the media market remain constant, while the audience is the one who selects the offers that are closer to their social, political, and aesthetic tastes and affinities.

Abstract In the banking industry, data accuracy and integrity are paramount for ensuring regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and risk management. However, manual data validation processes often lead to delays, errors, and inefficiencies, posing challenges for financial institutions. To address these issues, many banks are turning to automation to streamline data validation processes and improve accuracy. Using data automation, banks optimize time-consuming manual tasks such as data entry, validation, and retrieval by creating automated software processes that execute these tasks quickly and accurately. This case study examines how a hypothetical bank uses automation to improve data validation processes, focusing on Albanian Identity Numbers (AINs). By automating validation tasks, the bank enhances accuracy, compliance, and efficiency, mitigating the limitations of manual processes. The study outlines the implementation steps, discusses results, and highlights the importance of automating data validation in the banking sector.

Abstract There are multiple positive effects of internationalization of Higher Education (HE) on enriching students’ experiences in general and providing opportunities for exchange and development of all segments of university functioning. This paper aims to contribute to determining the role of institutional QA in promotion of the international cooperation in HE by analysing undergraduate students’ perceptions on their international experience and comparing them to their home University. Individual experiences of students from the Southeast European University (SEEU) in North Macedonia, who participated in Erasmus exchange program in the last two academic years (2021/22 and 2022/23), with regard to the main quality assurance (QA) principles and measurements applied at their home University, are being considered. Their academic progress at the international universities is also taken into consideration. The aim is to collect firsthand information from the main stakeholders in the QA process about areas that can be further developed, as well as to position SEEU and self-check where it stands comparing and benchmarking it with some reputable European universities in order to better prepare its students for the international job market. SEEU has one of the most developed QA systems in the wider region, created and constantly being developed based on the international standards and guidelines and the long institutional experience. Thus, the paper also aims to contribute to defining some basic standards of internationalization of QA which would be recommended to the institutions from less developed, ITC (inclusiveness target countries) in order to assist them to place and welcome international students more successfully.

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Abstract The research paper elaborates on the main concepts and terminology of strategic planning in education, including all the steps of building a strategic plan with mission and vision statements. Furthermore, it analyses and compares some successful strategic planning case studies in education by identifying the strengths and some weaknesses. The final results of this inquiry serve as recommendations for positive changes and reforms in North Macedonian education. Furthermore, this research paper emphasizes the importance of the SMART strategic goals for improving education, articulated via the mission and vision statements. It is quite interesting that internationally accredited educational organizations like NOVA IS of Skopje have more successful improvement plans based on shared values and goals via their mission and vision. The implementation of their strategic plans is closely monitored and evaluated. Moreover, some successful educational reforms happened in Finland, Singapore, and Victoria, Australia, and their ministries of education are dedicated and accountable to aligning their mission and vision with all public schools in these countries. On the contrary, although the Ministry of Education of North Macedonia has clearly published the mission and vision statements, there is still a huge gap in the reality of implementation of those in all public schools, and rarely any school has a shared mission and vision on their web page. Browsing around, one primary school in North Macedonia, “Jan Amos Komenski” has recently started sharing their school’s mission and vision, values, and goals with the community which is a positive change toward SMART reforms. Strategic planning affects the improvement of learning and teaching; therefore it needs to be built inclusively and wisely.

Sciendo provides publishing services and solutions to academic and professional organizations and individual authors. We publish journals, books, conference proceedings and a variety of other publications.