Vida Triste y Buen Vivir según personas adultas mayores en Otavalo, Ecuador

El presente trabajo se basa en el diagnóstico inicial previo de un proyecto de cooperación con una entidad social del Cantón de Otavalo (Ecuador), para incluir la actividad física y el juego en su programa de atención integral de Personas Adultas Mayores (PAM) en situación de indigencia. Para conocer el contexto de la población del servicio, sus experiencias previas y sus expectativas, se realizó una investigación basada en sus historias de vida. A su vez, se analizaron las políticas públicas del Buen Vivir y las políticas específicas para personas adultas mayores, analizando la legislación vigente y efectuando entrevistas en profundidad a informantes clave. Con enfoque interdisciplinar, se exponen reflexiones sobre elementos constitutivos de la Vida Triste y Buen Vivir, se destaca la importancia de la intervención integral en la promoción del Buen Vivir de PAM a partir de su pasado, sus puntos de vista y recursos de apoyo del territorio.

A quantitative assessment of students’ experiences of studying music: a Spanish perspective on the European credit transfer system (ECTS)

The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate whether or not the allocation of time proposed in the Music Study Guide, adapted from the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) guidelines, is consistent and adequate for students with minimal musical knowledge. The report takes into account the importance of students’ previous knowledge and the relation this has to the time and effort expended by students in acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills. This is related also to the adequacy of the course specification to meet the demands of university study and the labour market. Results show that those students who enrolled at university without any previous musical knowledge are likely to experience significant difficulty in the acquisition of certain musical and professional competences. This highlights a need to reinforce the music curriculum, or establish zero-level courses, in order to enable such students to succeed in the subject.

A qualitative exploration of the impact of the economic recession in Spain on working, living and health conditions: reflections based on immigrant workers' experiences

Background: This study aimed to analyse how immigrant workers in Spain experienced changes in their working and employment conditions brought about Spain's economic recession and the impact of these changes on their living conditions and health status. Method: We conducted a grounded theory study. Data were obtained through six focus group discussions with immigrant workers (n = 44) from Colombia, Ecuador and Morocco, and two individual interviews with key informants from Romania living in Spain, selected by theoretical sample. Results: Three categories related to the crisis emerged – previous labour experiences, employment consequences and individual consequences – that show how immigrant workers in Spain (i) understand the change in employment and working conditions conditioned by their experiences in the period prior to the crisis, and (ii) experienced the deterioration in their quality of life and health as consequences of the worsening of employment and working conditions during times of economic recession. Conclusion: The negative impact of the financial crisis on immigrant workers may increase their social vulnerability, potentially leading to the failure of their migratory project and a return to their home countries. Policy makers should take measures to minimize the negative impact of economic crisis on the occupational health of migrant workers in order to strengthen social protection and promote health and well-being.