Human engagement: The English language learning process of Korean university students in Canada.

This investigation of the process of English as an additional language (EAL) development of a group of 16 Korean university students spans their experiences in Korea and Canada. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews, written questionnaires and a final focus group interview. Systematic grounded theory informed data gathering and analysis, resulting in a diagrammatic representation and narrative description of the process. Target participants who had been in Canada an average of 4 years, 5 months reported speaking more Korean (55%) than English (44%) during the week and on the weekends (62% Korean, 37% English). The most salient moderators of English language engagement were instrumental motivation, absence of choice and age at leaving Korea. Interview data indicated that, through repeated, shared experiences in context, participants shifted from language knowledge gained predominantly through English grammar study and reading in the Korean setting to language use in the Canadian context. Acquisition was discussed as an experience-based, personally meaningful and lasting type of language learning. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2006 .W56. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: A, page: 2436. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2006

Social Effectiveness of Tertiary Education for Adults in Mid-life

No abstract available

WASH in Schools Empowers Girls' Education: Proceedings of the Menstrual Hygiene Management in Schools Virtual Conference 2013

This publication brings together the key elements of the 16 presentations made at the Second Annual Virtual MHM in WinS Conference at UNICEF Headquarters in New York City on 21 November 2013. Building on recommendations from the MHM 2012 virtual conference, the 2013 conference focused on the research tools and instruments being used to explore MHM barriers and practices and to evaluate the interventions being trialed or implemented in various contexts

Crossing borders from Hungary to Ireland: the cross-cultural adaptation of Hungarian refugees from the 1940s and their compatriots from the 1956 Hungarian Revolution

Hungary was compelled to release great emigration waves several times during the course of its history. In 1956, shortly after the Post-War polarisation and the Hungarian uprising, the Irish government granted asylum to 541 Hungarian refugees. The arrival of the Hungarians marked Ireland’s first participation in the UN refugee program and consequently had a series of outcomes which were unplanned as the Irish government struggled to find a long-term solution to the situation in the Knocknalisheen refugee camp where the Hungarians were first housed. This study gives voice to the experiences of these twenty former Hungarian refugees who came to Ireland over 50 years ago and remained in Ireland when the majority eventually relocated to Canada once they experienced the reality of economic conditions in Ireland. Set in a qualitative framework, this research explores the cross-cultural adaptation of members of the Hungarian community in Ireland: what it meant fifty years ago to adapt to a new culture, and to preserve national identity in a political situation, when there was no way back home. Data was collected through twenty interviews, archive documents and newspapers and a Grounded Theory approach was applied for the interviews and content analysis for the documents. This study contributes to existing research in the field of cross-cultural adaptation, by making visible the experiences of a group of Hungarian refugees, and extending our understanding of the challenges they faced at that time. It provides insights into the socio-political consequences of the arrival of the Hungarian refugees in 1956 into an impoverished and deeply conservative Ireland from both host society and newcomer perspectives. These had implications for employment prospects for the refugees and also raised gender issues for the refugees in their new society. Finally, this study also provides insights on identity change in the cross-cultural adaptation process, as well as identifying strategies for preservation of one’s original culture while adapting to a new cultural environment and the loss of the heritage language from first to second generation

Network governance and climate change adaptation: collaborative responses to the Queensland floods

Abstract This research examines ways to build adaptive capacity to climate change, through a case study of organisations that participated in the response to Queensland’s major flood disaster in Queensland in 2010/11. The research applied a network governance approach, including social network analysis and qualitative investigations, to the communities of Rockhampton, Emerald and Brisbane. The study was designed to compare social networks across a range of different geographical; functional; and institutional and regulatory contexts.Primary data were obtained from organisations involved in disaster management and water management, through a telephone survey conducted March – September 2012. The network analyses examined collaboration and communication patterns; changes in the network structure from routine management to flood operations; similarities and differences between the geographic regions, and whether collaboration was correlated with trust. A cultural values analysis was then performed to identify the key values of the network actors in each region. Two workshops were conducted in Rockhampton and Brisbane to disseminate the findings to stakeholders, as well as to obtain feedback through group activities.A total of 63 organisations participated in the study. As the network analyses and visualisations indicated that the Rockhampton and Emerald networks were tightly interconnected, a single ‘Central Queensland’ (CQ) network was used for all subsequent analyses. In both Brisbane and CQ, slightly higher levels of collaboration amongst organisations were recorded during flood periods compared with routine operations; and organisations tended to provide, as well as receive, information and/or resources from their collaborators. Overall, both networks appeared to feature high trust, with only a low level of difficult ties (problematic relationships) being reported.The cultural analyses identified patterns of common values amongst participating organisations. In Brisbane, respondents placed a high value on shared information systems and resources; shared communication and language; as well as on collaboration and flexibility. In the CQ network, there was a greater emphasis on local solutions, community wellbeing and longitudinal issues (such as post-disaster supply chains for recovery). The workshop activities suggested that the current structure of Local Disaster Management Groups was heavily influential on broader network participation; and that defining an ‘effective’ disaster response was a complex issue.This study has demonstrated that a network governance approach can provide new ways of understanding the core elements of adaptive capacity, in areas such as enablers and barriers to adaptation, and translating capacity into adaptation. The key implications for policy and practice include the need for stakeholders to drive adaptation to climate change through collaboration and communication; the need for stakeholders to share a common goal and language; the need for better engagement with community, diversity and Indigenous organisations; the need to establish collaboration outside of disaster events; and the need for network governance systems to play an important role in helping to facilitate climate change adaptation. The areas identified for future research included further methodological development and longitudinal studies of social networks, understanding effective modes of communication, and the influence of the changing nature of regional Australian communities on climate change adaptation.Please cite this report as:Kinnear, S, Patison, K, Mann, J, Malone, E, Ross, V 2013, Network governance and climate change adaptation: collaborative responses to the Queensland floods, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 113.This research examines ways to build adaptive capacity to climate change, through a case study of organisations that participated in the response to Queensland’s major flood disaster in Queensland in 2010/11. The research applied a network governance approach, including social network analysis and qualitative investigations, to the communities of Rockhampton, Emerald and Brisbane. The study was designed to compare social networks across a range of different geographical; functional; and institutional and regulatory contexts.Primary data were obtained from organisations involved in disaster management and water management, through a telephone survey conducted March – September 2012. The network analyses examined collaboration and communication patterns; changes in the network structure from routine management to flood operations; similarities and differences between the geographic regions, and whether collaboration was correlated with trust. A cultural values analysis was then performed to identify the key values of the network actors in each region. Two workshops were conducted in Rockhampton and Brisbane to disseminate the findings to stakeholders, as well as to obtain feedback through group activities.A total of 63 organisations participated in the study. As the network analyses and visualisations indicated that the Rockhampton and Emerald networks were tightly interconnected, a single ‘Central Queensland’ (CQ) network was used for all subsequent analyses. In both Brisbane and CQ, slightly higher levels of collaboration amongst organisations were recorded during flood periods compared with routine operations; and organisations tended to provide, as well as receive, information and/or resources from their collaborators. Overall, both networks appeared to feature high trust, with only a low level of difficult ties (problematic relationships) being reported.The cultural analyses identified patterns of common values amongst participating organisations. In Brisbane, respondents placed a high value on shared information systems and resources; shared communication and language; as well as on collaboration and flexibility. In the CQ network, there was a greater emphasis on local solutions, community wellbeing and longitudinal issues (such as post-disaster supply chains for recovery). The workshop activities suggested that the current structure of Local Disaster Management Groups was heavily influential on broader network participation; and that defining an ‘effective’ disaster response was a complex issue.This study has demonstrated that a network governance approach can provide new ways of understanding the core elements of adaptive capacity, in areas such as enablers and barriers to adaptation, and translating capacity into adaptation. The key implications for policy and practice include the need for stakeholders to drive adaptation to climate change through collaboration and communication; the need for stakeholders to share a common goal and language; the need for better engagement with community, diversity and Indigenous organisations; the need to establish collaboration outside of disaster events; and the need for network governance systems to play an important role in helping to facilitate climate change adaptation. The areas identified for future research included further methodological development and longitudinal studies of social networks, understanding effective modes of communication, and the influence of the changing nature of regional Australian communities on climate change adaptation

Chinese Visiting Scholars’ Academic Adjustment at a Canadian University

In recent years, an increasing number of visiting scholars from China come to Canada and international academic adjustment is considered an important component in their professional development. However, a review of relevant literature indicates that there is a lack of research on Chinese visiting scholars regarding their academic adjustment experience at their host institution. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews with nine Chinese visiting scholar participants, three host professor participants, and three graduate student participants, this research aims to examine Chinese visiting scholars’ academic adjustment experiences at a middle-sized Canadian university in Ontario, and to understand how they perceive their international experiences in connection with their professional development. Based on participants’ reports of their motivations, expectations, challenges and strategies during their visits, this research attempts to understand Chinese visiting scholars’ international academic experience. This research also offers some suggestions to future international visiting scholars on how to engage in a new academic community, and to members of host institutions—including faculty members and graduate students—on how to benefit from the diverse expertise of international visiting scholars

Chinese Postgraduate Students in a British University: Their Learning Experiences and Learning Beliefs

This thesis is an ethnographic study of a group of Chinese postgraduate students in a British university as they become adjusted to the culture of teaching and learning in the new learning environment during their first year of overseas study. It focuses on these Chinese students’ initial perceptions of British teaching and learning practices compared with their inherited culture of learning and how they make adjustments, emotionally, cognitively, and behaviourally, in order to make their learning successful, with the result of changes and developments in their conceptions and beliefs about knowing and learning. The present study seeks to draw together understanding from the fields of intercultural adaptation theories, tertiary students’ conceptions of learning research, and the interface of culture and learning, i.e. cultures of learning, to explore the impact of studying abroad on students’ intellectual development and personal growth so as to inform international and intercultural education

Cross-cultural management in the subsidiaries of Indian multinationals in Western countries : an exploratory study

L'expansion de la mondialisation par rapport au flux des entreprises multinationales peut être divisée en trois grandes phases. Phase 1 examine le processus d'interaction entre les entreprises de différents pays qui sont en grande partie développés. Plus tard, la phase 2 reconnaît le flux entre les pays développés et en développement, avec les multinationales des pays développés s'orientant vers les pays en développement. Plus récemment, nous vivons la phase 3, qui est un demi-tour des événements avec le flux des multinationales de pays en développement vers non seulement d'autres pays en développement mais aussi vers des pays développés. Cette dernière phase est une réalité de nos jours. Elle constitue notre domaine de recherche. Les multinationales des pays émergents (ECM) ont grimpé régulièrement l'échelle du succès. Elles ont émergé comme des solides prétendants mondiaux. Leur croissance a été réussie en dépit de diverses complexités existantes dans leurs régions ou pays, notamment, le retard économique qui fait en sorte qu'elles sont assez souvent dépassées. Les multinationales se sont révélées être les plus grandes animatrices de la mondialisation et de la grêle à partir de plusieurs régions émergentes comme l'Inde, la Chine, l'Indonésie. Elles sont devenues une partie importante de l'économie mondialisée d'aujourd'hui. Les différentes perspectives de ces multinationales sont importantes car elles ont adopté des styles de gestion uniques. Nous avons essayé de découvrir en détail, ces différents aspects dans l'article 1 en répondant aux questions des Qui, pourquoi, où, comment et quand. Ces questions ont été soigneusement choisies pour permettre l'inclusion de la recherche telle qu'elle s'applique à la thèse, ainsi que d'aider à mieux comprendre et gérer la complexité du sujet dans l'avenir. Plus de 70% de la population mondiale vit dans des pays qui ne sont pas développés. D'autant plus, les recherches qui ont été faites concernent surtout les pays développés. En raison de leur importance croissante et leur participation dans la chaîne de valeur mondiale, il est impératif d'approfondir des études sur ce sujet, afin d'avancer notre compréhension de ce monde. Notre intérêt réside dans l'internationalisation des multinationales Indiennes et de leur adaptation culturelle réussie dans les pays développés en Amérique du Nord (Canada et États-Unis). Ce départ à l'étranger soulève la question suivante : quelle culture les entreprises multinationales indiennes suivent dans leurs filiales ? L'article 2 traite de l'adaptation culturelle que ces entreprises doivent mettre en place et des facteurs pertinents qui peuvent influencer sur cette adaptation, tels que l'environnement institutionnel, les pratiques RH, les expatriés, la mission de la multinationale, etc, et ce, en utilisant un modèle conceptuel reposant sur une revue de littérature. Nous proposons plusieurs relations qui pourraient être considéré comme un guide pour les recherches futures dans ce domaine émergent. Pour faire progresser la recherche, l'article 3 se focalise sur le.s pratiques RH pratiquées dans le siège et la filiale. Plusieurs auteurs soutiennent l'idée que la culture de gestion d'une entreprise peuvent être vues à travers leurs pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines.Les pratiques de gestion indiennes peuvent ne pas avoir nécessairement le même effet ou avoir des valeurs similaires dans leurs filiales des pays développés, en raison de nombreuses différences culturelles et institutionnelles. Nous avons discuté de la culture de gestion sur les Indiens, par rapport et en contraste avec la culture de gestion de l'Ouest, Nous avons conclu que les meilleures pratiques dans une culture peuvent ne pas avoir nécessairement la même valeur dans une autre culture. En outre, nous présentons également les stratégies transversales de gestion des cultures, ainsi que le cadre conceptuel pour la recherche future. Dans le dernier chapitre, nous effectuons une étude empirique en se basant sur notre cadre conceptuel théorique. Nous discutons de l'absence d'études empiriques dans le domaine des ECM et nous justifions notre objectif de la recherche. Par la suite, nous entamons une explication élaborée de notre intérêt pour la recherche et le choix des pays. Nous proposons enfin notre question de recherche et un cadre qui identifie également les pratiques de gestion qui incluent la délégation de pouvoir, la rémunération, de promotion et de récompense, l'évaluation du rendement et de la formation, le développement et la planification de carrière. Celles-ci ont été utilisées comme un processus pour étudier les adaptations culturelles de multinationales indiennes dans leurs filiales nord-américaines. Ces pratiques de gestion ont été expliquées avec leur opérationnalisation. Enfin, la méthodologie qualitative en utilisant des études de cas se justifie pour cette recherche particulière. Nous continuons par une présentation des études de cas multiples et leur analyse. Nous concluons l'étude avec ses contributions, les défis, limites et autres avenues pour la recherche