The characterization of remote warfare under international humanitarian law

This chapter examines the qualification of remote warfare as a form of armed conflict under international humanitarian law. It does so first by considering how armed conflict is defined and how the concept has evolved since the drafting of the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It then focuses on three modes of attack that are commonly associated with remote warfare: the use of remotely piloted vehicles, cyber operations, and autonomous weapon systems. Bearing in mind the challenges that each of these present to the applicability of the law, it will be argued that the concept of armed conflict needs to be interpreted in terms consistent with the object and purpose of international humanitarian law, in accordance with Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treatie

Final report of work-with-IT: the JISC study into evolution of working practices

Technology is increasingly being used to underpin business processes across teaching and learning, research, knowledge exchange and business support activities in both HE and FE. The introduction of technology has a significant impact on the working practices of staff, often requiring them to work in a radically different way. Change in any situation can be unsettling and problematic and, where not effectively managed, can lead to poor service or functionality and disenfranchised staff. These issues can have a direct impact on institutional effectiveness, reputation and the resulting student experience. The Work-with-IT project, based at the University of Strathclyde, sought to examine changes to working practices across HE and FE, the impact on staff roles and relationships and the new skills sets that are required to meet these changes

Is Gaining Access to Selective Elementary Schools Gaining Ground? Evidence From Randomized Lotteries

In this paper, we examine whether expanded access to sought-after schools can improve academic achievement. The setting we study is the "open enrollment" system in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). We use lottery data to avoid the critical issue of non-random selection of students into schools. Our analysis sample includes nearly 450 lotteries for kindergarten and first grade slots at 32 popular schools in 2000 and 2001. We track students for up to five years and examine outcomes such as standardized test scores, grade retention and special education placement. Comparing lottery winners and losers, we find that lottery winners attend higher quality schools as measured by both the average achievement level of peers in the school as well as by value-added indicators of the school's contribution to student learning. Yet, we do not find that winning a lottery systematically confers any evident academic benefits. We explore several possible explanations for our findings, including the possibility that the typical student may be choosing schools for non-academic reasons (e.g., safety, proximity) and/or may experience benefits along dimensions we are unable to measure, but find little evidence in favor of such explanations. Moreover, we separately examine effects for a variety of demographic subgroups, and for students whose application behavior suggests a strong preference for academics, but again find no significant effects.

Estimation of effective vaccination rate for pertussis in New Zealand as a case study

In some cases vaccination is unreliable. For example vaccination against pertussis has comparatively high level of primary and secondary failures. To evaluate efficiency of vaccination we introduce the idea of effective vaccination rate and suggest an approach to estimate it. We consider pertussis in New Zealand as a case study. The results indicate that the level of immunity failure for pertussis is considerably higher than was anticipated

Meditation in legal education: The value added toward the well-being of law students

This chapter considers the value that meditation potentially adds to legal education. It begins by defining what meditation consists of as a contemplative practice. It then explores the introduction of meditation in law schools and reviews the rationale for its use in this context, including the potential for supporting law student professional identity formation. Next, the chapter focuses on the potential for meditation to develop student resilience. In light of the beneficial effects for resilience and the enhancement of well-being more generally. Broader institutional responsibility for issues of well-being are examined followed by the possibilities for further research on the efficacy of meditation. The chapter surveys the literature in the field, provides insight into the practice of meditation and reflects on the potential value added to student well-being

The characterisation of armed conflict and targeted killing of suspected terrorists under international humanitarian law: reflections on the future of Jus in Bello

The use of drones for the targeted killing of suspected terrorists has raised a number of complex legal issues for scholars and practitioners in field of international law. This paper will focus on the applicability of international humanitarian law in such situations and the characterisation of drone warfare as armed conflict. In this context, the scope of armed conflict as a concept of international humanitarian law will be explored. In doing so, emphasis will be placed on the need for accountability to ensure greater compliance with international law

Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards: a London perspective

The virtues of international arbitration are well known. However, without the ability to enforce foreign arbitral awards, in the event of a party to arbitration failing, refusing or otherwise not honouring the award, international arbitration becomes a paper tiger. This is why the possibility of enforcement pursuant to the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards is of cardinal importance. Mindful of the UK’s treaty obligations under the New York Convention, this paper focuses on the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards from a London perspective. It will do so for two reasons: London has long standing and hard won reputation as one of the truly global centres of international arbitration. It is also recognised as a bellwether for international finance. In light of such recognition, this paper will examine the approach adopted by the English Judiciary to international arbitration awards and ultimately their enforcement or otherwise in the courts of England and Wales

The Effect of School Choice on Student Outcomes: Evidence from Randomized Lotteries

School choice has become an increasingly prominent strategy for urban school districts seeking to enhance academic achievement. Evaluating the impact of such programs is complicated by the fact that a highly select sample of students takes advantage of these programs. To overcome this difficulty, we exploit randomized lotteries that determine high school admission in the Chicago Public Schools. Surprisingly, we find little evidence that attending sought after programs provides any benefit on a wide variety of traditional academic measures, including standardized test scores, attendance rates, course-taking, and credit accumulation. This is true despite the fact that those students who win the lotteries attend better high schools along a number of dimensions, including higher peer achievement levels, higher peer graduation rates, and lower levels of poverty. We do, however, uncover evidence that attendance at such schools may improve a subset of non-traditional outcome measures, such as self-reported disciplinary incidences and arrest rates.