Pore scale 3D modelling of heat and mass transfer in the gas diffusion layer and cathode channel of a PEM fuel cell

Flooding of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells can be a bottleneck to the system’s efficiency and even durability under certain operating conditions. Due to the small scale and complex geometry of the materials involved, detailed insight into the pore scale phenomena that take place are difficult to measure or simulate. In the present effort, a direct 3D microscale model of a portion of the PEM cathode channel and carbon cloth GDL is used to parametrically investigate local heat and fluid flow at the GDL’s pore scale and their effects on condensation of water vapour that leads to flooding. The 3D simulation through the microscale geometry is among the first appearing in the international literature. The Navier–Stokes, energy and water vapour transport equations are solved at steady state and in three-dimensional space for a range of inlet velocities and cloth fibre material properties, using a conjugate heat transfer approach to calculate the temperature field within the solid fibres. Psychrometric calculations are applied to provide indications of the conditions and areas most prone to condensation based on the calculated local temperatures and water vapour concentration

At risk policy and early intervention programmes for underperforming students: Ensuring success?

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine a University's at risk program and ask is the intervention strategy working? The program seeks to assist at risk students who may be experiencing difficulties transitioning, for example from school into university. The program also seeks to identify problems and suggest remediation strategies before attrition

The Cracked Glass Ceiling: Equal Work but Unequal Status

The achievement of gender equity in universities continues to warrant attention. Globally, universities have much work ahead of them if they are to redress the gender imbalance in senior positions and remuneration rates. To examine this issue, multiple sources of evidence were used to observe teaching and research workload of academic staff employed at mid-tier business faculties from two urban Australian universities which had more women employed in junior academic ranks. This article argues that although gender equity, in terms of workload, has improved, inequality, in terms of pay and status, still exists. Specifically, while workload differences between genders were largely not evident, fewer women were employed in senior ranks. These results suggest, despite policy reforms, that inequity continues to be a problem in the Australian higher education sector with implications for the recognition (and addressing) of inequity in the global higher education industry. In summary, higher education institutions, senior policy-makers and managers must be cognizant of balancing teaching workloads with opportunities and support systems for research-related activities and directing human resource efforts and promotion opportunities

Examining academic workload data: who worked the hardest?

Higher education reforms have meant increased focus on research and teaching excellence which has workload implications for academic staff. Australia has been at the forefront of encouraging gender based reforms and attempts to achieve gender equity but has this goal been achieved? This paper focuses on investigating the issue of gender equality in terms of research output and teaching responsibility and uses actual workload data rather than relying on staff memories of past events. The results show no significant differences between workloads for males and females on the five workload measures observed in this study. However, this paper does find that females are underrepresented in senior positions across the 2 universities studied. Academic and managerial implications and future research are suggested

The at risk program for marketing students: How effective is intervention?

Case study analysis investigates the total population of marketing at-risk students from 2006 to 2010 and considers the effectiveness of the at-risk program implemented at one Australian based University. The at-risk program identifies poorly performing students studying the Bachelor of Business (Marketing) program and is an intervention strategy attempting to aid student learning and identify problems prior to attrition. Students have a choice of engaging or not engaging in the process and are deemed at-risk again or not in subsequent semesters. The program is shown to have some success with students who engage. Further research and managerial implications are identified

The challenges and opportunities in addressing the needs of middle eastern tourists: an Australian cultural perspective

This chapter identifies and discusses the specific needs of Middle Eastern tourists visiting the Gold Coast, Queensland Australia. Based on empirical data collected through a qualitative study, self-administered questionnaires (N = 500) were distributed to Middle Eastern tourists who visited the Gold Coast and stayed at Gold Coast accommodation for at least one night. The 305 responses (61 percent response rate), generated a total number of 461 multiple responses. Content Analysis identified key themes and sub-themes associated with Islamic religious beliefs. The findings showed that the management of the Gold Coast accommodation sector had a distinct lack of information and understanding of Middle Eastern tourists' needs. This chapter provides useful managerial and marketing recommendations, including suggested best practices, to hoteliers who provide accommodation services to international tourists, such as Middle Eastern tourists, and contributes to the limited knowledge on Islamic marketing. This in turn potentially contributes to the increased success of the tourism industry in developed countries such as Australia

All things being equal: Observing Australian individual academic workloads

The achievement of greater gender equity within Australian universities is a significant issue for both the quality and the strength of Australian higher education. This paper contributes to our knowledge of academic workloads, observing individual workloads in business faculties. A multiple case study method was employed to observe individual academic workloads. Two regional universities were selected for this research on the basis of their senior staff profiles. Multiple sources of evidence were used to gather teaching and research workload data for all faculty members. Differences in workloads were not always evident between genders. Our results suggest that universities that are over-represented with females in senior academic positions when compared to the national average achieve equity in workload. Universities that are underrepresented with females in senior academic positions do not achieve workload equity with male academics producing more research and coordinating more teaching