Examining predictors of retention with implications for TESTA@Greenwich

Student attrition is a pressing issue that universities across the world are attempting to solve. More recently, there has been a focus on retaining students from so-called ‘hard to reach’ groups. This paper proposes a methodology that investigates potential predictors of retention within the context of a particular institution, with the aim of defining who our ‘hard to reach’ students might be. It includes TESTA, a feedback and assessment enhancement process, as an independent variable to determine whether this particular enhancement initiative had any positive effects on retention. The authors use a statistical technique that permits a comparison of retention within the same programmes, pre- versus post-TESTA, relative to background changes in retention in programmes without TESTA over the same timescale. The results of our analysis revealed that of the 10 predictors selected, the following were statistically significant: age group; gender; ethnicity; highest qualification on entry; academic session. These form the basis of our definition of who are ‘hard to reach’ students at our university. Whilst TESTA had no statistically significant impact on retention, several important implications for making specific interventions through TESTA in relation to assessment design and delivery to increase retention are discussed

The Dynamics of Return Migration within the Somali Diaspora and the Practice of ‘Dhaqan Celis’. Navigating Identity and Cultural Reconnection:

This thesis explores the phenomenon of return migration within the Somali diaspora, focusing on the practice of 'dhaqan celis'. This involves Somali parents sending their Western-raised children back to Somalia for cultural reorientation. The study investigates the motivations behind return migration, the experiences of young returnees, and the socio-economic and cultural implications of this practice. Through qualitative interviews with young Somali diaspora returnees, the research reveals that economic opportunities, the desire for cultural reconnection, and aspirations to contribute to Somalia's development are key motivations. Returnees navigate complex identities, balancing their Somali heritage with their Western upbringing, and often experience a profound sense of displacement upon returning

HOW HAS THE RIGHT-WING POPULISM AND IDENTITY SURGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY UNDERMINED DEMOCRACY AND GLOBALIZATIONS?

Looking into populism, Rightwing-populism specifically and how scholars and authors believe it is undermining democracy and globalization though literature studies

Host Defense Properties of Collagen VI. A novel concept in connective tissue innate immunity.

Rapid and powerful host defense mechanisms are essential in order to overcome harmful actions of pathogenic bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and proteins are vital effector molecules of the fast-acting innate immune system and exist virtually in all living organisms. They exert a broad spectrum of natural antibiotic activity, but also play important immunomodulatory functions in the host. During the past few decades, host defense molecules have gained remarkable attention as alternative treatments for bacterial infections due to the growing bacterial resistance to current antibiotics.This thesis sheds light on an intriguing and novel aspect of innate immunity in the context of connective tissues, where collagen VI emerges as a host defense molecule. Collagen VI is an extracellular matrix protein that forms complex microfibrillar networks in most connective tissues. The best studied form of collagen VI is a heterotrimer comprised of three α-chains, α1(VI), α2(VI) and α3(VI), where the majority of these α-chains are flanked by globular domains that share homology with von Willebrand factor type A (VWA) domains. The results presented in this thesis demonstrates that tissue-purified collagen VI exhibits a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by disrupting the bacterial membranes and causing leakage of intracellular components, which subsequently leads to cell death. Interestingly, the expression of collagen VI was upregulated in the airways of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients compared to healthy individuals. Upon airway epithelial damage in COPD, we found that collagen VI is exposed and serves both as an adhesive substrate and an antibacterial barrier for a number of pulmonary pathogens. In order to gain deeper insight into the antimicrobial nature of the collagen VI molecule, we identified and characterized cationic sequence motifs in the VWA domains of the α3(VI)-chain. These peptides showed a significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, some of them also displayed wound healing and anti-endotoxic properties in vitro.In conclusion, these data reveal for the first time in detail how extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen VI, provide host defense mechanisms against bacterial infections in connective tissues. These findings also suggest a novel role for collagen VI-derived peptides in innate immunity and provide templates for the development of peptide-based antibacterial therapies

Determinants of Islamic financial literacy towards retirement planning

This study attempts to investigate the determinants of Islamic financial literacy towards retirement planning. The survey involved 230 Muslim respondents among the University Utara Malaysia, College of Business (UUM COB) staffs. All the data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) by conducting statistical method namely, Independent Samples T-Test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression analysis to archive the objectives of this research. The result of this study shows that the level of retirement planning of the respondents is high. The findings also revealed that there are four determinants that significantly influence towards retirement planning. Among them are goal clarity, knowledge of financial planning for retirement planning, income and gender, the result on gender shows that the male respondents have higher retirement planning compare to females

Optimising rigour in focus group analysis : using content/thematic and form/structural approaches to understand British Somali's experiences of policing in London

There is evidence that focus groups are useful to explore issues with socially marginalised groups, notably when participants have shared particular experiences. Focus groups have the methodological potential to highlight group norms and processes, and to illuminate the social and cultural contexts in which individual agency takes place. However, an often cited concern about focus groups is researchers’ inadequate description of the analytical process which then affects the usefulness and credibility of the findings and rigour in analysis. In this article we address this concern and offer an analytical framework which takes account of the content (themes) and form (structure) of focus group data. Framed within an interpretivist paradigm, our analysis is driven by a theoretical interest in how race/ethnicity as social positions shape young British Somali men’s individual and shared experiences of policing in London

Integrity of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Natural Resource Management: The Case of the Arid and Semi-Arid Baringo Herders of Kenya

Ineffective management of natural resources in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), resulting in resource depletion, rapid loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation, is of great concern globally. The Baringo herders in the ASALs of Kenya have been branded as perpetrators of this vice, with the blame placed particularly on their traditional livestock management, utilising indigenous knowledge systems (IKS). These IKS involve livestock mobility and maximisation, and have been regarded as being outdated and inefficient in meeting the challenges and demands for environmental conservation and sustainable management of the natural resources. A common reaction of the government has been to advocate modern interventions that are based on exogenous knowledge systems (EKS), involving sedentary livestock raising and destocking. These EKS are, however, not performing as well as expected, since they are not adapted to the ASALs ecological conditions and the herders\u27 socio-economic and cultural situations (Aboud et al 1997; Makenzi, 2003). This study empirically explored the above propositions, in order to test the integrity of the IKS, in relation to EKS and the herders\u27 levels of education

Private Capital Inflow, Financial Development and Economic Growth in Kenya

Private capital inflows have become an increasingly significant source of investment in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa indicating the high degree to which the countries have become integrated into the global economy. This study sought to investigate the impact of private capital inflow and financial development on economic growth in Kenya, using a panel data analysis between 1970 to 2014. Specifically the study sought to investigate the causality between foreign direct investment, portfolio investment and cross-border interbank borrowing on economic growth; to analyze the effects of foreign direct investment, portfolio investment and cross-border interbank borrowing on economic growth; to examine the effects of financial development on economic growth and to examine the effects of macroeconomic variables on economic growth. The study was based on the Auerback-Kotlikoff (AK) dynamic life-cycle simulation model. The analysis was undertaken by employing Johansen cointegration test, vector error correction modeling approach and Granger Causality technique to investigate the causality between foreign direct investment, portfolio investment and cross-border interbank borrowing and economic growth. The ordinary least squares estimation was used to determine the effect of foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, cross-border interbank borrowing and financial development on economic growth. The study found that there was a unidirectional causality from foreign direct investment to economic growth and from economic growth to cross-border interbank borrowing. The standardized regression coefficient (β) value of the computed scores of foreign direct investment was (0.077276) with a t-test of 1.530526 and was statistically significant at 5 percent level with a (p-value=.0134).Though the coefficient of the log of portfolio investment as a ratio of gross domestic product was positive (β=0.015372, p-value=0.6405), but statistically insignificant. On the other hand the coefficient of log of cross-border interbank borrowing as a ratio of gross domestic product was positive (β=0.059199, p-value=0.4456) but statistically insignificant. The coefficient of gross domestic capital formation as a ratio of GDP which was the proxy for financial development was negative and statistically significant (β=-0.382785, p-value=0.0031).The coefficient of government expenditure on goods and services as a ratio of GDP was positive and statistically significant (β=0.086873, p-value=0.0042). The coefficient of secondary and tertiary institutions enrolment as a ratio of the total population which was used as a proxy for human capital was negative and statistically significant (β=-0.513306, p-value=0.0039).The coefficient of inflation which was used as a proxy for macroeconomic stability was negative and statistically significant (β=-.077303, p-value=0.0419).The coefficient of sum of total exports and total imports as a ratio of GDP which was used as a proxy for openness was positive and statistically significant (β=.151853, p-value=0.0042).This study found evidence that capital inflows foster higher economic growth, above and beyond any effects on the investment rate, but only for economies where financial sector has reached a certain level of development. The results thus suggest that the domestic financial sector plays a pivotal role in ensuring that international capital flows does indeed promote economic growth in Kenya. Future research should also conduct longitudinal studies that would provide definite information about cause-and-effect relationships as well as the changes in study variables over time. The findings of this study will form a basis for the formulation of policies relating to private capital inflows through the adoption of sound monetary and fiscal policies as well as market- oriented reforms that will include trade and capital market liberalization. It will also contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field of private capital inflows and economic growth in developing countries. Keywords: Private Capital Flow, Auerback-Kotlikoff (AK) model, Cross-Border Interbank Borrowing and Economic Growt