Human Wellbeing and Local-level Sustainability

Doctoral thesis (PhD) – Nord University, 2021publishedVersio

Ecovillage scale-up and its well-being challenges: a case study from Norway

publishedVersio

An Assessment of Educational leaders’ Multicultural Competences in Ethiopian Public Universities

Multicultural Competences of higher education leaders refer directly to the multicultural knowledge, attitudes and skills of the leaders which is the focus of the present study. The demographic changes and the subsequent diversity in Ethiopian HEIs strongly demands the HEIs to be multiculturally competent, their leaders should in turn have the necessary multicultural competencies. In line with this, the multicultural competences of the educational leaders of Ethiopian public universities were investigated. The mixed-methods research approach was used in the study, including semistructured interviews and questionnaires. Academic and administrative officials, office workers and teachers were included in the study as sources of data. Multi-stage, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to select 316 participants for the study. Inferential statistics including mean, standard division, t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the quantitative data. The university leaders, academic and administrative staff did not have a considered perspective on pluralism. In addition, there were limited spaces and opportunities for the staff to develop skills and experience in the management of difference as an important aspect of their work and with their interaction with other members of the university community. The staff associations were weak and poorly equipped to provide or promote opportunities for skills development in the management of diversity. Lecturers did not generally receive any preparation on managing within a multicultural setting. The findings confirm the position that the need to prepare university leaders with multicultural knowledge, skills, and dispositions. It is imperative that university leadership adopt multicultural competence as an essential competency within their profession, continue to seek out opportunities to further enhance personal multicultural competence, and infuse it into their daily practices

Building an island of sustainability in a sea of unsustainability? A study of two ecovillages

Ecovillages aim to foster community around sustainable practices and encourage low-impact lifestyles. This article explores the strategies employed by two ecovillages to scale up their practices through physical expansion and the consequence for the maintenance of said practices. The ecovillages under study are Hurdal in Norway and Findhorn in Scotland. The study employed a multi-method approach: document study, participant observation, and interviews with ecovillage residents. The ecovillages applied different strategies to gain access to economic resources for expansion. Hurdal ecovillage sold its land to a private developer while Findhorn chose a different path: raising funds within the community, accessing public funds, and adopting low-cost building designs. The study finds that collaborating with investors and developers results in expensive housing that excludes low-income individuals and attracts well-off house buyers with mainstream values. Both ecovillages dropped introductory courses that aimed to equip new members with the necessary skills for shared practices and establish a common ground. These two consequences led to a weakening of competences for shared practices as private property took precedence. Prioritizing affordable infrastructure and accessing local (community and public) financial resources opens up paths for expansion that can maintain the necessary skills and meaning for community living.publishedVersio

The Ethical Behaviors Of Educational Leaders In Ethiopian Public Universities: The Case Of The Western Cluster Universities

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which educational leaders in the western cluster public universities of Ethiopia are ethical. Ethical leadership variables such as fairness, equity, multicultural competence, modeling ethical behaviors and altruism are considered in describing the ethical behaviors of the leaders. Descriptive survey research design with quantitative method was employed for it fits the purpose of the study. Data was collected from instructors and educational leaders holding various leadership positions in the sample universities. Accordingly, 107 instructors, 12 department heads, 6 college deans, 2 academic quality assurance officers, 3 ethical officers, 1 vice president and 1 president participated in the study. Questionnaires were mainly used to collect data from the respondents. T-test and ANOVA, among other data analysis tools, were used to analyze the data. The results of the study revealed that leaders in the sample universities practice ethical leadership moderately. The leaders failed to demonstrate the ethical leadership practices to the expected level. They have been found to demonstrate low multicultural competence, low at altruism, and low at modeling ethical behavior. And hence, it could be concluded that the educational leaders in public universities failed to meet the standards and expectations of ethical leadership. As a result, it is recommended that the academic leaders in the public universities need to be provided with leadership development opportunities. Moreover, public universities can establish leadership development programs that will enable leaders to continually update themselves and practice ethical leadership to the expected level

Towards Sustainable Transport Practices in a Coastal Community in Norway: Insights from Human Needs and Social Practice Approaches

publishedVersio

Towards Sustainable Transport Practices in a Coastal Community in Norway: Insights from Human Needs and Social Practice Approaches

publishedVersio

An Assessment of Educational leaders’ Multicultural Competences in Ethiopian Public Universities

Multicultural Competences of higher education leaders refer directly to the multicultural knowledge, attitudes and skills of the leaders which is the focus of the present study. The demographic changes and the subsequent diversity in Ethiopian HEIs strongly demands the HEIs to be multiculturally competent, their leaders should in turn have the necessary multicultural competencies. In line with this, the multicultural competences of the educational leaders of Ethiopian public universities were investigated. The mixed-methods research approach was used in the study, including semistructured interviews and questionnaires. Academic and administrative officials, office workers and teachers were included in the study as sources of data. Multi-stage, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to select 316 participants for the study. Inferential statistics including mean, standard division, t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the quantitative data. The university leaders, academic and administrative staff did not have a considered perspective on pluralism. In addition, there were limited spaces and opportunities for the staff to develop skills and experience in the management of difference as an important aspect of their work and with their interaction with other members of the university community. The staff associations were weak and poorly equipped to provide or promote opportunities for skills development in the management of diversity. Lecturers did not generally receive any preparation on managing within a multicultural setting. The findings confirm the position that the need to prepare university leaders with multicultural knowledge, skills, and dispositions. It is imperative that university leadership adopt multicultural competence as an essential competency within their profession, continue to seek out opportunities to further enhance personal multicultural competence, and infuse it into their daily practice

Towards Sustainable Transport Practices in a Coastal Community in Norway: Insights from Human Needs and Social Practice Approaches

publishedVersio