Teaching intercultural skills in the multicultural classroom

This paper evaluates the adaptation of the ExcelL Intercultural Skills Program to an international human resource management course, and critically examines the effectiveness of integrating case study methods with the skills based ExcelL program. The ExcelL program is a theory-driven and evidence-based group program that utilises classroom cultural diversity, student experiences and role-plays to develop specific intercultural skills. The primary purpose of the study was to assess the usefulness of ExcelL within a sample of 85 third-year university business students. Four methodologies were used: (1) questionnaires, (2) case studies, (3) course evaluation survey and (4) focus groups. After completing the program, participants demonstrated improvements in intercultural competencies required in business contexts as well as increased self-confidence and feelings of self-efficacy in cross-cultural situations. Additionally, participants demonstrated improved identification and articulation of cross-cultural business problems and formulation of appropriate intervention strategies to address these problems

The views of managers and recruitment specialists in relation to migrants' opportunities in recruitment and selection processes in Australia

Australia’s population is one of the world’s most culturally and linguistically diverse. With declining fertility rates, the overall intake of immigrants will continue to increase with the proportion of Asian immigrants predicted to rise significantly over the next 50 years. Despite many of these immigrants holding recognised qualifications and previous work experience, a high proportion are faced with unemployment or employment in positions, which are not commensurate with their knowledge and abilities. This paper which examines the views of managers and recruitment specialists is part of a larger study investigating the experiences of South-east Asian migrants in recruitment and selection in Australia. Surveys were administered to Master of Business Administration students who are currently employed in management positions. Due to the increasingly popular trend of outsourcing HR activities, 10 Recruitment Consultants were interviewed with questions based upon the managers’ questionnaire. The responses to questions relating to the difficulties that migrants are faced with in recruitment and selection, and recommendations as to what migrants may do regarding behaviour and training, were analysed. Overall, communication and cultural issues were seen as central to the difficulties experienced by migrants in recruitment and selection processes and therefore carved the basis upon which recommendations were formed. The findings of this study have implications for human resource professionals and employment support agencies who are actively involved with recruitment and selection in general, or who specialise in assisting migrants with job seeking

Preferences in recruitment and selection in a sample of Australian organisations

The diversity of the Australian workforce has increased over the last 25 years, particularly with the increase in the number of migrants from South-east Asia. Despite the knowledge, skill and expertise that many of these immigrants possess prior to migrating, a high proportion of immigrants experience significant difficulties obtaining employment commensurate with their abilities. This paper is an exploratory study of the preferences of managers, recruitment specialists and migrants regarding recruitment and selection practices in selected Australian cities. Surprisingly, the findings revealed similarities between the three groups (managers, migrants and recruitment consultants). Thus, this study adds to the debate about the impact of cross-cultural expectations in recruitment and selection in Australian organisations

The role of communication in recruitment and selection in Australia

In Australia, unemployment and under-employment continue to be significant issues experienced bymigrants from non-English-speaking backgrounds (NESB). Despite these immigrants having relevant qualifications, skills, and work experience, a high proportion have difficulties in obtaining employment in Australian organisations. Communication or language proficiency has been identified as one of the primary causal factors. Moreover, studies have identified the importance of communication as a key competency sought by managers and recruiters in all job applicants. Given the importance of making employment decisions more objective and measurable to meet anti-discrimination requirements, this study examines the perceptions of managers and recruitment specialists about the communication skills that are essential for successful recruitment and selection. Subsequently, areas for inteNention are highlighted

The Face of my Sweet Marie : Castle Of Dreams

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/5152/thumbnail.jp

Late Cretaceous to Early Cenozoic initiation of rifting of the Windhoek Graben, Namibia

The Windhoek Graben is a north-south trending rift in central Namibia that forms a prominent topographic feature bisecting an area of plateau uplift. It occupies a potentially crucial role in the propagation of the Late Cenozoic Southwest African Rift system regarding a possible continuation to the west of the Eiseb Rift. It is an unusual example of intra-continental rifting because it has no significant sediment fill associated with the period of active rifting, and hence the timing of rift activity and its tectonic relevance has not hitherto been established. To constrain the age of the Windhoek Graben we examine its regional geomorphic context and its relationship to four sites of igneous activity in the central Namibian Highlands. Two of these consist of clusters of eroded phonolitic tholoid bodies that have yielded 40Ar/39Ar dates of 32 Ma and 52 Ma, respectively, that we use to bracket the age of formation of a prominent remnant land surface, termed here the P52 Surface. From previous mapping of older intrusive igneous bodies, we argue that an even older land surface is partially preserved on the highest features in the area, and this surface (termed PRS) defines an initial domally uplifted surface from which initial drainage radiated, and onto which the earliest volcanic products associated with the Graben were erupted. In particular, the strong similarity in dyke and fault orientations is used to argue for a causal connection between the earliest magmatic activity and the onset of rifting. Long range correlation of PRS into the adjacent Aranos Basin strongly suggests a Late Cretaceous age for this earliest magmatic activity and the onset of rifting, but we cannot exclude a younger origin, any time up to the Early Eocene

Indicators for Spatial Planning and Territorial Cohesion: Stakeholder-Driven Selection Approach for Improving Usability at Regional and Local Levels

© 2015 Regional Studies Association.González A., Daly G., Pinch P., Adams N., Valtenbergs V., Burns M. C. and Johannesson H. Indicators for spatial planning and territorial cohesion: stakeholder-driven selection approach for improving usability at regional and local levels, Regional Studies. Reformed European Union Cohesion Policy aims at delivering a coherent investment policy to achieve the Europe 2020 Strategy goals and to reduce regional disparities. Spatial indicators measure progress towards agreed policy goals and support place-based approaches to policy implementation. Despite the range of indicators available, development of a standardized approach in support of Cohesion Policy has received little empirical attention. A set of key spatial indicators has been identified in a stakeholder-driven process. The methodological approach applied is presented and resulting indicators critically appraised with regards to their applicability and potential for assisting improved integration between Cohesion Policy and spatial planning

The inevitable youthfulness of known high-redshift radio galaxies

Radio galaxies can be seen out to very high redshifts, where in principle they can serve as probes of the early evolution of the Universe. Here we show that for any model of radio-galaxy evolution in which the luminosity decreases with time after an initial rapid increase (that is, essentially all reasonable models), all observable high-redshift radio-galaxies must be seen when the lobes are less than 10^7 years old. This means that high-redshift radio galaxies can be used as a high-time-resolution probe of evolution in the early Universe. Moreover, this result helps to explain many observed trends of radio-galaxy properties with redshift [(i) the `alignment effect' of optical emission along radio-jet axes, (ii) the increased distortion in radio structure, (iii) the decrease in physical sizes, (iv) the increase in radio depolarisation, and (v) the increase in dust emission] without needing to invoke explanations based on cosmology or strong evolution of the surrounding intergalactic medium with cosmic time, thereby avoiding conflict with current theories of structure formation.Comment: To appear in Nature. 4 pages, 2 colour figures available on request. Also available at http://www-astro.physics.ox.ac.uk/~km

Qualitative participatory peer research exploring the educational impact of COVID-19 on Allied Health and Healthcare Science Students

The teaching and learning experience of allied health and healthcare science students has altered because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Limited research has explored the experience on the future healthcare workforce using participatory research design. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of a global pandemic on the clinical and academic experiences of healthcare student using a co-production approach with student peer researchers. Twenty-three participants took part in six focus groups. The themes identified were: rapid changes to learning; living alongside Covid-19 and psychological impact. Students preferred blended learning approaches when available, as reduced peer interaction, studying and sleeping in the same space, and technology fatigue decreased motivation