Nationalism, nation and territory: Jacint Verdaguer and the Catalan Renaixença

This paper seeks to explain the historic importance to Catalan nationalism of the nineteenth-century poet and priest, Jacint Verdaguer. In order to do so, rather than focus on his contribution – and that of the wider cultural revival, the Renaixença - to the development of the Catalan language as the basis for national political mobilisation, this paper argues that we cannot fully understand Verdaguer’s importance without reference to his role in constructing a geographical narrative linking nation and territory. At the same time, given that national meanings are always contested, the paper proposes a dialectical approach to nationalism that situates the work of writers within the context of power struggles between social groups. Consequently, Veradguer’s centrality to Catalan nationalism is ultimately explained by his role in producing a geographical narrative capable of attracting important sectors of rural Catalonia to the hegemonic project of the industrial bourgeoisie

Exploring emotional and social competencies in undergraduate students: Perspectives from CALD and non-CALD students

With the internationalisation of higher education, students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds represent a significant proportion of the university student body in Australia. Research literature indicates that the unique cultural and linguistic challenges experienced by these students may adversely impact their academic performance and social integration in university settings. However, less is known about how the socio-emotional competencies of undergraduate CALD and non-CALD domestic English-speaking students compare. This cross-sectional quantitative study compares the emotional and social competencies in a cohort of CALD and non-CALD occupational therapy undergraduates. Data were collected at one Australian university from a group of 360 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) course. Participants completed the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory– University edition (ESCI-U). Multivariate regression analyses were used to compare between CALD and non-CALD students, controlling for students’ year level of study, age, and gender. Key findings from the regression analysis included the observation of indicate that non-CALD students having significant higher scores than CALD students on all the ESCI-U socio-emotional subscales, especially the Emotional Self-control, Achievement Orientation, Empathy and Teamwork from western perspectives. No difference was found between CALD and non-CALD student on two cognitive competencies- systems thinking and pattern recognition. These findings should be interpreted with caution considering CALD students may interpret the questions differently and demonstrate the competencies in different ways. Specific emotional and social competencies that need to be strengthened in students are discussed and recommendations are made to inform the preparation of evidence-based curricula

Constraints on Lema\^{\i}tre-Tolman-Bondi models from Observational Hubble Parameter data

We use the observational Hubble parameter data (OHD), both the latest observational dataset (Stern et al. 2010, referred to as SJVKS) and the simulated datasets, to constrain Lema\^{\i}tre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) void models. The necessity of the consistency check on OHD itself in the LTB cosmology is stressed. Three voids are chosen as test models and are constrained using the Union2 dataset of SN Ia as well as OHD. Despite their different parametrization, the results from our test models show some indicating similarities, e.g., the best-fit voids obtained from OHD are all considerably broader than those from SN Ia. Due to the small size of the SJVKS dataset, the constraints are not conclusive. The constraining power of the future OHD observations are therefore investigated, through a Figure of Merit (FoM) analysis based on the Monte Carlo simulated data. We found that, in the case that the future OHD become more consistent with SN Ia, the results from the test models are almost unanimous: 1) as many as 32 OHD data points at the SJVKS-like uncertainty level are needed to give a higher FoM than the Union2 dataset of SN Ia; 2) precise observation helps reduce this required number; 3) increasing the survey depth does not always increase the FoM. On the other hand, if the future OHD and the Union2 dataset keep favor different voids, in a similar manner as they do at present, the 1{\sigma} confidence regions obtained from the two probes should finally separate. We test this conjecture and found that, the minimum observational requirement (the size of the dataset, the uncertainty level and the survey depth) for this inconsistency to emerge depends strongly on the void model.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in Ap

Cinq exemples d’utilisation de l’approche QR+

Version espagnole disponible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI : Cincos usos ilustrativos del enfoque RQ+Version anglaise disponible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI : Five illustrative uses of the RQ+ approac

Qualité de la recherche plus (QR+) : évaluer la recherche différemment

Version anglaise disponible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI : Research Quality Plus (RQ+) : evaluating research differentlyVersion espagnole disponible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI : Calidad de Investigacion Plus (RQ+) : evaluando la investigación de manera diferenteLa science et l’innovation offrent une promesse immense pour le développement durable mondial. La capacité des chercheurs et des innovateurs à combiner créativité et esprit critique a été le moteur de nombre de nos plus grandes réalisations. En conséquence, nous vivons plus longtemps et en meilleure santé, nous sommes à l’origine de profonds changements sociaux et nous avons créé des réseaux qui nous relient aux quatre coins de la planète à l’aide d’un dispositif portable. Mais la science en tant que force du bien ne peut être considérée comme acquise. Dans cet article, nous soutenons que l’expérience du Centre de recherches pour le développement international (CRDI) avec la QR+ est très prometteuse. Nous développons cette position en présentant une application de la QR+ dans divers portefeuilles de recherche financés par le CRDI en 2020-2021. En tant qu’équipes d’organismes subventionnaires de la recherche, de chercheurs, d’évaluateurs, de praticiens et d’étudiants, nous proposons la QR+ comme une solution de rechange validée pour définir, gérer et évaluer la qualité de la recherche

Research Quality Plus (RQ+) : evaluating research differently

French version available in IDRC Digital Library : Qualité de la recherche plus (QR+) : évaluer la recherche différemmentSpanish version available in IDRC Digital Library : Calidad de Investigacion Plus (RQ+) : evaluando la investigación de manera diferenteThe paper argues that high-quality research can open pathways to a better future. The International Development Research Centre’s (IDRC) experience with Research Quality Plus (RQ+) standards shows significant promise in delivering high quality research. The RQ+ approach results from collaboration between IDRC’s evaluation team and its research community. The paper presents applications of RQ+ across diverse research portfolios (2020-21). As a team of funders, researchers, evaluators, practitioners and students, the authors offer RQ+ as a validated alternative for defining, managing and evaluating research quality, moving towards improved scientific research governance, scientific progress and sustainable innovation

Cincos usos ilustrativos del enfoque RQ+

Versión en Francés disponible en la Biblioteca Digital del IDRC : Cinq exemples d’utilization de l’approche QR+Versión en Inglés disponible en la Biblioteca Digital del IDRC : Five illustrative uses of the RQ+ approac

Five illustrative uses of the RQ+ approach

French version available in IDRC Digital Library : Cinq exemples d’utilisation de l’approche QR+Spanish version available in IDRC Digital Library : Cincos usos ilustrativos del enfoque RQ+Using Research Quality Plus (RQ+) across multiple stages of a research process can support risk management, transparency and continuous learning. This one-pager provides concise information regarding RQ+ assessment framework, and how it can enhance better judgement of research quality based on clear criteria. Evaluations can be done at a variety of entry points