Performance indicators in higher education teaching and learning : imperatives for lecturers

Published ArticleQuality assurance at higher education institutions involves more than a mere establishment of bodies (CHE, HEQ) to oversee the process. Without a selfdriven approach towards quality assurance, institutions will hardly get the cooperation and/or motivation to implement it successfully. Institutions need to establish mechanisms and procedures to self-assess their effectiveness on a continuous basis where the emphasis falls more on accountability at all levels (academic and professional staff, students and management) than on improvement. Quality assurance mechanisms and procedures should be designed to serve a positive purpose in furthering the interest of the university, its staff and its students in their teaching and learning

Mixed method evaluation of a community-based physical activity program using the RE-AIM framework: practical application in a real-world setting

BACKGROUND: Communities are a pivotal setting in which to promote increases in child and adolescent physical activity behaviours. Interventions implemented in these settings require effective evaluation to facilitate translation of findings to wider settings. The aims of this paper are to i) present findings from a RE-AIM evaluation of a community-based physical activity program, and ii) review the methodological challenges faced when applying RE-AIM in practice. METHODS: A single mixed-methods case study was conducted based on a concurrent triangulation design. Five sources of data were collected via interviews, questionnaires, archival records, documentation and field notes. Evidence was triangulated within RE-AIM to assess individual and organisational-level program outcomes. RESULTS: Inconsistent availability of data and a lack of robust reporting challenged assessment of all five dimensions. Reach, Implementation and setting-level Adoption were less successful, Effectiveness and Maintenance at an individual and organisational level were moderately successful. Only community-level Adoption was highly successful, reflecting the key program goal to provide community-wide participation in sport and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: This research highlighted important methodological constraints associated with the use of RE-AIM in practice settings. Future evaluators wishing to use RE-AIM may benefit from a mixed-method triangulation approach to offset challenges with data availability and reliability

A scoping review to establish the relationship of community to the lives of looked after children and young people

Friendship networks and relationships with communities are important parts of the lives of looked after children and young people (LACYP). Much of legislation, policy, practice and research focuses on „the care experience‟ itself, as distinct from young people‟s everyday lives and their connectivity with wider environments. Considerable lack of understanding remains about what being „in care‟ means. This often results in prejudice and stigma. Groups set up specifically for LACYP offer opportunities to develop networks and relationships with adults and young people, and to raise awarenesses. Transitions may happen early and be experienced frequently by LACYP, however, they can offer new opportunities and positive relationships with different people. Meaningful participation in communities such as schools is an important factor in developing stability in relationships. Concepts of participation and empowerment form part of an ecological framework which locates the community context as central to building resilience for LACYP. What constitutes community cohesion and connectedness for LACYP requires a fine balance between the interests of protection and participation. Successful interconnectedness is a matter of shared concern for all. The key challenge remains that of identifying how stable community relationships for LACYP may be strengthened and supported to dynamic mutual benefit. These documents are outputs from the same project: 1) an end of project discussion paper; 2) an extended version of the discussion paper; and 3) four short guides for practice and polic

Programs to promote physical activity among children and adolescents:A case study of the Team Bath Tribe Project

Background: Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Despite public health guidelines advising children and adolescents to spend a minimum of 60 minutes per day of at least moderate intensity physical activity, a large proportion of children and adolescents fail to meet these guidelines. Interventions promoting physical activity show varying degrees of success, and more detailed evaluations of such interventions are essential. The aim of this research was to conduct an in-depth evaluation of a community-based physical activity program aimed at children and adolescents, specifically the Tribe Project. Methods: The RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) was used to evaluate the individual and organisational-level impact of the Tribe Project. A single mixed method case study was used based on five sources of evidence: interviews, questionnaires, documentation, archival records and direct observations. Participants included the Tribe managers and coaches implementing the program and the Tribe parents and children/adolescents who attended. Results: The Tribe Project reached approximately 2.5% of the eligible population living within Bath and North East Somerset. The program successfully met some of its objectives although feedback procedures were poor and the program aims were unclear. The community-level adoption of the program was high, however, the implementation and adherence to the program principles at the setting-level varied. The program was successfully institutionalised within the University of Bath yet pathways after the program into the community varied, and were mostly competitive only. Nonetheless, a combination of social, psychological and physical benefits was reported following participation. Conclusion: To assess accurately the potential impact of physical activity interventions a combined assessment of individual and organisational-level factors is necessary. This will help inform policy on effective strategies to promote physical activity in the community, and develop interventions that are more effective as a result.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron during chronic immune stimulation

Ferritin is the major protein responsible for the sequestration, storage and release of intracellular iron. The ferritin protein shell exists as heteropolymers of various combinations of two types of subunits, the H-subunit and L-subunit, a phenomenon that gives rise to the existence of isoferritins. As the roles of the H-subunit and L-subunit differ in the mineralization process, the subunit composition of ferritin will influence the metabolic properties of the assembled ferritin molecules. The primary aim of the present study was to quantitatively measure the expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation. A second aim was to investigate the possible role that the expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin may have in the establishment and maintenance of an iron transfer block. The study subjects included 48 patients with chronic diseases from the Department of Internal Medicine, Kalafong Hospital and 10 patients with osteoarthritis, scheduled for hip replacement at the Department of Orthopaedics, Pretoria Academic Hospital. Bone marrow and blood samples were collected from each patient. The expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron was quantitatively evaluated by post-embedding immunolocalisation with immunogold transmission electron microscopy. The patients were subdivided into groups with a predominantly T-helper cell type-1 immune reaction (pro-inflammatory) and normal immune status on the basis of C-reactive protein, neopterin and cytokines (INF-γ, TNF-α, Il-1β, Il-6, Il-12, Il-2, Il-8, GM-CSF, Il-4, Il-5, TGF-β and Il-10). The study showed • up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation • no effects for chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation on the expression of the L-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage • no effects for chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation on the expression of either the H-subunit or L-subunit of ferritin in cells of the bone marrow erythron • a 70% prevalence of iron transfer block in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation • up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage in osteoarthritis patients who had normal T-helper cell type-1 immune activity, but significantly increased TGF-β levels • up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the patients with iron transfer block • iron availability loses its primary role in the establishment of the circulating red blood profile in conditions with chronic pro-inflammatory activity • indications that the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin may play a role in the iron availability for red blood cell haemoglobin production • various correlations in the osteoarthritis patients between the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin and different cytokinesThesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009.Physiologyunrestricte

IMPLEMENTATION DRIVERS FOR BPR AT SIEMENS TELECOMMUNICATIONS

<p>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the embracing of neV'( management philosophies or redesigned processes, it is becoming a popular opinion that often the practical problem lies with the implementation of the new concept, rather than with the concept itself. By focussing on certain generic critical actions, chances of successful implementation increases for any new philosophy or re-engineered process. This article discusses such critical success actions, or implementation drivers as experience in a BPR project at Siemens Telecommunications.</p><p>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Gewilde siening ten opsigte van die bekendstelling van nuwe bestuursfilosofiee, of implementering van herontwerpde prosesse, is dat die probleem gewoonlik Ie by die implementering daarvan, eerder as by die beginsels van die bestuursfilosofie wat geimplementeer word . Deur op generies kritieke faktore te konsentreer, kan die kanse op suksesvolle implementering van bykans enige bestuursfilosofie of herontwerpde proses verbeter word. Hierdie artikel bespreek sulke kritieke sukses aksies, of implementeringsdrywers, aan die hand van 'n gevallestudie soos ervaar in 'n BPR projek by Siemens Telecommunications.</p&gt

Implementation drivers for BPR at Siemens Telecommunications

With the embracing of new management philosophies or redesigned processes, it is becoming a popular opinion that often the practical problem lies with the implementation of the new concept, rather than with the concept itself. By focussing on certain generic critical actions, chances of successful implementation increases for any new philosophy or re-engineered process. This article discusses such critical success actions, or implementation drivers as experience in a BPR project at Siemens Telecommunications.'n Gewilde siening ten opsigte van die bekendstelling van nuwe bestuursfilosofiee, of implementering van herontwerpde prosesse, is dat die probleem gewoonlik Ie by die implementering daarvan, eerder as by die beginsels van die bestuursfilosofie wat geimplementeer word . Deur op generies kritieke faktore te konsentreer, kan die kanse op suksesvolle implementering van bykans enige bestuursfilosofie of herontwerpde proses verbeter word. Hierdie artikel bespreek sulke kritieke sukses aksies, of implementeringsdrywers, aan die hand van 'n gevallestudie soos ervaar in 'n BPR projek by Siemens Telecommunications.http://sajie.journals.ac.z

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors and the exercise-induced stress response

Objective. This study investigated the effects of single dosages of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) naproxen, and of the coxib, rofecoxib, on the exercise-induced stress response. Design. Eight subjects (age 20.9 ± 1.1 years, weight 70.4 ± 3.9 kg, height 170.9 ± 6.7 cm, body surface area 1.82 ± 0.09 m2, body mass index 24.1 ± 1.3 kg.m-2) took part in a double-blind, drug-placebo, cross-over design study. The experimental procedures were performed on 3 occasions on each volunteer, i.e. once on placebo, once on naproxen (single dose of 1 000 mg) and once on rofecoxib (single dose of 50 mg). Results. Mean post-exercise cortisol values were significantly higher than pre-exercise values with the subjects on placebo (p = 0.0365) and rofecoxib (p = 0.0208), but not on naproxen (p = 0.0732). Post-exercise oral temperatures were significantly higher than pre-exercise temperature values on placebo (p = 0.0153) and rofecoxib (p = 0.0424), but not on naproxen (p = 0.5444). Conclusion. The results of this study suggest a role for cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) in the exercise-induced cortisol and temperature response to exercise. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 18 (1) 2006: pp. 4-