Leading for Peace Leadership and its Development in Post-Conflict Contexts

This thesis examines the processes and practices of leadership and leadership development, in the context of post-conflict peacebuilding. The systematic literature review conducted in this thesis reveals that little is known about leadership in such a hostile context. The research focuses on how leaders in civil society lead for peace at grassroots and middle-range levels in extremely divided societies, and how they develop as leaders in these contexts. The overarching research question is: What does leadership for peacebuilding involve and how it has been developed in the post-conflict context? This research is an actor-focused inductive study based on empirical research into the role of civil society leadership in fostering and sustaining peace. It draws on semi-structured interviews with 32 long-standing civil society leaders in Northern Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The empirical research examined the characteristics of the contexts of leadership in post-conflict peacebuilding from a social identity theory perspective (Tajfel, 1974). The key characteristics found in this research are: Hostility and violence; polarisation; and depersonalisation. The research then utilises the social identity theory of leadership to explore the nature of leading for peace in terms of processes and practices. These processes are: Differentiation; integration; and political astuteness. A framework is developed to show how leading for peace interacts with context. Finally, the research examines leadership learning and development in this context through the use of the technique of leadership journeys. Drawing on Tynjälä’s (2013) 3P model for workplace learning, a modified 3P model for peacebuilding leadership development in post-conflict contexts is proposed

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of malaria control among communities from the health district of Forécariah in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Malaria is the leading cause of death in children under 5-yr of age in the Republic of Guinea. This study aimed at investigating the knowledge, attitudes and practices of malaria control in urban and rural communities in Guinea in order to better target future health interventions. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 200 randomly selected households was conducted in an urban site and in three rural villages within the health district of Forιcariah using two semi-structured questionnaires. RESULTS: Only 18.5% of the respondents were aware of the role of mosquitoes in the transmission of malaria in both urban and rural households. Mosquito nets were identified as a malaria prevention method by 11.5% of the participants and only 8.5% of the respondents mentioned stagnant water as a potential mosquito breeding site. Households' heads were more aware of mosquito control methods, with 56 and 42% of the respondents recognizing that bednets or insecticidal coils can protect from mosquitoes, respectively. Despite the limited knowledge of malaria transmission and prevention, 55% of the households owned at least one long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) and 79% of the net-owning households slept under a net/LLIN the night before the survey. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: In order to maximize the benefits of malaria control strategies, health education should be implemented, building on the higher awareness of mosquito control methods and stressing the role of vectors in transmitting the disease

Impact of Using Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction on Student’s Academic Achievement and Satisfaction in an Online English Course for French Speakers

This dissertation explored the effect of Gagne\u27s nine events of instruction on student academic achievement and satisfaction during an online English class for French speakers. A group of 30 Facebook users from French-speaking countries in North and Sub-Saharan Africa participated in the research. They were divided randomly into two groups: one receiving traditional instruction through an asynchronous online lecture with PowerPoint presentation, and the other using instruction utilizing Gagne\u27s nine events of instruction integrated with an LMS designed for this purpose. This mixed methods study explored several hypotheses related to academic achievement and satisfaction in the two groups. While the quantitative data did not show significant differences between the two groups, a highly significant difference was noted in Event 7 (providing feedback) indicating that feedback was mentioned more frequently in the treatment group. Qualitative data showed that participants from both groups enjoyed the course, felt satisfied, and experienced improvements in their English abilities. Although the study had some limitations, such as the small sample size and specific focus of assessment tools, the findings offer important insights that can enhance the design of future courses and help educators better understand their students\u27 preferences in online English courses for French speakers in the African context. While no significant statistical differences were observed, it is still worth considering the potential value of Gagne\u27s nine events of instruction for specific learners. This research contributes to improving online language xi education for French speakers and empowers educators to make informed decisions regarding course design and teaching methods to enhance the effectiveness of online instruction

STRUCTRAL BEHA VIORE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS STRENGTHED FOR SHEAR USING CFRP LAMINATES SUBJECTED TO CYCLIC LOADING

The application of an external strengthening technique such as bonded fibrereinforced polymer (FRP) laminates seems to be an attractive technique to improve the structural behaviour of R.C elements under cyclic loading. FRP composite materials are widely employed because of their high strength to weight ratio, environmental resistance and ease of application over materials such as steel. In this research, an analytical model based on non-linear finite element algorithms coded in FORTRAN language was developed to enable the analysis of R.C beams externally strengthened for shear using CFRP laminates subjected to cyclic loads. 20-noded isoparametric quadrilateral elements with three degrees of freedom per each node were used to represent concrete. Material response is assumed to be orthotropic with tangent stiffness derived from stress-strain relationship for concrete under general biaxial state of stress. The reinforcement bars were represented in discrete manner. Three-dimensional space frame elements and space truss elements were used for this purpose. Material response is assumed to be elastic-perfectly plastic. 20-noded elements similar to those used to model concrete elements were used to represent CFRP side plates. Material response is assumed to be elastic-brittle. Discrete cracking approach was used to represent cracking. Primary consideration has been given to the representation of shear transfer mechanisms due to aggregate interlock in cracked concrete and dowel action in reinforcement. Expressions were derived from an analytical model in conjunction with experimental data to provide shear stress and stiffness values for special elements used to model aggregate interlock mechanism. A comparable approach was used to drive expression for dowel action mechanism. The bond-slip phenomenon between concrete and reinforcement was accounted for by using non-dimensional spnng elements. Shear stiffness values for such elements are obtained from expression based on experimental data. A new experimental methodology that enables to study the interfacial behaviour of CFRP-to-concrete joints under cyclic shear loading was developed. An experimental program consisted of testing specified number of push off specimens has been conducted. Mathematical formulation that govern the behaviour of the interface element was obtained, which are found in good agreement with the experimental results. This included the bond-slip behaviour, shear stiffness of interface and its degradation as number of cycle increased as well as the S-N curve. 3-d interface element is used to simulate this phenomenon. The element has sixteen nodes, eight nodes connect to concrete element and the other eight nodes connected to CFRP sheet. The interface was modelled by three linear springs connecting the joint nodes with the same coordinates. A computer program with combined-iterative method was used to solve the non-linear cyclic problem. A parametric analysis has been carried out to study the effect of controlling factors such as shear span-depth ratio, CFRP thickness on structural behaviour of R.C beams strengthened for shear with CFRP laminates subjected to monotonic or cyclic loading. The results from the analytical model were compared with corresponding experimental ones in order to confirm the validity of the analytical algorithm. The comparison between the analytical results and the published results gave a good agreement which indicates that experimental methodology proved to be appropriate and valid and that the analytical algorithm is quite efficient tool to study the structural behaviour of such element under cyclic loading as well as monotonic loading. Vl

Les grandes réformes de l’école malienne de 1962 à 2016

La réforme de l’enseignement de 1962 En 1886, Joseph Galliéni ouvre l’école des otages à Kayes à l’image de celle de Louis Faidherbe au Sénégal. En 1895, le nouveau gouverneur du Soudan, Louis E. Trentinian, transforme l’école des otages en école de fils de chefs, pour former des interprètes et des commis. Cette école coloniale redoutée et rejetée, qui allait directement à l’encontre des idéaux traditionnels, est aujourd’hui réclamée au Mali, au point de ne plus arriver à satisfaire la demand..

Police learning & development 2025:destination map

The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) and Police and Association of Crime Commissioners (APCC) have set out their vision for the future of policing in their joint Policing Vision 2025.The Open University’s (OU) Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL) and The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) are supporting the transformation process through the Initiating Transformation of Police Learning and Development Project (ITPLD). This work engaged all police forces in England and Wales and is intended to support the transformation of training, learning and development (L&D) to support the realisation of Vision 2025.Understanding what the post ‘transformation’ landscape looks like and how it might link to effective delivery for policing and publics alike are key questions. Understanding in these areas would provide:• Strategic policing practitioners with a model against which they could benchmark their and other’s activities,• L&D professionals with a model for integrating and aligning delivery to meet force/ agency priorities, and• Individual learners with a framework against which to understand their opportunities and responsibilities.In addition, it would also describe a ‘destination’ from which key activities, events and processes necessary to realising the vision might be identified, mapped, and navigated to. The Destination Map presented here has been developed as an approach to tackling these challenges and seeks to provide strategic leaders, L&D professionals, and policing more widely, with a model which they can use to help guide them successfully into an uncertain future. The Destination Map was developed collaboratively between academics and police practitioners from a variety of disciplines, not least L&D specialisms. The initial thinking has been refined and shaped through the feedback of numerous reviewers. The research team is grateful to everyone who has contributed to the development of this model, and in particular to the invaluable contribution of Philip Knox (PSNI), Arif Nawaz (GMP), Janet Prescott (Staffs) and Peter Ward (East Midlands) in supporting the initial and subsequent shaping of this work.This document is intended primarily for use by those within organisational executive teams and within L&D functions (at both leadership and operational levels)