Outcomes versus incomes: Teaching students what they need to get a job

It’s an age-old question for university educators: is it our role to provide students with specific skills as well as education? Should learning outcomes be more attuned to what employers want? And which employers? As print and broadcast journalism practitioners, as well as educators, we are involved in research to answer some of these questions. As part of this, we questioned major WA news employers about what they wanted from journalism and broadcasting graduates, both in skills and personal attributes, and what they believed was missing from university journalism courses. We found strong agreement about the importance of ‘traditional’ journalism skills, such as spelling, grammar and punctuation; enthusiasm and drive to find stories; clarity of writing; ability to learn; passion for news; strong work ethic and understanding of journalistic ethics. In contrast, our research shows employers are less enthusiastic about the value of digital skills. This paper looks at whether the skills they seek are adequately covered by journalism and broadcasting courses at Edith Cowan University by examining what is assessed in students

REPLY: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING SOCIAL COSTS OF THE TOBACCO PROGRAM

Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Internationalization and geography fieldwork: opportunities for skills enhancement

This article outlines the approaches to internationalization undertaken by the Geography Department at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra in Dublin. It begins with an overview of the potential of the discipline of geography for internationalization, before explaining some existing practices within the Department which are intended to foster both mobility and internationalization at home. The core of the paper is a discussion of an approach to internationalization through fieldwork which has been developed and refined in the Department over the past eight years. The module is described in detail, together with an examination of learning outcomes and an evaluation of the various IT, linguistic, disciplinary and interpersonal skills fostered by this approach

International student collaboration in Geography: learning by doing together

Cet article explore comment la collaboration entre les départements de géographie des universités peut renforcer les compétences pratiques, les compétences de reflection et les approches innovantes des futurs enseignants dans les domaines de l'interculturalisme, la mondialisation et le civisme, et également faciliter la déconstruction des stéréotypes négatifs à l'égard des personnes, des lieux, des paysages et des enjeux. Ceci a été facilité par un module de géographie américano-européen commun qui a eu lieu en 2012-13 entre la University of Northern Colorado (UNCO), et SPD-Dublin City University. Ils ont collaboré sur de cours basé sur Moodle pour les étudiants facilitées par le AAG (Association des géographes américains) - Centre for Global Geography Education. Le module d'identité nationale CGGE examine les caractéristiques géographiques de l'identité nationale et de l'interaction de la culture, la politique, et le lieu. Étudiants UNC et SPD-DCU ont été rejoints dans la dernière partie de ce projet pilote par les étudiants grecs de l'Université de la mer Egée. La méthodologie utilisée dans ce cours pilote est facilement transférable. Dans ce document, les points de vue des étudiants irlandais au module sont analysés. This paper explores how collaboration between Geography Departments in universities can enhance the practical competencies, skills and innovative approaches of future teachers in the areas of inter-culturalism, globalization, and good citizenship, and also facilitate the deconstruction of negative stereotyping in relation to people, places, landscapes and issues. This was facilitated by a shared US-European Geography module that took place in 2012-13 between the University of Northern Colorado, and SPD-Dublin City University. They collaborated on a Moodle-based course for students facilitated by the AAG’s (Association of American Geographers) Centre for Global Geography Education. The CGGE National Identity module examines geographic characteristics of national identity and interplay of culture, politics, and place. UNCO and SPD-DCU students were joined in the latter part of this pilot project by Greek students from the University of the Aegean. The methodology used in this pilot course is easily transferable. In this paper the viewpoints of the Irish students to the module are analysed

Restoration and Loss after Disaster:Applying the Dual Process Model of Coping in Bereavement

The article asks whether disasters that destroy life but leave the material infrastructure relatively intact tend to prompt communal coping focusing on loss, while disasters that destroy significant material infrastructure tend to prompt coping through restoration/rebuilding. After comparing memorials to New Zealand’s Christchurch earthquake and Pike River mine disasters, we outline circumstances in which collective restorative endeavor may be grassroots, organized from above, or manipulated, along with limits to effective restoration. We conclude that bereavement literature may need to take restoration more seriously, while disaster literature may need to take loss more seriously.</p

Glycated hemoglobin measurements at three, 12 and 24 months postpartum after gestational diabetes

Purpose: To determine the associations between glycated hemoglobin (A1C) values at three, 12 and 24 months postpartum taken during the Families Defeating Diabetes trial. Methods: The Families Defeating Diabetes trial was a randomized 12 month lifestyle intervention delivered in the first year postpartum. Women were reviewed at three, 6 12 and 24 months for body habitus, diet and lifestyle choices. Glycated hemoglobin levels were measured at three, 12 and 24 months. Results: There were 170 randomization participants: 89 interventional (INT); and 81 control (CON). Of these 170 participants, 50 INT and 47 CON completed 12-month follow-up and 26 INT and 24 CON completed 24-month follow-up. Study outcomes did not differ between the cohorts. Combined intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability of repeated results showed substantial reliability: 0.74 (95% CI 0.63, 0.83) between three and 12 month A1C; and 0.72 (95% CI 0.51, 0.85) for three and 24 month A1C. Pearson correlations for three month vs 12 month A1C were r=0.745 (p\u3c0.001) and three month vs 24 month A1C were r=0.718 (p=0.001) Conclusions: The A1C values at three, 12 and 24 months after gestational diabetes mellitus showed substantial reliability by intraclass correlation coefficients analysis as well as significant Pearson correlations. These findings add perspective to timing and use of A1C to document postpartum glucose tolerance for women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus. These findings suggest a role for postpartum A1C testing; however, a longitudinal comparison with OGTT results is required to confirm clinical validity

Maternal, umbilical arterial and umbilical venous 25-hydroxyvitamin D and adipocytokine concentrations in pregnancies with and without gestational diabetes

Objective Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been associated with inflammation as well as Vitamin D insufficiency. While Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties, relationships between Vitamin D and inflammatory markers remain unexplored in GDM. Therefore, this case - control study investigated adipocytokine and Vitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and correlations in GDM and control women, as well as their neonates. Design/Participants/Measurements seventy-three women participated: 36 GDM and 37 controls. Maternal samples were drawn at 31 weeks. Umbilical arterial and venous samples were collected at birth. 25(OH)D and adipocytokine concentrations were compared for GDM vs control maternal, umbilical arterial and venous samples. Correlations were explored between biochemical results, maternal and neonatal demographics. Results Compared with age- and weight-matched control participants, GDM women had significantly lower concentrations of 25(OH)D (77·3 ± 24·3 vs 93·2 ± 19·2 nm/l; P = 0·009); adiponectin (17·5 ± 11·8 vs 34·1 ± 20·3 μg/ml, P \u3c 0·001); resistin (25·4 ± 9·1 vs 31·9 ± 12·1 ng/ml, P = 0·045); and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 13·9 ± 10·0 vs 21·0 ± 12·6 ng/ml, P = 0·038), while delivering 1 week earlier (38·2 ± 1·2 vs 39·5 ± 0·9 weeks, P \u3c 0·001). GDM maternal 25(OH)D concentrations positively correlated with PAI-1, IL-8 and TNF-α concentrations. Umbilical 25(OH)D concentrations were not significantly different in GDM vs control offspring, whereas adiponectin, resistin and PAI-1 concentrations were significantly lower in GDM offspring. Conclusions GDM women had lower 25(OH)D concentrations than controls, while neonatal umbilical concentrations of 25(OH)D did not differ. GDM maternal and GDM offspring had lower adiponectin, resistin and PAI-1 concentrations compared with controls. Results suggest that both GDM women and their offspring demonstrate abnormal adipocytokine patterns. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd