The internationalisation of emerging market higher education providers: exploring transnational provision

The delivery of transnational higher education by emerging market providers is a relatively new phenomenon -- While much has been written about mainly British, U.S. and Australian providers delivering higher education programs offshore, this paper explores the transnational delivery of education by two universities from emerging markets: Mexico's Sistema Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey) and Malaysia's Limkokwing University of Creative Technology -- By developing a comprehensive listing of the universities' transnational engagement and motivations, and comparing them to traditional and contemporary firm internationalisation theories, the paper is able to highlight some of the key similarities and differences between the theory and practise in the context of emerging market transnational education providers -- The paper finds that, despite the unique character of the sector, the patterns of internationalisation of Sistema Tecnológico de Monterrey and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology are similar to those of firms in other industries -- Furthermore, recent theories explaining the internationalisation of developing country multinationals help to understand the speed at which both universities have internationalised and some of the business and non-business advantages gained from delivering programs abroa

Photon radiation effects on CdS/CuInSe2 thin film solar cells

The unknown tolerance of CuInSe2 cells to proton irradiation, was tested. It was shown that CdS/CuInSe2 solar cells have an inherent tolerance to irradiation by 1 MeV electrons up to at least 2 x 10 to the 16th power electrons/sq cm. Eleven, unencapsulated, 1 sq cm cells deposited on alumina substrates were irradiated with 1 MeV protons at normal incidence. The cells were exposed to six fluences ranging from 2.5 x 10 to the 10th power protons/sq cm to 5.0 x 10 to the 13th power protons/sq cm. After each interval of exposure, the cells were removed from the radiation chamber to undergo current/voltage characterization. It is shown that none of the cells electrical characteristics exhibited any degradation up to and including a fluence of 1 x 10 to the 11th power protons/sq cm. At fluences greater than this, the damage to the CuInSe2 cells V sub oc and fill factor (FF) was more severe than that exhibited by the Isc. The CuInSe2 cells proved to be approximately a factor of 50 more resistant to 1 MeV proton irradiation than silicon or gallium arsenide cells. Annealing of a CuInSe2 cell at 225 deg C for 6 minutes restored it to within 95% of its initial efficiency

La enseñanza del español como lengua extranjera en Argentina: un sector en expansión

Este ARI describe la dinámica del sector de la enseñanza del español como lengua extranjera en Argentina, indaga en las condiciones que están favoreciendo su rápida estructuración y expansión y discute algunas perspectivas hacia el futuro. Un conjunto de factores confluyentes, entre los que se cuentan el incremento de la movilidad de los estudiantes universitarios y el de la demanda de aprendizaje de español como lengua extranjera (ELE) en el plano internacional, la relación cambiaria favorable desde la devaluación del peso argentino ocurrida en 2002, la existencia en el país de una oferta educativa amplia y de calidad, así como de una tradición secular de enseñanza de idiomas, ha contribuido a consolidar en pocos años la enseñanza de ELE como un nuevo sector productivo. A medida que se evidencia su potencial como dinamizador de sectores vecinos (formación superior, industrias culturales, turismo), el Estado argentino lo integra en sus estrategias diplomáticas y de desarrollo económico

La escritura en sordos. Una propuesta metodológica para trabajar la sintaxis y el léxico desde el enfoque de español como lengua segunda y extranjera

El presente trabajo sintetiza la investigación llevada a cabo sobre las producciones escritas de 98 alumnos sordos que están cursando su escolaridad en escuelas de la Modalidad de Educación Especial de la República Argentina. Nos detendremos a analiz ar en particular el léxico y la sintaxis dado que, según recientes investigaciones, el principal obstáculo que encuentra la mayoría de los estudiantes sordos para el desarrollo de la escritura se evidencia especialmente en la dificultad de dominar un a gran cantidad de formas y estructuras de la gramática, aspecto que logra mejorarse mediante entrenamientos específicos. En relación a esto, planteamos como hipótesis que la enseñanza/aprendizaje de la escritura a los alumnos sordos necesita de un a revisión metodológico a partir del sustento teórico de los estudios de lenguas segundas y extranjeras. Sobre esta base, diseñamos un programa de enseñanza de la escritura en el que comparamos, a tal efecto, producciones de alumnos sordos que siguie ron esta forma de trabajo, con otras de alumnos que aprendían de modo convencional, sin hacer eje en la necesidad de enseñarles la lengua de modo simultáneo a la escritura..

Regressió lineal amb errors en ambdós eixos, apliació a la calibració i a la comparació de mètodes analítics

Linear Regression with Errors in Both Axes. Application toCalibration and Comparison of Analytical Methods.Jordi Riu Rusell. Doctoral Thesis.An important subject in analytical chemistry is the comparison of analytical methods at different levels of concentration using linear regression. As the two methods normally have associated errors, the regression line should be found using what is known as regression methods that take into account the errors in both axes. Another field in which these regression methods can be applied is in linear calibration, since there are some analytical techniques (for instance, X-ray fluorescence), in which the calibration line is found with certified reference materials (CRM) of the analyte of interest, each of which presents associated uncertainties to the concentration values.To find the regression line, we used the bivariate least squares (BLS) regression method, which takes into account the individual errors in both axes, and we developed the following tests:· individual tests on the coefficients of the regression lineUseful for detecting constant or proportional errors. We developed and validated the expressions for calculating the probabilities of  error taking into account the selected  probabilities of error and the bias set by the analyst.· joint confidence interval on the coefficients of the regression lineThis test can be used to compare two analytical methods, when one wants to check whether the intercept of the regression line significantly differs from zero and simultaneously if the slope significantly differs from unity. We have developed and validated the joint confidence interval for the coefficients of the BLS regression method, and the joint confidence interval for the coefficients of the MLS (multivariate least squares) regression method. The latter is useful for comparing more than two analytical methods.· confidence intervals in predictionUseful for finding the concentration value and its confidence interval from the instrumental response. It is also used in method comparison studies when one wants to know the confidence interval of a sample from the results of the same sample analysed by another method

Assessing the Social Media Use and Needs of Small Rural Retailers: Implications for Extension Program Support

To assess small rural retailers\u27 use of social media and the role of social media in their business sustainability, we conducted focus group interviews with small business owners/managers from rural communities in a midwestern state. Participants revealed strong interest in social media, especially for use in sales and marketing. However, their engagement in social media was limited due to lack of knowledge and resources (i.e., time, human resources, financial resources, effectiveness measurement) related to developing and updating content. On the basis of these findings, we examine implications for Extension professionals and outreach educators regarding social media needs and programming for small rural businesses