Policy Analysis on UNESCO\u27s Action Plan for Gender Equality 2014-2021

The Priority Gender Equality Action Plan 2014-2021 was generated in response to the evaluation and assessment of the Priority Gender Equality Action Plan 2008-2013, which originated as a way to hold UNESCO accountable to its given mandates on gender equality as an agency of the United Nations. This research provided a policy analysis regarding the effectiveness of the Priority Gender Equality Action Plan 2014-2021 as a global initiative to promote gender equality. The analysis was structured into four sections. The first provided contextual background of the policy, its current state, and stakeholder analysis. Second, components of the policy were analyzed including its objectives, implementation, and outcomes. Thirdly, data was analyzed to seek further evidence of the policy’s strength and sustainability. Finally, an analysis of the policy was constructed based on the aforementioned research regarding the effectiveness of the current plan in its objectives and those of UNESCO as a whole. In response to this analysis, recommendations for future improvements were also provided. The outcomes provided a clear representation of the positive evolution of gender equality programming with the conclusion that the policy is effective in promoting UNESCO’s mandate of gender equality and the policy’s specific objectives. Further recommendations for future programming based on the analysis were greater accountability of all stakeholders, a greater focus on program and evaluation structures, and a greater effort to discuss how gender-based violence affects education

Coalescence in low-viscosity liquids

The expected universal dynamics associated with the initial stage of droplet coalescence are difficult to study visually due to the rapid motion of the liquid and the awkward viewing geometry. Here we employ an electrical method to study the coalescence of two inviscid droplets at early times. We measure the growth dynamics of the bridge connecting the two droplets and observe a new asymptotic regime inconsistent with previous theoretical predictions. The measurements are consistent with a model in which the two liquids coalesce with a slightly deformed interface.Comment: 4 pages and 4 figure

Determining the Pore Size Distribution in Synthetic and Building Materials Using 1D NMR

NMR is gaining increasing interest in civil engineering for applications regarding microstructure characterization as e.g., to determine pore sizes or to monitor moisture transport in porous materials. This study reveals the capability of NMR as a tool for pore size characterization. Therefore, we measured floor screed and synthetic materials at partial and full saturation. For most examined materials, the pore size distribution was successfully determined using either a reference or a calibration method. Since diffusion effects were observed for some samples in single-sided NMR measurements, further tests employing an NMR core analyzer were carried out in a homogeneous magnetic field. The finally obtained surface relaxivity of floor screed (50 μm/s) resulted to be much higher than suggested by literature

The Power of Appearance: Students’ Impression Management within Class

Although educational research acknowledges that social perception processes are relevant for understanding but also evaluating situations, the topic of impression management (IM) has achieved only little attention so far. Individuals have discussed rather as passively exposed to the mechanism of social interaction and perception processes. This contribution changes perspectives and addresses the question of conscious impression management within classes. The chapter asks whether students use self-presentation tactics in order to deliberately navigate the impression their teachers should have of them. By means of an empirical study, country- and gender-specific differences with regard to impression management were found. Likewise, students with a high educational aspiration and good school grades scored higher or at least differently on impression management than students with a low educational aspiration level and low school grades. And students with a high educational aspiration but low grades try to overcome this discrepancy by means of personally adapting to the teachers’ expectations. Even though the influence mechanism of impression management on school success cannot conclusively be answered, this paper opens new perspectives on the scientific discourse of social inequality as well as teaching quality and discusses implications for teacher education

Staatskapitalismus goes global

The Chinese economy has developed rapidly during the past 30 years and a market-oriented state capitalism has emerged. The policies of the Chinese party-state have led to concentrating effects both in – and outside of China: Huge state-owned enterprises and conglomerates have emerged at the expense of smaller ones. With the support of state institutions, the remaining SOEs increasingly involve in overseas activities. Chinese outward foreign direct investment has grown considerably since the year 2000. This paper depicts China’s capitalist development and illustrates underlying motives and effects of the “Go Global Strategy”