Cross‐curricular IT tools for university students: Developing an effective model

Information technology is now recognized as a key study‐enhancement measure in higher education, and there is increasing demand for the provision of basic IT awareness and skills across the whole range of subject departments. One response to this demand is the central provision of a generic IT course or programme of courses. We draw upon the experience of such courses at the Universities of Glasgow and York to identify some of the significant dimensions in the development and operation of generic IT programmes. These include the policy context, the structure, content and educational stance of the programme, relationship of the programme to existing curricula, and the extent and nature of resourcing, assessment and certification. Operation of such courses raises important issues, such as questions of compulsory IT preparation, study skills, staff development, standardization, institutional policy and evaluation. This discussion is set within current trends in higher education

Effects of education on second births before and after societal transition: Evidence from the Estonian GGS

This article examines the influence of educational attainment and enrolment on second births in Estonia, comparing the patterns before and after the onset of the societal transformation of the 1990s. While many Northern and Western European countries have shown a positive relationship between female education and second births, this pattern has not been found in Central and East European countries. Against that background, Estonia offers an interesting case with noticeably high second birth intensities for highly educated women. In the state socialist period, after controlling for the influence of other characteristics, including the partner's education, women with tertiary education were found to have higher second birth intensity than women from any lower educational strata. In the postsocialist period, the difference has grown smaller, but women with tertiary education still display a significantly higher transition rate to second birth than their counterparts with secondary education. Following the presentation of empirical findings, the article discusses the mechanisms that could underlie the observed relationship between education and fertility decisions in the changing societal context. The analysis employs microdata from the Estonian Generations and Gender Survey (GGS), conducted in 2004-05.economic transition, educational attainment, Estonia, Generations and Gender Survey (GGS), second births

ESRC Tensions and future prospects Briefing Note 4: Thoughts on opposition to new housing development

A summary of views from local communities on perspectives for and against new planned housing development, and a brief commentar

ESRC “Tensions and Prospects for Sustainable Housing Growth - a case study of Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes" interim report October/November 2012

Formal Interim Report of first year to this ESRC research project into the planning and delivery of 'sustainable housing growth', particularly in the case study part of the MKSM are

Application of a 10 week coaching program designed to facilitate volitional personality change : overall effects on personality and the impact of targeting

The current study explored the outcomes of a 10 week coaching program designed to facilitate volitional personality change. It also explored the impact of targeting specific personality facets on change. This research builds upon the burgeoning literature challenging the view that personality is fixed. The results of the study indicated that the 10 week program resulted in significant increases in participant's conscientiousness and extraversion and significant decreases in neuroticism. These changes were maintained 3 months post-intervention for neuroticism and extraversion. Targeting of associated facets significantly interacted with time during the intervention period for emotionality and conscientiousness, but not for extraversion

Growth, Income and Regulation: a Non-Linear Approach

This paper analyzes the effect on GDP growth of income (GDP per capita) and economic regulation. A simple theoretical framework presents two opposing views. We analyze the empirical relation using a non-linear dynamic panel data model with fixed effects. The result shows that the effect of regulation on growth depends on income. For low-income countries, there is little effect of changing regulation. For highly regulated middle-income countries, deregulation can increase growth. For high-income countries, deregulation leads to higher growth. Holding regulation constant, there is catch-up growth with a maximum at an intermediate income level.catch-up growth; economic freedom; fixed effects; GMM; specification tests

The impact of regulation, ownership and business culture on managing corporate risk within the water industry

Although the specifics of water utility ownership, regulation and management culture have been explored in terms of their impact on economic and customer value, there has been little meaningful engagement with their influence on the risk environment and risk management. Using a literature review as the primary source of information, this paper maps the existing knowledge base onto two critical questions: what are the particular features of regulation, ownership and management culture which influence the risk dynamic, and what are the implications of these relationships in the context of ambitions for resilient organizations? In addressing these queries, the paper considers the mindful choices and adjustments a utility must make to its risk management strategy to manage strategic tensions between efficiency, risk and resilience. The conclusions note a gap in understanding of the drivers required for a paradigm shift within the water sector from a re-active to a pro-active risk management culture. A proposed model of the tensions between reactive risk management and pro-active, adaptive risk management provides a compelling case for measured risk management approaches which are informed by an appreciation of regulation, ownership and business culture. Such approaches will support water authorities in meeting corporate aspirations to become "high reliability" services while retaining the capacity to out-perform financial and service level targets

Sex Offender Treatment Program: Initial Recidivism Study

This report presents results of a recidivism study of participants in the Sex Offender Treatment Program at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, Alaska Department of Corrections, from January 1987 to August 1995. The report provides an overview and history of sex offender treatment in Alaska as well as a literature review of other studies and findings on this area of treatment. The Alaska study, which was the first conducted of the treatment program, found that any level of treatment achieved resulted in less recidivism, with the longer the period of treatment, the lower the recidivism. The study also noted the high percentage of Alaska Natives in the program and the history of alcohol and substance abuse presented by many sex offenders. The majority of offenders in the program were guilty of assaulting children. The study discusses the program's cost benefits as well as the implications of its findings for probation and parole.Alaska Department of CorrectionsI. Introduction / II. Sex Offender Treatment in Alaska / III. Literature Review / IV. Methodology / V. Results / VI. Conclusions and Recommendations / VII. Reference