Maximising intercultural learning in short term international placements: Findings associated with orientation programs, guided reflection and immersion

Short-term international practicum experience is now a feature of many university education programs in Australia in an attempt to engage students with the growing multi-cultural aspects of Australian life. The stated purposes of such practicum experiences generally highlight intercultural learning, which is associated with the development of intercultural sensitivity, cultural identity, global citizenship and global competence. This paper tracks and documents the early and developing attitudes and dispositions of a group of pre-service teachers (PSTs) and academic staffwho were engaged with the pilot project of a pre-service placement in Malaysian secondary schools. The behaviours associated with intercultural learning are observed in association with the students\u27 responses to changing circumstances. The paper draws attention to lessons learnt about orientation for intercultural exchanges in the development of intercultural learning and suggests ways to enhance the development of intercultural understandings and minimize cultural difference through more targeted interventions

Gender differences on the interacting effects of marital status and health insurance on long-term colon cancer survival in California, 1995-2014

Objectives. Long-term colon cancer survival is not well explained by main effects. We explored the interaction of age, gender, marital status, health insurance and poverty on 10-year colon cancer survival. Methods. California registry data were analyzed for 5,776 people diagnosed from 1995 to 2000; followed until 2014. Census data classified neighborhood poverty. We tested interactions with regressions and described them with standardized rates and rate ratios (RR). Results. The 5-way interaction was significant, suggesting larger 4-way disadvantages among non-Medicare-eligible people. A significant 4-way interaction was a 3-way interaction in non-high poverty neighborhoods only. Private insurance was protective for unmarried men (RR = 1.60) but not women, while it was protective for married women (RR = 1.22) but not men. This pattern seemed explained by lower-incomes of certain groups of unmarried women and married men and more prevalent underinsuring of unmarried men. Conclusions. Structural inequities related to the institutions of marriage and health care seem to affect women and men quite differently. Policy makers ought to be cognizant of such structural imbalances as future reforms of American health care are considered