Beyond outputs: pathways to symmetrical evaluations of university sustainable development partnerships

As the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) draws to a close, it is timely to review ways in which the sustainable development initiatives of higher education institutions have been, and can be, evaluated. In their efforts to document and assess collaborative sustainable development program outcomes and impacts, universities in the North and South are challenged by similar conundrums that confront development agencies. This article explores pathways to symmetrical evaluations of transnationally partnered research, curricula, and public-outreach initiatives specifically devoted to sustainable development. Drawing on extensive literature and informed by international development experience, the authors present a novel framework for evaluating transnational higher education partnerships devoted to sustainable development that addresses design, management, capacity building, and institutional outreach. The framework is applied by assessing several full-term African higher education evaluation case studies with a view toward identifying key limitations and suggesting useful future symmetrical evaluation pathways. University participants in transnational sustainable development initiatives, and their supporting donors, would be well-served by utilizing an inclusive evaluation framework that is infused with principles of symmetry

Commentary: "Our reflections on identity, gender and transforming action"

EFiGiES Créée en 2003, EFiGiES (Association de Jeunes Chercheuses et Chercheurs en Études Féministes, Genre et Sexualités) est une association qui vise à créer de la solidarité entre étudiant-e-s, doctorant-e-s et jeunes chercheur-e-s en études féministes, genre et sexualités à travers une mise en commun de savoirs et d'informations.   Dans le cadre du programme 2012-2013 Genre, Sexe, Sexualité dans les mondes grec et romain « Les mots, les pratiques, les idées »   EFiGiES Antiquité organise..

Commentary : "Our reflections on identity, gender and transforming action"

This paper explores the cultural interplay between Indigenous women from one geographic locality being on and within the locality of the women of another locality – in this case, Whakatāne, Aotearoa. The authors consider identity, gender and place within the processes of transformation and decolonisation. They argue that women need to be involved in ways that restore their power as women and ensure their rightful place. The authors draw on the female ancestor Wairaka and her courage to argue that Indigenous women need to respond, change and adapt to the places in which they live. They argue that decolonisation needs to include action and possibilities for Māori and Indigenous Australian women

Commentary: "Our reflections on identity, gender and transforming action" : a lesson from place

This paper explores the cultural interplay between Indigenous women from one geographic locality being on and within the locality of the women of another locality – in this case, Whakatāne, Aotearoa. The authors consider identity, gender and place within the processes of transformation and decolonisation. They argue that women need to be involved in ways that restore their power as women and ensure their rightful place. The authors draw on the female ancestor Wairaka and her courage to argue that Indigenous women need to respond, change and adapt to the places in which they live. They argue that decolonisation needs to include action and possibilities for Māori and Indigenous Australian women

Talkin' up our doctoral research

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, undertaking the PhD journey brings with it specific challenges in how best to use the knowledge gained to make changes that will actively benefit Indigenous peoples and communities. Even within the health sector implementing research outcomes can sometimes be problematic. The Maori and Indigenous D octoral (MAI) Conference hosted by Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi (Indigenous U niversity), Whakatane, New Zealand, addressed this by considering the contribution of Indigenous doctoral research to advancements of Maori. As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people engaging in Doctoral studies, this conference was equally relevant to us

An international focus on cardiac surgery nursing : student perspectives

Clinical placements provide opportunities for teaching and learning within healthcare organisations among students studying to become registered nurses (Barrett et al, 2016). These opportunities reflect the diversity within the nursing profession, and can include students engaging in settings that are reflective of a specific patient population, disease and/or treatment. Globally, cardiac surgery has become one of the most common settings in which teaching and learning opportunities are provided to undergraduate nursing students (Golightly et al, 2017). Within these settings, senior clinical nurses work with students to facilitate the development of their skills specific to the care of individuals before, during and after cardiac surgery. Skills gained by this experience may provide an entrée to the opportunities associated with becoming a registered nurse in cardiac surgery settings following graduation. The intended outcomes of such placements are a comprehensive knowledge of cardiac surgery patients and the trajectory of illness and recovery; the opportunity to engage with patients and families across the continuum of care; the development of cardiac-specific skills; and understanding the importance of team-based delivery of care (Golightly et al, 2017). Even though these skills are the intended outcomes, however, the specific perception of nursing students engaged in these clinical placements has not been examined to determine whether or not learning outcomes are being met. The purpose of this brief discussion paper is to provide a summary of students’ perception of their clinical placements in cardiac-related environments, as part of the beginning stages of a quality assessment to address any potential gaps in knowledge

Plasma expansion by polyethylene-glycol-modified albumin

Systemic inflammatory response conditions are associated with capillary leak and haemodynamic compromise. Fluid resuscitation to reverse the ensuing hypovolaemia is, however, complicated by the decreased endothelium reflection coefficient to albumin and other colloids. We developed PEG–Alb (albumin covalently linked to polyethylene glycol) as a potential resuscitative agent. PEG was covalently linked to human albumin at multiple sites on the protein. The modified protein was heterogeneous when examined by SDS/PAGE, size-exclusion chromatography and SELDI–TOF MS (surface-enhanced laser-desorption ionization–time of flight MS). Based on size-exclusion chromatography and osmotic pressure data, the effective volume of PEG–Alb is increased 13- to 16-fold compared with unmodified albumin. In an LPS (lipopolysaccharide) model of shock, rats treated with PEG–Alb showed better blood pressure, lower Hct (haematocrit) consistent with haemodilution and less lung injury than rats treated with unmodified albumin or saline. In a CLP (caecal ligation and puncture) model of sepsis, PEG–Alb was more effective than albumin or saline in maintaining blood pressure and in decreasing Hct. When fluorescein-labelled PEG–Alb and Texas Red-labelled albumin were administered to rats with LPS- or CLP-induced shock, PEG–Alb was retained within blood vessels, whereas albumin extravasates into the interstitial space. Based on these data, PEG–Alb appears to be retained within blood vessels in models of capillary leak. PEG–Alb may ultimately be effective in the clinical treatment of shock associated with capillary leak

Low rates of T2DM screening among Indigenous and non-Indigenous women with GDM in Far North Queensland (Australia): 2004-2010

Objectives: This study examines the accuracy of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) case-ascertainment in routinely collected data. Methods: Retrospective cohort study analysed routinely collected data from all births at Cairns Base Hospital, Australia, from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2010 in the Cairns Base Hospital Clinical Coding system (CBHCC) and the Queensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC). GDM case ascertainment in the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) and Cairns Diabetes Centre (CDC) data were compared. Results: From 2004 to 2010, the specificity of GDM case-ascertainment in the QPDC was 99%. In 2010, only 2 of 225 additional cases were identified from the CDC and CBHCC, suggesting QPDC sensitivity is also over 99%. In comparison, the sensitivity of the CBHCC data was 80% during 2004–2010. The sensitivity of CDC data was 74% in 2010. During 2010, 223 births were coded as GDM in the QPDC, and the NDSS registered 247 women with GDM from the same postcodes, suggesting reasonable uptake on the NDSS register. However, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women was lower than expected. Conclusion: The accuracy of GDM case ascertainment in the QPDC appears high, with lower accuracy in routinely collected hospital and local health service data. This limits capacity of local data for planning and evaluation, and developing structured systems to improve post-pregnancy care, and may underestimate resources required. Implications: Data linkage should be considered to improve accuracy of routinely collected local health service data. The accuracy of the NDSS for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women requires further evaluation