Tackling transition:the value of peer mentoring

This paper is aimed at those interested in the promotion of student retention in higher education; particularly those with an interest in peer mentoring as a means of student support. It critically discusses the results of an exploratory study analysing the perceptions of peer mentors and mentees within five universities in the United Kingdom. The aim of the study was to analyse how student peer mentoring can aid transition into university by focusing specifically on how senior students can support their junior counterparts in their first year at university. The paper discusses the results of a survey which was completed by 329 student peer mentors and mentees. Focusing on the benefits and outcomes of participation in Mentoring Programmes, the survey was distinctive in that it asked mentors and mentees similar questions. From a theoretical perspective, the paper contributes to debates about peer support in higher education showing that participation in such programmes can have positive outcomes from both social and pedagogic perspectives. Practically speaking, the results have important implications for Higher Education Institutions as the research highlights the importance of putting into place formally structured Peer Mentoring Programmes which facilitate student support at a time when new students are most at risk of ‘dropping out’

University continuing education in a neoliberal landscape: developments in England and Aotearoa New Zealand

This paper explores how changing higher education policies and funding, influenced by neoliberalism, are impacting on university adult and continuing education in England and Aotearoa New Zealand. The downhill trajectory of English university continuing education in the first decade of the twenty-first century is compared with the apparent buoyancy of the situation in New Zealand during the same period. The paper discusses some of the contextual factors which may have contributed to sustaining continuing education in New Zealand, against the tide of developments elsewhere, and in spite its subjection to the influence of neoliberal policies since the 1980s. These factors include: an ethos of public dissemination of knowledge, an acknowledgement of the universities’ role as ‘critic and conscience’ of society, a broad commitment to educational equality and an approach which has been strategic as well as pragmatic. The paper describes developments in one New Zealand continuing education department between 2006 and 2010 as it experiences further institutional and political change. The author concludes that, in spite of having demonstrated considerable resilience, the current structures and activities of continuing education departments in New Zealand are as fragile as they have been shown to be in England. Possible responses to the current situation are discussed and ‘radical hope’ (Brookfield 2005) is advocated as the university-based adult educators’ response in difficult times. Radical hope, founded on critical theory, involves recognising and challenging the assumptions of neoliberalism, as well as critical praxis (Carr and Kemmis 1986), and a reaffirmation on the part of academics and adult educators of the political nature of adult education (Freire 1972; Crowther et al 2005; Martin 2008; Wallace 2008)

Blow up - Explaining European armaments cooperation from 1992 until 2005

Defense date: 26/05/2008Examining Board: Professor Kratochwil, Friedrich V., EUI (supervisor) Professor Vennesson, Pascal, EUI Professor James, Andrew, Manchester Business School Professor Krotz, Ulrich, Brown UniversityThe subject of this thesis is European armaments cooperation between 1992 and 2005. During this period, European governments moved the institutional forum of cooperation from a transatlantic to a European context, extended joint activities to new areas, and established several organizations. Moreover, some of the largest defense companies merged cross-border, and the European Commission started playing an increasing role. The scholarly literature explains these new patterns of cooperation as a result of economic pressures but fails to account for the uneven effects of industrial consolidation, the irregular dynamic of cooperation, the partly overlapping responsibilities of the organizations, and leaves little room for political agency. The thesis conceptualizes armaments cooperation as a setting of a particular problématique and a related regime. It argues that a specific regime configuration corresponds to a certain understanding of the problem at hand, the political project at stake, and a perspective that aligns the joint activities. In 1992 and 1998, different groups of governments conceived of different problems that ought to be solved through cooperation. Hence, the regime was divided into separate arenas inside and outside the EU, in which joint activities were pursued with different purposes, leading to different degrees of integration, and the establishment of partly competing organizations. In 2005, all European governments accepted a link of the problems solved through armaments cooperation to the political project of establishing the EU as an international actor. They agreed that the purpose of cooperation was to provide the necessary military and technological capabilities. Consequently, cooperation was pursued in an increasingly integrated EU arena, inspired by a capabilities perspective, and supported by international organizations like the European Defence Agency and the Commission. Political leadership, timing, and concept crafting are identified as three aspects that are critical for shifts of the problématique. The thesis develops a theory neither of armaments cooperation nor of these cognitive shifts but stresses instead that political phenomena should be made intelligible, with reference to the context and time bound understandings of political actors

Smart S&T and innovation agendas in a globalised era

Purpose: This guest editorial aims at demonstrating the usefulness and variety of FTA for defining future S&T and innovation agendas. Design/Methodology/Approach: This introductory paper provides an overview of selected FTA 2011 conference contributions for this special issue. Findings: FTA can play a number of important roles in orienting S&T and innovation systems so that these can better address global challenges. Appropriate forms of FTA support and enable both, organisations and individuals, to anticipate, adapt and respond pro-actively to grand challenges by defining respective future S&T and innovation agendas and contributing to smart specialisation. Research limitations/implications (if applicable): From a large set of excellent papers presented at the FTA 2011 conference, only a restricted number of papers could be included in this special issue contributing to the anticipation and shaping of future S&T and innovation developments. Practical implications (if applicable): FTA can contribute not only to the steering of S&T and innovation systems, but also to their adjustment, adaptability and ability to shape responses to challenges and opportunities. Social implications (if applicable): The papers of this special issue point to the need for FTA to create spaces for an effective dialogue between key players in different policy domains. Only then FTA will facilitate vision-building and consensus-building for engineering major processes of transformation. These transformations can be pursued at regional or national level and require a well-thought out strategy to play on the strength of that particular region or country («smart specialisation») when addressing the grand challenges. Originality/Value: A brief analysis of the selected articles does reveal promising activities that FTA can play a crucial role in fostering the development of smart specialisation strategies. They will be required to generate robust S&T and innovation agendas in a globalised era

FTA break new ground in response to grand challenges

Purpose: This guest editorial aims at demonstrating the diversity of application fields in which FTA methods are being used and to offer a glimpse onto possible consequences that grand challenges may imply for the development of FTA. Design/Methodology/Approach: This introductory paper provides an overview of selected FTA 2011 conference contributions for this special issue. Findings: FTA approaches create spaces where an effective dialogue between key players in different policy domains facilitates vision-building and consensus-building for engineering major processes of transformation. Therefore, sound approaches of futures thinking will help to better address the grand challenges. Research limitations/implications (if applicable): From a large set of excellent papers presented at the FTA 2011 conference, only a restricted number of papers could be included in this special issue highlighting the broad diversity of FTA application fields in response to grand challenges. Practical implications (if applicable): FTA can contribute not only to the steering of diverse innovation systems, but also to their adjustment, adaptability and ability to shape responses to grand challenges. Social implications (if applicable): The papers of this special issue point to the need for FTA to take into account user perspectives and to shape the social context. Originality/Value: This special issue brings together the following papers which explore not only the opportunities and limitations of implementing FTA methods in a variety of policy domains but also their benefits in enabling a better understanding of complex systems which interact in each situation and in defining effective policy responses