19 research outputs found

    TODDLER Project (2010-2013) Towards Opportunities for Disadvantaged and Diverse Learners on the Early-childhood Road. European Union, Lifelong Learning Programme, Comenius.

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    TODDLER Project, Lifelong Learning Programme created opportunities for knowledge transfer and exchange through focusing on the development of provisions for toddlers and investigations of different approaches promoting learning in a child-centred way. Module materials explored strategies and good practice of provision of high-quality education and care for disadvantaged toddlers. A framework created a report on ‘Toddler in Europe the Context’ on ECEC systems and approaches used to support diverse and disadvantaged toddlers. Then explored topic areas of ‘Language Support in Multicultural Settings’, Supporting Wellbeing’ and ‘Enhancing Parental Involvement’ with ‘Educating the Reflective Practitioner’ underpinning all of this. The module materials were successfully trialled and completed being made available on the TODDLER website as a Course Reader, Course Lecture Materials, and resources. KU led the Report and Case Studies: Promoting the Wellbeing of Toddler’s within the European Union creating an innovative pedagogical approach ‘Reflective Story Boards’ using a description of the context of the strategy followed by photos with explanations and supported with further description /explanation making visible to all stakeholders how educators promote wellbeing for toddlers. The final report highlighted the Reflective Story Boards contribution reaching the goal of showing the educational potential of high quality ECEC (Final Report, 2011)

    Innovation networks and green restructuring: Which path development can EU Framework Programmes stimulate in Norway?

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    With combined insights from evolutionary economic geography and transition studies, the article examines the engagement of different regions in Norway in the innovation networks created within the European Union’s environmental programmes. The aim is to explore the programmes’ potential for supporting green economy and economic restructuring through branching and new path creation. The authors assess which regions participate in the programmes, which international networks they build, and which organisations participate in different regions. They compare three regions with different restructuring needs and research capacity – the counties of Rogaland, Hordaland, and SĂžr-TrĂžndelag (now part of the county of TrĂžndelag). They find that overall, Norwegian organisations participate relatively frequently in the programmes, but private firms play a marginal role. Their partners are mainly in core EU regions. Regional participation in the programmes is a function of research capacity as well as oil dependence. The authors conclude that in research-oriented regions, research establishments tend to dominate participation, creating potential for restructuring mainly through path creation. In oil-dependent regions, private firms account for a higher share of participants, enhancing the potential for branching. As the former regions participate more, the programme can mainly stimulate path creation.© 2019 The Author(s

    Talking about quality: how ‘quality’ is conceptualized in nursing homes and homecare

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    Abstract Background The delivery of high-quality service in nursing homes and homecare requires collaboration and shared understanding among managers, employees, users and policy makers from across the healthcare system. However, conceptualizing healthcare professionals’ perception of quality beyond hospital settings (e.g., its perspectives, defining attributes, quality dimensions, contextual factors, dilemmas) has rarely been done. This study therefore explores the meaning of “quality” among healthcare managers and staff in nursing homes and homecare. Methods The study applies a cross-sectional qualitative design with focus groups and individual interviews, to capture both depth and breadth of conceptualization of quality from healthcare professionals in nursing homes and homecare. We draw our data from 65 managers and staff in nursing homes and homecare services in Norway and the Netherlands. The participants worked as managers (n = 40), registered nurses (RNs) or assistant nurses (n = 25). Results The analysis identified the two categories and four sub-categories: “Professional issues: more than firefighting” (subcategories “professional pride” and “competence”) and “patient-centered approach: more than covering basic needs” (subcategories “dignity” and “continuity”). Quality in nursing homes and homecare is conceptualized as an ongoing process based on having the “right competence,” good cooperation across professional groups, and patient-centered care, in line with professional pride and dignity for the patients. Conclusion Based on the understanding of quality among the healthcare professionals in our study, quality should encompass the softer dimensions of professional pride and competence, as well as a patient-centered approach to care. These dimensions should be factors in improvement activities and in daily practice

    Talking about quality: how ‘quality’ is conceptualized in nursing homes and homecare

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    Abstract Background The delivery of high-quality service in nursing homes and homecare requires collaboration and shared understanding among managers, employees, users and policy makers from across the healthcare system. However, conceptualizing healthcare professionals’ perception of quality beyond hospital settings (e.g., its perspectives, defining attributes, quality dimensions, contextual factors, dilemmas) has rarely been done. This study therefore explores the meaning of “quality” among healthcare managers and staff in nursing homes and homecare. Methods The study applies a cross-sectional qualitative design with focus groups and individual interviews, to capture both depth and breadth of conceptualization of quality from healthcare professionals in nursing homes and homecare. We draw our data from 65 managers and staff in nursing homes and homecare services in Norway and the Netherlands. The participants worked as managers (n = 40), registered nurses (RNs) or assistant nurses (n = 25). Results The analysis identified the two categories and four sub-categories: “Professional issues: more than firefighting” (subcategories “professional pride” and “competence”) and “patient-centered approach: more than covering basic needs” (subcategories “dignity” and “continuity”). Quality in nursing homes and homecare is conceptualized as an ongoing process based on having the “right competence,” good cooperation across professional groups, and patient-centered care, in line with professional pride and dignity for the patients. Conclusion Based on the understanding of quality among the healthcare professionals in our study, quality should encompass the softer dimensions of professional pride and competence, as well as a patient-centered approach to care. These dimensions should be factors in improvement activities and in daily practice

    Spaces: What’s at Stake in Their Digital Public Histories?

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    Public histories of spaces are often at the heart of territorial claims: theycan cultivate emotional identification, oreven build legitimizing facts on the ground.Digital technologies have increased public awareness of, and ability to mobilize, thepower of public histories of spaces. This means more influence for both official andgrassroots channels to spread, augment, or contest spatial narratives. We argue thatthose who take care of spaces and their archival records, and interpret them for thepublic, have the opportunity to play an important public role. Through diverse exam-ples, this chapter shows how control of iconography, access, and ownership is at stake

    Qualitative longitudinal research in health research: a method study

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    Abstract Background Qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) comprises qualitative studies, with repeated data collection, that focus on the temporality (e.g., time and change) of a phenomenon. The use of QLR is increasing in health research since many topics within health involve change (e.g., progressive illness, rehabilitation). A method study can provide an insightful understanding of the use, trends and variations within this approach. The aim of this study was to map how QLR articles within the existing health research literature are designed to capture aspects of time and/or change. Methods This method study used an adapted scoping review design. Articles were eligible if they were written in English, published between 2017 and 2019, and reported results from qualitative data collected at different time points/time waves with the same sample or in the same setting. Articles were identified using EBSCOhost. Two independent reviewers performed the screening, selection and charting. Results A total of 299 articles were included. There was great variation among the articles in the use of methodological traditions, type of data, length of data collection, and components of longitudinal data collection. However, the majority of articles represented large studies and were based on individual interview data. Approximately half of the articles self-identified as QLR studies or as following a QLR design, although slightly less than 20% of them included QLR method literature in their method sections. Conclusions QLR is often used in large complex studies. Some articles were thoroughly designed to capture time/change throughout the methodology, aim and data collection, while other articles included few elements of QLR. Longitudinal data collection includes several components, such as what entities are followed across time, the tempo of data collection, and to what extent the data collection is preplanned or adapted across time. Therefore, there are several practices and possibilities researchers should consider before starting a QLR project
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