Institutional Change and Acceptance of Quality Assurance: The Case of Organic Farming in Germany

The institutional framework of the certification scheme is a crucial factor for the future success of the organic market. Increasing complexity and a few scandals indicate that the current control structures might be insufficient. A better understanding of farmers’ attitudes is necessary to increase acceptance and to guarantee the longer-term success of the organic certification system. Against this background we designed a theoretical framework based on a cognitive perspective. The empirical basis of the study was a survey conducted with organic farmers in Germany. Results highlight that the majority of the farmers accept the present organic certification system, but are not convinced of its cost-benefit relationship.organic certification system, food quality, institutional change, guidelines and control, Farm Management, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Marketing,

Acceptance and Motivational Impact of the Organic Certification System

In recent years the institutional framework of the organic certification system has step by step become a more formal and state run system. Our research shows that al-though the majority of the farmers accept the system, they are not convinced of its cost-benefit relationship. Farmers prefer a more association- and advice-oriented control of the organic certification process

Sickness certification system in the United Kingdom: qualitative study of views of general practitioners in Scotland

Objectives: To explore how general practitioners operate the sickness certification system, their views on the system, and suggestions for change. Design: Qualitative focus group study consisting of 11 focus groups with 67 participants. Setting: General practitioners in practices in Glasgow, Tayside, and Highland regions, Scotland. Sample: Purposive sample of general practitioners, with further theoretical sampling of key informant general practitioners to examine emerging themes. Results: General practitioners believed that the sickness certification system failed to address complex, chronic, or doubtful cases. They seemed to develop various operational strategies for its implementation. There appeared to be important deliberate misuse of the system by general practitioners, possibly related to conflicts about roles and incongruities in the system. The doctor-patient relationship was perceived to conflict with the current role of general practitioners in sickness certification. When making decisions about certification, the general practitioners considered a wide variety of factors. They experienced contradictory demands from other system stakeholders and felt blamed for failing to make impossible reconciliations. They clearly identified the difficulties of operating the system when there was no continuity of patient care. Many wished either to relinquish their gatekeeper role or to continue only with major changes. Conclusions: Policy makers need to recognise and accommodate the range and complexity of factors that influence the behaviour of general practitioners operating as gatekeepers to the sickness certification system, before making changes. Such changes are otherwise unlikely to result in improvement. Models other than the primary care gatekeeper model should be considered

Participatory plant breeding in Denmark

Plant breeding gets more and more concentrated on a couple of multinational companies, and financing plant breeding via the traditional royalty founded certification system exclusive for the specific needs in organic farming is not profitable in most field crops. The seed certification system only allows pure line varieties, and the royalty funded breeding system tend to focus on monogenic resistance with s short durability on the marked. To develop new plant genetic material for organic farmers with durable stability and resistance, the Danish Organic Farmers Association has initiated a participatory plant breeding program with the aim to develop varieties and diverse populations for the organic farmers. The project is based within the advisory service in the organisation in cooperation with plant breeding research projects. In this way, it is the hope to overcome the economic and legal barrier for implementation of crop diversity and targeted selection for the different needs in the diverse organic sector

E-portfolio MSC indicator for a virtual learning environment

This study was conducted to identify indicators for the use of e-portfolio for a virtual learning environment in the Malaysian Skills Certification (MSC) system. The approach is through a modified Delphi technique run in three stages. The first stage is analysis of past research material and documents as guidelines in the development of questionnaire items. In the second and third stages, the developed questionnaire is distributed to experts for approval in determining e-portfolio indicators for implementation of the Malaysian Skills Certification system. The sample selected consists of 11 experts in the field of skills certification in Malaysia. Feedback from the experts was analysed using descriptive statistics (mean, median and interquartile range). The findings identify four elements (Assessment, Personal Space, Exhibition and Learning Management) and 32 indicators through a literature review. In conclusion, there are 22 indicators were identified as necessary for the implementation of the use of the e-portfolio in the Malaysian Skills Certification system

Perancangan dan Pembuatan Sistem Sertifikasi Dosen Pada Direktorat Jenderal Pendidikan Tinggi Mengunakan Ajax

This final project works through about how severally college in propose certification lecturer to higher education general directorate as executor and the insurer answering in lecturer certification. Where is lecturer certification system can help lecturer in do instrument persepsional's inlay and instrument personal's data application, and college can also be easily deep do pengentrian certification lecturer that follow lecturer certification, and gets to know total quota that gave by higher education general directorate. Certification system makings lecturer is backed up with severally programs PHP with technological ajax and by use of Oracle database. Lecturer certification system features many information who can at features among those be certification participant,severally college,total quota,academic responsible position and another information that is engaged that lecturer certification system. Key word: lecturer certification, ajax's technology, instrument, estimatio

Current Situations and Tasks of Higher Education Certification System in Preparation for Global Manpower Exchanges

This research seeks to foster a better understanding of the research needs and to conduct theoretical deliberations on the current state and tasks associated with the higher education certification system. Moreover, an attempt is also made to derive developmental tasks pertaining to higher education in preparation for the expansion of global exchanges of manpower. The survey on the current state of the certification system found that while many people felt that a global certification system was necessary, the current certification system was regarded as being laden with a series of problems that ranged from indifference at the company level” to “low awareness.” In this regard, it is important that proactive support be provided at the government level, the numerous certification institutions currently scattered here and there be integrated and operated on a sectoral basis, and that efforts to promote the certification system be expanded as well. There is a need to establish the basic direction of the higher education certification system in preparation for the expansion of global manpower exchanges. The advent of the 21st century has been accompanied by a growing competition amongst nations throughout all sectors of society. It is inevitable within such a knowledge-based competition society that global manpower exchanges will be expanded. Such changes within the international environment serve as both a threat and an opportunity for Korea. Here, the globalization of the domestic workforce should be perceived as an essential component of any attempt to maximize the opportunities that arise within an international society. Therefore, higher education certification systems in the global manpower exchange era should be geared towards increasing national competitiveness through the fostering of global manpower, and be utilized as a significant axis for national development within a knowledge-based competition society. The expansion of official approval of certification systems amongst nations is also needed. As seen from the analysis of other countries, there is a need to expand the exchange of individual capacities amongst nations through the certification system, and to utilize such systems as an important means to bring about joint cooperation and development amongst nations. In this regard, it is incumbent that mutual recognition of each party's higher education certification system be included in FTA agreements, and that global exchanges of manpower be expanded. First, the higher education certification system should be geared towards the imminent expansion of global manpower exchanges. Second, quality improvements should be sought in terms of internal stability. Third, complementarity amongst nations must be achieved. Fourth, the internationalization of the certification system must be brought about. Fifth, sustainability should be pursued. Sixth, fairness must be ensured

LEED® certification system in Colombia

En este trabajo se reflexionará sobre las categorías que posee el sistema de certificación LEED® y las diferencias de la aplicabilidad del mismo en tres zonas del país totalmente diferentes en su cultura, clima y entorno ambiental:Bogotá, Cartagena y la Guajira. Reflexión que se enfocará sobre los impactos en los costos del proyecto en los campos ambiental y económico, y la dinámica de mercadeo que se genera alrededor de este tipo de proyectos, que puede hacer que la certificación se convierta no sólo en una guía para la construcción sostenible, sino también en un generador de dinámicas en el mercado de la construcción que pueden impulsar el desarrollo de la construcción sostenible en Colombia.In this paper we reflect on the categories that owns the LEED ® certification system and differences in the applicability of the same areas of the country into three totally different in its culture, climate and environmental setting: Bogota, Cartagena and La Guajira. Reflection that will focus on the impacts on project costs in environmental and economic fields, and dynamic marketing generated around these projects, so, the certification will become not only a guide to building sustainable, but also a dynamic generator in the construction market that can promote the development of sustainable construction in Colombia

The review and evaluation of the Brazilian maritime education system against the new revised STCW international training and competency standards

This dissertation is research into the Examinations and Certifications of seafarers in Brazil as related to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, (as amended). The author has attempted to analyze the existing system and propose ways and means to improve the training, examination and certification system taking into account international developments including new technology, methodologies and quality assurance system. An examination is made of management theories on quality and quality assurance. A discussion is made on all the steps necessary for successful implementation of a training, examination and certification system based on the revised STCW 78 Convention in Brazil. This includes analysis, initiating, preparing, documenting, training, examination, certification, monitoring and auditing. The importance of appropriate qualifications for examiners or assessors in maritime administration and the vital role of same in the successful implementation of a quality assurance system in a new examination and certification system is examined. A brief review is made of the maritime education, training, examination and certification system in certain developed countries, noting their advantages and disadvantages with a view to improving the Brazilian maritime examination and certification system in the future. There is a need not only for a supply of new seafarers onboard ships, but also a need for competent persons who meet the requirements of the revised STCW 78 Convention. In this regard, quality assurance is one of the most important factors for examination and certification for seafarers. A number of recommendations are made to improve and enhance the maritime examination and certification system for seafarers in Brazi

Assessment of the Friend of the Sea Fisheries and Aquaculture Certification Program

A variety of seafood certification schemes have developed over the past decade, all claiming that the fish that they certify have been sustainably caught or farmed and that they are the best option for consumers to purchase. Greenpeace is of the opinion that no fully credible certification system for sustainable wild-caught seafood currently exists. So far, the challenges facing our oceans are far from being tackled and the fundamental principles of precaution and ecosystem approach are not yet incorporated into fisheries management