scholarly journals Are Urban Planning Schools in the Global South Prepared for Current Challenges of Climate Change and Disaster Risks?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1064
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Scholz ◽  
Tim Stober ◽  
Hannah Sassen

This article undertakes an analysis of current urban planning programs at universities with a focus on sub-Saharan English-speaking African (SSA) and South East Asian countries (SEA) as comparison cases. The aim is to identify, as an important part of sustainability, the existence and share of climate change and disaster related courses in the curricula, and to understand to what extent these topics are already integrated into current urban planning programs at the university level and thus shape the knowledge and skills of future urban planners. The local academic and professional environments in which the programs are based are taken into account by a review of the historical development of the programs. The analysis in mid-2020 took only those universities and programs into account that have curricula and course titles available online. The data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The second part of the research deals with the discussion of how these courses can be best integrated into the existing curricula and thus serve the adequate education of urban planners by providing some concrete ideas.

1997 ◽  
Vol 117-118 ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohong Wen

Abstract This study investigates the acquisition of Chinese aspect markers of -le, -guo, and -zhe by English-speaking learners at the university level. The speech and written data produced by students at two different levels of proficiency were collected, compared and analyzed. The results show that English-speaking learners of Chinese acquire the perfective aspect marker -le and the past experience marker -guo before the durative aspect marker -zhe. The process by which learners acquire the aspect markers appears be meaning-based and can be summarized into: 1) looking for logical temporal sequences; 2) using time adverbials and conjunction for the time references; 3) using lexical aspects and word meanings; and 4) using pragmatic cues with the aspect markers of -le and -guo. Learners, especially at the lower level of proficiency, rely more on the time adverbial expressions and lexical aspects than learners at the more advanced level.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-58
Author(s):  
Gregor Torkar

This paper presents the results of a survey among pre-service and inservice students of pre-school education and students of environmental sciences on the acceptability of value-laden statements made by their teachers on issues of sustainable development and climate change. Fifteen statements were provided, and students had to choose among the options »acceptable statement«, »unacceptable statement« and »cannot  decide«. The questionnaire was completed by 139 students from two universities in Slovenia. The results show that the students expect their teachers to promote the principles of sustainable development. The majority of students considered any teacher’s statement that would cast doubt on the cause or the necessity to act against climate change to be unacceptable. Teacher’s statements emphasising global issues that have, or could have, a direct impact on developed countries (e.g. climate change) received higher support than those global questions that more heavily impact underdeveloped or developing countries (e.g. poverty, child labour, access to natural resources). In the conclusion, it is emphasised that teachers should assist students in developing their own moral positions on complex issues such as sustainable development and climate change. Structured discussion techniques, such as a panel discussion, forum and debate, should be regularly and carefully implemented into lectures at the university level.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Porawe Poramathikul ◽  
Nakibah Arwedo ◽  
Innas Abdulhakim ◽  
Pitchayaporn Wattanaruwangkowit

This study aims to discover the influences of using social media on the English speaking skills. To fulfill this study’s goal, data was collected using questionnaires, self-assessment, and speaking tests. Participants of the study were 20 bilinguals and multilingual of any two or more languages that are currently studying English as a foreign language (EFL) at the university level in Thailand. The result from speaking proficiency self-assessment shows the perception of bilinguals and multilingual who perceived that they can speak English fluently than accurately. The average score of the self-assessment is 5.59 out of 9. The standard deviation (S.D.) of their score is 1.46. This score shows that the participants consider themselves as competent users of English according to the description from British Councils (2012). Only eight out of 20 or 40 percent of the participants think that they have reached the level of capable users of the English, while the other 60 percent of participants think that they have not reached that level. From this study, it has been found that bilingual and multilingual speakers often use social media for educational purposes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 17-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasekea Harris

Purpose Biennially, the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association, publishes a report on the top trends and issues affecting academic libraries in higher education. Harris (2016) used the trends and issues reported by the ACRL to inform a document and thematic analysis of publications written on Jamaican academic librarianship 2010-2016, to investigate the trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship. Harris’ (2016) paper however noted that a survey of the chief librarian in each library, regarding their perceptions of the trends and issues would be a useful follow-up to her study, and cited this as a limitation/implication of her paper. The purpose of this paper is to address the above limitation and is therefore the follow-up to Harris’ (2016) paper. Design/methodology/approach The chief librarians in five of the six local university libraries were surveyed to provide insights into the trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries at the university level. Findings Acquisitions, budget, staffing, communicating value, digital preservation and curation, mobile environment, collaboration, scholarly communication, information technology, space, higher education, user behaviour and expectations and information literacy are the top trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries at the university level. Research limitations/implications This survey seeks to complement rather than contest Harris’ (2016) research. Perhaps a useful follow-up to both papers would be biennial updates. Additionally, a survey of the trends and issues in all types of academic libraries throughout the English-speaking Caribbean would be a useful follow-up. Originality/value This paper is of value, as it is the first survey of trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship. It enriches the existing document and thematic analytical research on trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries by adding an empirical component. It also increases the number of publications, on trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship, from one to two, and allows voices from the English-speaking Caribbean (Jamaica) to be incorporated into the literature dedicated to trends and issues in academic libraries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1250
Author(s):  
Parinda Jantori ◽  
Saowaluck Tepsuriwong ◽  
Pornapit Darasawang

Understanding teachers’ beliefs about scoring procedures can be beneficial for educators in order to understand factors including challenges the teachers face when dealing with writing evaluation. This study investigated teachers’ beliefs about scoring procedures through the narrative approach. Their stories were revealed through repertory grid interviews based on the Personal Construct Theory. The method encouraged teachers to think more critically when expressing their beliefs, so their genuine voices and experiences could be revealed. Two native and two non-native English-speaking teachers at the university level were interviewed about their methods of assigning scores when evaluating an essay. The interviews revealed that several factors, such as learning, practicality, experience, objectivity, and confidence could influence teachers’ beliefs when deciding which scoring procedures to use. The challenges that educators might face when giving feedback were also discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Leal Filho ◽  
Mark Mifsud ◽  
Petra Molthan-Hill ◽  
Gustavo J. Nagy ◽  
Lucas Veiga Ávila ◽  
...  

Scepticism about climate change is still a popular trend, despite the existence of scientific evidence that this phenomenon is taking place, and that it is influencing the lives of millions of people around the world. The aim of this paper is to assess the extent to which existing scepticism at the university level is found. The methodology consists of a survey undertaken on a sample of universities around the world, in the context of which attitudes and perceptions about climate change are identified. A total of 237 questionnaires were received from 51 countries around the world. The analysis consists basically of descriptive statistics and an investigation regarding trends on scepticism and the geographical location of the universities. The study concludes by outlining some of the presently seen scepticisms and suggests some ways to address them via curricular innovation and initiatives engaging students.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory D Bothun

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a case study report of the development of data networks and initial connectivity in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) region and how that development evolved into the formation of research and education (R & E) networks that enable new collaborations and curriculum potential. Design/methodology/approach – This case study is presented through the past 20 year’s operations and field activities of the Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) at the University of Oregon, who in partnership with the National Science Foundation has worked together to significantly train network engineers in Africa on how to develop regional R & E networks that can link together the various research universities in SSA. Findings – The author shows how the development of these networks have fostered improved collaboration between African and US scientists, particularly around issues that relate to climate change. This paper contains testimonials from both scientists and on-the-ground key directors in Africa about the value of these improved networks. The expansion of regional R & E networks has allowed the Association of African Universities (AAU) to launch sustainable development as one of its new core programs over the period 2013-2017. Within this new core AAU program are four sub-themes: agriculture and food security, water resources management, climate change and energy. All of these themes will benefit directly from these new, network-enabled, data-sharing abilities. Practical implications – The current state of network-driven curriculum and curriculum exchange between African universities is assessed and compared that to that in the early days of academic network penetration (1990-2000) in the USA to find similar rates of evolution. Since 2015, SSA has sufficient network access and connectivity to now enable a wide variety of new collaborative research and collaborative academic programs. Originality/value – The experience and operational competence of the NSRC at the University of Oregon needs to be detailed and espoused. No other American university has had such an impact on Africa in terms of improving its overall network infrastructure enabling new kinds of collaborative research on real-world problems, such as climate change and resource depletion in Africa.


Enhancements in human capital can be achieved by the establishment of various programs such as training and curriculum development at the university level. This would increase the knowledge and skills of lecturers with respect to their teaching styles and learning processes at universities in general. This study examines the effect of human resources management (HRM) and job satisfaction on university PhD holders who contribute to the innovative achievements of a university. The purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of HRM and job satisfaction on talent retention in private universities in Malaysia. The study sample comprised 110 PhD holders, and their responses were analyzed using the PLS-SEM software. The results indicate that, rather than promotions and recognition, PhD holders place more emphasis on their salaries, which are very low at private universities. The study limitations are discussed, and suggestions are made regarding future research


Author(s):  
E. V. Klimenko ◽  
N. S. Buslova

The article is devoted to the consideration of ways to solve one of the actual problems in theory and methodology of training and upbringing — the problem of developing professional skills of future informatics teacher. As a way to adapt students to the profession, the possibility of their involvement in social designing was chosen. Participation in social projects contributes to the approbation and introduction of new forms and methods in teaching informatics. Expanding the experience of future teachers in carrying out large-scale events contributes to the formation of a socially adapted personality competitive in modern society. The potential of a social project in consolidating the knowledge and skills obtained during the theoretical training at the university is indicated. In the article, theoretical reasoning is accompanied by examples of real social projects and activities aimed at the formation of professional competencies of future informatics teachers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-219
Author(s):  
Louay Qais Abdullah ◽  
Duraid Faris Khayoun

The study focused basically on measuring the relationship between the material cost of the students benefits program and the benefits which are earned by it, which was distributed on college students in the initial stages (matinee) and to show the extent of the benefits accruing from the grant program compared to the material burdens which matched and the extent of success or failure of the experience and its effect from o scientific and side on the Iraqi student through these tough economic circumstances experienced by the country in general, and also trying to find ways of proposed increase or expansion of distribution in the future in the event of proven economic feasibility from the program. An data has been taking from the data fro the Department of Financial Affairs and the Department of Studies and Planning at the University of Diyala with taking an data representing an actual and minimized pattern and questionnaires to a sample of students from the Department of Life Sciences in the Faculty of Education of the University of Diyala on the level of success and failure of students in the first year of the grant and the year before for the purpose of distribution comparison. The importance of the study to measure the extent of interest earned in comparision whit the material which is expenseon the program of grant (grant of students) to assist the competent authorities to continue or not in the program of student grants for the coming years.


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