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1 – 10 of 387This article focuses on the study of the shaping of pedagogy as a discipline in Spain prior to the Civil War. Its aim is to identify those elements that helped pedagogy become…
Abstract
Purpose
This article focuses on the study of the shaping of pedagogy as a discipline in Spain prior to the Civil War. Its aim is to identify those elements that helped pedagogy become constituted as a distinct field of knowledge that could offer rigorous insight into the world of education.
Design/methodology/approach
The article uses the framework proposed by Rita Hofstetter and Bernard Schneuwly for the shaping of a disciplinary field. Finally, it briefly examines the process of professionalization, using the approach advocated by the sociologist Elliott Freidson.
Findings
The analysis carried out concludes that at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936 the process of professionalization and consolidation of pedagogy as a discipline had been completed in Spain.
Originality/value
The article presents the originality of reinterpreting the elements offered by Spanish history of education in the light of an international theoretical framework. This allows a new understanding of the process of constitution of pedagogy as a disciplinary field while offering the international public a case study according to international standards.
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Miriam Palacios-Callender, Stephen Andrew Roberts and Thomas Roth-Berghofer
The purpose of this paper is to explore the hypothesis that collaboration was a key characteristic of Cuban science to maintain their scientific capacity during a period of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the hypothesis that collaboration was a key characteristic of Cuban science to maintain their scientific capacity during a period of economic restrictions and an important feature of Cuban science policy and practice for the benefit of society.
Design/methodology/approach
Collaboration was studied through Cuban scientific publications listed in PubMed for the period 1990-2010. The search was carried out using the advanced search engine of PubMed indicating < Cuba > in the affiliation field. To identify participating institutions a second search was performed to find the affiliations of all authors per article through the link to the electronic journal. A data set was created to identify institutional publication patterns for the surveyed period. Institutions were classified in three categories according to their scientific production as Central, Middle or Distal: the pattern of collaboration between these categories was analysed.
Findings
Results indicate that collaboration between scientifically advanced institutions (Central) and a wide range of national institutions is a consequence of the social character of science in Cuba in which cooperation prevails. Although this finding comes from a limited field of biomedical science it is likely to reflect Cuban science policy in general.
Originality/value
Using bibliometric tools the study suggests that Cuban science policy and practice ensure the application of science for social needs by harnessing human resources through national and international collaboration, building in this way stronger scientific capacity.
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S. Pöyhönen, M. Negrea, P. Jover, A. Arkkio and H. Hyötyniemi
Numerical magnetic field analysis is used for predicting the performance of an induction motor and a slip‐ring generator having different faults implemented in their structure…
Abstract
Numerical magnetic field analysis is used for predicting the performance of an induction motor and a slip‐ring generator having different faults implemented in their structure. Virtual measurement data provided by the numerical magnetic field analysis are analysed using modern signal processing techniques to get a reliable indication of the fault. Support vector machine based classification is applied to fault diagnostics. The stator line current, circulating currents between parallel stator branches and forces between the stator and rotor are compared as media of fault detection.
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The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept of flexibility as it applies to libraries.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept of flexibility as it applies to libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
Specific cases are from the literature introduced where libraries have introduced aspects of flexibility. Lessons that can be learned from other sectors regarding flexibility are also presented.
Findings
There are three central themes for libraries to address when considering the various theories and research around flexibility: importance of management, human resources issues and the need to know the user. Flexibility has to be managed proactively as a concept in libraries.
Originality/value
The paper provides food for thought for library practitioners in the use of flexibility in an increasingly uncertain world.
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Jamee Pelcher, Sylvia Trendafilova and Jeffrey Alexander Graham
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental values, beliefs, norms and behaviors of students in higher education institutions across North America, more…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental values, beliefs, norms and behaviors of students in higher education institutions across North America, more specifically, undergraduate and graduate students in sport management programs.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was framed around Stern et al.’s (1999) value-belief-norm theory, which provides an explanation of the causes of the broad predisposition toward pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, it was an extension of the work conducted by Casper and Pfahl (2012). Data collection was based on an online survey, comprising questions related to the students’ values, beliefs, norms and behaviors in relation to the natural environment.
Findings
Results indicated strong agreeance with the biospheric environmental statements that reflect the individuals’ personal ecological values, illustrating a moderate agreement with the degree of responsibility and obligation felt by the student to take environmental action. Findings also suggested that students hold sport organizations to a higher level of environmentalism than their personal environmental sustainability practices. Both groups, undergraduate and graduate students, have values, beliefs and norms moderately connected to pro-environmental stances.
Practical implications
It would be beneficial for educators to use this information as baseline from which to build and re-design their classes.
Originality/value
It would be beneficial for educators to use this information as baseline from which to build and re-design their classes. This study provides valuable information for faculty to create and frame curricula to better prepare future professionals for a career in the sports industry.
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Babak Vaseghi, Noureddine Takorabet and Farid Meibody‐Tabar
The purpose of this paper is to present a study and analysis of insulation failure inter‐turn fault in induction machines (IMs).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a study and analysis of insulation failure inter‐turn fault in induction machines (IMs).
Design/methodology/approach
A time stepping finite element method (FEM) analysis is performed for the study of IM with inter‐turn fault and determining the machine parameters (self and mutual inductances) after occurring fault. A simple dynamic model for IM with inter‐turn fault is presented. The model parameters are obtained by FEM analysis. An experimental test is also carried out to verify the results.
Findings
The behavior of IM is studied under various insulation failure inter‐turn fault conditions and severity using FEM. The paper's results help the machine designers to improve the fault tolerance as well the overall design of the machine drive system. It can also be useful for predict and detection of fault in IM.
Practical implications
Predicting and detection of turn faults in IM are in industry very helpful because it avoids the fully damage of IM and it is more easy to repair the machine. Designing a fault tolerant IM is required in some applications for increasing the reliability.
Originality/value
By using FEM for studying the fault, the machine parameters which are calculated with FEM and the study's results are very precise and accurate because the flux fluctuation after occurring fault has been taken into account. On the other hand, the fault model is very fast, global and accurate. It can be used in model‐based health monitoring systems.
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Diagnostics of electrical machines is a very important task. The purpose of this paper is the presentation of coupling three numerical techniques, a finite element analysis, a…
Abstract
Purpose
Diagnostics of electrical machines is a very important task. The purpose of this paper is the presentation of coupling three numerical techniques, a finite element analysis, a signal analysis and an artificial neural network, in diagnostics of electrical machines. The study focused on detection of a time-varying inter-turn short-circuit in a stator winding of induction motor.
Design/methodology/approach
A finite element method is widely used for the calculation of phase current waveforms of induction machines. In the presented results, a time-varying inter-turn short-circuit of stator winding has been taken into account in the elaborated field-circuit model of machine. One of the time-varying short-circuit symptoms is a time-varying resistance of shorted circuit and consequently the waveform of phase current. A general regression neural network (GRNN) has been elaborated to find a number of shorted turns on the basis of fast Fourier transform (FFT) of phase current. The input vector of GRNN has been built on the basis of the FFT of phase current waveform. The output vector has been built upon the values of resistance of shorted circuit for respective values of shorted turns. The performance of the GRNN was compared with that of the multilayer perceptron neural network.
Findings
The GRNN can contribute to better detection of the time-varying inter-turn short-circuit in stator winding than the multilayer perceptron neural network.
Originality/value
It is argued that the proposed method based on FFT of phase current and GRNN is capable to detect a time-varying inter-turn short-circuit. The GRNN can be used in a health monitoring system as an inference module.
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Elena Urquía-Grande and Raquel Pérez Estébanez
The purpose of this research paper is to analyse the internship expectations gap amongst the three main internship stakeholders: employers (company supervisors), academic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research paper is to analyse the internship expectations gap amongst the three main internship stakeholders: employers (company supervisors), academic supervisors and students, in an effort to detect the variables which could assist closing the gap between students' perceptions and the labour market employers and then, between the academic supervisors in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the students. This paper analyses firstly, the variables that determine students' perceptions and overall satisfaction with the internships. After, it examines the differences with the employers' expectations of the interns' performance. Finally, this paper analyses the variables that determine the academic supervisors in HEIs grading of the interns with the overall satisfaction about the students' internship performance. This research serves as a guide for the improvement, refinement and expansion of university internship programme design together with internship best practices definition to close the expectation gaps between the HEIs and the Business World.
Design/methodology/approach
Two quantitative surveys were designed to measure students' and employers' perceptions of the internships. Additionally, one semi-structured qualitative interview is performed to deepen understanding of each student's perception of the internship. The authors perform a triangular analysis of students' perceptions and employers' (company supervisors) and academic supervisors' expectations. A T-test analyses the differences between cognitive, transversal and social skills developed in an internship as perceived by students and employers (company supervisors). Finally, linear regressions are run both to identify the variables that determine the students' internship overall satisfaction and also detect the variables that determine the final internship grade assigned by the academic supervisor from the university.
Findings
The authors highlight the following interesting findings. While the students feel that the internships are highly useful and perceive that they were fully integrated into the company's culture, they also state that they learn how to develop their transversal skills much more than the cognitive skills learnt in the whole study programme in their degrees. In parallel, employers (company supervisors), for their part, perceive that students have strong social skills and adjust perfectly to the company's culture, but expected the students to have more creativity and cognitive skills. Finally, the academic supervisor's value the students' written skills together with the company's supervisor valuation more than the students' transversal skills. These main expectation gaps detected must be solved to improve internship outcomes and closing the gaps between the Higher Education and Business World. These findings consolidate existing research and add more quantitative results contextualised to Spanish Higher Education Institutions.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations of this research are that it only embeds a HEIs in Spain and the sample should be enlarged with more universities not only from Spain but also from around the world. Thus, the findings in this research can be used to improve the internship programme in this HEIs and its best practices, however they cannot be extrapolated to other HEIs still. Nevertheless, other HEIs can learn from this experience. Regarding the surveys these can be reviewed and homogenised for the student's perception items to be more aligned with the company supervisor's expectations and the academic supervisor's requirements of an internship. As implications, the authors have divided them into theoretical and practical. From the theoretical point of view, there needs to be more research about internships done in Economics, Law and Business Degrees field. From the practical point of view, the authors highlight several implications. First, HEIs must develop internship programmes further and promote the three stakeholders, employer–academic supervisor–student communication more fluid. This communication flow will maximize and align both employer and academic supervisor expectations about the students' performance in their internships. This way, student perceptions of their internship experience will improve and align further. Second, internships must be promoted in the Economics and Business Degrees as they are a unique opportunity for students to apply cognitive, transversal and social skills acquired in their study programmes, developing themselves as future professionals. Third, there is a growing need for HEIs to strengthen links with different companies, not only to teach students the skills employers' value but also to ensure that graduates are aware of what is happening in the labour market. Finally, through the internships developing further, academic supervisors must open their assessment to the students' professional skills (critical thinking, creativity, capacity to solve short term problems efficiently,) aligning with labour market needs.
Originality/value
This paper is significant because it shows the growing need for universities to strengthen links with a variety of companies (Business World). Internships are becoming compulsory, having assigned a high percentage of European Credits Transfer System (ECTS) credits to students' Grade Point Average (GPA) in Economics, Law and Business. This research work shows HEIs should improve internship design to close the gap between Higher Education's supply of graduates and the business world's demand for adequately prepared professionals. The results in this paper can help the academic actors start improving the internship design and best practices definition.
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Glory George-Ufot, JiuChang Wei, Oyinkansola Christiana Kevin-Israel, Mona Salim, Muhideen Sayibu, Halima Habuba Mohamed and Lincoln Jisuvei Sungu
This study explored whether the critical incident management systems (CIMS) model can predict the EMS performance in the COVID-19 context. Past research has established the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explored whether the critical incident management systems (CIMS) model can predict the EMS performance in the COVID-19 context. Past research has established the significance of early detection and response (ER) in the context of Ebola virus disease (EVD), prompting a question of whether the model can also be helpful in the COVID-19 context. Consequently, the authors assessed whether ER influences the impact of communication capacity (CC), reliable information channel (RC) and environment (EN) on COVID-19 EMS performance. Assessing these relationships will advance emerging infectious disease (EID) preparedness.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors employed standardized measurement instruments of the CIMS model (CC, ER, RC and EN) to predict the performance of COVID-19 EMS using structural equation modeling (SEM) in a study of 313 participants from frontline responders.
Findings
The results show that the relationship of ER and EN with COVID-19 EMS performance is positive, while that of EN on CC is negative. The relationship between EN and COVID-19 EMS performance was insignificant. Contrary to the hypothesis, CC was negatively significant to COVID-19 EMS performance due to poor communication capacities.
Research limitations/implications
The authors acknowledge some limitations due to challenges faced in this study. First, Data collection was a significant limitation as these questionnaires were built and distributed in June 2020, but the response time was prolonged due to the recurring nature of the pandemic. The authors had wanted to implore the inputs of all stakeholders, and efforts were made to reach out to various Ministry of Health, the local CDC and related agencies in the region via repeated emails explaining the purpose of the study to no avail. The study finally used the frontline workers as the respondents. The authors used international students from various countries as the representatives to reach out to their countries' frontline workers. Second, since the study was only partially supported using the CIMS model, future studies may combine the CIMS model with other models or theories. Subsequent research reassesses this outcome in other contexts or regions. Consequently, further research can explore how CC can be improved with COVID-19 and another future EID in the region. This may improve the COVID-19 EMS performance, thereby expanding the lesson learned from the pandemic and sustaining public health EID response. Additionally, other authors may combine the CIMS model with other emergency management models or theories to establish a fully supported theoretical model in the context of COVID-19.
Practical implications
The findings have practical implications for incident managers, local CDCs, governments, international organizations and scholars. The outcome of the study might inform these stakeholders on future direction and contribution to EID preparedness. This study unfolds the impact of lessons learned in the region demonstrated by moderating early detection and responses with other constructs to achieve COVID-19 EMS performance. The findings reveal that countries that experienced the 2013–2016 Ebola outbreak, were not necessarily more prepared for an epidemic or pandemic, judging by the negative moderating impact of early detection and response. However, these experiences provide a foundation for the fight against COVID-19. There is a need for localized plans tailored to each country's situation, resources, culture and lifestyle. The localized plan will be to mitigate and prevent an unsustainable EID management system, post-epidemic fund withdrawals and governance. This plan might be more adaptable and sustainable for the local health system when international interventions are withdrawn after an epidemic. Public health EID plans must be adapted to each country's unique situation to ensure sustainability and constantly improve EID management of epidemics and pandemics in emergency response. The high to moderate importation risk in African countries shows Africa's largest window of vulnerability to be West Africa (Gilbert et al., 2020). Therefore, they should be in the spotlight for heightened assistance towards the preparedness and response for a future pandemic like COVID-19. The West African region has a low capacity to manage the health emergency to match the population capacities. The COVID-19 outbreak in West Africa undoubtedly inflicted many disruptions in most countries' economic, social and environmental circumstances. The region's unique challenges observed in this study with CC and reliable information channels as being negatively significant highlight the poor maintenance culture and weak institutions due to brain drain and inadequate training and monitoring. This outcome practically informs West African stakeholders and governments on aspects to indulge when trying to improve emergency preparedness as the outcomes from other regions might not be applicable.
Originality/value
This study explored the relevance of the CIMS model in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing different patterns of influence on COVID-19 EMS performance. In contrast to the extant literature on EVD, the authors found the moderating effects of ER in the COVID-19 context. Thus, the authors contribute to the COVID-19 EMS performance domain by developing a context-driven EMS model. The authors discuss the theoretical and practical implications.
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Sajad Fayezi, Ambika Zutshi and Andrew O’Loughlin
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how decisions regarding organisational flexibility can be improved through targeted resource allocation, by focusing on the supply chain's…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how decisions regarding organisational flexibility can be improved through targeted resource allocation, by focusing on the supply chain's level of uncertainty exposure. Specifically, the issue of where and in what ways flexibility has been incorporated across the organisation's supply chain is addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-phase methodology design based on literature review and case study was used. Using 83 journal articles in the areas of uncertainty and flexibility an analytical process for assessing uncertainty-flexibility mismatches was developed. Furthermore, results from ten interviews with senior/middle managers within the Australian manufacturing sector were used to provide preliminary insights on the usefulness and importance of the analytical process and its relationship with organisational practice.
Findings
The paper emphasises the importance of having a systematic and encompassing view of uncertainty-flexibility mismatches across the supply chain, as well as the significance of socio-technical engagement. The paper both conceptually and empirically illustrates how, using a structured analytical process, flexibility requirements across the supply, process, control and demand segments of a supply chain might be assessed. A four-step analytical process was accordingly developed and, its application, usefulness and importance discussed using empirical data.
Practical implications
The analytical process presented in this paper can assist managers to obtain a comprehensive overview of supply chain flexibility when dealing with situations involving uncertainty. This can facilitate and improve their decision-making with respect to prioritising attention on identified flexibility gaps in order to ensure stability of their performance.
Originality/value
The paper presents a supply chain-wide discussion on the difficulties that uncertainty brings to organisations, and how organisational flexibility might serve to moderate those challenges for supply chain management. It discusses how to identify the flexibility gap and proposes an original analytical process for systematic assessment of uncertainty-flexibility mismatches.
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