Cheuk-Hang Leung and Hin Yan Chan
In light of the concerns of declining value education in higher education and the debates on the role of general education in current university setting, the purpose of this paper…
Abstract
Purpose
In light of the concerns of declining value education in higher education and the debates on the role of general education in current university setting, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the relation between general education and moral and civic education by examining the effectiveness of a compulsory classics reading general education program in cultivating civic literacy in Asia-Pacific context.
Design/methodology/approach
Mixed-method approach in the form of survey assessment and focus group studies was employed to examine the degree of students’ development in abilities and virtues relevant to civic literacy in the course.
Findings
Data analyses reveal a promising development on students’ civic literacy in the classics reading general education course. Statistical analysis on surveys indicated students experienced a significant development on democratic skills and critical thinking, acquisition of civic knowledge and cultivation of democratic virtues after taking the course. Focus group analysis illustrated a relation between classics reading and students’ acquisition of knowledge of socio-political institutions, cultivation of open-mindedness and sense of tolerance for diversity and willingness of seeking reasonableness and engaging in social debates.
Originality/value
This paper discusses the successful experience of a newly formulated General Education program in Hong Kong. The program is the first attempt in East Asia to launch values education through the teaching and learning of classics in Asia-Pacific context. This could be an example of launching values education at the level of undergraduate education for other local universities.
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Yui-yip Lau, Lok Ming Eric Cheung, Eve Man Hin Chan and Stephanie Wing Lee
The present study adopts the analytical framework of new managerialism (NM) to explore the progress, challenges and outlook of self-financing post-secondary institutions in Hong…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study adopts the analytical framework of new managerialism (NM) to explore the progress, challenges and outlook of self-financing post-secondary institutions in Hong Kong since 2000. This study also identified issues and related managerial implications for developing this niche form of higher education in Hong Kong.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted a critical review of self-financing post-secondary institutions in Hong Kong, including the sub-degree and degree sectors, via collecting a series of policy documents and archives from the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, the Public Records Office and other government bodies. To supplement the findings, semi-structured in-depth interviews of 18 academic staff of Hong Kong's self-financing post-secondary institutions were carried out.
Findings
The study shows that self-financing post-secondary institutions not only encounter challenges related to insufficient resources but also face pressure from accreditation requirements of various international organisations. The study also suggests that massification and privatisation of self-financing post-secondary institutions, and embracing a managerial approach for operation and governance will induce a new wave of self-financing post-secondary institutions in the near future.
Originality/value
This study offers insights for self-financing post-secondary institutions into implementing appropriate strategies to maintain competitiveness and retain talents in the coming years.
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Katherine Kent, Yan Hin Siu, Melinda Hutchesson, Clare Collins and Karen Charlton
This study aims to understand university students' perception and engagement with sustainable food practices and the relationship with diet quality.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand university students' perception and engagement with sustainable food practices and the relationship with diet quality.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey assessed Australian university students' sustainable food perceptions and purchasing behaviours, diet quality using the validated Australian Recommended Food Score and attitudes towards on campus sustainable food options.
Findings
Of respondents (n = 197; 63% female), over half (58%) perceived it was important to purchase sustainable foods. These students were eight times more likely report purchasing sustainable foods (OR: 8.1; 95%CI 4.2–15.7; SE: 0.3; p < 0.001) and had significantly higher diet quality (Beta coefficient: 2.9; 95% Confidence Intervals 0.4–5.4; Standard Error: 1.3; p = 0.024). Students who reported frequently purchasing all types of sustainable foods, except organic foods, had significantly higher diet quality. Few students perceived there were sufficient sustainable food choices on campus (19%), but most supported the development of an edible campus (80%).
Originality/value
The results highlight the potential impact of promoting sustainable food options and creating a supportive campus food environment towards improving students’ diet quality.
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Collaborative arts incorporate theatrical elements including sound, movement, text, design, technology and visual elements into a synthetic original form of art. This paper…
Abstract
Purpose
Collaborative arts incorporate theatrical elements including sound, movement, text, design, technology and visual elements into a synthetic original form of art. This paper examines a sub-category of collaborative arts, New Music Theater, in the contemporary context from the 1980s onwards in Hong Kong.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews with artists Kung Chi Shing, Steve Hui and Amy Chan exhibit their personal creative and collaborative experiences.
Findings
These interviews provide a view of the current practice of New Music Theater in Hong Kong.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the emergence of a new art form in Hong Kong and fills a gap in the relevant literature.
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Man has been seeking an ideal existence for a very long time. In this existence, justice, love, and peace are no longer words, but actual experiences. How ever, with the American…
Abstract
Man has been seeking an ideal existence for a very long time. In this existence, justice, love, and peace are no longer words, but actual experiences. How ever, with the American preemptive invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and the subsequent prisoner abuse, such an existence seems to be farther and farther away from reality. The purpose of this work is to stop this dangerous trend by promoting justice, love, and peace through a change of the paradigm that is inconsistent with justice, love, and peace. The strong paradigm that created the strong nation like the U.S. and the strong man like George W. Bush have been the culprit, rather than the contributor, of the above three universal ideals. Thus, rather than justice, love, and peace, the strong paradigm resulted in in justice, hatred, and violence. In order to remove these three and related evils, what the world needs in the beginning of the third millenium is the weak paradigm. Through the acceptance of the latter paradigm, the golden mean or middle paradigm can be formulated, which is a synergy of the weak and the strong paradigm. In order to understand properly the meaning of these paradigms, however, some digression appears necessary.
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Devotes the entire journal issue to managing human behaviour in US industries, with examples drawn from the airline industry, trading industry, publishing industry, metal products…
Abstract
Devotes the entire journal issue to managing human behaviour in US industries, with examples drawn from the airline industry, trading industry, publishing industry, metal products industry, motor vehicle and parts industry, information technology industry, food industry, the airline industry in a turbulent environment, the automotive sales industry, and specialist retailing industry. Outlines the main features of each industry and the environment in which it is operating. Provides examples, insights and quotes from Chief Executive Officers, managers and employees on their organization’s recipe for success. Mentions the effect technology has had in some industries. Talks about skilled and semi‐skilled workers, worker empowerment and the formation of teams. Addresses also the issue of change and the training that is required to deal with it in different industry sectors. Discusses remuneration packages and incentives offered to motivate employees. Notes the importance of customers in the face of increased competition. Extracts from each industry sector the various human resource practices that companies employ to manage their employees effectively ‐ revealing that there is a wide diversity in approach and what is right for one industry sector would not work in another. Offers some advice for managers, but, overall, fails to summarize what constitutes effective means of managing human behaviour.
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Emmanuel Imuetinyan Aghimien, Danny Hin Wa Li and Ernest Kin-Wai Tsang
This paper reviews extant studies on bioclimatic architecture with a view of revealing the focus areas of past studies and mapping out future research directions useful in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper reviews extant studies on bioclimatic architecture with a view of revealing the focus areas of past studies and mapping out future research directions useful in achieving building energy efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-method systematic review that integrates quantitative and qualitative analysis was adopted. The bibliographic data were extracted from the Scopus database, and a scientometric analysis was conducted to analyse the data quantitatively. Qualitative content analysis is then presented, which provided a basis for mapping out trends and gaps in current knowledge.
Findings
It is observed that there has been a rise in the number of studies on bioclimatic architecture over the last two decades. Past studies have focused on sustainability, building performance simulation, building climatology and energy use, solar energy applications and passive cooling. Artificial intelligence, algorithm coupling and acoustic comfort were some of the emerging areas discovered in this study.
Research limitations/implications
The study reveals research gaps that researchers can investigate.
Practical implications
The information provided can help the building industry stakeholders in decision-making. It serves as a guideline for maximising the potential benefits of adopting bioclimatic designs in the building industry. Furthermore, it provides references that aid policy formulation for government agencies and corporate organisations.
Originality/value
The study fills the literature gap caused by the need for a holistic literature review that relates bioclimatic architecture and its energy efficiency implications. It is also the first study on bioclimatic architecture that adopts a mix of scientometric and qualitative analysis for analysing past studies on bioclimatic architecture.
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors explaining the success of Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the challenges which it faces in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors explaining the success of Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the challenges which it faces in maintaining that success.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilising a review of primary and secondary sources, a syndrome of success characteristics is developed and analysed against a backdrop of recent high-level scandals involving corruption and unethical behaviour.
Findings
The paper concludes that the institutionalisation of key structures and processes has enabled the ICAC to perform successfully to date but that the prospect of political interference may represent a significant future challenge.
Originality/value
Although there has been widespread attention to ICAC success factors, some important features have been neglected and little academic attention has been devoted to recent political challenges to its position.
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Paul-Francois Muzindutsi, Sanelisiwe Jamile, Nqubeko Zibani and Adefemi A. Obalade
The housing market in South Africa has the potential to drive economic growth and attract foreign investment, but it can be affected by various risk factors. This paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
The housing market in South Africa has the potential to drive economic growth and attract foreign investment, but it can be affected by various risk factors. This paper aims to conduct an empirical analysis of the effect of country risk components on the housing market in South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
Linear and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models were used to evaluate the effects of the economic, financial and political risk factors of country risk on the prices of different segments of houses based on 276 monthly time-series data from January1995 to December 2015.
Findings
First, the results established that the three housing indices were more sensitive to political risk in the long run. Second, short run results showed that the three housing indices were largely influenced by their own preceding adjustments in the short run albeit minimal influences from political risk. Third, large housing segments indicated a higher magnitude of the country risk effect in South Africa.
Originality/value
This paper concluded that the response of housing prices to changes in the country risk components differed across the three segments of the housing market in South Africa. Consequently, this study presented the first comparison of the reactions of different housing segments to different components country risk.