Ayer mineros, hoy eco-guías y concesionarios: tensiones en torno a la conservación ambiental, el uso de la tierra y el trabajo en Guasca, Cundinamarca

En Guasca, Cundinamarca, se han configurado cambios profundos en el uso de los recursos naturales y el trabajo. En la misma área donde operó una mina de cal a cielo abierto por más de sesenta años, hoy en día existe una reserva biológica. Este proceso ha conllevado transformaciones y negociaciones entre las formas locales de uso de los recursos naturales y los usos propuestos por la conservación ambiental. Por su parte, el trabajo en la vereda se ha visto afectado por el cambio reciente en el usufructo de los recursos ambientales y las precariedades económicas del agro en Colombia. El argumento central de este texto es que la declaratoria de áreas protegidas privadas, como práctica suscrita al discurso ambientalista global, más que un proceso neutro, es una fuente de tensión constante entre pobladores locales y administradores de las zonas de conservación ecológica por cuenta del manejo territorial y ambiental, el entendimiento del uso de los recursos naturales y la naturaleza, la propiedad, el empleo y la descentralización del poder estatal. Así las cosas, este trabajo se preocupa por analizar las tensiones e implicaciones que supone la declaratoria de áreas protegidas para las poblaciones locales, en particular en su economía, trabajo y formas de apropiarse de la naturaleza y sus recursos.

Uneven playing field or falling standards? Chinese students' competence in English.

This paper explores student and teacher perspectives of challenges relating to the levels of competence in English of Chinese students studying overseas from the perspective of critical pedagogy. It draws on two complementary studies undertaken by colleagues at the University of Reading. The first—a research seminar attended by representatives from a wide range of UK universities—presents the views of teachers and administrators; the second draws on four case studies of the language learning of Chinese postgraduate students during their first year of study in the UK, and offers the student voice. Interview and focus group data highlight the limitations of current tests of English used as part of the requirements for university admission. In particular, university teachers expressed uncertainty about whether the acceptance of levels of written English which fall far short of native-speaker competence is an ill-advised lowering of standards or a necessary and pragmatic response to the realities of an otherwise uneven playing field. In spite of this ambivalence, there is evidence of a growing willingness on the part of university teachers and support staff to find solutions to the language issues facing Chinese students, some of which require a more strategic institutional approach, while others rely on greater flexibility on the part of individuals. Although the studies reported in this paper were based on British universities, the findings will also be of interest to those involved in tertiary education in other English-speaking countries which are currently attracting large numbers of Chinese students.

Local politico-administrative perspectives on quality improvement based on national registry data in Sweden : a qualitative study using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Background. Through a national policy agreement, over 167 million Euros will be invested in the Swedish National Quality Registries (NQRs) between 2012 and 2016. One of the policy agreement¿s intentions is to increase the use of NQR data for quality improvement (QI). However, the evidence is fragmented as to how the use of medical registries and the like lead to quality improvement, and little is known about non-clinical use. The aim was therefore to investigate the perspectives of Swedish politicians and administrators on quality improvement based on national registry data. Methods. Politicians and administrators from four county councils were interviewed. A qualitative content analysis guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was performed. Results. The politicians and administrators perspectives on the use of NQR data for quality improvement were mainly assigned to three of the five CFIR domains. In the domain of intervention characteristics, data reliability and access in reasonable time were not considered entirely satisfactory, making it difficult for the politico-administrative leaderships to initiate, monitor, and support timely QI efforts. Still, politicians and administrators trusted the idea of using the NQRs as a base for quality improvement. In the domain of inner setting, the organizational structures were not sufficiently developed to utilize the advantages of the NQRs, and readiness for implementation appeared to be inadequate for two reasons. Firstly, the resources for data analysis and quality improvement were not considered sufficient at politico-administrative or clinical level. Secondly, deficiencies in leadership engagement at multiple levels were described and there was a lack of consensus on the politicians¿ role and level of involvement. Regarding the domain of outer setting, there was a lack of communication and cooperation between the county councils and the national NQR organizations. Conclusions. The Swedish experiences show that a government-supported national system of well-funded, well-managed, and reputable national quality registries needs favorable local politico-administrative conditions to be used for quality improvement; such conditions are not yet in place according to local politicians and administrators.

Correlates of student satisfaction with study modes

Research into the outcomes for students of different study modes has generally concluded that there is ‘no significant difference’ between outcomes for students studying face-to-face and for those studying by a variety of distance or flexible means. As the shift towards CIT-based and independent learning for oncampus students accelerates, it is important to establish how student outcomes are affected. This paper reports on a survey of the experiences and satisfaction of oncampus students with different learning environments and compares the satisfaction of those students who have experienced both on- and off-campus study. These comparisons were made based on students’ employment status and their reasons for studying off-campus. The findings revealed that students were significantly less satisfied with their off-campus than on-campus experience regardless of their work status. Further, the results indicate an association between students’ satisfaction with off-campus study and their reasons for studying off-campus. Given the evidence provided in this paper in support of face-to-face learning environments for ‘conventional’ on-campus students, both academics and administrators have an interest in ensuring that it remains central to the higher education experience of current and future students.

Challenging librarians : the relevance of the doctorate in professional practice

We, as librarians, are adept at challenging academics, students and administrators about the crucial role of information literacy in higher education and lifelong learning. Consequently, the push for strategic partnerships with academics is frequently in the foreground of our thinking. Concomitantly, the push for academic status for librarians is raised occasionally, particularly as a pay and equity issue. Yet, our purposes may appear somewhat misguided or rhetorical when contrasted to the nominal prerequisites required for professional practice, especially when compared with those of academics. The issues of information literacy and knowledge production within a knowledge economy compound such debate. This paper argues that ‘credential creep’ is catching up with librarians in the university sector. In order to be regarded as integral to academic endeavour, those of us who ‘teach’ information literacy may need to match the qualifications normally required by academics. Consonant with this proposal is the Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework: Principles, Standards and Practice (Bundy, 2004) of the Australian and New Zealand Institute for Information Literacy (ANZIIL) and the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL). The Framework mirrors many of the desired outcomes of a doctoral degree, a degree possessed by approximately one per cent of Australian librarians but, in comparison, by more than fi fty-four per cent of Australian academics. This paper challenges—not academics—but librarians, to embrace the notion of undertaking doctoral study to enhance our professional (or amateur) practice and our information literacy. The recommendation is derived in essence from my study on doctoral research and information literacy (Macauley, 2001). It also incorporates the current discourse on these issues and uses personal narrative to articulate the findings. It seeks also to explore those tensions and contradictions commensurate with practising what we preach.

Real footballers don`t eat quiche: old narratives in new times

In this article, the authors examine the way that sport acts as a contradictory and complex medium for masculinity making. The analysis illustrates the way that many discourses now unite in a cybernetic mix that offers both new opportunities and presents complex challenges for educators, coaches, and administrators. The method used combines a number of strategies and narratives pitched at the local, national, and international levels. The analysis is grounded in the game of football, although it is argued that the issues raised translate to other settings. At the same time, the authors demonstrate that large-scale, macro level analyses miss an important force working within the dynamics of masculinity making and sport, namely, peer group power. The analysis concludes with insights from a junior coach who has consciously "worked" the peer group dynamics to foster a strong sense of personal and group responsibility.

The effect of the category of sport team on the role of nostalgia in an individual supporter’s psychological connection to that sport team

With the many benefits related to high levels of psychological connection with a sport team, marketers, management and communities desire supporters to be highly connected with sport teams. A major gap has been identified in relation to the effect of the category of sport team on the role of nostalgia in determining that connection. A conceptual model is presented together with a proposed methodology. This research will aid academics and administrators in their communications with and targeting of consumers and affords communities the opportunity to benefit from consumers’ higher levels of psychological connection with a sport team.

The spiral of learning : 4 R’s of education

The purpose of this paper is to explore the integration of learning, continuous improvement theories and reflective evaluation for enhancing management education. Conceptual development is combined with the outcomes of a pilot focus group as an example of reflective evaluation. The Spiral of Learning concept is uniquely augmented through hermeneutics, action research and the Deming cycle. Four R’s are identified in the Spiral of Learning: Review, Revise, Reconstruct and Reveal. Recommendations for each of the 4 R’s are made to assist continuous improvement of management education. For instance, emerging suites of social software appropriately chosen, timed and applied can assist student learning. Direct human connection in some form is recommended for learners when information is delivered online. The concepts and resultant recommendations inform practice through prioritization of online applications and development of appropriate checks and balances by academics and administrators.

Adoption of social media in Victorian local governments

The use of the Internet and social media tools by Australians has increased significantly over the last five years. Social media tools provide local governments with the opportunity to inform, serve and interact with their constituents on a level not previously possible. This paper uses a mixed method approach to firstly review current use of social media tools by Victorian local governments and secondly interview elected officials and administrators of four Victorian local councils about barriers to the adoption of social media tools. The results show that while 59 Victorian local governments (74%) are utilizing at least one social media tool, there are 20 councils (25%) that still do not utilize social media tools. The interviews indicate that the main barriers hindering social media implementations are: uncertainty, fear of risk, lack of knowledge and experience, lack of resources, lack of trust and, the culture of government. The main contribution of this study is a review of the current level of adoption of social media tools by Victorian local governments and identifies a number of barriers that prevent local government from fully utilizing the advantages of social media tools. Currently most Victorian local governments use social media to disseminate information.

The "theory-practice gap": Turning theory into practice in a pre-service teacher education program

his thesis investigates the theory-practice gap using the exemplar of teacher education. The research is situated in a pre-service teacher education program that explicitly seeks to bridge the theory-practice gap so that it produces “learning managers” who can negotiate the contemporary knowledge society in ways different to those of their predecessors. The empirical work reported in this thesis describes and interprets the experiences of preservice and beginning teachers in turning theory into practice. In order to accomplish this outcome, the thesis draws on Mead’s theory of emergence and symbolic interactionism to provide a theoretical perspective for meaning-making in social situations. Data for the study were collected through interviews and focus groups involving a sample of first-year graduate teachers of an Australian pre-service teacher education program. The main finding of this thesis is that the theory-practice gap in pre-service teacher education under present institutional arrangements is an inevitable phenomenon arising as individuals undergo the process of emergence from pre-service to graduate and then beginning teachers. The study shows that despite the efforts of the program developers, environmental, social and cultural conditions in teacher education processes and structures and in schools inhibit the trainee and novitiate teacher from exercising agency to effect change in traditional classroom practices. Thus, the gap between theory and practice is co-produced and sustained in the model that characterises contemporary preservice teacher education in the perspectives of lecturers, teachers and administrators.

Organizações orientadas para os clientes: fatores indicativos de sua atuação no comércio varejista de produtos de beleza

This work is about the organizations guided to attend the clients/customers in all aspects focusing their characteristics, needs and expectations and that do their best to produce goods or do services which can permanently increase their clients' satisfactions. To reach this aim has been the challenge of their managers and administrators who work to make them be considered as state-of-the-art by other organizations and their clients or customers. Many different strategies have been taken to achieve it; since having the focus on the process , then on the products, and more recently on the clients/customers, meaning that their satisfaction has turned to be their new target; as their are the ones who will rate or evaluate their quality. This work is more especifically about the organizations in the make-up and beauty products retail market which carry out researches with the customers of stores, managers and members of their demonstration and sales teams. This research identifies the attributes the customers/clients appreciate most in the stores and how hard their managers and business owners work to satisfy their needs and expectations, showing how far they follow the principles of the organizations guided to clients/customers. Key words: Attributes, attributes evaluation, beauty products, beauty products retail shops; clietns/customs oriented organizations; process oriented organizations; product oriented organizations.

Estabelecimentos isolados de ensino superior: um estudo das fundações educacionais de SC

Este estudo centra-se na análise das Instituições Isoladas de Ensino Superior. O universo da análise são as Fundações Educacionais de Santa Catarina e suas unidades de ensino superior. Estas Fundações, instituídas pelos poderes públicos Estadual e Municipais, foram responsáveis pelo processo de interiorização e regionalização do ensino superior em Santa Catarina, detendo, à época da pesquisa, mais de 2/3 do alunado deste nível de ensino. A legislação sobre o ensino superior, vigente em nosso País, adota a Universidade como norma e o Estabelecimento Isolado como exceção. Mas a exceção, segundo a lei, estatisticamente, ocupa posição modal. A Universidade e o Estabelecimento Isolado são realidades distintas e, normalmente, situadas em ambientes diferentes. Se diferente é a realidade de ambas não se pode enquadrá-las no mesmo "figurino" conceptual. O Estabelecimento Isolado de Ensino Superior deve buscar sua identidade institucional, sua vocação. Na busca da identidade dos Estabelecimentos Isolados de Ensino Superior, é analisada a experiência de Santa Catarina, através de suas Fundações Educacionais. A análise aborda essas instituições sob três aspectos: seus objetivos, sua estrutura organizacional e as formas de interação com o meio ambiente. A análise dos objetivos situa-se numa tríplice dimensão: os fins e funções do Ensino Superior, preconizados pela Lei, os fins e funções das Fundações Educacionais e suas unidades de ensino, expressos em seus documentos legais, e os resultados alcançados por estas instituições. Tanto na análise dos objetivos propostos, como dos resultados alcançados, são enfocados os três tipos de participantes: o pessoal docente admi-nistrativo das Instituições, os alunos e as comunidades a que servem. Estabelecem-se relações entre os objetivos propostos frente aos alcançados e as aspirações do pessoal docente-administrativo frente às dos alunos e comunidades, visando avaliar a coerência entre o proposto e o alcançado e a discrepância dos objetivos dos participantes. Para explicar a falta de coerência encontrada entre objetivos e resultados, são analisadas a estrutura formal e as práticas administrativas das instituições. Parte-se do pressuposto de que estruturas formais sofisticadas, além de complexidade da organização, geram "formalismos", entendidos como a discrepância entre o prescrito e os comportamentos. Os " formalismos" tendem a explicar a falta de coerência entre o proposto e o alcançado, no campo dos objetivos. Os dados mostram existir relação entre tipo de estrutura (formal-concreto) e coerência de objetivos com resultados. Para explicar as discrepâncias dos objetivos dos participantes, são analisadas as interações com o ambiente, entendidas como a atuação das IES sobre o meio e deste sobre aquelas, em termos de "trocas". Encontra-se, aqui, também, relação entre as variáveis analisadas. Os dados obtidos levam a conclusões no sentido da busca de vocação própria, da especificidade das Instituições Isoladas do Ensino Superior. São levantadas alternativas de ação, na busca da identidade das IES isoladas, propondo novos e mais aprofundados estudos sobre o assunto.

A saúde psíquica de quem faz saúde: uma análise crítica sobre a humanização direcionada ao profissional de saúde

It is noticeable that pressure, tension and overwork are frequent in health professionals routine. The work related to the ward area demands deep attention and surveillance. Because of that, it is essential to have a specific look at the humanization directed at health professionals, considering that taking care of other human beings is the essence of their job. This study has analyzed the psychic health levels, as well as the stress health professionals are submitted to, providing a debate about the humanization in 06 public hospitals (03 of them awarded by actions of humanization, and 03 not awarded) in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. A study with 126 active health professionals (doctors, nurses, psychologists, nutritionists and social workers) in ward areas in their respective institutions was carried out. The thesis presented, with multi-disciplinary characteristic, counted on the support of statisticians (to calculate samples and data analysis), psychologists, social workers and administrators (linked to the human resources sector in each hospital). A cross-sectional study was performed, taking into consideration both quantitative and qualitative factors. The tools used for that were a semistructured questionnaire with socio-demographic characteristics, work and humanization; Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (ISSL), and the Goldberg s General Health Questionnaire (QSG). The workers are predominantly women (84,9%), married (54,8%), between 46 and 55 years old (40,5%), working in the same institution for more than 20 years (22,2%), and between 16 and 20 years (20,6%), respectively. They work 40 hours a week (71,4%) and have multiple jobs (61,9%). Although most of these individuals global psychic health is in a good level, there are a significant number of people that is gradually getting worse concerning psychic stress (F1) showed by QSG (54,7%), and stress showed by ISSL(42,1%). Observing the categories, nurses (41,5%). Nutritionists (20,8%), doctors and social workers (18,9%), were among the most affected. About general health (F6), 63% of the awarded hospitals and 70% of the not awarded ones, presented good health levels (ranging from 5 to 50%). It was also noticed that, in the groups mentioned above, 25 and 20% respectively, were inserted in scores between 55 to 90%, what means that they are in worsening phase. The fact that the hospital is awarded or well recognized doesn t interfere in health professionals stress level and in their psychic health. Through what was heard from these individuals, it was possible to verify that they know little about humanization, once few of them identify or know that the service they offer is in an adoption process by Ministerial Policies. It was also detected the necessity of developing actions aimed at worker s health. Such results showed the importance of have more investments in programs that are directed to workers well-being, because they deal with other people s health and it is known that it is difficult for them to offer high-quality assistance if there are not suitable physical, psychological and material conditions to help them develop their jobs. As a warning, it is fair to say that investments in actions that provide humanized care to health professionals, mainly concerning preventive care for their health and life quality in their work

PROEJA FIC/Fundamental no IFRN-Campus Mossoró: das intenções declaradas ao funcionamento de um curso em espaço prisional

This research aims to analyze the FIC Course of Assistant Technician in Service Management and Quality, integrated to elementary education / EJA form developed by IFRN MO Campus between 2011 and 2013 in the form of a PROEJA FIC / AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL. We seek to understand the adhesion between the national guidelines postulated for the Program, established in PPC and mediations with the process conceived in the run of the course. Guiding by the socio-critical approach and the dialogical paradigm, the theoretical-epistemological mark is especially buoyed by the theoretical contributions of Ciavatta (2005) , Rock (2011) , Haddad and Di Pierro (2000), Freire (2005), Marx (1982), Ramos (2005), Frigotto; Ciavatta; Ramos (2005), Moura (2012), and also on education in prisons by Onofre (2007, 2011), Bueno (2007), Julião (2011) and Foucault (2001). We assume that an action that enables professional qualification as FIC courses articulated to the EJA in the context of education in prisons have conceptual, methodological, political and pedagogical implications for it focuses challenges, weaknesses and opportunities on the same area of education., We have developed four techniques of data collection based on procedures and tools of qualitative research, such as document analysis, a student survey, the conduction of focus groups with teachers and administrators of the course and on-site observation. Mediated by the investigated context, results showed that the consolidation of PROEJA FIC / AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL goes beyond the intentions officially declared. It is inferred that after seven years of its creation, even though it keeps some potential, this program is not being satisfactorily developed and it shows weaknesses national and locally, it is set at low capillarity, it has a limited scope, and dissolved essential public commitments to the course development. The effectiveness of PROEJA FIC / AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL as part of an emancipatory inclusion social policy, according to official statement, entails approximating the legal logic with social logic, so as not only to propagate discourses and enforce worship to specific and successful experiences that reach only a minority, but to provide actual and necessary conditions to promote the breadth and social quality of the offered deals in this program format