Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Thoughts and Ethical Issues Surrounding Organ Donation

There are a lot of different things that are going on in this world today that keep people from doing right by God. People need to know that the selling of the organs can make things worst in the country that can cause lots of problem for people who do not have the money to pay the price for organs. It comes a time that if someone needs an organ real bad to help save their life and do not have the money to pay for the organ, what will happen then. There would be people who would like for people to be able to just donate organs so they can help save lives in our country without looking for something in return. People can make a lot of different in our children life if they see that we as adults are doing something positive in the world makes them want to follow in our footsteps and love and care for everyone knows matter what the situation is looking like. People feel that if the selling of the organs would become legal to do, the only people who would be able to afford to buy or gans would be the ones who has lots of money and want miss a dime when buying organs. â€Å"Being able to pay for an organ, would give an unfair disadvantage to those who may need the transplant more urgently but don’t have the money to offer. Being that there is limited number of organs from dying patients, and limited organs that can be donated from living patients.† (https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid) There are people who think that if the organs donor is dying and the family wantsShow MoreRelatedEssay on Organ Donation1638 Words   |  7 Pagescurrent process of procuring organs for transplantation. It will also explore technology on the horizon and alternates to donation. The waiting list for transplant surgery far exceeds the current supply. Black Market organ trade in this, as well in foreign countries is alive and well. Donation is not able to keep up with demand. We have to take measures to ensure those in the most need are taken care of. We alread y allow people to sell eggs, sperm and blood why not other organs? I will attempt to showRead MoreThe Ethical Issue Surrounding Organ Transplantation2459 Words   |  10 PagesOutline Title: The Ethical Issues Surrounding Organ Transplantation Abstract With organ transplants so prevalent in today’s society, it is important that the ethical issues surrounding them are fully understood. While many people want to see life extended as long as possible, there are others who believe life must be allowed to run its natural course. This literature review examines the process of organ transplantation from continuous shortages of available organs to the distribution processRead MoreEthical Delemis - Brain Death1632 Words   |  7 PagesRunning head: ETHICAL DILEMMA: BRAIN DEATH Ethical Dilemma: Brain Death Mike Baker University of Phoenix Introduction There has been an increase in the number of organs donated for transplantation since the development and acceptance of brain death. (Guidelines for the determination of death, 1981) The strict rules surrounding the diagnosis and the ability to develop individualized Policy and Procedures in the determination of brain death has removed the fearRead MoreCatholic Moral Theology And The Medical Field935 Words   |  4 PagesCatholic Moral Theology and the Medical Field Principally, morality and ethical issues continue to be a topic of debate, particularly in the modern day world. Essentially, this is because some of them touch the heart of the human life and failure to find a convergence of opinion threatens existence (Piazza Landy, 2013). In this respect, religion is one tool that has significantly influenced and continues to shape this discourse. Accordingly, this easy draws from the moral teaching of the CatholicRead MoreOrgan Transplant of Infants With Anencephaly: Arguments and Support1017 Words   |  4 PagesOrgan Transplant of Infants with Anencephaly: Anencephaly is described as neural tube defect that has severe limits on the lifespan of affected infants. The condition is likely to contribute to the failure of the neural tissue to an extent that it can completely close at the cephalic end of the neural system. This medical condition in infants tends to occur between the third and fourth week of a womans pregnancy resulting in the absence of the cerebral cortex though the brain stem remains intactRead MoreEssay on Organ Donation2225 Words   |  9 PagesAt least 10 people die every day, while waiting for a major organ for example, heart, lungs or kidneys’, the reason being they is a massive shortage of organs across Europe, with the transplant waiting list growing, they is need for radical measures to be taken. The author of this easy will define what organ donation is, however the aims of the essay is to compare and contrast the two systems of organ donation, the opt- in and opt- out systems. The focus of the essay is on cadaveric donors,( heartRead MoreBlack Market Organ Harvesting: Is it Truly Inevitable?1619 Words   |  7 Pagesfor human tissue and bodily fluids. Human tissues are a product in high demand with little supply. People ask if there is a way to stop this. There is not. The black market trade in organs, bones, blood, and plasma is inevitable due to the ambiguity surrounding organ donation and transplant laws, a shortage of organ donors, and the lucrative nature of selling human tissues. Law and economics recognize three types of markets with varying degrees of legality: white, gray, and black. The trade inRead MoreThe Legalization Of Organs Of The United States4086 Words   |  17 Pagesselling of organs to those who are in dire need of a transplant, both legally and illegally, in many different countries. The legalization of the sale of organs in the United States would have serious consequences and raises many ethical dilemmas- regardless of religious beliefs. There are several ideas presented in this paper that present the issues that have hindered the progression of the legalization of organs. Currently, there is an organ waiting list of 123,897 patients on the organ recipientRead MoreA Research Study On The Three Patch Presentation Topics That Consisted Of Organ Donation For The Biology Patch2193 Words   |  9 Pagesconsisted of organ donation for the biology patch, caring for the â€Å"concepts in health care† patch and finally, Freud’s psycho sexual theory of development for the life-course patch. It will do this by exploring what was learnt and addressing the feedback given, and its relevance and application to clinical practice. Finally, it will evaluate the process of the patchwork presentations and how I may apply the experience to my clinical practice. During my research into advertising and organ donation I foundRead MoreOrgan Shortage Around The World2101 Words   |  9 PagesIn the 21st century, it is obvious to the world that there is an organ shortage around the world. Many thousands, hundreds of thousands of people are waiting for organs to save their lives. There are just not enough organs to be spread around to the people who urgently need them. The global response to this problem is very different throughout different countries. Some countries are harvesting organs, some executing prisoners, some paying people to donate, some allowing people to sell them on the

Monday, December 16, 2019

Financial Crises and Corporate Finance Causes, Context and Consequences Free Essays

string(117) " gold plate the deal by providing a credit default guarantee for the SPV in the event of default \(Teasdale, 2003\)\." 1.0 Introduction – background to financial crash of 2007-8 This essay will examine the background and unfolding of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and its impact on the theory and practice of corporate finance. I will analyse whether changes to the way the financial and non-financial corporate sector operated over recent years contributed to the depth and severity of the crisis. We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Crises and Corporate Finance: Causes, Context and Consequences or any similar topic only for you Order Now Specifically, financial deregulation in the 1990s in financial markets and the securitisation of the corporate sector (Ball, 2009), have led to claims that the ‘solution’ to the so-called agency problem of aligning manager and shareholder interests may have actually made the crisis worse. I will argue that the easing of regulations on the mortgage loan sector especially increased the risks of a financial crisis developing by creating the environment for a massive financial asset bubble. Historically low interest rates and ‘easy money’ policies of the US Federal Reserve under Alan Greenspan following the bursting of the technology bubble in 2000 created conditions for the bubble. I will also examine whether the growth in markets for innovative financial products such as CDOs disguised risks and even mispriced assets in the mortgage market by separating the obligation to fund the original loans from the trading of such obligations as collateralised debt. The outcome of the crisis in terms of future corporate financial behaviour and regulatory reforms of the corporate sector will be reviewed. 2.0 Corporate finance models and the financial crisis – the role of CSR Critics of the corporate sector such as Simms have argued that the narrow focus among publicly listed companies on short-term profits over and above sustainable long-term corporate health, helped cause the financial crisis of 2007-9. The process of selling off traditionally run companies to global multinationals had led to the disappearance of famous companies such as Twinings and Cadbury from the British economy, and the loss of jobs related to these closures. Simms is not alone in claiming that the narrow pursuit of short-term profits as well as excessive pay among senior executives has not served the interests of the wider economy and stakeholders including workers and pension funds. Simms sees the selling off and closure of great British enterprises as the result of the loss of traditional family business ethics and their replacement by financial sector values of high returns to investors. Fernandez-Feijoo Souto (2009) analyses the financial crisis in terms of the opportunities it presents for companies to refocus on corporate social responsibility. CSR is seen as growing in importance as part of the corporate culture although there is difficulty in defining what CSR actually means. Fernandez-Feijoo Souto argues that the financial crisis has provided a new urgency to the need to clarify what defines CSR and how it should be implemented. This includes building a name as a responsible business and relating this to growing revenue, keeping key personnel, understanding consumer’s bias toward companies with a good CSR brand; changing relationships through the value chain based on trust and treating customers and suppliers well; improving conditions which in turn reduce employee turnover and raise productivity, and reducing legal conflicts by complying with regulations. Simms argues that companies with a business model that has CSR built into it have been shown to be much better adapted to survive the challenges of the global financial crisis than companies that have followed a short-term profit strategy. He uses the examples of Bear Sterns and Lehmans, which traded under the saying â€Å"Let’s make nothing but money,† as classic examples of the kind of approach that led to disaster. However for each such example, one can point to a similar company, such as Barclays or Goldman Sachs, that have continued to thrive during the financial crisis despite having the same financial focused ethos. This is reflected in the evidence of numerous studies the result of which show unproven links between CSR and cost, profit and longevity (Fernandez-Feijoo Souto, 2009). There is evidence also of a split between positive economic results and more negative financial results, meaning that potentially short term financial gains may come at the cost of longer term economic performance. Lipton, Lorsch and Mirvis (2009) state: â€Å"Excessive stockholder power is precisely what caused the short-term fixation that led to the current financial crisis.† They point to money managers focused on short-term financial results who fuelled excessive risk taking. This tendency was favoured by government and regulators failing to impose checks on risk taking. Lipton, Lorsch and Mirvis see a â€Å"direct causal relationship between the financial meltdown and the short-term focus† of stockholders. 3.0 The role of securitisation in the financial crisis Securitisation of the mortgage and loan market, which developed in the 1990s, is seen by some commentators as central to the development of the financial crisis of 2007-8. Securitisation of asset-backed bonds is the process of creating debt instruments from a package of loan assets, usually home loans, commercial loans and retail loans such as credit card debt or auto loans. This allows banks to release value from the assets on their balance sheet. The asset-backed market was developed in the United States and grew rapidly from the early 2000s. Banks and other originators of mortgages sold on packages of their loans to an issuer, usually called a special purpose vehicle (SPV). The purpose of the securitisation is to reduce the institution’s balance sheet, which allows its return on equity to rise and also releases capital for other purposes. The process of securitisation enables the issuer to achieve enhanced credit ratings, usually up to AAA investment grade (Sundaresan, 1997 ). The credit rating of the original loan does not affect the rating of the SPV, even if the original mortgage holder defaults on the loan or is declared bankrupt. The securitisation deals are normally rated by credit ratings agencies such as Moody’s, Fitch or Standard Poor’s. The investment bank or investor which purchases the SPV securities will often approach an insurer to gold plate the deal by providing a credit default guarantee for the SPV in the event of default (Teasdale, 2003). You read "Financial Crises and Corporate Finance: Causes, Context and Consequences" in category "Essay examples" It has been argued that the complexity of securitisation restricts the ability of investors to assess risk, and that securitisation markets are likely to be subject to serious declines in underwriting standards. 3.1 Credit Default Swaps – analysis of impact of CDS market in the financial crisis The huge growth of the credit default swap (CDS) market is considered by many analysts to be one the worst elements of securitisation. The Bank for International Settlements reports that the CDS market increased in size from $6 trillion in 2004 to $57 trillion in June 2008 measured by notional principal (Stulz, 2010). The government bailout of AIG brought the CDS market to global attention, and led some commentators to see the CDS market as the primary cause of the financial crisis. As Stulz (2010) argues, there are two problems with the CDS market. First, the sellers of credit default swaps are not able to bear the risks they took on, so some of the benefit of credit default swaps in terms of hedging are actually unfounded – ultimately leading to the $80 billion bailout of AIG. Second, because of their inherent leverage of a CDS, they can enable investors to take more risky positions. The availability of these instruments to non-risk-averse investors may lead to risk being un der-priced. However, Stultz shows how the CDS market performed remarkably well around the default of Lehman Brothers. The credit default swap market did not cause the subprime mortgage defaults or the disappearance of liquidity. Excessive leverage by financial institutions and the collapse of the housing market was the cause of the crisis. For example, AIG borrowed heavily to acquire home loan-backed securities and it made even bigger losses on its portfolio of home loan-related securities than on its credit default assets. 4.0 Ponzi schemes and failure of investment banks to report criminal behaviour The crisis also revealed outright criminal activity taking place in the investment sector, most famously in the case of Bernard Madoff, whose wealth management business was exposed as a Ponzi scheme with $65 billion funds missing from accounts. Madoff was sent to prison for 150 years. JP Morgan acted as banker to Madoff but did not report their suspicions about his activities to the SEC (Ferguson, 2012). Critics have commented that there have been very few prosecutions of investment bankers for such activities as ‘shorting’ the very stocks that they recommended to their clients (Lewis, 2010). The Securities and Exchange Commission and New York prosecutors have brought very few prosecutions and no one has faced criminal conviction. Ferguson points out that Morgan Stanley’s Howie Hubler began to bet against securities connected to the subprime market in 2004 with management approval (Ferguson, 2012). The title of Ferguson’s film ‘Inside Job’ ref ers to the pattern of investment bankers and lawyers whose clients are banks then taking senior judicial and political roles in the government and financial authorities. This, it is argued, has caused a disincentive to go after the banks for actions that could be prosecuted. 5.0 Reform of corporate finance regulations – legislation and limits of reform Reform of the banking and wider corporate sector has been discussed and enacted in a variety of forms in the US and Europe. Banks have undergone stress tests to see if they could cope with further financial crises. The UK authorities have begun to reform corporate governance to give shareholders greater power to oversee compensation of executives, such as binding votes on executive pay, but this has not yet been implemented. New rules on the levels of reserves that banks must hold in order to ensure they are able to cope with future crises were agreed in November 2010 at the G20 summit in Seoul. G20 Finance Ministers backed the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s plans for capital and liquidity requirements for financial institutions. However most of these new reserve requirements have not yet been enforced, partly because the banking sector remains extremely fragile following the financial crash with high level of debts still threatening the financial system. Following t he crisis, there were many calls for the separation of retail and investment banking, or even the breaking up of ‘too big to fail’ banks, but these have not been acted on by government. President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act into law in July 2010. The Act marks the biggest reform of the US financial sector since the Great Depression (Avery, 2011). Section 939A of the Act effectively bans the use of credit rating agencies in an attempt to improve capital requirements for US banks. However implementation is likely to take many years. In America economists such as Paul Krugman have called for a return of the Glass Steagall Act 1933, which was put in place following the 1929 Wall Street Crash and then removed in the 1990s as part of the liberalisation of the banking sector (Krugman, 2011). Countries with stronger regulation of their banking sector, including Canada, Australia and Germany, did not suffer a banking crisis in the manner of the UK and USA, where regulation was ‘light’. 6.0 Conclusion: comparison with regulatory response to 1929 Financial Crash By comparison with the response of authorities to the Great Crash of 1929, it can be argued that through to 2012, five years after the crisis began, major reforms to the banking sector and to corporate governance in the US and UK have not been implemented in the way they were in the 1930s. This may be a result of the fact that governments and securities oversight authorities are far less independent of the corporate finance sector than they were in the 1930s. The financial services sector has grown in relation to GDP compared to its position in the 1930s, and its political influence is far greater. This means that reform and regulation has been much slower and weaker than it was in the last Great Depression. Calls for reform will not go away, especially as the crisis continues in Europe and North America. Action on corporate governance, and implementation of proposals for financial and banking reform will be required in order to prevent further financial crises occurring in the futur e. REFERENCES Avery, A. W.; 2011. Basel III v Dodd-Frank: What Does it Mean for US Banks, Who’s Who Legal. Ball, A. 2009. The Global Financial Crisis and the Efficient Market Hypothesis: What Have We LearnedThe University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 21, Issue 4, pages 8–16, Fall 2009 Ferguson, C; 2012, Heist of the century: Wall Street’s role in the financial crisis, The Guardian, 20 May 2012. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/may/20/wall-street-role-financial-crisis Fernandez-Feijoo Souto, B.; 2009. Crisis and Corporate Social Responsibility: Threat or OpportunityInternational Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2009. International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), 2008, Statement on the Global Financial Crisis. Krugman, P and Wells, R., 2011, The Busts Keep Getting Bigger: WhyNew York Review of Books,14 July 2011 Lewis, M. 2010, The Big Short, Allen Lane, Penguin. Lipton, M; , Lorsch, J. W. and Mirvis, T.N, Schumer’s Shareholders Bill Misses the Mark, Wall St. Journal, 12 May, 2009 Mirvis, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen Katz, 2010. Corporate Governance and the Financial Crisis: Causes and Cures, February 28, Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation. Sims, A; 2010. The power of corporate finance is an amoral hazard, The Guardian, 8th September, 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/sep/08/power-corporate-finance-amoral-hazard Stulz, R.M., 2010, Credit Default Swaps and the Credit Crisis, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 24, No. 1: 73-92. Sundaresan, S., Fixed Income Markets and Their Derivatives, South-Western Publishing, 1997, chapter 9. Teasdale, A; 2003, The Process of Securitisation. YieldCurve.comhttp://www.yieldcurve.com/Mktresearch/files/Teasdale_SecuritisationJan03.pdf How to cite Financial Crises and Corporate Finance: Causes, Context and Consequences, Essay examples

Sunday, December 8, 2019

International Education Policy and Management- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theInternational Education Policy and Management. Answer: Introduction This assignment will deal with the government policies related to higher education, their formulation and implementation. The report will initially illustrate the necessity of global education, the public policies that have been designed and formulated for the educational sphere. It will further elaborate on their finance and implementation in public settings. The report will also compare the higher education policies of two countries, Saudi Arabia and Australia respectively. This comparison will include a clear distinction between the educational backgrounds, the role of government in the higher education and will address several critical challenges and issues that are faced in the field. The vital issues that affect the management of higher education seats in organisations such as universities and colleges will also be described. Thus, the report will help to shed light on the effectiveness of public education policies in addressing the key challenges, followed by a final discussio n on the future of these policies in higher education of the two countries. Importance of Education Education Policy A countrys progress is largely dependent on its education. Social or economic growth is hugely influenced by the education of that country. Proper education is regarded as the essential prerequisite for a countrys advancement. Moreover, the role of education in building a responsible citizen of the society is well established (Samuel, 2013). Education is therefore considered essential for all development in all fields. No country can achieve sustainable economic development goals unless there is an extensive investment in human resource development. People are greatly benefitted by education such that they gain a better understanding of their self-worth and the world they are a part of. The quality of life gets enhanced under the influence of higher education and the society gains a wide range of benefits. A study established am positive association between education, creativity and productivitiy among people and demonstrated the effects of education on technology advancements and free enterprise (Ozturk, 2001). Furthermore, there lies an important role of education in establishment of fair distribution of resources and wealth in the society. This is accomplished by reducing the gap between the affluent and the poor. This is cited as the reason for government initiatives to implement national education policies. Before proceeding further, a sound understanding of the term policy is required. Policy is generally referred to as an overall plan of high level that embraces acceptable procedures and general goals of a governmental organisation. On the other hand, public policies are defined as the principled action guide formulated by taken executive branches of the state administration with regard to a plethora of issues in such a manner that is consistent with the law and institutional customs. Public policy foundations are composed of national constitutional regulations and laws (Merriam-Websters Dictionary). It is believed that most people do not have any concepts about policies. Furthermore, many people believe that their life has least connection with any polices while other belong to the school of thought that their work or even life is least concerned with or relevant to any policy. However, in reality, our daily lives are regularly affected by public policies. These policies affect the food we consume, our daily activities, our lives, families, health conditions and the atmospheric air we inhale. The amount of pollutants that enter our lungs and the purity of the water we drink are also governed by public policies. These policies also control the growth conditions of the food products we consume, and the manner in which these crops are grown, harvested or imported. In addition, the commercial value of these foods is also regulated by the aforementioned policies. In other words, the public policies aim to accomplish a clear objective for the betterment of the entire society. However, all public policies are not formulated with the aim of benefitting the entire population. Most often, these policies are believed to influence public interest by aiming or targeting a particular section of the society. This can be illustrated by the fact that the policies which concern specific target areas of indigenous people, physical disabilities, low intellectual faculties, immigrants, pensioners, and prevalence of tobacco and alcohol consumption, communicable diseases, crime and gambling are always designed for a selected population group. However, the entire society gets benefitted in the long run. Education policy: Accumulation of education standards, principles and laws that govern the functioning of educational frameworks are encompassed by educational policies (Bell Stevenson, 2006). A concise description of the actions and values related to education, accompanied by acknowledgment of the issues and the desired goals that affect education form the essential constituents of education policy interpretation. Thus, it can be stated that education policies are detailed or documented narratives of the practices, as perceived by the policy makers. Operation or management of educational institutes does not just involve people who are policy enforces or receivers. Most often, these people are involved in formulating the organisational procedures or policies as well. All governments are being forced to lay stress on the outcomes of these education policies on socio-economic development of the nation due to continuous globalisation pressure. Thus, education policies form an essential part of the annual government agenda and are allocated a substantial portion of the nations budget is allocated to this sector. The importance of education in acting as a driving force for establishing better healthcare provisions, alleviating poverty and maintaining security and peace cannot be argued owing to its role in measurement of the development and sustainable growth of a country. However, the focus of education has shifted beyond reading, writing and calculation abilities to knowledge growth and enhancement of capabilities in communication and information technology. This creates a huge pressure on the economy (Muhammed, 2014). Process of formulating education policies According to Ross (2012), 7 steps are associated with the process of public policy making. The steps are as follows: Recognition: Simple acknowledgement of a particular concern or problem is not sufficient. A detailed analysis of the factors that may lead to the problem is essential. This stage encompasses designing criteria that will assess the consciousness of the general public about the problem. It also assigns the responsibilities that should be taken for solving the concern. The step further emphasizes on discussing the resources that will be needed for solving the concern. Setting the Agenda: This step acts as a formal government acknowledgement which emphasizes on the fact that there is a need for the problem to be acted upon by the government. This stage focuses on placing the issue on the agenda. The latter is a compilation of the list of concerns or problems that need immediate discussion by the public officials. Formulation of policy: The action steps are drafted at this stage. These steps are later on taken to resolve the concern. There are three types of policy formulation: Analogous Routine Creative Acceptance of the policy: This step involves formal selection or choice of the policy by 3 branches of the government. This step is most time consuming of all. It utilises the approval of the chief executive or legislature before being acted upon. Following this step, the policy gets converted to a law. The bill is often changed or toned down to obtain necessary number of votes. Financing: It involves identification of the required resources and setting them aside for full enactment of the proposed policy. Most public policies are financed during the time of designing and development of the government annual budget. Implementation of the policy: The policy gets actually enacted at this stage. The responsibility is bestowed on several government administrative branches for implementing the policy. The implementation is generally done by utilising the different methods available at their disposal. These common methods that are used include: Motivation, Commanding, Moral Encouragement and Capacity Building. Policy Review: The cost, effectiveness and deficiencies of proposed policies are investigated in this step. This investigation is an ongoing process. The procedure involves evaluation of the impact of the proposed policy on the original concern. This determines the accuracy of the policy and whether it is adequate to meet the problem that had been initially identified. The step also ensures availability of sufficient funding and resources that will assist in implementation of the policy. The decision of the policy is a result of a process outcome that considers all available choices. The possible effects on the identified concern that can arise due to the policy are also taken into consideration. The choices are selected after making certain considerations that are stated below: Who will gain direct benefits from the policy? Which group of people are likely to suffer from recent changes that have been brought about in the policy? How much time will be required for the policy to get implemented and show its effects? What procedures should be adopted for funding the policy? Is the policy likely to cause any political backlash to the concerned government? When clearly expressed, it is quite evident that a formal procedure exists for actually designing the policy and its implementation. The primary aim of these policies is directed towards achieving betterment of the society. Higher Education Policy A higher education policy of the government encompasses the different ways of creation of higher educational institutions like colleges and universities. Moreover, these policies focus on the finance opportunities for these institutions and their mode of operation in the society. There have been several changes in globalisation, the surrounding environment and influence of communication and information technology. Advancements in these factors and economic changes have led to the development of various crises in the field of higher education. There exists a continuous struggle by the stakeholders and the governments across the world have been with the aim of upgrading the existing policies for higher education. They also focus on formulating new policies that will be able to cope with the unpredictable changes that are occurring all over the world. The System of Tertiary Education in Australia The Australian higher education system is composed of several universities and colleges in addition to other educational organisations that play an essential role in extensively contributing creating innovation, increasing the productivity in the concerned society and presenting opportunities of adequate skills and knowledge to the students for meeting their future needs (Department of Education and Training, 2016). Therefore, higher education is completely endorsed by the government of Australia through a variety of methods. The government endorses the field of education by preparing drafts of policies, making provisions for their funding and finally implementing these appropriate programs and policies for improving higher education. Australian Higher Education policy- Background It was decided by the Australian government to assist in the commencement of a new approach in the year 2012. This approach was greatly advanced and was supposed to address the allocation of places in public universities for undergraduate students. (Marginson, 2013). The new finance policy removed the previous restriction on the total number of places in each university. A long negotiation between each university and the federal government led to the implementation of the aforementioned limit. All Australian universities were given an opportunity to enrol as many students as they required after the implementation of the policy in 2012. The students were to be selected according to the individual evaluation criteria for the readiness and suitability of the students to study their chosen area. This evaluation criterion was different for each university. An equal amount of resources was allocated by the government for each student. However, there was a difference observed in the level of funding. This difference mainly arose due to variations in the chosen field of study. This could be cited by the fact that students who opted for marketing would get different measures of government funding compared to those who enrolled themselves for mining. Thus, it can be stated that there was a shift from a firm policy that controlled prices and volumes of higher education to a policy that did not impose any limits on the number of students that could get enrolled in the institute and a broader framework of fees that were stable. The primary objective of the new policy for higher education was establishment of a system that was driven by market demand. Therefore, it can be deduced that the system of higher education policy was designed to meet the demands of the students. It aimed to create positive responses from the higher education institutions. The basic goal of the government was generation of participation at higher levels that used the existing educational structure of all the universities. The policy geared towards meeting market demands and taking advantage of the opportunities that were available in instances where appropriateness and quality of the education determined the choices taken, rather than presence of low tuition fees or basic affordability. This new system that was developed by the Australian government was considered as a great policy initiative and it was expected to have wide ranging long lasting implications on the type and nature of higher education that existed in the nation. The policy further elaborated the relationship of the society or community with all existing universities. The Bradly Review or 2008 Review of Australian Higher Education led to the change in the higher education policy. This resulted in removal of the limit or restriction on the number of students who were enrolled at the universities. This Bradly Review led to the establishment of an extensive reform in the higher education sector of the country. Its aim was to increase the proportion of Australian with Bachelor degrees. This resulted in increase of the number and range of institutions that provided higher education, ensured an equitable access to learning opportunities and information. Furthermore, the review enhanced education quality and upgraded the standard of education. An increase was observed in the range of institutions that provided higher education across the country. Moreover, the financial burden on students who enrolled at these higher education institutions was considerably reduced along with enhancement of the quality of education and up-gradation of the standard. Thus, it can be stated that the Bradley Review report aimed to recommend the establishment of a concerted effort for greater standard of higher education system quality at the national level. Practical steps were proposed to make necessar y changes that would help in accomplishment of the goals. Role of the Australian Government in Higher Education Major attempts have been taken by the Australian Government to bring reforms to the higher education policies of the country. These changes were developed to bring about modernisation and sophistication of the education system. The reformed system was of superior quality, and was easily accessible and affordable to all students. To attain these goals, The Government continued making efforts that would help in update of the higher education policies. This would help in attainment of the goals and would ensure that the educational institutions such as universities and colleges would provide adequate learning opportunities and research results. This would in turn help in future advancement of the country. With the aim of developing a world-class higher education system, the students, institutions, guardians, politicians, employers and other stakeholders need to be involved in regular discussions. This would help in attainment of their continued feedback and support (Australian Government, Department of Education and Training, 2016). Key Issues in Higher Education in Australia Some of the major challenges that are faced by the present higher education sector are cited below. These issues are of utmost concern and need to be comprehensively addressed by the government policies related higher education: The financial burden of higher education: The major concern in this field is the ever-increasing cost of higher education globally. This is an important issue for the public as well as the government. The increase in tuition fees in institutes all around the world are created due to the increasing demand for stringent government regulations and better student services that need to be filled by the educational institutions. In addition, the reduction in budgets that the governments allocate for higher education is adding to the problem. Therefore, the students are made to shoulder larger proportion of the higher education costs than before. On analysis it has been found that it is extremely difficult to solve the problem of increased higher education prices. Identification of possible causes that are contributing to this increase is difficult as well. Hence, it is concluded that failure to curb the rising price of education will lead to the establishment of wider gap between the rich and the poor and will become a privilege for the affluent (Selingo, 2016). Widening skills gap: Workforce development is increasingly gaining importance duento the difficulties that are being faced by employers in matching the skills required with those of the job applicants. The huge advancement of technology is creating difficulties for many organisations in filling the gaps in critical positions due lack of adequate skill. Competency and education: Private and public sector employers are emphasizing more on the importance on education that focuses on competency. However, higher educational institutes lack a serious understanding of the term competency and the ways by which it can be measured. Endorsement or certification: Accreditation or endorsement of knowledge and skills has become extremely essential for the commercial organisations and the government. It is also considered of utmost importance by the public. However, serious gaps and lapses exist in the methods that are recommended by private sector institutes and the government for accreditation of the gained knowledge. Learning Evaluation: Another serious concern for the higher education institutes is proper assessment. A huge reduction is observed in the establishment of effort models by the regulatory and accreditation bodies. In contrast, these bodies are working towards searching the results that higher education yields for the nation in exchange of the extensive public funding that is spent on it. The quality of higher education: A general acceptance lies in the fact that the quality standards of higher education should be raised. There should be introduction of greater levels of accountability and openness in governance of higher educational institutes globally. Changing nature of students: The fact cannot be denied that present students fail to fit into the traditional student mould present since the last century. There lies a stark difference between the present students and those who belonged to the 20th century. This difference needs to be accepted by the policy makers, the governments, advisers and the faculty who are entitled with the responsibility of managing the higher educational institutes. The needs and priorities of the present students are significantly different from the needs of traditional students. However, the decisions are still being taken by people who are responsible for the designing of higher education policies, based on the needs of the small minorities. This can be cited as a major reason for the failure of the policies in creating the intended effect. Lack of proper leadership: A growth has been observed in leadership crisis in higher education field. Data from several studies display that the governing bodies of higher education institutes and the policymakers are composed of people who belong to the traditional and old school of thought. Thus, a need to have progressive leaders belonging to the young generation is identified. These young people will be able to identify the concerns and needs of the modern students. Moreover, they will be more competent and capable of leveraging the power of modern technology. However, some major challenges still persist in the present higher education sector. The need to design, implement and finance accurate higher education policies has been identified by the Australian government. These policies will be able to comprehensively address the major issues (Ebersole, 2014). Future Direction: The public and all stakeholders agree that the new policies are somewhat successful in accomplishing the goals they intend to achieve. Both consumers and suppliers have displayed strong reactions to the new formulated policies and have shown general support for their implementation. However, the fact that the differences based on educational institution types and location are not highlighted by the averages. Therefore, there is a need to review and examine the considerable impacts of the policies. These policies are essentially based on the total proportion of enrolments in different field of studies and the levels of that enrolment. This includes measurement of the students belonging to different groups such as immigrants, minorities, rural or regional people and those coming from low-income families. The choices that the students make with regards to the institutions where they get enrolled, acts as a true measurement of the success of all newly formulated policies. The selected field of study and amount of government funding also plays an important role. Several concerns exist regarding the effects or results of these new policies on the growth of education institutions, which want to gain a complete advantage of the opportunities that are available in the deregulated market. On the other hand, it is argued by some people that effects of newly implemented policies in removing stress on proportion of student enrolment to control increasing educational prices is half a measure of its success. These arguments are never-ending. However, not serious analyses of the probable benefits or consequences of these new policies on the students have been obtained. The students form the target population for the implementation of these policies. Thus, it can be deduced form the previously mentioned statements that the major changes in educational policies aim to achieve collective involvement by stakeholders in all higher educational institutions. The fundamental change in the policy occurs in regards student enrolment deregulation by universities. This aims to assist the institutions in responding to the choices made by their students. This in turn is expected to lead to enhancement of the education quality by increasing competition. Till date, all indications point towards the conclusion that the changes in educational policies are effective in accomplishing the goals that have been set by them in the beginning. However, over time, the actual effects of the policies need to be disclosed specifically in the areas of vocational education and training (VET) sector. With an increase in availability of higher education opportunities to students, there is a change observed in the nature of the students. Moreover, the distinct clear borders that separate the students from working people are being abolished. Eventually, with the establishment of several new educational institutions, there is a probability of raising questions on the quality of education being provided by the fly-by-night providers. The role of the government in ensuring higher education standards are being continuously watched by several stakeholders. Tertiary Education System of Saudi Arabia There lies a huge difference in the tertiary mode of education in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is and other countries. One of the primary differences lie in the fact that in Saudi Arabia, higher education is free in all public universities for Saudi citizens. This provision also exists for the family members of selected foreign professionals who work in the country. In addition, the 50% subsidised tuition fee rates for all Saudi students who study in private institutions is a remarkable advancement. Unlike other countries, the Saudi government also offers opportunities for free housing arrangement inside the university premises for students who come from remote or rural areas of the country. A monthly allowance is also paid to the students by the government to encourage or promote more students for attaining the higher educational institutes. There is segregation on the basis of gender at all educational levels in Saudi Arabia. Separate campus areas are built for the male and female students. King Abdullah Science Co-ed University, established in 2009 is the only exception. It was developed after much discussions and socio-political arguments. The establishment of this coeducational university is seen as a major step towards globalisation and international inclusion. A compulsory dissemination of Islamic culture, faith and history is imposed among students by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, the education policies of the Saudi government are facing international criticism in recent times. The major target is the religious education system. Background of Saudi Higher Education Policy Higher education policies in Saudi Arabia are a comparatively new occurrence since the establishment of the first university in the year 1957 in the country. There has been a swift development in the sector of higher education over the past decade. There were 32 universities in the year 2011, as compared to 8 universities in 2001 in the kingdom. During this time period, all aspects of the higher education have been directly regulated and firmly controlled by the government of Saudi Arabia. The regulations were imposed on numbers of students enrolled, admission processes and policies of human resources for the faculty members (Alkhazim, 2003). The Saudi government has provided necessary finance for developing the structure of higher education, since the very beginning, in the country. However, in the last decade, substantial investment by private companies has been observed in the field of research in several universities. Significant contributions have been observed in the expenditure of resources and money in recent years, by the private business sectors in Saudi Arabia. This contribution has been done to support growth of research capacities in public universities. This also provided major grants for chairperson selection and project innovations in a wide variety of subjects in several research departments. These charitable donations and grants were new in the higher education sector of Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, most of the public universities are capable of raising the funds to pay for all research activities that are taken in their institutes. As a result, there occurs an increase in appeals made to the government to lift the control and offer the authorisation to universities to decide the distribution of the funds. However, there is a need for major reforms in the governance and higher education policies to accomplish the goal (Christensen, 2011). King Abdulaziz University (KAU) was founded in the year 1967 as a private institute, first of its kind to provide higher education in Saudi Arabia. However, in 1974 it was converted to a public institute in 1974 following a decree from the ministry of education. Several decades later, the Prince Sultan University was founded in 1999. The establishment of the latter university was regarded as the arrival of higher education in private in the Saudi kingdom. Sooner, an additional 8 private institutions were founded within the next decade. The practice of privatisation of universities was seen as a compelling dynamism that helped to reform the structure of the government. It advocated the sharing of management responsibilities and authorities (Lapworth, 2004). Role of Saudi Government in Higher Education The public institutions for higher education located in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are supported by full funding from the Saudi government and are managed by the same. The Saudi citizens are exempted from paying higher education fees at public universities. The entire cost is borne by the government. As a result, access to higher education is believed to be a privilege of citizenship by the ordinary people. However, a strong controlling approach is adopted by the government of Saudi Arabia as a result of the complete funding of education. All public institutions impart education in Arabic language. There exist few private universities where the medium of teaching is English. English is also used as the teaching medium in medical colleges. It has been mandatory by the government that all students should study English language in the preparatory year, before getting enrolled in into higher education. The academic year consists of 2 semesters from September to June in the higher educational institutions. An additional semester can also be taken by interested students during summer. The American structure is used for designing the higher education system. The associated degrees are of 2 years, Bachelor degrees for 4 years and Master degrees for 2 years. Key Issues in Higher Education in Saudi Arabia Administration and Financing: The higher educational policies are formulated, implemented, regulated and financed by the authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Technical and Vocational Training Corporation. Several government bodies and agencies play a role in the higher education sector. These agencies include, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Interior. Administrative Reforms: Periodic attempts have been taken by the government to resolve problems such as obstinacy in administration, over-regulation and red-tape through establishment of several administration reforms. Continuous work is being done by a number of universities, with the aim of implementing new reforms that will control work maladies and improve performance. However, this process is difficult and slow due to government controls (Clark, 2014). Future Direction: Saudi Arabia higher education sector requires a fundamental change in its pattern. This change will help it to move away from the strict controls impose by the government on deregulation and from self governance and centralized authorities to independence by the universities. On attaining the objectives of deregulation, the performance of the universitiescan be used to form the basis for creating provisions for government financing. This in turn will lead to the improvement of the education quality and excellence through healthy competition. The Saudi Arabia ministry for higher education is involved in making efforts aimed towards the direction of deregulation. The primary goal of these efforts is to encourage higher education quality and modernization of the concerned educational institutions. Thus the higher education policies are constantly changing. These changes are specially observed in terms of introduction of diversification of the missions and objectives of universities. These changes aim to give more decision-making authority and independence to the universities. The National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA) has been introduced by the ministry in this context. This commission acts as an impartial agency that oversees the quality of higher education, which is provided by various institutions that exist in Saudi Arabia. However, there is need for the government to develop a system that will be sufficient to raise funds in public universities, in the future. Authorization of universities to begin commercial activities can be considered as a probable solution. The revenue earned should be channeled for bringing advancements in the major objectives of the higher education systems and universities in the country (VidovichCurrie, 2011). Another option lies in creating a nurturing atmosphere that would encourage provisions for higher education and research grants from commercial organizations and philanthropists (Mouwen, 2000). The government should put forward innovative models to maintain pace with the existing values. However, the past academic and cultural hindrances, accompanied by the bureaucracy that is held largely responsible for resistance to all changes should be overcome. However, free thinking and charismatic leaders will be able to accomplish these changes that are much needed. The leaders should be courageous to display their creativity and should advocate their ideas. Therefore, leaders and winners are needed by the Saudi Arabian higher educational sector to achieve modernization of the educational system. This will assist in achievement of the goals. Conclusion: Thus, from the abovementioned facts a conclusion can be drawn that the report successfully explored the necessity of higher education in global settings. It illustrated the importance of higher education in addition to providing information on formulation of new public policies. The paper further helped in comparing the higher education policies of Saudi Arabia and Australia. The paper clearly presented the stark differences in the policies of the aforementioned 2 countries. It also elaborated the direction in which the 2 are moving. In Australia, there is a movement towards deregulation and opening of higher education opportunities for students due to an increase in demand. Moreover, the Australian government is focusing on reducing public expenditure in the education sector. This is responsible for increasing the cost burden on students. Future research should focus on the ways and techniques that should be adopted by the government to curb this higher education cost increase for students. On the other hand, the government strictly controls the higher education sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It regulates the students who get enrolled, policies for human resource that are set by academic faculties and provides a complete subsidy to all services and facilities built for the students. However, establishment of private universities is expected to change the trends.. These universities will create increasing pressure on the government to voluntarily cease the controls. This will be assisted by large fund generation activities, and will decide on patterns of fund allocation for research. No assumptions were made by the paper on deciding which educational policies by the government were better or worse. It needs a thorough discussion. However, the primary effect of these policies is created on the students, who are the actual beneficiaries. However, it is quite evident that higher education policies formulated by the government of both the countries require further change to maintain pace with the changes in the global environment, technological advances and fast changing aspects of higher education. A greater involvement of the community is needed to bring about these changes. References List Alkhazim, M. A. (2003). Higher education in Saudi Arabia: Challenges, solutions, and opportunities missed. Higher Education Policy, 16(4), 479486. Australian Government, Department of Education and Training, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-0 Bell, L., Stevenson, H. (2006).Education policy: Process, themes and impact. Leadership for learning. Routledge, London Christensen, T. (2011). University Governance Reforms: Potential Problems of More Autonomy?Higher Education: The International Journal of Higher Education and Educational Planning,62(4), 503-517. Clark, N. (2014). Higher Education in Saudi Arabia.World Education News Reviews (WENR),1-11. Ebersole, J. (2014), Top Issues Facing Higher Education. Forbes Magazine, published January 2014 Lapworth, S. (2004). Arresting decline in shared governance: Towards a flexible model for academic participation. Higher Education Quarterly, 58(4), 299314. Marginson, S. (2013). Tertiary education policy in Australia.Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne, published July 2013. Merriam-Webster'sCollegiateDictionary. (1997).Jet,92(25), 24. Mouwen, K. (2000). Strategy, structure and culture of the hybrid university: Towards the university of the 21st century. Tertiary Education and Management, 6, 4756. Muhammed, M. (2014). Understanding the importance of education in national development [opinion]. AllAfrica.com, ,Jul 20, 2014. Ozturk, I. (2001). The role of education in economic development: A theoretical perspective.IDEAS Working Paper Series from RePEc, 2001. Ross, A. (2012). 7 Steps of Policy Making [Blog]. Prezi, published November 2012 Samuel, S. (2013). Importance of Education in a Countrys Progress [Blog]. How to learn, published March 2013. Retrieved from https://www.howtolearn.com/2013/03/importance-of-education-in-a-countrys-progress/ Selingo, J. (2016). Whythepricetagof a collegedegreecontinuestorise.StatesNewsService, Jan 22, 2016 Torjman, S (2005). What is Policy? Caledon Institute of Social Policy, published September 2005 Vidovich, L., Currie, J. (2011). Governance and trust in higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 36(1), 4356.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Sustainable and Unsustainable Development Essay Example

Sustainable and Unsustainable Development Paper Sustainable Development Concept Sustainable development is a pattern of social and structured economic transformations (i. e. development) which optimizes the economic and societal benefits available in the present, without jeopardizing the likely potential for similar benefits in the future. A primary goal of sustainable development is to achieve a reasonable and equitably distributed level of economic well-being that can be perpetuated continually for many human generations. Sustainable development implies using renewable natural resources in a manner which does not eliminate or degrade them, or otherwise diminish their usefulness for future generations. It further implies using non-renewable (exhaustible) mineral resources in a manner which does not unnecessarily preclude easy access to them by future generations. Sustainable development also requires depleting non-renewable energy resources at a slow enough rate so as to ensure the high probability of an orderly society transition to renewable energy sources. Sustainable development is a broad concept covering the way in which human activities impact on economic development, the environment and social well-being. It is generally accepted that both governments and industry should promote development that is sustainable in all three dimensions, but practical application of the concept is complex because its objective assessment is elusive. While the concept can be readily and widely accepted in general terms, a consensus viewpoint on the value of individual actions is more difficult to achieve because of the absence of criteria permitting objective assessment of their â€Å"sustainable† qualities. We will write a custom essay sample on Sustainable and Unsustainable Development specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sustainable and Unsustainable Development specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sustainable and Unsustainable Development specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Some of the areas that come under the scope of sustainable development are : Agriculture Biotechnology Energy Forests Water etc. Sustainable development is said to set limits on the developing world. While current first world countries polluted significantly during their development, the same countries encourage third world countries to reduce pollution, which sometimes impedes growth. Some consider that the implementation of sustainable development would mean a reversion to pre-modern lifestyles. Sustainability in Construction Industry Sustainable Construction is the application of sustainable development to the construction industry. There is an increasing demand, in both the private and public sectors, to understand sustainable construction practices. This demand is driven by a realisation that sustainable practices make sense to both owners and operators. The practices not only help the environment but can also improve economic profitability and improve relationships with stakeholder groups. The diagram below explains how sustainable development is implemented within the construction industrys private and public sectors. Many construction companies are involved in implementing sustainable development practices and have made sustainability a key part of the design and construction process; many companies in India have successfully constructed â€Å"Green Buildings†. Green buildings are constructions in which resources like energy, water, and materials are used efficiently, through better design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal of waste, reducing negative impacts on human health and the environment. The reason for going green or adopting sustainable development practices is literally a no brainer, as a green building constructed using sustainable development practices provides many benefits both tangible and intangible, starting from the immediate cost savings in terms of energy and water consumption to a healthy and productive environment for work. Some of the initiatives by construction companies are listed below: ITC Green Centre is the worlds largest green building with space of 170,000 square feet, and also the first non-commercial complex in the country to be awarded the USGBC-LEED platinum rating the highest in the order. In collaboration with Canadian plastics major Nova Chemicals, Reliance Industries will be designing and constructing energy-efficient buildings in India. Indias first internationally certified green building that houses the Confederation of Indian Industry-Sohrabji Godrej Business Centre spread over 16,000 square feet was set up in Hyderabad in 2003. Today, the public and private construction companies in India have applied sustainable development practices prevalent in the industry to construct over 25 million square feet of registered green building expanse, which is all set to touch a 100 million square feet by 2010–12. Unsustainable development in the Energy sector Unsustainability can be defined as a practice or process that cant go on indefinitely because it is destroying the very conditions on which it depends. Agriculture development is at crossroads today. Despite an agricultural revolution in the developing world over the course of a single generation that has produced enormous benefits for farmers, consumers and economies, a number of second generation challenges in agricultural transformation have emerged. Issues such as disparities in agricultural growth, problem of food insecurity and decreasing diversity, plateauing productivity in certain crops, growing ecological imbalance and unsustainable agricultural practices have come to fore. Ironically, a large proportion of the rural community continues to live in regions with poor quality soils and unpredictable rainfall, and remote from agricultural services and markets, deprived of the gains of agricultural revolution. Water harvesting is defined as the process of collecting and concentrating runoff water from a runoff area into a run-on area, where the collected water is either directly applied to the cropping area and stored in the soil profile for immediate use by the crop, i. e. runoff farming, or stored in an on-farm water reservoir for future productive uses, i. . domestic use, livestock watering, aquaculture irrigation. The collected water can also be used for groundwater recharge and storage into the aquifer, i. e. recharge enhancement. Source FAO, 2003. Rainfall failure occurs once every 3 to 5 years and is usually below 50% of the average annual rainfall of the region. During periods of rainfall failure, the groundwater level lowers since fluctuations in the water table levels depend on the rainfall when both surface and groundwater availability becomes critical. Drought begins to prevail and there is a difficulty to cope up with the water demand during this period. Similarly, in some locations or areas water shortage is observed just before the rainy season commences. These two situations can be managed if suitable soil and moisture conservation measures are systematically implemented on a small watershed basis. Watershed development and management implies an integration of technologies within the natural boundary of a drainage area for optimum development of land, water and plant resources, to meet the peoples basic needs in a sustained manner. A watershed is an area from which runoff resulting from precipitation flows past a single point into a large stream, river, lake or pond. Each watershed is an independent hydrological unit. It has become an acceptable unit of planning for optimum use and conservation of soil and water resources. The concept of integrated watershed development refers to the development and management of the resources in the watershed to achieve higher sustainable production without deterioration in the resource base and any ecological imbalances. This concept requires the formulation and implementation of a package of programs with activities for optimum resource use in the watershed without adversely affecting the soil and water base or life supporting system. The concept assumes more importance in the context of planning for sustained development. Watershed development aims at preventing watershed degradation resulting from the interaction of physiographic features. It eliminates unscientific land use, inappropriate cropping patterns and soil erosion, thereby improving and sustaining productivity of resources leading to higher income and living standards for the inhabitants in the watershed area. It, therefore, involves restoration of the ecosystem, protecting and utilizing the locally available resources within a watershed to achieve sustainable development. Water harvesting is a proven technology to increase food security in drought prone areas and helps to erosion control and recharge of ground water for future demand.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Marriage and Happiness essays

Marriage and Happiness essays Do you think that middle-age and older married couples are more or less depressed than unmarried individuals? I have a cousin who is scared of marriage because he fears he will be unhappy. He says that maybe when he is forty years old he will marry a twenty year old girl to pop out a few kids for him. If he was not my cousin, I would not like a person like this by the way he thinks and talks. Everyone should get married one day for many valid reasons. People need love, companionship, a family, and just basically to turn old and gray with. Individuals need a partner in life. It can be hard to find the right person to be with. The divorce rate these days is extremely high. That is something I am scared of, as well as many people out there. Overall, there is more benefit from being married if you think about it. Although a bad marriage can lead to serious cases of depression. An individual handles their life how they want to and are to some extent in control of how things af fect them. Many different external factors in life can lead to happiness or depression among married couples. Depressive symptoms can range from gender differences, to races, and income levels, for instance. Personally, I know I would be able to handle my life in a positive manner with a good, fun-loving, respectable spouse. I would be much more happy and content if I were married and had a family, rather than living alone or with my parents forever, and being able to date numerous people. People really need to have a positive connection with another human being. Depressive symptomatology has been looked at as an individual matter, but social contextual models argue that symptom levels are likely to covey in close relationships. An individualistic model says one persons emotional sate has nothing to do with anothers emotional state. It emphasizes that ones characteristics are affected only because of the self. However, this mod...

Friday, November 22, 2019

A Short Guide to Capitalization

A Short Guide to Capitalization A capital letter is the form of an alphabetical letter (such as A, B, C) used to begin a  proper noun  or the first word in a sentence. A capital letter is an uppercase letter in contrast to lower case. Verb: capitalize. Also known as  majuscule, uppercase, upper-case, block letter, and caps. In classical Greek and Latin writing, only capital letters (also called majuscules) were used. Examples and Observations By the sixth and seventh centuries the various letter forms we now use had been invented . . .. From the ninth century on all writing in the Latin alphabet, in whatever style or hand, used capital and small-letter pairs as we do now.(Thomas A. Sebeok, Current Trends in Linguistics, 1974)A capital is always used for the first letter of a sentence. It is a universal rule. But the same cannot be said for the capitalization of names or proper nouns. Style varies wildly betweenand even withinpublications such as national newspapers and magazines. Apply commonsense rules. All names of people and placesPeter Cook, Paraguay, Piccadilly Circustake capitals. All titles of specific works of artCitizen Kane, the Mona Lisa, Beethovens Fifth Symphony, Anna Kareninatake a capital. Languages and nationalitiesEnglish, the Frenchtake capitals. Institutionsthe Houses of Parliament, the White House, the Anglican Churchtake capitals. Days, months and formally defined periods of historyMonday, February, t he Middle Agestake capitals. . . .Words deriving from proper names usually take a capitalas Christian from Christ and Marxist from Marx. But some such words, known as eponyms, have come into everyday use and no longer take a capital.(Ned Halley, Dictionary of Modern English Grammar. Wordsworth, 2005) She laid the folded newspaper on the counter between us, and my eye caught the words DISASTER, FAILURE and CRASH.(Eva Figes, Nellys Version. Secker Warburg, 1977) Trends in Capitalization I am a poet: I distrust anything that starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop (Antjie Krog)Times have changed since the days of medieval manuscripts with elaborate hand-illuminated capital letters, or Victorian documents in which not just proper names, but virtually all nouns, were given initial caps (a Tradition valiantly maintained to this day by Estate Agents). A look through newspaper archives would show greater use of capitals the further back you went. The tendency towards lowercase, which in part reflects a less formal, less deferential society, has been accelerated by the internet: some web companies, and many email users, have dispensed with capitals altogether.(David Marsh and Amelia Hodsdon, Guardian Style, 3rd ed. Guardian Books, 2010)If in doubt use lower case unless it looks absurd.(The Economist Style Guide. Profile Books, 2005) The Lighter Side of Capital Letters He believed in a door. He must find that door. The door was the way to . . . to . . .The Door was The Way.Good.Capital letters were always the best way of dealing with things you didnt have a good answer to.(Douglas Adams, Dirk Gentlys Holistic Detective Agency. Pocket Books, 1987) Carol Fisher: This is Scott ffolliott. Newspaperman, same as you. London correspondent. Mr. Haverstock, Mr. ffolliott.Scott ffolliott: With a double f.Johnny Jones: How do you do?Scott ffolliott: How do you do?Johnny Jones: I dont get the double f.Scott ffolliott: Theyre at the beginning, old boy. Both small fs.Johnny Jones: They cant be at the beginning.Scott ffolliott: One of my ancestors had his head chopped off by Henry VIII, and his wife dropped the capital letter to commemorate the occasion. There it is.Johnny Jones: How do you say it, like a stutter?Scott ffolliott: No, just straight fuh.(Laraine Day, George Sanders, and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent, 1940)

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Requirement Specification Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Requirement Specification - Case Study Example Due to the increasing requests of people involved in the preparation of question papers, the School is considering the computerization of the process to improve the current system by addressing the issues associated with it, while meeting quality assurance requirements in the preparation of question papers. The Examination and Conferment Unit (ECU) is a department at the Academic Registry of Oxford Brookes University which provides services to the entire university related to examinations, award certificates and conferment of awards, and award ceremonies (Brookes, 2007). The ECU has prepared Guidelines for Examination Paper Preparation and Submission (Appendix 1). At the beginning of each semester, the ECU sends the examination paper template (Appendix 2) to all module leaders in the different academic schools of Brookes, who have an examination at the end of the semester. The template is a Word document which has been laid out to comply with the University's approved format for examination papers. Upon completion of examination paper preparation by the different schools, a camera-ready hard copy of the papers along with additional exam materials such as case studies and formula sheets, should be submitted to the ECU, either by hand or using the secure pouch system. Fiona Parker is the Academic Programmes Administrator at the School of Technology. She is also the designated exam secretary and holder of the secure pouch system at the School. She prepares the TE01 and TE02 forms (Appendix 3,4,5,6) for modules that have examination and modules that only have coursework as assessment, respectively, for distribution to the module leaders at the beginning of the semester and collected together with the papers or coursework schedules. The forms are word documents which work with an excel spreadsheet in a mail merge operation (Appendix 7) which Fiona Parker needs to complete using a tedious manual process (Appendix 8). Generally, a module is taught by more than one member of the teaching staff and because of this, a question paper for a particular module is prepared by more than one member. It is the responsibility of the module leader to put together all the questions prepared by the individual members of the teaching staff. This process is tedious for the module leader as it involves collecting copies of the questions from individual staff members who currently use different editing tools or different formatting. The module leader has to re-work the formatting of the question papers so that it meets the requirements set by the ECU. When the module leaders have completed the initial preparation of question papers and solutions for each module they are responsible for, they complete the sections they are responsible for in the TEO1 and TEO2 forms. The document sets are then passed to the internal checkers in the School of Technology. The internal checkers check the papers, complete the sections they are responsible for in the TEO1 and TEO2 forms and send their comments and suggestions back to the module leaders. The module leaders then disseminate the commented documents to the individual members of the teaching staff who prepared the initial documents for them to make necessary the necessary amendments. The amended documents are then returned to the module leaders who will need to again go through the process of putting together the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

International Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

International Marketing - Essay Example Luxottica should promote the concept of individualism through its promotional campaigns. This concept of individualism includes three classes of young generations, namely children, young people and young parents. For every group belonging to this young generation lot, Luxottica has something exclusive to offer in the form of a wide range of its optical products with a blend of local preferences. Thus it can be implied that Luxottica’s product strategy should largely based on the consumer behavior while keeping in view the cultural norms and market conditions prevailing in different countries of the world (Scruton 2007). Price setting Strategies Setting price of a product is determined by many factors and these factors may vary across different regions. Apart from the fact that the manufacturers costs of bringing a product into a useable form plays a decisive role in setting the price of a product, there are many other factors which are not under the control of the manufacturer . First of all, consumer behavior plays a significant and leading role in determining the price of a product. In countries where the income levels of people in general are not high, price plays the most important role in determining the success of a product or sometimes of a business as a whole. Consumers’ preferences for expenditures on any product are not necessarily influenced by its usefulness, quality and branding; the ability to pay for a product and the satisfaction which the use of a product yields are regarded as major factors responsible for the success of a product. Apart from this, the social and cultural norms prevailing in a society have a... This report stresses that considering the market data provided by the case study of Luxottica, it is imperative that franchising the business would lead Luxottica to reduced control over the sales and distribution network. Franchising the business would not only cause ambiguity in the supply chain management but also increases the costs involved in making the product available for the customers. Presenting auctions for franchising and continuous management of franchised business is considered to be a costly initiative by a business. This paper makes a conclusion that the company may look for and implement alternative distribution strategies which offer some new avenues and can attract people from all over the globe. In this regard, it is recommended that the company shall add to its existing distribution channels an online distribution source or platform, form where the company can interact with the whole world through the World Wide Web and this approach will add a complete new dimension in the existing distribution channels for the company. The major benefits of distributing through online platform are that it is cost effective and is able to attract large number of consumers due its omnipresence on the globe. Moreover, the company may find it relatively easy to control its distribution activities through online channels as compared to the existing channels of distributing its products. Thus, online distribution channel can be recommended as an alternative distribution channel for Luxottica.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Comets Essay Example for Free

Comets Essay A comet is a small body, roughly the size of a small town, in the Solar System. It is made up of ice, rock, dust, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane and more. Some researchers think comets might have originally brought some of the water and organic molecules to Earth that now make up life here. Comets become visible as they near the Sun. The tail of a comet is its most characteristic feature. Round and round a comet goes in its orbit and when it comes into the inner solar system. Each time a comet gets closer to the Sun, the ice on the surface of the nucleus, measuring ten miles or less, begins turning into gas, forming a cloud known as the coma. Radiation from the sun pushes dust particles away from the coma, which can reach 1 million miles wide, forming a dust tail, while charged particles from the sun convert some of the comets gases into ions, forming a stream of volatile materials known as an ion tail. Some tails can reach 100 million miles long. The tail of the comet always points away from the Sun, since they are shaped by sunlight and the solar wind, so that when the comet is receding from the Sun, its tail actually runs before it. Typical comet loses about one tenth of a percent of its mass every time it passes near the Sun. After one thousand passages or so, Comets lose all their ices, leaving behind only an orbiting stream of fragile, inactive objects, meteoric dust, ice, and pebbles, similar to an asteroids. When Earth, in its annual journey around the Sun, passes through one of these dusty tracks, we are treated to a meteor shower. For centuries, scientists thought comets traveled in the Earths atmosphere, but in 1577, observations made by Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe revealed they actually traveled far beyond the moon. Isaac Newton later discovered that comets move in elliptical, oval-shaped orbits around the Sun, and correctly predicted that they could return again and again. Throughout history comets inspired both wonder and fear. They were known as hairy stars resembling fiery swords that appeared unpredictably in the sky. Often, comets seemed to be omens of doom. The most ancient known mythology, the Babylonian â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh,† described fire, brimstone, and flood with the arrival of a comet. (Goldman, 2009) Chinese astronomers kept extensive records on comets for centuries, including illustrations, observations and celestial positions of Halleys Comet going back to at least 240 BC; historic archives that have proven valuable resources for later astronomers. A few dozen comets are discovered annually by astronomers with telescopes or on photographic plates. Comets are usually named after their discoverer, and/or has spacecraft missions incorporated into their name. Most Comets are too faint or small to be seen without a telescope. Only every few years does a comet grow bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. A highly visible comet was Hale-Bopp, which came within 122 million miles of Earth in 1997. Its unusually large nucleus gave off a great deal of dust and gas, roughly 18 to 25 miles across, appeared bright to the naked eye. Our solar system is surrounded by a sphere, or cocoon, of cold, dark comets called the Oort Cloud, far beyond the orbit of Pluto, that reaches halfway to the nearest stars. Most Comets are believed to inhabit The Oort Cloud, however it has never been observed directly; but it must exist to account for the comets that arrive in our vicinity from enormous distances. (Dickinson, 1999). The Kuiper Belt, was discovered in an attempt to locate the non-existent tenth planet, planet X. The Kuiper belt was named after Gerard Kuiper an astronomer who predicted its existence in 1951. The Kuiper belt is a belt of comets. The first of these comets was picked up in 1992 during a deliberate search by astronomers. It is a chunk of primordial ice about 200 kilometers in diameter orbiting the Sun at 1 ? imes Neptune’s distance. In the years since the discovery, more than 100 similar sized objects have been found in orbits outside Neptune’s path. This is known as Trans-Neptunian Objects, (TNO). These giant cosmic ice balls are left over from the formation of the solar system. There are millions of comets six miles in diameter and thousands measuring a few do zen kilometers across, that form the Kuiper Belt. They are short-period comets. They take less than 200 years to orbit the sun, and in many cases their appearance is predictable because they have passed by before. Short period comets come around with steady regularity. Halleys Comet is likely the most famous short period comet in the world; it becomes visible to the naked eye on its return, every seventy-six years. Its last visit near Earth was in 1986. At that time five spacecraft flew past it, attaining extraordinary information, coming close enough to study its nucleus which is normally concealed by the comets coma. The potato-shaped, nine mile long contains equal part ice and dust, with about 80 percent of the ice made of water, and about 15 percent of it consisting of frozen carbon monoxide. Researchers believe other comets are chemically similar to Halleys Comet. The Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, discovered by Gene Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy. March 25, 1993 (Raymo, 2001). This short-periodic comet was the comet of the Great Comet Crash of 1994. The comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided spectacularly with Jupiter in 1994, with the giant planets gravitational pull ripping the comet apart for at least 21 visible impacts. The largest collision created a fireball that rose about 1,800 miles (3,000 km) above the Jovian cloud tops as well as a giant dark spot more than 7,460 miles (12,000 km) across, about the size of the Earth. The Hubble Space Telescope, orbiting 375 miles above our planet’s surface, (Rosselli, 1998) has shown the effects of the comet smashing into the surface of Jupiter with an explosive power of 100 million megatons, which was the most violent event ever witnessed in the solar system. Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp are long-period comets. These Oort Cloud comets have orbital periods of thousands or millions of years. Their appearance is unpredictable. They follow long cigar shaped trajectories that take them far out beyond Pluto. They move like wave, up and down. At the cold, black tops of their curves, far from the Sun they proceed with a laborious leisureliness, taking as long as 30 million years to complete one trip around the sun. They gather speed as they fall toward the inner solar system, moving at its fastest, it punches around the Sun, then they slow again as they climb back to the tops of their trajectory. A potentially bright Oort cloud might be discovered at any time, typically somewhere near the orbit of Jupiter on its way center stage in the inner solar system. The brightest apparitions occur when a comet passes near Earth on its inward or outward journey. A comet is not like anything anyone has seen before. It is a starkly fascinating, and amazing visual experience, evoking passions of fear, anxiety, admiration, wonder, and bewilderment to the enlightened and unenlightened observer. Comets, especially those that are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, continue to fascinate the Earth’s population. With 2013 being deemed â€Å"Year of The Comet,† (Barnett, 2013), astronomers, scientist, and watchers of all kinds can look forward to a rare treat; two visible comets, Pan- STARRS (3/12/13) ISON (11/28/13), in one year!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Fire, Knowlege and Progresses Relationship Essay -- Literary Analysis,

In the world, there are a mix of successful countries and unsuccessful countries. However, the distinction between the two depends on the point of view. Primarily, it depends on what one calls success. Success is the progress the country has made. Progress is a mix of several things, however. It is how the people have gotten happier. How they have gotten wealthier. How the people have been educated and the jobs they are in compared to before. It is how the society has changed. When people look at the unsuccessful countries that have not progressed, they look to find the reason. Many times they find the wrong reason. They blame it on little side reasons that while being part of the problem are not the entire cause. Most of the times, the true reason is ignorance and a lack of quality knowledge. If not for being misinformed, many countries would be able to change. The people who have been kept in the dark could rebel. The true statistics and issues would be revealed and be fixed becau se people know what they are. The dystopia Bradbury creates in Fahrenheit 451 is no different. They have been kept ignorant of the issues and therefore have no idea how to fix it. This book shows the importance of how knowledge is intertwined with progress and how with one stray fire; it could all be torn down. Bradbury uses fire as a symbol of destructive entertainment to emphasize the connection between knowledge and progress. In Fahrenheit 451, fire is constantly lurking nearby, ready to destroy and entertain. As Montag points out, â€Å"The world was full of burning of all types and sizes.†(141). Yet, though fire could be used for good, they put it to the bad use of destructive entertainment. Their false happiness depends on this. They must watch an... ...hey have not been trained to think so they will not be able to solve problems. They have never been educated. The fire controls them and restrains them from reaching quality information by burning it and scaring them out of trying to find it. They give the fire a lot of power over them by allowing it to shape them and by using it as entertainment. Before giving something a try, they already decide against it because of fear of the firemen who are very important in this society. This society’s problem is that it keeps the people ignorant with fire. Many places also have the problem of ignorance. If someone does not know what the problem is, how are they supposed to fix it? If they would not even know how to fix the problem, even if they could find it, the people would also not be able to fix it. In this novel, the connection between knowledge and progress is shown.

Monday, November 11, 2019

The Tiger Who Would Be King

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mr. Smith Honors English – Period 6 19 January 2013 Ambiguity and Irony in the Tiger Who Would Be King James Thurber weaves ambiguity and irony into â€Å"The Tiger Who Would Be King† and allows them to influence the readers understanding and perception of the characters, themes, and plots in various ways. For example, ambiguity, a lack of clarity, presents itself when the brash and volatile tiger arrogantly declares â€Å"I’ll be king of beasts by the time the moon rises† (312). This presents us with the central plot and conflict of the story as well as some insight into his character and personality.The fact that he declares war against Leo the Lion leaves us with some ambiguity as we do not know if he will triumph and only know that an epic battle lies in store. Another example of this is evident when the tiger rebelliously states â€Å"’We need a change,’ said the tiger. ‘The creatures are crying for a change. â₠¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (312). The fact that his mate notes that the only crying she can hear is that of her cubs, leaves the reader with ambiguity as to why he really wants change. The reader must critically approach the text and derive the unclear meaning from his faulty decision and decide and discover what it really means.Ambiguity in this story as well as in all literature is what captivates readers and teaches them to critically analyze the text and takes reading to a whole new level. Dramatic, verbal and situational irony all appear in this story and provide it with a kind of humor that keeps readers entertained. For example: â€Å"The tigress listened but she could hear no crying, except that of her cubs† (312). This is an example of situational irony because readers expect there to be a serious problem, however the tigress’ observation proves that the conflict the tiger created may not actually be there.Situational irony occurred here because what happened is the opposite of what as expected. Another instance of irony in the story this time comes verbally when the lioness wakes Leo the Lion and tells him â€Å"The king is here to see you† (312). The fact that Leo is the king is what is so ironic about the statement. This instance of verbal irony in the story is what sets the wheels in motion and gets the blood boiling for the fight of the king of beasts. Irony in this story is used often and is supports the main ideas, plot, theme and characters and helps the story move along.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

A Foresight to the Education of the Future Essay

At the beginning of the last century, students used to spend many hours at libraries looking for information. It was mostly because there were no other means to obtain the knowledge needed to fulfill the school or university’s assignments. However, for the last thirty or twenty years this situation has been changing, and with it the way we learn or in other words the way we acquire our knowledge. Nowadays, in many educational institutions the web-based research has become the most effective way of gathering information, because it allows us to find whatever we want to know in seconds. Nevertheless, if we leave aside the contribution of technology to the compilation of facts, we can realize that not because we are able to have a quick access to information it means that we understand or learn something. My goal in this paper is to discuss the influence and effects of technology in education by expressing my opinion and my analysis of Anderson, M.T. Feed. Somerville, Massachuset ts: Candlewick Press, 2012. Print. Firstly, from my point of view M. T. Anderson tries to give us a message of how technology is interferes in our everyday life and the role it plays in human communication. Additionally, I can perceive a certain degree of prediction of what the future awaits for us if we do not act to ameliorate our behavior towards the usage of technology. He presents this foresight through many themes. However, as I said before I will be only analyzing education and knowledge. To understand why this theme is important it is necessary to point out that in this futuristic schools students have a completely different education, where subjects are frivolous and do not require students to think by themselves. Additionally, people are said to be smart because the feed provides them instantly with everything they need to know. Therefore, people do not have to make efforts to comprehend and learn collections of factual knowledge. The undemanding acquisition of knowledge may sound fantastic, but if we think carefully about it, we will find that  if we do not use our own brain to learn or to do anything else, we may lose the characteristic that differentiate us from the rest of animals which is our ability to think critically. â€Å"That’s one of the great things about the feed- that you can be supersmart without ever working† (Anderson 47) this was the first evidence that made me realize that Titus, the main character and narrator of the novel, tends to confuse what being smart actually means. The first definition he gives to the word smart is to have access to information. However, this is nothing more than an aid, an element that helps us to be smart. People need to work by themselves in order to analyze and understand their findings only then we can say that someone is smart. For instance: being the owner of a computer with internet access does not make us smart, but what does is to use the information after a thoughtful analysis of it. Titus also define being smart as being fashionable, which in certain situations it is perfectly correct, still this is not the case, given that he talks of Violet creating and using her brain to do what she wanted. This confusion is clearly depicted in this passage: â€Å"I was afraid that she would be too smart for me, but she wasn’t. I don ´t mean she wasn ´t smarter, because she was, but just that there was so much she hadn ´t done† (Anderson 107) Titus define Violet as intelligent, but then he suddenly changes his conception to not smart enough for the reason that Violet had not done some things. In the book people do what the feed suggest them to do which generally involve buying things. Therefore, what Titus meant was that Violet was not smart enough, because she did not have the economic resource s to buy what most people of her age buy. In our society what we buy does not determine yet how smart or educated we are. Notwithstanding, It is not difficult for me to think that in the future smart will mean fashionable in any context, considering that we are already buying the trends on the market to make us feel important, just as important as once was to be smart. Moreover, we learn in the book that education is different because of the progress of technology, Titus states that in the past â€Å"when their grandparents were students they did not learn anything useful.†(Anderson 109) I agree with him to a certain extent, it is true that sometimes we learn things we will never use. Yet everything we learn at school helps us not only to exercise our brain and to be a well-rounded person, but also to the acquisition of essential features that differentiates us from the rest  of animals. Titus’ education has no longer subjects that make students think, the new subjects are all about the extremely consumerist society they live in. Titus express that â€Å"Now that Schoolâ„ ¢ is run by corporations, It’s pretty brag, because it teaches us how the world can be used, like mainly how to use our feeds.† (Anderson 109-110)Even when it is true that they teach useful information to live in their peculiar world, the subjects are completely superficial when it comes to development of people as human beings. I think that the author gives us a clear illustration of what we are currently doing in our everyday life at school or any other educational institution. We look up the knowledge in the web and we use it, but we do not trouble ourselves by trying to understand or analyze whether our findings are correct or not. Additionally, Throughout the book we can find many allusions to problems that our society is facing due to the development of technology.