What’s at Stake in Securitising Climate Change? Towards a Differentiated Approach

Climate change has been successfully represented as a security concern to such an extent that it is firmly established on the political agenda, even though the implementation of concrete policies is disputed. In this paper, we develop an analytical framework to better trace the process of securitising climate change and assess its normative implications. We establish a typology of six climate security discourses on the basis of two dimensions: three levels of referent objects and two logics of securitisation, one that corresponds to the original Copenhagen School framework and one where the threat takes the form of the invocation of risk. We find that there are significant differences in the relative importance of the resulting climate security discourses in Germany and the US, but that normatively, all discourses come with their own problems, which calls for more detailed scrutiny and assessment of climate security discourses and their political effects.     

Teacher opinions regarding the perception management levels of school administrators

The purpose of this research is to determine the levels and use of perception management by school administrators. The study group consists of teachers working in Private Primary School and Secondary Schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Nicosia, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the 2016–2017 academic year. The sample of the study is composed of 282 teachers representing the universe selected by the method of easy reachable case sampling. As a means of collecting data in the survey, “Personal Information Form” by Kline (An easy guide to factor analysis, Routledge, New York, 1994) and “Manager Perception Management ent Scale” developed by Uylas (Yönetici Alg? Yönetimi Ölçe?i, Türkiye Ölçme Araçlar? Dizini, 2017a, Okul Yöneticilerinin Sosyal-Duygusal E?itim Liderli?i ve Alg? Yönetimine ?li?kin Ö?retmen Görü?leri, T.C. Abant ?zzet Baysal Üniversitesi, E?itim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Bolu, 2017b) was used. The obtained data were analyzed in an analysis program. In the research, the values of perception management use levels of managers according to teacher opinions were examined. According to the results and comments obtained from the research, some of the proposals developed for researchers and educators working in the field of education management are as follows. Towards practical; trainings can be given on how school administrators can use perception management for successful perception management practices in educational organizations. In interviews to select school administrators, choosing school administrator with high perception management skills can be prioritized. Towards newstudies; including multidimensional evaluation of all elements of educational organizations such as managers, parents and servants in new researches to be conducted and comparison of teachers ‘and administrators’ views. This study has brought out suggestions that can be implemented in other stages of education.     

Examining the role of leadership,trust for school culture and policy

Quality of life relies on also the quality of working context and the group dynamic. Culture of schools, trust and leadership facilitate quality in fostering strategic policies in establishing policy and development. The aim of the research study is to examine the role of leadership, trust for school culture in regard to the perceptions of inspectors. As this research stands on qualitative nature, experiences, perceptions of research participants shape the current understanding to give insights on the role of leadership, trust. In addition, establishing school culture is a part of quality to set policy in terms of development, inspection is a moderation of encapsulating the nature of school culture. Interview was employed to gain understanding and experiences of inspectors in relation to leadership, trust for the school culture. Mission, vision of schools, principles of schools, loyalty to schools, policies, objectives of practices in schools, social interaction in schools. Thematic analysis through laddering was done that five themes were established in examining leadership, trust in the school culture. It is important that employees in the training organization act in a joint view on implementing educational objectives. This is achieved by developing positive attitudes in people and by being able to act constructively with each other. The research results revealed that the inspectors who are currently working at the Ministry of National Education have their views on the mission, vision and leadership of schools and what they think about school culture trust in schools.

     

An evaluation of educational and administrative decision making process in tolerance school context for job motivation

The aim of this study is to specify class and branch teacher participation in educational and administrative decision making and their desire to participate, and reveal the level of relation between participation in decision making and job motivation. In the study a relational scanning model was made use of. The participants, 118 class and 70 branch teachers, 188 in total, from 11 schools were picked through simple random sampling method. According to the results, teachers are more involved in educational decision making in schools than in administrative decision making. Teachers, on the other hand, desire to have more participation educational and administrative decision making within their respective schools. In terms of gender, branch and professional seniority, the level of participation of teachers in decision making and their willingness to participate in decision making are close to each other. Despite the insufficient levels of participation of teachers in decision making, their motivation levels are generally high. As the level of participation of teachers in decision making has a strong relationship with their level of motivation, motivation levels increase as teachers’ participation in decision making increase. Therefore, school administrators should be trained on persuading participation and treat teachers fairly and provide equal opportunities to help them increase their organizational and administrative motivation level.

     

Fuzzy logic in manufacturing: A review of literature and a specialized application

Manufacturing decisions inherently face uncertainties and imprecision. Fuzzy logic, and tools based on fuzzy logic, allow for the inclusion of uncertainties and imperfect information in decision making models, making them well suited for manufacturing decisions. In this study, we first review the progression in the use of fuzzy tools in tackling different manufacturing issues during the past two decades. We then apply fuzzy linear programming to a less emphasized, but important issue in manufacturing, namely that of product mix prioritization. The proposed algorithm, based on linear programming with fuzzy constraints and integer variables, provides several advantages to existing algorithm as it carries increased ease in understanding, in use, and provides flexibility in its application.     

STABILIZATION AND ADJUSTMENT: A SECOND LOOK AT THE SRI LANKAN EXPERIENCE, 1977–93

Mainstream thinking on economic policy assumes a logical progression from stabilization to liberalization and adjustment that is rarely attainable in practice. Most developing countries have been forced to undertake them simultaneously with a resulting tension between them, and with conflicting demands being made on economic policy. This paper reexamines Sri Lankan economic performance in the 1980s from this perspective. It argues that the pristine application of theory is not an appropriate yardstick and that “economic mismanagement” is at best an incomplete explanation of what was happening. It contends that incompatible demands were at the time being made on economic policy, and stresses the importance of external shocks and the political sustainability of the reform process.     

Evaluation of administrative and supervisory performance of the directors of Special Education Institutions according to the teachers

In this research, the criticism of the performance of the managers of the Institutions of Special Education by the teachers was investigated. In this context, the school principals in the teaching process; planning, organizing, decision making, coordination, evaluation and supervision were questioned about the behaviors of the school in the eyes of the teachers and the suggestions of the teachers. The research was conducted in the Special Education Institutions in Nicosia. In the sample, interview questions were asked regarding the productivity and application levels to 13 teachers in 8 schools. In the findings of the research, the level of implementation of the administrators who work in the Special Education Schools in their behaviors related to the management processes is quite good. Feedback has been received at such a level that managers can appreciate both bilateral relations and each stage of the management process. As a result of the research carried out, change and development are necessary, even though the Director of the Special Education Institutions is considered sufficient in terms of planning, decision making and coordination in bilateral relations and increasing in-service training for teachers and principals nowadays, and training for the awareness of teachers’ communication and democratic attitudes is necessary.

     

An investigation of universal values and disability awareness in course books

Course books are medium to transfers values in education. Disability awareness plays a great role to catch equity, access among learners and making social justice. This way of thinking is essential to be reflected in the education systems and course books are indicators in the reflections of curriculum as a technology and instruction integration. This research study aims to investigate universal values and disability awareness in course books. In this respect, the research is essential to state current situation in the curriculum in considering the universal values and disability awareness. Documentary analysis conducted to gather data and thematic analysis was conducted to evaluate data. The research study revealed that there is a need to conduct efforts to increase disability awareness in course books, because universal values in courses books are partial.

     

Religion's influence on the financial well-being of consumers: A conceptual framework and research agenda

Religion is an indelible force in society, yet research examining its influence on consumption, particularly in the context of financial well-being is lacking. Thus, this paper presents a conceptual framework of factors influencing, and outcomes associated with, the effects of religion on financial well-being. Specifically, this paper introduces a conceptual framework aimed at understanding how religion influences financial decisions and well-being, both from a consumer and a business perspective. Focus groups were conducted with consumers and financial practitioners to support the development of the conceptual framework. Most novel to this framework is the identification of potential process mechanisms explaining this relationship, including trust, affect, risk propensity, and perceived personal control. The framework concludes with potential interventions targeted at consumers and businesses to improve financial well-being. This propositions-based conceptual framework serves as a research agenda to guide and aid scholars, consumer advocacy groups, policymakers, and marketers in promoting greater financial well-being.     

A practice of e-learning platform in fostering professional development

As a result of this study, provided considerable contributions to examine the e-learning practices from the point of views and experiences of academicians who enrolled academic writing course with the support of Adobe Connect Programme during 10 weeks and also research findings revealed that authentic learning environment enriches critical friendship, dialogue however they have faced with barriers during the process. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the impact of e-learning application by using adobe program on fostering academic writing skills of adult learners as regards to their evaluation. During 10 weeks academic writing course with the support of e-learning practice, participants were asked to indicate their experiences about each of the ten barriers (1) administrative structure, (2) organizational change, (3) technical expertise, (4) social interaction and quality, (5) faculty compensation and time, (6) threat of technology, (7) legal issues, (8) evaluation/effectiveness, (9) access, and (10) student support services. Qualitative research design was employed and action research approach was implemented in this inductive process. (developed by Muilenburg and Berge). In this research, one of the qualitative research approach, the “action research” carried out within the scope of the pattern, a five-phase collaborative coaching model (FCCM) was developed to awareness regarding teaching and learning processes during the course. The process employed authentic learning criteria as critical reflection, preparation, presentation, chat, video, dialogue and facilitation tools. Self-reflection report was used as data collection technique and analysed through thematic analysis.