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Preventing sport-acquired brain damage in children: ‘If in doubt, sit them out’ on its own is not good enough
No full textYe
Role of universities in early graduate entrepreneurship: enablers or constrainers of ‘missing’ entrepreneurs?
No full textYesWe explore how student entrepreneurship ecosystems enable or constrain the entrepreneurial activities of recent university graduates, with a focus on ‘missing’ entrepreneurs with non-mainstream characteristics. We argue that today’s university, with its emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusivity, is an important vehicle for enabling this‘missing’ entrepreneurship and its economic impacts. Our analysis is based on the quantitative study of large-scale micro-data from the UK Graduate Outcomes survey, and a newly assembled university-level database. Our results indicate that student entrepreneurship ecosystems are critical drivers of entrepreneurship among university graduates with non-conventional entrepreneurial profiles in terms of gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background
Increasing the uptake of skilled care through traditional birth attendants in Nigeria: A scoping review
No full textYesThe advocacy to increase skilled care services uptake for pregnant women has become part of the fight against reducing maternal mortality, particularly in developing countries. Using traditional birth attendants, this approach has initiated formal training sessions aimed at changing their mindsets and increasing accessibility of maternity services for all women in communities through this strategy. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify gaps that exist within the formal training programmes conducted in Nigeria to understand approaches that can further assist in integrating TBAs into the healthcare system. Using a scoping review approach, a protocol was developed from the Arksey and O’Malley framework and Joan Briggs Institute guidelines for a detailed search strategy. 5 databases were searched including, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Psyche App. 16 articles were identified, which met the inclusion criteria developed. Data was analysed using thematic analysis through continuously mapping and reviewing of information to develop 4 themes. These are HIV coverage programmes to improve MTCT, Postnatal referral practices, Immunisation strategy uptake and Infection control practices. The findings suggest that implemented strategies and policies on formal training are not generalized despite evidence of training conducted across several regions. Furthermore, methods of post-training assessment are not equal due to independent agencies having control over training sessions. Moreover, community-based level research was mostly conducted while assessing the overall impact of the intervention rather than specific to TBAs opinions. Therefore, future recommendations are to focus on understanding TBAs perceptions towards sustainability of the training programmes and increasing skilled care services for all women
Analysis of a Degree Level Learners Through a Pandemic: The Importance of Vocation-Linked Education for Chemical Scientists in Full Time Education and on Apprenticeship Studies
No full textYesIn 2015 the UK introduced a degree level apprenticeship framework that included creation of a Laboratory Scientist apprenticeship standard to meet demands within the chemical workforce. Here, we review our experience of a Laboratory Scientist (Chemistry) degree apprenticeship against a traditional BSc programme through presenting a case study that compares the progression of the students enrolled on these two equivalent chemistry degrees. Both courses shared the same BSc degree curriculum and content, however, the traditional BSc course was delivered as a full-time course and the apprenticeship as a part-time, online course. The course content, learning objectives and assessment structures were identical for the majority of these two programmes. During the pandemic, the mode of delivery on the two courses became closely aligned, enabling a meaningful comparison of learner attainment. We found that the module enrolment pass rate was significantly higher for the part-time apprentice students, demonstrating that vocation-linked learning is a vital tool in our educational arsenal and which suggests more focus should be given to the support and growth of degree level apprenticeship programmes.The full text will be available at the end of the publisher's embargo period: 2nd July 202
Digital Twins at the City and Town Scale: Europe and Beyond
No full textYesThe last ten years have seen great strides in digital archaeological and heritage outputs, particularly with the use of three-dimensional (3D) digital documentation becoming increasingly commonplace. Methods that widen participation and increase access have led to valuable community-scale documentation, from artefacts to landscapes. As part of this workflow, the Visualising Heritage team at the University of Bradford, UK, and international collaborators, have been at the forefront of applying digital twin technologies to townscape heritage for many years. Our approach includes the use of mobile mapping technologies that were initially developed to mitigate heritage destruction and loss that had occurred through conflict and mass disasters. Our main focus has now shifted to anticipating heritage loss and ensuring that an accurate record exists for heritage assets at risk, and engaging with planners to anticipate the needs of the cultural heritage sector. In this paper we present our scalable approach, from individual buildings that have been assessed as heritage at risk, to streetscapes and broader cityscapes.
In partnership with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, we have developed 'Virtual Bradford', one of the first open-data level-of-detail 3 (LoD3) city-scale digital twins. Virtual Bradford provides an accurate digital representation of the city centre, encompassing several conservation areas and multiple listed buildings, including landmark buildings such as City Hall, St Georges Hall and the Wool Exchange, each designed by architects Lockwood & Mawson, who also designed the nearby United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site of Saltaire, which has been the subject of additional capture and outputs. This work has produced a seamless data-rich model embracing heritage at its core while addressing the demands of the 21st century.
In response to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) initiative advocating cutting-edge research to address challenges faced by developing countries, we have used the latest technology to replicate and extend our approach to digital twin development for the 19th-century colonial city of Bagamoyo in Tanzania. Each project collectively represents place-based research that helps to address needs ranging from data-driven decision-making in support of local authority needs (including, as a core deliverable, forming part of the digital strategy for the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council), to education and interpretation, tourism and the creative economy. Fundamentally these scalar approaches help to bring planning, regeneration and related decision-making to the public and other stakeholders, leading to increased topophilia that includes heritage at its heart
Rural-Urban Digital Divide: Evidence from Indian States
No full textYesThe Indian economy has achieved significant progress in the recent years with the country expected to contribute about 16 percent of the global growth. However, at the sub-national level economic development has been quite disparate over the decades with widening inequality between the richer western and southern states and other parts of the country. Moreover, the pandemic has revealed sharp inequalities in the access to digital technology especially in access to school education, finance, and health. In this study we examine the digital divide in India, mainly between rural and urban areas at the sub-national level. Specifically, our study builds Digital Infrastructure Index (DII) and the Digital Skills Index (DSI) for a sample of 18 Indian states, separately for rural and urban populations within each state. We then measure rural-urban digital divide for both indices separately. Further we examine the relationship between the indices and socio- economic indicators. Our findings suggest that the “Digital India” growth story is far from equitable and that the low-income states and the rural population deserve greater attention
Comparative effects of self-congruity on tourist pro-environmental behavior in eco-destinations: A study in Pakistan and the UK
No full textNoUsing the lens of congruity theory, we developed and tested an integrative framework to examine tourists’ pro-environmental behavior at eco-destinations in Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Specifically, we examine the multi-dimensional effects of tourists’ need for uniqueness, materialism, and perceived destination experience on pro-environmental behavior mediated via actual and ideal self-congruity. Using structural equation modelling, the data analysis of 325 tourists in Pakistan and 388 tourists in the UK revealed that pro-environmental behavior could be triggered by self-ensuring motives among tourists from developed countries; in contrast, self-enhancing motives have more significant potential among tourists from developing countries. Creative choice counter-conformity, the pursuit of happiness and different perceived brand experience elements are essential for triggering pro-environmental behavior; however, they also serve as drivers for establishing a match between the eco-tourism destination and its tourists. Our findings offer a novel approach to enhancing eco-tourism with substantial theoretical and managerial implications
On-site and understood? Evaluating meaning in the interpretation of geophysical data at Fountains Abbey
Get PDFYesEvaluation of digital interpretation pilot at Fountains Abbey, Measuring effectiveness of digital presentation technologies on user experience, Estimating change in visitor experience with AR based on geophysical data
The Moderating Role of Strategic Investment in R&D and Advertising in Firms
Get PDFYesThis paper examines the association between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings and firm performance, taking into account the role of firms’ strategic investments in research and development (R&D) and advertising. Drawing on resource-based view and signalling theory perspectives, and employing the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator for a sample of UK firms over the 2002-2018 period, our findings suggest a significantly positive association of firms’ aggregate ESG rating with accounting and market-based measures of firm performance. Further, we find that R&D and advertising expenditures positively moderate firms’ ESG-performance relationship. The moderating role of R&D and advertising persists when we analyse the three (environmental, social, governance) pillars of ESG separately. The results suggest that strategic investments in R&D and advertising complement firms’ ESG efforts. The findings remain robust after using alternative measures of performance, an ESG combined score that takes both positive and negative aspects of ESG into account, propensity score matching, and controlling for self-selection bias. Our findings provide useful insights for managers in the evaluation of the efficacy and disclosure of strategic investments in ESG, R&D and advertising, and for policy makers and standard setters in the deliberation of sustainability standards and disclosure regulations
An evaluation of the gender justice project in safeguarding students and young adults in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions
Get PDFYesSexual harassment and abuse (SHA) in Nigerian Tertiary Educational Institutions has been a persistent issue, contributing to a rise in gender-based violence and creating an atmosphere of fear among students. The 2019 BBC documentary ‘Sex for Grades: Undercover in West African Universities’ revealed the alarming prevalence of SHA, prompting significant public and legislative attention. In response to renewed public scrutiny following the BBC documentary, the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation (SMYF) launched the Gender Justice Project (GJP) to institutionalize safeguarding mechanisms across higher education institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria. This study evaluates the development and effectiveness of the GJP’s safeguarding policy at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), using the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) theoretical framework to examine coalition-driven policy change and institutional rule reform. The ACF highlights the role of coalitions of stakeholders with shared beliefs in driving policy change, while the IAD framework focuses on the institutional arrangements and rules that govern decision-making processes. Adopting a mixed-methods case study design, the research integrates survey data (n = 290 pre-project; n = 116 post-project) and in-depth interviews to assess perceptions of SHA prevalence, policy awareness and institutional response. Findings indicate that while the GJP contributed to policy innovation and increased stakeholder engagement, post-project awareness and confidence in safeguarding mechanisms declined, revealing persistent gaps in policy implementation, access and cultural ownership. We argue for the integration of safeguarding into national education frameworks, expanded accountability mechanisms and culturally grounded strategies to ensure long-term protection for students and young adults in HEIs