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“New Zealand is still learning to get along with itself”: tertiary students discuss New Zealand multiculturalism.
No full textIn the 20th century the movement and relocation of peoples has become a norm in the global world. The causes for human migration may vary from a simple desire to try a different life in a new environment, which can be described as a lifestyle migration, to political and economic or environmental migration. Migration can also involve fleeing military conflicts or genocide in an attempt to save one’s life, as affects millions of asylum seekers and refugees. Disregarding the reason for migration, millions of people find themselves living among ethnically and culturally diverse groups of people, which forces them to renegotiate, or at least to question their own collective identity. This quest for identity involves equally those who have arrived in a new place and members of the host society. This article discusses how the concept of multiculturalism manifests itself within the New Zealand context with a particular focus on education. The article is based on a pilot study of a group of students in one tertiary institution in New Zealand and their perceptions of multiculturalism in New Zealand.
The article starts with a brief introduction of the notion of multiculturalism. This is followed by a discussion of the (hi)story of migration to New Zealand and the development of a multicultural society. The third part of the article discusses perceptions of tertiary students about New Zealand multiculturalism
Jujube farm tourism village : a multifunctional agri-tourism farm in Zaozhuang, Shandong, P.R.C.
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION:
How can the architectural design of an agri-tourism farm show sensitivity to culture, history and site to be more attractive in contemporary China?
ABSTRACT:
With China’s rapid urbanization, urban dwellers are far away from rural culture and the agricultural environment. Especially young urban dwellers who are growing up in an urban area, know little about agriculture. The tension and pressure of urban life also make urban dwellers eager to return to nature and the countryside. Meanwhile, the traditional agricultural industry is not enough to meet the needs of rural development, so young people often choose to leave the countryside for better employment opportunities.
Agri-tourism provides urban dwellers opportunities to engage in rural life and understand agriculture. It is a way to promote the economy in the area dominated by agriculture and create more job opportunities. My research focuses on how the architectural design of an agri-tourism farm can show sensitivity to culture, history, and site to be more attractive in contemporary China. The tourism farm experience is becoming more diverse today than the traditional tourism farm which just has sightseeing and picking experiences. Visitors expect more experiences, such as learning some knowledge or doing some handmade things. The tourism farm has also become a resort place where urban dwellers can take a break from their everyday lives. Living on the farm allows them to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, get relaxation and leisure, and experience more rural life.
The site of the project is in my hometown, Zaozhuang, and based on jujube which is the traditional cultivation of Zaozhuang.
Included will be:
• Exploring jujube-related and other agriculture-related experiences to provide interesting experience for visitors.
• Creating architectural space according to the natural features of the site, river, and jujube farm.
• Allowing visitors to experience the rural life – back to nature and the countryside.
• Through the exploration process of the project, find out how to design a more attractive agri-tourism in contemporary China
Spinning rubbish into gold
No full textKi te kahore he whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi
"Without foresight or vision the people will be lost"
In this case study I introduce a social enterprise in waste and recycling using community development methodology. The study draws on my personal experience as an activist insider and islander, the records of our social enterprise and the extensive public record in the community media.
Rachel Carson’s (1962) seminal work Silent Spring was a clarion call to environmental concern which drew a sharp focus to the poisoning of the planet. Today’s environmentalism poses a powerful critique and in the contemporary lens of sustainable development addresses social and economic as well as environmental concerns. The separation of people from planet as a locus of concern has not served either well. Nor are the realms mutually antagonistic or exclusive (Bradshaw and Winn, 2000). The bringing together of these two themes is evident from the time of the Bruntland Commission (1987) and thereafter through the major international governance conferences and resolutions such as Agenda 21 in 1992, and the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. In this case study I will relate how an enterprising community achieved social, economic and environmental goals building their community capacity and having a lot of fun in the process
A creative arts-lab for the visually impaired
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION:
How can architecture help in designing a place for learning, teaching and being active for non-visuals which becomes a place of experiencing multisensory architecture for the sighted?
ABSTRACT:
Many people regard vision as an important sense in the human body. Our eyesight allows us to view the world around us. But what is architecture for an individual who cannot see? In what manner may we perceive our environment if we put aside our dominant sense of sight to focus on the other senses that we infrequently connect as we walk through a building? In order to cater to those who cannot see, this research project aims to provide the design of a building especially for the visually-impaired population which will also be used by sighted individuals. The research project asks: how can architecture provide a learning, teaching, active and reposed environment to the visually impaired population who wish to learn creative arts and other activities of their choice? This research project addresses the above questions through literature-based study, precedent analysis, site visits and meetings with individuals who work with blind and partially sighted individuals.
The book The Eyes of the Skin by Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa, on the five senses and the analysis of buildings by Rem Koolhaas such as the Seattle Public Library gave insights into how architecture is perceived by all the five senses. All of these explorations have led to certain criteria that have become the starting point of the research and its process. In contrast to the usual narrow interpretation of the relationship between vision and architectural space, this project aims to understand those strategies that are used to enhance the use of other senses and their contribution to the quality of spatial experience. The project also shows a scenario where blind individuals teach the sighted and vice versa.
This project involves an exploration into multisensory architecture and its experience for the sighted population as well. The intent is to expand the methods of design for architects and to bridge the line between the visually-impaired and sighted individuals. Thus, the design of a Creative Arts-Lab for the low vision or visually impaired population in New Zealand can be made plausible through a range of design strategies. These strategies results in a design which gave an outcome of a multi-sensory architecture in the project
Decolonising social work education in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textThe social work education sector has a vital role to play in advancing the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples. Global and national standards reinforce this requirement and regulatory frameworks identify decolonising practices as important to the delivery of social work education. While standards influence and guide practices, the degree to which decolonising practices are operationalised at the local level depends upon programme delivery within higher education. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with social work education leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand to explore how decolonising practices were demonstrated within their programmes. The research found that all programmes were committed to a decolonising approach but struggled in different ways to operationalise this commitment and to maintain momentum. Having Mãori staff was seen as essential but there were too few, and meeting regulatory qualification requirements was problematic. Integrating Mãori knowledge and practices within the curriculum was also vital for student learning and building their cultural responsiveness. Non-Mãori staff had a particular responsibility to acknowledge the harmful effects of colonisation and to practise respectful partnership with Mãori. The role of leaders and staff in the operationalising of decolonising practices within social work education is explored for future implications of policy and practice development
Making steAm : exploring science, technology, engineering and maths through loose parts and ephemeral arts
No full textThis workshop explores ways early childhood teachers can integrate science, engineering, technology and maths knowledge and skills through visual art and design
The forensic accounting in Sri Lanka
No full textRESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. What are the important skills need to be developed by a forensic accountant?
2. What is/are the important factor/s that helps to develop forensic accounting practice in Sri Lanka?
3. What is the level of understanding of accountants on the different roles of the auditor and forensic accountant?
ABSTRACT:
The forensic accounting has been molded and shaped by many aspects including the economy, society, legislation and corporate failures arose all over the world time to time. Over the last few years, investigations on financial crimes and corruptions were given an immense attention in Sri Lanka. The current study investigates the perceived opinions of accounting professionals on important skills need to be developed by a forensic accountant, factors that help to develop forensic accounting practice and understanding the different roles of auditor and forensic accountant. Structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 30 professional accountants representing 20 in public practice and 10 in business and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the findings. The study revealed that the professional accountants are on the view that possess with multidisciplinary skills is paramount importance to perform as a forensic accountant. Further it was noted that the awareness on the different roles of auditor and forensic accountant is at the average level among the professionals and they are on the opinion that the government should play a vital role by providing statutory empowerment to uplift the discipline of forensic accounting in Sri Lanka
The Piki Project : building capabilities within the homeless community
No full textHow can the application of design thinking and technology empower a creative community that has lived experience of homelessness to become economically self-determining?
The Piki project is a partnership with Lifewise Trust, and is focused on building capabilities within the homeless community.
The project uses primarily creative practice to engage in capability building in technology, entrepreneurship, and to facilitate educational opportunities based within chosen activities. The methodology of this research project is sourced from Matauranga Māori, and informed by a core group of individuals from the community involved with the research partners in all decision making processes.
The project is testing, measuring, and pushing the boundaries of existing practices so they can be adapted and expanded and be used to empower and build individual capability. One of the key components is the development of a brand that enables and supports the collective’s social structure, and facilitates storytelling, this branding also providing a providence and authenticity for the community artists and their customers. Two parallel systems of engagement are used; Piki Toi for creative practice, and Piki for other avenues such as gardening and trade related activities. The project is supported by the design and functionality of a visual arts website, and an app. The app was designed through Datacom’s “Datacomp” hackathon with guidance from representatives from the homeless community involved with the Piki project. The app enables those who do not have a creative practice, to achieve credits and recognition for skills learned while engaged in work or learning opportunities.
Key findings the project is seeking to produce are new ways to provide teaching and learning opportunities (and resources to support these), to a community that for a variety of complex reasons, are unable to engage with mainstream higher education
DNA extraction and amplification of regurgitate and faecal samples from Buller’s Shearwater (Puffinis bulleri). Report prepared for Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust
No full textResearch which aims to identify the prey items found in the diet of seabirds by analysing stomach contents, faeces, and other remains strongly biased towards detecting organisms which are slow to digest, while soft bodied prey may be fully digested and remain undetected. DNA-based methods of prey item identification have been used in a number of studies to address this issue. The intention of the current research was to test the feasibility of applying DNA-based prey item identification to analysing the diet of the Buller’s shearwater (Puffinis bulleri). DNA was extracted from 17 samples of regurgitate and faecal material collected from Buller’s shearwaters, received from the Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust. Following DNA extraction, PCR amplification is used to selectively amplify short sections of the 16S gene which can be used for identification. PCR products were run on an agarose gel, as a success/fail test for amplification. Only one of the DNA samples tested could be amplified. While this result suggests that DNA-based analysis may not be suitable for research on the diet of the Buller’s shearwater, the outcome may be due to the small scale of the test
Models applied in stock market prediction : a literature survey
No full textStock market prices are intrinsically dynamic, volatile, highly sensitive, nonparametric, nonlinear and chaotic in nature, as they are influenced by a myriad of interrelated factors. As such, stock market time series prediction is complex and challenging. Many researchers have been attempting to predict stock market price movements using various techniques and different methodological approaches. Recent literature confirms that hybrid models, integrating linear and non-linear functions or statistical and learning models, are better suited for training, prediction and generalisation performance of stock market prices. The purpose of this review is to investigate different techniques applied in stock market price prediction with special emphasis on hybrid models