3659 research outputs found
Sort by
Navigating the Bermuda Triangle: Exploring the Relationship between Migration Scholarship and Migration Governance
Full text linkIn this introduction to the special issue on migration research and governance, we identify three key issues at the heart of current migration discourses: a range of normative and ethical assumptions, the transnational dynamics of migration, and the challenges of domestic policymaking. We argue that these intertwined dimensions create a complex ‘Bermuda Triangle’ where good intentions often falter and migrants themselves bear the greatest risks. Migration represents both a political and academic minefield with implications for policy outcomes. Through the nine contributions in this issue, we demonstrate how interdisciplinary perspectives and diverse stakeholder engagement offer pathways out of this impasse. Drawing on insights from the nups-network, we organize these contributions around three themes: addressing global challenges such as climate change and technology, examining the machinery of migration governance systems in different regional contexts and at different scales, and highlighting promising practises for research-policy dialogue and collaboration
International Studies at UTS: A Personal Perspective
Full text linkReflecting on my time at UTS, this piece highlights the transformative role of the International Studies program, particularly the immersive In-Country Study (ICS) experience. By combining language, culture and contemporary society studies with global partnerships, the program fostered adaptability and global citizenship. My experiences at UTS, and later in the UK and China, affirm the enduring value of intercultural education
Review: Social Protection in Botswana: Socio-Economic and Legal Perspectives
No full textDolly Ntseane and Kholisani Solo’s book Social Protection in Botswana: Socio-Economic and Legal Perspectives is a careful, well-regarded study of social protection in Botswana, anchored in its historical and socio-economic context. The book reviews existing international, regional and local legal instruments on social protection and their suitability for application in Botswana. This includes United Nations instruments that offer policy guidance that is supplementary to local instruments.
The latter part of the book offers practical recommendations to improve Botswana’s social protection regime, and these will be of great use to policy-makers, administrators and those implementing social protection programmes.
Suitability of basalt textile reinforced granite-periwinkle shell concrete for sustainable construction in Nigeria
Full text linkMultiple construction methods have been researched and implemented to reduce the harmful effects of construction on society such as using alternative strengthening materials and aggregates in concrete. This study investigates the suitability of granite (G) - periwinkle shell (PS) as coarse aggregate in concrete for construction. The objectives are to determine the mechanical properties of G-PS concrete confined and not confined in basalt textile (BT), the possibility of achieving lightweight concrete, the durability of the G-PS concrete, and the impact of BT and PS on the construction economy. Slump, density, compressive strength, split tensile, modulus of elasticity, and water absorption tests were conducted on 108 concrete cubes and 180 concrete cylinders and analyzed to determine the behavior of the concrete. From the experiments, the workability of the concrete mix, density, and mechanical properties of the concrete reduced with a decrease in the percentages of granite and an increase in the percentages of PSs. The concrete with 100%G and 0%PS had the highest slump value of 7cm while the concrete with 0%G and 100%PS recorded the lowest slump value of 2.5cm. Confining BT on the concrete cylinders improved their mechanical properties. Though concrete with 100%G and 0%PS proved to have the best strength, this study concludes that PS concrete is suitable for light constructions and load-bearing structural members as the strength of concrete having some percentages of PS proved to be good and even better when confined in BT. It was also observed in a discussion that this concrete type is economical and easy to manage in construction. It is recommended to implement this type of concrete in the construction of structural members because the properties of this concrete are suitable for the Nigerian environment and incorporating PSs in construction is a sustainable means and a way to facilitate the actualization of the sustainable development goal “Sustainable Cities and Communities and Responsible Production and Consumption"
The Red Frock
Full text linkIn this reflection, I recount my experience supervising a UTS student in Milan during her In-Country Study, where I became a luxury fashion faux buyer as part of her research on luxury shopping. An unexpected encounter in a high-fashion boutique taught me the importance of attentive observation and developing tools to help students make sense of complex global and local interactions. This moment reinforced my appreciation for elevating experiences in teaching and the value of speculative thinking in understanding the interconnectedness of global capitalism, culture, and place
Informal Employment and Inequality: Implications for Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa
Full text linkA sizable level of informal employment, often stemming from social disparities and limited economic opportunities, can have great implications for migration in Sub-Sahara Africa. Similarly, inequality, particularly unequal access to economic resources in the formal sector, can serve as a key driver for migration as people seek better opportunities. Therefore, this study investigates the individual impact of the size of informal employment and inequality on migration within the region by examining the individual effects of informal employment and inequality as well as their interactive effect on migration. Utilizing System GMM method of analysis, the study examined the data from 43 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2009 to 2022. The findings suggest that both informal employment and inequality positively influence migration flows in the region. Additionally, the analysis shows that the interaction between informal employment and inequality exerts a negative effect on migration flow
The Importance of Thinking In-Place with ‘Vulnerable’ Neighbourhoods for Policy Making
Full text linkBig data are increasingly being used to understand complex social and economic challenges. While there is much to be learned from such approaches, in-place data remain necessary for a multidimensional understanding of neighbourhoods, and for sustainable and socially just policies. Rather than reinforcing methodological divides, the argument we set forth in this paper is that multiple forms and strands of inquiry illuminate complexities of space, place and community. Decision makers should consider how and why they may privilege certain forms of data, and instead tap into diversified ways of knowing. We reflect on the challenges and opportunities of crafting in-place data as a relational process integral for decision makers and policymaking. To do so, we discuss two case studies in Sweden and The Netherlands that demonstrate the importance of widening the scope of knowledge, and a willingness to decentre singularity and homogenous definitions of community and place
Immigrant Inclusion and Municipalism in a Danish Context
Full text linkThis paper explores municipalism in a Danish context. The notion of municipalism has over the last decade gained both renewed academic traction and developed as a political practice, especially in a Southern European context. Within this framework, municipalities have sought to develop alternative policy frameworks targeting societal challenges such as climate change, sustainability, diversity and also immigrant inclusion and integration. These pathways to inclusion frequently challenge the often restrictive national policy frameworks. However, current investigations of municipalism also argue that we have seen the peak of this kind of framework and identify less room for manoeuvre on the local level in terms of developing approaches different to the national ones. This paper asks if we can identify municipalism in a Danish context, what may have shaped such relations, and discusses its potential and limitations. It draws on interviews with politicians and civil servants in three larger Danish cities
A Humanities Approach to Medical English Can Foster Global Citizenship
Full text linkToday, more than ever, medicine is an international endeavour that requires diverse knowledge and skills, and this evolution is profoundly impacting medical education. In Spain, medical faculties have reformed undergraduate curricula to align with fellow European states and equip students with key competencies for professional global citizenship. This paper argues that multilingualism, particularly in relation to English, is a significant element within this context and advocates for specialised English instruction for student populations from non-English-speaking backgrounds. It begins by considering factors that contribute towards the status of English as a major lingua franca in medicine and thus argues that medical students who speak English as an additional language deserve opportunities to study the language in connection with their profession. Following this, the analysis examines the availability of English language subjects in Spanish medical degrees for the current academic year. This points to a striking absence of specialised English instruction at many faculties and, where present, the primary focus is on functional language. The second half of the paper discusses the value of incorporating humanities approaches to medical English, which align well with the foundations of global citizenship education and can contribute significantly to medical students’ professional growth
Place-based learning and community stewardship: A framework for facilitating community engagement
Full text linkCommunity stewardship involves active participation and responsibility from local residents in collectively caring for and managing their shared environment and its resources. The essential role of community stewardship lies in its capacity to foster sustainable behaviours, empowering communities to make informed decisions, and driving positive, lasting impacts towards a more environmentally conscious future. A key challenge presented in much of the related literature is how to engage citizens in community stewardship initiatives. This article aims to address this challenge by exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of community stewardship, using the Heritage Keepers national initiative in Ireland as a case study. The article navigates the complexities of community stewardship, acknowledging diverse perspectives within communities and the importance of scale in stewardship activities. It explores the intersection of place-based learning and stewardship, emphasising the need for a holistic approach.
The article is based on a five-year practitioner-led doctoral project undertaken while the primary author was embedded in a community stewardship initiative in the west of Ireland. Various methodologies are employed that reflect both practitioner and community-based research principles. The methodology and findings presented were guided by the central research question: How can place-based learning enhance community stewardship? Emerging from the empirical research conducted as part of a change-oriented community-university research initiative, this article presents a practical framework to support the process of community stewardship. Specifically, the article identifies five key elements central to the community stewardship process; these include: Care, Knowledge, Facilitation, Agency, and Action. Enhancing and under-pinning each of these is Collective Action. By synthesising these elements, the framework offers valuable insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to implement similar community stewardship initiatives, moving community stewardship beyond a conceptualisation to a series of sequential and operational steps that can be implemented across a variety of contexts
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage UTS ePRESS? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!