3659 research outputs found
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Horizons: On Discovering Other Worlds
Full text linkThis reflection explores the metaphorical significance of the horizon in inspiring ventures beyond the familiar. Through the lens of the International Studies program at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), it examines how students engage with new cultural and intellectual frontiers, expanding their ‘space of experience’ and ‘horizon of expectation’ in line with Reinhard Koselleck’s theoretical framework. This transformative journey challenges students to confront personal limitations, fostering growth and cultivating hope through meaningful encounters with otherness. Ultimately, the horizon is depicted not just as a boundary but as an invitation to discover new perspectives and worlds
The Past is Another Country
Full text linkThis reflective piece explores the formative years of the Institute for International Studies (IIS) at the University of Technology Sydney, considering its approach to global education and immersive learning. Through a critical reflection on the cultural and social context of early 2000s Australia, I recall the collaborative and experimental pedagogies that shaped both students and faculty. By embracing cultural difference, contextualisation, and student-centered inquiry, IIS cultivated a unique educational environment that encouraged exploration beyond conventional academic borders, ultimately laying the foundation for reimagining International Studies in a transformative way
Participatory ESOL as process and product: Community-based participatory research with refugee English learners
Full text linkAdult English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) courses are crucial for the social and economic integration of immigrant and refugee families. These programs need to be customised to learners’ diverse educational backgrounds, needs and objectives. However, adult ESOL programs consistently face demand that surpasses capacity, and neoliberal funding requirements prioritise workforce integration. This article results from a community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership established to address these intersecting challenges through ESOL instruction shaped by the needs and priorities of refugee adults. Participatory approaches have been used widely to engage adult learners in research, from needs analysis to curriculum development and program evaluation. However, in this article we argue that CBPR is both process and product, an effective method for facilitating learning and knowledge production. Through vignettes recreated from field notes, a learner-authored story and a participatory evaluation of the course, we examine the process we have undergone simultaneously as adult education and research about adult education. By examining the data for instances of vivencia, praxis, and conscientisation, we confirmed that critical adult education is participatory research. Community concerns sparked the project, and the expertise of those closest to the issue informed the solution, resulting in individual conscientisation and action toward broader social change. By centring learners’ own words in the article, we aim to trouble the presumed divisions between community and university, researcher and participant, and education and research. We encourage fellow community-engaged scholars to reconnect with the roots of this powerful approach and recognise the importance of living out their onto-epistemological commitments in both the process and the product of participatory inquiry
Reflections on multimodality: Making the most of Kairotic moments
Full text linkIt is generally accepted in extant literature that friends drift away after a person receives a diagnosis of dementia. In turn, we set out to explore friendships that continued to flourish following a diagnosis by interviewing people living with dementia, their friends, and family members. Along the way, we shaped and adopted a multimodal approach, incorporating artistically rendered, fictionalised vignettes based on our participants’ stories, thus incorporating visual and auditory components that encourage people living with dementia and their friends to reflect on how best to continue to nurture their relationships. In this article, we describe our process of adopting multimodality through an intertwined set of five kairotic moments, whereby we pushed ourselves out of our comfort zones to move beyond the format of the conventional peer-reviewed journal article, recognising the need to write differently to reach a broader audience. In another moment, we moved past an academic emphasis on writing to adopt multimodality. Subsequently, we connected with artists and knowledge mobilisation specialists to bring our collective vision to life. Finally, we aimed to make our study findings more accessible by sharing them through our website and engaging with various types of media. We conclude by offering a methodology for multimodality that includes relationality, axiology, passivity and action and temporality in embracing opportunities to write differently
Resisting scientific extractivism: A post-extractivist policy of knowledge production with marginalized communities
Full text linkThis article analyses scientific extractivism as a research process in which the experiences, discourses and knowledge of members of marginalised social groups are subalternised, i.e. reduced to raw data appropriated by academics. What has been captured and assimilated is then largely reinjected into closed circuits operating essentially between academics, from which marginalised communities are largely excluded. Ultimately, extractivism produces scientific careers and minefields; it confers disproportionate benefits to academics and little or no benefit on communities in material support, intellectual credit, or contribution to social struggles, which may lead them to turn away from academia.
This analysis then raises the importance of developing post-extractivist approaches in the social sciences, based on an ethics of knowledge production rooted in the concepts of epistemic justice, reciprocity and accountability. I introduce a set of post-extractivist research postures and practices: clarifying and negotiating expectations of research projects; promoting a relational ethics on issues of epistemic and social justice in the production of knowledge with communities; countering the subalternisation of knowledge by reconsidering the teaching of qualitative methodologies in the social sciences; valuing reciprocity and accountability towards communities; and reconsidering the logic of careers and the functioning of our academic institutions.
This analysis is based on pioneering work on this subject, particularly in a context of the relationship between the Global North and the Global South, such as those of Rivera Cusicanqui (2010), Tuhiwai Smith (2012), Betasamosake Simpson (Klein 2013), Gudynas (2013) or Grosfoguel (2016a, 2016b). They are also informed by my experience in participatory research with community-based organisations that work with marginalised communities in the field of the fight against poverty, homelessness and mental health in Quebec (Canada)
Enabling team resilience against calamities through sensemaking in global construction engineering projects
No full textThe work teams in global construction engineering projects (GCEPs) tend to face various natural and man-made calamities that can catastrophically influence their performance; thus, enabling team resilience becomes vital. The literature shows noteworthy evidence identifying collective sensemaking as a key enabler to achieving team resilience, but this has still not been empirically confirmed and creates a knowledge gap. The global construction organizations also argue whether these teams actually need collective sensemaking for this purpose since team members will not have face-to-face interactions during times of calamities as they reside in different countries and work via virtual mode. With the results of a questionnaire survey among 52 GCEP teams, this paper concludes the positive and significant relationship between collective sensemaking and team resilience, confirming that the teams need collective sensemaking to become resilient. This finding makes an original contribution to the theory and practice in the GCEP sector and highlights the importance of much-needed attention from these teams to create collective sensemaking to become resilient against calamities. A recommendation is made for revealing practical ways of achieving this in a future study
The Evaluation of Variation Orders on Road Construction Project in Rural Nepal: Variation Orders on Road Construction Project
No full textVariation orders (VOs) contribute to time and cost overruns in Nepalese road projects and often trigger disputes. This mixed-methods study examined the causes of VOs on rural roads in Karnali Province using a targeted literature review, field observations, document review, case studies of 11 client–contractor–consultant projects (located for geographic spread, contractor size, and presence/absence of consultant oversight), and a closed-ended census survey of industry professionals across the three stakeholder groups. Quantitative analysis used the Relative Importance Index (RII) and descriptive statistics to compare stakeholder perceptions; qualitative evidence from site observations and documents triangulated the results. The findings identified variations in scope of work (additions, omissions, and alterations in employer requirements) as the primary cause (RII clients = 812; RII consultants = 780; RII contractors = 791). Secondary causes vary by stakeholder: clients and contractors rank “change in design and drawings by consultant” highly (RII 0.800), while consultants and contractors emphasize “errors and omissions in design” (RII consultants = 933; RII contractors = 864). Other contributors include inadequate site investigation, adverse site conditions, government intervention, and client-initiated changes. Stakeholders differ on causes but largely agree on effects and mitigation strategies. The study’s originality is its stakeholder‑comparative mixed-methods focus on Karnali rural roads, producing empirically grounded, actionable mitigation measures. Improving scope definition, completing designs, and strengthening early site investigation can substantially reduce VOs. The paper recommends coordinated national research led by academic and professional bodies, in partnership with government and industry, to develop standardized guidance and capacity-building
Reconstructing Marriage Annulment in Dui’ Pappenre within Bugis Customary Law
No full textThis article explores the intersection of national law and Bugis customary tradition through Dui’ Pappenre in marriage annulment cases. Using a normative legal approach, it identifies a legal vacuum: while Dui’ Pappenre symbolizes respect and social standing in Bugis culture, it remains unrecognized in both the Marriage Law and the Compilation of Islamic Law, creating legal uncertainty and inconsistent rulings. Misinterpreted as a mandatory dowry, Dui’ Pappenre often places disproportionate social and economic burdens, reinforcing gender and class inequalities. The lack of legal clarity not only marginalizes cultural values but also exemplifies broader challenges of legal pluralism in Indonesia’s multicultural society. The study advocates for reform that explicitly distinguishes Dui’ Pappenre from dowry, provides judges with cultural training, and promotes public education to counter misconceptions. These recommendations contribute to global debates on harmonizing customary practices with modern legal frameworks while ensuring cultural preservation and substantive justice
Procurement integrity: best practices for PPPs projects in Iraq and Malaysia
No full textThe construction sector has undergone significant evolution with the widespread adoption of public–private partnership (PPP) models in various countries. The appeal of PPP lies in its ability to balance risk, improve efficiency through strategic bundling or unbundling of responsibilities, and enhance access to affordable private financing. For emerging economies such as Iraq, examining the experiences of more advanced implementers like Malaysia is essential to adapt best practices and avoid common pitfalls. This research employed a systematic literature review, using predefined inclusion criteria that focus on policy documents, empirical case studies, and peer-reviewed articles from 2000 to 2024, sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, and governmental databases. The comparison between Iraq and Malaysia is guided by key performance indicators, including risk allocation, regulatory frameworks, private sector participation, and institutional readiness. The findings reveal stark contrasts in governance structures, policy consistency, and institutional capacity that influence PPP outcomes. While Malaysia demonstrates a mature, centralised framework with proactive private engagement, Iraq exhibits fragmented governance, regulatory gaps, and a cautious policy environment. These results highlight the importance of legal reform, capacity building, and investment incentives in the Iraqi context. Theoretically, the study contributes to the literature by framing a context-sensitive model of PPP readiness for emerging economies, integrating institutional theory with procurement practice. The implications emphasise the need for Iraq to strategically enhance its legal and institutional frameworks, stimulate private sector confidence, and adopt adaptable PPP models to foster sustainable infrastructure development
Editorial
No full textThis issue of the Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance arrives at a moment when local governments across the Commonwealth and beyond are being asked to do more: with greater integrity, responsiveness, and effectiveness, often amid constrained resources and contested authority. The papers gathered here reaffirm that ‘local’ is not peripheral: it is where citizens most directly experience the state, whether through service delivery, public finance, food security, environmental health, or representation and voice.
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