893 research outputs found
Fair Trade and Universities: The Case of Certified Fairtrade Universities in the UK (Extended Abstract)
No full textThe fair trade is a social movement that promotes a fair and sustainable development of the global economy as a possible option within the traditional trade system (Fisher, 2009). In addition, the fair trade encourages a sustainable trade system by aligning targets and objectives with the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (UN - SDGs, 2015), with particular reference to full and decent employment, inclusive and sustainable economic growth (Goal 8), and responsible consumption and production patterns (Goal 12). The fair trade operates as a system, with local national organizations, or FTOs (Fair Trade Organizations) acting as a bridge between producers from emerging countries and profit companies from developed countries (Moore, 2004). These “intermediate organizations” (Simeoni et al., 2020) basically sell to their own country the products they purchase through a fair value chain from the international context. There exist three major intermediate organizations operating at the worldwide level (WFTO, 2017): the US organization, the German organization and the Italian organization (Altromercato Impresa Sociale Soc. Coop). In the remaining countries, and in the UK in particular, several organizations with less impact at the single level operate in a more widespread and pervasive way (Anderson, 2015). Irrespectively of the organizational form, from the more centralized to the more fragmented ones, the aim of fair-trade organizations is double: on the one hand, they support producers from the Global South through economic empowerment, while, on the other hand, they raise public awareness and engagement about fair and sustainable production and consumption patterns in developed countries. The fair-trade system is widely acknowledged for its fundamental impact in the creation of a better society and for its full contribution to the concept of sustainable development. Universities and higher education institutions are also acknowledged for their important role in the creation of a more sustainable society (Sallaku et al., 2019). As it has been highlighted by previous literature, universities can significantly influence wider society (Kaplowitz et al., 2009), they carry the moral responsibility to solve public challenges and to contribute to sustainability (Cortese, 1992), and, as proper part of their mission, they are in charge of fostering education in sustainable consumption patterns in order to educate people for a better future (Barth and Rieckmann, 2012; Meyer, 2016). Taking into account the important contribution of both universities and the fair-trade system to the creation of a more sustainable society, it is reasonable to argue that synergic results and increased impacts could be achieved if these institutions cooperate and work together in the creation of public value. In the UK, Fairtrade Foundation is the main promoter of the fair-trade system. Fairtrade Foundation belongs to the wider Fairtrade International, that was founded in the ‘90s, as a non-profit, multi-stakeholder association with numerous partners all over the world (three regional producer networks and over 25 national Fairtrade organizations and marketing organizations). In countries where no major FTO exist, not as in the case of US, Germany or Italy, Fairtrade International national organizations are the proper reference point for fair trade. Hence, Fairtrade Foundation has undoubtedly the largest impact on the UK fair-trade system. Fairtrade Foundation has adopted an interesting social relevant strategy aimed at increasing stakeholder and public engagement, with particular reference to higher education institutions. The Foundation, in fact, has developed a specific program providing the opportunity to become a Certified Fairtrade University, i.e. a University or College that has made a commitment to supporting and using as many Fairtrade products as possible and to raising awareness of Fairtrade with students and staff about the benefits that it brings to workers and farmers in developing countries. Certified Fairtrade Universities are also allowed to use the Fairtrade logo, and being part of this fair-trade network, they can also benefit from opportunities for knowledge transfer and best practices sharing. Previous literature has dealt with several relations or cooperations involving the fair-trade movement: relations with producers from the Global South, relations among producers themselves, relations with consumers in developed countries, relations of fair-trade organizations as intermediate organizations between southern producers and companies from developed countries (e.g. Nicholls and Opal, 2004; Stiglitz and Charlton, 2005; Raynolds et al., 2007; Bezencon and Blili, 2009; Simeoni et al., 2020 ). However, very few studies have investigated the relation of fair trade with the school system, and even less with universities and higher education institutions, despite the relevance of this kind of cooperation for the creation of public value for the overall society. Therefore, the aim of the current research is to properly investigate the case of the Certified Fairtrade Universities, and in particular: to explore how the cooperation between Fairtrade Foundation and the Certified Universities works; to collect examples of good practices implemented by the Certified Universities; and to compare this successful cooperation model with the current Italian model, with specific reference to the engagement within the fair-trade system displayed by the University of Verona, in order to understand which positive aspects of the UK cooperation model could be possibly integrated within the Italian model. The University of Verona, in fact, is also cooperating with the fair-trade system even if not with the Italian branch of Fairtrade International, but with Altromercato Impresa Sociale Soc. Coop., which is the leading FTO at the Italian level. Both the goals and the functioning of this cooperation differ from the UK model, the cooperation mainly rests at a scientific level and no proper Certification system for universities exists in Italy. However, it is reasonable to believe that some good practices from Certified Fairtrade Universities could usefully be replicated also in the Italian context, in order to make the cooperation between Altromercato and the University of Verona even more valuable. Good practices and positive externalities, moreover, are obviously not limited to the case of Verona, but could also be further enlarged to other Italian universities, making the cooperation more valuable both for stakeholders and the overall society
Is civic crowdfunding suitable for funding an ecomuseum?
No full textThe objective of the paper is to evaluate the potential use of civic crowdfunding to fulfil plans for an ecomuseum. The critical features of both an ecomuseum and civic crowdfunding are analysed to identify their commonalities. To achieve this, a qualitative approach based on the analysis of two case studies (an ecomuseum and the first initiative of civic crowdfunding in Italy to be promoted by a local administration body) was chosen. The results of the analysis revealed some common features between the case studies (the nature of the project, relevance of an active community and bottom-up approach) that bring us to answer in the affirmative the question ‘Is civic crowdfunding suitable for funding an ecomuseum?’. Understanding the relationship between the fulfilment of plans for an ecomuseum and the use of civic crowdfunding is an important topic for public bodies, crowdfunding platforms, not-for-profit organisations, citizens and the tourism sector
Deeply penetrating non-homogeneous waves in dissipative materials: theoretical principles, physical realizability conditions, application perspectives
No full textDeeply penetrating non-homogeneous waves in dissipative materials: theoretical principles, physical realizability conditions, application perspective
The potential benefits of an ecomuseum for cycle tourism: Social, economic and environmental effects
No full textCycle tourism is a sustainable type of tourism from a social, economic and environmental point of view. The ecomuseum is an ‘instrument’ to share interests and to protect the cultural, historical and natural heritage of a region. The purpose of this research is to determine how an ecomuseum can improve the potential of cycle tourism as a type of tourism that maintains conservation of natural areas and common property. First, we review the literature with regard to cycle tourism and the ecomuseum phenomenon and then pay specific attention to the literature focusing on the social, economic and environmental effects. Considering that the research topic has been under-investigated until now, we selected a case-study approach. The selected case study includes all the study aspects: protection of the common property and natural areas; development of sustainable tourism; and organisation of a complex management system. It will be shown that an ecomuseum can be beneficial by attracting more cycle tourists and by having significant and favourable effects on sustainability. The research describes how many and what businesses can be developed thanks to an ecomuseum that combines the provision of cycle tourism in a natural setting with protection of the cultural heritage of a region. In addition, this research identifies the other stakeholders that may be connected with the project and may affect the environment and society, particularly the citizens. Finally, the results may be used in strategic planning by the involved municipalities
Walking Tourism: Opportunities and Threats for Sustainable Development. The Case of the Va’ Sentiero Project
No full textPurpose of the paper: Slow travel and tourism is a sustainable type of tourism from a social, economic and environmental point of view. The purpose of this research is to determine if and, particularly, how walking tourism can become an ‘instrument’ to share interests and protect the cultural, historical and natural heritage of a region. This research also seeks to investigate the ways in which funds for the development of walking tourism can be collected by exploiting mechanisms of citizen engagement. Methodology: Considering that the research topic has been under-investigated until now, we selected a case-study approach for this initial foray. However, this study represents the first step of a major research effort that follows the action research method to gain in-depth knowledge of this issue. Main findings: This study reveals the principal features of a project for the development of walking tourism and the principal opportunities and threats for all public and private stakeholders. Practical implications: Understanding the principal features of such a project is an important topic for the tourism sector, public bodies, crowdfunding platforms, not-for-profit organisations and citizens. Originality/value: To our knowledge, this is the first study to create a link between the development of walking tourism and instruments for funding it. Type of paper: Research pape
Evoluzioni nelle condotte delle imprese per il presidio dei mercati internazionali: competenze, ruoli, gestione della conoscenza
No full textObiettivi. Prendendo avvio dal lavoro “Tecnica economica industriale e commerciale” di Panati e Golinelli del 1991, questo studio si propone di fare emergere le recenti e più significative evoluzioni nei processi decisionali delle imprese, in particolare in quelle di piccola e media dimensione, per il presidio dei mercati internazionali. Metodologia. Il lavoro si configura come un contributo concettuale con l’intento di sviluppare alcune riflessioni a partire dalla letteratura scientifica e dai dati secondari disponibili sul tema, integrati anche dagli studi e dalle interazioni dirette degli autori con imprenditori e manager. Risultati. Il lavoro presenta tre gruppi di evoluzioni emergenti nei processi decisionali della funzione ‘commerciale estero’ o ‘export’ dell’impresa: i cambiamenti nelle competenze necessarie e nelle modalità di accesso ad esse; le persone e i ruoli, con un focus sull’export manager e sul temporary export manager; la gestione della conoscenza, includendo i nuovi strumenti disponibili per analizzare i dati e trasformarli in conoscenza. Limiti della ricerca. Considerata l’elevata varietà dei contesti e delle imprese, le riflessioni proposte nel paper non sono necessariamente estendibili a tutte le imprese impegnate nello sviluppo commerciale nei mercati internazionali. Implicazioni pratiche. Il lavoro fa emergere come i margini di miglioramento nei processi decisionali per lo sviluppo internazionale delle piccole e medie imprese siano significativi e indica alcuni elementi concreti sui quali agire a tale scopo. Originalità del lavoro. Il lavoro presenta un quadro delle novità recenti nei processi decisionali delle imprese impegnate nello sviluppo commerciale nei mercati internazionali
Fenomeni d’instabilità per scivolamento planare nelle Langhe piemontesi: un'interpretazione in chiave mineralogica e fisico-meccanica
No full textSediments and sedimentological processes in the Ross Sea continental shelf (Antarctica): results and preliminary conclusions
No full textA zoning on the basis of the sediment textural characteristics has led to a distinction between the inner and outer shelf: the first, where coarse grained sediments prevail, is subjected to terrigenous input from present glaciers; the latter is dominated by the reworking of ancient sediments. -from Author
On a Uniform Representation of Transformation Systems
No full textWe discuss an intermediate language to represent transitions defining behaviours of autonomous agents. The language allows a uniform representation of several diagrammatic languages for specification of reactive systems, based on an underlying notion of transition. The translation of graph transformations to this language opens an opportunity for a notion of communication between agents represented by graphs
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