49 research outputs found
Water Runoff as Electricity
No full textConverting water runoff from buildings into electricity. A design to incorporate hydropower into residential downspouts.Fall 2012Accompanied by video fil
The theories of Decentralization and local government: Implementation, Implications, and Realities: A global Perspective
No full textTheories of Decentralization and Local Government brings fresh perspective to the debate and comparative analysis of vertical division of power; i.e. processes of decentralization and relations between central and local (self) governments. The multiple author book is not just one of many similar around the globe, as it encompasses contributions from many different academics from not only different countries, but also different continents and even more importantly, very different political traditions and cultures. This way, the book deepens and strengthens knowledge of the role of local governments in the contemporary world, and brings new value to discussions on the relationship between decentralization and development. Contributors include: Ahmed Mustafa Elhussein Mansour, Hong Pang, Abdulfattah Yaghi, Jose Neftali Recinos, Gariela Miranda-Recinos, Lee Payne, Heather Wyatt Nichol, Ed Gibson, James Newman, Kwame Asamoah, Minerva Cruz, and Alexandra Tsvetkova.Edited by KWAME BADU ANTWI-BOASIAKO and PETER CSANY
Compulsory Land Acquisition in Ghana - Policy and Praxis
No full textCo-author Dr. Larbi was seconded as a Visiting Research Fellow from the Ministry of Lands and Forestry in Ghana and co-author Dr. Antwi was subsequently recruited by the DFID and the Government of Ghana to play a leading role in a £3M DFID project examining land holding titles by Ghanaian Chiefs.Compulsory land acquisition powers have been used extensively in Ghana since colonial times, as the main means of the state's access to land for development. The underlying principle is supremacy of the state over people and their private property, and is aimed at providing land for public and social amenities, correcting economic and social inefficiencies in private market operations and providing greater equity and social justice in the distribution of land. The paper analyses compulsory acquisition practice in Ghana in the light of these principles. It argues that few of the presumed principles have been met. Rather compulsory land acquisition has resulted in adverse socio-economic consequences including in landlessness, poverty and heightened tension in state-community relationship. The paper advocates for a new legal and institutional environment for employing compulsory acquisition powers
Wages and Health Worker Retention in Ghana : Evidence from Public Sector Wage Reforms
No full textCan governments in developing countries
retain skilled health workers by raising public sector
wages? The author investigates this question using sudden,
policy-induced wage variation, in which the Government of
Ghana restructured the pay scale for government health
workers. The author find that a ten percent increase in
wages decreases annual attrition from the public payroll by
1.5 percentage points (from a mean of eight percentage
points) among 20-35 year-old workers from professions that
tend to migrate. As a result, the ten-year survival
probability for these health workers increases from 0.43 to
0.52. The effects are concentrated among these young
workers, and we do not detect effects among older workers or
among categories of workers that do not tend to migrate.
Given Ghana's context as a major source of skilled
health professional migrants and high correlation of our
attrition measure with aggregate migration, the author
interpret these results as evidence that wage increases in
Ghana improve retention mainly through reducing
international migration
Preventing CAUTI: improving nursing CAUTI knowledge and use of CAUTI prevention strategies
No full textPurpose of Project: The project’s purpose was to increase nursing CAUTI prevention knowledge and compliance and electronic documentation adherence through the implementation of a CAUTI prevention education PowerPoint and an evidenced-based indwelling urinary catheter checklist in two medical-surgical units (MSUs).
Methodology: Convenience sampling was used to obtain volunteers. Data from the pre and post-test questionnaire, the pre and post-self-reported compliance survey form, and the electronic documentation were analyzed.
Results: The patient care associates’ (PCAs) of Unit A and Units B (t (4) =-3.64, p=0.01) questionnaire scores met the objective of a 30% increase. Unit A’s registered nurses (RNs) (t (10) =-2.95, p=0.01), Unit B’s RNs (t (15) =-2.73, p=0.02) and Unit B’s PCAs (t (4) =-3.28, p=0.01) were statistically significant but did not meet the project’s objectives. Unit A’s electronic documentation compliance increased by 17.8%; no change was noted for Unit B. Unfortunately, the standardized utilization ratio (SUR) was not used because the analysis was suspended by the CDC for the first and second quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Implications: The project supported current evidence that CAUTI prevention education and checklists can improve knowledge, compliance, and electronic documentation adherence. More research is warranted in MSUs and to determine if such improvement is associated with decreases in SUR.DNPIncludes bibliographical reference
Co-designing an interactive data platform for contextualizing the role of citizens on energy and low-carbon transitions
No full textCitizens are expected to play a significant role to the current energy transition in Europe, such as through prosumerism and collective initiatives for energy efficiency. While there are many platforms for domestic energy analytics and for engaging citizens and transition stakeholders on energy topics, context-specific information is frequently lacking. This article outlines the development of an Interactive Policy Platform that aims to provide contextualized, impact-driven, and ready-to-use information on the role of citizen initiatives in the energy and low-carbon transition in Europe. Specifically, it will help researchers, policymakers, and citizens to explore different dimensions of energy citizenship, understand the decarbonization potentials of diverse clusters of citizens, and identify the conditions under which citizen-led energy initiatives are currently operating. The Platform will be co-designed together with a sample of its future users, ensuring the usability of its interface and the relevance of the provided information. Ultimately, the Platform is envisioned to help transition stakeholders understand and support initiatives related to energy citizenship around Europe, thus contributing to the EU's promise of a just and inclusive decarbonization.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.System EngineeringOrganisation & GovernanceLearning & Autonomous ControlPolicy Analysi
Internet-based business models for management consultancy
No full textThe purpose of this thesis was to take a closer look at new internet-based business models based on serious gaming on the web. The thesis was written from a general point of view so that even non-management people will also gain a level of understanding.
The thesis was written by conducting a research on online business models as presented in articles, news and other online resources. Again, knowledge acquired from my supervisor who is a management consultant was featured in this thesis. Finally, the author’s opinions were also captured.
The thesis discusses various internet-based business models, what makes each of them peculiar, the strengths and weaknesses of each of them and where each can be used. It further discusses the product life cycle of Noble Mind Game (NMG); the reason for which this research is been conducted.
The thesis concludes by recommending freemium business model as a model which may work for Noble Mind Game. The author further recommended a source of funding for the project
Team Building as a Tool for Developing the Competencies of Members of the Ghana Association of University Administrators (GAUA): A Case of the University for Development Studies
No full textTeam building is a strategy for the empowerment of employees to enhance performance and productivity. Universities could benefit from this approach if implemented appropriately; however, applying this concept to higher education administration is limited. The author discusses team building's pertinent issues as a tool for developing the competencies of University Administrators and Professional Staff: a case of the University for Development Studies. These issues are relevant to implementing team-building amongst Administrative and Professional Staff in the University. The importance of team building amongst Administrative and Professional Staff includes better communication, staff motivation, promotion of creativity, development of problem-solving skills, increasing professionalisation, breaking barriers, and collective empowerment
Capturing Students’ Target Language Exposure Collaboratively, on Video – The Akan (Twi) Example
No full textThe video project at the center of this paper is one of the strategies the author has been utilizing in teaching Akan as a foreign language aimed at reinforcing aspects of Akan covered in a given semester, specifically as students transition through different levels of language instruction and acquisition or go home on vacation. The significance of this project lies in the fact that it promotes language documentation and material development in less-documented languages, and also, in the fact that it gives foreign language learners the opportunity to reinforce their target language exposure on vacation, or as they transition through the different levels of study, because each student gets a copy of the video to watch with their communities outside of the classroom
A historical perspective on water governance in Republic of Ireland
No full textThis paper provides a historical perspective on the evolution of water governance in the Republic of Ireland where long-term shifts in agricultural activities, demographic characteristics, water and debates over drinking water supply charges have influenced water resources governance and the integration of management practices. Drawing on threads from the past, the paper first describes how water governance from the early 1950s focused on rural access to water, pollution control and monitoring. With the advent of the Water Framework Directive in 2003, the crux of policy and management practices changed, with 81% of present policies mirroring Integrated Water Resource Management principles. However, issues such as the implementation of drinking water supply water charges and equitable access to water resources remain controversial. Looking to the future, the effects of climate change and land use planning, as well as demographic changes and international legislation are among those factors influencing water policy and management in the Republic of Ireland. Structured stakeholder engagement and further research directed at improving water quality is advocated to promote a sustainable and equitable water future.Policy Analysi
