Disaster preparedness,adaptive politics and lifelong learning: a case of Japan

Preparedness for disaster scenarios is progressively becoming an educational agenda for governments because of diversifying risks and threats worldwide. In disaster-prone Japan, disaster preparedness has been a prioritised national agenda, and preparedness education has been undertaken in both formal schooling and lifelong learning settings. This article examines the politics behind one prevailing policy discourse in the field of disaster preparedness referred to as ‘the four forms of aid’ – ‘kojo [public aid]’, ‘jijo [self-help]’, ‘gojo/kyojo [mutual aid]’. The study looks at the Japanese case, however, the significance is global, given that neo-liberal governments are increasingly having to deal with a range of disaster situations whether floods or terrorism, while implementing austerity measures. Drawing on the theory of the adaptiveness of neo-liberalism, the article sheds light on the hybridity of the current Abe government’s politics: a ‘dominant’ neo-liberal economic approach – public aid and self-help – and a ‘subordinate’ moral conservative agenda – mutual aid. It is argued that the four forms of aid are an effective ‘balancing act’, and that kyojo in particular is a powerful legitimator in the hybrid politics. The article concludes that a lifelong and life-wide preparedness model could be developed in Japan which has taken a social approach to lifelong learning.     

"地下工程测量"实习基地建设的探索与实践

"地下工程测量"是河南理工大学测绘工程专业一门重要的专业课。针对新形势下该课程实习所出现的问题,从课程的教学、实习特点出发,依据人防工程平战结合战略,充分利用人防工程,建成了具有别具特色的"地下工程测量"实习基地。加强了实践性教学环节,提高了教学质量,带动了教师们的教学科研水平,拓展了人防工程平战结合的新思路,收到了良好的效果。     

业余体校备战省"十运"之我见

通过总结分析淮北业余体校参加全省九运会的得失 ,提出备战全省第 1 0届运动会的基本思路和初步设想。从奋斗目标的确定 ,基本措施、备战手段以及分阶段实施计划等方面进行了探讨     

School counsellor training,attitudes, and perceptions of preparedness to provide services to students with disabilities in inclusive schools in Turkey

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of school counsellors’ attitudes and training on their perceptions of preparedness to provide services to students with disabilities (SWD). Participants were 105 practicing school counsellors who completed the Attitudes toward Disabled Persons Scale Form-O (ATDP-O) as well as the School Counsellor Preparedness Survey-Revised (SCPS-R) in a web-based format. A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted with three types of counsellor training (courses, experiences and conferences/workshops) and counsellor attitudes towards SWD. The results revealed that school counsellors’ attitudes and training significantly predicted preparedness with an approximately 10% of variance explained. Out of all four variables, attitudes appeared to be the only significant predictor of preparedness scores. Results also indicated that school counsellors did not feel completely prepared to work with SWD.     

Resident perceptions of anatomy education: a survey of medical school alumni from two different anatomy curricula and multiple medical specialties

In 2004, the University of Michigan Medical School reduced its gross anatomy curriculum. To determine the effect of this reduction on resident perceptions of their clinical preparedness, we surveyed alumni that included residents from the original and new shortened curricula. A Likert-scale survey was sent to four classes of alumni. Respondents were compared in old curriculum (OC) and new curriculum (NC) groups, surgical specialty (SS) and nonsurgical specialty (NS) groups, and subgroups of SS and NS were compared for differences between OC and NC. Mean response scores were compared using independent samples T-tests. As a single population (n = 110), respondents felt their anatomy education prepared them well for residency, that a more robust anatomy curriculum would be helpful, that dissection was important to their residency preparation, and that a 4th year anatomy elective was effective in expanding their anatomy education and preparing them for residency. No significant difference existed between OC and NC groups, neither as a whole nor as SS and NS subgroups. The SS group felt dissection was more important to their residency preparation than the NS group (P = 0.001) and that a more robust anatomy curriculum would have better prepared them for residency (P = 0.001). Thirty percent of SS respondents who did not take a 4th year elective commented that they wish they had. Fourth year anatomy electives were highly valued by residents, and respondents felt that they should be offered to students as a way of revisiting anatomy following the 1st year of clinical training.     

Teaching in offshore programmes: an assessment of university faculty’s self-efficacy,cultural competence and preparedness

This study aims to examine the teacher self-efficacy and cultural competence of university faculty in the context of offshore programmes, and the impact of these two constructs on teaching satisfaction, intention and preparedness. A questionnaire survey collected data from the faculty members of universities in Taiwan, a non-English-speaking country, which launched offshore programmes in Vietnam. It then applies structural equation modelling technique to estimate the path coefficients and test its proposed research model. The analysis reveals that in the context of teaching in offshore programmes, cultural competence is a major factor determining university faculty’s teaching self-efficacy, and has an indirect effect, through the direct effect of teaching self-efficacy, on satisfaction, intention and preparedness. It is surprising though that faculty members are found very confident of their self-efficacy when teaching in English in offshore programmes, even though none of them are native English speakers.     

The impact of some demographic variables on academic leadership preparedness in Indian higher education

The current study investigated the impact of certain demographic variables on academic leadership preparedness. The sample comprised 372 academic leaders from various higher education institutions in India. Data were collected using online and postal surveys. Results indicate that leaders’ age, number of years’ leadership experience and academic disciplinary background are significantly related to their preparedness. Type of institution (private or government) of the leader, however, did not affect their preparedness. Leaders with a disciplinary background in natural sciences were found to be the least prepared in the group. Leaders with a disciplinary background in humanities and social sciences were found to be more prepared as compared to those with a disciplinary background in physical sciences. Understanding the predictors of academic leadership preparedness is necessary in order to strengthen leadership in higher education. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

The Influence of Occupational Self-Efficacy on the Relationship of Leadership Behavior and Preparedness for Occupational Change

A theoretical framework for the relationship between preparedness for occupational change, occupational self-efficacy, and leadership is presented. Preparedness for occupational change is defined as the wish to acquire higher task demands (i.e. greater complexity) in the sense that employees have thought about change but have not yet acted to seek change. It explained why preparedness for occupational change is central prior to, during, and after organizational change is introduced. A model of determinants of preparedness for occupational change is established. The application of this model in different stages of organizational change is demonstrated. Central aspects in this model are self-efficacy and leadership. Self-efficacy influences preparedness for occupational change in the different stages. This effect is demonstrated using the three assumed outcomes of self-efficacy (i.e., initiation of behavior, persistence, and effort) and their relationship to preparedness for occupational change. It is assumed that perceived leadership influences occupational self-efficacy. Three factors influencing self-efficacy (mastery experience, vicarious learning, and verbal persuasion) are regarded as possibly being responsible for this effect. The implications of the model for organizational practice are discussed.     

SOLINET's Gulf Coast Libraries Recovery Projects for Public and Academic Libraries

SUMMARY

In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita damaged many libraries along the Gulf Coast. Due to widespread destruction in communities, library recovery has been slow. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, SOLINET implemented two projects in 2006 to insure that library services remain available in the region. The projects provide temporary public library facilities in communities where libraries were destroyed, distribute grants to restore services at academic libraries and support planning in public libraries, and provide education to facilitate recovery. The projects also address planning for long-term recovery and improved preparedness for future disasters.     

Crisis-Management Content in LIS Curricula: Developing a Model for Future Improvement

Abstract

Although the field of crisis management has grown considerably, academic curricula do not seem to have kept pace. This study investigates how library and information science (LIS) programs are addressing the need to provide adequate and relevant crisis management course content, so as to better empower librarians and other information professionals during community-based disasters and unpredictable circumstances. Twenty-eight ALA-accredited MLIS programs were evaluated. A four-phase model for evaluating crisis management content in LIS education (CM-LIS) has been developed. Crisis management topics were identified and categorized under the four phases: landscape survey, strategic planning, crisis management, and organizational learning. Six broad LIS subject modules were also identified to analyze the percentage of coverage of these topics. In the 264 course syllabi evaluated, curricula indirectly prepare librarians on how to meet and respond to crises and disasters within their communities; however, in many cases, this is given low priority. There is not a strong consideration for natural disasters and the societal calamities and unrest that dominate the media and occupy the minds of individual communities. This study gives insight into crisis-management education within LIS graduate degrees and should stimulate additional research to further investigate the preparedness of librarians and other information professionals to interact with communities in need in times of crises.