Academic Organization Research Articles

A systematic mixed studies review on Organizational Participatory Research: towards operational guidance

BackgroundOrganizational Participatory Research (OPR) seeks organizational learning and/or practice improvement. Previous systematic literature reviews described some OPR processes and outcomes, but the link between these processes and outcomes is unknown. We sought to identify and sequence the key processes of OPR taking place with and within healthcare organizations and the main outcomes to which they contribute, and to define ideal-types of OPR.MethodsThis article reports a participatory systematic mixed studies review with qualitative synthesis A specialized health librarian searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase Classic + Embase, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, Social Work s and Business Source Complete, together with grey literature data bases were searched from inception to November 29, 2012. This search was updated using forward citation tracking up to June 2014. Reporting quality was appraised and unclear articles were excluded. Included studies clearly reported OPR where the main research related decisions were co-constructed among the academic and healthcare organization partners. Included studies were distilled into summaries of their OPR processes and outcomes, which were subsequently analysed using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. All summaries were analysed; that is, data analysis continued beyond saturation.ResultsEighty-three studies were included from the 8873 records retrieved. Eight key OPR processes were identified. Four follow the phases of research: 1) form a work group and hold meetings, 2) collectively determine research objectives, 3) collectively analyse data, and 4) collectively interpret results and decide how to use them. Four are present throughout OPR: 1) communication, 2) relationships; 3) commitment; 4) collective reflection. These processes contribute to extra benefits at the individual and organizational levels. Four ideal-types of OPR were defined. Basic OPR consists of OPR processes leading to achieving the study objectives. This ideal-type and may be combined with any of the following three ideal-types: OPR resulting in random additional benefits for the individuals or organization involved, OPR spreading to other sectors of the organization and beyond, or OPR leading to subsequent initiatives. These results are illustrated with a novel conceptual model.ConclusionThe model provides operational guidance to help OPR stakeholders collaboratively address organizational issues and achieve desired outcomes and more.Review registrationAs per PROSPERO inclusion criteria, this review is not registered.

Decolonisation of the curriculum: A case study of the Durban University of Technology in South Africa

The call for the decolonisation of universities and curricula in South Africa was at the centre of the 2015 Fallist protests. The protests, which left a trail of destruction and many universities closed for periods of time, had as one of their positive outcomes the precipitation of a renewed interest in the decolonisation of university education debate. The debate on decolonisation at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in South Africa is long overdue, given that the Western model of academic organisation on which it, like most South African universities, is based, remains largely Eurocentric. This paper adds to the debate by discussing what decolonisation might mean to the DUT’s students, staff and the greater community. It explores the importance of decolonisation and how this process can be taken forward at DUT. The purpose is not to prescribe how decolonisation is to be done but to open up ways of (re)thinking university curricula and opportunities for further discussion and action. Keywords: Africa; Africanisation; community; curriculum; decolonisation; indigenisation; internationalisation; staff; student; university

Análisis de los problemas institucionales que inciden en la enseñanza del idioma Inglés en las Unidades Educativas Península De Santa Elena y Colegio Militar Eugenio Espejo

El presente estudio estableció como objetivo analizar los problemas institucionales en las dimensiones de infraestructura, políticas educativas y organización académica en el aprendizaje del idioma inglés de los estudiantes de la Unidad Educativa Península de Santa Elena y la Unidad Educativa experimental Colegio Eugenio Espejo, periodo 2017-201, para su cumplimiento se aplicó la investigación exploratoria e investigación de campo con enfoque cuantitativo, cualitativo y mixto. Los instrumentos de recolección de datos utilizados fueron las fichas de observación, encuesta y entrevistas, durante el período de aplicación de estos instrumentos se pudo observar la infraestructura de las instituciones, de los espacios abiertos y recreativos, de las aulas de clase, de sus espacios deportivos, rutas de evacuación, iluminación, ente otras. Además, se determinó que existe una inadecuada implementación de las políticas educativas, y organización académica las cuales han influido para que el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje del idioma inglés no se desarrolle apropiadamente; esto se relaciona con insuficiente presencia de materiales didácticos además de no contar con la conectividad que es fundamental para el manejo y utilización de recursos tecnológicos. La importancia de este diagnóstico radica fundamentalmente en la necesidad de mejorar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en las Unidades Educativas objeto de esta investigación. Se espera que el presente diagnóstico pueda ser una herramienta orientadora que contribuya al mejoramiento del sistema educativo, especialmente en la enseñanza del idioma inglés

Non-Interventional Retrospective Multicenter Study Evaluating Real Word Idelalisib Use in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Enrolled in the French Early Access Program

INTRODUCTIONIdelalisib (IDELA), the first-in-class PI3K-delta inhibitor, is indicated in Europe in combination with rituximab (R) or ofatumumab for the treatment (tt) of adult patients (pts) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have received at least one prior therapy, or as first-line tt of pts with 17p deletion (del(17p)) or TP53 mutation (TP53m), not eligibles for any other therapies and as monotherapy for pts with follicular lymphoma (FL) refractory to two prior lines of tt. IDELA has significant clinical activity with a manageable safety profile. However, there is a paucity of real word data regarding its effectiveness and safety. The REALIST study was initiated to better describe pts who started IDELA treatment during the French Early Access Program (EAP).AIMSThe aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to describe efficacy, adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), AEs of special interest (AESIs, defined as diarrhea/colitis, pneumonitis, liver enzyme elevation, neutropenia, infection, and rash) and IDELA use in adult pts previously enrolled in the French EAP for CLL or iNHL.METHODSAll Investigators who enrolled at least one pt in the EAP were contacted by email inviting them to participate in this study. Only pts who initiated IDELA tt between June and October 2014 have been included in this study. For each pt, 12 months (m) follow up data were collected via an electronic Case Report Form and monitored by the Lymphoma Academic Research Organization (LYSARC). The Primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR) at 6 m and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Statistical analysis was descriptive.RESULTSSeventy-five pts were included, 41 in CLL group (39 in third-line or late and 2 in first-line with del(17p)/TP53m unsuitable for chemo-immunotherapy (CIT)) and 34 in iNHL group, all refractory after two prior lines of tt. Table 1 lists key pt characteristics at the time of initiation of IDELA. In CLL/iNHL groups respectively, median IDELA tt duration was 25.1 weeks/18.9 weeks, ORR, was 82.8%/56.5% at 6 m (data reported in 29 pts/23 pts) and 100%/57.1% at 12 m (data reported in 12 pts/14 pts), median PFS was not reached (NR)/ 6.7 m, median time to next tt (TTNT) defined as the time between the date of the last IDELA intake and the start of next tt after progression of disease (PD) was NR/11.6 m, median OS was NR in both groups and OS estimate at M12 was 69.9%/67.6%. Additional efficacy data are presented in Table 2, Fig 1 and Fig 2. In CLL/iNHL groups respectively, at least one AE was reported during the study in 35 pts (85.4%)/26 pts (76.5%), most frequently reported AEs by SOC/PT were: infections and infestations 61.0%/50.0% (pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) 2.4%/5.9%), gastrointestinal disorders 56.1%/35.3% (diarrhea 41.5%/29.4%), blood and lymphatic system disorders 41.5%/41.2% (neutropenia 17.1%/23.5%) and investigation 43.9%/47.1% (hepatic enzyme increase 19.5%/14.7%). 24 pts (58.5%)/15 pts (44.1%) discontinued temporary IDELA, 6 pts (14.6%)/8 pts (23.5%) discontinued permanently for AE, 38 pts (92.7%)/25 pts (73.5%) had at least one AESI, 10 pts (24.4%)/11 pts (32.4%) had at least one serious AESI, 3 pts (7.3%)/6 pts (17.6%) permanently discontinued IDELA for AESI and deaths were reported during the study in 13 pts (31.7%)/11 pts (32.4%), mainly due to PD (46.2%/72.7%).CONCLUSIONThe results of this non-Interventional study of heavily pretreated CLL and iNHL population treated by IDELA monotherapy or in combination with rituximab indicate that IDELA is an effective treatment in routine clinical practice with an acceptable safety profile. ORR at 6 months was 83% in CLL full analysis set and 79% in del(17p)/TP53m sub-group and 55% in FL sub group. These results mirror those of clinical trials. No unexpected IDELA safety information was identified in this study and the pattern of AEs corresponds to that reported in previous clinical studies and might be improved by specific management of AESI including PJP prophylaxis to be administered to all patients throughout IDELA treatment. DisclosuresYsebaert:Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding. Feugier:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Salles:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Acerta: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Epizyme: Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Merck: Honoraria; Morphosys: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Sylvain:Gilead: Other: scientific advisor board. Glorian Kergaravat:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Simpson:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Ramroth:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Abdelhadi:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Haioun:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria. Troussard:Gilead: Other: scientific advisory board.

Management of hyperglycemia in pregnancy: a major step to promote the health of whole life cycle

As one common complication, hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) can lead to short- and long- term effects on maternal-offspring and result in a vicious cycle when euglycemia is not achieved. HIP is proposed as the priority by multiple global stakeholders, from health policy makers (United Nation, Chinese government), academic organization (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, International Diabetes Federation and Developmental Origin of Health and Disease in China), health care providers, to the public. To solve the issue, united actions should be undertaken in various capacities to address the link between HIP and chronic non communicable diseases, including obesity and diabetes. Key words: Hyperglycemia; Pregnancy complications; Human development; Life style; Risk factors; Time factors

Communication Course for Pediatric Providers Improves Self-efficacy.

Communication is essential to building a trusting, clinician-patient relationship. Multiple studies have demonstrated the effects of experiential communication training on patient experience and provider well-being and resiliency. To date, no studies have described an organization-wide communication training program for pediatric clinicians. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a pediatric-focused communication course on provider satisfaction, self-efficacy, and burnout. Texas Children's Hospital, in collaboration with the Academy on Communication in Healthcare, designed and implemented a pediatric focused communication course entitled Breakthrough Communication. Pre, immediate-post, and 3-month postcourse completion online surveys were sent to participants 1 day before, 1 day after, and 3 months after course completion. Participant demographic information, self-assessment of communication skills, the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey, and postcourse satisfaction data were collected. Participants reported high course satisfaction and improved self-efficacy in all measured skill sets both following and 3 months after course completion. Trends indicating a reduction in provider burnout improved in 2 of the 3 Maslach Burnout Inventory domains; however, statistical significance was not achieved. A pediatric-focused communication course was well received by multi-specialty clinicians within a large, academic health care organization. This course enhanced clinician self-efficacy with newly learned pediatric encounter specific communication skills.

A Meaning of Showing Presence of Japan in the Global Academic Organization

A Meaning of Showing Presence of Japan in the Global Academic Organization

Marketing students at work: organisation citizenship behaviour training as a tool to minimise survey non-response

A continuing decline in an institution’s response rates for student evaluations of teaching (SET) raised faculty concerns about non-response bias in summary statistics. In response, this institution’s SET stakeholders partnered with a Marketing Methods class section to create strategies for increasing response rates. The project was also an exercise in organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) training because students in that class section received intensive training on how SET feedback is valued by instructors and its role in improving their academic organisation. Within the context of OCB theory, this article finds student exposure to OCB training increases SET response rates because knowing how SET benefits their organisation increases unit-level response propensity for member surveys intended to improve their institution. In the year of the OCB training, SET response rates increased by 26%, though the increases did not persist into later academic years. The response rate increases are realised across all demographic groups with disproportionate increases among low response rate groups, including low performing students, men and ethnic minorities.

New trends in translational microsurgery.

Technological advances such as optical instruments and surgical tools have enabled the considerable contributions of microsurgery to surgical therapies. Accordingly, surgical therapeutics has provided the latest information across a wide range of medical specialties, including immunology and pharmacology, despite specialization according to organs and organ systems. The International Society for Experimental Microsurgery, an academic organization, has utilized experimental microsurgery technology in the identification of curative concepts for diseases that remain difficult to treat. For this publication to mark the 32nd anniversary of the Brazilian Surgical Society, I introduced the following types of technology related to the further development of microsurgical technological innovations in the future: high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) video and touch-sensitive microsurgery robots.

Academic Activities of the Korean Gerontological Society for Four Decades: An Analysis Related to Trends in Aging Policy and Activities of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics

본 연구의 목적은 한국노년학회의 40년간 주요 학술활동을 한국노인정책의 변화와 세계노년학ㆍ노인의학회(IAGG)의 학술동향에 맞춰 분석해 보고, 향후 노년학회의 학술발전 방향을 제시하는 것이다. 연구방법은 먼저 한국노년학회의 주요학술활동을 각 연도별 학술대회자료집과 문헌을 중심으로 개괄적으로 살펴본 후 한국노인정책의 변화를 통한 한국노년학회의 학술활동은 조선일보, 한겨레 신문검색과 한국언론진흥재단의 빅카인즈 검색을 통해 찾은 각 제도별 자료를 연도별로 비교하여 분석하였다. 다음으로 IAGG의 학술활동을 통한 한국노년학회의 학술활동은 학술대회 개최연도를 중심으로 국제기구의 노인관련 주요 아젠다를 포함하여 비교분석하였다. 분석결과 지난 40년간 한국노년학회는 다양한 학술활동을 국내외의 노인정책 변화에 민감하게 대응하면서 다학제적으로 혹은 국제적으로 활발하게 진행해 온 것으로 나타났다. 그럼에도 노년학회 구성원의 다양성 결여로 다루어지지 못했던 중요한 주제도 있었으며, 하나의 주제를 심도있게 지속적으로 논의하지 못했던 점도 지적될 수 있다. 향후 한국노년학회는 한국의 대표적 노인관련 학회로서 다학제적 학문적 특성을 살려 한국의 노인정책을 선도함은 물론 국제학회 및 기구들과의 연대를 통해 활발한 학술활동을 해 나가야 할 것이다.The purpose of this study is to examine the major academic activities of the Korean Gerontological Society (KGS) during the last 40 years in comparison to changes in elderly policies in Korea and also academic trends in gerontology worldwide and the academic activities of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG); based on this analysis, this study aims to propose future directions for the academic progress of the KGS. We examined the major academic activities of the KGS by analyzing the contents of biannual conferences, international conferences, and irregular seminars and policy meetings, using conference booklets, KGS websites, and literature on KGS history. Second, we analyzed the academic activities of the KGS in comparison to changes in elderly policies in Korea, using databases of major newspapers and also the BigKinds search offered by the Korea Press Foundation. Third, the academic activities of the KGS were reviewed in comparison to those of the IAGG and the major aging policy agendas of key international organizations. The study results demonstrate that the KGS has been proactive in conducting diverse multi-disciplinary and international academic activities while promptly responding to both domestic and international changes in elderly policies. But some issues were not properly addressed due to the lack of diversity in its members, and it also should be noted that some issues were not discussed in depth for a sufficient length of time. Henceforth, as the leading academic organization in gerontology with a multi-disciplinary orientation in Korea, the KGS should continue to lead the development and evaluation of aging policies and also actively carry out diverse academic activities in collaboration with international academic societies and organizations.

Social representations of employment and unemployment concepts’ in inhabitants of Santa Cruz, Tenerife

With the theoretical and methodological background of social representations (SR), we analyzed the concepts of employment and unemployment in inhabitants of Santa Cruz, Tenerife. We used the associative technique of free listings for to learn about the content and structure of SR, as well as the identification of the core and the peripheral items. For the participants, the employment is a trade allows the access for the satisfaction of needs, personnel and family and of material goods. It takes personal effects as learning, growth and positive emotions. Requires responsibility, commitment and is an opportunity for personal and professional development. The unemployment is a free time, which implies the lack of money, generates poverty and problems, dependence, stress, sorrow, worry, fear and hopelessness. It takes social effects as chaos, migration, segregation and crime. They blame the politicians in the current economic crisis. The ways of confronting it are academic training and organization of workers.

The Supervisor's Perceived Role in Employee Well-Being: Results From Mayo Clinic.

Novel approaches are needed to enhance employee well-being and perhaps supervisors can be an effective agent for worksite health promotion. The aim of this study was to examine the supervisor's perceived needs, barriers, and role for influencing employee well-being for incorporation into program development. Semistructured, qualitative interviews of supervisors. Large, integrated academic health-care organization with over 30 000 employees and 2600 supervisors having access to comprehensive well-being programs and a successful well-being champion network comprised of 600 champions. Twenty supervisors representing clinical, research, and administrative units. Semistructured, one-on-one interviews were conducted and audio recorded. Analysis included content log development and open coding by a trained analyst to reveal key themes. More formalized content coding using specialized software for qualitative analyses was also conducted. Supervisor responses were wide ranging regarding their perceived and desired role in promoting workplace well-being. Barriers from the supervisor perspective included high current workload, ambivalence about promoting wellness, lack of support from leadership, lack of flexibility and control at work, and difficulty accessing on-site resources. They perceived their potential role in well-being as remaining a positive role model and encouraging their staff in wellness activities. Although findings are generated from a small sample size, these qualitative data provide compelling and early insights into building a workplace well-being strategy leveraging an underutilized key stakeholder, the workplace supervisor.

THE APPLICATION SCOPE OF COMPREHENSIVE QUALITY STANDARDS IN FIELD OF ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION AND ACADEMIC PROGRAM IN COLLEGES OF BASIC EDUCATION IN DOHUK UNIVERSITY.

The present research aims at measuring the application scope of comprehensive quality standards in field of administrative organization and academic program in colleges of basic education in Dohuk University. The research is depended on descriptive analytical approach and a sample consists of 26 administrators were chosen for the present study. In order to achieve the goals of the study, the researcher has prepared a tool in terms of comprehensive quality standards and the final formula of the tool was consisted of 55 items distributed over two axes. After applying the tool and collecting information, the result showed that comprehensive quality standards among samples of research in fields of administrative organization and academic program were not function in field of administrative organization, while it was in field of academic organization. The result also showed that there are no differences of functional statistical in both fields according to geographical location variable ( Dohuk-Akri). Finally, the researcher has submitted a number of recommendations suggestions relevant to the study topic.

Master students’ scientific research design as a teacher training professional development factor

The paper proves that master students scientific research is the essence for teacher training professional development. The authors describe the model, substantiate approaches to master students scientific research position and content understanding based on their analyses of the experience of master students scientific research predictive model representation. Methodologically these are activity and research approaches; and their implementation principles are practice-oriented educational process principle, activity and creative content of education principle and the educational process personalization principle. The paper exposes to light the experience of master students scientific research organization pedagogical conditions implementation (scientific research building into the theoretical and practical courses of master degree program study; its presentation as a means of master students personal pedagogical experience and professional activity evaluation and correction; master students personal pedagogical experience use as a base in the process of theoretical course study; the connection of theoretical courses, practical trainings, work on masters thesis). The paper highlights peculiarities of master students scientific research organization process. These peculiarities are: the search of leading pedagogical experience, academic research organization; teaching practice and theoretical courses educational program composition on the basis of research and education problems solving and projects implementation; the educational research and scientific research practical training content connection with masters thesis subject; simulation training as a method of enquiry and transformation of pedagogical reality and etc.

Students’ Perception towards Master of Business Studies (MBS) Semester System: A Case Study of Nepal Commerce Campus

The study sought to understand and analyze students’ perception towards MBS semester system taking a case of Nepal Commerce Campus with regard to (a) academic resources, (b) course organization and planning, (c) physical resources, (d) governance and image, and (e) overall perception of students. It followed descriptive research design with using questionnaire survey instrument. The population of this study comprised all 668 MBS semester students and the sample consisted 246 students selected through random sampling techniques. The survey questionnaire was set in seven sections with 30 questions of various types to collect data. Collected data were analyzed with the help of SPSS software (version 23). The research result revealed that the perception of the students towards all aspects is quite satisfactory except toilets and canteen facilities of Nepal Commerce Campus. The study drew some feedback and suggestions from students for the betterment of the college. It covered those students who were studying MBS semester system since the last five out of 48 month’s course cycle therefore it didn’t cover the aspects of semester system. It enhances the understanding of stakeholders about the issues of semester system at master’s level.Pravaha Vol. 24, No. 1, 2018, Page: 181-195

Public accountability versus academic independence: tensions of public higher education governance in Poland

ABSTRACTSince the launch of the Lisbon Agenda, European higher education systems have gravitated towards a common policy blueprint for governance that concentrates power in the hands of executive authorities and increases accountability to external stakeholders. The Polish system remains an outlier, providing an informative case study of a clash between European pressures and local path dependencies. The objective of this study was to investigate the forces that lodge the Polish system of higher education between the market and academic oligarchy, utilizing the lens of Burton Clark’s (1986. The Higher Education System: Academic Organization in Cross-national Perspective. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press) typology of governance. The author sought to uncover and compare the conceptualizations of governance held by two most powerful groups of higher education stakeholders. Findings indicate a stalemate of values between accountability to public interest and the independence of the academic order from short-term political interests. Conclusions from this study can inform reform efforts in contexts where externally legitimated blueprints for reform in higher education converge with social realities belying the blueprints’ inherent assumptions.

Producing expert capital: how opposing same-sex marriage experts dominate fields in the United States and France

ABSTRACTThis paper examines experts testifying before U.S. and French courts and legislatures on same-sex marriage debates between 1990 and 2013. Experts provide special weight to political arguments, which I call expert capital. For this reason, social movements and decision-makers solicit them. Yet, because of specific national conditions, this article shows that not all experts have the capacity to use their respective academic and professional resources to impact policymaking. Drawing on 71 in-depth interviews and ethnographic observation in both the U.S. and France, I analyze how progressive and conservative experts have struggled for dominance in their fields. Results show that American progressive experts have achieved a degree of power in their fields as their conservative counterparts turn to resources outside the academic mainstream. In France, progressives have only recently challenged conservatives’ dominant position. This power distribution is due to: 1) size and centralization of knowledge regimes; 2) disciplinary and university reactions to research on gender and sexuality; 3) academic and professional organization strength; 4) social acceptance of gay families; and, 5) division among allied experts. These findings show that nationally specific knowledge production fields constrain and enable the ability of experts to provide expert capital to their activist and decision-maker allies.

Advantages of and problems encountered with UICC version 8 TNM staging system for thymic epithelial tumors

Although the Masaoka clinico-pathological classification presented in 1981 has been accepted for more than 30 years, this staging system became difficult to adapt to more modern clinical practice in the 21st century after enormous progress in pathological classification, biological understanding, imaging diagnosis and surgical treatment for thymic epithelial tumors. International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group (ITMIG), the first international academic organization specifically related to thymic neoplasms, confirmed the necessity of a global database project to establish a new staging system in 2010, and finally compiled data from 22 countries and completed the database of 10,808 patients in 2014. ITMIG and the thymic domain of the Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee (SPFC) of the International Association for Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) collaboratively analyzed this retrospective database, and finally proposed a new TNM-based staging system. The definition of the T category strongly reflects the level of invasion to adjacent organs, the same philosophy used for Masaoka staging. Although this new staging system was approved by Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM version 8, the current global retrospective database mainly consists of surgical cases and information from unresectable cases is lacking. Prognostic significance of nodal involvement remains to be confirmed by a greater number of the cases, and survival of the patients with distant metastasis is actually unclear. Additional development along with use of the prospective database is required.

From Learning Theory to Academic Organisation: The Institutionalisation of Higher Education Teaching Assistant Position in China

This exploratory study critically investigates the teaching assistant regulations of higher education institutions of China. On the basis of content analysis of the teaching assistant regulations of five premier universities of China this study analyses the possible discrepancies that might compromise the principles of transparency, equal opportunity and encouraging excellence as stipulated in the vision, mission, and goal of the regulations. Teacher assistants do make more than two third of the academic staff at the universities in China. Besides, China has a second largest higher education system in terms of scale in the world. Practices of sharing skills and imparting knowledge at these institutions have been intermediated by a semi-institutionalized position, called ‘teacher assistants’. It’s therefore, the informal submission of assignments without record at the PhD level questions the purpose of integrity and academic freedom of the higher education at the universities. On the basis of an instrumentalised framework guided by the dimensions of decision making and learning organization theories this study using content analysis has formulated the recommendations for the institutions while selecting and training the students as teaching assistants. A critical but logical illustration of the teaching assistant regulations has also been detailed regarding academic integrity in this study.

Change and Conflict in the University

The modern university reflects many of the tensions and stresses of the wider society of which it is a part. The conditions generating conflict are related to the ambiguity and muliplicity of academic goals. Within the context of a political model of the university, various strategic and tactical methods for dealing with conflict between students, faculty and administrators are considered. Methods of control include the trengthening of information networks, increased participation of all academic constituencies in policy-making processes, the development of new forms of academic organization, and a heightened leadership role of the university president.