Highest International Level Research Articles

A multicultural approach to teach sustainability

Globalization is a tendency that covers all society perspectives in general, and the high education in particular. The main traditional objective of these institutions was to prepare domestic students with a set of skills. The research competition and universities rankings, as well as the need to reach other publics pushed them towards internationalization. The exchange of students across the UE is a well-known reality which success is largely due to cultural similarities. However, a set of issues raises in importance when students from different cultures are involved. We proposed an International Summer Course with a layout specifically designed to identify those questions. In our experience the class included Korean and Portuguese students in the same proportions to develop some work under the framework of sustainability, a specific theme chosen in order to foster consensus. Aiming at a higher level of internationalization and having in mind that students could gain from an intensive and multicultural experience ISEP organized its first Engineering for Sustainable Development (E4SD) Summer Course, in July 2014. This work reports some results from this experience, which included a Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach, and points new directions. In fact, PBL seemed to be a way of promoting integration and the inclusion of multiple cultures allowed the analysis of different perspectives which otherwise would not have been considered. On the other hand, all the students had an international experience, in a non native language, which has driven them out of their confort zone.

Internationalization for quality in Chinese research universities: student perspectives

China’s rapidly expanding university system aims to balance quantity and quality through a variety of measures, including internationalization. This paper employs data from a survey of 1264 students from 39 higher education institutions in order to understand students’ view on institutional approaches to internationalization. The data show that “the Project 985” universities (elite research universities in China) have used internationalization to sustain two objectives: elite education and innovative research for quality, because there are high levels of agreement on three indicators with internationalization of these universities: student and faculty mobility, internationalizing curriculum and program, and international research collaboration and partnership. In “the Project 211” universities (second-tier research universities), the data show that internationalization activities are highly related to curriculum reforms and faculty mobility. While the other degree-offering universities provide less opportunity for internationalization, the non-degree-offering institutions find their distinct way for institutional internationalization by providing more “international internship” opportunities. Our analysis also indicates that institutional internationalization is disciplinary oriented. In disciplines like law and art, students do not think that many activities are taken for internationalization by their institutions, while such disciplines as economics, management, and education have a higher level of internationalization. The paper will explain these findings in detail.

Elite Swimmers Have Larger Lung Volumes But More Severe Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness Than Elite Cross Country Skiers

A few previous reports have shown that lung volumes, diffusion capacity as well as bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) are increased in well trained swimmers as compared to other athletes and controls. It is unknown if this can be applied to elite athletes and if this is due to genetic or environmental factors such as the specificity of the swim training and the exposure to chlorine derivatives in the swimming pools. PURPOSE: To compare lung function, BHR and respiratory symptoms in elite swimmers and cross country skiers. METHODS: In a cross sectional study, 29 elite swimmers (17♂/12♀) aged 16–28 years and 30 elite cross-country skiers (20♂/10♀) aged 20–37 years, all competing at high international level, measured lung function by maximal expiratory flow volume loops, forced expiratory flow the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow at 50 % of FVC (FEF50) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness was measured by methacholine provocation test, provocation dose at 20 % reduction in FEV1 (PD20meth). Training time per week, symptoms and use of antiasthmatic medication were recorded with the AQUA-questionnaire and by a clinical examination. Antiasthmatic medication was withheld according to ERS guidelines. RESULTS: The elite swimmers had a significant higher FEV1, as compared to the cross country skiers, 4.73L (4.39, 5.07) mean (95 % confidence interval) vs 4.31L (4.06, 4.57) (p=0.05) respectively, FEV1 (% predicted), 114.7 % (110.2, 119.2) vs 103.0 % (99.2, 106.7) (p<0.001) respectively and FVC (% predicted), 122.4 % (116.9, 127.8) vs112.2 % (108.4, 115.9) (p=0.002) respectively. Twenty-three swimmers had a PD20meth ≤ 4 umol as compared to six cross country skiers. Mean training time per week was significant higher in swimmers, 23.8 hours (23.1, 24.4) vs 17.1 hours (16.6, 17.6) (p< 0.001). 27.6 % of the swimmers and 70 % of the skiers had an asthma diagnosis and 37.9 % of the swimmers and 83.3 % of the skiers used daily antiasthmatic medication. No differences were found in the other lung function variables or in self-reported symptoms. CONCLUSION: Elite swimmers have larger lung volumes and FEV1 than elite cross country skiers, but it seems that swimmers are more likely to develop severe BHR due to exposure to chlorine derivatives during their prolonged daily training sessions.

MEXICO’S REAL WAGES IN THE AGE OF THE GREAT DIVERGENCE, 1730-1930

ABSTRACTThis study builds the first internationally comparable index of real wages for Mexico City bridging the 18thand the early 20thcentury. Real wages started out in relatively high international levels in the mid 18thcentury, but declined from the late 1770s on, with some partial and temporal rebounds after the 1810s. After the 1860s, real wages recovered and eventually reached 18th-century levels in the early 20thcentury. Real wages of Mexico City’s workers subsequently fell behind those of high-wage economies to converge with the lower fringes of middle-wage economies. The age of the global Great Divergence was Mexico’s own age of stagnation and decline relative to the world economy.

The start-up, evolution and impact of a research group in a university developing its knowledge base

This article focuses on the understudied role of research groups contributing to develop the knowledge base of developing universities in regions lagging behind in human, financial and scientific resources. We analyse the evolution of a research group that, in less than 10 years, achieved worldwide recognition in the field of microelectronics, with an impact on both engineering research and teaching activities at the University of Macau. Our analysis concludes that voluntarism and loose organizational structures from the start stimulate the development of solid scientific agendas and institutional identity, and that counter-intuitive policies, including academic inbreeding, may also be needed and unavoidable in this effort. The use of these counter-intuitive policies and their effects, however, can be mitigated by transforming education to highlight high levels of internationalization and quality standards with measurable outcomes. This requires the committed involvement of research group leaders in both research and education. Lastly, another key component of university development may lie in hiring and giving freedom to young promising scholars with the will and drive to lead and act.

Is more always better? Risk trade-offs among internationalizing new ventures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how ventures manage the negative returns associated with higher levels of internationalization. Many new ventures are internationalizing to fully exploit new innovations and/or gain access to larger markets. Yet at some point the rising costs associated with internationalization outweigh any benefits, resulting in an inverted U-shaped relationship between internationalization and performance. Design/methodology/approach – New ventures are theorized to better manage high levels of internationalization by limiting exposure to other sources of risk. This can be achieved by leveraging greater size and/or limiting simultaneous diversification efforts on product innovation. To test the hypotheses, a regression using Heckman selection was run using a sample of 210 US-based, publicly held ventures in high-technology industries. Findings – The results confirm that when higher levels of internationalization are coupled with either a low emphasis on product innovation or larger size, the negative returns are mitigated and actually become positive. Research limitations/implications – A key implication lies in recognizing the role of risk management for internationalizing ventures. Future research could benefit by testing for generalizability in other countries as well as among privately held ventures. Practical implications – To manage the trade-offs associated at higher levels of internationalization, ventures need to maintain a low emphasis on product innovation or meet a threshold in terms of size. Originality/value – The value of this research lies in better understanding how ventures are able to overcome rising costs at higher levels of internationalization.

Quantitative Analysis of Managerial Capabilities and Internationalization of Manufacturing SMEs – Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries

In this study, managerial capabilities: management capacity or size; management expertise; and management process were quantitatively analyzed through longitudinal methodology to ascertain their importance as one of the key driving forces or factors of firm’s international operations. The objective is to examine whether there is a significant relationship between these factors and the firm’s degree of internationalization. The study is based on a sample of 500 low, medium and highly-internationalized non-SMEs and SMEs from five developing countries. The results indicate that there is a significant difference in the managerial capabilities of SMEs and non-SMEs at all levels of internationalization. For example, management capacity (size) of SMEs was significantly less than their non-SMEs counterparts at the moderate and high levels of internationalization. SMEs were significantly less likely to employ a qualified managers (expertise) or uses professional training at the low, moderate and high levels of internationalization when compared to non-SMEs. SMEs were also found to be significantly less likely to develop management process, (international expansion, export and strategic plans, TQM, JIT, QA) when compared to non-SMEs. Overall, the study results suggest that compared to non-SMEs, SMEs grow internationally with less managerial capability.

The German humpback: Internationalization and foreign exchange hedging

Previous studies find a monotonic positive relationship between a firm's internationalization and its foreign exchange hedging. We argue that high levels of internationalization can reduce the need for foreign exchange hedging through diversification (e.g. sales to several markets) and operational hedging (matching of cash flows and operational flexibility). We employ multivariate regression analysis and find an inverse U-shape relationship (“humpback”) for large listed non-financial German firms. Foreign exchange hedging activity peaks when half of sales (or long-term assets) is outside Europe. We do not find support that diversification or production facilities abroad drive our results. Our paper is the first empirical paper to document an inverse U-shape relationship between internationalization and foreign exchange hedging.

Opportunity Identification in the Financial Crisis: A 60-Country Study of Multi-level Drivers

This paper explores entrepreneurs’ reactions to the global economic crises, examining both firm and country characteristics associated with entrepreneurs’ ability to perceive additional entrepreneurial opportunities in a crisis. Harmonized data collected in 2009-10 reveals extensive national differences in entrepreneurial attitudes, activity, and aspirations during the economic crisis. We then analyze responses from over 12,000 entrepreneurs in over 60 countries. We find that new firm owner/managers are more likely to perceive opportunities if their firms have high levels of internationalization and innovation. Furthermore, we find that entrepreneurs are more likely to see additional business opportunities in response to the recent crisis when their national environments are characterized by high levels of positive perceptions of start-up opportunities. Our findings suggest critical implications for policy, practice, and future research.

The German Humpback: Internationalization and Foreign Exchange Hedging

Previous studies find a monotonic positive relationship between a firm’s internationalization and its foreign exchange hedging. We argue that high levels of internationalization can reduce the need for foreign exchange hedging through diversification (e.g. sales to several markets) and operational hedging (matching of cash flows and operational flexibility). We employ multivariate regression analysis and find an inverse U-shape relationship (“humpback”) for large listed non-financial German firms. Foreign exchange hedging activity peaks when half of sales (or long-term assets) is outside Europe. Our paper is the first empirical paper to document an inverse U-shape relationship between internationalization and foreign exchange hedging. Contrary to expectations, the inverse U-shape relationship does not seem to be driven by geographical diversification of very international firms or the ability to match cash flows or change operations through production facilities abroad. Our findings are important in understanding the complexity of the relationship between internationalization and financial hedging.

Diagnostika úrovně výkonnostních předpokladů elitních tenistů (longitudinální studie)

The contribution deals with the issues of the level and evolution trends of selected factors of sports performance in tennis. The research intent was to perform a longitudinal observation of the level of somatic and motor predisposition in two male tennis players, who have reached a high international level of performance in their adult age, to evaluate evolution trends and to compare the data with a population of male tennis players (national level). The research data were gathered using the test battery TENDIAG1 containing three somatic and six motor items. The results of both observed players clearly show that the total point score in the test battery was above (on two occasions at) the boundary of the average level of the male tennis players’ population (national level). The level of body height and weight of both players was above average. The results confirm the importance of somatic, conditioning, and coordination preconditions for tennis.

Diagnostika úrovně výkonnostních předpokladů tenistek (longitudinální studie)

The contribution deals with the issues of judging the level and evolution trends of somatic and motor performance preconditions in tennis. In contemporary world tennis, there is an obvious tendency to the physically demanding game and that is why the diagnostics of the level of performance preconditions is an important part of the training process. The research intent was to perform a longitudinal observation of the level of somatic and motor preconditions in two female tennis players, who have reached a high international level of performance in their adult age, to evaluate evolution trends and to compare the found data with a population of female tennis players. The research had the character of a longitudinal study and the data were gathered using the test battery TENDIAG1 containing three somatic and six motor items. The results of both observed female players clearly show that the total point score in the test battery was above the boundary of the average level of the female tennis players’population. The results proved that the level of somatic and motor preconditions of both female players was mostly above average. The results confirm the importance of somatic, conditioning, and coordination preconditions for tennis.

Untangling the relationship between new venture internationalization and performance

To help untangle the inconsistency in prior performance studies for new venture internationalization, the dynamic capabilities perspective is revisited to consider whether the relationship is more complex than previously assumed. While internationalization requires the reconfiguration of routines and resources, survivability is argued to peak at moderate levels of internationalization where the associated resources and risk is balanced between local and foreign markets. In contrast, sales growth is suggested to peak at either low or high levels of internationalization where a singular market focus and set of capabilities is being exploited. The results confirm that the level of new venture internationalization exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship with survival, while the opposite U-shaped relationship exists with sales growth.

International expansion and firm performance in emerging market: evidence from China

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between international expansion and firm performance in an emerging market.Design/methodology/approachThe paper firstly explores the relationship between internationalization and firm performance, then investigates the roles of diversification, and examines how diversification moderates the relationship between internationalization and firm performance. For this purpose, panel data on 318 Chinese listed manufacturing firms during the period 1999‐2008 were utilized. Three groups of samples of high, medium and low levels of diversified manufacturing firms were obtained. Statistical techniques of fixed‐effects panel data model yielded an interesting pattern of findings. On the basis of these results, the paper then discusses the implications for the international expansion of Chinese firms.FindingsAt high and low levels of internationalization, internationalization is negatively associated with firm performance, but at medium levels of internationalization, greater internationalization is accompanied by higher performance. Product diversification negatively moderates the relationship between internationalization and performance. As product diversification increases, the relationship between internationalization and performance changes from a horizontal S‐curve in firms with low levels of diversification to a U‐curve in moderately diversified firms and eventually to an equilibrium level in highly diversified firms. The initial stage of the horizontal S‐curve of internationalization and performance declines markedly in Chinese manufacturing firms as a whole, therefore it is by no means easy for Chinese firms to undertake internationalization.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings do suggest that managers need to take a long‐term view of internationalization and make a commitment to internationalization.Originality/valueThis is the first paper of its kind to empirically validate the relationship between internationalization, firm performance and diversification in China. It is intended to make a contribution to theoretical research on international business in an emerging market.

Participatory action research with and within community activist groups: Capturing the collective experience of Ireland’s Community and Voluntary Pillar in social partnership

The inclusion of community activists in policy planning is increasingly recognized at the highest international level. This article shows how the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR) can present a deeper and more holistic picture of the experiences of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in shaping national-level social policy. By utilizing action-based research, the Community and Voluntary Pillar (CVP) of Ireland’s system of social partnership is shown to be an important agent in deliberating national bargaining outcomes (known as the Towards 2016 national agreement). The key contribution of this research is the reflective methodological considerations in terms of PAR design, execution and participant integration in the research process as a way to enrich and develop a deeper and more informed community of practice.

Networks for Regulation: Privacy Commissioners in a Changing World

This article discusses the attempt to develop global data protection regulatory activity through the network of privacy commissioners and their agencies at the highest international levels. It describes the trajectory of forming a common outlook, identity, and infrastructure for regulatory enforcement amongst data protection authorities (DPAs) in recent years, and considers the value of analytic approaches to carry research forward.

Is The Reign of the Us Dollar Coming to an End?

The ascent to prominence of the US dollar was and still is supported by the US’s unmatched economic, financial, military and political position which allowed the dollar to fulfill all of the six required functions of a key currency in an unsurpassed way. The upsetting defect in the current dollar-based international monetary system is that the US is running increasing current account and budget deficits, high international debt levels and a significant decline in its net international investment position. These threaten the key currency status of the dollar. Although the dollar is set to maintain its dominant position and its accompanying benefits to the US over the short run, over the long run the dollar inevitably will have to make room for another ascending currency(ies) in view of the decline in the US’s international stature. This, however, contains the potential for serious financial instability, particularly during the transition period.

Danish auroral science history

Abstract. Danish auroral science history begins with the early auroral observations made by the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe during the years from 1582 to 1601 preceding the Maunder minimum in solar activity. Included are also the brilliant observations made by another astronomer, Ole Rømer, from Copenhagen in 1707, as well as the early auroral observations made from Greenland by missionaries during the 18th and 19th centuries. The relations between auroras and geomagnetic variations were analysed by H. C. Ørsted, who also played a vital role in the development of Danish meteorology that came to include comprehensive auroral observations from Denmark, Iceland and Greenland as well as auroral and geomagnetic research. The very important auroral investigations made by Sophus Tromholt are outlined. His analysis from 1880 of auroral observations from Greenland prepared for the significant contributions from the Danish Meteorological Institute, DMI, (founded in 1872) to the first International Polar Year 1882/83, where an expedition headed by Adam Paulsen was sent to Greenland to conduct auroral and geomagnetic observations. Paulsen's analyses of the collected data gave many important results but also raised many new questions that gave rise to auroral expeditions to Iceland in 1899 to 1900 and to Finland in 1900 to 1901. Among the results from these expeditions were 26 unique paintings of the auroras made by the artist painter, Harald Moltke. The expedition to Finland was headed by Dan la Cour, who later as director of the DMI came to be in charge of the comprehensive international geomagnetic and auroral observations made during the Second International Polar Year in 1932/33. Finally, the article describes the important investigations made by Knud Lassen during, among others, the International Geophysical Year 1957/58 and during the International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) in 1964/65. With his leadership the auroral and geomagnetic research at DMI reached a high international level that came to be the background for the first Danish satellite, Ørsted, successfully launched in 1999 and still in operation.

Impact of Internationalization on Innovation in the Service Industry

This paper examines the impact of internationalization on the production, process, and organizational innovations of Korean service firms. While the effect of foreign activities on organizational learning has been progressively revealed mostly in the manufacturing sector, the question remains whether such a relationship also holds for service industries whose unique features include the limited separability between production and consumption, which often constrains international trade. However, as globalization and development in supporting information or logistics technologies have enabled service firms to unbundle the production and consumption of service activities, a higher level of internationalization may promote knowledge sourcing and spillover from foreign markets more prominently so as to promote innovations within a service firm. Based on the results of the logistic regressions using the 2006 Korean Innovation Survey data, we found that Korean service firms’ international expansion is significantly and positively associated with their product innovation, as well as with organizational innovation, albeit to a lesser extent. Our results, however, did not support our hypothesis on the relationship between international expansion and process innovation. Lastly, the magnitude of the estimates in our models revealed that internationalization has a greater impact on product innovation than on process or organizational innovation.

Surviving Hegemony Through Resistance and Identity Articulation Among Outreaching Social Workers

An understanding of outreaching social work in Hong Kong is viable through an analysis of discourses constructed and experienced by social workers. The discourses address hegemony by the government and consent, resistance, and identity arising from social workers. These discourses were the focus of the present study, which relied on repeated in-depth interviews with 20 practitioners in the outreaching social work field. The results give insight in three main ways: they unfold the discourses of hegemony and consent in terms of effectiveness, accountability, and social control; they address the discourses of resistance in terms of incompatibility, social defense, and others; and they examine professional identity in terms of respect for self-determination, relationship building, youth development, and unionization. All the discourses and identities emerged from a process of international spillover. Moreover, the study found that social workers realized that the hegemonic crisis triggered identity development because of the need to preserve the profession. The study implies that the social work profession has high levels of commitment and internationalization, both of which help proliferate the profession.