International Collaborative Program Research Articles

ЭКСПОРТ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНЫХ УСЛУГ КАК ФАКТОР РАЗВИТИЯ ВЫСШИХ УЧЕБНЫХ ЗАВЕДЕНИЙ

The analysis of the educational services export evolving on the university in the article. At the modern stage of the economy development internationalization global process is a characteristic of all world economy shears also for education. Active internationalization process is a concept base of the increasing of the educational services export. Educational services export is a competitive position for every university. But there are some problems cab be within increasing of the educational services export, such as runoff of the responsible contingent, “brain exodus”. The author tried to separate actions for harmonizing of the negative influence of the increasing of the educational services export on the universities, such as international partnership projects and collaborative educational programs (AstrakhanStateUniversityexperience is viewed). Purpose identification of the meaning of the educational services export in the high school development Methodology : subject and object analysis, logical analysis, comparative analysis. Practical implications : elaboration of the high school development program. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12731/2218-7405-2013-9-56

UK–China Science Bridge – Sustainable solutions for the built environment

The remit of the UK–China Science Bridge is to accelerate deployment of research knowledge in sustainable solutions for the built environment developed at Queen’s University Belfast, to high-ranking partner universities and research institutions in China. To achieve this, proof of concept studies are being undertaken at key Chinese universities and research centres to assess the relevance and transferability of Queen’s University-developed technologies. Particular attention is given to non-destructive testing and sensors for monitoring the durability of structures as well as a novel form of construction called ‘flexible arch’. Chinese counterparts aim to set up monitoring systems in concrete bridges using sensor systems from Queen’s. Data from these monitoring stations will be used to predict the service life and structural health performance of concrete bridges in marine environments. The aim of this paper is to introduce this international collaborative programme and research, allowing other organisations to benefit from the outcomes.

Challenging understandings of inclusive education policy development in Southern Africa through comparative reflection

The value of comparative education and the use of reflective experience and research to inform more sustainable local education development, particularly for developing contexts, is an ongoing consideration. This article explores these arguments in relation to the development of a more sustainable Inclusive Education policy in countries of the South. It focuses particularly on the experience of a policymaker from Swaziland, who, through engaging in the Erasmus Mundus Special Education Needs (SEN) Programme, has been instrumental in influencing the development of an inclusive education policy in Swaziland which recognises and attempts to respond to local contextual needs. The narrative provides valuable insight into an experience of reflection of policy and practice in Inclusive Education across North–South communities facilitated by an international collaborative study programme. It highlights key outcomes for emerging policy ideas in the South which rest on a more holistic understanding of inclusive education and the challenges of negotiating this in a country like Swaziland where the dominant discourse of inclusive education appears to be only associated with disability and separate institutions and structures for SEN.

From vision to reality: managing tensions in the development and implementation of an international collaborative partnership programme for institutional change and sustainable development in inclusive education

The aim of this article is to consider the practical implications of international collaborative partnerships between and within higher education institutions (HEIs) in terms of the development of an international programme in Special Needs Education as well as its implementation. We first look at the heavy institutional demands set within national boundaries and their associated quality assurance procedures. We argue that contextualising these demands within wider international and European demands creates unforeseen challenges for the participants both institutionally and individually. Secondly, the paper focuses on the programme's response to a dilemma – how do we internationalise (working in European Union HEIs)? Thirdly, attention is paid to how fundamental tensions around internationalisation of the curriculum and knowledge-sharing and the extent to which this is being managed at the Consortium of the three universities involved.

The Erasmus Mundus programme: providing opportunities to develop a better understanding about inclusion and inclusive practice through an international collaborative programme of study

This special edition of the International Journal of Inclusive Education is devoted to the Erasmus Mundus MA/Mgr Special Education Needs (EMSEN), a scholarship programme which was funded by the Eur...

Enhancing research capacities in infectious diseases: The GABRIEL network, a joint approach to major local health issues in developing countries

Low income countries seldom possess adequate means to effectively carry out rigorous epidemiological studies in the fight against infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis and Acute Lower Respiratory Infections. To do so, they require solid health infrastructures and qualified researchers trained in the latest laboratory techniques. Where international collaborative programs presently operate in developing countries, the sustainability of research practices often represents a major challenge. The lack of coordination and support between political decision makers and scientific experts also accounts for the inefficiency of existing programs. The GABRIEL network was therefore recently created by the Fondation Mérieux to help developing countries improve their research capacity for the detection, expertise, characterization, and surveillance of pathogens. The members of GABRIEL, being institutionally and geographically diverse, comprise laboratories, such as academic research laboratories, governmental institutions, and NGOs. GABRIEL's mission is to enhance health research capacity in developing countries by implementing sustainable research projects.

A triterpenoid and flavonoids from Dracocephalum heterophyllum

Chinese National Foundation Program for Distinguished Young Scientists 30925045; International Collaboration Program CAS/SAFEA for Creative Research Groups 2008-18

International collaborative faculty development program on simulation-based healthcare education: a report on its successes and challenges.

Purpose:Countries that are less experienced with simulation-based healthcare education (SBHE) often import Western programs to initiate their efforts to deliver effective simulation training. Acknowledging cultural differences, we sought to determine whether faculty development program on SBHE in the United States could be transported successfully to train faculty members in Korea.Methods:An international, collaborative, multi-professional program from a pre-existing Western model was adapted. The process focused on prioritization of curricular elements based on local needs, translation of course materials, and delivery of the program in small group facilitation exercises. Three types of evaluation data were collected: participants' simulation experience; participants' ratings of the course; and participant's self-assessment of the impact of the course on their knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) toward simulation teaching.Results:Thirty faculty teachers participated in the course. Eighty percent of the participants answered that they spent less than 25% of their time as simulation instructors. Time spent on planning, scenario development, delivering training, research, and administrative work ranged from 10% to 30%. Twenty-eight of 30 participants agreed or strongly agreed that the course was excellent and relevant to their needs. The participants' assessment of the impact of the course on their KSA toward simulation teaching improved significantly.Conclusion:Although there were many challenges to overcome, a systematic approach in the adaptation of a Western simulation faculty development course model was successfully implemented in Korea, and the program improves self-confidence and learning in participants.

The determination of trace element distributions in coals using sequential chemical leaching—A new approach to an old method

Sequential chemical leaching is a long-established method for the determination of the composition of specific fractions in the coal. A British Standard Method [BS 1016, 1977] to determine forms of sulphur in the coal is one example of such an approach. In an international collaborative programme on modes of occurrence of trace elements in coals edited by Davidson (2000) [11] sequential leaching was the method of choice of three of the participating laboratories, reflecting the advantages of this method in establishing trace element distributions in coal samples. In the present work results of a sequential leaching study using a well-documented coal (Eggborough power station, UK) are compared with previous results on this coal primarily to test the leaching protocol. Quantitative extraction of all coal fractions is difficult to achieve and further treatment of the data is rewarding. If the analyses are comprehensive, and include major elements, then additional information is obtained from a statistical analysis of the data. With this approach, failure to quantitatively extract specific fractions can be overcome. The problem is analogous to statistically analyzing a set of samples representing one or more coal seams. Published sequential leaching schemes do differ in the number of steps and also in the sequence. Clearly this is a disadvantage and a common scheme should be adopted. In the scheme we used at Sheffield we attempted to take the organic fraction into solution before the silicates. This was not successful, although trace elements associated with a resistate fraction were identified. It is proposed that the CSIRO protocol be adopted in which the “organic” associated elements are determined by difference. However, this is not entirely satisfactory and future work could be directed towards improving the organic-silicate split for the trace elements. In the present work a mudrock analysis has been used to estimate the silicate contribution in the coal and from this the organic contribution can be calculated. An alternative approach would be to preferentially remove organic matter at some stage within the leaching sequence by low temperature oxidation.

Book Review: The Great Melbourne Telescope, the Great Melbourne Telescope

THE GREAT MELBOURNE TELESCOPE The Great Melbourne Telescope. Richard Gillespie (Museum Victoria Publishing, Melbourne, 201 1). Pp. 188. AUD 29.95 (paperback). ISBN 978-1-92183-305-2.This readable and well-illustrated book takes a journey that begins in 1840s Ireland and passes through the astronomical elites of Victorian Britain, colonial Australian society and twentieth-century international collaborative research programmes. The telescope that provides the focus of this story is both a remarkable physical presence and an object of different meanings in the minds of those who dreamed it up, designed it, built it, worked with it or simply visited it. The cast of characters who swiftly cross these pages include British princes, a Fenian agitator, colonial officials and, of course, astronomers major and minor.Gillespie commendably handles this broad canvas and the specific or more technical details. The content, bibliography and endnotes are proof of knowledge and research that is woven well into an engaging narrative, only occasionally weighted down with the detail necessary to explain the frequent delays and pauses that characterized the history of this telescope. Each chapter opens with a section of semi-dramatized storytelling that, although it felt a little artificial with repetition, works to keep the reader's interest and, more importantly, to focus attention on telling episodes.Thus the first chapter opens on a cold night in Ireland, with Lord Rosse, Sir James South and Thomas Romney Robinson observing with Rosse's 'Leviathan'. These men, the ambitious telescope and the aim of resolving disputes about the nature of nebulae form the story's background. The southern hemisphere beckoned as a field that, despite John Herschel's work, remained relatively unexplored, and with climates more promising than Ireland's for the use of large mirrored telescopes. Rosse and Robinson, while President of the Royal Society and the British Association for the Advancement of Science respectively, had their moment in 1852 to create the joint Southern Telescope Committee.The published correspondence of this committee presents the historian with a wonderful resource to explore the currents of astronomical research, telescope design, politics and personalities. Disagreements caused delay as did, almost fatally to the project, the Crimean War. It took intense lobbying from the colonies to revive the project, and so enters, in the second chapter, the bounding figure of William Wilson, an ambitious, undiplomatic professor of mathematics in Melbourne. Gillespie's account of society in colonial Victoria is particularly well drawn, with a sense of its burgeoning development until depression hit late in the century. It is a place where names and fortunes could be made, where local, colonial and national identities were consciously developed, and where a large telescope could make a big statement. …

Editorial: Australian Chemistry under the Spotlight

Editorial: Australian Chemistry under the Spotlight

International Student Collaboration and Experiential Exercise Projects as a Professional, Inter-Personal And Inter-Institutional Networking Platform

This paper has the aim to analyze and to reflect on the experiential exercise from the point of views of instructor and students attending University Center of Economic and Managerial Sciences at University of Guadalajara and participating in the “X-Culture International Student Collaboration Project” as a professional, interpersonal and inter-institutional networking platform. . Keywords - Experiential exercise projects, international student collaboration program, inter-institutional, networking, professional development, inter-personal.

Laboratory studies conducted for the development of a plant to concentrate the radioactive waste from tritiated water

The Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant is the biggest operational source of tritium, in Europe and one of the most important in the world. The recovery of tritium from the moderator of operating Candu reactors and from the reactors to operate, represents a good opportunity for Romania to be involved in international collaboration programs in the field of nuclear fusion. Our interest is especially focussed on tritiated waste water with low activity resulted from the maintenance work performed on reactors with the purpose of reducing their volume and their reprocessing. The system presented in this work is based on the catalytic isotopic exchange and molecular dissociation CECE (Combined Electrolysis Catalytic Exchange). It has been noticed a growing interest regarding the electrolysers having polymer membranes as electrolyte SPM (solid polymer membrane). The advantage of using polymer membranes consists in the fact that membranes are actually the electrolyte and performs in the same time hydrogen and its isotopes separation. The present paper presents a conceptual design scheme for a tritium concentration system resulted from the tritiated waste water. This conceptual design represented the basis for the development of the installation for the tritiated waste water concentration, and the experiments to be performed will represent a support for promoting this technology. For designing the system and for analysing its functionality, a theoretical model for calculating tritium separation and concentration, has been developed.

Ten years of international collaboration in biomedical informatics and beyond: the AMAUTA program in Peru

Well-trained people are urgently needed to tackle global health challenges through information and communication technologies. In this report, AMAUTA, a joint international collaborative training program between the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and the University of Washington, which has been training Peruvian health professionals in biomedical and health informatics since 1999, is described. Four short-term courses have been organized in Lima, offering training to more than 200 graduate-level students. Long-term training to masters or doctorate level has been undertaken by eight students at the University of Washington. A combination of short-term and long-term strategies was found to be effective for enhancing institutional research and training enterprise. The AMAUTA program promoted the development and institution of informatics research and training capacity in Peru, and has resulted in a group of trained people playing important roles at universities, non-government offices, and the Ministry of Health in Peru. At present, the hub is being extended into Latin American countries, promoting South-to-South collaborations.

Plasma Startup Design of Fully Superconducting Tokamaks EAST and KSTAR With Implications for ITER

Recent commissioning of two major fully superconducting (SC)-shaped tokamaks, Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) and Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR), represents a significant advance in magnetic fusion research. The key to commissioning success in these complex and unique tokamaks was as follows: 1) use of a robust, flexible plasma control system (PCS) based on the validated DIII-D design; 2) use of the TokSys design and modeling environment, which is tightly coupled with the DIII-D PCS architecture for first-plasma scenario development and plasma diagnosis; and 3) collaborations with experienced internationally recognized teams of tokamak operations and control experts. We provide an overview of the generic modeling environment and plasma control tools developed and validated within the DIII-D experimental program and applied through an international collaborative program to successfully address the unique constraints associated with the startup of these next-generation tokamaks. The unique characteristics of each tokamak and the machine constraints that must be included in device modeling and simulation, such as SC coil current slew rate limits and the presence of nonlinear magnetic materials, are discussed, along with commissioning and initial operational results. Lessons learned from the startup experience in these devices are summarized, with special emphasis on ramifications for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

Attitudes Toward Living Kidney Donation in Transplant Hospitals: A Spanish, Mexican, and Cuban Multicenter Study

Introduction Living donor kidney (LKD) transplantation provides better results than deceased donor donation, involving minimum risk for the donor. However, LKD donation rates are low in most countries. We analyzed attitudes toward LKD in transplant hospitals in Spain, Mexico, and Cuba. Materials and methods Data were obtained from five transplant hospitals through the International Collaborative Program “Proyecto Donante Vivo, Murcia” in three countries: Spain ( n = 1168), Mexico ( n = 903), and Cuba ( n = 202). The random sample (2273 employees) was stratified according to job category. The instrument used to evaluate attitude was a validated questionnaire. Statistical analysis included Student t test, the χ 2 test, and multivariate analysis. Results Eighty eight percent ( n = 2002) of Spanish, Mexican, and Cuban transplant hospital personnel were in favor of related LKD and 24% nonrelated LKD ( n = 555). Attitudes were more favorable among centers in Cuba 97% ( n = 195), followed by Mexico 88% ( n = 793) and by Spain 87% ( n = 1014; P < .001). According to job category, 91% ( n = 617) of physicians were in favor, 88% ( n = 543) of nurses, 85% ( n = 198) of health care assistants, and 85% ( n = 198) of auxiliary personnel. Attitudes were related to variables of: attitude toward deceased donation ( P < .001), discussion about organ donation and transplantation ( P < .001), concern about body mutilation after donation ( P = .001), a possible need for a transplant in the future ( P < .001), and attitude toward living liver donation ( P < .001). Conclusions Attitudes toward LKD in Hispanic/Latin Transplant Hospitals were favorable and could encourage an increase in LKD in the coming years assuming suitable sociopolitical and economic condition, as well as support from nephrologists.

Attitudes of Spanish and Mexican Resident Physicians Faced With Solid Organ Donation and Transplantation

Introduction The attitudes of specialist physicians toward organ donation and transplantation are of great interest because promotion of this activity depends on them. Our objective was to analyze the attitudes of residents in health centers in Spain (MIR) and in Mexico (ENARM). Materials and methods A random stratified sample was obtained in six teaching hospitals: two in Spain ( n = 246) and four in Mexico ( n = 139) as part of the International Collaborative Program “Proyecto Donante, Murcia.” The sample consisting of 385 trainee physicians completed a psychosocial questionnaire as the instrument to test their opinions. Results Most residents (93%; n = 359), were in favor of deceased organ donation with 90% ( n = 348) in favor of living kidney donation and 87% ( n = 335) in favor of liver donation. Attitudes toward donation were similar among Spanish and Mexican residents regarding deceased donation (93% vs 94%; P > .05), living kidney donation (88% vs 94%; P > .05), and living liver donation (86% vs 89%; P > .05). None of the attitudes toward donation was associated with the classic psychosocial factors related to attitudes toward donation or job factors. Discussion within the family was associated with more positive attitudes toward deceased donation ( P < .001), living donation of the kidney ( P = .01), and of the liver ( P = .019). Conclusion Attitudes toward various types of donation were favorable among both Spanish and Mexican trainee physicians, so that they could potentially act as a group to promote this activity, raising hopes for increased donation rates in the future.

Berkner Fellows at 2009 Joint Assembly

Students and young scientists from economically depressed and developing countries who were this year's recipients of Berkner Travel Fellowships gathered for a reception on 26 May during the Joint Assembly in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Joint Assembly, part of AGU's international collaboration program, was sponsored by eight societies: AGU; Canadian Geophysical Union; Geological Association of Canada; International Association of Hydrogeologists, Canadian National Chapter; Mineralogical Association of Canada; Society of Exploration Geophysicists; Mineralogical Society of America; and Geochemical Society.Attendance and participation in the meeting by students and young researchers from different countries and research fields are major objectives of AGU and partner societies. Berkner Travel Fellowships provide fellows with financial support for meeting registration, travel, and subsistence while attending the meeting. Applicants must be under 36 years of age, a first author and presenter of an oral or poster abstract at Joint Assembly, and a permanent resident of a low‐income or lower‐middle‐income country.

International Collaborative Programs on Environmental Issues

International Collaborative Programs on Environmental Issues

Galliformes – barometers of the state of applied ecology and wildlife conservation in China

Summary Human population pressure is placing huge demands on China's environment. In recent years, the Chinese government has established a suite of programmes designed to meet these challenges and one such programme is the Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserves Development Programme launched in 2001. This is intended to safeguard the future of some of the country's highest profile and most threatened species. The avian Order Galliformes (pheasants and their relatives) are one such high‐profile group and 38 of the 63 species that occur in China are listed as nationally protected. This is the most studied group of birds in the country and some of this research has contributed directly to informing conservation management and policy at all administrative levels. There are examples of communication and collaboration between researchers in China and those from other countries since the late 1970s. However, there is now a pressing need for increased and more structured collaboration to take advantage of current opportunities to strengthen applied ecology in China and thus provide greater scientific input to environmental policy and decision‐making. Synthesis and applications. China is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and faces substantial environmental challenges because of human population pressure. Applied ecological research is increasingly informing policy and decision‐making at all administrative levels. Strengthening China's applied ecology base therefore offers unprecedented opportunities. International collaborative research programmes have substantial potential to develop high quality research and train talented young Chinese researchers, both of which will substantially enhance the quality of science informing China's biodiversity conservation policy.