International Professionals Research Articles

The Flourishing Economic and Political Relations of Turkey & Azerbaijan: An Overview after 30th Diplomatic Anniversary

Turkey was the first country to recognize the Azerbaijan’s independence from Soviet Union on 9th of November, 1991. Turkey-Azerbaijan bilateral relations are rooted in their historic cultural analogy and geopolitical features which have always fostered the mutual support for industrial, economic, and technological development. Turkey’s foreign policy has evolved with the changing dynamics of international relations for promoting cordial bilateral ties with Azerbaijan. Bilateral trade between these countries has provided a solid foundation for reciprocity and preliminaries for maintaining the balance. The primary catalyst of the trade growth trajectory in Azerbaijan has been the earning from energy resources but the role of Azerbaijan’s FDI inflows in Turkey has also been a strategic calculus in its flourishing trade. To date, the ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan have remained cordial, however, according to economists and international relations professionals, the relationship has undergone qualitative changes. In this study, an in-depth analysis of the bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan has been conducted to identify the trajectory of evolution, success indicators, and the associated challenges.

A risk-based internal audit methodology for Greek local government organizations

Internal audit activities have been expanded worldwide in order to protect local government organizations and, in particular, municipalities. Although several previous studies have examined internal auditing in local government organizations worldwide and provided further development in this area, none of them have developed a methodology for identifying and evaluating the possible risks when preparing an audit plan in municipalities in relation to Greece and elsewhere. This paper aims to address this gap and to ensure the adequate identification, assessment and linkage of the risks that characterize the municipality within the audit universe, leading to the corresponding preparation of an audit plan based on audit priorities. Further, the proposed methodology follows the International Professional Practices Framework and the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.

Mixing Different Traditions and Picking What’s Best’: Characteristics and Migration Experiences of Polish High-Tech Professionals in Silicon Valley

Growing demand for a highly skilled workforce in a knowledge- and technology-based economy stimulates the recruitment of international professionals, resulting in their increased participation in the total volume of international migrants. However, little scholarly attention has been paid to their integration strategies and migration trajectories. Drawing on 46 interviews with Polish high-tech professionals, this article explores their characteristics and migration experiences in Silicon Valley. Grounded theory, a biographical method, a transnational approach and the concept of social anchoring guided my data collection, analysis and interpretation. The study results indicated that high-tech professionals were well prepared for immigration to the United States and were able to integrate effectively into the multicultural environment of Silicon Valley by adopting the rules of the host society ‘only as much as necessary’ without rejecting their previous cultural affiliations. Working at the level of competence and professional experience from the moment of arriving in the United States facilitated their structural adaptation to American society. The study contributes to the existing body of literature in migration research by offering a nuanced insight into motivations, identities and values of modern highly skilled migrants and providing new ways of understanding their decision-making processes on migration and settlement.

Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health: An International Professional Development Conference on Affirming Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse People.

Increasing workforce capacity to provide knowledgeable, skilled, and affirming care for transgender and gender diverse people is critical to reduce health inequities; however, few clinicians receive sufficient training on this topic. This article describes Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health (AETH), an annual international conference that offers continuing professional development on evidence-based medical and behavioral healthcare for transgender and gender diverse people across the lifespan. Registration data and post-conference evaluation data were descriptively analyzed to assess conference reach, participant satisfaction, and participant intentions to change practice. Between 2015 and 2022, AETH trained 2677 participants from all US states and 24 countries. Based on post-conference evaluations, 2017-2022, participant satisfaction was high (mean ≥4.4 on a 5-point scale) on all measures, including meeting learning objectives, quality of presentations, and relevance to practice. Participants reported intentions to: implement new information or skills (86.7%); create or revise protocols, policies, and/or procedures (63.2%); and seek additional information (64.2%). To increase equity, the conference waives fees for transgender and gender diverse participants and offers free online sessions. The conference also holds sessions specifically for transgender and gender diverse participants to promote opportunities for community-building, self-care, and professional networking. The broad reach of AETH demonstrates a large demand for more continuing professional development on transgender and gender diverse healthcare. This conference has expanded the availability of training designed to increase and enhance clinical workforce capacity to meet the health needs of transgender and gender diverse communities in the US and across the world.

Resilience and sustainability indicators for panamanian urban housing in the face of climate change

In recent decades, urban centers have been facing enormous challenges with the increase in natural disasters, and the impossibility of recovering from them. In this context, the objective of this research is to propose resilience and sustainability indicators for Panamanian urban housing by considering the effects of climate change through an extensive analysis of the country's vulnerability. Using qualitative processes, validated by national and international professionals, it was possible to characterize resilient and sustainable housing and develop a proposal of 29 indicators that respond to current and future climate change-related impacts: 15 for resilience and 14 for sustainability. Thus, building a simple useful tool to evaluate the resilience and sustainability of urban housing.

The Impact of the Erasmus Program and the Institutional Administration of Internationalization in Türkiye

International student and staff mobility, which is widely experienced worldwide, constitutes one of the most critical dimensions of the internationalization of higher education. The Erasmus program, initiated by the European Union, plays a significant role in increasing mobility, especially between European countries. Turkey is one of these countries that benefit significantly from the Erasmus program, and the Program became a driving force for Turkish universities to accelerate internationalization. In this study, quantitative research was conducted to evaluate the perceptions of international office professionals (IPs) on the impact of the Erasmus Program and institutional structures in the universities to administer internationalizaiton. 126 IPs working in international offices of Turkish universities representing public and foundation universities participated in the study. The survey results revealed that IPs believe in the positive impacts of the Erasmus student and staff mobility on the institutionalization of internationalization in their universities, and most universities in Turkey include internationalization in their strategic plan as one of the priorities. On the other hand, IPs stated that institutional support given to their offices by top management and other stakeholders is not sufficient to administer internationalization. Moreover, the T-test results between public and foundation universities revealed that developing internationalization is a more important priority for foundation universities than the public ones.

Tourism skill development initiatives in three Southern African Development Community countries: A policy guide analysis

Tourism is a keystone of the Southern African Development Community economy. However, the region has failed to maintain a fair market share in the global tourism industry as the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index 2007 to 2019 shows. Human resources are regarded as one of the pillars that stimulate a competitive tourism industry, hence, it is critical for countries to formulate appropriate human resource development policies and plans to secure economic benefits from their tourism activities. The main aim of this study is to develop an understanding of the strategies that Southern African Development Community countries can adopt to develop tourism skills. To attain this objective, this study investigates the strategies adopted by Tanzania, Mauritius and Botswana with the aim of informing policies and paving the way for other countries to improve tourism skills for the collective effectiveness of the entire region. Through a secondary research method, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore the tourism skill development strategies utilised by three regional countries so that less competitive peers can draw lessons for policy improvement and reform. This study shows that investment in tourism education, engaging international professionals, collaboration among stakeholders, and placing tourism human resource development as a national strategic area, are critical.

SIGMA PHI OMEGA PRESIDENTIAL SYMPOSIUM: ITS ROLE IN ADVANCING THE FUTURE OF GERONTOLOGISTS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Abstract Sigma Phi Omega, The International Academic Honor and Professional Society in Gerontology (aka Sigma Phi Omega), was established in 1980 to recognize excellence of those who study gerontology and aging, and the outstanding service of professionals who work with or on behalf of older persons. The formation of this society provided a much-needed link between educators, practitioners, and administrators in various settings where older persons are served. Through the efforts of the international office and executive board officers, Sigma Phi Omega builds avenues to further their members’ academic and professional gerontological excellence. The goals of Sigma Phi Omega are achieved primarily through activities of local chapters at higher education institutions worldwide. Sigma Phi Omega chapters serve as links within their respective communities to promote interaction between gerontology educators, students, alumni, and local professionals. This international organization has a laser focus on excellence within gerontology and health professions education. In this session, the first presentation will provide the history of Sigma Phi Omega and its outreach efforts; the second presentation will focus on the future goals of Sigma Phi Omega to expand its role as an international honor society in preparing gerontologists, service providers and health professionals working with or on behalf of older adults; and the third presentation will focus on the SPO Chapters and their relationship with the piloted Gerontological Society of America Student Chapters.

SIGMA PHI OMEGA: HISTORY AND ITS OUTREACH EFFORTS

Abstract Sigma Phi Omega, The International Academic Honor and Professional Society in Gerontology (aka Sigma Phi Omega), was established in 1980 to recognize excellence of those who study gerontology and aging, and the outstanding service of professionals who work with or on behalf of older persons. Its mission and vision was thoughtfully crafted to support the endurance and outreach of Sigma Phi Omega within the United States and globally. This session will share the structure and function of Sigma Phi Omega and its accomplishments. This foundation is an essential platform for the launching of the organization’s strategic plan as we move forward in the field of aging.

SIGMA PHI OMEGA'S FUTURE

Abstract Sigma Phi Omega (SPO) is well established within the United States but as The International Academic Honor and Professional Society in Gerontology, it is time to intentionally expand globally in preparing gerontologists, service providers, and health professionals in the field of aging. This session will build on the platform provided by Dr. Katarina Friberg Felsted, Sigma Phi Omega immediate past president, and encourage discussion with and among attendees on ideas and creative approaches for advancing Sigma Phi Omega at colleges and universities worldwide. Broad input and feedback for mapping the future of Sigma Phi Omega across the national and international arenas provides opportunities and prospects that advances the fields of gerontology and geriatrics. The key is upholding Sigma Phi Omega’s mission and vision that supports aging through the work our members do with or on behalf of older adults.

Academic Acculturation of International Doctoral Students in the U.S.: A Qualitative Inquiry

The aim of this phenomenological inquiry is to explore the academic acculturation experiences of international kinesiology professionals during their doctoral programs in higher education institutions in the U.S. Purposive sampling technique was used which include six study participants. The data collected from a demographic questionnaire and a focused interview. Using acculturation theory as a conceptual framework, the subjects' academic acculturation as former international PhD students were described. There are three subthemes: (1) graduate program and requirements, (2) the academic environment of graduate program, and (3) professional development for a career in kinesiology. Findings are discussed in light of academic acculturation with a focus on assimilation (proactive adaptation in a new environment), and integration (flexibly to embrace the life experiences, learning experiences, and current experiences of the students in a new context). Particularly, findings examine how international kinesiology professionals perceived their doctoral degree experiences and sustained academic acculturation, pertaining to research and professional development at their programs. Exploring the academic acculturation of international PhD students is crucial for diversity awareness in higher education in the U.S. Often described as a minority with a narrower status, these international students undergoing academic acculturation should be assisted with aligning to their contextual frames, in terms of degree level and its characteristics in their field of study.

Quality indicators in burn care: An international burn care professionals survey to define them

IntroductionQuality indicators (QIs) are tools for improving and maintaining the standard of care. Although burn injuries are a major global health threat, requiring standardized management, there is a lack of worldwide accepted quality indicators for burn care. This study aims to identify the best burn care-specific QIs as perceived by worldwide burn practitioners. MethodsThe ISBI Burn Care Committee developed a survey to analyze which burn care- specific QIs were relevant to international burn care professionals. The questionnaire was based on the three dimensions of the Donabedian model (i.e., Structure, Process, and Outcome) to evaluate the quality of care. The study was conducted from April to September 2021 and analyzed and reported following the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). ResultsAccording to the 124 worldwide respondents, the most relevant QIs were: access to intensive care, burn surgeons, and dedicated burn care nurses (Structure category), 24-hours access to burn services, local protocols based on documented guidelines (Process category), and in-hospital mortality and incidence of severe infections (Outcome category). ConclusionsSpecific QIs related to structures, clinical processes, and outcomes are needed to monitor the treatment of burn patients globally, assess the efficiency of the provided treatment, and harmonize the worldwide standard of burn care.

The treatment journey of attention-related communication difficulties following traumatic brain injury: Perspectives of international health professionals

ABSTRACT Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can result in long-lasting changes in cognition, communication, behavior, and physical abilities that require specialized rehabilitation by health professionals. Communication difficulties following TBI are driven by difficulties in all aspects of cognition and linguistic skills. This study focuses specifically on attention-related communication difficulties and how international health professionals are treating this frequently occurring difficulty following TBI. One hundred and sixty-four international health professionals (e.g., speech language therapists, occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, and medical doctors) from seven countries completed an online survey. A small portion from New Zealand then participated in a focus group reviewing the topic of attention-related communication difficulties following TBI. This mixed-methods study used reflexive thematic analysis to analyse the qualitative data from both survey and focus groups alongside quantitative survey results. Fourmain themes were identified that relate to how attention-related communication difficulties should be treated and a roadmap for this important area following TBI was outlined. The four themes include: (1) signposts for attention and communication recovery; (2) change agents of attention and communication; (3) core therapy components; and (4) collaborative teams allow for better and more efficient treatment related to the client's goals. Clinical implications are discussed.

Research on Cultivating Talents for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language

In the face of the current "One Belt, One Road" initiative, Chinese international education needs to face many development opportunities and challenges, and the training of Chinese international education professionals has also taken on a heavier responsibility and mission. As one of the important forces for cultural communication and promotion of Chinese language and culture, improving the professional development skills of Chinese international education talents is an important prerequisite for the development of Chinese international education. Based on the necessity of Chinese international education and the demand of the Chinese international education market, this paper analyzes the problems faced by the development of Chinese international education and the targeted response strategies. Soft skills for professional career development refer to the implicit skills corresponding to hard skills. Soft skills are the sum of skills that measure whether students can stimulate their personal potential and magnify their energy through cooperation with others to achieve greater success. Therefore, based on the objective situation of Chinese international education personnel training, this paper takes the current students of the College of Chinese Language and Culture of Beijing Normal University who are enrolled in various sections of Chinese international education as the main research subjects, and a small number of graduates who are currently engaged in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and conducts a survey on the students' perceived needs of soft skills for career development. Based on the results, we analyzed the current situation, differences in perceptions, major problems and targeted response strategies of students' perceptions of soft skills for career development in Chinese international education.

Public Health Need, Molecular Targets, and Opportunities for the Accelerated Development of Function-Promoting Therapies: Proceedings of a National Institute on Aging Workshop.

People ≥ 65 years are expected to live a substantial portion of their remaining lives with a limiting physical condition and the numbers of affected individuals will increase substantially due to the growth of the population of older adults worldwide. The age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, and function is associated with an increased risk of physical disabilities, falls, loss of independence, metabolic disorders, and mortality. The development of function-promoting therapies to prevent and treat age-related skeletal muscle functional limitations is a pressing public health problem. On March 20-22, 2022, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) held a workshop entitled "Development of Function-Promoting Therapies: Public Health Need, Molecular Targets, and Drug Development." The workshop covered a variety of topics including advances in muscle biology, novel candidate molecules, findings from randomized trials, and challenges in the design of clinical trials and regulatory approval of function-promoting therapies. Leading academic investigators, representatives from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), professional societies, pharmaceutical industry, and patient advocacy organizations shared research findings and identified research gaps and strategies to advance the development of function-promoting therapies. A diverse audience of 397 national and international professionals attended the conference. Function-promoting therapies to prevent and treat physical disabilities associated with aging and chronic diseases are a public health imperative. Appropriately powered, well-designed clinical trials and synergistic collaboration among academic experts, patients and stakeholders, the NIH and the FDA, and the pharmaceutical industry are needed to accelerate the development of function-promoting therapies.

Light4Health eLearning Course: health research for interior lighting design. Re-thinking design approaches based on science

This paper presents the results of ‘Light4Health’ (L4H), a three-year EU Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership grant project (2019-2021), which investigated, systematized and taught health-related research on the impact of natural and artificial light on human health and well-being relevant to indoor lighting design. The objective was to re-think evidence-based lighting design approaches for residential, working/educational, and healthcare spaces, in order to develop a novel cross-disciplinary eLearning platform, that intersects lighting design and current peer-reviewed health research through a select combination of the most relevant research, methods, and tools. The content was developed through teaching workshops with international researchers, teachers, and students. Participating students were introduced to the application of relevant research and new metrics, in order to produce creative lighting design proposals. Students were able to inform lighting design approaches that support health and well-being without compromising creativity via the tools and methods developed through the health sciences. With this project, participants and consortium members have narrowed the gap that exists between research and the practice/application of lighting, by translating research from complex scientific jargon into various tools for designers to use. The knowledge gained, was consolidated into an open-access online curriculum for international lighting design students, educators and professionals via the free eLearning Moodle platform (https://course.light4health.net/).

11th International Scientific and Professional Conference "A Child in Motion”

11th International Scientific and Professional Conference "A Child in Motion”

A standardized measurement instrument was recommended for evaluating operator experience in complex healthcare interventions

ObjectiveDuring development of complex surgical innovations, modifications occur to optimize safety and efficacy. Operators' experiences (how professionals feel undertaking the innovation) drive this process but comprehensive overviews of measures of this concept are lacking. This study identified and appraised measures to assess operators’ experience of surgical innovation. Study Design and SettingThere were three phases: (1) Literature reviews identified measures of operators’ experience and concepts measured were extracted and grouped into domains. (2) Quality appraisal was conducted to assess content validity of identified instruments and was supported by COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments methodology. Self-reported measurement instruments that had underdone formal development were eligible. Content validity was assessed using COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments criteria for good content validity (rated sufficient/insufficient/indeterminate/inconsistent), informed by standards for measurement development and domains identified in phase 1. (3) Instruments determined suitable and of sufficient quality underwent supplemental appraisal in interviews with international multidisciplinary professionals and a focus group. ResultsLiterature reviews identified 16 measurement instruments from 243 studies. Most assessed ‘psychological’ experiences and ‘usability’. No instrument was specifically validated for innovative surgery. Three instruments were rated ‘sufficient’ (Surgery Task Load Index [SURG-TLX]) or ‘indeterminate’ (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Imperial Stress Assessment Tool). Twenty professionals were interviewed (seven female; 15 specialties; six countries) and the focus group included 10 participants (four professionals, six researchers). The SURG-TLX was considered the most relevant, comprehensive, and comprehensible instrument. ConclusionThe SURG-TLX is preliminarily recommended to measure operators’ experiences of innovation. Further work exploring its role and impact on surgical innovation is required.

The Influential Factors of Internal Audit Effectiveness: A Conceptual Model

The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature on the influential factors of internal audit effectiveness and articulate these factors in a conceptual model. A systematic literature review (SLR) is conducted to identify the influential factors of internal audit effectiveness; relevant studies are reviewed between the period January 1999 and March 2022 through a lens focused on the key factors of internal audit effectiveness. In addition, our review took into consideration what is mentioned in The International Professional Practices Framework for Internal Auditing (IPPF). Five factors of internal audit effectiveness and their dimensions are identified and comprised into a conceptual model, these factors are internal audit organizational characteristics, internal audit relationships, internal audit processes, internal audit resources, and internal audit coordination with other assurance providers. This paper provides internal audit practitioners, audit committees, and senior management in organizations with a broad understanding and comprehensive overview of the key factors that should be considered to make their internal audit functions more effective. This paper proposes a conceptual model that provides a holistic view of the influential factors of internal audit effectiveness and clearly identifies the dimensions of the factors. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for future research to test the model and build on it as well.

Participation incentives in a survey of international non-profit professionals

Elite surveys are increasingly common in political science, but how best to motivate participation in them remains poorly understood. This study compares the effect of three treatments designed to increase participation in an online survey of international non-profit professionals: a monetary reward, an altruistic appeal emphasizing the study’s benefits, and a promise to give the respondent access to the study’s results. Only the monetary incentive increased the survey response rate. It did not decrease response quality as measured in terms of straight-lining or skipped questions, although it may have produced a pool of respondents more likely to speed through the survey. The findings suggest that monetary incentives reduce total survey error even in the context of an elite survey, perhaps especially with elite populations frequently contacted by researchers. However, such incentives may not be without trade-offs in terms of how carefully respondents engage with the survey.