Reform Priorities Research Articles

Fostering teacher agency: insights from the DCU changemaker schools network

Teacher agency is attracting research attention, given the changed direction in curriculum reform towards local agency in curriculum enactment. However, in the context of instrumental priorities such as performance in national standardised testing, which remain dominant in school systems, enabling teacher agency remains challenging. This paper, part of a larger research project, explores teacher agency in the DCU Changemaker Schools Network (DCU CSN) in order to determine whether their experience can offer insights into establishing agentic school communities in light of curriculum reform priorities. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in autumn 2023 with eight staff members from six changemaker primary schools across the island of Ireland. Thematic analysis identified the preexisting school culture as fundamental to enabling teacher agency. However, their capacity for agency was deepened through participation in the DCU CSN. Changemaker status offered a framework for the deeper enactment of professional values which prioritised agency. The four changemaker pillars of creativity, teamwork, leadership and empathy, together with high levels of affirmation offer practical strategies towards enacting agency in the pedagogical practices of teachers. The changemaker framework offers an accessible model for creating agentic school communities, as envisioned in the current models of curriculum reform.

A reflective overview: European vocational education and training reform: The Copenhagen process 2002 to 2024

The European Union’s (EU) Copenhagen Process on cooperation in vocational education and training (VET), initiated in 2002, is a voluntary method that coordinates VET reform in Europe. In terms of this process, EU Member States, the European Commission and the social partners agree, at ministerial level, on common VET-related objectives, priorities and statistical targets to be met over a five- to ten-year period. Progress is monitored and political momentum maintained through regular reporting, exchanges of experience and periodic revisions of reform objectives, priorities and statistical targets. This article outlines the origins of the Copenhagen Process and discusses its evolution and influence on European VET policy since 2002. The writer argues that the process has proved to be an effective working method. It has strengthened European cooperation in VET, provided the basis for common European instruments and principles, influenced national reforms and raised the profile of VET in other policy areas. The writer also argues that, while the Copenhagen Process has operated at a multinational, trans-European level, its principles of partnership, resources and momentum can be used to create effective partnerships and networks at national, sectoral and local levels in order to bring about VET reform.

"Maybe we should think outside the box?" prioritisation of issues with UK not-for-profit canine health and welfare research funding using Delphi expert consensus and gap analysis.

Over fifty participants, who together possessed broad research, veterinary and front-line expertise from across the canine health and welfare sector, contributed to a modified Delphi study to identify the highest priority research topics in UK canine health and welfare, the highest priorities for future research approaches, and the highest priorities for future reform in research processes and infrastructure, through group consensus. Further analysis also compared the prioritisation of selected research topics to the actual levels of research funding they previously received, through comparison with historical data. Most of the identified highest priority issues relating to canine health and welfare and its research concerned various aspects of the human-canine relationship, such as ownership or behavioural issues. Participants strongly emphasised the complexity of interrelated factors that impact the welfare of both dogs and people. Research topics identified as previously 'most underfunded' all concerned real-world canine welfare issues, particularly emphasising the breeding and supply of dogs. A supplementary analysis of historical research funding (2012-2022) for common chronic disorders in primary care practice, another identified highest priority topic, identified periodontal disease, anal sac disorders, overgrown nails and patellar luxation as the 'most underfunded' conditions. Most of the identified highest priority research approaches and methodologies concerned real-world design and execution aspects of canine health and welfare research, such as impact and engagement, with a strong focus on research investigating the human factors in canine welfare. Aspects of research funding infrastructure that were considered highest priority for future change mostly concerned increased transparency of funding processes and increased collaboration between stakeholder groups throughout the funding sector, which was strongly supported. Overall, these findings emphasise the importance of considering and including human factors and real-world impact, where appropriate, as key elements for optimising the relevance of canine health and welfare research.

Intended Statistics Curriculum at the Elementary Level: Thailand vs. Indonesia

Mathematics occupies a central role in school education, with the mathematics curriculum serving as a critical tool for guiding curriculum reform. To identify the need for reform in specific contexts, it is necessary to examine curricula from a comparative perspective. Such an approach can yield valuable insights into the directions and priorities for curriculum reform. Accordingly, this study examined the current status of the intended statistics curriculum in Thailand and Indonesia. A qualitative content analysis was employed as the research design, with one mathematics curriculum document from Thailand and one from Indonesia purposively selected for analysis. The findings reveal that, in the domain of statistics, Indonesia introduces probability alongside statistics at the elementary level, whereas Thailand does not include probability at this stage. Furthermore, both countries place limited emphasis on incorporating a comprehensive statistical problem solving process within their curricula. It is important to note that this study focuses exclusively on the intended curriculum; further research is required to provide a more nuanced understanding.

Digital competency – Perspectives of teacher students and primary teachers

Digital transformation is regarded as the foremost priority for public governance reform across all sectors, encompassing the education domain, which has been undergoing its own digital transformation journey spanning from primary to higher education levels. Drawing from five elements of digital competency (DC) derived from conceptual references to competency, professional proficiency, digital technology, and digital transformation frameworks, opinions on these elements were sought from primary teachers and teacher students. The findings reveal disparities in the digital competency levels among teacher students relative to the demands, with notable concerns surrounding digital assessment, security, and safety in cyberspace. It is emphasized that additional emphasis should be placed on integrating digital competency domains into training programs, as digital competencies represent a deficiency in the criteria for teachers, which should be explicitly addressed in program learning outcomes (PLOs). Moreover, the increasing significance of digital competency underscores the necessity for its seamless integration into training programs catering to primary education teacher students. Further research is warranted to explore various aspects of this topic, including its scope, comparative analysis with teacher training in other sectors, and the perspectives of primary school principals.

“They Are Free with Me”

AbstractAbolitionist lawmakers promulgated policies during the July Monarchy designed to ameliorate the conditions of enslaved people in France's colonies. These reforms focused on family life and curtailing abusive corporal punishment. Scholars have argued these policies were weak and ineffective. However, a series of lawsuits, filed by both enslaved and freed women, reveals how reform engendered conflicts before emancipation in 1848. These lawsuits reveal three important dynamics about the final years of French slavery: how abolitionists drew on these cases to advance reform priorities, how colonial elites reinforced slavery in response, and the critical role enslaved and freed women played as Antillean abolitionists.

Asymmetric Impact of Economic, And Structural Factors on the Development of the Non-Oil Export Sector in GCC Economies 1992-2022: Structural Reform Priorities to Sustainable Economic Growth

The current study empirically investigates to explore the links between economic and structural variables of non-oil export industry development in GCC economies. The research spans the years 1992 to 2022. It is understandable to wonder why some oil-producing countries have been able to diversify and build their economy while others have not. We postulate that disparities in the diversification and development patterns of oil producers are related to differences in their economic and structural characteristics. Divergence in diversification and development trends may result from such discrepancies. We measure the role of economic and structural elements to test this idea. The findings indicate that economic and structural factors play a critical role in the process of diversification and development. Countries have the higher-quality infrastructure, in particular. The findings imply that GCC authorities should improve robust macroeconomic conditions to support their non-oil export sector and boost institutional quality drivers to accelerate non-oil export sector development in their nations. The empirical findings can assist GCC policymakers in better designing the economic policies required to accomplish the GCC countries' comprehensive and sustainable economic development. Asymmetric mechanisms in non-oil export responses to economic and structural factor changes are likely to differ across economic sectors in GCC countries. A sectoral examination of this link could provide further information and supplement our analysis. New capital and infrastructure must be accommodated to support domestic and export manufacturing.

The design and operationalization of the teacher competence management framework: The method and practical tools to identify and close teacher competence gaps for the teaching of 21st century skills

The aim of the Framework for Teacher Competence Management is to provide school leadership with an empirically tested protocol on how to determine teachers’ professional development needs for teaching 21st century skills. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were applied to collect and analyze data through three cycles of design-based implementation research over a period of three years, from 2017 to 2019, and by collaborating with staff from 15 schools. The Framework for Teacher Competence Management was developed through adapting a competence management model from the business environment to the school setting. The framework includes three steps: Competence identification, assessment and development; school developmental goals and education reform priorities; and the action and information flows between teachers and school leadership team members. The Framework for Teacher Competence Management has been operationalized through the design and validation of a method to identify teachers’ professional development needs and competence assessment tools, such as performance level descriptors, knowledge tests, and self-assessment questionnaires. The research outlines significant differences in teacher performance within a single school, emphasizing the necessity of gathering school-based evidence for planning more personalized professional development solutions to address professional development needs for different teacher groups.

Reforming Pension System In Nepal

Purpose: The pension system in Nepal is pivotal for safeguarding social security and financial stability among its aging populace, yet it grapples with substantial hurdles, encompassing demographic transformations, insufficient funding, and operational inefficiencies. The primary aim is to investigate and analyze different facets of Nepal’s pension system, assessing its adequacy, coverage, and sustainability.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: This study utilized a mixed-method approach, combining primary survey data from 237 respondents with secondary data from the Pension Management Office. Employing a descriptive research design, it aimed to offer insights into the current state of Nepal’s pension system and stakeholders’ perceptions.
 Findings: The findings revealed widespread dissatisfaction among respondents regarding the current provision of pension benefits, highlighting the urgent need for reforms. Key reform priorities identified included raising the retirement age, expanding coverage to the informal sector, increasing contribution rates, improving efficiency and management, and enhancing public awareness.
 Research limitation/ Implications: This study exclusively focused on the pension system, neglecting other components of social security benefits that many influence individuals’ motivation. Likewise, this study totally relied on descriptive analysis restricting its capacity to establish causal relationships. Likewise, this insight provides valuable guidance for policymakers in developing comprehensive reform strategies to address the systemic challenges and shortcomings in Nepal’s pension system, ensuring its long-term sustainability and adequacy for future retirees

Development of the Quantitative Modelling Observation Protocol (QMOP) for undergraduate biology courses: validity evidence for score interpretation and uses

ABSTRACT Educational reform priorities such as emphasis on quantitative modelling (QM) have positioned undergraduate biology instructors as designers of QM experiences to engage students in authentic science practices that support the development of data-driven and evidence-based reasoning. Yet, little is known about how biology instructors adapt to the pedagogical movement towards incorporating QM opportunities for students in the courses they teach. This study presents the development of the Quantitative Modelling Observation Protocol (QMOP), a classroom observation instrument designed to support the need to characterise various approaches that instructors use to implement QM instruction in undergraduate biology. QMOP provides information about the breadth and depth of QM implementation across three dimensions – authentic instruction, teaching for understanding, and quantitative approach to teaching biology. We present an interpretive argument, the chain of assumptions we made in relation to the intended use of the instrument, and evidence to assess the validity of our assumptions and inferences about observation scores generated using the instrument. Strengths and weaknesses of evidence pertaining to assumptions about scoring, generalisability, extrapolation, and implications will be discussed to build a validity argument for observations and demonstrate how the instrument can be used for investigating QM instruction in undergraduate biology courses.

The Impact of Leader-Member Relationships on Team Effectiveness Through Speaking Up and Silence: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Chinese Hospitals.

Although the importance of leader-member relationships in teamwork is acknowledged in literature, a deeper understanding of this relationship is lacking, especially in rural areas. The impact of leader-member relationships on team outcomes is especially important in rural Chinese hospitals as improving teamwork forms a national health reform priority in these hospitals. This study investigates how leader-member relationships (ie leader-member perceived similarity and power distance orientation) influence team outcomes (ie perceived quality of care and job satisfaction) via speaking up and silence. An online questionnaire was completed by 1017 team members (ie doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals) of 300 teams in four rural Chinese hospitals in October 2022. The questionnaire measured leader-member perceived similarity, power distance orientation, speaking up, silence, perceived quality of care, job satisfaction and control variables. Multilevel mediation analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. Leader-member perceived similarity and power distance orientation are positively related to speaking up (β=0.61, p<0.01; β=0.17, p<0.01 respectively) and to silence (β=0.41, p<0.01; β=0.63, p<0.01 respectively). Speaking up is positively related to the perceived quality of care (β=0.24, p<0.01; β=0.46, p<0.01) and job satisfaction (β=0.30, p<0.01; β=0.54, p<0.01), while the impact of silence is not significant. Finally, speaking up mediates the associations of both leader-member perceived similarity and power distance orientation with perceived quality of care (β=0.15, p<0.01; β=0.08, p<0.01 respectively) and job satisfaction (β=0.30, p<0.01; β=0.54, p<0.01 respectively). Speaking up, rather than silence, contributes to team functioning by mediating the impact of leader-member relationships to team outcomes. Hospital management may therefore seek to stimulate speaking up by focussing on leader-member relationships: increasing leader-member similarity and promoting members' power distance orientation. However, any unintended effect of increased silence through these leader-member relationships is an important area of future research, which can adopt multidimensional models of speaking up and silence.

Fragilising clients: A positioning analysis of identity construction during clinical psychology trainees' supervision.

Western mental healthcare system reforms prioritise person-centred care and require clinicians to adjust their professional positions. Realising these reforms will necessitate clinicians-including clinical psychologists-acquiring professional identities that align with them. Learners develop professional identities through socialisation activities: within interactional spaces such as supervision learners come to understand the self (clinician) and, by extension, the other (client). A clinician's understanding of who I am is intertwined with an understanding of who they are. Our study offers a moment-by-moment examination of supervision interactions of clinical psychology trainees to illuminate processes through which the identities of therapists and clients are constructed. We examined how clinical psychology trainees and supervisors construct identities for themselves and clients in supervision. We used positioning analysis to explore identity construction during interactions between supervisors (n= 4) and trainees (n= 12) in a clinical psychology training clinic. Positioning analysis focuses on the linguistic choices participants make as they position themselves (and others) in certain social spaces during everyday interactions. Twelve supervision sessions were audio recorded and transcribed. We found that clients were frequently positioned as fragile and subsequently analysed these sequences (n= 12). Clients' identities were constructed as fragile, which co-occurred with clinical psychologists' claiming positions as responsible for managing their distress. Supervisors played an active role in linguistically positioning clients and trainees in this way. Trainees rarely contested the identities made available to them by supervisors. We suggest that linguistically positioning clients as fragile perpetuates paternalistic clinical discourses that do not align with mental healthcare reform priorities. We make visible how this is achieved interactionally through language and influenced by organisational power relations. Intentional efforts are required to support the professional identity construction of clinical psychologists in ways that do not perpetuate paternalism. We offer recommendations for education and clinical practice to support these efforts.

Drivers of Engineering Procurement and Construction Model Adoption Behavior by Public Construction Owners in China

The promotion of the EPC model in public construction projects is a priority for reform in the Chinese construction industry. This study integrates the push–pull–mooring (PPM) model with the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework to explore the influencing factors and action mechanisms of adopting the EPC model of the owners of public construction projects in China. An online questionnaire was sent to public construction project owners who have participated in EPC projects. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the survey data. The results identified that the push factors for public construction project owners to the adoption of the EPC model include owners’ management ability, owner’s knowledge about EPC, and the matching degree between the owner’s management philosophy and EPC model; the pull factor is the performance pressure of the project; and the mooring factors include subjective norms, the maturity degree of the EPC, and the support environment. In addition, perceived usefulness, cognitive, and adoption attitude play a mediating role in the relationship between external stimuli and adoption behavior. Overall, this study enhances the understanding of Chinese public project owners’ behavior in adopting the EPC model and provides a theoretical basis for policy recommendations to promote the adoption of the EPC model by public construction project owners in China.

Transformational Leadership As a Prerequisite for Organizational Development in Public Administration

Public sector organizations are an integral part of globally growing changing societies characterized by rapid technological and digital development. Digitization and external factors of constant pressure impose high standards for organizational performance, which does not exclude the public sector, which inevitably has to follow global and social realities. In this context, leadership is a key issue of organizational success and stabilizing influence on human resources that initiates and mobilizes forces for effective strategic development, whereby authentic leadership, innovative solutions and divergent thinking lead to constructivism in the public sector.&#x0D; The development of the concept of modern management of the public sector depends on the quality of work and organization, which is directly related to the degree of applied management patterns in public administration. Also, transformational leadership as a commitment and standard, along with the introduction of changes and knowledge management, becomes a reform opportunity for transitional societies and developing countries. After the acquisition of candidate status of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of joining the European Union, the professionalization of the civil service remains a reform priority in the field of human resource management, and this paper will focus on the advantages and reform significance of transformational leadership, introduction of changes and knowledge management in public administration.

Determining priorities for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction in the conditions of preparation for EU membership

The priorities for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction in preparation for its membership in the European Union are to ensure integration, efficient use of resources, socio-economic growth, and sustainable development. Finding ways to effectively develop the economic and other sectors, adapt to European norms and create a sustainable framework for integration into the European space was the purpose of this study. The methodology is based on the empirical research method. The reform priority coefficient was calculated using a formula for determining the priority areas for improving the economic, demographic, and political sectors of Ukraine. The study identified priority areas for Ukraine’s post-war development, including mechanisms such as ensuring sustainable economic growth, modernising infrastructure, developing trade relations with EU countries, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, improving the quality of education and healthcare, which can be used by scientists and the state to ensure the country’s effective development and obtaining the status of a full EU member. The importance of ensuring social protection of the population, including raising living standards and ensuring access to basic social services, was identified. The study found that effective economic diplomacy and the expansion of international relations with EU member states are crucial factors for Ukraine’s successful preparation for EU membership. The focus is on ensuring strategic orientation, efficient use of resources and achieving the country’s socio-economic development in line with European standards and values. In practice, these results can become the basis for developing strategic decisions and programmes in line with EU criteria

Shenzhen – A typical benchmark of Chinese rapid urbanization miracle

Shenzhen is one of the world's cities with the fastest urbanization and the most astonishing changes, and it is also a typical benchmark of Chinese rapid urbanization miracle. Under the tide of neoliberalism and globalization, the central government gave Shenzhen the priority of reform and experimentation first, then it has been rapidly pushed to the front stage as a test field for China's reform and opening up. Shenzhen has become the world's first-tier city in a short time with its location advantage and high-quality talent attraction, as well as active private economy and scientific and technological innovation. Through the multi-dimensional data analysis of the great changes during Shenzhen's urbanization, and a summary of the advantages of the Shenzhen model, this paper systematically answers the question that why Shenzhen can achieve urbanization so quickly. Furthermore, it concludes challenges of Shenzhen's future development and discusses the inspirations of the Shenzhen model for other cities. Based on the above analysis, this paper constructs an organic framework comprehensively covering achievements, characteristics, challenges, and inspirations of Shenzhen's rapid urbanization model. In the future, Shenzhen needs to transform from “Shenzhen Speed” to “Shenzhen Quality” to realize sustainable high-quality urbanization.

Generating political priority for domestic alcohol policy reform: a framework to guide advocacy and research

Generating political priority for domestic alcohol policy reform: a framework to guide advocacy and research

Towards a rights-based approach: victims of violent crime, state-funded compensation and the European Union

This article examines the legal provision of state compensation for victims of violent crime in the European Union (EU). In examining the provisions of Directive 2004/80/EC relating to compensation to crime victims, this article analyses the historical development of EU competencies in the fields of criminal justice and victims’ rights. Additionally, the legislative history of Directive 2004/80/EC is considered, as is the interpretation given to the provisions of this Directive by the Court of Justice of the EU. It is demonstrated that the scope of protection, offered to victims of violent crime through Directive 2004/80/EC, has been limited and uncertain as a result of this complicated legislative history and inconsistent CJEU interpretation. Furthermore, this article examines developments in the context of EU action in the field of state-funded compensation in light of the adoption of both the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 and the Victims’ Rights Directive in 2012. With the recent development of a genuine rights-based approach to victim support in EU law and policy, this article highlights priorities for legal reform at the EU level in the context of state-funded compensation.

An Analytical Study of Foreign Direct Investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

The aim of this paper is to identify the critical determinants in the Gulf Cooperation Council (which will be referred to as GCC) for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows. Using the understanding of financial econometrics, the study discusses a significant positive association between FDI in Non-oil industries, while on the contrary, the negative association with the Oil industries. Natural resources are a path for some countries to attract FDI. Still, it does not achieve the main benefits of FDI, which are the introduction of new technology and the offering of job opportunities. Existing literature argues the suggestion that resource-rich countries attract less FDI because of resource (oil) price volatility. Statistical Models in Economics are used to analyze the data to achieve a conclusion. This study examines that natural resources discourage FDI in GCC countries, and helps identify policy reform priorities to support diversification and growth in the GCC through foreign investment.

Prioritization of public health financing, organization, and workforce transformation: a Delphi study in Canada

BackgroundThe increased scrutiny on public health brought upon by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic provides a strong impetus for a renewal of public health systems. This paper seeks to understand priorities of public health decision-makers for reforms to public health financing, organization, interventions, and workforce.MethodsWe used an online 3-round real-time Delphi method of reaching consensus on priorities for public health systems reform. Participants were recruited among individuals holding senior roles in Canadian public health institutions, ministries of health and regional health authorities. In Round 1, participants were asked to rate 9 propositions related to public health financing, organization, workforce, and interventions. Participants were also asked to contribute up to three further ideas in relation to these topics in open-ended format. In Rounds 2 and 3, participants re-appraised their ratings in the view of the group’s ratings in the previous round.ResultsEighty-six public health senior decision-makers from various public health organizations across Canada were invited to participate. Of these, 25/86 completed Round 1 (29% response rate), 19/25 completed Round 2 (76% retention rate) and 18/19 completed Round 3 (95% retention rate). Consensus (defined as more than 70% of importance rating) was achieved for 6 out of 9 propositions at the end of the third round. In only one case, the consensus was that the proposition was not important. Proposition rated consensually important relate to targeted public health budget, time frame for spending this budget, and the specialization of public health structures. Both interventions related and not related to the COVID-19 pandemic were judged important. Open-ended comments further highlighted priorities for renewal in public health governance and public health information management systems.ConclusionConsensus emerged rapidly among Canadian public health decision-makers on prioritizing public health budget and time frame for spending. Ensuring that public health services beyond COVID-19 and communicable disease are maintained and enhanced is also of central importance. Future research shall explore potential trade-offs between these priorities.