Knowledge production has changed considerably in the past few decades. This transformation has notably affected universities both as unique institutions and citadels of knowledge. These changes are being brought by a number of factors, such as the globalization of the economy, the rise of technologies based on generic forms of knowledge, and the ability of universities to hold and exploit patents. In both scale and intensity, these alterations have led policy makers to reflect more on how scientific and technological innovation can and should be enhanced by policy decisions that would improve university-industry and government cooperation. This new fusion of three complementary societal sectors has been described by sociologists as the triple helix. As an analytical and normative concept, the triple helix is derived from the changing role of government in different societies in relation to academia and industry. Its basis is the recognition that the interaction among university-industry-government as relatively independent, yet inter-dependent institutional spheres is critical to improving the conditions for innovation in a knowledge-based society. The study reveals that commercial research funding significantly affects the perceptions of university-industry collaboration and academic knowledge capitalization. The analysis showed that academic scientists who received commercial research funding have relatively positive views about university-industry relations than those who do not receive such funds. However, one cannot conclude that commercial activities of academic scientists are harming the core functions of the university or that intellectual autonomy is being surrendered to industrial partners. Based on the findings of the study, and the contours of the triple helix model, it is argued that the growth of university-industry-government collaboration is not necessarily pre-determined in favour of either private corporations or the state, nor is it necessarily at the expense of universities. It is further contended that the growing notion that academic capitalism is harming the core functions of the university is perhaps a bit simplistic in that the issue is more complex and multifaceted than usually acknowledged. <p>In light of the above, the study asserts that the future viability of policies encouraging universities to be entrepreneurial may, if approached strategically, be catalysts for the science-based knowledge economy. For that to be realistic there is the need to understand the university as a differentiated social system rather than a unified whole. This will avoid the situation whereby all university activities are subordinated under a homogenous policy of one size fits all. In the context of triple helix relations, conceptualizing the university as a differentiated social system means a deep-seated and continually growing purposeful specialization such as the adoption of an economic development function in addition to teaching, research and community engagement.

The Canadian health care system is primarily public funded. With constant rise in health care costs, there is debate on how to best fund Canadian health care. <p>Public, private and mixed funding options are being discussed. The funding options people support will depend on how they view the health care system. Is health care a commodity or a public right? Pharmacists interact with patients daily and are involved in the delivery of health services. Their views on whether health care should be a public right or a commodity can add meaningful input to the debate.<p>The primary objective of this study was to develop a scale to measure pharmacists perceptions of health care as a commodity or a public right. In turn, this scale was used to see if a relationship exists between pharmacists orientation to health care (commodity vs. public right) and their support for different health care funding options.<p> A mail-in survey of community pharmacists in Saskatchewan was conducted based on the Dillman approach. The questionnaire consisted primarily of six-point Likert scale questions. Data analysis was performed using non-parametric tests such as Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests. One-way ANOVA was used for parametric data and post-hoc analysis was performed using Bonferroni test. Correlation of the scales was tested using Spearmans and Pearsons correlation coefficients. The response rate achieved was 64.2%.<p>The study results indicate that pharmacists are not willing to provide cognitive services free of charge. However, they are willing to continue providing OTC drug counseling free of charge. They will not restrict provision of cognitive services only to patients able pay. They prefer being reimbursed through other sources. They are unwilling to make time and income adjustments to improve patient health outcomes. They do not want to link the financial rewards they receive to the amount of benefit the patient receives.<p>Pharmacists favour the current system of funding health care in Canada but would prefer more choice in the delivery and funding methods. The results do not indicate any relationship between pharmacists orientation to health care (commodity vs. public right) and their level of support for different health care funding strategies. <p>The study conclusions suggest that pharmacists value and appreciate the direct impact of their work on patients. However they consider themselves to be professionals first and expect to be compensated financially for their services. Their willingness to spend time and effort towards provision of services as a public right seems to be predicated to a certain extent by the financial rewards they receive.

The purpose of this thesis is to map possible benefits and drawbacks of the newly proposed funding system of tertiary education system in the Czech Republic (with a focus on an issue of private funding). The paper should examine two different interpretations of the funding system, that is the perspectives of ¡§Liberal¡¨ part and ¡§Socialist part¡¨ of the Czech political spectrum. The thesis will try to find and explain possible drawbacks (as they are expressed by left-wing oriented observers) and possible positive effects of a proposed tertiary education system funding reform (as observed by the liberal, right-wing, analysts and observers). The paper should demonstrate how market forces are and/or are not beneficial in a tertiary education sphere, and whether and how they can be reflected in efficiency and equity of tertiary education system. This paper should also provide interviews with people from different fields and of different perspectives and explore their reasoning in more detail. The observations included in the research demonstrate three models of higher-education system; these are a general USA model, a Swedish model, and a concrete model of a profitable successful college, EM Lyon, France. These models should offer a comparison and possible implications for the Czech TES funding reform; these possible implications should be a part of a conclusion of this paper.

Multiple objectives are often used by agencies trying to manage pavement networks. Often alternative investment strategies can accomplish the agencies’ target objectives. If the goal is to achieve the target objectives at the minimum cost, an approach is needed to assist agencies in identifying investment strategies capable of meeting the targets while minimizing costs. The approach used by the agency should not be limited to an analytical method to mathematically solve the funding allocation problem. Finding mechanisms to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the investment strategy over time is a great challenge that needs to be addressed by the approach. The challenge is even greater for local agencies where resources are usually limited. This research develops a multi-objective strategic management approach oriented to improving decisions for pavement management practices in local agencies. In this approach, target objectives are tied to key pavement network parameters in the management process. A methodology to identify the best combination of projects to meet target objectives at the minimum cost while maximizing treatment effectiveness is provided as a result of the research. Concepts from the pavement management program (PMP) of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) of the San Francisco Bay Area were used as a basis for developing the methodology. Four pavement network parameters are considered for setting the target objectives over the agency’s planning horizon: the average network pavement condition index (PCI), average network remaining life, percent of the pavement network in good condition, and percent of the pavement network in poor and very poor condition. Results from a case study show that funding allocation methods influence the allocation of preservation and rehabilitation funds among pavement network groups, affecting budget estimates and future condition of the pavement network. It is also concluded that the use of mechanisms that facilitate data integration and the flow of knowledge across management levels can contribute to making better informed decisions. Hence, the adoption of the multi-objective strategic pavement management approach developed in this dissertation should lead to identifying more efficient investment strategies for achieving the pavement network state desired by a local agency at a minimum cost.

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This research will try to describe the reasons and motives which produce the programs of artist-in-residence (A.I.R) and international mobility by the phenomena of globalization with the four main bodies: the organization of operating residence program, art centre, artist, funding. Furthermore, the researcher will analyse the A.I.R. programs by three operating strategies: to set up the international cultural policy; to practie the international support and the fellowship; to establish the platform of international network. The exploration are as following: 1. To clarify the meaning and value of A.I.R and discuss the strategies and patterns. 2. According to the international A.I.R. and mobility programs. To examine and analysis the models of carrying out in other countries by the above three strategies. 3. To analyse and discuss the possibilities of A.I.R and Mobility program executed by Taiwan¡¦s Government , to suggest the operating prcedures and evaluation of official operation by Taiwan¡¦s government. Also, this research will take the operation of foreign examples as comparative cases and take their models to generalize the strategies and evaluations of official operation by Taiwan¡¦s government. These strategies are literature review, research in the internet, case studies, interview, fieldwork. Firstly, the literature review will include the evolution of artistic ecology for artists, the themes of A.I.R., and the tendency of globalization. Secondly, to analyze the operating strategies and provide the suggestion from the aspects of residence program, fellowship project, the scene of residence. Finally, the study will advise the official organizations, artists and art centre managers those who concern about the programs of A.I.R and International mobility as specific suggestion and strategies.

In Turkey, the immovable cultural properties are conserved by being listed either as single units or as conservation zones in accordance with relative laws and regulations. This legal registration restricts the development rights of these immovable estates. While the owner of the immovable looses the development and the productive rights over his estate, he is also undertaken the maintenance, repair and restoration responsibilities of the building. The purpose of this study is to analyze the achievements and the deficiencies of the financial aids supplied for maintenance, repair and restoration of cultural properties in Turkey, to survey possible contributions of new financial instruments which have been came into force with the last legal arrangements and to make policies for strengthening the present instruments while new financial instruments are also proposed.

This study has the objective of arguing the fact that the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) lending is developing, relevant to the evolution of the business environment and banking sector, during the period between 2001 &amp / #8211 / 2006 years. The thesis is testing this claim on two data sets. First / the financial data of CBRT during the period of 2001 - 2006 is evaluated. Then, the SME data of a Bank is evaluated. The thesis also covers the arguments on SME definition, the literature survey for SME development policies, SME lending infrastructure, the banking sector, as the main source of finance for SME, and the SME profile of Turkey. The thesis concludes on two things: The share of SMEs in the total credit volume is rising during the period between 2001 &amp / #8211 / 2006 years. And the share of medium-term credits is rising, while the short-term credits&amp / #8217 / is decreasing. In addition to these, the study criticizes the recent SME definition of KOSGEB.

The thesis explores the impact of European Union funding on Turkish non-governmental organizations in the post-Helsinki period. The European Union financial aids in the post-Helsinki period is analysed with a specific emphasis on civil society and how Turkish civil society is affected from these financial aids. The search for impact analysis is done through case studies of three different civil society organisations at several levels. The organisations studied are, Women Entrepreneur&rsquo / s Support Foundation of Turkey (KAGiDER), Mother-Child Education Foundation (A&Ccedil / EV) and Southeast Anatolia Project- Entrepreneurs Development Centres (GiDEM) The importance of these three cases is being representative of different strata of civil society and operating in priority areas in such as, women, entrepreneurship and basic education the pre-accession stage. The effects of EU funding will be analysed in different subject areas and levels, such as organisational changes, operational changes, mission differentiations and changes in relations with third parties. The study concludes with the analysis if these impacts have a permanent effect on Turkish civil society and civil society organisations, together with the critiques of the extent EU funds can be utilised by an average NGO.

Based on the theories, such as the resources-based theory, new product development and Strategic alliances, we proposed the equity-building process of new ventures of Internet industry. We note that new ventures¡¦ purpose of capital raising actions before going public is not simply to raising fund, those actions represents that organizations attempt to obtain rare resources, building core competence, through equity invested or conjoined. In other word, equity portion to the new venture can become a means not necessarily an end. Through several Internet new ventures¡¦ interview, we discussed factors that affect the equity-building process, such as original core resources and primary exchanging resources. Four propositions have developed. First, original core resources of new ventures would affect equity-building process, especially on target selecting, conjoining timing, and interaction. Second, on the affection of single equity relation¡¦s occurs, primary exchanging resource didn¡¦t evidently a decisive factor, for, it¡¦s hardly to tell it apart from original core resources. Third is our basic notion, we hold that equity-building process before IPO becomes a portion of growing strategy of emerging organization. Fourth, based on the observation of these selected cases, we conclude that characteristics of core resources of new ventures would affect their manners of acquiring resources, especially needed for organization growth. Due to the limitations of organization condition and capital market, new ventures¡¦ equity-building process of Internet industry could not apply the financial views of analysis. For this reason, we proposed new analysis manner, tried to indicate that how to select and equity portion, and how to build-up competitive advantage during infant stage.