This study is a bachelor thesis for the Human Recourse program at Umeå University. It is an interview study with section leaders at the Swedish Government Offices about their view on diversity and an inclusive approach. The objective is to identify their interpretation and perception of diversity and an inclusive approach, further, how it influences their work and their sections. The objective is reached by interviewing six section leaders and discussing how they perceive their work with diversity at The Government Offices, their section, additionally, how they pensive the meaning of the words diversity and inclusion. The results have been divided in to three parts; Relationship and definition, Work and Future. The most important part is the data that came from the six interviews. Interesting points in the discussion is also the Swedish laws about government employment and discrimination, the Government Offices  ‘Plan for equal rights and opportunities’ and The Department of Integration model for working with diversity. The tendencies are that they have problems in regards to defining diversity and inclusive approach but yet there are similarities in the descriptions both with each other and the official definition. What the section leaders experience as problems are mostly the timeframe, recruitment and how much working with these questions is valued. The report ends with a discussion and analysis where the results and arguments are debated.

The research problem this study seeks to address is that confusion exists regarding the nature, management and organisation of financial communication. Six objectives guide the research efforts. Theoretical perspectives surrounding investor relations, public relations and accounting are used to describe the current approach to financial communication (Objective 1). Two main shortcomings of the current approach are identified (Objective 2): - a lack of integration in the management and organisation of financial communication; and - a narrow focus on communication with the financial community alone. This leads to Objective 3 (theoretical justification for an inclusive approach to financial communication). Perspectives from the corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder and public relations as relationship management literature are used to prove that organisations need to engage in financial communication with all relevant stakeholders, not only "financial" stakeholders. In order to achieve Objective 4, the theoretical perspectives mentioned above are used to develop a conceptual model for an inclusive and integrated approach to financial communication. The model provides a point of departure for future research. The empirical component of the study supplements the theoretical component. Quantitative, exploratory survey research is done to establish whether a number of South African companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange follow an inclusive and integrated approach to financial communication (Objective 5). The main conclusions are: - that there are indications of an inclusive approach to financial communication, although respondents varied in their opinions; and - that there are indications of an integrated approach to financial communication, although the majority of respondents indicated that a single department takes responsibility for financial communication. Similarities and differences between the results of this study and those of studies conducted previously in the USA, United Kingdom and Europe, are also identified (Objective 6). Finally, the limitations of both the theoretical and empirical components are used to formulate recommendations for future research. It is recommended that future efforts concentrate on the contributions that disciplines such as marketing, law, economics and financial management can make to financial communication. The research strategy (qualitative or quantitative) also needs to be carefully considered. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Communication Management / MCom / Unrestricted

This dissertation explores congregational participation in worship services in the discipline of “Building up the local Church”. The research indicates the levels of participation within worship services of 98 respondents. I have felt that the low levels of participation (43 % of the respondents reported no active congregational participation and in 93% of the indicated the congregation were involved in two or less areas of the worship service) contribute to the practice of nominal Christianity. The congregation view themselves as the ‘Audience’(passive participants) at worship rather that the ‘Actors’ (active participants). The hypothesis is that ministers have centralized themselves specifically in worship and this has and is contributing towards the ‘nominal Christian’ problem experienced by the Church presently. Secondly, that a strategically planned and instituted process with the aim of involving all attendee’s at worship will facilitate active participation (the congregation become the ‘actors’ in and during the intercessory prayer time) and in so doing build up the local church. The Thesis sadly also points out that, ministers fundamental beliefs seem to have little or no influence on there practices. Of the ministers interviewed some indicated there primary task as that of ‘equipping the body of Christ’ yet those who held to that tenet had no significant levels of congregational involvement during worship. The research also shows that regardless of fundamental belief where ministers serve more than one congregation there is a 300% more congregational involvement during worship. The thesis then focuses on the roles of intercessory prayer in worship as a vehicle for getting ministry into the hands of the congregation. Interviews have been conducted and stories recorded as to the effectiveness of this process. I was particularly encouraged that the ‘sticky prayer’ as it became know took the ministry in some cases into the work place and created opportunities for ministry with in the worlds of the respondent. Beyond this it also sends a message to the world at large of the church as being faithful to God (expressed in prayer) and serving the world (those for whom we pray). / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

La catégorisation des langues en sociolinguistique est de plus en plus foisonnante et complexe. Si cette action permet de mieux caractériser les langues dans des contextes précis, elle engendre également une différenciation accrue au niveau des représentations collectives des langues. L’enjeu pour cette thèse est de démontrer la pertinence d’une approche inclusive des langues en contexte local, créant ainsi des liens entre des situations et des communautés linguistiques habituellement considérées comme séparées. Deux langues régionales ou minoritaires, le scots et le gaélique, sont reconnues en Ecosse, et des centaines d’autres langues sont pratiquées sur le territoire, dont le polonais, première langue parlée après l’anglais. Dans un contexte concomitant de Brexit et de volonté d’indépendance du Royaume-Uni, l’Ecosse affiche un discours positif à l’égard de la diversité croissante. En outre, un mouvement prend de l’ampleur visant à promouvoir le plurilinguisme et l’apprentissage des langues, afin de favoriser une sortie du monolinguisme en anglais. Une des stratégies consiste alors à valoriser les langues déjà présentes. L’enjeu sociolinguistique de cette thèse a été testé directement sur un projet qui s’inscrit dans cette stratégie, le concours de poésie multilingue Mother Tongue Other Tongue. Il propose aux enfants d’écoles primaires et secondaires écossaises de mettre à profit leur compétence plurilingue et pluriculturelle en arborant une langue de leur répertoire. Toutes les langues sont alors mises au même niveau, sans hiérarchie aucune. Nos analyses reposent sur deux corpus : les productions soumises au concours et les transcriptions d’entretiens menés auprès d’élèves participants. Les résultats montrent que l’expérience de Mother Tongue Other Tongue donne lieu à des changements dans les représentations vis-à-vis des langues présentes dans l’environnement de l’élève, convergeant alors vers une approche inclusive des langues, même si, en ce qui concerne l’apprentissage, celui-ci reste conscient de la valeur symbolique de chacune des langues. Le message que portent ces enfants doit être pris en considération afin d'élargir cette partie du champ d'application de la sociolinguistique. / Language categorization in sociolinguistics has become more and more abundant and complex. Whilst this action helps defining language characteristics in precise contexts, it also increases differences in how languages are perceived through collective social representations. The aim of this PhD is to show the relevance of an inclusive approach to languages in a local context, thus creating links between linguistic situations and communities commonly though apart. Two regional or minority languages have been recognized in Scotland, Scots and Gaelic, and hundreds of other languages are used, including Polish, the language mostly spoken after English. In the context of Brexit and movements for independence from the United Kingdom, Scotland displays a positive attitude in discourse regarding increasing diversity. Also, educational policies are currently promoting plurilingualism and language learning in order to put an end to English monolingualism. One of the strategies that is used is to value languages locally in use. The sociolinguistic issue of this PhD has been directly tested on a project which follows this strategy, the multilingual poetry competition Mother Tongue Other Tongue. It offers Scottish primary and secondary school pupils the opportunity to put in practice their plurilingual and pluricultural competence using a language of their repertoire. All languages are considered equal. Our analyses focus on two corpora: the productions submitted to the competition and transcripts of the interviews conducted with children who participated in this competition. The results show that the Mother Tongue Other Tongue experience changes children’s social representations of the languages of their environment, converging towards an inclusive approach to languages, even if they remain aware of the symbolic value of each language when it comes to choosing a language to learn. The message these children carry must be taken into consideration in this field of sociolinguistics.

There is a discrepancy between national school guidelines towards inclusive education, and the current political trend towards economic efficacy, that may be problematic for teachers. The aim of this contextual study is to formulate a contextual understanding of the participating teachers’ perceptions of their effort to help all their students achieve the goals set forth by school curricula, and use this understanding for the purpose of suggesting points of entry for special needs educators´ guidance of teachers’ practices towards more inclusive education. Information was gathered by sending an extensive web questionnaire to all teachers within a given headmaster´s administration, sending web questionnaires to a majority of third grade students taught by those teachers, conducting interviews with a few of the participating teachers as well as with the special needs educators, carrying out a classroom observation, and gathering additional information concerning working conditions and social interactions. The data gathered in this case study has been subjected to an analytical process comprising of an assessment of the degree of inclusive approach, using the Inclusive Approach through Participation as well as the Framework of Participation, technical triangulation of all data post the inclusive assessment, and analysis of context by the Ecology of Human Development/the Bioecological Theory. The analytical process has resulted in a contextual description that has enabled me to suggest possible points of entry to be used in special needs educators’ guidance of teachers’ practices towards inclusive education. The degree to which there exists a collegial sense of security, varied forms of teacher-student interactions, collegial cooperation, pedagogical discussions, a dialogue in search of mutual understanding, and consequent follow-ups appears, in the light of the limited selection of participants, as relevant to these teachers ability to help their students. Further research is needed to identify valid points of entry for special needs educators’ guidance of teachers’ practices towards inclusive education. This contextual study will hopefully inspire further research into teachers´ perceptions of their work to facilitate implementation of inclusive education and thereby improve every student´s ability to achieve the set goals.

La mixité d’usages est aujourd’hui, un principe clé de planification urbaine, considérée essentielle à la qualité, vitalité et durabilité des milieux urbains. Mais en pratique, celle-ci sert encore et surtout l’intensification – notamment sur un plan vertical – des secteurs de ville-centre au marché du logement tendu et foncier rare ; et même dans ce contexte, se heurte à une barrière culturelle. Il s’avère donc opportun de se pencher sur les avantages et contraintes – depuis une perspective habitante – de la mixité d’usages verticale résidentielle et commerciale (fonctions généralement considérées comme complémentaires et compatibles, et fréquemment combinées à l’échelle du bâtiment), et d’examiner les conditions dans lesquelles ces expériences sont manifestées. La recherche interroge, au cours d’entrevues semi-dirigées, dix résidents et six commerçants de cinq produits immobiliers à mixité d’usages verticale résidentielle et commerciale montréalais récents. L’analyse met en évidence des retombées en termes de proximité aux commerces et services, vitalité économique, qualité du cadre bâti, vitalité locale, sentiment de sécurité et convivialité ; et discerne en parallèle, des conflits d’usages (direct), conflits d’échelle, conflit d’intérêts (indirect), et contraintes d’espace et d’usage. La recherche illustre une articulation entre échelles du produit immobilier et locale ; la difficile mise en œuvre d’une approche limitée à l’arrimage d’usages compatibles ; l’enjeu d’une intégration d’usages variés dans la capitalisation de synergies et prévention des conflits et contraintes ; et considère à cet égard l’opportunité que représente le règlement sur les usages conditionnels au Québec. Elle souligne également dans l’intégration en harmonie d’usages variés, l’importance après-coup, de la gestion du développement opérée. / Mixed use has become a key planning principle, promoted as essential for urban quality, vibrancy, and sustainability. However, in practice, mixed use remains mostly a tool for the intensification – notably on a vertical dimension – of inner-city districts with tight housing market and land scarcity. Still, in that context, it encounters cultural barriers. It is therefore appropriate to examine the opportunities and issues – from the perspective of occupiers – in vertically mixed residential and commercial development (functions usually considered as complementary and compatible, and frequently combined at the building scale), and the conditions in which such experiences arise. To address this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten residents and six retailers of five new vertically mixed residential and commercial properties located in Montreal. Benefits in terms of proximity to retail stores and services, economic vitality, quality of the built environment, vibrancy, perceived security and community life have been highlighted. Land-use conflicts (direct), conflicts of scale, conflict of interest (indirect), and space and use constraints have been discerned from the cross-case analysis. The study illustrates a dialectic relation between building-complex and local scales; the difficult task of implementing a mix limited to compatible functions; and the challenge of integrating various uses to capitalize on synergies and prevent conflict and constraints. In this last respect, the study considers the opportunity presented, in Quebec, by the by-law on conditional use. It also points out the significance afterwards of the property management in the harmonious integration of various uses.