This article focuses on lessons learned from district implementation of Utah Senate Bill 64 passed in 2012, which requires large-scale reform in evaluating teacher quality. This statemandated reformation effort requires all principals to evaluate teacher performance using new state teacher standards adopted in 2011. District implementation efforts used effective professional development that included peer collaboration and practicum experiences as evidenced by successfully certifying all principals in the evaluation of teacher performance. Twenty-seven principals representing nine districts were selected for this qualitative study. Data was collected during a one-on-one interview with each principal to gather insights about district efforts to prepare them individually to effectively evaluate teacher performance. In addition, data were coded and analyzed for evidence of change knowledge principles. The central lesson learned is that sustainable and continuing teacher quality improvements require a continual collective capacity vision and approach at all levels of the educational system. Certifying principals in the use of an improved teacher evaluation tool through effective professional development efforts is one step in achieving improvements in teacher quality. Consideration of the following four components of change knowledge principles foster and strengthen district efforts when implementing strategic targets for the continuation of teacher quality improvements: (a) expand teacher quality improvements to include both individual and collective capacity building opportunities; (b) create a plan of action that builds on efforts to comply with state law and expands implementation efforts to use the evaluation tool for improved student learning through continual teacher quality improvements; (c) provide professional development that includes strategic opportunities for principals to build their capacity in their critical role and responsibilities to continue teacher quality growth; (d) provide supports in the context of a principal's school through practicum experiences that foster the acquisition and sustainability of skills that support teacher quality improvements.

It is impossible for the world to exist without water, then why do socio-political systems treat it like an unnecessary, disposable resource?  Currently, there is a water crisis happening globally, and specifically in Brazil it encompasses tremendous socio-ecological, political, cultural and economic injustices and challenges. The water resources management and the national infrastructures are inadequate to conserve and treat this valuable commodity. As a result, water is mismanaged and misused causing contaminations, scarcity and socio-economic imbalances. This condition is an unacceptable scenery that calls for radical systemic changes and incorporation of innovative approaches in governmental leadership and socio-political organisation and structure in order to achieve better governance. It is in fact a complex situation that urges the civil society and leaders in power to collaborate and collectively act towards a common mission; save the water and impede the water catastrophe that will cause unprecedented consequences in humanity and on the planet. This paper uses qualitative method research, specifically two case studies focused on the South of Brazil to address the revitalization of urban rivers as well as the issue of ocean governance. It also conducts 10 semi-structured interviews with sustainability experts from a multi-dimensional stakeholder perspective. Thus, the most critical findings of the study are the lack of governance and the insufficient engagement of the civil society due to mistrust, conservative leadership and governmental inadequate management of water resources. Moreover, this research concludes that social and public sector innovation encourage societal inclusivity and eventually foster a ‘bottom up’ system change to achieve interactive water governance and socio-political and ecological resilience.

Discussion of changes in the electoral system to the Senate of the Czech Republic The diploma thesis deals with the discussion of changes in the electoral system for the Senate. The work reflects draft laws to change the electoral system in the Senate from the past, interviews with representatives of political parties represented in both chambers of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Furthermore, interviews with experts in the field of constitutional law and political science. The various proposals were analyzed and their principle and effects explained. The last part formulates the overall outputs of political parties and movements, experts and the opinion of the author of the diploma thesis. Key words: Senate, electoral systems, political system, constitutional system, change of electoral system, majority electoral systems, Czech Republic, parliament.

Upphandling av informationssystem har visat sig vara ett komplext fenomen inom offentlig sektor där LOU binder upp kravställarprocessen. Studien undersöker hur ett lärosäte arbetar med utveckling och förändringsarbete inom ramen för LOU för att informationssystemet ska stödja verksamhetens behov. Detta görs genom en explorativ fallstudie med semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien ger en förståelse för hur en verksamhet inom offentlig sektor arbetat med upphandling av system, såväl som genererar värdefulla insikter. I empirin framgår det att strategisk kommunikation bidrar till användarinvolvering och aktivt deltagande som förbättrade möjligheterna till att uppnå acceptans för systembytet. Resultaten identifierar även en konflikt mellan systemutveckling och upphandling kring balanseringen av krav där det gäller att som upphandlare ställa tillräckligt med krav men samtidigt inte göra en alltför omfattande kravspecifikation och låsa in sig utan lösningar. Resultaten mynnar ut i en modell över processen för upphandling och implementering och lämnar läsaren med en förståelse för hur upphandlings- och implementeringsarbetet kan se ut. Detta för att möta det kunskapsgap som finns om forskning kring systemutveckling, implementering och förändringsarbete kopplat till LOU. Av fallstudien kan vi dra slutsatsen att det är avgörande att en verksamhets informatik- och organisationsstrategi stödjer varandra för att verksamhetsutveckling inkluderat ett systembyte ska nå framgång.

The Anthropocene climate crisis and a growing global population present significantchallenges to contemporary food systems and global food security. In response to thesechallenges, a shift towards sustainable and nutritious food alternatives is required. Edibleinsects have emerged as a promising option due to their nutritional profile and potential as asustainable food source. However, despite their acknowledged benefits and widespreadconsumption in many regions, resistance towards insect-based foods persists in Westerncountries. Disgust, unfamiliarity and entrenched food cultures emerge as key obstacles to theadoption of edible insects. To foster acceptance in Western societies, research suggests thatimpactful communication and marketing efforts are essential. This study examines themarketing strategies perceived to be most effective in promoting edible insects and fosteringconsumer acceptance. Insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews with foodindustry representatives regarding the challenges and potential avenues for introducing insectproducts in Sweden. The results were compared with previous research and analysed usingconcepts of edibility formation to explain how something can become considered as foodwithin a given sociocultural context. The findings suggest that a mix of practical productinterventions and communication efforts could enhance the acceptance of edible insects.Emphasizing the value of incorporating insects in foods and creating familiar end products,primarily promoted with a focus on the individual benefits of insect consumption. However,widespread acceptance of insects as food in Sweden faces significant barriers that require arange of deliberate and context-specific measures over time. Factors such as availability,competitive pricing, and taste emerge as additional key challenges in this regard.

Die Nutzung von terrestrischen Ökosystemen zur Befriedigung der Grundbedürfnisse der Menschheit hat tiefgreifende Auswirkungen auf das Erdsystem und führte zur Ausprägung von anthropogen dominierten Landsystemen. Diese sind von hoher Komplexität, da sie aus einer Vielzahl von unterschiedlichsten Einflussfaktoren angetriebenen Landnutzungsveränderungen hervorgegangen sind. Aktuelle Forderungen nach einer nachhaltigen zukünftigen Landnutzung erfordern ein fundiertes und integratives Verständnis dieser Komplexität. Das Hauptziel dieser Arbeit ist es, ein besseres Verständnis der raum-zeitlichen Muster und Determinanten des Landsystemwandels, insbesondere der Landnutzungsintensität, in Europa zwischen 1990 und 2010 zu erlangen. Europa ist ein interessantes Studiengebiet, da es jüngst starke Landnutzungsveränderungen erlebte und seine Heterogenität zu einer Vielfalt von Landsystemen und Landsystemveränderungen führte. Das Ziel der Arbeit wurde durch (i) die Kartierung von Intensitätsmustern und deren Veränderungen in Forst- und Agrarsystemen sowie der Ermittlung der dafür einflussreichsten räumlichen Determinanten und (ii) die Kartierung und Charakterisierung archetypischer Muster und Entwicklungsverläufe von Landsystemen untersucht. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigten einen deutlichen Ost-West-Unterschied in Landsystemmustern und -veränderungen in Europa, mit intensiv genutzten und intensivierenden Regionen vor allem in Westeuropa. Dennoch wurde Europa vor allem durch relativ stabile Landsystemmuster gekennzeichnet und (De-)Intensivierungstrends waren nur von untergeordneter Bedeutung. Intensitätsmuster und -veränderungen waren stark an Standortbedingungen gebunden, vor allem an edaphische, klimatische, und länderspezifische Besonderheiten. Diese Arbeit erweitert das Verständnis des Landsystemwandels in Europa und kann zur Entwicklung wissenschaftlicher und politikbezogener Maßnahmen sowie zur Erreichung einer nachhaltigeren Landnutzung in Europa beitragen. / The utilisation of terrestrial ecosystems to satisfy the basic needs of humankind has profound impacts on the Earth System and led to the development of human-dominated land systems. These are substantially complex as they evolved from a multitude of land-change pathways driven by a variety of influential factors. Current calls for a more sustainable future land-use require a sound and integrative understanding of this complexity. The main goal of this thesis is to better understand the spatio-temporal patterns and the determinants of land-system change in Europe between 1990 and 2010, especially with regard to land-use intensity. Europe serves as an interesting study region as it recently experienced a period of marked land-use change, and since its large environmental, political, and socio-economic heterogeneity resulted in a diversity of land systems and land-change pathways. Land-system changes in Europe were examined by (i) mapping patterns and changes in forestry and agricultural intensity and identifying the most influential spatial determinants related to these changes, and (ii) mapping and characterising archetypical patterns and trajectories of land systems considering both land-use extent and intensity indicators. Results revealed a distinct east-west divide in Europe’s land-system patterns and change trajectories, with intensively used and intensifying regions particularly located in Western Europe. However, Europe was mainly characterised by relatively stable land-systems patterns with (de-) intensification trends being only of minor importance. Land-use intensity levels and changes were strongly related to site conditions, especially with regard to soil and climate, as well as to country-specific characteristics. By fostering the understanding of land-system change, this thesis has the potential to contribute to scientific and policy-related actions that address current efforts to guide future land systems in Europe to a more sustainable use.