Despite reform efforts to broaden historically underrepresented populations across STEM disciplines, the data continues to highlight gaps of achievement across racial demographics. In an effort to address educational inequity, current reform efforts have touted the implementation of learning progressions as a promising strategy that can produce equality of outcomes across racial groups in STEM. Despite this promising effort, few studies have examined how to integrate practices of equity within learning progressions for groups such as African Americans that have been traditionally excluded from science and STEM. This study argues that an equity oriented learning progression should be responsive to sociohistorical factors of epistemic injustice that dissociated African Americans identities from being producers of knowledge. This study argues that the construction of a learning progression to advance the epistemic participation of African American students is aligned with goals of social justice related to diversifying STEM. The aims of this study explored how African American students progressed toward epistemic agency as STEM learners as a result of identity transformation through the engagement of the epistemic practices of engineering. This study used qualitative methodology to explore how student participants demonstrate epistemic development in their artifacts and discourse when engaging in engineering activities across a learning progression designed to develop epistemic agency. The findings from this study contribute to a broader understanding of how equity-oriented learning progressions can be designed to promote epistemic justice, how sociocultural positionings influence epistemic communities, and how students can become epistemic agents to raise STEM awareness within their local community. Advancing students epistemic practices of engineering and epistemic agency as STEM learners is key to creating meaningful pathways into STEM for students in K-12. / Doctor of Philosophy / National imperatives to broaden the STEM participation of underrepresented groups remains a prominent priority across educational research. Due to marginal effectiveness associated with racialized minorities, researchers continue to explore equity oriented initiatives. In an effort to address educational inequity, current reform efforts have touted the implementation of learning progressions as a promising strategy that can produce equality of outcomes across racial groups in science and STEM. Educational inequity prevents underrepresented populations, such as African Americans, from having the types of educational experiences that position them as significant contributors in STEM and more specifically engineering. This study argues that the construction of a learning progression to advance the epistemic participation and agency of African American students in STEM is a sociohistorical response to a legacy of epistemic injustice. Qualitative methodology was used to explore how African American students progressed toward epistemic agency as STEM learners as a result of identity transformation through the engagement of the epistemic practices of engineering. The findings indicated that the engineering design activities within the curriculum positively influenced students' identity, self-efficacy, and demonstration of epistemic agency across the learning progression. Additionally, the findings indicated the effectiveness of using the epistemic practices of engineering to facilitate the cognitive development of the engineering habits of mind. Lastly, the findings indicated the significance of using the epistemic practices of engineering to reposition African American students' identities as epistemic contributors both within the classroom and within their local community.

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Since the early fourteenth century, scholars, playwrights and screenplay writers have translated and reinterpreted Marie de France's Lanval. This lai in is the second most frequently translated throughout the medieval era and it continues to be reimagined and retold. All of the translations and reimagined renditions of the Lanval story have in common a strange tonality of otherworldly attraction, unusual gender dynamics, a curious new age aura, and elements of proto-feminism especially in terms of female agency, empowerment and eroticism. While some of these motifs seem to reflect more modern understandings of gender dynamics and conceptualizations of women, a critical analysis of Marie's original text in combination with an exploration of Celtic sources reveals that these motifs were always already present. These elements, stemming from Celtic oral traditions and finding their way across the often unnavigable barriers of time, culture, language, re-adaptation, and genre, establish Marie's Lanval as timeless. / Master of Arts

Movements for food sovereignty are socio-political efforts to build collective power and agency. This study builds on the work of Monica White and utilizes a Collective Agency Theory (CAT) lens in exploring the role of Black farmer organizers and their cross-sectoral relationships as they re-imagine the food system as pathways for liberation, self-determination, and food sovereignty. An interpretive phenomenology was used to critically explore and understand the experiences of 41 Black farmer organizers who are actively organizing in both urban and rural spaces toward food sovereignty in Virginia. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews and two focus group interviews with 20 participants were conducted. The data were coded and analyzed, incorporating Creswell's (2009) and Heidegger's (1962) thematic approach. The findings revealed that Black farmer organizers were strategically collaborating with both non-Black and Black farmer organizers, with a focus on building collective power and agency within historically marginalized communities affected by settler colonialism, White supremacy, and plantation-style agriculture. Their organizing efforts were driven by the goal of challenging systemic inequities and cultivating self-sustaining communities rooted in cultural heritage and food sovereignty. By doing so, they aimed to foster a more just, equitable, and sustainable food system that celebrated diversity, empowered communities and embodied the principles of food sovereignty. Embracing food sovereignty played a pivotal role in their efforts, leading to a reimagining of agricultural autonomy. To challenge and disrupt the inequities within the food system, they advocated for land reform, policy changes, and community-led initiatives that promoted self-determination. As a socio-political endeavor, their organizing efforts hold immense potential in fostering positive change and shaping a more inclusive and equitable food system. Empirically, the study contributes to the food systems discourse and highlights Black-led grassroots food systems organizers as central change agents. It also contributes to food systems practice by offering valuable insights for practitioners to inform their own approaches. / Doctor of Philosophy / Movements for food sovereignty are powerful socio-political endeavors aimed at building collective strength and empowerment. This study delves into the role of Black farmer organizers and their partnerships across various sectors as they envision a food system that fosters liberation, self-determination, and food sovereignty. By using a Collective Agency Theory lens, I explored the experiences of 41 Black farmer organizers in urban and rural areas of Virginia who are actively working towards food sovereignty. Through a combination of 21 semi-structured interviews and two focus group sessions involving 20 participants, we gained valuable insights into their efforts. These Black farmer organizers collaborate with both Black and Non-Black organizers, with a particular focus on historically marginalized communities impacted by settler colonialism, White supremacy, and plantation-style agriculture, especially in the U.S. South. Their goal is to challenge systemic inequities and nurture self-sufficient communities rooted in cultural heritage and food justice. Embracing food sovereignty is at the core of their mission, leading to a reimagining of agricultural autonomy. They advocate for land reform, policy changes, and community-led initiatives, seeking to challenge oppressive systems and promote self-determination. Their impact is vast, fostering a more inclusive and equitable food system. They celebrate diversity, cherish cultural traditions, and empower their communities. Their vision extends beyond just farming; it's about building a better world for all. Through collective action, these Black farmers are igniting a positive transformation in the food system, uniting people from diverse backgrounds to create a sustainable future for everyone. Their work is a step towards a more just and fair food system where everyone can access nutritious food and shape their own destiny. Empirically, the study provides valuable insights into ongoing food systems discussions. It specifically emphasizes the significant role played by Black-led grassroots food systems organizers as agents of change. The findings underscore the importance of recognizing and supporting the agency of Black-led grassroots initiatives in promoting equity, justice, and sustainability within the broader food landscape. It also offers valuable insights that can help practitioners improve their own practices and approaches. By understanding the experiences and efforts of Black-led grassroots food systems organizers, practitioners can learn from their successes and challenges and apply these lessons to create positive changes in the food system.

Yes / We explore the process of professionalization pre- and post-buyout (MBO) or buyin (MBI) of former private family firms using longitudinal evidence from six UK family firms undergoing an MBO/I in 1998. Professionalization behaviour was monitored up to 2014. Previous studies have conceptualized professionalization as a threshold to be attained. We demonstrate that professionalization is a complex process occurring in waves, triggered by changes in firm ownership and management. Waves of professionalization converge during the MBO/I process. Buyouts provide a funnelling mechanism enabling diverse control systems to be standardized. Post-MBO/I, divergence in the professionalization process reoccurs contingent on firm-specific contexts. Professionalization focuses on operations when stewardship relationships predominate, but on agency control mechanisms when there is increased potential for agency costs. Buyout organizational form is an important transitory phase facilitating the professionalization process. Professionalization is not a once-for-all development stage.

Yes / We explore the process of professionalization pre- and post- buyout (MBO) or buyin (MBI) of former private family firms using longitudinal evidence from six UK family firms undergoing an MBO/I in 1998. Professionalization behaviour was monitored up to 2014. Previous studies have conceptualized professionalization as a threshold to be attained. We demonstrate that professionalization is a complex process occurring in waves, triggered by changes in firm ownership and management. Waves of professionalization converge during the MBO/I process. Buyouts provide a funnelling mechanism enabling diverse control systems to be standardized. Post-MBO/I, divergence in the professionalization process reoccurs contingent on firm-specific contexts. Professionalization focuses on operations when stewardship relationships predominate, but on agency control mechanisms when there is increased potential for agency costs. Buyout organizational form is an important transitory phase facilitating the professionalization process. Professionalization is not a once for all development stage. / The Enterprise Research Centre is an independent research centre which focusses on SME growth and productivity. ERC is a partnership between Warwick Business School, Aston Business School, Imperial College Business School, Strathclyde Business School and Birmingham Business School. The Centre is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS); Innovate UK; and, through the British Bankers Association (BBA), by the Royal Bank of Scotland PLC; HSBC Bank PLC; Barclays Bank PLC and Lloyds Bank PLC. The support of the funders is acknowledged. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the funders.

Thesis advisor: Sarah Byers / In this thesis, I argue that the Stoic value theory and understanding of emotion is a theoretical abstraction of human agency over values and emotions that has limited pertinence to empirical human life. Towards this effort, I discuss the Stoic ethical naturalism that relies on oikeiôsis to illustrate their notion of eudaimonia. Moreover, I discuss Stoic epistemology and action theory to illustrate how the Stoics can place well-being completely within human agency. Drawing on their understanding of both human nature and agency, the Stoics derive a value framework and corresponding understanding of emotions that proposes a radical detachment and devaluation from all that lies beyond the moral character. However, I show through empirical evidence and logical reasoning how human agency is restricted and therein, disallows for the proposed radical detachment. Nonetheless, their philosophy on ethics can still be applied in a limited capacity to achieve therapeutic benefit and value. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2024. / Submitted to: Boston College. Morrissey School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Philosophy. / Discipline: Departmental Honors.

The thesis sets out to investigate how architectural practice can become better equipped to respond to the needs of marginalized communities in Malmö. The depraved condition of these communities has been expanded upon in terms of neoliberalism, discourse, identity, and segregation - by using literature review and critical analysis as methods. While remaining on the topic of injustice, marginality as a site of resistance has been proposed in the face of mechanisms that disempower these communities; and the role and praxis of the architect has been brought into question. Mutual knowledge production has been discussed as a way to work towards spatial agency, a sentiment that resonates well with an ambition to listen to, learn from, and involve voices from ortenrörelsen as well as Malmö’s marginalized communities - people who have been formulated as citizen experts within this thesis. Conscientization has been examined as a way to see one’s condition clearly, and Freire’s (2014) claim to reposition the teacher as facilitator has been attempted to be translated into a repositioning of the architect as facilitator rather than authority. By looking at Goodman et al. (2004), a way to facilitate this repositioning has been indicated. The thesis concludes that architectural practice could become better equipped to respond to the needs of marginalized communities by attempting to harness citizen expertise by means of (a) an awareness of structures that perpetuate marginality, (b) mutual knowledge production, and (c) an understanding of how their role as authority may put them in a position where they are unable to access the appropriate knowledge.

The topic of this thesis is regulation of temporary agency work in the Czech Republic and the Republic of Poland. The stress is put mainly on the comparison of individual areas of regulation in both countries and describing the substantial differences. The goal of the paper is to contribute to better understanding of this special issue of the labour law and to introduce foreign incentives to the discussion about the pros and cons of the practice related to using temporary agency work in the Czech Republic. Finally this paper may also serve as a source of reflections de lege ferenda. In the first part this thesis focuses on the description of the basic characteristic of temporary agency work. The different points of view of this issue are introduced gradually, especially in the context of the other labour market services, next a brief description of the sources of international law in this area follows, and finally short historic excursus into the development of the regulation in Poland and the Czech Republic is presented. The second part is devoted to the public law regulation of temporary agency work, especially to acquiring the license for running a work agency and the obligations arising from the public law. Regulations in both states are divided into the separate chapters. The last part involves...

The objective of this thesis is to describe and analyze the current media image of football that was developed in the first decade of the 21st century by the Czech News Agency (CTK). Using particular samples I am aiming to find the changes in volume, differences in topics and the presentation of the CTK's football agency news in years 2000-2010. The background of this work is mainly the analysis of agency created news, issued in a specifically chosen period of time and then archived in the CTK databank. The thesis only focuses on the text sections of the news. Pictures, audiovisuals and info-graphics were avoided as their possible inclusion would significantly exceed the requested scope of the project. Information can be also found on the internal point of view (based on an in-depth interview with a CTK sports editor specializing in football) and also external point of view (using the outcomes from the questionnaire survey between the employees from certain print, audiovisual and Internet media houses, who are some of the main users of sports agency services, especially those specializing in football). This work will try to show how the Czech News Agency perceives itself, what impact it has and to what extend it can be relied upon as a reliable source for other parts of the media. An important...