This project examines the safety management of civil aircraft accident investigation authorities in International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Member States, with particular emphasis on the independence of the investigations. The research aims to establish the current level of resources and methodology adopted by Member States’ accident investigation authorities. The output of this work not only identifies the current situation but informs initiatives for some of the States in the process of establishing their investigation capability. ICAO Annex 13 was analysed and found to be based on the principle of independent accident investigations. Also, a four dimensional measuring index (4DMI) has been developed to measure the independence of accident investigations in ICAO Member States. Data were collected from 45 States and are presented in the thesis. As a result of applying the 4DMI to the collected data, the States were ranked according to their scores, and divided into four categories of independence. Analysis of the four categories and the scores from the four dimensions revealed that States approach the concept of investigation independence in different ways; however, there are several practices that are common within the highest independence category and several other practices that are common within the lowest independence category. The research recommends that States should work towards improving their overall investigation independence by implementing the seven identified practices in the High-Independence category and distance themselves from the five practices identified as common in the Low-Independence category.

In a recent judgment by the Free State Provincial Division of the High Court of South Africa it was decided that a trustee who resigns is only relieved from his duties when his name is removed from the letter of authority by the Master of the High Court. This judgment has caused many questions to be raised regarding the implications of the resignation by a trustee. This judgment and the current legal position of the resigning trustee are investigated in this dissertation. The legal position of the resigning trustee seems to be uncertain, and the mentioned judgment should not be unreservedly accepted as correct. The role and responsibility of the Master of the High Court in this process is considered, as well as the legal position of the resigning trustee, the remaining trustees and third parties contracting with the trust. Certain conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made regarding this aspect of South African trust law. / Thesis (LL.M. (Estate Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The Blue Drop Incentive-based Regulation (programme) was introduced in 2008 by the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) with the aim of maintaining and improving drinking water quality in South Africa. The programme is being implemented in order to protect consumers from water services providers who might not act in the interest of the public. For some years the confidence level of the public regarding the quality of drinking water in South Africa has not been at the desired level. The programme involves annual assessment of water services authorities by the DWA. In order for water services authorities to be awarded the Blue Drop status they are required to comply 95% in terms of the criteria used in the assessments. During the first and second years of Blue Drop assessments a number of municipalities chose not to be assessed but quite a few achieved the Blue Drop status nationally. It is against this background that the researcher undertook a study to determine how water services employees in municipalities perceive the Blue Drop programme. To achieve the study objective the mixed method involving quantitative and qualitative methodologies was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with supervisors and management while water treatment works employees completed a survey questionnaire. The qualitative and quantitative data analysis brought to light the following core findings: * The Blue Drop programme has the support of the overwhelming majority of employees who participated in the research. They perceive the programme as an inspiration for improved performance of the water services function in municipalities. * There is a lack of or poor understanding of the water sector legal framework including the Blue Drop assessment criteria by some participating employees. * There is a perceived lack of management and political leadership involvement and support for the water service function. Although the Blue Drop programme has been reported to be an excellent intervention by nearly all the participants, there are certain aspects that can be improved and are dealt with in the last chapter of the mini-dissertation. / Thesis (M Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Bakgrunn: Bygninger med universell utforming vil kunne gi økt deltakelse og aktivitet for flere. Mål: Studiet har målsetting om å vise hvordan implementering av universell utforming kan foregå i en norsk kommune og vise til hvilke implementeringskriterier som er viktig med hensyn til å oppnå universell utforming. Metode: Case study er brukt som forskningsmetode. Studiet består av fire case; to skole- og to barnehagebygg. Visning av bilder ble brukt som metode for å illustrere universell utforming og gi økt kunnskap om temaet til berørte parter. Bygningene ble kartlagt med hensyn til hvorvidt bygningsmassen tilfredstiller ytelser nedfelt i veileding til tekniske forskrifter. Videre vil utfylte kartleggingsverktøy beskrive hva som bør gjøres av tiltak med hensyn til universell utforming.Ett år etter kartleggingsarbeidet intervjuet vi seks sentrale informanter; kommunalsjef, leder av eiendomsavdelingen, politiker, avdelingsleder for barnehagene samt leder for hver av de to barnehagene. Følgende spørsmål ble stilt: Hvilke politiske beslutninger er tatt? Hvilken forståelse og kunnskap har informanten om universell utforming?  Hvordan har planprosessen forløpt i kommunen? Økonomiske betraktninger? Hva er viktig for implementering av universell utforming? Resultat: Funn fra kartleggingsarbeidet viser mangelfull universell utforming vedrørende fremkommelighet, orienterbarhet og inneklima. Ett år etter kartleggingsarbeid ble det gjennomført intervju av seks sentrale informanter. Studiet identifiserte implementerings-kriterier for å oppnå universell utforming. Det er nødvendig med politisk og administrativ forankring, felles forståelse og samhandling mellom helse – og teknisk sektor, samarbeid med brukerorganisasjoner, plassering av et pådriveransvar for universell utforming og økonomiske ressurser avsatt til arbeidet for å oppnå implementering av universell utforming. Konklusjon: kartleggingsarbeid og bruk av implementeringskriterier er viktig for å oppnå universell utforming. Det er viktig med innspill vedrørende universell utforming tidlig i planprosesser. Med fordel kan videre forskning vise sammenheng mellom universell utforming og opplevelse av helse. / Background: Buildings that implement universal design provide increased participation and activity levels for many people. Purpose: This study aimed to show how a Norwegian community could use universal design for a planned rehabilitation of school and pre-school buildings. We sought to describe the steps necessary to achieve universal design. Methods: Our case study formed the basis of our investigation regarding the potential of universal design in school buildings. To raise awareness in study participants, we showed them photographs illustrating universal design. We also mapped the buildings according to their fulfillment of the “Guidelines to technical regulations” provided by both the construction plan and building legislation. One year following the mapping exercise, we surveyed six central participants; executive officer, manager of the property department, local politicians, managers and department heads of 2 childcare units. The following questions were posed: Which political decisions have been taken? What does the participant know about universal design? Describe planning processes in the local authority? What economical considerations have been taken? Describe the important factors necessary to implement universal design? Results: Mapping revealed insufficient design regarding mobility, adaptation ability, and indoor climate. Our study identified criteria that are essential to achieving universal design, including increased knowledge and understanding of universal design; political and administrative funding of the work; common understanding and interaction between the health sector, user organizations, and the technical sector; accountability; and economic recourses. Interviews indicated that study reports aided the municipality in laying groundwork for further rehabilitation of the buildings. Conclusions: While reports and implementation criteria contribute importantly to achieving universal design, it is important to use such information and guidelines early in the planning process. Further research is required to determine a possible connection between universal design and perception of health. / <p>ISBN 978-91-85721-65-8</p>

This thesis explores how the inclusion of students’ out-of-school literacies in a secondary English classroom affects students’ engagement, motivation, and sense of community. A mixed case study and action research approach was used in which the researcher taught a semester long multi-grade senior English class which used hip hop as its core content. Data was collected using audio field notes, focus group, one-on-one interviews, and written communication. Findings revealed that students felt the inclusion of hip hop made this English class more relevant and meaningful to the students and helped to foster a strong sense of community among the class members. This study also found that student-directed curriculum, teacher vulnerability, and the inclusion of community members as mentors were very important to the students’ sense of community. This sense of community, however, did not extend beyond the classroom. / Graduate

What are the possible bases for the authority of the Australian Constitution? Why should people and judges ever obey the text of the Constitution? The developing tools of analytical jurisprudence assist in answering these questions. Despite its currency, the concept of "sovereignty" provides little assistance in understanding how law provides reasons for action. The concept of authority is more useful. The text of the Australian Constitution has authority in that it provides presumptive reasons for action, overruled when they appear sufficiently erroneous on a cursory examination. The Constitution is part of the Australian legal system. A legal system is normally identified partly by moral norms. These moral norms themselves require that legal systems also be identified where possible by reference to the directives of a previous de facto authority - even when that previous authority no longer has power to make new legal norms. A legal system will be "legitimate" if any improvement to be achieved by revolution would be outweighed by the uncertainty revolution creates. Against this theoretical background, various theories about the Constitution's authority can be assessed. Although the enactment of the Constitution by the Imperial Parliament provides the Constitution with legal authority, it does not confer moral legitimacy. Contrary to a growing judicial and academic consensus in Australia, the Constitution's legitimate authority is not derived from the "will of the people". Nor is it derived from the Constitution's Founders. The will of the people cannot be identified reliably, and wound not provide sufficient reasons for action. The Constitution does embody a federal compact between the colonies. Because it is worthwhile to keep political promises, the polities of the States should fulfil this compact, even though the compact only imposes weak obligations on the Commonwealth. Other possible bases for the Constitution's authority are also inadequate. These include claims that judges are bound to apply the Constitution because their authority is based upon it; that the Constitution embodies "associate obligations", and that the Constitution isa commitment to protect individual rights and democracy. Instead the Constitution has legitimate authority principally because it coordinates individual action towards desirable goals. The Australian Constitution settles the location of authority by authority.

The European Union (EU) is a formidable actor in contemporary international politics. Many prominent scholars devote their lives to studying both how European power came to be and analyzing the character of that power. The vast majority of the resulting scholarship fails to empirically test the arguments set forth. While rich in theoretical insights, the lack of empirical support renders the debate unsatisfying. This study tests the arguments about the nature of European power in the international context using the cases of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and Europe's energy policies. Chapter One introduces the Normative Power Europe concept and describes my methodology. Chapter Two delineates the existing debates on the power of the EU. Chapters Three and Four test European power using the cases of the ENP and Europe's energy policies (respectively). In addition, Chapter Four offers some concluding remarks. This study finds that the EU consistently behaves as a normative power from the basic premise of virtue ethics, but inconsistently in terms of deontological and teleological ethics.

The research aims at gaining knowledge about interpersonal competencies at work when professionals lead and counsel the change processes of other individuals in accordance with the norms and values of the profession. Norms and values are disclosed from the ethical guidelines for five professions (physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists and teachers). Critical incidents in the five professions are analysed to obtain knowledge about norms and values in a working relationship between the professional and the other individual. The personal competencies that meet the requirements of the ethical guidelines are discussed. The examination of norms and values concludes with three primary categories to denote ways of performing: Recognition, treatment and exercising authority. The analysis of critical incidents shows similarities in value working relationships across professions in aspects of time, personal qualities, relations, autonomy and motivation. Competencies, in accordance with ethical guidelines, are disclosed when the professional's respect for the other individual's dignity interacts with the other's trust in the professional's authority. The interaction establishes a context for the other’s change process. The context is maintained in the way the professional pays attention to the other individual's flow of experience. The maintenance depends on the professional's awareness of the other in his/her communication and judgment. The research brought forth knowledge of what makes up the competencies and their interactions. The knowledge contributes to education where professionals lead and counsel the other's change process.

Zugl.: Göttingen, Universiẗat, Diss., 2007/2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [189]-199) and index.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf [316]-346).